Tag: 3BL

AUSTIN, Texas, August 27, 2024 /3BL/ – Whole Kids, a Whole Foods Market Foundation project focused on improving children’s health and wellness through their nutrition, announced today that Amazon Fresh is supporting the Whole Kids Garden Grant program with a $250,000 donation, funding 83 gardens supporting more than 50,000 students in communities it serves.

Whole Kids annual Garden Grant program provides $3,000 grants to K-12 schools to implement an on-campus garden for the first time or for schools with existing gardens to strengthen their program. The grants also fund edible learning spaces in non-school environments that support children’s programming such as community gardens, libraries, museums, or after-school programs.

“When kids have a hand in growing fruits and vegetables, they are more likely to try them, enjoy them, and inspire other kids to do the same. Additionally, kids who grow up enjoying fruits and vegetables are more likely to continue eating them through adulthood,” said Carol Medeiros, Executive Director of Whole Foods Market Foundation. “We’re so grateful to Amazon Fresh whose generous donation in the Whole Kids Garden Grant program this year will allow more students to get a jumpstart on a lifetime of enjoying healthy food.”

Earlier this month, Whole Kids announced it is giving $1.75 million in Garden Grants to schools and nonprofit organizations to start or expand edible learning spaces. Due in part to Amazon Fresh’s investment and contributions from other sponsors, a total of 583 grants will be awarded to support more than 290,000 students in 50 U.S. states, Washington D.C., and 9 Canadian provinces.

With more than 45 stores across the U.S. and more on the way, Amazon Fresh supports the local communities where their physical stores are located by creating hundreds of local jobs, donating surplus food to local food banks through Feeding America, and now, by helping neighborhood schools and nonprofit organizations grow edible learning gardens.

“Amazon Fresh is proud to team up with Whole Kids in their mission to support schools and inspire families to improve children’s nutrition through balanced meals,” said Claire Peters, Worldwide Vice President of Amazon Fresh. “The Foundation’s school programs align with our own goals of making more high-quality and affordable food accessible, inspiring families to make meals together, and ultimately getting kids excited about fresh fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods.”

Since the Garden Grant program’s launch in 2011, Whole Kids has awarded funding for more than 8,500 edible learning gardens, investing over $20 million, benefiting more than 5.5 million students, and sprouting success stories each year.

A study conducted by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin, funded in part by Whole Kids, shows that students who participate in gardening, nutrition, and cooking classes eat more fruits and vegetables per day than they did before the programs. Gardens are also becoming an increasingly common educational tool and support a wide range of classroom curriculums including science, nutrition, math, and art.

For more information on the Whole Kids Garden Grant program, visit wholekids.org. To discover grant partners in specific locations, visit the Grant Recipients Database. The next grant application window will open in February of 2025.

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About Whole Kids 
Whole Kids supports schools and inspires families to improve children’s health and wellness through their nutrition in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. Whole Kids is a project of Whole Foods Market Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Austin, Texas. For more information on Whole Kids’ school programs including school gardens, salad bars, beehives, school lunch transformation, and nutrition education for teachers and staff, visit wholekids.org. For ongoing news and updates, follow Whole Foods Market Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) or LinkedIn.

About Amazon Fresh
Amazon Fresh is a grocery store offering great value, a wide selection, and seamless convenience, empowering customers to save both time and money. Whether shopping in-store or online, Amazon Fresh provides an extensive assortment of national brands, private label products, high-quality produce, meat, and seafood, along with freshly prepared foods made daily. Customers in more than 1,200 cities and towns in the U.S. have access to two-hour grocery delivery from Amazon Fresh. Amazon’s commitment to a hassle-free shopping experience ensures customers can enjoy quality groceries whenever and wherever they choose.

Media Contacts: 
Nikki Newman Sobhani, Senior Communications Manager 
Whole Foods Market Foundation 
Nikki.Newman@wholefoods.com

Griffin Buch, Communications Specialist 
Amazon 
buchgrif@amazon.com

The company offers resources to help customers monitor energy use, manage bills and find financial assistance 

THE WOODLANDS, Texas, August 27, 2024 /3BL/ – The past two summers have brought record-level temperatures to Southeast Texas, which led to higher-than-usual electricity usage and higher costs on monthly bills. Entergy Texas is committed to helping our customers stay cool and save money this summer with bill management tools and customer assistance events.

Entergy’s newly launched online Bill Toolkit is a one-stop shop that connects customers to bill management, energy efficiency and financial assistance resources. This new resource helps our customers explore simple ways to lower electricity use and costs.

“With the heat index in Southeast Texas continuously reaching above 100 degrees this summer, we understand that many of our customers are using more power to stay cool, often for extended periods of time” said Stuart Barrett, vice president of customer service at Entergy Texas. “Since cooling and heating costs can account for more than 50% of an average customer’s monthly electric bill, we created our Bill Toolkit as a resource to make it easier for customers to effectively manage energy usage and offer assistance to those who need a little extra financial help.”

Track your energy use

Bill management tools like myAdvisor empower our customers to set electricity usage alerts and monitor how much energy they use each day. Tracking electricity use over time can help customers identify habits that contribute to higher use and budget their monthly expenses. With the myAdvisor dashboard, customers have access to usage and cost details, bill history, bill projections, analyzer tools and more.

Manage your bills your way

Entergy Texas offers several flexible payment options so customers can choose when, where and how they receive their bills.

Pick-A-Date allows customers to pay their bills when it works best for them.Level Billing allows customers to “level out” seasonal energy use fluctuations, making their bills more consistent every month.PaperFREE billing allows customers to get their bills emailed as soon as they post and instant access to two years of billing history.AutoPay allows customers to avoid late fees, writing checks and paying for postage by having bills automatically deduct from their bank accounts.

Customers interested in deferred payment arrangements or payment extensions are encouraged to visit our mobile app or myEntergy to see if they automatically qualify. For additional payment options, customers can call 1-800-ENTERGY (1-800-368-3749) and follow our automated response system billing and payment menu.

Customer assistance events

Entergy Texas recently hosted a series of measures through its annual Beat the Heat program, which focuses on helping low-income customers and communities stay cool and pay their bills. In June of this year, the company donated 2,000 box fans to 36 cities and agencies across Southeast Texas, an increase from the 1,300 box fans distributed in 2023. Additionally, the company organized energy efficiency neighborhood sweeps events that offered complimentary A/C tune-ups and energy efficiency upgrades to residents in the Port Arthur and Navasota areas of our service territory.

Find financial assistance

Entergy Texas partners with local and state organizations to connect qualifying customers with financial assistance including:

The Power to Care program provides emergency bill payment assistance to older adults and customers with disabilities.Single Stop makes it easy for customers to quickly and confidentially check their eligibility for federal, state and local financial assistance.Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program provides financial assistance for energy bills and other energy-related expenses.

