Tag: 3BL

In May, Cisco ThousandEyes hosted its third annual Partner Connection – an event dedicated to sharing ideas, creating connections, and engaging with our channel partners. This year, in the spirit of collaboration, ThousandEyes partnered with Cisco’s Partnering for Purpose team to incorporate a meaningful giveback element into the agenda.

Seeking the most impactful way to collaborate with our channel partners, we engaged the expertise of a third-party social impact event supplier, Give to Get. They helped to identify potential local onsite and offsite giveback opportunities, ranging from tackling youth hunger and homelessness to supporting the environment and STEM outreach amongst young boys and girls. All activities were designed to directly benefit the St. Petersburg community, where the Partner Connection event was taking place.

The ThousandEyes team ultimately chose the option that addressed youth hunger, and we scheduled a 75-minute Partnering for Purpose session with a meal-packing giveback activity as the last session on day one of our two-day summit agenda. The giveback activity supported the Feed our Future program of the United Food Bank of Plant City (UFBPC), a partner of Meals on Wheels for Kids. Feed our Future ensures that children have year-round access to nutritious meals, crucially during school breaks when access to free or reduced-cost meals provided by the National School Lunch Program is limited.

During the giveback session, Cisco ThousandEyes attendees, alongside channel partners attendees packed 400 snack packs, totaling approximately 1,000 pounds of food. This hands-on activity not only fostered partner collaboration but also made a tangible difference in the lives of local children.

Reflecting on the event, ThousandEyes Global Director, Partner Strategy and Solutions Engineering Tanner Bechtel noted, “I watched jackets come off, sleeves get rolled up, and people use the brilliance they give to their organizations be turned into an awe-inspiring collaborative event for the betterment of people who really needed a hand up. This part—sharing of our time, our work—with humility and kindness—these are the things that matter.”

As the Global ThousandEyes Sales Leader, it was incredible to see how much our partners appreciated this experience. Since the inception of Partner Connection, my team and I have always sought ways to give back to the communities that we visit. This activity provided an opportunity to make a meaningful impact as a team and share the goodness with our partners.

The success of Partner Connection and its giveback element highlights the power of partnership in amplifying positive impact. By integrating a giveback activity into our event, we hope that Cisco ThousandEyes sets a powerful example for others to follow.

Visit the Partnering for Purpose SalesConnect

Read our stories and Partnering for Purpose blogs

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“One man’s trash is another man’s cash.” Do you know this saying? Well, take the statement to a higher level and add an industrial, private-public set-up: then you will get an idea of what the Kalundborg Symbiosis is. The Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Denmark production site is now part of this partnership to promote sustainability and a more circular approach to production.

In the Kalundborg Symbiosis, the city’s biggest industrial companies work together across sectors to share excess energy, water, and materials, so less goes to waste. As public and private companies are physically connected, one company’s surplus of resources adds value to another. Today, more than 20 different streams of excess resources flow between the companies, creating a symbiosis of resource exchange, adding more resilience and profit to the partners.

As a local industrial player in Kalundborg, our production site Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Denmark is an important partner for the Kalundborg Symbiosis. The symbiosis is a partnership between public and private companies aiming to use fewer resources and take a more circular approach to production.

While Kalundborg is located in a small corner of West Zealand, about 90 minutes’ drive from Copenhagen, the symbiosis is a globally inspiring example of ways to achieve more sustainability. Established in 1972, the symbiosis offers 50 years of experience.

Saving money and minimizing waste

Ole Jørgensen, Site Director, Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health Denmark, explains why we are joining the partnership: “Together with the leadership team, I’m thrilled that we are now part of Kalundborg Symbiosis. It does make sense to be in a local partnership, where we can share and reuse resources, thus saving both money and minimizing waste. Another pleasing point is that we can tap into a professional network in the field of sustainability to connect even better with key profiles in our local community. This also allows us to become more visible to new potential employees and business partners.”

Sharing excess water, energy, and materials

Including Boehringer, the Kalundborg Symbiosis now has 20 public and private companies (status: 2024). All follow the main principle of the Symbiosis: one partner’s waste becomes another partner’s resource. Collaboration and knowledge sharing is key. “Joining the Symbiosis allows us to work together with other companies across sectors to share excess energy, water, and materials, so waste is minimized. It is a tangible example of how we in Denmark are striving to be more sustainable and recycle resources, and thus implement our sustainability strategy,” Jørgensen says, adding, “We are motivated to become more green and to recycle as many resources as possible – and the Symbiosis aligns with this ambition.”

