Tag: 3BL

Eastman

In today’s competitive and environmentally conscious marketplace, wood furniture makers and coating formulators face numerous challenges, from meeting stringent environmental regulations to standing out with innovative, high-performance products. Eastman wood coating additives offer a solution that addresses these challenges while enhancing both product protection and sustainability. Eastman is committed to creating products that focus on three key impact areas:

Mitigating climate changeMainstreaming circularityCaring for society by removing materials of concern (MOC)

These focus areas drive Eastman’s innovation and sustainable solutions, helping customers produce more eco-friendly products while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Sustainable solutions with Eastman Solus™ performance additives

Eastman Solus™ performance additives can play a crucial role in formulators and furniture manufacturers achieving their sustainability goals. Biobased Solus™ additives comply with the latest regulations concerning MOC and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). For instance, Solus™ does not includes any MOCs such as nitrocellulose, making the coatings less prone to combustion and safer to handle. Additionally, Solus™ is produced with fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to other coating additives and holds biodegradable certifications.

Advanced molecular recycling with Solus™ ES 

Solus™ ES offers an additional layer of environmental benefits. Manufactured from certified recycled content* through Eastman’s advanced molecular recycling technology, Solus™ ES helps divert materials from the waste stream and repurpose old plastics. This innovative approach results in wood coating additives that contain up to 75% sustainable content, combining biobased materials with recycled content.

Performance and reliability 

The sustainability of Solus™ additives does not compromise their performance. Solus™ creates an effective barrier as a carrier base coat or primer, eliminating common surface defects, resisting UV light and salt, and preventing yellowing. It also enhances processing requirements by reducing dry-to-touch handling times and improving flow.

Competitive advantage 

By using Solus™, wood furniture manufacturers and coating formulators can gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. Coatings made with Solus™ not only look better but also last longer and stay stronger. These attributes provide users with a significant advantage as they seek innovative solutions that offer both sustainability and superior performance.

Connect with us 

Interested in learning more or requesting a product sample? Connect with an Eastman representative today to explore how our wood coating additives can help you achieve your sustainability and performance goals.  

*Certified recycled content allocated using ISCC mass balance 

Covia highlights the dedication and leadership of Team Members who have made a significant impact on the job or in their communities by sharing their stories. Today we recognize Carol DeNure, Office Administrator at Covia’s Blue Mountain plant located in Havelock, Canada. Carol has been with Covia for 17 years as an administrator – supporting Covia Canada’s plants behind the scenes. Read on to learn more about Carol, how she got started with Covia, and how her continued support has helped the organization bloom.

An Environment of Growth and Support

Carol’s journey with Covia began back in 2007 when she was hired to work in accounts payable at our Havelock, Canada location. “I came from an insurance background,” Carol said. “When I started at Covia, it was far different than any job I had worked in before. I wanted to learn everything I could about the organization and how each department worked.”

An office administrator Carol was working with at the time saw her enthusiasm and empowered her to go to different departments to learn about their specific functions and how they contributed to the organization. “I realized then that Covia was really supportive of change – they don’t hold back people who want to learn and try new things.”

While exploring the various departments, Carol became particularly interested in health and safety. Carol began working in the safety department, where a mentor helped guide her through her first few years in the department and eventually passed those responsibilities on to her. “I started taking on more responsibilities within the Safety department – holding ergonomic meetings, joint health and safety meetings, and getting out into the plant more to work with other team members. I loved being more involved.”

After some time, an office administrator position became available, and Carol applied and received the job. “I’ve done a lot of administrative work in different roles over the years. I’ve been in this role for a long time, and I love how each day is different than the last.” Carol wears many hats in her position, playing a vital, behind-the-scenes role for several of our Canadian plants.

On any given day, Carol handles payroll, helps in contract negotiations, runs community events, monitors health and safety, manages a community garden at the Blue Mountain plant, and works alongside the environmental department for Wildlife Habitat Certification (WHC). “I’ve worked in so many different aspects throughout my career and I just love it. It keeps me excited to come into work every day.”

