Tag: 3BL

The Paris Agreement’s first global stocktake in 2023 concluded that the world is behind in achieving the goals set out in 2015. UN Global Compact’s Compact’s global private sector stocktake also highlighted the need for the private sector to accelerate action on sustainable development goals further.

Baker Hughes is committed to operating sustainably as one of the first companies in our sector to make a net-zero emissions commitment and as a signatory of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We have a clear focus on delivering sustainable operations and solutions for customers with rigor, transparency, data and technological integrity.

In 2023, we worked to activate our sustainability strategy across the Company. Through our existing corporate sustainability framework—People, Planet and Principles—we have continued to support the UN SDGs and move beyond pledges to weave sustainability more deeply into our culture. We can only deliver on our promises as a company by linking a culture of sustainability to how we solve the biggest challenges.

People

Our people are central contributors to our purpose of taking energy forward. We believe attracting a diverse workforce is critical to our success in support of the energy transition. In 2023, we saw an increase in women employee representation (19.1% to 19.5%) within the Company. Executive leadership has sponsored 20+ working groups across the enterprise to embed sustainable practices, thus driving key outcomes in line with our sustainability strategy.

Planet

We achieved 28.3% reduction in our scope 1 and 2 emissions from our 2019 base year. This year, we committed to an internal scope 3 goal — and created the roadmap toward meeting that goal — for each of the ten categories of scope 3 emissions that we have quantified. We empowered our ~58,000 employees to reduce operational emissions through our flagship Carbon Out program, resulting in over 550 Carbon Out projects commenced or to be implemented.

Principles

At Baker Hughes, doing the right thing comes first. We believe that this commitment to integrity is fundamental to running a sound, successful and sustainable business. Our strong corporate governance starts at the top with our Board of Directors and cascades down throughout our business to all levels. One of our standards includes the annual training and acknowledgement of our Code of Conduct, which was completed by 97.5% of employees. We understand that to have a sustainable business, we must also engage with our local communities. During the calendar year, our annual local spend in areas we operate was 80.0% of our procurement spend.

While pursuing our business and financial objectives, our team adheres to the Code of Conduct and applicable laws and policies.

Sustainability is at the core of our corporate strategy and is one of our leading differentiators today. As the energy transition progresses globally, I’m incredibly proud of our progress so far, delivered by our people who drive sustainable practices for Baker Hughes and the world.

Allyson Anderson Book

Chief Sustainability Officer

View the full 2023 Corporate Sustainability Report.

In the #HowIGotHere series, you’ll read about the career paths of some of the world-renowned leaders at Yum! Brands. Learn more about Monica Pool, Chief Marketing Officer at KFC U.K. and Ireland.

EDUCATION

Westville Girls’ High 
Durban, South Africa 
(1992 – 1995)

University of KwaZulu-Natal 
Durban, South Africa 
Bachelor of Commerce in Finance and Economics 
(1996 – 1998)

If we were to interview your teachers, what would they say about you?

Monica was always friendly and a good all-rounder, but could try a little harder at sports.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be an artist, but at the time, you couldn’t study both art and accounting, so my dad made the choice for me – accounting! I think that’s why I love marketing so much as it’s a great combination of both creativity and commerciality.

WORK

First Job

Over a single weekend in high school, I was recruited to sell “umbrella hats,” a bizarre and ridiculous contraption meant to protect you from the hot South African sun. I managed to sell out my entire stock by convincing beachgoers that they really needed one. That’s when I realized I could sell anything!

The Hardy Boys Advertising Agency, Durban, South Africa 

2003 – 2004: Account Director

Rainbow Farms (Pty), Durban, South Africa 

2004 – 2008: Marketing Manager

KFC South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa 

2009 – 2012: Marketing Manager, Advertising & Retail

KFC U.K. & Ireland, London, United Kingdom 

2012 – 2015: Marketing Manager, New Business Concepts

KFC Central & Eastern Europe, London, United Kingdom 

2015: Marketing Leader

2015: Marketing Director

KFC U.K. & Ireland, London, United Kingdom 

2015 – 2019: Marketing Director

2019 – 2020: Director of People Transformation

Taco Bell U.K. & Europe, London, United Kingdom 

2020 – 2023: Marketing Director

KFC U.K. & Ireland, London, United Kingdom 

2023 – present: Chief Marketing Officer

Do you believe in work/life balance?