For more ways to save energy and money, customers can visit BillToolkit.entergy.com.

Ensuring we achieve a sustainable future is a team effort. But it’s not just the citizens of today that need to work together – it’s those of tomorrow, too. So how can we leverage a team approach to support the next generation of climate innovators?

In this episode of the Healthy Spaces podcast, Deidra Parrish Williams, Global Corporate Citizenship Leader at Trane Technologies; Alyssa Sharpe, CEO of DigiBridge; and Tyler, Texas science teacher Courtney Clague join us for a conversation about corporate citizenship, innovative education and the importance of connecting future generations with real-world sustainability challenges and action, in their classrooms and their communities.

Listen to the full episode to learn more about how meaningful partnerships are equipping today’s students with the literacy, pathways and inspiration they need to become tomorrow’s climate innovators.

Episode Guests

Host: Dominique Silva, Marketing Leader EMEA, Trane Technologies 
Guest: Deidra Parrish Williams, Global Corporate Citizenship Leader at Trane Technologies 
Guest: Alyssa Sharpe, CEO of Digi-Bridge 
Guest: Courtney Clague, 8th grade science teacher, Tyler Independent School District, Texas

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Transcript

[00:00:00] Dominique: As world leaders, entrepreneurs, and scientists all strive to solve for climate change, we all have one purpose in common, to build a sustainable future for the communities of today and the generations of tomorrow. So, how can we empower the next generation to continue to build a more sustainable future?

[00:00:23] Courtney Clague: We like to teach things about like the interactions between ocean currents and air masses. We talk about human activities and some of the ways that we make this applicable and immersive to our students’ lives are through resources like Sustainable Futures, which is an interactive classroom tool. So, they have different features like the virtual field trip and it kind of brings it to them, but the website also has things like educator guides and also like family resources for ideas of sustainability goals that students could do at home.

[00:00:56] Alyssa Sharpe: When we pull both our teachers and our students about what they want to teach and what they care about learning, climate innovation is one that always comes to the top of mind because they care about where we live, how we live and want to make the world a better place for the next generation. So, it’s a topic that’s really near and dear to a lot of peoples’ hearts.

[00:01:16] Dominique: You just heard from Courtney Clague, a science teacher from Tyler, Texas, and Alyssa Sharpe, CEO of Digi-Bridge, a STEM nonprofit organization. We’ll also be speaking with Deidra Parrish Williams, Director of Citizenship and Community Engagements at Trane Technologies. I’m Dominique Silva, and you’re listening to Healthy Spaces. The podcast exploring how technology and innovation are transforming the spaces where we live, learn, work, and play. In today’s episode, we’re going into the classroom to see how educators are using creative approaches to help kids connect to sustainability and technology. We’ll also hear why it’s so important for forward thinking companies to support the next generation of climate innovators.

[00:02:12] Dominique: To start us off, we turn to Courtney, a science teacher in Texas who’s been using a platform called Sustainable Futures to help engage her students on the topic of sustainability

[00:02:24] Courtney Clague: I am an eighth-grade physical science teacher from Tyler, Texas. Three Lakes Middle School is where I teach at. We have sixth, seventh and eighth graders. I mostly work with 13- to 14-year-olds at that school. Last year, I was nominated by Tyler ISD for the Texas Incentive Allotment, which is a program run through the Texas Education Agency and Texas Tech University, where I received a designation as a recognized teacher by the state. So yeah, that’s a little bit about me.

[00:02:55] Scott: Physical science teacher in Texas of 8th graders sounds like an almost impossible mission to me. So, tell me, either have special students, or you have a special love for science with 8th graders. Tell me how you do it that gets you a congratulatory note and recognition like you got?

[00:03:13] Courtney Clague: I think it’s actually a combination of both. I have specials students. I really love the kids that I get to work with on a yearly day to day basis, but I also do really have a passion for teaching. Some of the strategies that I like to use, we do a lot of hands-on engagement with science. People learn science through doing it. It’s a process and a skill that they need to learn to be able to practice it effectively. So, I think getting as many hands-on opportunities as we can, I like to use those. We do a thing called classroom transformations, so instead of going necessarily on a field trip, we turn our classroom into a location. And then, we use a lot of engaging digital games and tools as well to keep kids interested. My students now have always grown up with technology around them. And so, we have to constantly keep that as a tool to keep them engaged.

[00:04:08] Scott: So, I love this idea of changing your classroom around. What are some examples that you’ve done that sounds interesting? What kind of things have you done? I’m trying to think back to my days in science where no one did an immersive background and immersive classroom. So, give me an example.

[00:04:22] Courtney Clague: Okay, this is one of my favorite topics. So, I try to do a classroom transformation every unit that we have. And one of our first units in the year is the 8th graders first delve into chemistry. And what I did this past year was transform my classroom into a potions lab that was inspired by Harry Potter. So, in this lab, the students got to do six different chemical reaction stations where they explored chemical reactions, but they were all set to themes from Harry Potter. So, it was really nice for students to come in, and I had the brick like little tarps hanging down. So, they walked through like they were going through the platform and entered Hogwarts, and they got sorted into their different houses using an acid and bases like simulation. So, they really got into it, and it made their learning impactful and meaningful, and it stuck with them for the whole year. Another example that we did is I turned my classroom into the three lakes museum of natural science. So, we did that to learn about our geology unit. And we even got fossils and different gems and rocks donated to us by our Gem and Mineral Society and it’s really nice to have that community partnership with companies like that, and especially like Trane that always reach out and help us so much with our education and with resources that we’re able to provide these opportunities for our students that let them really just dive in. And, like I said, become immersed in their learning experience because that’s the things that they remember, not just wrote memorization on a worksheet.

[00:06:06] Scott: You make me want to go back to eighth grade science. What about these big topics like climate change and sustainability? Do you find ways to integrate that in a way that, to use your word, the sort of immersive experience? Do you find ways to do that that engages the students?

[00:06:23] Courtney Clague: Oh yeah, we teach sustainability directly through the TEKS in Texas. That’s what our state standards are called, and we do teach things about like the interactions between ocean currents and air masses and how those produce hurricanes. We talk about human activities and dependence on groundwater and surface water and systems. And some of the ways that we make this applicable and immersive to our students’ lives are through resources like Sustainable Futures. The Sustainable Futures website’s really neat because they have a lot of good pockets of information on there. So, they have different features like the virtual field trip that allows students to kind of explore the idea of food scarcity around the world, and it kind of brings it to them, but the website also has things like educator guides and also like family resources for ideas of sustainability goals that students could do at home. So, these are attainable goals that they can reach with their family, and it allows them to be creative and think about what they can do in their daily life to be more sustainable and create a more cohesive future for themselves and everyone else around them. It also allows them to see like interviews with specific scientists that are in this field to open their mind to the professions and like different methodologies that could be really impactful if they were used worldwide.