Gardening & Environmental Stewardship

In her free time, Carol is a passionate gardener with over two acres of garden she tends at home. “I take a lot of pride in my gardening work,” Carol said. “My hydrangeas are 8 to 10 feet tall and nearly tower over my gazebo.” Carol’s love for gardening has branched into her work life. For the last several years, Carol has helped design, plant, and maintain a garden at the Blue Mountain plant. Her work has started to blossom in recent months as perennials and other flowers are now starting to expand. “I find that my own garden is like a personal oasis,” said Carol. “When we started making plans for the garden at the plant, I figured it could give the community and team members their own oasis to enjoy.”

Outside of the garden, Carol noted that the Blue Mountain team is proud of the work they’ve done for the WHC and the environmental stewardship awards Covia has garnered over the years. “I really thrive on the company being number one when it comes to environmental stewardship. I feel accomplished that we can be recognized at such a high level with WHC.” One of Carol’s favorite programs involves turtle conservation. This program, along with several others, has received praise and recognition from WHC for its impact on the preservation and improvement of biodiversity at our sites.

Connecting with Community

Carol’s administrative duties include coordinating events and community days for the plants she oversees. Carol helps plan and execute open houses where members of the community can visit the plant, learn more about the important work Covia is doing in their area, enjoy refreshments, and participate in educational opportunities.

Carol concluded, “If I can offer the next generation one piece of advice, it’s to find joy in getting up every day. Find value in the work you do and the company you keep.”

Covia highlights the dedication and leadership of Team Members who have made a significant impact on the job or in their communities by sharing their stories. Today we recognize Carol DeNure, Office Administrator at Covia’s Blue Mountain plant located in Havelock, Canada. Carol has been with Covia for 17 years as an administrator – supporting Covia Canada’s plants behind the scenes. Read on to learn more about Carol, how she got started with Covia, and how her continued support has helped the organization bloom.

An Environment of Growth and Support

Carol’s journey with Covia began back in 2007 when she was hired to work in accounts payable at our Havelock, Canada location. “I came from an insurance background,” Carol said. “When I started at Covia, it was far different than any job I had worked in before. I wanted to learn everything I could about the organization and how each department worked.”

An office administrator Carol was working with at the time saw her enthusiasm and empowered her to go to different departments to learn about their specific functions and how they contributed to the organization. “I realized then that Covia was really supportive of change – they don’t hold back people who want to learn and try new things.”

While exploring the various departments, Carol became particularly interested in health and safety. Carol began working in the safety department, where a mentor helped guide her through her first few years in the department and eventually passed those responsibilities on to her. “I started taking on more responsibilities within the Safety department – holding ergonomic meetings, joint health and safety meetings, and getting out into the plant more to work with other team members. I loved being more involved.”

After some time, an office administrator position became available, and Carol applied and received the job. “I’ve done a lot of administrative work in different roles over the years. I’ve been in this role for a long time, and I love how each day is different than the last.” Carol wears many hats in her position, playing a vital, behind-the-scenes role for several of our Canadian plants.

On any given day, Carol handles payroll, helps in contract negotiations, runs community events, monitors health and safety, manages a community garden at the Blue Mountain plant, and works alongside the environmental department for Wildlife Habitat Certification (WHC). “I’ve worked in so many different aspects throughout my career and I just love it. It keeps me excited to come into work every day.”

Gardening & Environmental Stewardship

In her free time, Carol is a passionate gardener with over two acres of garden she tends at home. “I take a lot of pride in my gardening work,” Carol said. “My hydrangeas are 8 to 10 feet tall and nearly tower over my gazebo.” Carol’s love for gardening has branched into her work life. For the last several years, Carol has helped design, plant, and maintain a garden at the Blue Mountain plant. Her work has started to blossom in recent months as perennials and other flowers are now starting to expand. “I find that my own garden is like a personal oasis,” said Carol. “When we started making plans for the garden at the plant, I figured it could give the community and team members their own oasis to enjoy.”

Outside of the garden, Carol noted that the Blue Mountain team is proud of the work they’ve done for the WHC and the environmental stewardship awards Covia has garnered over the years. “I really thrive on the company being number one when it comes to environmental stewardship. I feel accomplished that we can be recognized at such a high level with WHC.” One of Carol’s favorite programs involves turtle conservation. This program, along with several others, has received praise and recognition from WHC for its impact on the preservation and improvement of biodiversity at our sites.