For me, the notion of balance is an inner job; it is about a feeling of balance within that helps me remain calm and centered no matter what is happening in my external world. I began a committed daily meditation practice about five years ago that has deepened my sense of self and strengthened that feeling of balance. It’s an ongoing practice!

What moments, or who, in your life influenced the way you work?

Growing Up in Apartheid South Africa

As a mixed-race child in a period of institutionalized racial segregation in the country, this time shaped my desire to truly connect with people and know their stories. It also showed me the importance of creating environments where people feel they belong and matter.

Moving to London

This move in 2012 opened my eyes to the power of creativity: the city, the people, the art, music and design culture. There is a freedom of expression in London that continues to inspire me in our brand building efforts too.

Yum! Culture

I’ve been lucky to be inspired by many amazing leaders throughout my career at Yum!, such as Meg Farren, KFC U.K.’s General Manager, who leads with optimism, even during challenging times. David Timm, a former KFC CMO, showed me the power and impact of quiet people, which is important for introverts like myself. But, it is the Yum! culture in its entirety that has shaped how I lead, allowing me to bring my authentic self to work. We emphasize heart-led leadership, which fosters collaboration and empathy while encouraging courageous conversations in the right way.

What do people think you do versus what you actually do?

My 8-year-old nephew thinks I work at a KFC restaurant and get to eat popcorn chicken (his favorite) all day, but he’s starting to understand that I also “make ads.”

But actually, I get to lead a super talented marketing team, so my main job is to be a great coach for them. A big part of my role is partnering with our Leadership Team and franchisee partners to set our brand ambition and make sure we’re making the best strategic choices to grow KFC in a way that keeps us relevant for the next generation.

What is the best piece of advice that you’ve been given?

You can use your own joy as a navigation system for your life.

What makes you happy?

Joy for me shows up in small moments across the day.Laughing with my family.Cat cuddles.A walk along the river where I live.Even cold river swims!

How do you do it?

With a little help from my friends.

Client background 

The Baker Tilly client is a healthcare system in the southern region of the U.S. that serves more than 150,000 patients and has nearly 200 hospital beds.

The business challenge 

The health system was looking for ways to streamline their supply chain management system as with the current system they had in place, charge codes were not aligning, information about reimbursement was not being efficiently communicated, manual charge entry was leading to mistakes and rework, and more.

Strategy and solution 

To help the client enhance their Epic system, Baker Tilly initiated an assessment to review and identify opportunities for enhancing efficiency, streamlining workflows, and maximizing revenue generation while maintaining high standards of patient care. The assessment objectives included:

Conduct a thorough review of procedural items and Charge Description Master (CDM) to ensure accuracy and completenessVerify the functionality and accuracy of Epic Procedure Pass to improve data integrity and streamline documentation processesAssess the current preference card maintenance strategy to ensure alignments with clinical workflows and surgeon preferencesConduct a thorough review of charging processes to identify potential revenue leakage and opportunities for improvement

With the results from the assessment, Baker Tilly provided the health system with recommendations to optimize and improve their supply chain management system, including:

Creating a closed loop system for the Life of a Supply to secure revenue integrity and reduce billing errors/claim denialsImproving charge capture of billable services and supplies for maximizing revenueOptimizing scheduling leading to increased throughput and revenue generationStreamlining documentation workflows which lead to faster revenue cycle turnover

From the outset, the objective was to deliver tangible value that will help improve the clients’ pain points. By implementing the above recommendations and fostering collaborative efforts, the client increased efficiency and celebrated approximately about $600,000 in cost savings.

Interested in learning more? Connect with the Baker Tilly team today.

Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

COLUMBUS, Ga., August 22, 2024 /3BL/ — When it comes to taking care of their health, there are a few simple things that young people may be missing: making and keeping appointments with their primary care physicians, and leaning too heavily on urgent care and the emergency room for their primary care. This, according to Doctor Mike Varshavski, is supported by the second annual Aflac Wellness Matters Survey,1 recently released by Aflac, a leading provider of supplemental health insurance in the U.S.