[00:07:51] Scott: I love that idea. I have worked with other programs personally, with a Girl Scouts program in the past around career paths. And I think career paths are being talked about earlier and earlier now in schools. So, it’s like you were doing the same thing in eighth grade. How does that work? How are you doing that? I mean, how do you even approach this whole topic of career paths? Are you bringing scientists in careers into the classroom or are you doing it in other ways, maybe online or virtually?

[00:08:21] Courtney Clague: It’s kind of a mix of both. So, I’m lucky to be with the school district here in Texas that we have a college and career technology center. So, this is a separate building outside of our high schools that students can go to get hands-on experience with different like vocational and career fields. So, they have things like a manufacturing career pathway or science, technology, engineering, and mathematics career pathway, health sciences. So, students get to go work in conjunction with professors from Tyler junior college. And they get hands-on experience exploring those different fields before they enter the workforce or before they graduate high school. And as eighth graders, we take a field trip there every year so that they can explore those pathways and pick them before they go to high school. And once they’re in high school, they’ll follow that pathway of courses similar like what you would do in college with your degree pathway but they’re doing it earlier. Also, our district has college and career readiness classes for our eighth graders. So, they’re exploring colleges, vocational schools, military, things like any of those types of options that they might do in the future. So, they can be planning ahead.

[00:09:34] Scott: I love this discussion on career paths. Tell the listeners, too, about how you’re able to connect possible career paths with things that they are doing when they’re out of classroom anyway.

[00:9:44] Courtney Clague: A lot of our students spend a lot of their time outdoors here in Texas. We have avid fishermen, hunters, things of that nature, and I think that’s one connection that we’re able to make with students is those love of their favorite like hobbies with their families can actually be careers. A lot of them don’t realize that they can have a career in wildlife management or maybe a game warden. They could become a park ranger for Texas or National Parks and Wildlife Services. They could work with animals on a daily basis if that’s something they’re passionate about. And in Tyler, we have these programs at our CTC building that allow them to explore these opportunities before they go to college so that they know that’s for sure the path that they want to go down.

[00:10:30] Scott: Yeah, you really are shaping young lives in a tremendous way. I have a question about the motivation of students? How do you find it today? Are they motivated to explore these areas that are not the ones they may see on TV, or on Instagram, or on TikTok that is all celebrity laden? How do they get motivated for something that’s beyond that?

[00:10:53] Courtney Clague: So, I will be honest at first when we’re like initially bringing in these ideas they’re not always as engaged, but that is part of our job as the educators to bring that engagement to them and make it relevant to their lives now. And you mentioned some type of like videos and social media things that they’re currently used to. So, we do try to incorporate those into our lessons to make it more relevant for them. And I think that’s our job as educators now is to meet students at the level that they’re on and where they are. And so, we have to use all sorts of different tools. We do use interviews with different climate scientists. I really just think making it dynamic and something that they can’t avoid brings the motivation to students and then making it relevant to their life as well. Here in Texas, we just experienced Hurricane Beryl, and so, whenever we talk about big events like that, that’s very relevant to their lives, because they just lived through it, and they experienced that. And those are when we get those ah ha moments because they know it’s something that does impact our state on a large scale.

[00:12:02] Scott: So, Courtney, what’s missing? You’re doing so many great things. There must be some things that you also have a short list of that you’d still like to do.

[00:12:09] Courtney Clague: Of course, there’s always ways that we can continue to improve and engage our students in these sustainability practices. And I think bringing those practices to them at school where they spend most of their time would be the most effective way. So, things like campus environmental clubs, where we’re maybe adopting a street and doing cleanups, or recycling drives, or even, like community gardens and tree plantings. Things of that nature would bring that relevancy back to our students and empower them to know that they can start making these changes right now.

[00:12:46] Dominique: And speaking of empowering kids. We now turn to Alyssa to find out how Digi-Bridge is developing resources for schools to help younger generations pursue their passion for STEM careers. First, we find out how Alyssa came to be the CEO of Digi-Bridge.

[00:13:05] Alyssa Sharpe: So, I was in the classroom for several years. I taught elementary school, and I have since transitioned to non-profit leadership, still in the education realm. So, I really keep education as one of my passions and core values, and it just looks a little bit different now through nonprofit leadership. So, I’m the CEO of Digi-Bridge. It’s a STEM, STEAM organization that supports students in exploring and building interest and persistence in science, technology, engineering, arts and math. And we’re in the business of creating the next generation of STEM, STEAM leaders. And I get to work with kindergarten through eighth grade students and their teachers on preparing them more for the future by building their capacity, their interests, and their content knowledge in various STEAM subjects.

[00:13:54] Scott: So, STEAM and STEM. So, I think we’re all familiar with those science technology focused classes and or subjects, but you’re going a bit deeper. And I think a bit more innovative, right? I think you’re also partnering with a lot of innovative teachers. I mean, Trane Technologies is a company that’s really looking far and partnering with climate innovators, whether that’s a small startup company or whether it’s trying to find great employees to attract and retain you. You’re sort of on the early side of that pipeline of potentially future climate innovators. And so, tell me about how you find innovative teachers to work with you in the school system and do the things you do at Digi-Bridge.

[00:14:33] Alyssa Sharpe: When we pull both our teachers and our students about what they want to teach and what they care about learning, climate innovation is one that always comes to the top of mind because they care about where we live, how we live and want to make the world a better place for the next generation. So, it’s a topic that’s really near and dear to a lot of people’s hearts. We’re really fortunate that we get to work with amazing educators and they’re not hard to find. Most teachers are very innovative because they have to make a lot out of a little whether that’s supplies or curriculum. So, we like to find teachers that are really at the cutting edge of blending best practice teaching strategies with content that’s more fresh, more innovative, more cutting edge. And so, when we work with those teachers and we find them through our school partnerships, we build their capacity. We give them trainings on gender equitable teaching strategies in STEM. We give them access to content that Digi-Bridge creates with industry professionals. So, for example, we have an environmental sustainability curriculum that we built with trained technology professionals that our teachers have access to and can use it not only in Digi-Bridge programs, but also in their classrooms as well and share that with other teachers. So, they care a lot about the next generation. And so, we’re just providing the resources and tools and trainings and professional development so that they can not only impact the kids in their classroom today, but the thousands of kids they are going to impact over their tenure as a teacher.

[00:16:02] Scott: That’s great. Part of what you just mentioned is how you’re interweaving a lot of things in a curriculum. But of course, the students don’t think about curriculum. They think about fun and creativity and possibly learning. But how do you make sure that the things that you’re doing are relevant to students lives?