Connecting with Community

Carol’s administrative duties include coordinating events and community days for the plants she oversees. Carol helps plan and execute open houses where members of the community can visit the plant, learn more about the important work Covia is doing in their area, enjoy refreshments, and participate in educational opportunities.

Carol concluded, “If I can offer the next generation one piece of advice, it’s to find joy in getting up every day. Find value in the work you do and the company you keep.”

Cummins

by Tom Quimby, On-highway Journalist

Knowing the fuel used for hydrogen fuel cells and hydrogen internal combustion engines (H2-ICE) is just as important as knowing the powertrains themselves. Fuel can impact not only performance but also a fleet’s green profile.

Several terms are used to identify hydrogen and for various reasons. Different agencies, industries and entities involved in the use and production of hydrogen have begun categorizing it either by carbon intensity or with colors such as green, blue, grey and pink.

While hydrogen is the most prolific element in the universe, it must be extracted from sources like water, methane and oil which require various production methods and energy needs.

Depending on the source of hydrogen and how it’s produced, undesirable emissions like carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide can occur. The cleaner the source of energy used to produce hydrogen, the better its well-to-wheels carbon profile.

To help get a better grasp on the climate change impact of the hydrogen that will power H2-ICE and fuel cells, look at color codes and carbon intensity scores. Each has a role to play as industry and government stakeholders work to set standards for this emerging fuel which has been shown to slash emissions while meeting the challenging demands of medium and heavy-duty trucking.

Being aware of variations in hydrogen production through color codes and carbon scores can help fleets more effectively reach environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals which according to McKinsey & Company can reduce risk and attract investors.

“The color wheel has traction and those that have been using it default to it,” said Tom Swenson, Director of Global Regulatory Affairs at Cummins Inc. “But you need a number to do the math to say, ‘here’s my carbon score,’ for whatever you’re trying to calculate. If it’s for ESG you need a number.”

Isabel Castro, Electrolyzer Marketing Director at Accelera™ by Cummins, pointed out the value of categorizing hydrogen by colors while leaning on carbon intensity scores as the final arbiter.

“Color coding is helpful and easy to understand and thus makes it easy to spread awareness of the different types of hydrogen production,” Castro said.

While colors can be helpful to initially differentiate hydrogen sourcing and production methods, carbon intensity values provide a more precise evaluation since, as Castro explained, “color coding alone is not sufficient to provide the real carbon footprint.”

Contaminants in hydrogen are also a factor especially for fuel cells which require a purer fuel than H2-ICE. Failing to recognize contaminants will hinder fuel cell performance.

“There will be two different [hydrogen] fuel specs. Fuel cell will have a fuel spec, and the hydrogen engine will have a fuel spec,” explained Jim Nebergall, Executive Director of Market Strategy at Cummins. “The main difference is that fuel cells require very pure fuel, sometimes referred to as “five 9s purity” which means 99.999% pure. An engine isn’t as sensitive to those impurities as a fuel cell.”

Making sense of hydrogen’s colors 

Besides looking out for impurities in hydrogen, it’s critical to keep an eye on the fuel’s environmental impact.

Color coding can quickly identify hydrogen in terms of its sustainable value. Accelera has provided a look at some of the more popular colors used to categorize the fuel:

Green hydrogen: Obtained from water through electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources like solar, wind and hydropower. This is the only type of hydrogen that produces zero emissions during production. High costs of manufacturing are expected to drop as innovations in the arena grow. Accelera focuses on green hydrogen production through both alkaline and proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers.

Yellow hydrogen: A type of green hydrogen produced with solar power.

Grey hydrogen: Comprises 95% of hydrogen production in the United States. Natural gas, usually methane, is paired up with high-temperature steam under pressure (steam methane reforming, or SMR) which renders hydrogen. Greenhouse gas byproducts include carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide not captured during production.

Blue hydrogen: Similar to grey hydrogen except that carbon capture and storage (CSS) sequesters carbon dioxide underground. Methane and hydrogen leaks from storage pockets are a concern and there is still debate on whether CSS combined with SMR is actually a low carbon process.