“Doctor Mike” Varshavski, a board-certified family medicine physician, hosts “The Checkup Podcast” with 12 million-plus YouTube subscribers and was named People Magazine’s Sexiest Doctor Alive. Doctor Mike is revealing alarming statistics from the Aflac Wellness Matters survey as a callout to younger Americans to advocate for their own health and wellness, while gently encouraging friends and family to do the same.

“The results of the Aflac survey are aligned with what I see every day through my patients as a board-certified physician, particularly when it comes to younger people,” explained Varshavski. “Looking good, taking supplements and taking part in the latest health fads won’t guarantee wellness. Young people need to take a more proactive and holistic approach to their health care, which includes seeing your primary physician regularly for recommended screenings, exams and preventive care.”

Mistakes young people make with their health 
Ironically, the study reveals that younger Americans are hyper-focused on and worry about their physical and mental health — even more so than their social media reputation, getting a promotion or politics. Yet, they are often complacent about their health care. In fact, in spite of significant worrying about their mental and physical health and checkups, 84% of millennials and 81% of Gen Z put off a health checkup or important screenings beyond the recommended time frame. And many millennials admit avoiding essential health screenings altogether, including:

Pap smear: 34% women overall (40% millennials).STD screening: 23% overall (32% millennials).Full body skin cancer exam: 27% overall (31% millennials).Blood test: 32% overall (39% millennials).

The study shows that most young people, 70% of Gen Z and 66% of millennials, primarily use urgent care or the emergency room for their health care needs instead of building a relationship with their doctor. Furthermore, an alarming 1 in 5 Gen Z and millennials put off seeing their doctor even though they had a nagging feeling something was wrong (at a higher rate than Gen X, 13%, or baby boomers, 11%), showing young people may not be listening to their gut when they are feeling “off.”

“Having a primary doctor who you know and trust — and who knows your health situation — can help you to know when you need regular screenings and help you stay on top of your health,” explained Varshavski. “Urgent care, emergency rooms and specialty physicians play an important role in continuity of care, but a primary care doctor can stay with their patients over time, helping them with a variety of health concerns and charting their health history. It’s all about continuity of care so that patients feel empowered with both information and choices to take care of their health.”

Early detection is one of the best ways to treat and prevent serious illnesses

The study looked at those who’ve experienced a cancer diagnosis, and more than a quarter found out they had cancer because of a regularly scheduled cancer screening or routine exam (34% regularly scheduled screening, 29% routine exam), emphasizing the importance of regular screenings.

On his YouTube channel, Doctor Mike discusses how young people reported logistics, such as difficulty taking time from work, as their biggest barrier to getting timely wellness checkups and screenings. Other reasons included feeling healthy or believing checkups aren’t necessary at their age, negative emotions like fear or not trusting doctors, and insurance issues.

“As an actuary whose job is to analyze health care data, I can say without hesitation that it is in the interest of the policyholder, the health care system and the insurance company to practice self-discipline to stay on top of your personal, preventive health care,” said Tom Morey, Aflac U.S. chief actuary. “And while health care issues are statistically correlated with age, I can say as someone who lost two years of my life to an unexpected illness in my 20s, when it is happening to you, statistics don’t matter as much.”

Evidence-based ways to get men to the doctor

The Aflac Wellness Matters survey uncovered that men have a more positive outlook about their current health status and ability to control their health than women. However, men also more often reported skipping appointments because they are healthy right now and/or don’t need checkups at their age (27% vs. 20% among women). They were more likely to report delaying or forgetting to schedule important screenings and more likely than women to admit they primarily use urgent care or the emergency room for their health needs (56% v. 47% of women).

The study found evidence-based ways that can help, including that men respond well to encouragement from friends and family. Men were more likely to see a doctor if nudged or urged by a loved one to go (73% vs. 65% of women) and men more often reported a better health outcome when they are urged to go to the doctor: 71% v. 60% of women.

Preventive wellness makes financial sense

Having regular wellness checkups and screenings can help identify illness early and possibly help reduce long-term health costs. However, the study found that young people in particular were more likely to not have coverage or not know if screenings are covered by their insurance.