A true win-win situation

Currently, there is one specific type of waste from discarded Bovikalc (an oral calcium supplement for dairy cows) that can possibly be absorbed in another company’s raw material – or used in fertilization. “For obvious reasons, it is meaningful to let others benefit from our waste instead of paying a fee to the local environmental authorities for getting rid of production waste materials,” Jørgensen explains. “The circular approach is a greener and better way of production.” Boehringer is aiming to become carbon neutral in company operations by 2030 by reducing and minimizing emissions, a goal that is shared with the Kalundborg Symbiosis.

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Find out more about Boehringer Ingelheim’s global sustainability initiatives, ranging from creating more sustainable healthcare solutions and community engagement with impact to environmental stewardship in Imagine: our sustainability story hub.

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Mastercard

Addressing the climate crisis both domestically and internationally is key to ensuring long-term global economic stability. In November 2022, Administrator Samantha Power and then-Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry introduced the PREPARE Call to Action to the Private Sector at COP27, engaging 10 companies, including Mastercard, to help half a billion people in developing countries adapt to the effects of climate change.

Mastercard’s commitment to the PREPARE Call to Action includes a partnership with BFA Global and CIFAR Alliance, which is scaling innovative fintech-enabled solutions that help vulnerable households and businesses build resilience and adapt to climate impacts. Together, we’ve launched the Climate Smart Product Innovation Hub, showcasing 74 climate-aligned fintech innovations to attract investment and generate scale. Our commitment also encompasses our goal to bring 30 million people onto our Community Pass platform within the next five years. In early 2024, Community Pass partnered with the Co-operative Bank of Kenya and Shell Foundation to launch a program aimed at providing up to 100,000 potato, maize, and dairy farmers with access to credit for six innovative clean energy farming technologies.

Impact can be maximized when governmental initiatives are combined with private sector support. It was an honor to participate in a discussion yesterday with these leaders and representatives from the PREPARE Call to Action on how we can enhance the stability and security of supply chains, harness American ingenuity, and leverage our collective strengths to promote climate resilience globally.

About Mastercard

Mastercard is a global technology company in the payments industry. Our mission is to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere by making transactions safe, simple, smart and accessible. Using secure data and networks, partnerships and passion, our innovations and solutions help individuals, financial institutions, governments and businesses realize their greatest potential. With connections across more than 210 countries and territories, we are building a sustainable world that unlocks priceless possibilities for all.

Originally published by Mastercard

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

We are committed to fostering the next generation of leaders in the utility industry. Our summer internship program offers students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience, develop professional skills, and build meaningful connections within the company. Through engaging projects and mentorship, our interns are equipped to make significant contributions and grow both personally and professionally.

Haley Piasecki, one of our talented summer interns, shared some of her experiences and insights from her time with us.

Q: Can you introduce yourself?

A: My name is Haley Piasecki, and I’m from Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey. I’m currently a rising junior, pursuing a degree in Integrated Business with a minor in Political Science at Pennsylvania Western University at California.

Q: Where did you intern this summer?

A: This summer, I had the privilege of interning with the Performance Assessment Group for Atlantic City Electric.

Q: What were some of the highlights of your internship experience?

A: Throughout my internship, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many new people who have generously shared their knowledge with me. Collaborating with various groups has given me insight into how different departments work together to drive growth within the company.

Q: Can you share a particularly impactful experience?

A: A particularly impactful experience was a ride-along with the safety team and company leaders, where we observed the routes taken by troublemen to monitor fires in New Jersey. It was truly inspiring to meet women in leadership roles at Exelon.

Q: What challenges did you face, and how did you overcome them?

A: Initially, entering a heavily engineering-focused environment was daunting, especially with the unfamiliar terminology. However, I learned to embrace confusion and ask questions, which has been crucial for my innovation and personal growth.

Q: How has the internship with Atlantic City Electric helped you grow?

A: My internship at Atlantic City Electric has provided me the space to flourish and grow both personally and professionally. My confidence in public speaking has significantly improved, thanks to the engaging intern program. I’ve made friends from across the United States and gained valuable insights into the utility and engineering industries.