Turquoise hydrogen: Falling between green and blue hydrogen, turquoise is produced through methane pyrolysis, a high-temperature process that converts methane into hydrogen gas and solid carbon like coal or biomass in the presence of a catalyst. No carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide emissions are created.

Pink hydrogen: Like green hydrogen except nuclear energy is used to fuel electrolysis either through electricity or from steam rendered through the production of such nuclear energy. That steam can also be used for SMR to obtain hydrogen from natural gas.

Brown and black hydrogen: Hydrogen obtained from either brown or black coal. Though black coal releases less carbon dioxide, the gasification of coal is the most environmentally damaging.

White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen found in underground deposits. It’s also known as gold hydrogen when found in depleted oil wells where fermenting microbes produce the gas.

When numbers count 

As Tom Swenson noted there have been a growing number of colors being assigned to hydrogen. Some stakeholders have found the array confusing as it does not offer a value that can be accurately calculated for ESG. Access to the Department of Energy’s (DOE) clean hydrogen production tax credit also deems color coding unnecessary.

DOE does not use colors to define hydrogen. The department refers instead to carbon intensity values in its U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap.

“DOE does not use color definitions of hydrogen and focuses on enabling clean hydrogen from multiple pathways where the priority is to reduce carbon intensity,” an emailed statement from DOE reads.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) also uses carbon intensities to assess hydrogen. Through its Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) program, CARB has published monthly carbon intensity values of various transportation fuels including hydrogen.

Hydrogen has consistently posted some of the lowest carbon scores among the 17 fuels currently analyzed by CARB.

“LCFS does a fantastic job of doing that analysis and giving a number where everybody says, ‘okay, I understand what that means’,” Swenson said.

Cummins

by Tom Quimby, On-highway Journalist

Knowing the fuel used for hydrogen fuel cells and hydrogen internal combustion engines (H2-ICE) is just as important as knowing the powertrains themselves. Fuel can impact not only performance but also a fleet’s green profile.

Several terms are used to identify hydrogen and for various reasons. Different agencies, industries and entities involved in the use and production of hydrogen have begun categorizing it either by carbon intensity or with colors such as green, blue, grey and pink.

While hydrogen is the most prolific element in the universe, it must be extracted from sources like water, methane and oil which require various production methods and energy needs.

Depending on the source of hydrogen and how it’s produced, undesirable emissions like carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide can occur. The cleaner the source of energy used to produce hydrogen, the better its well-to-wheels carbon profile.

To help get a better grasp on the climate change impact of the hydrogen that will power H2-ICE and fuel cells, look at color codes and carbon intensity scores. Each has a role to play as industry and government stakeholders work to set standards for this emerging fuel which has been shown to slash emissions while meeting the challenging demands of medium and heavy-duty trucking.

Being aware of variations in hydrogen production through color codes and carbon scores can help fleets more effectively reach environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals which according to McKinsey & Company can reduce risk and attract investors.

“The color wheel has traction and those that have been using it default to it,” said Tom Swenson, Director of Global Regulatory Affairs at Cummins Inc. “But you need a number to do the math to say, ‘here’s my carbon score,’ for whatever you’re trying to calculate. If it’s for ESG you need a number.”

Isabel Castro, Electrolyzer Marketing Director at Accelera™ by Cummins, pointed out the value of categorizing hydrogen by colors while leaning on carbon intensity scores as the final arbiter.

“Color coding is helpful and easy to understand and thus makes it easy to spread awareness of the different types of hydrogen production,” Castro said.

While colors can be helpful to initially differentiate hydrogen sourcing and production methods, carbon intensity values provide a more precise evaluation since, as Castro explained, “color coding alone is not sufficient to provide the real carbon footprint.”

Contaminants in hydrogen are also a factor especially for fuel cells which require a purer fuel than H2-ICE. Failing to recognize contaminants will hinder fuel cell performance.