“At Aflac, our aim is to help bring these numbers down by bringing awareness to young Americans of the importance of building healthy habits early in life — whether that is starting one healthy habit, making an appointment you’ve been putting off or gently nudging a loved one to do the same,” said Morey. “It’s the small steps forward that make a difference over time.”

Watch the video: Mistakes Young People Make About their Health.

To learn more about the 2024 Wellness Matters survey and to find tips on how to take charge of your own health and encourage others to prioritize theirs, visit Aflac.com/WellnessMatters.

ABOUT THE 2024 WELLNESS MATTERS SURVEY 
The 2024 Aflac Wellness Matters Survey, examining attitudes, habits and opinions about health and preventive care, was conducted among a nationally representative sample of 2,000 employed U.S. adults ages 18-65 in April 2024 by Kantar Profiles on behalf of Aflac. 

ABOUT AFLAC INCORPORATED 
Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL), a Fortune 500 company, has helped provide financial protection and peace of mind for more than 68 years to millions of policyholders and customers through its subsidiaries in the U.S. and Japan. In the U.S., Aflac is the No. 1 provider of supplemental health insurance products.2 In Japan, Aflac Life Insurance Japan is the leading provider of cancer and medical insurance in terms of policies in force. The company takes pride in being there for its policyholders when they need us most, as well as being included in the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere for 18 consecutive years (2024), Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies for 23 years (2024) and Bloomberg’s Gender-Equality Index for the fourth consecutive year (2023). In addition, the company became a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) in 2021 and has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (2023) for 10 years. To find out how to get help with expenses health insurance doesn’t cover, get to know us at aflac.com or aflac.com/espanol. Investors may learn more about Aflac Incorporated and its commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability at investors.aflac.com under “Sustainability.”

Media contact: Angie Blackmar 706-392-2097 or ablackmar2@aflac.com

Analyst and investor contact: David A. Young, 706-596-3264, 800-235-2667 or dyoung@aflac.com

1 2024 Wellness Matters survey 
2 LIMRA 2023 US Supplemental Health Insurance Total Market Report

Aflac’s family of insurers include American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus, American Family Life Assurance Company of New York, Continental American Insurance Company, and Tier One Insurance Company. 

Aflac | WWHQ | 1932 Wynnton Road | Columbus, GA 31999

SOURCE Aflac

KeyBank proudly donated $5,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo to support the annual 2 Pack a Backpack school supply drive on WGRZ-TV. This effort helps families in need across Western New York purchase all the essential supplies needed for their children to start the school year.

Watch video of the donation here: https://youtu.be/BRx9ultvQ-M

“The cost of school supplies can be a stressful barrier for many families as we start the school year,” said Michael McMahon, KeyBank Buffalo Market President. ‘We are proud to support the 2 Pack a Backpack drive and applaud the Boys & Girls Clubs of Buffalo and WGRZ-TV for making the start of the school year easier for local students and their families.”

Learn more about KeyBank’s commitment to helping clients and communities thrive

Eaton adds jobs and footprint to its first Innovation Center in Canada located in BrossardNew Eaton Experience Center provides hub for industry education 

PITTSBURGH August 21, 2024 /3BL/ – Intelligent power management company Eaton today announced the expansion of its newest global Innovation Center near Montreal in Brossard, Quebec less than a year after its opening. After developing cutting-edge software in the region for nearly 40 years, last year the company announced its Innovation Center focused on the research and development of distributed energy resources (DER) technologies. Now, Eaton is adding 9,000 square feet and 50 more highly specialized jobs to the facility, bringing a total of approximately 200 jobs to Brossard. As part of the expansion, Eaton is building a new Experience Center to provide hands-on training for the digital technologies accelerating the energy transition—accelerating innovation and adoption of new solutions.

“Innovation and industry education are essential to propel the world’s transition to smarter, more sustainable energy systems. Here in Montreal, we’re bringing together the electrical industry’s brightest minds to develop and test new technologies, working hand-in-hand with customers, regional universities and technical schools to make it happen,” said Luiz Fernando Huet de Bacellar, PhD, Eaton’s vice president, engineering and technology. “We’re excited to bring more opportunities to the region, expand our Innovation Center and continue to innovate the technologies propelling the energy transition and a more sustainable future.” 