[00:16:24] Alyssa Sharpe: So, we are a community organizing organization, which means we start with the ground up. So, we really make sure that we are talking to our students. We have focus groups. What do you care about? What do you want to learn? How do you want to learn? You know, education has become so dynamic. There’s a lot of differing ways to grab students’ attention. Technology has made that even more complex. And so, we’re always creating focus groups for our students to tell us, you know, what’s next for you? How can we support that? For example, we know artificial intelligence is something that’s right around the horizon and impacting a lot of businesses. School districts don’t really know what to do with it right now. And so, we’re talking to our students on what are they excited about learning about AI. So, I think making sure that your end user is present in your design and your delivery is absolutely essential to creating curriculum and learning experiences that are going to be highly impactful for students.

[00:17:21] Scott: I love that focus on impact for their lives. It’s something that you have a sort of a long-term view of. You’re not just seeing them as third graders or sixth graders. What role does technology play today with what you’re doing in the community where you serve?

[00:17:37] Alyssa Sharpe: We all know technology is shaping our world faster than anything else. If you want to go into medical or you want to go into engineering, or even finance, you have to have technology skills. And so, it’s something that goes right alongside all the content experiences we’re building, you know, what are the technology skills you’re going to need to be an x ray technician, and or, someone that is in data analytics, so technology is shaping things so quickly we’re having to stay on top of all the trends. Sometimes our students are bringing those trends to us and we’re playing a little bit of catch up because, you know, kids that grew up with technology these days are just so much more advanced in it. But we believe that it is really central to a student’s longevity and career development and workforce development is the technology skills they need to build from an early age.

[00:18:29] Scott: One of the reasons that Trane Technologies has partnered with you has been that you have a sort of a foot in both worlds, right, sort of a foot in the education world for young minds, but also thinking about it in terms of how do we help them understand the needs as a workforce for the future, especially as climate innovators, which is a fantastic partnership because you’re able to bridge that so well for us. So, you obviously not only have a talent as a leader in doing that, but you surround yourself with people who are also passionate about that as well. What kind of barriers do you see currently in front of you? I mean you might say funding, but beyond funding, what types of things do you see as a barrier that you are working to?

[00:19:14] Alyssa Sharpe: I think it’s no secret that it’s a really hard time to be a teacher, to be an educator. We’re experiencing teachers leaving the classroom at rapid rates. And I really think it’s time for us as a nation to rally around our teachers and support them and view them as the profession that makes all other professions possible. So, we’re definitely feeling that with the teacher turnover and doing everything we can to support teachers and having them stay and giving them everything they need, so that they feel confident that they can stay. I also believe that a lot of barriers we face are things that are outside of our control, but they’re all the things that students experience before they even walk in the door of a schoolhouse. A lot of them experience housing insecurity, food insecurity, their parents are working multiple jobs, they might not have reliable transportation, and so, we have to provide, you know, holistic support to families to get them to take advantage of the programs that we’re offering. So, it’s allowing us to create really innovative partnerships with other service providers. So that way, if we have a student that’s very interested but one of his barriers is that they’re hungry all the time, you know, how do we get them connected to a food resource that provides that need for them so that they can be fully present for school? So, I think a lot of times we think education is just as soon as they walk in the door, but we have to remember that our kids are people and their families are people and people experience hardship in a lot of different ways, and we just have to keep that in mind as we’re working with students.

[00:20:47] Scott: It’s a great answer about barriers. You completely bridged over to the hope for the future, which brings me to my next thought here is about scaling this. If I could transplant you today to some other city, Kansas city or somewhere, and you were starting all over, how would you scale this there? What’s your recipe for making this work?

[00:21:05] Alyssa Sharpe: It’s interesting to think about scale because we have that community organizing model. So, we never want to go into a school district or a school and say here’s what we can do for you. It’s really asking them what are their needs, what are their goals, and how can we support those? And so, that makes it a little bit more difficult to scale because it’s not as plug and play. Sure, we have the curriculum, we have the teacher training, we have the materials, those aspects, but I think if we’re planning to go to a new city, which is, you know, potentially on the horizon for Digi-Bridge, which is extremely exciting. We want to make sure that we’re doing it with dignity and actual support. That is a true need in those areas. So, it may be they need more remediation support for science standards. Maybe they need more afterschool offerings. Maybe they are really struggling with recruiting teachers, and this is a value add to the recruitment plan. So, I really pride ourselves on asking the questions. How can we support you and your goals and developing solutions in partnership with the community that we’re serving? So, it makes it a little bit trickier, but it makes it very rewarding when it works out.

[00:22:17] Dominique: And now it’s Deidra’s turn to ask those same questions as Director of Citizenship and Community Engagement for Trane Technologies. She partners with organizations like Digi-Bridge, and teachers like Courtney, to ask, how can we support you in inspiring the climate innovators of the future?

[00:22:40] Deidra Parrish Williams: There are many facets to it. It is very definitely about creating opportunity. It’s about making investments in the future and not just the future of our organization but it’s about the future of our society, of our planet. We are making investments that we hope are going to yield us a stronger economy. I broker relationships in our community. I help to strengthen the brand of our organization. I help to connect us to change makers, thought leaders, spheres of influence in the communities where we live and work. So, it really depends on any given day. But corporate citizenship really is about making sure that we, as a citizen, and when I say we I mean Trane Technologies, we very definitely are a citizen of our society making sure that we are integrated and relevant in every way.

[00:23:39] Scott: I think we do that a bit differently, though, Deidra, than some companies. I think this thread of innovation has found its way into your work as well. I think some people come to the sustainability and their preconceived notions there as all about environmental impact. But it’s more than that. And I think maybe you think that same thing around corporate citizenship and what that means and how it’s linked to innovation. Am I right?

[00:24:05] Deidra Parrish Williams: Absolutely and listen there’s good reason why much of the thought around this work is anchored to the environmental side of things. That’s what got us here, but I think Trane Technologies and certainly I have a much broader, more inclusive view of what sustainability really looks like. And it is about equity. It’s about opportunity. If you think about what is required for a community, for a planet to be sustainable, you have to include equity in that conversation. And that’s why so much of our work is devoted to creating opportunity for people.

[00:24:48] Scott: So how do you find those partners? Or do they find us?

[00:25:50] Deidra Parrish Williams: We probably do more finding them than they do of us. And part of that is just that we want to be thoughtful about what these relationships look like because we do look at them as partnerships and extensions of our brand and of our strategy. So, we’re looking to do fewer and deeper relationships and it’s a little bit more art than science. We look at these relationships and forming the relationships probably through a few different lenses. Certainly, we want to make sure that these are organizations that are supporting the communities of people that we’re looking to support. We want to make sure that their bailiwick really is STEM education. So, let’s make sure that they really have the wherewithal to provide those kinds of experiences. And certainly, because we look to form relationships that enable our employees to engage and lend support. We’re also looking for partners that are located in places where we have a heavy concentration of employees.

