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Recently, we announced a partnership with Certify My Company to assist self-classified suppliers in obtaining third-party diversity certifications.

The partnership furthers our commitment to increase overall spend with small and diverse suppliers to 25 percent by 2025. Our robust supply chain already includes more than 6,000 small or diverse suppliers, about 18 percent of which are third-party certified as diverse. A diverse business is generally defined as one that is 51 percent owned and controlled by women, ethnic minorities, veterans, LGBTQ, or disabled person(s).

By working with Certify My Company, which provides certification assistance to diverse business owners by guiding and assisting them through the comprehensive process of becoming certified, we'll be able to identify and engage with even more certified suppliers.

The impact is significant: Last year, Aramark’s supplier diversity initiatives supported more than 14,000 jobs across the United States, for a total economic impact of $1.9 billion. Moreover, it creates a more transparent and inclusive supply chain, resulting in a broader supplier base that can drive competition and innovation efforts. 

Our Nourish Blog provides more detail about why supplier diversity is good for business, how it reflects our communities, and also takes a look at Lokal Artisan Foods. 

For more information on Aramark’s sustainability plan, visit www.aramark.com/sustainability, or join the conversation on social media, #AramarkBeWellDoWell.

Being bold, being innovative, being ethical: Either one of these attributes, let alone all three of them, would be ideal to have in a leader.

That’s why the awardees of 3BL Media’s Responsible CEO of the Year Awards and Lifetime Achievement Award are all so unique — the recipients of these honors represent the best in bold and innovative leadership on environmental, social and governance issues.

3BL Media is proud to announce nominations for the 13th annual Responsible CEO of the Year Awards and 10th annual Lifetime Achievement Awards are now being accepted. Additional information and application materials, including nomination forms, can be found here. 

See the full list of past award winners here.

A unique achievement among business honors, winners will be chosen by a judging panel consisting of past Responsible CEOs. All recipients will be announced at the 2020 Responsible CEO of the Year Awards and Recognition Dinner on Oct. 6, hosted by 3BL Forum: Brands Taking Stands® – Business Elects to Lead at Pier Sixty in New York City.

“CEOs are in a position to not only lead their respective companies but act as forces for good by championing a strong environmental, social and governance agenda,” said Dave Armon, CEO of 3BL Media. “Some of the most challenging social issues of our time are being addressed in real-time by CEOs determined to use corporate resources to benefit people and planet without jeopardizing profits. Our awards recognize these courageous leaders.”

The deadline to nominate a CEO is Tuesday, March 31. All awardees will be notified by June 1.

Please note: To be eligible to receive these awards, a nominated CEO must attend the Responsible CEO of the Year Awards and Recognition Dinner on Oct. 6 in New York City.

 

About 3BL Media

3BL Media delivers purpose-driven communications for the world’s leading companies. Our unrivaled distribution, leadership and editorial platforms inspire and support global sustainable business, reaching 10+ million change-makers.

About 3BL Forum

3BL Forum will continue its tradition of bringing corporate leaders together on a fast-paced main stage, keenly focused on “the why” and “the how” as business amplifies its leadership and elects to lead on environmental, social and governance issues.

3BL Forum is produced by 3BL Media, the world's leading communications partner for purpose-driven organizations.

Renewable energy company Ørsted is the world’s most sustainable company according to the Global 100 ranking announced today. Having completed a fundamental business transformation from fossil fuels to renewables over the past decade, Ørsted urges all countries and companies to reduce their carbon emissions to help limit global warming to 1.5°C. 

The global leader in offshore wind outperformed more than 7,300 global companies with billion-dollar revenues to rank #1 in Corporate Knights' 2020 index of the Global 100 most sustainable corporations in the world. Ørsted becomes the first-ever energy company to top the index.

For Ørsted, ranking as the most sustainable company in the world is a recognition of its strategic and fundamental business transformation from fossil fuels to green energy over the past decade.

Henrik Poulsen, CEO of Ørsted, says:

“We’re immensely proud to rank as the world’s most sustainable company. From our origins as a traditional fossil fuel-based energy company, we’ve transformed into one of the largest renewable energy companies in the world. Every day, we deliver green energy solutions at scale to combat climate change, the defining challenge of our time.”

Since 2006, the company has reduced carbon emissions from its energy generation and operations by 83% and will be essentially carbon-neutral by 2025. Today, the offshore wind farms built by Ørsted bring green power to more than 13 million people, and Ørsted aims to grow this number to 50 million people by 2030.

