Tag: 3BL

The Quest for Health Equity (Q4HE) team led a summer internship program by partnering with business leaders across Quest Diagnostics to provide hands-on work experience for students from the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) Scholars programs. These programs provided participants with professional experience and research development opportunities to support their growth as future leaders in STEM and healthcare.

The interns worked directly with medical, marketing, and lab operations professionals, received mentoring, and participated in networking opportunities. This program supports our commitment to promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce and broadening the healthcare career pipeline by recruiting interns from the AHA’s HBCU and HSI programs.

Learn more about the interns’ experiences, achievements and career aspirations below.

To learn more about AHA’s Scholars Programs, click here.

Litzy Ocampos, graduate student at The University of North Texas, pursuing master’s degree in maternal and child health

Hometown: Houston, TXMy favorite part of the internship was working hands on with the grantees and hearing how every organization has different goals and plans to help different communities joining the fight for health equity.My biggest mentor and role model this summer has truly been everyone on the Q4HE team as they each shared many gems and tokens of knowledge. Each person on my team has their personal strengths, and from each of them I have learned something new that has led me to grow as a health professional. Stacey Ingram, Cynita Smith-Watson and Dr. Alicia Meadows have all been outstanding role models.My biggest accomplishment during my internship this summer has been updating our SharePoint site to provide up-to-date content and information about the amazing work Q4HE does with Quest employees.My post-graduation aspirations are to continue my education in a PhD Program and work with maternal and child health clinics to create outreach programs.A fun fact about myself is I am a huge dog lover; I have 3 dogs, a 17-year-old, 2-year-old and a 3-month-old puppy. I am also a doggy foster mom who loves caring for pups in need!

Kimani Williams, senior at Tuskegee University, majoring in biology and public health nutrition

Hometown: East Orange, NJMy favorite part of the Quest internship was being exposed to various rotations of the medical laboratory, including Auto Chemistry, Hematology and Serology. This allowed me to determine which departments I enjoyed most.Ruth Clements stood out as a role model this summer. I was inspired by her authenticity and her eagerness to continuously improve herself.My biggest accomplishment this summer was becoming a Quest for Health Equity intern and gaining more insight to various careers in the healthcare industry. This provided me with clinical experience and networking opportunities.I aspire to become a physician and a life-long advocate for health equity.My hobbies including travelling, reading and writing poetry.

Yaire Hernandez, graduate of Montclair State University, BS in Public Health

Hometown: Morristown, NJMy favorite part of the internship was experiencing the various sides of Quest, from donating no-cost testing to Grant funding, and working through that process and its challenges. I was able to work on some marketing aspects as well as visit the Secaucus office on two occasions. As a returning Intern, I am grateful for this wonderful opportunity to have continuous improvement in the workplace and to be introduced to so many amazing and passionate people doing the work!I think the whole Quest for Health Equity Team have been mentors to me in one way or another. In the different areas of expertise, they all have a passion for health equity, and enriched the learning experiences. Cynita Smith-Watson and Stacey Ingram have made me want to return to Quest and continue to support the work we do!My biggest accomplishment was being able to attend [Q4HE grantee] Green Bronx Machine’s event and see my work being displayed—it was one of my proudest moments as an intern. It was an amazing opportunity to have full design ownership of the banners and have the Q4HE team’s support along the way! Having their feedback and leadership during my internship has helped me develop and improve skills needed in the workforce.This upcoming fall, I will be starting my MPH in Health Systems Administration/ MBA Dual Degree Program at Montclair State University.I enjoy traveling and collecting mugs, ceramic house decor and magnets from all countries and states I visit!