“There will be two different [hydrogen] fuel specs. Fuel cell will have a fuel spec, and the hydrogen engine will have a fuel spec,” explained Jim Nebergall, Executive Director of Market Strategy at Cummins. “The main difference is that fuel cells require very pure fuel, sometimes referred to as “five 9s purity” which means 99.999% pure. An engine isn’t as sensitive to those impurities as a fuel cell.”

Making sense of hydrogen’s colors 

Besides looking out for impurities in hydrogen, it’s critical to keep an eye on the fuel’s environmental impact.

Color coding can quickly identify hydrogen in terms of its sustainable value. Accelera has provided a look at some of the more popular colors used to categorize the fuel:

Green hydrogen: Obtained from water through electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources like solar, wind and hydropower. This is the only type of hydrogen that produces zero emissions during production. High costs of manufacturing are expected to drop as innovations in the arena grow. Accelera focuses on green hydrogen production through both alkaline and proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers.

Yellow hydrogen: A type of green hydrogen produced with solar power.

Grey hydrogen: Comprises 95% of hydrogen production in the United States. Natural gas, usually methane, is paired up with high-temperature steam under pressure (steam methane reforming, or SMR) which renders hydrogen. Greenhouse gas byproducts include carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide not captured during production.

Blue hydrogen: Similar to grey hydrogen except that carbon capture and storage (CSS) sequesters carbon dioxide underground. Methane and hydrogen leaks from storage pockets are a concern and there is still debate on whether CSS combined with SMR is actually a low carbon process.

Turquoise hydrogen: Falling between green and blue hydrogen, turquoise is produced through methane pyrolysis, a high-temperature process that converts methane into hydrogen gas and solid carbon like coal or biomass in the presence of a catalyst. No carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide emissions are created.

Pink hydrogen: Like green hydrogen except nuclear energy is used to fuel electrolysis either through electricity or from steam rendered through the production of such nuclear energy. That steam can also be used for SMR to obtain hydrogen from natural gas.

Brown and black hydrogen: Hydrogen obtained from either brown or black coal. Though black coal releases less carbon dioxide, the gasification of coal is the most environmentally damaging.

White hydrogen: Naturally occurring hydrogen found in underground deposits. It’s also known as gold hydrogen when found in depleted oil wells where fermenting microbes produce the gas.

When numbers count 

As Tom Swenson noted there have been a growing number of colors being assigned to hydrogen. Some stakeholders have found the array confusing as it does not offer a value that can be accurately calculated for ESG. Access to the Department of Energy’s (DOE) clean hydrogen production tax credit also deems color coding unnecessary.

DOE does not use colors to define hydrogen. The department refers instead to carbon intensity values in its U.S. National Clean Hydrogen Strategy and Roadmap.

“DOE does not use color definitions of hydrogen and focuses on enabling clean hydrogen from multiple pathways where the priority is to reduce carbon intensity,” an emailed statement from DOE reads.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) also uses carbon intensities to assess hydrogen. Through its Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) program, CARB has published monthly carbon intensity values of various transportation fuels including hydrogen.

Hydrogen has consistently posted some of the lowest carbon scores among the 17 fuels currently analyzed by CARB.

“LCFS does a fantastic job of doing that analysis and giving a number where everybody says, ‘okay, I understand what that means’,” Swenson said.

KeyBank and the KeyBank Foundation announced an investment of $300,000 in Akron’s The Well CDC aimed at bolstering its Career Development Program.

Women enrolled in The Well CDC’s Career Development Program go through a 5-week cohort where they earn a customer service certification, write resumes, practice interviewing, discuss soft skills and engage in a variety of workshops (20+ hours) on mental health and emotional wellness. Before graduating from the program, participants have opportunities to meet 25+ community partners and address barriers to employment like childcare, legal backgrounds and the benefits cliff.

Grant dollars given by the KeyBank Foundation will allow The Well CDC to add a much-needed case management dimension to the program to better support students’ transition from training to job placement and long-term employment stability. The organization said they believe participants would achieve more sustainable success with seamless support – from the time they enroll until they develop the skills and habits to maintain employment stability on their own.

“At Key, we are dedicated to supporting local organizations and programs that help prepare individuals for thriving futures,” said Joe Daleiden, KeyBank East Ohio Market President. “The Well CDC has created a robust career program that is helping to meet the needs of some of our most vulnerable community members, and we’re so proud to support the expansion of the program. We value their work and are looking forward to the continued success of the Career Development Program in the years ahead.”