Atlantic City Electric is a unit of Exelon (Nasdaq: EXC), a Fortune 200 company and the nation’s largest utility company, serving more than 10 million customers. Atlantic City Electric provides safe and reliable energy service to approximately 572,000 customers in southern New Jersey.

To learn more about Atlantic City Electric, visit The Source, Atlantic City Electric’s online newsroom. Find additional information by visiting atlanticcityelectric.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/AtlanticCityElectric, and on X, formerly known as Twitter, at twitter.com/AcEleCconnect. Atlantic City Electric’s mobile app is available at atlanticcityelectric.com/MobileApp.

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In Sierra Leone, small savings groups have a long history of supporting farmers and marginalized communities, especially women. In short, saving groups have transformed lives, offering financial support and fostering community resilience.

Through increased access and control over resources, saving group members can financially empower their families and communities. CARE’s engagement with Village Savings & Loan Associations (VSLAs) is one such approach with a particular emphasis on supporting women’s economic growth of women in rural communities.

Yet with manual saving groups comes its own challenges which involves potential errors, mismanagement of cash, inaccuracies in record-keeping, lost records, mismanagement of loans, limited literate individuals who can read or write etc.

How did we enhance the efficiency of savings groups?
To combat challenges of manual savings, CARE Sierra Leone collaborated with MikashBoks which is a global adaptable digital platform. Through this platform CARE worked on:

Enhancing the efficiency of financial management of VSLA processes;Introducing secure transitions for savings groups;Accelerating the adoption of digital financial practices in rural areas; andSupporting the transition from cash to wallet.

The Pilot
In Sierra Leone 81 traditional VSLA groups participated in the pilot and were transformed into a digital framework in collaboration with MiKashBoks.

Was digital data collection beneficial?
Through this digital approach the savings groups were able to collect and handle data in a more efficient manner:

Automated handling, where financial transactions are recorded and managed electronically, reduced human error streamlining processes.Accurate automated record-keeping ensured precise and consistent records, easily accessible for review and audit.Loans were efficiently managed with automated calculations, clear repayment schedules, and real-time tracking of loan status.Ensured transparent record sharing to all members of the group.Information became accessible to all members including those who were not literate, through user-friendly interfaces and possibly visual or audio aids, fostering inclusivity and participation.

What helped with bridging the digital divide?

During the pilot phase of MikashBoks, CARE provided SIM cards and smartphones to VSLA members and village agents for financial transactions.Digital literacy trainings were initiated by CARE.The application has easy user-interface, visual and audio guides for people who were not literate and could be used offline during poor connectivity.For rural women, it provided a gateway to financial independence. The mobile feature enhanced safety and convenience.In urban areas, the app enabled women to access practical business advice on-the-go while carrying household and childcare responsibilities and striving for financial independence.For young and ambitious urban entrepreneurs, the app acted as a platform for social change. CARE and MiKashBoks worked to alter stigmas around women’s use of technology.

What next?
Sierra Leone’s journey towards an inclusive and digital VSLA, despite its challenges, is promising. While communities may face challenges such as limited literacy, connectivity and reluctance to use technology, the pilot has shown significant achievements. 

With 81 VSLA groups already transitioned to digital operation, there are plans to expand to 200 groups in Sierra Leonne.Continuous training and support remain crucial to ensure no member is left behind in digital transformation.

For more information read this report on Digitalizing Savings Groups in Sierra Leone

Driving down our energy emissions is an important part of reaching our long-term goal relating to net-zero carbon. And we’re focusing on three key areas to make it happen.

First, we’re working hard to improve energy efficiency within our internal operations.

Next, we’re taking action to electrify our operations and aiming for all the electricity we’re using across our manufacturing sites by 2030 to be renewable by transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable electricity and electrification. Third, we’re increasing our use of renewable electricity.