Chloe Pigues, sophomore at Hampton University, majoring in biology

Hometown: Raleigh, NCMy favorite part of the internship was the invaluable networking opportunities and witnessing the impact of my contributions to the mission. I particularly enjoyed engaging with professionals across various departments, which enriched my understanding of the industry and expanded my professional network. Additionally, seeing how my work directly contributed to the team’s objectives was incredibly rewarding.Adrienne Uzonyi has been an exceptional mentor and leader throughout my internship. Her insightful direction and constructive feedback have been invaluable to my growth and development over the past 10 weeks. Adrienne’s willingness to share her knowledge has provided me with a clear understanding of the industry and refined my analytical skills. Her support in navigating complex tasks and end encouragement in exploring new approaches have enhanced my experience and confidence in this work.My biggest accomplishments this summer have been the vast amount of knowledge I have been able to retain as well as both of my presentations that were presented at the Quest for Health Equity Intern Presentation Day and the presentation presented to the Adv. IDI team.After graduating from Hampton University, I plan to pursue a medical degree by attending medical school. My goal is to specialize in radiology and utilize advanced imaging technologies to diagnose and treat a variety of conditions, contributing to the overall health and well-being of patients.In my free time, I enjoy reading a diverse range of books which allows me to further expand my knowledge and explore different perspectives. Additionally, I love going on long walks outdoors which provides me with a sense of relaxation. While I do gain personal enjoyment from these activities, it also contributes to my overall well-being.

Maria Bravo, sophomore at Miami Dade College, majoring in chemical engineering

One of the best things I have learned with Quest is management and problem solving. Working with the Lab Operations teams, I gained more knowledge on how to identify and solve a problem efficiently and quickly.My manager, Lazaro Rodriguez, stood out as being a great mentor in this internship, explaining everything I needed and wanted to know and making sure I was comfortable while settling in.My biggest accomplishment this summer is being able to work here at Quest and help replace the DMS Boards at the Miramar Lab, for a better management and problem-solving strategy.Upon the completion of my undergraduate program, my primary goal is to immerse myself in the professional arena, specifically within either the energy industry or medical research, leveraging the knowledge and skills acquired during my pursuit of a Chemical Engineering bachelor’s degree. While I have long-term plans to pursue a Master’s in Analytic Chemistry, I intend to gain valuable work experience first and build a robust resume through employment opportunities.My favorite activities include going outside, exercising, and going to concerts and festivals. Being in open and fun environments recharges me with good energy.

The United Family of Albertsons Companies and its vendor partners have once again raised $500,000 for 25 non-profit organizations through its annual Jacky Pierce Charity Classic (JPCC) golf tournament, which took place on August 25 and 26. Since its inception in the early nineties, the JPCC golf tournament has raised more than $6,500,000 for non-profit organizations across Texas and New Mexico.

Sidney Hopper, president of The United Family, said this event continues to be a core part of United’s charitable work thanks to the generosity of the company’s vendor partners. He said this tournament remains special because of the funds’ impact on communities across The United Family’s trade area.

“Making a positive impact on our communities is at the heart of our mission and, after all these years, the Jacky Pierce Charity Classic continues to be a major part of that,” Hopper said. “The non-profit organizations, including The United Way, who benefit from this tournament do an outstanding job of improving our communities. We know these funds will greatly impact the thousands of people they serve.”

Named in honor of Jacky Pierce, the longtime produce director for United Supermarkets, the tournament remains a place for charitable giving, fellowship, and community.

See original article at The United Family and read more about Albertsons Companies and our Recipe for Change on our website.

Changing the world is hard work, and talking about it can be even harder. Platinum empowers companies to turn complex sustainability initiatives into clear, engaging narratives that drive business impact. Targeted distribution, advanced analytics and expert support combine to elevate sustainability storytelling and drive measurable impact.

NORTHAMPTON, Mass., October 1, 2024 /3BL/ – 3BL, a leader in sustainability and impact communications, today announced the launch of Platinum, a premier solution designed to address the most pressing challenges organizations face in communicating their environmental and social initiatives.

In an era of more complex sustainability investment, and stakeholders demand transparency and measurable impact, many organizations struggle to clearly and effectively communicate their sustainability efforts, reach the right audiences, and demonstrate ROI. Platinum tackles these issues head-on.

“This moment represents more than just a product launch—it’s about reshaping how organizations approach sustainability communications,” said Charlie Wilkie, CEO at 3BL. “Since 2009, we’ve been a trusted distribution platform in the field, and today we’re expanding our impact as a full-stack communications partner with new services, advanced analytics, and insights that empower organizations to turn their sustainability efforts into a competitive advantage.”