“We are really excited to work with the KeyBank Foundation to creatively develop workforce solutions alongside our neighbors and residents,” said Zac Kohl, Executive Director of The Well CDC. “The Well CDC is focused on building individual and family stability within a home and recognizes that also includes taking a holistic approach to Career Development. This generous grant from KeyBank will allow our team to continue to develop programming with a trauma informed lens and continue to remove barriers to support the whole person. We are grateful for KeyBank Foundation’s belief and investment into this work that will propel our programming to the next level of supporting women in finding stable, livable waged careers.”

Target outcomes from the program include:

Expansion of clients the program serves with post-graduation follow up, case management and resource coordination from 54 to 125 annually.Create and implement an Alumni Peer Support Group that would meet six times a year.Increase client placement at employer partners from 20% to 50%.Create data collection processes to collect retention and engagement information from employer partners and education providers.

ABOUT KEYCORP

KeyCorp’s roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $187 billion at June 30, 2024.

Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit  https://www.key.com/. KeyBank Member FDIC.

ABOUT THE WELL CDC

The Well CDC invests in people through the built environment while seeking a holistic approach to address systemic issues in order to improve the quality of life within the Middlebury neighborhood by fostering choice in housing, job creation and community pride.

KeyBank and the KeyBank Foundation announced an investment of $300,000 in Akron’s The Well CDC aimed at bolstering its Career Development Program.

Women enrolled in The Well CDC’s Career Development Program go through a 5-week cohort where they earn a customer service certification, write resumes, practice interviewing, discuss soft skills and engage in a variety of workshops (20+ hours) on mental health and emotional wellness. Before graduating from the program, participants have opportunities to meet 25+ community partners and address barriers to employment like childcare, legal backgrounds and the benefits cliff.

Grant dollars given by the KeyBank Foundation will allow The Well CDC to add a much-needed case management dimension to the program to better support students’ transition from training to job placement and long-term employment stability. The organization said they believe participants would achieve more sustainable success with seamless support – from the time they enroll until they develop the skills and habits to maintain employment stability on their own.

“At Key, we are dedicated to supporting local organizations and programs that help prepare individuals for thriving futures,” said Joe Daleiden, KeyBank East Ohio Market President. “The Well CDC has created a robust career program that is helping to meet the needs of some of our most vulnerable community members, and we’re so proud to support the expansion of the program. We value their work and are looking forward to the continued success of the Career Development Program in the years ahead.”

“We are really excited to work with the KeyBank Foundation to creatively develop workforce solutions alongside our neighbors and residents,” said Zac Kohl, Executive Director of The Well CDC. “The Well CDC is focused on building individual and family stability within a home and recognizes that also includes taking a holistic approach to Career Development. This generous grant from KeyBank will allow our team to continue to develop programming with a trauma informed lens and continue to remove barriers to support the whole person. We are grateful for KeyBank Foundation’s belief and investment into this work that will propel our programming to the next level of supporting women in finding stable, livable waged careers.”

Target outcomes from the program include:

Expansion of clients the program serves with post-graduation follow up, case management and resource coordination from 54 to 125 annually.Create and implement an Alumni Peer Support Group that would meet six times a year.Increase client placement at employer partners from 20% to 50%.Create data collection processes to collect retention and engagement information from employer partners and education providers.

ABOUT KEYCORP

KeyCorp’s roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation’s largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $187 billion at June 30, 2024.

Key provides deposit, lending, cash management, and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,200 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit  https://www.key.com/. KeyBank Member FDIC.

ABOUT THE WELL CDC

The Well CDC invests in people through the built environment while seeking a holistic approach to address systemic issues in order to improve the quality of life within the Middlebury neighborhood by fostering choice in housing, job creation and community pride.

Gardening has many positive physical and mental benefits, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to keep them going during the fall season. Whether you’re planting hearty vegetables like kale or vibrant mums, there are many varieties that can thrive–and help you thrive–in the cooler autumn air.