2023 PROGRESS

2018

2021

2022

2023

Total energy consumed (GJ) (22)

17,252,000

17,382,000

17,134,000

16,771,000

Total renewable electricity (%) (22)

—

33 %

40 %

48 %

Manufacturing CO₂e emissions from energy (CO₂e market-based metric tonnes) (8)

1,325,000

1,077,000

1,005,000

871,000

CO₂e emissions reductions across our manufacturing operations (vs. 2018) (8)

—

(19) %

(24) %

(34) %

 

OUR OPERATIONS

Improving Energy Efficiency 
Focusing in our operations, we are working to make our manufacturing plants more efficient by continuously investing in advanced energy-management systems and energy efficient technologies. We’re drawing on the “eliminate, substitute, reuse, recycle” principles of the circular economy to progressively reduce our operations’ carbon intensity and drive carbon absolute reduction. Solutions already in place are energy efficiency improvements to biscuit ovens and steam boilers, including heat recovery. We also invest in higher-efficiency equipment.

Transition to Renewable Electricity and Electrification 
We have been working towards shifting away from fossil fuels as the primary source of the power we use and transferring to biofuels and renewable electricity. Electrification combined with our transition to renewable-sourced electricity are drivers of our decarbonization strategy. We implemented onsite solar panels, and signed long-term wind and solar Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) in several sites globally supporting new project implementation.

Increasing the Use of Renewable Electricity 
We’re working closely with governments and suppliers to promote renewable energy wherever we operate – either bought using PPAs or generated on our facilities with onsite solar panels. This approach is working. About half of the electricity we used in 2023 came from various renewable sources, increasing from the approximately 40% achieved in 2022 (22).

2023 IN REVIEW

Throughout 2023, we continued to make the important changes needed to help drive down our energy-related emissions. Our aim to deploy renewable electricity solutions aligns seamlessly with the broader sustainability agenda in our long-term growth strategy by driving decarbonization across our manufacturing footprint, making a major step forward in working towards achieving our sustainability goals.

Collaborations are vital to help deliver our carbon reduction goals and build a more sustainable snacking company and that’s why in 2023 we continued and increased our efforts to make the shift to renewable electricity for both on- and off-site, grasping new opportunities as they emerged.

For solar and wind renewable electricity, we are excited to have entered into agreements in several countries where we have invested in onsite solar panels in countries like India, Vietnam, Poland, Thailand, Egypt, Bahrain, Pakistan and Malaysia. For instance, the electricity generated from the solar panel installation at our Skarbimierz plant in Poland is fully consumed by the site. And we continue to maintain approximately 100% renewable energy sources for Khon Kaen plant in Thailand and Sucat plant in the Philippines.

As part of our focus on increasing the use of renewable electricity, we signed 10 to 12-year PPAs with multiple partners. These included contracts in Spain and in Finland. These will start to deliver additional renewable electricity over the next three years.

In 2023, we also invested in several programs to improve energy efficiency with a combined total of approximately $140 million in our European supply chain network, refurbishing ovens and introducing advanced new alternatives to decrease the impact of our outsourced manufacturing activities. This continued to help drive reductions in our Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions during the year as the proportion of electricity from renewable sources continued to grow.

In Bahrain, we have an agreement to utilize thousands of solar panels for both rooftop and carport applications helping our plant to reduce and offset CO2 emissions.

In Egypt, we have been reducing our emissions by building and measuring an energy management system and integrating energy efficiency projects and cleaner energy projects into operations.

In Morocco, we signed an energy agreement in March 2023 to equip our production site with hundreds of solar panels supporting Mondelēz Morocco’s ambition to utilize more of its energy needs.

“Electrification combined with our transition to renewable electricity are key drivers of our energy efficiency strategy, further expanding the sustainability of our operations.”

Ken Sparkman 
Senior Director, Supply Chain Sustainability, 
Mondelēz International

GLOBAL LIGHTHOUSE NETWORK IN AMEA

In China, in 2023, three of our four plants joined the esteemed league of manufacturers recognized as the Global Lighthouse Network by the World Economic Forum (WEF). This prestigious label signifies their status as trailblazers in implementing Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies (4IR). These factories have reached meaningful milestones and demonstrated exceptional ability in amplifying productivity, promoting sustainability, and fortifying resilience, setting them apart as leaders in their field. In January 2023 Mondelēz Suzhou factory which includes two plants (East Suzhou and West Suzhou plant) became the world’s first “end-to-end lighthouse factory” for the snack biscuit industry, and also achieved a third-party verified Carbon Neutrality (40). Also in December 2023, Mondelēz Beijing plant joined the Lighthouse Network implementing an AI-powered dough-making lights-off workshop and gas consumption optimization with machine learning.