Platinum addresses three critical pain points:

Reaching the Right Audiences: Since 2009, 3BL has been building a specialized community of journalists, analysts, ratings/ranking agencies, practitioners, investors and consumers in the impact space. Platinum offers unlimited access to these exclusive partners, as well as guaranteed and custom distribution to ensure your message reaches the right audience, on your terms.Measuring and Optimizing Impact: Companies often lack insight into how their sustainability messaging resonates. Platinum’s advanced analytics suite offers deep insights into stakeholder perceptions and competitive benchmarking, allowing organizations to refine their communication strategies for maximum impact. Our Sustainability Disclosure Score provides quarterly reports assessing how ratings & rankings agencies evaluate your brands’ sustainability performance from over 1,000 sources. Exclusive to Platinum clients, our Stakeholder Perception Survey Report offers an annual review of how consumers and key stakeholders view your sustainability efforts. And, our TriplePundit Editorial Blueprint further enhances messaging with expert analysis to boost audience engagement.Resource Constraints: Sustainability teams are often stretched thin. Platinum offers specialized support that integrates seamlessly with existing teams, providing strategic guidance and freeing up valuable internal resources.

For more information about how Platinum can transform your sustainability communications, please visit here.

About 3BL 
3BL is the leading sustainability and social impact communications partner, connecting organizations’ stories of purpose and progress with the audiences who matter most.

We partner with over 1,500 companies – from global corporations and mid-sized enterprises to NGOs and nonprofits – to elevate their reputations as players in the world of responsible business. We do this through unrivaled news and content distribution, bespoke storytelling support, and our digital media division, TriplePundit.

Explore more at www.3bl.com

Originally published in International Paper’s 2023 Sustainability Report

Working with community stakeholders

The future of forests and the future of local communities are closely intertwined. Forests don’t just play a critical role in the local socio-economic fabric; they also directly impact the quality of life of people living nearby. Bearing this in mind, we have made it a priority to engage in meaningful partnerships with community stakeholders. This approach fosters a sense of shared responsibility and helps build resilient communities that are economically and environmentally connected to the forests.

Promoting social equity

Our commitment to promoting social equity entails re-examining certain barriers that prevent equal access to sustainable resources. Heirs’ property is land passed down from generation to generation informally, often because landowners die without having written a will. In the absence of a will, the land is considered jointly owned by all heirs and split between multiple family members regardless of whether they have set foot on the land, lived on the property or paid the taxes. Since its ownership is unclear, the land often ends up in forced sale, leading to forest fragmentation. This disproportionally affects Black families, contributing to over 11 million acres of land lost in the last hundred years and counting.

That’s where the Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation® (CHPP) comes in. Working in partnership with International Paper, CHPP supports historically underserved communities to build intergenerational resilience. In 2023, International Paper announced its partnership with CHPP. The center works alongside the Mississippi Center for Justice to provide legal services, assistance and resources to help historically underserved Mississippians, with support from World Wildlife Fund and Kimberly-Clark Corporation. This effort, known as the Mobile Basin Heirs’ Property Support Initiative, is designed to help families in Mississippi protect and keep their forestland, build intergenerational wealth and promote productive, sustainably managed forests.

Longstanding partnerships with conservation groups

2023 was a milestone year for our work with conservation organizations. As we celebrated a decade of partnering with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, we also continued our endeavors to preserve and protect our planet’s delicate ecosystems together with other strategic conservation partners.

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF)

International Paper and NFWF began working together to restore and enhance forested ecosystems in 2013. Our Forestland Stewards Partnership (FSP) has delivered many significant accomplishments, including establishing or enhancing more than 700,000 acres of native forest and wildlife habitat to date, including the iconic longleaf pine ecosystem. Now entering its second decade, FSP has funded 177 projects across 13 states that, once completed, will restore, enhance or protect more than 1.6 million acres of forest habitat. The FSP was recently renewed for another five-year period, with International Paper committing $10 million for wildlife and working forest conservation. To learn more about our work with NFWF, visit this website. 

The Nature Conservancy (TNC)

Start-of-the-art forestry practices have been at the heart of our collaboration with The Nature Conservancy (TNC) since 2018. This work reaches beyond International Paper’s traditional supply chain in an effort to identify nature-based climate solutions that can be replicated anywhere around the world. For instance, the first phase of the Reduced-Impact Logging for Carbon (RIL-C) initiative provided land managers in Indonesia and Gabon with practical, science-based toolkits to improve carbon sequestration in working forests. The second phase of this engagement saw the expansion of TNC’s RIL-C toolkit to new geographies in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico and the Republic of Congo. This funding also allowed TNC and partners at the University of Wisconsin to develop bioacoustics monitoring protocols, which use sound recordings to measure forest a closer look biodiversity and understand the impacts of logging and other disturbances to forestbased wildlife species.