Ørsted’s ability to significantly grow its business, while substantially reducing its carbon emissions, has been central to attaining the top rank in the Global 100 index.

The necessary change towards renewables
Ørsted decided to change its business model a decade ago, realising that having fossil fuels as its core business would not be sustainable in the long-term. The company has since been instrumental in driving the build-out of offshore wind at industrial scale and has grown to be the world leader in offshore wind and one of the fastest growing energy companies in the world.

Offshore wind is now significantly cheaper than newly built coal- or gas-fired power plants in most parts of the world, making it a key technology in the global transition to green energy. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), offshore wind has the potential to provide green power to hundreds of millions of people. However, almost 75% of all global greenhouse gas emissions still come from fossil-based energy, and carbon emissions continue to rise.

“While we’re grateful to be named the most sustainable company in the world, we’d prefer to see the world develop more sustainably. Global greenhouse gas emissions have been rising for decades and are now at their highest level ever. We have no time to lose if we want to halt global warming and halve global emissions by 2030 as recommended by science,” says Henrik Poulsen.

He continues: “We have the necessary green technologies at hand to transform the world’s energy systems. Countries and businesses must work together and take bold steps to speed up the green transformation, reduce their emissions and limit global warming to 1.5C. As I see it, we owe it to the current and not least future generations.” 

Decarbonisation to guide strategy
When Ørsted set its first decarbonisation target ten years ago, the company estimated it would take thirty years to transform from fossil fuels to renewables. Since then, carbon reduction and green transformation has become the North Star of Ørsted’s strategy, helping Ørsted to make the fundamental transformation in just a decade.

With a clear plan to achieve essentially carbon-neutral energy generation and operations, Ørsted is now embarking on the next frontier in its decarbonisation journey by launching a new programme for reducing carbon emissions in its supply chain.

“We’re strengthening collaboration with our biggest and most important suppliers to work with them on reducing their emissions in line with science and to encourage them to run their operations on green energy,” says Henrik Poulsen and continues: 

“Ørsted has become a sustainable and profitable business by making green energy deployment the keystone of our business strategy. Companies that do not take action now to decarbonise run the risk of seeing their business models come under pressure in the future. We encourage all companies to make decarbonisation a core part of their strategy.”

The progress in Ørsted's decarbonisation programme is demonstrated in the company's jumps up the Global 100 ranking: 70th in 2018, 4th in 2019, and 1st in 2020.

Upcoming key milestones in Ørsted’s decarbonisation programme

By 2023

• Finalise phase out of coal from Ørsted’s portfolio of combined heat and power plants to run on certified sustainable biomass.

By 2025

• 98% carbon reduction in energy generation and operations compared to 2006, making the company essentially carbon-neutral. Current reduction is 83%.

• Company car fleet will be 100% electric.

By 2032

• Reduce emissions in the supply chain and from energy trading by 50% as compared with 2018. This entails engaging suppliers to increase the share of green power in manufacture, transport and installation of components for offshore wind farms and a gradual reduction in fossil gas trading. 

About the ranking

• Toronto-based Corporate Knights, a publishing and research firm, analysed publicly-available data on financial and sustainability indicators of 7,395 companies with more than USD 1 billion in revenue.

• The annual Global 100 index of the world’s most sustainable companies is an authoritative and widely-respected index of corporate sustainability performance and is announced every year on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

• According to Corporate Knights, Ørsted rose from fourth to first place in the Global 100 index, primarily because the company increased the share of revenue earned from renewable energy by 10% from 58.4% to 68.1%. At the same time, carbon productivity and water productivity grew more than 50% due to cuts in absolute carbon emissions and lower water use combined with higher revenues.

• Ørsted also performed well on indicators such as rate of taxes paid and board gender diversity.

• Corporate Knights says Global 100 companies tend to last longer and deliver higher annualised net investment returns than comparable companies in the MSCI All Country World Index.

• In the 2020 Global 100 index, 49 companies are from Europe, 29 from the US and Canada, and 18 from Asia.

The Soil Health Institute (SHI) today released an update to its state level Soil Health Policy Resources Catalog of legislative, agency, and academic policies and programs to advance soil health. The updated catalog, housed on the SHI website, also includes information on non-profit and for-profit entities.

SHI published the original catalog in July 2018 to help facilitate cross-pollination, learning and coordination across dispersed policies and programs. Since that time, the number of soil health programs and policies has significantly increased. For example, the number of legislative bills to advance soil health increased from 9 in 2018 to 53 by the end of 2019. The updated catalog now includes: 32 academic institutions, 85 state agencies, 53 state legislative bills, 87 non-profit entities, and 23 for-profit organizations.