[00:25:51] Scott: We do a lot of integrating these concepts of sustainability and climate impacts inside the company with functions and teams that some people might think are at a distance from the work like finance or human resources team. You’re doing some of the same things like in the classroom as well. It’s sort of like helping an educator integrate some of this into the curriculum to create a new level of fluency. Is that right?

[00:26:19] Deidra Parrish Williams: That’s absolutely right. A big part of what we need to do is reframe the way people think about STEM and also about sustainability and the careers connected to it. We need to help young people understand how relevant it is. I was in a classroom a couple of months ago, a ninth-grade science class, and the topic of the day was green buildings, and I was trying to help them understand how relevant sustainability is. And coincidentally, as I’m there talking, a food truck pulls up outside of the classroom. So, I called all the kids over to the window to have a conversation. It was perfect. And I said, do you all know what’s on the truck? Of course they did. They knew it was their lunch. And so, then we got into a conversation about, well, do you suppose the food is hot or cold on that truck? Of course it’s cold! You know, they knew that. So, then we talked about, well, how does the food stay cold? Is there a big block of ice on the back of the truck? Is there an air conditioning unit back there? How does that happen? And so that led us to a conversation about the importance of climate control in multiple environments and how exacting that technology has to be in the careers connected to engineering and testing and calibration and not just on trucks but in supermarkets and not just in places where there’s food, but also in pharmacies and in hospitals. And so, all of a sudden, the idea of climate and climate control took on new meaning and felt really relevant to them. And those are the kinds of conversations we need to be having. Those are the kinds of conversations that our partnerships are enabling us to have, and it’s really important because as we look to bring future innovators along and into our industry, we’ve got to help them see what the future looks like.

[00:28:18] Dominique: A big thank you to Alyssa, Deidra, and Courtney for joining us on today’s episode, where we discuss the importance of corporate citizenship and innovative teaching strategies in our efforts towards a sustainable future.

[00:28:33] Dominique: At Trane Technologies, we believe that every job is a sustainability job, and every role provides an opportunity for impact. That’s why each week on the podcast, we’ll feature how someone is building healthy spaces in their organization or community. This week we’re sharing a submission from Megan Strittmater, a project manager in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Megan is building healthy spaces in her community by volunteering at the Nature Place. This is a local native garden accessible to everyone, which brings joy through beautiful and sustainable landscapes. Native gardens support pollinators, make ecosystems more resilient, protect marsh habitats, and provide science education to kids within the community.

[00:29:20] Dominique: Megan, thank you for your work in truly creating healthy and beautiful spaces in our community. Would you like to share how you’re building healthy spaces too? To share your story visit us at tranetechnologies.com/Healthy Spaces Podcast. Thank you for listening in to the Healthy Spaces podcast, where we explore how climate technology and innovation are transforming the spaces where we live, work, learn, and play. If you want to find out more about our conversation today make sure you check out the show notes. And remember to rate and review us in your favorite podcast app. That’s it for today’s episode. We’ll see you next time.

2023 PROGRESS (9)2018202120222023Total incoming water (m3) (without borrowed and rainwater, as per our current KPI definition)10,304,0009,886,0009,257,0009,167,000Total incoming water to priority sites (m3) (without borrowed and rainwater, as per our current KPI definition)5,992,0005,621,0005,121,0005,092,000Absolute water usage reduction in priority sites (vs. 2018)—(6.2) %(14.5) %(15) %

“At Mondelēz International we appreciate the importance of water for our planet, communities and as an important ingredient for our delicious products. That’s why we continue to invest in efficiency programs to optimize our water usage across our operations.”

Kevin Akaloo, 
Vice President, Global Health, Safety, 
and Environment (HSE), 
Mondelēz Internationa

Today, a growing number of the world’s most important water systems are under increasing stress. Many of those that support a range of ecosystems, communities and industries, including agriculture, are drying up or becoming polluted through over-use. Climate change is also contributing to the challenge.

This is part of the reason why we at Mondelēz International are aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a special focus on the availability and sustainable management of water for all. Our water position is available on our website.

Our business depends on water in multiple ways – from growing and sourcing the raw materials we use to operating our facilities. At every stage, clean water helps us keep our people safe, our supplies secure and our products safe. To promote using it more responsibly, we need to look beyond our own facilities to help ensure it both irrigates the commodities we use and is available to all in the communities where we operate. To make a positive impact, it is important that we partner on water stewardship with the organizations that contribute to the same watersheds as us.

2023 IN REVIEW

For the moment, our water management strategy will remain focused on delivering against our 2025 goal for reducing our water use at priority sites, located in water-stressed areas.

To that end, we implemented a water efficiency program based on strategies and initiatives led by our priority sites that allowed us to reduce our absolute water use at priority sites by approximately (15)% in 2023 (vs. 2018) (9).

The main focus areas of this program include:

water audits and assessmentsinstallation of water-efficient equipment and technologyinvestment in enhanced reuse and recycling systemsleak and water-loss preventionemployee educationdata monitoring and reporting on improvements and cost savingsbenchmarking against industry standardsmonitoring and reporting of evolving regulations

Our Salinas plant in Mexico has implemented a reverse osmosis and water treatment unit to improve water usage efficiency and recycling.

Our factory in Port Elizabeth, South Africa has implemented a recycling project to recover water from processing and reuse it in utilities saving thousands of cubic meters of water in 2023.

Our factory in Recife, Brazil implemented several projects on wastewater treatment focused on recovery of condensation water from industrial air conditioning and moisture recovery from temperature control systems in cookie dough manufacturing, saving thousands of cubic meters of water reprocessing per year.

Our Lad Krabang plant in Thailand achieved reduced water use amid a prolonged dry season due to expanded water conservation efforts.

FUTURE OUTLOOK

As we deliver against our 2025 goal, we continue to identify at-risk watersheds through a process that is informed by our global water risk assessment and business priorities for our operations and supply chain.

In the following years, we aim to develop detailed roadmaps and action plans for key basins that involve local stakeholder consultation, to identify and respond to local water risks in watersheds across our end-to-end supply chain.

Water stewardship will continue to be an important aspect of our governance, with people responsible for realizing our public goals in areas like Board oversight, public dialogue, compliance and accountability. We’ll also continue to consider future water risks and impacts in our strategic decision making.

(9) Priority sites are defined as sites that are located in a high or extremely high water risk zone defined as of 2021. This metric is measured in accordance with our internal Water Supply Management Health Safety and Environment System for priority sites. Reported information excludes developed-market gum brands, which were divested as of October 1, 2023 (which differs from previous years). We have recalculated our base year 2018 (where applicable) and most recent years 2021, 2022 and 2023 for year-over-year comparison. Reported information based on latest estimate; independent, third-party verification in-progress. Any updates, if needed, will be included in the ESG Datasheet. Once completed, SGS verification can be found in our ESG Reporting & Disclosure Reporting Archive.