With the first two phases completed, our partnership is now scaling up efforts to inform responsible forestry, carbon sequestration and biodiversity monitoring on the ground in the Central Appalachian region of the U.S. and in Mexico.

American Bird Conservancy (ABC)

Since 2020, International Paper has been partnering with the American Bird Conservancy, an organization dedicated to conserving wild birds and their habitats, to promote forest bird awareness and conservation within our supply chain. Our work engages IP’s Fiber Supply Team, academia, forestry and wildlife experts, our wood suppliers and forest landowners in our mill basins in the Southeastern U.S. Specifically, we hold field-based bird workshops, conduct bird surveys, collaborate on academic research and implement bird-friendly forest management practices on strategic sites identified via ForSite™. In 2023, our work was recognized by the AF&PA with the Leadership in Sustainability Award for Resilient U.S. Forests (see page 32).

The Arbor Day Foundation

Our partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation dates back to 2019 and continued to flourish and deliver tangible benefits for people and the planet in 2023.

In the past, we have joined with the Arbor Day Foundation to strengthen community resilience through the Community Tree Recovery Program. This public-private partnership distributes free trees to residents in communities affected by natural disasters and supports the restoration of affected forestland. As one of 17 founding members of the Arbor Day Foundation’s Evergreen Alliance, we also champion the Foundation’s ambitions to plant 500 million trees focusing on neighborhoods and forests of greatest need in the next five years.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

After working with WWF for more than a decade on responsible sourcing and landscape investments, International Paper was one of the first five U.S. companies to join WWF’s Forests Forward program for corporate action in support of nature, climate and people. Forests Forward engages with companies and other stakeholders around the globe to deliver effective nature-based strategies for forests that help achieve their business and sustainability goals. Most recently, we partnered with WWF to support the Mobile Basin Heirs’ Property Support Initiative in a closer look the Southeastern U.S. (see page 35).

Other strategic partnerships to advance forest sustainability

American Forest Foundation (see page 67) Celebrate Planet Earth • WBCSD Forest Solutions Group

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

October 1, 2024 /3BL/ – Ceres released new recommendations for the U.S. banking sector, highlighting areas of improvement in the design and implementation of their climate finance target-setting and disclosures. Policies like the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act have spurred trillions of dollars in green financing opportunities, yet there is no consistent methodology for investors or regulators to compare U.S. bank performance.  

In a new report, “Ahead or Behind? The State of Climate Finance in the Banking Sector,” Ceres provides a set of recommendations on how banks can design effective climate finance targets and frameworks, enhance their disclosures for investors, and learn best practices from their peers. The core recommendations include: 

Setting targets and offering climate-linked products and services Focusing on the added impact banks’ actions can provide Using consistent accounting methodologies across the bank’s metrics and targets Articulating clear eligibility criteria for sustainable finance activities Improving the consistency and decision usefulness of information shared in disclosures Aligning with international disclosure standards and frameworks Working with other banks to develop voluntary disclosure standards   

“U.S. banks have committed trillions of dollars to climate finance, but investors and consumers cannot compare banks on these commitments,” said Holly Li, co-author of the report and Net Zero Program Director, Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets. “Our report provides a critical roadmap for banks to demonstrate real impact and additionality in their climate finance efforts so they can measure and show their progress in meaningful ways.”  

The global shift towards a low-carbon economy has unlocked trillions of dollars in investment opportunities for banks. In 2023, green financing generated around $3 billion in fees, surpassing those earned from issuing fossil fuel debt for the second year in a row. Since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act around $270 billion in new capital investments have been announced in American solar, wind, and battery storage projects. 

“The transition to a low-carbon economy represents risks and massive opportunities for U.S. banks,” said Blair Bateson, co-author and Director of the Company Network, Financial Services at Ceres. “The banks that can differentiate themselves through credible, ambitious climate finance strategies will be best positioned to thrive in the clean energy economy in the coming decade.” 

Ceres guidance supports the work of Ambition 2030, an initiative focused on decarbonizing the six highest-emitting sectors of the economy, including the banking sector. Ceres has released a series of reports detailing the climate-related risk and opportunities for banks, including Sustainable Finance Opportunities: A Guide for Financial Institutions, The Responsible Policy Engagement Benchmarking for Banks, Net Zero Standards for American Banks, US Banks and the road to Net Zero, and specialty reports on banks’ physical risk, transition risk, and derivative-related climate risk.    