According to Miracle-Gro, you can achieve faster results in the season by opting for young plants as opposed to seeds. On the edible side of gardening, plants like collards, Swiss chard, curly kale and other vegetables that can tolerate frost can do well in late season.

But our favorite part of fall gardening is the simple act of getting outside and keeping the season growing. Some areas of the country can experience longer winters than others, so why not keep the garden vibes alive before the cold air comes?

By committing to fall growing, gardeners are also keeping themselves active and in touch with the earth. It gives you a chance to take a screen break while you tend to your plants. Plus, if hearty veggies are your plants of choice, it brings a late season harvest of fresh food from right at home.

Who’s ready to keep growing?!

About ScottsMiracle-Gro
With approximately $3.6 billion in sales, the Company is the world’s largest marketer of branded consumer products for lawn and garden care. The Company’s brands are among the most recognized in the industry. The Company’s Scotts®, Miracle-Gro®, and Ortho® brands are market-leading in their categories. The Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, The Hawthorne Gardening Company, is a leading provider of nutrients, lighting, and other materials used in the indoor and hydroponic growing segment. For additional information, visit us at www.scottsmiraclegro.com. 

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Trudging up an isolated dirt path at Conestee Nature Preserve in Greenville, S.C., a vast meadow comes into view. It’s a uniquely special place, surrounded by hundreds of acres of natural habitats.

Piedmont Natural Gas volunteers gathered here on a sticky summer morning – not to hike, bike or escape into nature – but to plant milkweed, a critical food source for important pollinators like bees and butterflies.

“This is our home, this is where we live, so anything that I can do to help out to make it better, I’m all for it,” said volunteer Brent Laney of Piedmont Natural Gas, a business unit of Duke Energy, and trusted natural gas provider for more than 1.1 million residential and business customers in the Carolinas and Tennessee.

But Duke Energy’s efforts to protect the beauty and diversity of our natural resources is so much more than just sweat equity. That commitment is exemplified through its proactive initiatives headed by the Natural Resources Group. By promoting conservation projects, habitat enhancement, biodiversity and other environmental initiatives, they strive to preserve our planet and create a better future for all. This vision is carried out all while ensuring utility infrastructure can be maintained and improved without harming the environment.

Lead Environmental Scientist James McRacken has spent nearly eight years protecting wildlife and habitat areas where the company operates. And he understands the importance of milkweed, a flowering plant that attracts pollinators such as butterflies, birds and bees that transfer pollen from plant to plant. This transfer of pollen contributes to a thriving ecosystem and the fruit and vegetables we consume.

Many are surprised to learn about McRacken’s job with the electric utility.

When doing field work, sightseers often approach him to ask what he is doing. “I’m a wildlife biologist for Duke Energy,” he’ll say. “And they’re so surprised that we do that. They also seem thankful to learn we’re out there doing these types of studies and caring for the many plants and animals that call this home.”

The Natural Resources Group also preserves habitats in transmission and distribution rights of ways, corridors with vital infrastructure that delivers electricity from power plants to homes and businesses. And McRacken oversees the bird hotline, ensuring nests are safely relocated when people notice a bird nesting in a meter box or other Duke Energy infrastructure. They’re not just doing the bare minimum.

“It’s about more than compliancy,” he said. “Duke Energy wants to be a good steward of the environment.”

Hank McCullough, a veteran community relations manager at Piedmont Natural Gas in South Carolina, organized the milkweed planting event at the nature preserve. Knowing these events positively and directly influence surrounding communities, McCullough is in the process of setting up more volunteering opportunities, including a sustainable tree planting event in some of the neighborhoods located in Greenville and Spartanburg counties.

“We want to be able to do things that keep the communities we serve vibrant and a place for all people, a place where families can do interesting things, where they can engage young people to understand the value of nature in the outdoors,” McCullough said.