With the availability of renewable energy soaring globally, new power management technologies are vital to optimize DERs and interconnection with the electric grid. Since 2020, Eaton has invested $1.3 billion in research and development for sustainable solutions and is targeting a total of $3 billion to the mission by 2030. At its Montreal Innovation Center, Eaton is collaborating closely with long-time customers such as Hydro-Québec to develop and commercialize novel solutions like its next generation microgrid system that will help simplify, accelerate and optimize the integration of renewables and energy storage for utilities, buildings and industry.

“The expansion of the Eaton Innovation Center, in particular the new customer Experience Center, will help enhance the collaboration environment between Eaton and Hydro-Québec, and allow us to better integrate innovative technologies into our distribution system,” said Hervé Delmas, automation engineer at Hydro-Québec.

Eaton opened its Montreal Innovation Center in November 2023. With a focus on developing advanced solutions to optimize DERs, the company is bringing together multiple disciplines, including cybersecurity, software, human-centered design and automation experts to maximize the impact of sustainable technology across industries. 

Learn more about how Eaton is helping its global customers simplify the energy transition. 

Eaton is an intelligent power management company dedicated to protecting the environment and improving the quality of life for people everywhere. We make products for the data center, utility, industrial, commercial, machine building, residential, aerospace and mobility markets. We are guided by our commitment to do business right, to operate sustainably and to help our customers manage power ─ today and well into the future. By capitalizing on the global growth trends of electrification and digitalization, we’re accelerating the planet’s transition to renewable energy sources, helping to solve the world’s most urgent power management challenges, and building a more sustainable society for people today and generations to come. 

Eaton was founded in 1911 and has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange for more than a century. We reported revenues of $23.2 billion in 2023 and serve customers in more than 160 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com. Follow us on LinkedIn.

Contact:
Kristin Somers 
+1.919.345.3714
Kristincsomers@eaton.com 

Regina Parundik 
Cobblestone Communications
+1.412.559.1614
Regina@cobblecreative.com 

###

Over the last year, Duke Energy has supported more than 11,000 North Carolina households with more than $4.6 million in energy bill assistance

CHARLOTTE, N.C., August 22, 2024 /3BL/ – To help lower energy costs for low-income families this summer, Duke Energy is making more than $4.6 million in financial aid available to eligible customers through the company’s Share the Light Fund®.

“As temperatures climb throughout the summer, these funds will help reduce energy expenses for those who need it most,” said Kendal Bowman, president of Duke Energy North Carolina. We’re proud of the support Share the Light Fund has provided to our community over the past 40 years.”

Duke Energy works with over 100 agencies across North Carolina to distribute funds to qualifying customers to help pay energy bills, deposits and reconnection/connection charges. Individuals should contact their local agencies to see if they are eligible. Click here to find a listing of service providers by county.

Over the last five years, Duke Energy shareholders, employees, customers and the Duke Energy Foundation have provided more than $19.7 million in bill assistance through Share the Light Fund, which has helped support more than 66,000 North Carolina households.

Operation Fan Heat Relief

As part of Share the Light Fund, Duke Energy provides $80,000 each year for North Carolina’s Operation Fan Heat Relief. The program provides free fans to qualifying vulnerable older adults and adults with disabilities who are at risk for heat-related illnesses. The North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services distributes the funds to Agencies on Aging and local providers that distribute fans May 1-Oct. 31.

Savings programs and assistance

Duke Energy has more than a dozen energy assistance and bill-lowering tools, including:

Usage Alerts that send customers a notification of how much electricity they are using and its cost so they can make adjustments before their billing period ends.Free Home Energy House Calls, where energy professionals assess a home for efficiency and provide homeowners with a toolkit of energy-saving devices.Budget Billing, which helps ease the impact of higher seasonal bills by leveling out monthly payments.Installment payment plans for customers needing flexibility.

To learn more about these programs, visit duke-energy.com/HereToHelp.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America’s largest energy holding companies. The company’s electric utilities serve 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an ambitious clean energy transition, keeping reliability, affordability and accessibility at the forefront as the company works toward net-zero methane emissions from its natural gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity generation by 2050. The company is investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including expanded energy storage, renewables, natural gas and nuclear.