“It is exciting to see such an increase in the number of initiatives to enhance the vitality and productivity of soils, particularly at the state level,” said Dr. Wayne Honeycutt, SHI President and CEO. “Soil health is the foundation for regenerative and sustainable agriculture, and such efforts at state and local levels help ensure local impact by considering locally relevant soils, climates, and production systems. Our goal in developing this catalog of policies and programs is to provide a resource where anyone wanting to learn what others have done can do so without having to reinvent the wheel for themselves.” 

A case in point is the “Healthy Soils Task Force” established under Nebraska legislative bill 243. “As Chair of the Task Force, it is my job to help our members research and review effective soil health programs being done in other states and through other organizations so that we can build upon their success,” said Keith Berns, Chair of the Task Force. “This is a daunting task, but the Soil Health Institute’s catalog on soil health resources will be an invaluable tool in helping us reach our goals. It is a huge timesaver for the people on our Task Force.”

Recognizing that keeping such a catalog updated is a significant challenge, SHI invites additions that can be nominated on a form at the end of the catalog.

To view the catalog, visit https://soilhealthinstitute.org/resources/catalog/.

 

About the Soil Health Institute

The Soil Health Institute (www.soilhealthinstitute.org) is a non-profit whose mission is to safeguard and enhance the vitality and productivity of soil through scientific research and adoption. The Institute works with its many stakeholders to identify gaps in research and adoption; develop strategies, networks and funding to address those gaps; and ensure beneficial impact of those investments to agriculture, the environment and society.

 

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International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA) has announced four new applicant wineries have committed to tackle the severity of the climate crisis by taking immediate action to reduce their carbon emissions. The wineries include Spottswoode Estate (U.S.A), Symington Family Estates (Portugal), VSPT Wine Group (Chile) and Yealands Wine Group (New Zealand). 

Founded in February 2019 by Familia Torres (Spain) and Jackson Family Wines (U.S.A), IWCA is a collaborative working group committed to accelerating innovative solutions that will mitigate the impacts of climate change through the decarbonization of the global wine industry. IWCA’s objective is for all members to have a long-term strategy to reduce 80% of their carbon emissions by 2045, with a shorter-term target of 50% by 2030.

To be recognized as full standing IWCA members, wineries must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Be powered by at least 20% onsite renewable energy (excluding REC purchases)

2. Have completed a minimum baseline third-party verified GHG emissions inventory for a standardized set of emissions categories across Scopes 1-3 (using the World Resources Institute’s GHG Protocol following the ISO 14064 process)

3. Have demonstrated at least a 25% reduction in CO2 emissions per unit of wine produced from a baseline emissions inventory year

4. Commit to reducing total emissions (Scopes 1-3) 50% by 2030 and 80% by 2045

IWCA applicant members have all completed a credible baseline GHG inventory that encompasses at least Scopes 1 and 2 and have committed to fulfilling the remaining requirements to become full standing IWCA members within five years.

New IWCA applicant members include:

Spottswoode Estate is a historic, family-owned winegrowing estate in Napa Valley, California dedicated to creating meaningful change through nurturing their CCOF-certified organic and biodynamic vineyards, community and planet. A certified Napa Green vineyard and winery, Spottswoode has farmed organically since 1985 (the first winery in Napa to farm organically) and achieved certification in 1992. In 2000, Spottswoode spearheaded the restoration of Spring Creek, which defines the Estate’s southern boundary. In 2007, solar arrays were installed, and Spottswoode joined 1% for the Planet. The winery is currently seeking LEED certification for its winery and pursuing B Corp Certification. “We’re deeply dedicated to being responsible stewards of the land,” says CEO Beth Novak Milliken. “We hope to lead by example and be the change this planet so desperately needs.” 

Symington Family Estates is a leading Port and wine producer in northern Portugal who has invested significantly in viticulture R&D to adapt to climate change. As the first certified B Corporation wine company in Portugal, Symington has a broad sustainability plan with a series of measurable goals for 2025, including objectives for end-to-end CO2 reductions, renewable energy, electric vehicles, and water and energy efficiency. “We’re committed to working with our supply partners to reduce emissions and our overall carbon footprint,” says Rob Symington, associate director of Symington Family Estates. “We’re very pleased to join IWCA as we believe this rigorous framework can lead the wine sector’s response to this existential threat. We have no time to waste.” 