Also, early in 2023 Mondelēz India’s state-of-the-art Sri City factory became one of the first Indian FMCG plants awarded with the Advanced 4IR Digital Lighthouse Award by the World Economic Forum.

(8) Please see the Carbon Accounting Manual for conversion factors applied. 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.

(22) 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.

(40) Carbon neutrality is 3rd party verified and includes carbon offsets. Carbon offsets are excluded from the corporate end to end CO2e footprint inline with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Standard.

View the full 2023 Snacking Made Right Report

NEW YORK and LONDON, August 14, 2024 /3BL/ – 

AccountAbility, a trusted global ESG Consulting and Standards firm with a three-decade history in guiding leaders to build better companies, is pleased to announce that for the third consecutive year it has been recognized by Forbes as one of The World’s Best Management Consulting Firms, this time for 2024.

“AccountAbility is extremely grateful to Forbes, Statista, our clients, and our peers to accept the Forbes award for the third consecutive year. Our continued inclusion in this distinguished ranking reinforces the ever-growing importance of sustainability/ ESG matters and their impact on the global business universe,” said Mr. Sunil (Sunny) A. Misser, CEO of AccountAbility.

“At AccountAbility, we remain committed to delivering practical, effective, and enduring outcomes that enable our clients to succeed. Our journey is shaped by the unwavering trust and invaluable support from our esteemed clients and peers. This recognition further motivates us to remain at the forefront of sustainable business solutions and to advance good ESG practices worldwide,” Mr. Misser added.

To determine The World’s Best Management Consulting Firms 2024 list, Forbes, together with Statista, conducted an independent evaluation of thousands of multinational management consultancies across 13 industries and 14 functional areas. These firms were then evaluated based on survey results conducted among 9,000 consultants (partners and executives of management consulting firms) as well as clients (executives of large global corporations) from different geographical regions worldwide, to identify and recommend The World’s Best Management Consulting Firms 2024.

This latest recognition adds to a growing list of multi-year global business awards for AccountAbility, including a three-time winner of the Best ESG Strategy Development Partner from Capital Finance International (2021-23), and a seven-time Leading Management Consultant recipient from the Financial Times (2018-24).

AccountAbility continues its journey towards building better businesses and fostering a culture of integrity, performance, and responsibility in organizations worldwide.

AccountAbility issues an annual global report on the Top Sustainability Trends facing businesses and guides leaders on ESG matters of significant priority for the future; found below:

The 7 Sustainability Trends 2023 Report

About AccountAbility: 

AccountAbility is a leading global Consulting and Standards firm that works with businesses, investors, governments, and multilateral organizations to innovate and advance the global Sustainability/ ESG agenda by improving the practices, performance, and impact of organizations. The firm focuses on delivering practical, effective, and enduring results that enable our clients to succeed.

AccountAbility is a Public Benefit Corporation, operating globally through a highly qualified team from offices in New York, London, Riyadh, and Dubai. The firm is the recipient of multiple business awards from the Financial Times, Forbes, and Capital Finance International, and its website is archived with the United States Library of Congress. Learn more at www.accountability.org

Ms. Rachel Rose 
AccountAbility 
Head of Global Operations 
+1 646-507-5905 
Email: Rachel.rose@accountability.org 
Web: www.accountability.org

The American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) campaign, Ask a Change Maker, features Tracey Campbell, LYB Executive Vice President, Sustainability & Corporate Affairs in its latest video, explaining how circularity works in keeping plastics out of landfills or the environment. Campbell serves as vice chair of the World Plastics Council and is an executive committee member of the Alliance to End Plastic Waste.

Ask a Change Maker is a campaigns launched by the ACC to showcase innovative and sustainable solutions the chemical industry provides to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. The campaign aims to inspire and engage the public, policymakers, customers and stakeholders to support the chemical industry’s efforts to create a more sustainable future.

LYB is one of the leading participants in the America’s Change Makers campaign, highlighting achievements and commitments in the areas of circularity, climate and community. Plastics are essential in creating solutions for everyday sustainable living and are key to the energy transition from the latest automotive components that enable vehicle lightweighting to integral components for wind turbines and solar panels. The story of plastic is evolving and it is being written by America’s Change Makers, who are leading sustainable change.