More information is available at duke-energy.com and the Duke Energy News Center. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook, and visit illumination for stories about the people and innovations powering our energy transition.

24-Hour: 800.559.3853

View original content here.

Originally published by Mastercard Strive

There’s an important environmental shift underway, and small businesses are playing a central role. Across the globe, an overwhelming 94% of consumers are demanding a shift to a green economy and holding businesses accountable for driving the crucial changes needed to achieve global net-zero emissions. As the backbones of most economies, small businesses are key drivers of environmental sustainability and need support to address mounting consumer demands for sustainable goods and services.

Recognizing the critical role of small businesses in achieving net-zero emissions, Mastercard Strive has partnered with organizations worldwide to support innovative technologies that enable small businesses to contribute to positive environmental impact. Partners are testing new ideas and scaling socially inclusive innovations for small businesses that minimize the impact on the planet and support communities that are already — or will become — impacted by climate change.

In this post, we share more details about these initiatives, their achievements, and lessons learned so far, where applicable. On the whole, Mastercard Strive programs are supporting small businesses to reduce or eliminate single-use plastic packaging, facilitate their participation in the circular economy, and assess their impact on environmental and social issues.

Reducing and eliminating single-use plastic packaging

The United Nations Environmental Programme estimates that about 85% of all single-use packaging becomes waste, ending up in landfills or as unregulated litter. In emerging markets such as Kenya, most small businesses are informal and tend to sell household products in small packaging quantities (as little as 50 grams) to account for the financial realities of low-income consumers. However, this model ends up hurting consumers and the environment alike: more frequent purchases of small quantities means consumers pay more over time, while also generating large amounts of single-use plastic waste.

In 2022, Mastercard Strive partnered with Novek to develop and test an Internet of Things–enabled dispensing system for washing powder for micro-retailers in Kenya. Mastercard Strive and Novek believe there is an opportunity for this technology to eliminate single-use plastic packaging and grow micro-retailer revenue at the same time. During the program, Novek built and successfully tested dispensing prototypes, learning several lessons on building innovative technology for small retailers. They learned that regular touch points involving training can promote consistent use among retailers and that it takes time to build trust among customers to switch to accessing a product in a new way. Novek is now building a more stable machine that requires less maintenance and focusing on building partnerships that can support their growth.

More recently, in Indonesia, Mastercard Strive has partnered with Alner, which employs a reusable and returnable packaging system to replace single-use, non-recyclable packaging for daily essentials such as detergent, rice, cooking oil, and more. Consumers can use the packaging up to 20 times. Alner creates a sustainable consumption loop by first providing Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs) companies with reusable packaging and then incentivizing consumers to return the packaging through a deposit-reward scheme. Through a mobile app, small businesses can monitor their business performance and environmental impact by tracking the volume of returned single-use plastic. Mastercard Strive is enabling Alner to further enhance its mobile app by introducing features to boost small businesses’ performance. These enhancements include comprehensive training materials, peer-to-peer learning, gamification elements, digital payments, and timely market insights.

Participating in the circular economy

Thousands of tons of unnecessary waste are created each year. The circular economy can minimize waste by keeping products, materials, and resources in use for as long as possible, reducing the 80% of products that are currently going to landfill or being incinerated.

In the UK, Mastercard Strive has partnered with Tern Eco, a retail tech solution that leverages circular retail models, such as reuse and resale, to support small businesses on their journey to circularity. Tern Eco’s enhanced solution will enable smaller time-poor retailers to intuitively set up circular retail programs, offering greater flexibility and new functionality to enable repairs, upcycling, and relisting products traded-in for resale.

Additionally, using the data generated and aggregated across merchants, consumers, and product verticals, Tern Eco will build a comprehensive view of the full life cycle of products to identify emerging market and consumer trends — data that will be shared with the wider retail community to encourage circular models in other markets.

Assessing business impact on social and environmental issues

Today, countries require major buying organizations to mandate their small business suppliers to measure and disclose their impact on social and environmental issues, known as Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting. Despite this growing demand, current ESG and sustainability data solutions are often inaccessible and expensive, and do not cater to small businesses’ unique needs. To address this, Mastercard Strive has partnered with Vested Impact, an impact assessment platform, to provide micro- and small businesses across the globe with independent, affordable, and data-driven impact assessments.