View the full 2023 Snacking Made Right Report

In April, Hiring Our Heroes announced 5 grant recipients for the Small Business Award for Veterans & Military Spouses, an initiative that provides a one-time $10,000 grant for selected military-connected entrepreneurs, thanks to the generosity of the FedEx Founder’s Fund. Selected grant recipients displayed both business acumen as well as two key characteristics – a dedication to overcoming economic hardships and a commitment to giving back to their communities.

In our 5-part blog series, we’ll be meeting these grant recipients and learning more about the inspirational businesses that they have built and the passion that fuels them daily.

The fourth grant recipient is White Knight Labs, founded in Guys Mills, PA, with global operations.

Founded in 2016 by John Stigerwalt, White Knight Labs (WKL) is a boutique offensive cyber security consultancy specializing in red teaming, cloud penetration testing, and securing embedded medical devices. Red teaming simulates attacks to find security gaps, cloud penetration testing checks online systems for weaknesses, and securing embedded medical devices ensures things like pacemakers are safe from hackers. In 2020, John brought on Greg Hatcher as a part-time contractor, who later became the majority owner in 2023. Hatcher, a former green beret with the 5th Special Forces Group and senior communications sergeant on an ODA (Operational Detachment Alpha) with extensive combat experience, transitioned into offensive cyber operations after supporting the Hiring Our Heroes program at GE Aviation. Both John and Greg are committed to mentoring the next generation of cyber operators, exemplified by their internship program that includes eight current interns with plans to add two more this summer.

John and Greg proudly own WKL outright, having successfully self-funded its rapid growth. In 2023, they invested personally to sustain the company during a critical phase, and a standout fourth quarter ensured WKL’s survival. The company has expanded into Europe and Asia, although most of its talent is US-based. WKL has grown to a team of 30 engineers, supported by a dedicated social media and marketing team. Their ability to problem-solve under pressure and quickly adapt mirrors their success in both military and business domains, ensuring WKL’s continued impact and growth.

White Knight Labs contributes positively to the local economy through participation in cyber security conferences and ‘hackathons’ such as GrrCon and CloudCon. The duo is heavily involved with Misec, a community of cybersecurity professionals providing presentations, training, and outings across six chapters in Michigan. Greg serves on the Board of Computing at Grand Valley State University, ensuring cyber security and computer science curriculums remain industry relevant. He is actively involved in the West Michigan Technology Council, speaking and presenting at local Misec events. John and Greg frequently participate in podcasts to discuss the latest cyber security trends and explore technical topics in depth.

When hiring, WKL conducts rigorous technical interviews focusing on exceptional abilities such as certifications and identifying CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures). Passion for offensive cyber security is also crucial, assessed by active involvement in the local cyber community. The duo prioritizes recruiting individuals who excel beyond their own capabilities, encouraging them to innovate by developing new tools not yet created and conducting research for their local communities. Expectations include contributing minimally with one blog post monthly and podcast participation. With strong leadership, the future of White Knight Labs has a promising future in the world of offensive cyber security.

John and Greg are thrilled to receive this $10,000 grant from the Small Business Grant Award Program in which they plan to fund two additional seats in all their courses for veterans. This will ensure that veterans will have access to valuable skills and opportunities to grow their education. They hope that one day, WKL will run competitions like these and continue to give back to veterans.

Visit FedExCares.com for additional feature stories about the other 2024 Hiring Our Heroes Small Business Award winners.

Click here to learn about FedEx Cares, our global community engagement program.

SANTOS, Brazil, August 26, 2024 /3BL/- DP World, a global leader in logistics and supply chain solutions, has been granted with the Gold Seal standard for publishing a comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory verified by external audit. This achievement happened after the company’s participation on the 2024 Cycle of the Brazilian GHG Protocol Program.

Alcino Therezo, Human Resources and Sustainability Director at DP World in Brazil, said: “The inventory is the principal document in the country for quantifying a company’s greenhouse gas emissions. We are extremely proud to receive this recognition. Our operations are based on our commitment to addressing climate change, our sustainability efforts, and sector engagement,” says

Managed by the Center for Sustainability Studies at Fundação Getulio Vargas, the Brazilian GHG Protocol Program adapts the GHG Protocol methodology to the Brazilian context and develops tools for calculating corporate GHG emissions. The results of the 2024 Cycle were announced on August 21, 2024 at EAESP FGV in São Paulo.

The company has also been leading decarbonization initiatives among Brazil’s port terminals. For instance, it has invested approximately BRL 80 million in the electrification of RTGs (Rubber-Tired Gantry cranes) as part of its global strategy to neutralize 100% of carbon emissions by 2050. At the terminal, eight electrical centers have been installed in the back area to supply power to the 22 RTGs that have undergone electrification. Each electrical center can power four blocks of the container yard, with a rolling line of up to 300 meters.

Another significant initiative is the Zero Landfill project, which made DP World Brazil the first port terminal in Brazil to eliminate all waste sent to landfills in 2022.

– END –

DP World Americas Media Contact:

Melina Vissat, Head of Communications 
M: (+1) 704-605-6159 
E: melina.vissat@dpworld.com

About DP World 

Trade is the lifeblood of the global economy, creating opportunities and improving the quality of life for people around the world. DP World exists to make the world’s trade flow better, changing what’s possible for the customers and communities we serve globally.

With a dedicated, diverse and professional team of more than 113,000 employees from 160 nationalities, spanning 78 countries on six continents, DP World is pushing trade further and faster towards a seamless supply chain that’s fit for the future.

We’re rapidly transforming and integrating our businesses — Ports and Terminals, Marine Services, Logistics and Technology – and uniting our global infrastructure with local expertise to create stronger, more efficient end-to-end supply chain solutions that can change the way the world trades.

What’s more, we’re reshaping the future by investing in innovation. From intelligent delivery systems to automated warehouse stacking, we’re at the cutting edge of disruptive technology, pushing the sector towards better ways to trade, minimising disruptions from the factory floor to the customer’s door.

WE MAKE TRADE FLOW 
TO CHANGE WHAT’S POSSIBLE FOR EVERYONE.

Originally published in International Paper’s 2023 Sustainability Report

International Paper’s Global Fiber Procurement Policy serves as the foundation of our commitment to healthy and abundant forests. This policy states, “We will not knowingly accept fiber from illegally logged forests or from forests where high conservation values are threatened by management activities.”