Read Campbell’s thought leadership piece on Plastics and Planet: Enabling a sustainable future | LyondellBasell.

Visit the America’s Change Makers website to learn more about the campaign and if you missed the spotlights on Armando Lara, site manager at the LYB Lake Charles joint venture (LKO), or Brenna Hebert, Olefins operations manager at LKO, you can find their stories on LYB.com.

August 14, 2024 /3BL/ – Top federal officials, members of the Gov. Tim Walz administration, Minnesota private sector leaders, and local labor and nonprofit representatives gathered Wednesday for a collaborative discussion about home energy and efficiency rebate programs that will be implemented by the state and funded by the federal Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

The event — “Maximizing Decarbonization Opportunities Through the IRA Home Energy Rebate Programs” — was convened by the sustainability nonprofit Ceres and hosted at the McKnight Foundation offices in Minneapolis. The event brought together a wide array of experts and stakeholders to discuss Minnesota’s plans for the IRA’s HOMES and HEAR programs, which use federal funds to empower states to establish new rebate programs that will help residents reduce pollution and save money by upgrading to cleaner, more efficient home appliance and system upgrades.

Participants included business leaders with companies including Franklin Energy, Johnson Controls, Samsung Electronics America, and the Minnesota Retailers Trade Association, which represented Lowe’s; government officials in the U.S. Department of Energy, the Minnesota Department of Commerce, the Minnesota Department of Management and Budget, and the office of U.S. Senator Tina Smith; and representatives from the Laborer’s International Union of North America for Minnesota and North Dakota and nonprofit organizations including Ceres, Clean Energy Economy Minnesota, Elevate, the McKnight Foundation, and Rewiring America.

The event provided an opportunity for private-sector, workforce, and consumer stakeholders to share feedback and insight with government officials on rebate program designs. Participants focused on national trends and sought to identify unforeseen challenges and best practices to maximize the climate and financial benefits of home energy and efficiency programs.

“Franklin Energy has a 30-year history of working with state government and utilities in Minnesota and across the country to implement programs that provide households with upgrades aimed at saving energy and improving quality of life,” said Lloyd Kass, vice president of strategy and market development, Franklin Energy. “We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in today’s roundtable, which demonstrates that federal officials and Minnesota’s energy office are approaching the rollout of the IRA home rebate programs in the correct way, particularly in its engagement of stakeholders such as businesses like ours.”

“Our core business is smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, and we are laser-focused on tackling the 40% of global emissions coming from buildings,” said Nicholas Harbeck, manager of environmental and regulatory affairs, Johnson Controls. “The technology we have today—energy efficiency, electrification with heat pumps, and digitalization—can create big savings for homeowners and businesses while slashing greenhouse gas pollution. Johnson Controls is excited to work with states like Minnesota to ensure home and building owners across the state can save on energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the rapid adoption of heat pump incentives funded by Inflation Reduction Act. It was our honor to meet today with peer organizations and key federal and state public officials in Minnesota, and we look forward to the strong implementation of the HOMES and HEARS rebate programs here and across the United States.”

“Minnesota retailers understand consumer trends, market dynamics, and technological progress, and are well-positioned to play a key role connecting residents with the technologies they need to efficiently and affordably operate their homes,” said Bruce Nustad, president, Minnesota Retailers Association. “We are grateful for the opportunity to bring this important perspective to today’s roundtable event and are excited to see the smart design and implementation of Minnesota’s HOMES and HEAR rebate programs.”

“Samsung is honored to be part of the discussion on implementing the Inflation Reduction Act’s home energy rebates program in Minnesota. As a leader in ENERGY STAR induction cooking products, heat pump dryers, and heat pump HVAC, which can all be incentivized through the rebate programs, we stand ready to support Minnesota and all states that seek to advance energy efficiency for consumers. We have been robustly engaged with stakeholders to try to help ensure our mutual goal of success through education and awareness, including on the importance of a retailer pathway to provide rebates quickly. We look forward to continuing to partner with retail partners, the U.S. Department of Energy, state governments, and NGOs to help realize the benefits to consumers,” said Prerna Tomar, Director, Public Policy, Samsung Electronics America.