Through Vested Impact’s platform, small businesses can leverage more than 300 million science-based research papers and impact data points to assess the impact of their products and services on global priorities like climate, education, healthcare, and the economy. Small businesses will gain access to an AI-powered comprehensive summary, offering a breakdown of complex ESG data that aligns with leading regulations and supply chain requirements. This data has the potential to improve small businesses’ market access and empower them with the data they need to become sustainable and impactful.

Supporting small businesses to navigate evolving regulatory and consumer demands around sustainability is also an important priority for Mastercard Strive in the EU, which sought applications for innovative solutions to address these issues in its recent innovation fund.

Mastercard Strive is also increasingly turning its attention to the impact of climate on agriculture and farmers in the United States. A partnership with California Farmlink will pilot a program that integrates capital tools, digital solutions, and conservation measures to better support farmers and promote social impact investment in climate-smart agriculture. Further, federal funding focused on the climate crisis, such as the $27-billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, is also top of mind for Mastercard Strive in the US as organizations begin deploying funding across the country this summer. Public-private partnerships will play a critical role in ensuring this funding is invested in small businesses and the local communities they support.

Looking ahead

As suppliers, consumers, and regulators increasingly shift toward a green economy, micro- and small businesses cannot be left behind. Through these initiatives, Mastercard Strive aims to contribute to global net-zero gas emissions goals and promote the growth and financial resilience of small businesses worldwide. We are delighted to support these innovative partners and work alongside such inspiring entrepreneurs. We look forward to the insights and lessons our partners will share as they work to deliver digital and data-first solutions that support small business growth and environmental sustainability.

Originally published by Mastercard Strive

Follow along Mastercard’s journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.

August 22, 2024 /3BL/ – An updated online database, Business reporting on the SDGs: An analysis of the Goals and Targets, was made available today to improve business reporting on the SDGs, featuring a comprehensive inventory of potential disclosures at the targets level for each of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The database was first launched in 2017 by the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the UN Global Compact to effectively integrate the SDGs into existing reporting processes, and to demonstrate their impact and contributions to sustainable development through high-quality, consistent and comparable data. With a redesigned, user-friendly interface, it is primarily addressed to businesses, as well as to policymakers, investors, NGOs and researchers.

The online, freely-accessible database now includes:

A wide range of disclosures, based on recognized international frameworks and standards, such as the GRI Standards;New research options, allowing easy access and comparability of information and disclosures; andRegular revisions, ensuring up-to-date information.

The provision of this reporting tool reflects the urgent need for more progress on global challenges, such as climate change, pollution and rising inequalities. While companies are increasingly engaging with the SDGs, voluntary and fragmented reporting practices can lead to incomplete data. This initiative supports a standardized approach to reporting, to better align business practices with the Global Goals.

Peter Paul van de Wijs, Chief Policy Officer at GRI said:

“In a time of pressing global challenges, the role of the private sector in contributing to the SDGs cannot be overstated. Reporting practices are often non-mandatory and inconsistent, hindering our ability to comprehensively assess and address the most pressing sustainability issues. Through improved quality and comparability of data, the updated Analysis of Goals and Targets supports reporters in leveraging their existing reporting processes and tools to effectively demonstrate their impacts and contributions to the SDGs.”

Tonilyn Lim, Chief of Programmes at the United Nations Global Compact added:

“Unlocking quality corporate insights into SDGs progress is crucial for driving meaningful change. This updated analysis tool on the SDGs and underlying targets enables businesses to improve their reporting on the Global Goals. By offering a comprehensive inventory of potential disclosures for each SDG, we aim to standardize and elevate the quality of data, fostering greater transparency and accountability. This tool is not just about reporting; it is about equipping businesses to make a tangible impact on global challenges.”

The Analysis of Goals and Targets was presented on 11 July during the webinar Business Reporting on the SDGs: A State of Play and Future Directions, co-organized by GRI and UN Global Compact, as a side event of the 2024 UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development.