To achieve our goal to source 100% of fiber from sustainably managed forests, we engage in responsible fiber sourcing, with the following highlights:

International Paper’s Fiber Supply Team is a diverse group of more than 225 professionals who work together to ensure fiber is responsibly sourced across our mill footprintOur industry-leading mapping platform ForSite™ (see page 29) exemplifies transparency, risk mitigation and targeted collaboration. It enables us to know where our direct non-certified wood purchases come from and ensures that the right decisions are made before the fiber enters our mill systemWe maintain chain-of-custody certification at all mills, including certification to the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) Controlled Wood Standard and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® (SFI®) Fiber Sourcing StandardWe have developed and continue to support one of the largest private landowner assistance programs in the U.S. to offer FSC® Forest Management CertificationOur extensive fiber supply network and ForSite™ allow us to connect our forest conservation partners with private forest landowners to help make a positive impact on-the-ground and in the areas that matter most

ForSite™

ForSite™ is an innovative mapping tool used by our Fiber Supply Team to verify and track the fiber they are sourcing. This system guides our responsible fiber procurement on non-certified forestland in the U.S. It follows the framework and protocol of a HCVF Risk Assessment.

This system uses GIS technology to display and organize a variety of pieces of spatial data — critical information that our Fiber Supply Team uses to make informed decisions prior to the fiber entering our supply chain. ForSite™ data includes an array of environmental and spatial attributes, including:

Rare, threatened and endangered species by NatureServe Global Conservation Status Ranks (G1/G2, S1/S2)Priority forest types and landscapes (bottomland hardwood)Forest/wildlife conservation priority areasSoil types, topography and hydrologySatellite imagery updated weeklyLand ownership dataCritical biodiversity areas

By knowing the exact location of the direct fiber we purchase, we ensure not only that our fiber is derived from sustainably managed forests, but also that it is delivered to the most cost-effective facility location.

Using ForSite™ technology across our United States sourcing area, we have:

Identified 23M acres where pre-harvest due diligence can be appliedMade on-the-ground improvements to over 3,145 acres in ForSite™ since 2020Mapped every non-certified location of purchased open-market fiberMonitored sensitive and high-priority locations

ForSite™ in action

Since forest certification is not always feasible for private forest landowners, International Paper recognized that our industry needed to find a way to assure consumers and customers that our forests are being managed sustainably. The implementation of ForSite™ has changed IP’s procurement strategy. We now screen every uncertified tract through ForSite™ prior to purchase to determine whether additional due diligence is required before we accept timber from that tract. Our staff has access to this data both in the office and in the forests on their mobile devices and can monitor forest management activity. To learn more about ForSite™, watch this video.

Outcome

The ForSite™ tool shows areas of potential environmental risk, and indicates the location of the fiber we are considering for purchase. Some of the species and plants we have identified using ForSite™ include the Northern Long-eared Bat, Bald Eagle, Red-cocked Woodpecker, Louisiana Pine Snake, American Chaffseed and Gopher Tortoise, along with a variety of rare freshwater mussel species. Thanks to the use of ForSite™, landowners are able to accomplish their management objectives while protecting and improving habitats.

About International Paper

International Paper (NYSE: IP) is a global producer of sustainable packaging, pulp and other fiber-based products, and one of the world’s largest recyclers. Headquartered in Memphis, Tenn., we employ approximately 39,000 colleagues globally who are committed to creating what’s next. We serve customers worldwide, with manufacturing operations in North America, Latin America, North Africa and Europe. Net sales for 2023 were $18.9 billion. Additional information can be found by visiting internationalpaper.com/.

About International Paper – EMEA

In Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA), International Paper focuses on the production and marketing of fiber-based packaging and specialty pulp, employing approximately 4,400 people. As a leading supplier of high-quality corrugated containers for a multitude of applications, we serve customers throughout the region from our network of two recycled containerboard mills and 23 box plants in France, Italy, Morocco, Portugal and Spain. Specialty pulp is made in Gdansk, Poland. Other products available from International Paper in the region include a variety of Kraft linerboard and other pulp products.

Read more

LAUSANNE, Switzerland and SAN JOSE, Calif., August 26, 2024 /3BL/ – Logitech International (SIX: LOGN) (Nasdaq: LOGI) announced today the winners of the annual Future Positive Challenge, a technology challenge designed to identify disruptive sustainable solutions in electronics. Six companies from around the globe were selected for their trailblazing solutions across printed circuit boards (PCB), batteries, materials, packaging, integrated circuits, and business models.

The winners are:

LITE-ON: A technology company that transforms multi-layered printed circuit board membranes by reducing material usage, energy consumption, and overall carbon footprint in keyboard devices.Pragmatic Semiconductor:An alternative to silicon, the company designs and manufactures sustainable, ultra-thin, flexible integrated circuit (FlexIC) technology.Achelous Pure Metal: A recycling and waste recovery company that recovers lithium-ion batteries and other valuable metals from waste.TPIPLASTIC: A research and development company focused on developing high-quality post-consumer recycled and ocean-bound plastic materials in computer products.Stora Enso: A provider of renewable products in packaging, biomaterials, and wooden construction.Bin-e: A provider of AI-enabled smart recycling bins that are placed in public spaces and designed for easy sorting and simplified recycling.

Logitech continually looks for groundbreaking, next-generation materials, components, and processes to boost the company’s Design for Sustainability efforts. Logitech’s Future Positive Challenge searches the globe for cutting-edge solutions to engineering and process design challenges in electronic devices. Winners were selected from a wide candidate pool and represent an accomplished group of entrepreneurs and innovators. Each company will be offered the opportunity to work with Logitech on a Proof of Concept collaboration project.

“The Future Positive Challenge was conceived to find breakthrough, disruptive innovations that are integral to advancing lower carbon impact technologies. We congratulate all the companies who presented innovative ideas across a range of areas,” said Prakash Arunkundrum, chief operating officer at Logitech. “We saw increased interest this year from companies globally, all interested in solving for carbon reduction. We need these solutions to tackle today’s engineering challenges. The next step is harnessing and scaling these solutions within Logitech products and across the tech ecosystem to drive the change necessary for a positive future.”

In addition to this year’s winners, two additional companies received distinguished recognition for their creative engineering solutions:

Nanoramic, an energy storage company that has identified a solution for eliminating toxic materials used in conventional lithium-ion battery manufacturingNiron Magnetics, a company that combines nanomaterial engineering with metallurgical methods to deliver high performance, rare-earth-free permanent magnets.

The 2025 Future Positive Challenge will re-open again later this year for the 2025 competition. Interested applicants are encouraged to subscribe to receive updates on timing or email FuturePositive@logitech.com for more information about next year’s challenge. Learn more about all of Logitech’s sustainability initiatives in the FY24 Impact Report or on the website.

About Logitech 
Logitech designs software-enabled hardware solutions that help businesses thrive and bring people together when working, creating, gaming and streaming. As the point of connection between people and the digital world, our mission is to extend human potential in work and play, in a way that is good for people and the planet. Founded in 1981, Logitech International is a Swiss public company listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (LOGN) and on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (LOGI). Find Logitech and its other brands, including Logitech G, at www.logitech.com or company blog.