Land, water and habitat protection

Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas employees focus on all aspects of natural resource conservation and the environment, including forest management and aquatic protection among other things, such as:

The Island Habitat Program, sponsored by the N.C. Wildlife Federation and Duke Energy, encourages homeowners associations, boating groups and more to “adopt” an island. Participating groups agree to clean up litter and debris from their island, while providing data on wildlife species that occupy the land.Another initiative, the Catawba-Wateree Habitat Enhancement Program, created a Habitat Enhancement Fund to help sustain the Catawba-Wateree reservoirs and surrounding area’s ecosystem. It’s funded by fees charged to property owners and developers applying for lake use permits.Through a voluntary conservation agreement to save the monarch butterfly, Duke Energy helps the energy and transportation sectors evaluate population trends for monarchs nationwide. These insights help experts develop conservation strategies, like adjusting vegetation management practices or planting more milkweed, vital to the monarch’s survival.Duke Energy also works with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to address a decline in protected bat species. Learn more about the bat Habitat Conversation Plan.

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August 29, 2024 /3BL/ – The stakeholder forum that advises the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) on key strategic issues has appointed new leadership and members. Erdem Kolcuoglu and Constance Kane have begun their terms as Chair and Vice-Chair of the GRI Stakeholder Council, with eight new members appointed.

Erdem Kolcuoglu is Senior Consultant and a Vice-Chair at Kıymet-i Harbiye Yönetim Danışmanlık, a leading sustainability consultancy in Türkiye, and has over 15 years of experience in corporate sustainability. Constance Kane is Executive Director at Women Changemakers for Education in the USA, and brings deep expertise in the fields of women’s empowerment and education, social justice and human rights.

The 24 members of the Stakeholder Council represent five defined constituency groups, with diverse representation that spans global regions. The new members, who started their terms on 1 August, are:

Prabodha Acharya, Chief Sustainability Officer, JSW Group – India (business enterprise)Adekemi Adisa, General Manager, MTN Nigeria Communications PLC – Nigeria (business enterprise)Louis Coppola, Co-Founder, Governance & Accountability Institute – USA (mediating institution)Vanessa Gomes, Executive Director, Standard Chartered Bank – USA (investment institution)José Miguel Salazar, Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) Sustainability Hub Manager, PwC Poland – Poland (mediating institution)Mélanie Jeanroy, Legal Officer, International Labour Organization – Switzerland (labor organization)Gustavo Sinner, Director, AG Sustentable – Argentina (mediating institution)Markus Pfannkuch, Co-CEO, Precious Woods Holding Ltd – Switzerland (business enterprise)

Erdem Kolcuoglu, the new Chair of GRI Stakeholder Council, said:

“The multi-stakeholder approach, which can be expressed through the motto of ‘for our stakeholders, with our stakeholders’, represents the founding spirit and distinctive characteristic of GRI. It is the core ethos that shapes the way we operate, our standards activities, products and services.

The Stakeholder Council embodies the multi-stakeholder spirit within GRI’s governance structure. We place great importance on pluralism, diversity and inclusiveness in its composition. Professionals from around the world, representing a wide range of areas and backgrounds, come together to support GRI’s mission. This enables GRI to listen effectively to its stakeholders, develop standards and services that best meet their expectations, and remain relevant in an ever-changing reporting environment.”

Constance Kane, the new Vice-Chair of GRI Stakeholder Council, added:

“There are many reasons why reporting on impacts, via standard setters like GRI, is critical. These include issues like compliance, operational efficiency and risk management. More important is the matter of stakeholder trust and accountability. This is where GRI has a strong competitive advantage, particularly through the Stakeholder Council – a body which works tirelessly to ensure that all stakeholder voices are heard and incorporated into GRI’s global standards. I am thrilled to be upholding the multi-stakeholder charge in my new role as Vice-Chair.”

The core function of the Stakeholder Council is to provide advice and recommendations to the GRI Management Board, Supervisory Board and Global Sustainability Standards Board, including on GRI policy, business planning and key activities.

Appointments to the Council are on a voluntary basis and members serve a three-year term. Membership is refreshed on a regular basis with a global public call for applications.

The Chair and Vice-Chair appointments follow the outcome of elections among the GRI Stakeholder Council members, which took place in May and June 2024.

Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is the independent, international organization that helps businesses and other organizations take responsibility for their impacts, by providing the global common language to report those impacts. The GRI Standards are the world’s most widely used sustainability reporting standards, which are developed through a multi-stakeholder process and provided as a free public good.