This session brought together over 770 participants to discuss the latest developments in the sustainability reporting landscape and their implications for reporting on the SDGs. Discussions included the need for enhanced public policies to incentivize and scale up business action on the Global Goals.

GRI and the UN Global Compact acknowledge the support provided to the ‘Analysis of the Goals and Targets’ online database by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).

International Olympic Committee news

Seventeen new sports organisations have recently joined the Sports for Nature Framework, committing to protecting and enhancing the natural world. Their membership was celebrated at an event held during the Olympic Games Paris 2024, and brought the total number of Framework signatories to 76.

Sport relies on the natural world and has the responsibility to protect it. We are seeing growing commitment and passion from across the sports world, which demonstrates just how far the Olympic Movement has come in its sustainability journey. Through the Sports for Nature Framework, we want to make sure that sports organisations have the right tools and support to take action.

Marie Sallois
International Olympic Committee Director for Sustainability

The Hellenic Olympic Committee, the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees, the Mauritius Olympic Committee, the National Olympic Committee of the Solomon Islands and the Botswana National Olympic Committee, as well as European Aquatics, the International Golf Federation and the French Rowing Federation, were amongst the new signatories, committing to reducing their climate and environmental footprint through actions such as more sustainable transport, energy solutions and procurement.

At the signing event, which was attended by more than 100 people, a number of Olympians stressed the role that sport can play in inspiring change.

Sport can play an important role in the global efforts to protect the environment. Events such as the Olympic Games provide us with a platform to be strong advocates for nature.

Abhinav Bindra
Olympic gold medallist at Beijing 2008, Vice-Chair of the IOC Athletes’ Commission and founder of the Abhinav Bindra Foundation Trust

“In rugby, we are all different, but we all contribute to the game in various ways,” said Alena Olsen, Paris 2024 Olympic medallist with the USA in rugby 7s.

Together, we are more than the sum of our parts. That’s also true for climate action. Athletes want to be part of it and contribute in a meaningful way.

Alena Olsen
Paris 2024 Olympic medallist with the USA in rugby 7s

“We’re all here together at the Olympic Games because we believe in common values and the ability of humans to do better,” said Adam van Koeverden, Olympic champion and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and the Minister of Sport and Physical Activity in Canada. “I believe in sport’s ability to change minds and touch hearts. We need to be able to leverage that.”

Biodiversity protection was a major focus for Paris 2024 organisers, who committed to an “anticipate, avoid and reduce” approach with regard to the environmental impact of the event. Some 95 per cent of Paris 2024 venues were already existing or temporary, meaning that new constructions were minimised. For temporary installations, a rigorous approach was developed to assess potential ecological impacts, from the pre-design to the post-Games phase.

For example, a rare plant, the “Conopode dénudé”, was protected at the equestrian venue, the Château de Versailles, and temporary installations were carefully set up to avoid damage to meadows and wetlands at the Golf National venue.

“Paris 2024 has proven that it is feasible – and practical – to implement Games that are both spectacular and sustainable,” said Sallois. “It was the power of sport to inspire that made it stand out from other sectors. I believe we are all conscious that we represent a unique opportunity. No other sector, no other industry can have this inspirational power, and this is why we can be more part of the solution than anyone else.”

Dona Bertarelli, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Patron of Nature and Executive Chair of Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy, shared a video message saying: “From the grandest stadiums to our local sports parks, sports unite us in passion and spirit, but with unity comes responsibility. Every swing, hit, throw, kick, stroke, climb, sprint, ride, surf or sail impacts nature. Our role in safeguarding this landscape is not just a duty but a fundamental necessity for survival and well-being.”

Launched in 2022, Sports for Nature is a joint initiative by the IUCN, the IOC, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy. It aims to integrate biodiversity considerations into the planning and operations of sports events, including the Olympic Games. It encourages sports organisations to protect natural habitats, conserve species and promote sustainable land use.

The full list of Sports for Nature signatories is available here.

Sustainability

The IOC takes a proactive approach to ensure that sustainability is embedded in all aspects of organising the Olympic Games. Leaving a sustainable and positive legacy for the host city and country is a primary, achievable objective for all organisers of the Olympic Games.

Learn more