About the Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets   

The Ceres Accelerator for Sustainable Capital Markets is a center within Ceres that aims to transform the practices and policies that govern capital markets by engaging federal and state regulators, financial institutions, investors, and corporate boards to act on climate change as a systemic financial risk. For more information, visit ceres.org/accelerator.  

Media Contact: Diane May, dmay@ceres.org, 617-247-0700 ext. 220

Veolia North America Sustainability Report 2024 

Managing, mitigating and preventing the risks of hazardous materials are areas of our deep expertise. As a company originally established to meet environmental challenges, we strive to not just meet requirements, but ensure that we are doing as much as possible to treat air, water and solid waste pollution; remove it from the environment; and whenever possible, regenerate it as a useful resource.

PROTECTING PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT

We seek to meet and exceed all regulatory requirements for environmental performance through our robust environmental management system. The system, which is deployed across our operating sites, ensures a holistic approach to environmental management and documentation. It is closely aligned with the ISO14001 environmental management standards. In fact, six of our North America sites are also ISO14001-certified. The core tenets of our environmental management system are:

Policies and proceduresImplementation plans and resourcingTraining and developmentAuditing and corrective actionRegular management review

A core focus for the year 2023 was harmonizing the environmental auditing program across the region. Over 60 qualified environmental, health and safety auditors in North America continually assess and recommend improvements to the region’s environmental performance.

Another important part of the company’s environmental system is the management and corrective action for high-risk incidents. The company’s management system emphasizes the importance of reporting and learning from potential incidents, as well as active incidents, using the Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA) methodology.

During 2023, 91% of level 3 incidents and high potential near misses were analyzed with RCFAs, and corrective action recommendations were communicated across the region.

Learning from actual incidents and near-misses can help to identify hazards, improve procedures and prevent similar incidents from occurring at other sites.

Continue reading the full report 

Authored by: Karen Madden, Chief Technology Officer, the Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and Dr. Amy Cannon, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Beyond Benign

Chemistry is integral to life as we know it. It has been formally studied and taught for hundreds of years. Against this timeline, green chemistry is a relatively new concept. It became part of the lexicon following the development of the “12 Principles of Green Chemistry”—a framework for making a greener chemical, process or product—developed by Paul Anastas and John Warner in 1998.

Green chemistry education provides tomorrow’s chemists with a framework for designing chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the generation of hazardous substances—which is key to creating a more sustainable future.

We believe that green chemistry education fills another critical role: driving industry innovation.

Despite the differences in their end products or services, businesses across all vertical sectors have one thing in common: Innovate or be left behind.

What if we looked at the imperative for innovation through the lens of sustainability? Furthermore, what if it were possible to address sustainability at the earliest stages of the value chain by better preparing scientists to address hazards and mitigate negative impacts through chemistry?

Our current education systems need to focus more on preparing the next generation of scientists to effectively select and design sustainable chemicals, processes, materials or products. Integrating green chemistry into curriculum and practice in higher education remains a challenge for education systems worldwide. Closing this gap requires approaches like including more green chemistry content in textbooks, providing more resources to develop green chemistry education materials, keeping educators informed about new developments in green chemistry and other factors.

While our organizations come from different places—MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is a leading science and technology company; Beyond Benign is a global nonprofit focused on green chemistry education—we share the common goal of expanding access to resources and support that is needed to apply greener practices in chemistry education. It is certainly a complex issue, and one that won’t be solved overnight. But there is progress to celebrate.

We believe that together, we can impact life and health with science. In other words, communication and collaboration is the foundation for continued progress. With this in mind, we recently brought together key stakeholders—industry professionals, green chemistry experts, educators and students—to discuss the crucial link between academic research and industry that is needed to foster collaboration for innovation.

In the room were industry professionals from Seventh Generation, Takeda Pharmaceutical; green chemistry experts including Dr. John Warner, who is a founder of the field of green chemistry and co-author of “Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice”; and educators and students from Brown, Gordon College, Harvard, MIT, Northeastern, University of Massachusetts and Yale, among others.

In some cases, green chemistry education is being driven at the grass-roots level. In fact, during a student-led panel discussion, young voices shared how they started green chemistry organizations at their schools and how to advocate for change at the university level.