“This week marks the second anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act becoming law, and today’s event is testament to its impact,” said Jenna Warmuth, senior manager for Midwest regional policy, Rewiring America. “As key programs like the HOMES and HEAR program roll out in states across the U.S., it is encouraging to see the collaboration between leaders at the federal and state levels, in labor, and in business. Events like today’s roundtable in Minneapolis will ensure residents, businesses, communities, states, and the entire U.S. fully experience the IRA’s immense economic, climate, and public health benefits.”

“The clean energy transition is happening, and I want us to lead it,” said Sen. Tina Smith. “As we make the switch to cleaner, cheaper energy solutions, we need to make sure everyone benefits. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, statewide programs will provide rebates for home efficiency upgrades in Minnesota, saving families all across the state thousands of dollars a year in energy costs while helping reduce harmful emissions.”

Ceres has convened public and private sector leaders to discuss the HOMES and HEAR programs, as well as other opportunities to maximize the historic climate investments in the Inflation Reduction Act, since it passed into law in 2022. At a Ceres-hosted event in March, seven major manufacturers met with U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and Wisconsin officials as that state charted its rebate programs, and Ceres is planning a similar event in Arizona later this month. Ceres has also hosted broader discussions between federal, state, and private-sector leaders about capitalizing on the Inflation Reduction Act in states including Pennsylvania, Nevada, and Michigan.

“Leading businesses have played a crucial role in passing and implementing the Inflation Reduction Act, and their industry expertise is highly valued at both the state and federal levels as its programs roll out,” said Mel Mackin, director of state policy, Ceres. “We are proud and grateful today to have brought so many public and private-sector leaders together for a collaborative discussion to maximize the benefits of the HOMES and HEAR rebate programs in Minnesota, and we look forward to their implementation soon.”

About Ceres

Ceres is a nonprofit advocacy organization working to accelerate the transition to a cleaner, more just, and sustainable world. United under a shared vision, our powerful networks of investors and companies are proving sustainability is the bottom line—changing markets and sectors from the inside out. For more information, visit ceres.org.

Media Contact: Helen Booth-Tobin, booth-tobin@ceres.org

FORT WORTH, Texas, August 14, 2024 /3BL/ – American Airlines is the first U.S. airline to launch an automated tag for mobility devices, part of an ongoing commitment to improve wheelchair and mobility device handling across its network. Developed in-house by American’s Technology team, the tags are currently used in the airports where American and its regional partners operate.

“American is committed to improving the travel experience for our customers who use wheelchairs and mobility devices,” said Julie Rath, American’s Senior Vice President of Airports, Reservations and Service Recovery. “Streamlining the check-in and tagging process is an industry-leading effort that will help us further improve how we handle wheelchairs for our customers who entrust us to transport their devices on their journey.”

New automated tags, replacing the previous manual tags, feature customer- and device-specific data like itineraries, delivery points, device weight, battery type and the number of items removed and taken on board. This additional information will ensure more accurate and consistent information for team members handling the devices and provide enhanced visibility of the devices throughout customers’ travel journeys. The automation also enables the device’s information to be more easily shared across frontline team members’ applications, ensuring team members have the right information at the right time.

American has launched multiple improvements across its operation to deliver a positive, more seamless travel experience for customers with wheelchairs and mobility devices. These actions have helped American improve handling of these devices. American’s handling rate for mobility devices improved nearly 13% from the first half of 2023 to the first half of 2024.

Hands-on training for team members: With the help of an outside organization, American offers in-person mobility device training to its Airport Customer Service and Customer Operations team members and vendor partners, which supplements comprehensive web-based training delivered to all American airport team members.Investing in airport infrastructure: Wheelchair movers have been deployed and lifts are being installed at the airline’s hubs and other airports with high mobility device traffic, which helps lower the risk of damaging mobility devices and team member injury.Streamlining the traveler experience: American made it easier for customers to add and maintain wheelchairs and other mobility devices as part of their travel profiles. Starting this fall, customers can conveniently access their saved travel preferences, such as traveling with a mobility device or service animal and apply their details to any upcoming trip when managing on aa.com. Enabling customers to manage these needs digitally ensures the airline has the necessary information to safety and securely transport devices.

About American Airlines Group
To Care for People on Life’s Journey®. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL and the company’s stock is included in the S&P 500. Learn more about what’s happening at American by visiting news.aa.com and connect with American @AmericanAir and at Facebook.com/AmericanAirlines.