# # #

(LOGIIR)

Editorial Contacts: 
Marie Perriard, Head of Sustainability Communications – USA mperriard@logitech.com 
Ben Starkie, Corporate Communications – Europe +41 (0) 79-292-3499

Chemours, a global leader in delivering innovative performance chemistry, recently released its latest Sustainability Report, highlighting last year’s achievements on the company’s sustainability journey—including progress towards greater resource efficiency and circularity.

For example, in 2023 the company’s Thermal & Specialized Solutions business—a market leader in producing refrigerants, thermal management solutions, propellants, blowing agents, and specialty solvents—created an international F-gas Lifecycle Program across the Americas, Asia, and Europe. The program aims to advance the global recovery, reclaim, and reuse of fluorinated gases (F-gases) safely across Chemours’ low global warming potential (GWP) Opteon™ products, Freon™ refrigerants, and FM-200™ portfolios.

This program, which began as region and country-specific initiatives, now includes global oversight to drive additional adoption, partnerships, and reclamation. As part of the program, Chemours will complete a global review to identify opportunities for expansion and increased collaboration. This work reinforces Chemours’ commitment to supporting a global circular economy and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. It also advances the net zero objectives of Chemours, broader industry, and global legislative bodies through overall emission reduction.

Joe Martinko, President of Thermal & Specialized Solutions at Chemours, emphasized the importance of the program, stating, “We have committed to, and are advancing, significant emission reduction within our gates. Now, we’re expanding our focus to emission reduction throughout the product lifecycle.”

F-gases, unlike many “natural” alternatives like ammonia or propane, can be recovered, reclaimed, and reused across multiple applications. This maximizes resource efficiency while minimizing waste and lowering emissions.

“This international F-gas Lifecycle Program will help advance circularity and sustainability around the world, ultimately supporting global climate targets and minimizing impact on our shared planet,” Martinko added.

In addition to offering the potential for circularity, Chemours’ portfolio of F-gas technologies plays an important role in decarbonization applications and delivers significant socioeconomic value through innovation, reliability, safety, and efficiency.

Learn more about Chemours sustainability and circularity efforts in its 2023 Sustainability Report titled, “Partnering for Progress.”

Healthcare facilities generate a significant amount of plastic waste, posing a significant environmental challenge. To address this issue, effective recycling strategies are crucial. In this blog post, we delve into key insights from a fireside chat between Peylina Chu, Executive Director at the Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council (HPRC) and Erin Gately, Circular Economy Manager at Iron Mountain, HPRC member since 2022.

Watch the full webinar here.

The Evolution of Healthcare Plastics Recycling

Over the past decade, HPRC’s vision has evolved from a narrow focus on recycling pre-patient contact materials to a broader emphasis on circularity within the healthcare industry. The council is now actively investigating the role of advanced recycling in achieving true circularity, while continuing to support mechanical recycling, and beginning to explore opportunities to incorporate patient contact materials into recycling programs. This shift reflects a growing awareness of the environmental impact of plastics and a desire to contribute to a more sustainable future for the healthcare sector.

“Shifting from a linear to a circular model for healthcare plastics is essential for a sustainable future. It requires collaboration, innovation, and a commitment to reducing waste,” states Chu.

Additionally, Peylina Chu highlighted the importance of considering the entire plastic lifecycle, from production to disposal. She emphasized the need to evaluate the suitability of different plastic types for mechanical and advanced recycling technologies to maximize efficiency and reduce contamination. Lastly, HPRC is increasingly recognizing the broader context of the plastics industry and the importance of domestic recycling infrastructure. This expanded perspective will likely inform the organization’s future strategies and collaborations.

“China’s National Sword Policy in 2018 was a blessing in disguise. It forced many countries, including the US, to take a hard look at how we are managing waste. Suddenly, waste management, specifically around plastics, went from the bottom of the policy agenda right to the top,” says Chu.

Overcoming Challenges and Seizing Opportunities

Implementing effective healthcare plastics recycling programs requires addressing several key challenges:

Economic viability: Creating a sustainable circular economy necessitates financial incentives for all stakeholders involved.Regulatory hurdles: Compliance with FDA regulations and ISO standards for patient safety can complicate the use of recycled content in healthcare products and packaging.Infrastructure limitations: The limited availability of reverse logistics and advanced plastics sorting infrastructure hinder recycling efforts across all industries.

Despite these challenges, there are promising trends in the healthcare industry:

Increased industry interest: Growing awareness of sustainability issues has led to greater investment in hospital sustainability teams and recycling initiatives.Technological advancements: Artificial intelligence, robotics, and advanced sorting technologies are improving recycling efficiency for both mechanical and advanced recyclers.Collaboration: Partnerships between healthcare facilities, waste management companies, and recycling technology providers are crucial for driving progress.

Companies, such as Iron Mountain, are also creating innovative plastics disposition solutions that divert waste to landfill by recycling any polypropylene or polyethylene plastic into pyrolysis oil.

“To support our healthcare customers and help them achieve their ESG goals, we offer pill bottle and sterilization wrap circular recycling solutions that convert these materials into new plastic products,” says Gately.

Practical Steps for Healthcare Facilities

To effectively incorporate plastics recycling into sustainability goals, healthcare facilities can take the following steps:

Conduct a waste audit: Assess the types and quantities of plastic waste generated to identify recycling opportunities.Engage stakeholders: Involve staff from various departments, including clinicians, environmental services, and procurement, to build support for recycling initiatives.Optimize waste management: Collaborate with waste handlers to improve waste collection and sorting processes.Explore different recycling options: Evaluate the suitability of mechanical and advanced recycling technologies for your facility’s plastic waste.Leverage partnerships: Collaborate with suppliers and other healthcare organizations to share best practices and resources.

“Conducting a comprehensive waste audit is the first step towards establishing an effective healthcare plastics recycling program. Understanding the types and quantities of plastic waste generated is essential for developing targeted solutions,” says Chu.

“Building strong partnerships between healthcare facilities, waste management companies, and recycling technology providers is key to driving progress and achieving a circular economy for healthcare plastics,” adds Gately.

Conclusion

By understanding the challenges and opportunities in healthcare plastics recycling, healthcare professionals can play a vital role in building a more sustainable future. By implementing effective recycling programs and embracing innovative solutions, healthcare facilities can reduce their environmental impact and contribute to a circular economy.

“It’s time to rethink healthcare plastics. By embracing circularity, we can reduce waste, conserve resources, and protect our planet for generations to come,” concludes Chu.

Ready to take the next step toward a more sustainable healthcare facility? Hospicycle, a comprehensive toolkit developed by HPRC, can guide you through the process of implementing a successful plastics recycling program. From initial planning to program improvement, Hospicycle offers valuable resources and tools tailored to your hospital’s specific needs. Explore the Hospicycle toolkit today.

Lastly, check out HPRC’s Guiding Principles for Advanced Recycling for guidance on how to best incorporate advanced recycling into your program.