It’s clear that today’s students recognize the value and applications of green chemistry. Now, what’s needed is for more academic institutions to incorporate green chemistry into their programs so we can prepare and attract the workforce that is needed to drive product and process innovations that are also less harmful to the environment and society. One important step is to become a Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC) signer, which gives educational institutions visibility, motivation, and ideas for implementing green chemistry across their chemistry department. It helps motivate not only the institutions’ faculty and students, but it also promotes the message to other schools, showcasing their commitment towards teaching greener practices in chemistry. There have been over 185 GCC signers to date, reaching more than 4,200 faculty members and engaging over 1 million students each year. Impressive … but there is much more to accomplish.

Meaningful strides in sustainability can only happen when we share best practices and concentrate our efforts on the most impactful areas. The best way to empower our experts in industry is to ensure the next generation of scientists have the resources and support needed to apply greener practices in chemistry at the university level. In many countries, sustainability is not considered a core concept in undergraduate and graduate chemistry education.

And so this begs the question: if we train enough students in the principles of green chemistry, what opportunities could we gain for businesses to positively impact the triple bottom line of profit, people and planet?

Certainly, education is a first step, as it puts the next generation of scientists and innovators on the path to a greener future. Our goal is clear: to expedite our journey towards real, meaningful, and measurable change. By ensuring future scientists are being taught the skills they need, industry can achieve a level of innovation and collaboration where the possibilities are endless.

Authored by: Karen Madden, Chief Technology Officer, the Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, and Dr. Amy Cannon, Co-Founder and Executive Director, Beyond Benign

Chemistry is integral to life as we know it. It has been formally studied and taught for hundreds of years. Against this timeline, green chemistry is a relatively new concept. It became part of the lexicon following the development of the “12 Principles of Green Chemistry”—a framework for making a greener chemical, process or product—developed by Paul Anastas and John Warner in 1998.

Green chemistry education provides tomorrow’s chemists with a framework for designing chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the generation of hazardous substances—which is key to creating a more sustainable future.

We believe that green chemistry education fills another critical role: driving industry innovation.

Despite the differences in their end products or services, businesses across all vertical sectors have one thing in common: Innovate or be left behind.

What if we looked at the imperative for innovation through the lens of sustainability? Furthermore, what if it were possible to address sustainability at the earliest stages of the value chain by better preparing scientists to address hazards and mitigate negative impacts through chemistry?

Our current education systems need to focus more on preparing the next generation of scientists to effectively select and design sustainable chemicals, processes, materials or products. Integrating green chemistry into curriculum and practice in higher education remains a challenge for education systems worldwide. Closing this gap requires approaches like including more green chemistry content in textbooks, providing more resources to develop green chemistry education materials, keeping educators informed about new developments in green chemistry and other factors.

While our organizations come from different places—MilliporeSigma, the U.S. and Canada Life Science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is a leading science and technology company; Beyond Benign is a global nonprofit focused on green chemistry education—we share the common goal of expanding access to resources and support that is needed to apply greener practices in chemistry education. It is certainly a complex issue, and one that won’t be solved overnight. But there is progress to celebrate.

We believe that together, we can impact life and health with science. In other words, communication and collaboration is the foundation for continued progress. With this in mind, we recently brought together key stakeholders—industry professionals, green chemistry experts, educators and students—to discuss the crucial link between academic research and industry that is needed to foster collaboration for innovation.

In the room were industry professionals from Seventh Generation, Takeda Pharmaceutical; green chemistry experts including Dr. John Warner, who is a founder of the field of green chemistry and co-author of “Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice”; and educators and students from Brown, Gordon College, Harvard, MIT, Northeastern, University of Massachusetts and Yale, among others.

In some cases, green chemistry education is being driven at the grass-roots level. In fact, during a student-led panel discussion, young voices shared how they started green chemistry organizations at their schools and how to advocate for change at the university level.

It’s clear that today’s students recognize the value and applications of green chemistry. Now, what’s needed is for more academic institutions to incorporate green chemistry into their programs so we can prepare and attract the workforce that is needed to drive product and process innovations that are also less harmful to the environment and society. One important step is to become a Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC) signer, which gives educational institutions visibility, motivation, and ideas for implementing green chemistry across their chemistry department. It helps motivate not only the institutions’ faculty and students, but it also promotes the message to other schools, showcasing their commitment towards teaching greener practices in chemistry. There have been over 185 GCC signers to date, reaching more than 4,200 faculty members and engaging over 1 million students each year. Impressive … but there is much more to accomplish.

Meaningful strides in sustainability can only happen when we share best practices and concentrate our efforts on the most impactful areas. The best way to empower our experts in industry is to ensure the next generation of scientists have the resources and support needed to apply greener practices in chemistry at the university level. In many countries, sustainability is not considered a core concept in undergraduate and graduate chemistry education.

And so this begs the question: if we train enough students in the principles of green chemistry, what opportunities could we gain for businesses to positively impact the triple bottom line of profit, people and planet?

Certainly, education is a first step, as it puts the next generation of scientists and innovators on the path to a greener future. Our goal is clear: to expedite our journey towards real, meaningful, and measurable change. By ensuring future scientists are being taught the skills they need, industry can achieve a level of innovation and collaboration where the possibilities are endless.

Originally published on Built From Scratch

The Home Depot was recently honored with three awards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

2024 Safer Choice Partner of the Year2024 SmartWay Excellence Award2024 WaterSense Sustained Excellence Award

These awards recognize The Home Depot for its progress and commitment to choosing products with ingredients that are safer for families, communities and the environment; to sustainably shipping our products and reducing freight emissions in our transportation network; and to helping customers save water by making thousands of WaterSense product models affordable and accessible in thousands of stores across the U.S.

“At The Home Depot, sustainability is a responsibility. These awards highlight our ongoing commitment to making a positive impact on the environment. As we continue to innovate and collaborate with our partners, our focus remains on driving meaningful change that benefits our customers, communities and the planet.”

– Candace Rodriguez, senior director of sustainability at The Home Depot

Safer Choice helps consumers, businesses and purchasers find products that contain ingredients that are safer for human health and the environment. Companies who make products carrying the Safer Choice label have invested heavily in research and reformulation to ensure that their products meet the Safer Choice Standard.

The EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership is a market-driven initiative that empowers businesses to move goods in the cleanest, most energy-efficient way possible, while protecting public health and reducing air pollution.

WaterSense is both a label for water-efficient products and a resource for helping you save water. Products with the WaterSense label meet EPA specifications for water efficiency and performance, making it easier to find toilets, faucets and sprinkler systems that conserve water in and around your home.

Learn more about The Home Depot’s commitment to sustainability by visiting our Eco Actions website or by reviewing the latest ESG report.

Keep up with all the latest Home Depot news! Subscribe to our bi-weekly news update and get the top Built from Scratch stories delivered straight to your inbox.

Originally published on Built From Scratch

The Home Depot was recently honored with three awards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

2024 Safer Choice Partner of the Year2024 SmartWay Excellence Award2024 WaterSense Sustained Excellence Award

These awards recognize The Home Depot for its progress and commitment to choosing products with ingredients that are safer for families, communities and the environment; to sustainably shipping our products and reducing freight emissions in our transportation network; and to helping customers save water by making thousands of WaterSense product models affordable and accessible in thousands of stores across the U.S.

“At The Home Depot, sustainability is a responsibility. These awards highlight our ongoing commitment to making a positive impact on the environment. As we continue to innovate and collaborate with our partners, our focus remains on driving meaningful change that benefits our customers, communities and the planet.”

– Candace Rodriguez, senior director of sustainability at The Home Depot

Safer Choice helps consumers, businesses and purchasers find products that contain ingredients that are safer for human health and the environment. Companies who make products carrying the Safer Choice label have invested heavily in research and reformulation to ensure that their products meet the Safer Choice Standard.

The EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership is a market-driven initiative that empowers businesses to move goods in the cleanest, most energy-efficient way possible, while protecting public health and reducing air pollution.

WaterSense is both a label for water-efficient products and a resource for helping you save water. Products with the WaterSense label meet EPA specifications for water efficiency and performance, making it easier to find toilets, faucets and sprinkler systems that conserve water in and around your home.

Learn more about The Home Depot’s commitment to sustainability by visiting our Eco Actions website or by reviewing the latest ESG report.

Keep up with all the latest Home Depot news! Subscribe to our bi-weekly news update and get the top Built from Scratch stories delivered straight to your inbox.