VSPT Wine Group is one of the largest exporters of Chilean wine in the world. Committed to sustainable wine production for over 10 years, the company’s primary focus is utilizing 100% renewable energy for wine production, recovering ecosystems through a robust biodiversity plan, and pioneering waste management programs in Chile. “Our sense of urgency and concern for the future of Chile’s viticulture deeply aligns with IWCA’s values and commitment to mitigating climate change around the world,” says Barbara Wolff, corporate affairs and innovation officer. 

Yealands Wine Group is the first winery in New Zealand to be certified carbonzero from inception as a result of its dedication to reducing carbon emissions through the entire lifecycle of its wines. Aiming to be one of the most sustainable wine producers in the world, Yealands is highly innovative and continually seeks new ways to reduce its carbon footprint. “Producing world-class wines doesn’t have to be at the expense of the environment,” says Tiffani Graydon, CEO of Yealands Wine Group. “We’re delighted to join IWCA and work collaboratively with other sustainability leaders in the industry to make a global difference, both now and in the future.”

IWCA welcomes these four new applicant members and is hopeful additional wineries will join this global effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. IWCA received the 2019 Wine Enthusiast Social Visionary Wine Star Award for its leadership to galvanize collaborative action across the industry to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

About IWCA
Founded in 2019 by Familia Torres of Spain and Jackson Family Wines of California, International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA) was created by two leading wine families deeply rooted in environmental stewardship and a passion to preserve the world’s great wine heritage in the face of climate change. IWCA is a working group with a mission to take collective action to decarbonize the global wine industry, underscored with goals for member wineries to achieve a 50% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and an 80% reduction by 2045. IWCA is open to wineries who recognize that climate change is the most significant threat to the wine community and are guided by the urgency for strategic action to accelerate innovative solutions. www.iwcawine.org

For more information, please contact:

Familia Torres
Christoph Kammüller, International Communication
Tel. +34 93 817 76 25 Cell. +34 678 19 60 83 
CKammuller@torres.es - press@torres.es

Jackson Family Wines
Galen McCorkle, VP Corporate Communications 
Tel. +011 707 522 6401 · Cell. +011 707 529 5169
Galen.McCorkle@jfwmail.com

The issues businesses face, and in turn need to communicate, are vast and complex. There’s increasing pressure for business to communicate its actions, vision and impact in a way simplified manner that engages key audiences whilst demonstrating integrity and leadership

Ethical Corporation will host a one-hour webinar with three senior leaders sharing their practical ideas on how to approach this complex issue.

Join us on Wednesday 29th January at 12:00GMT / 13:00 CET for our free online webinar with:

Speakers include:

• Dr. Kai Rolker, Head of Group Communications, Clariant

• Camilla Guiguer, Global Sustainability Engagement Manager, Pernod-Ricard

• Judith Rahner, Senior Manager Corporate Responsibility Communications, Merck

• Tuuli Kousa, Chief Communications and Corporate Affairs Officer, OP Financial Group

Moderated by Liam Dowd, Ethical Corporation – Managing Director, Reuters Events

Key areas of discussion include:

• How to communicate simplified, yet compelling sustainability messages

• How to engage your customers on sustainability

• The latest strategies in engaging employees on sustainability and how to make them part of the movement

• How companies are demonstrating leadership whilst retaining consistency with their partners

Join us next week and be part of the discussion. Simply click here to be part of the webinar discussion
 
Ana Uzcanga
Ethical Corporation – Project Director
Reuters Events
+44 (0) 207 375 7213 | ana.uzcanga@ethicalcorp.com
LinkedIn| www.ethicalcorp.com

Read Announcement

For the sixth year in a row, CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE: CNHI/ MI: CNH) has been recognized for its sustainability efforts by the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council, which once again honored the company as a “Green Master”.

That’s the highest recognition level in the Council’s Green Master’s Program, a points-based recognition and assessment program for Wisconsin businesses of all sizes and sectors committed to sustainable business practices.

The  Case IH facility in Racine manufactures agricultural equipment for the Case IH and New Holland brands and employs close to 2,000 people. The site puts a strong focus on saving energy, waste management, reducing carbon and other emissions. It maintained its zero waste to landfill status again in 2019, is reducing its fresh water use, and is moving from recycling into reuse.

Steve Scharinger, Case IH Plant Environment, Health, Safety & Energy Manager was on hand at the 12th annual Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council Conference in Milwaukee on December 12 to accept the award.

“A commitment to sustainability is at the core of everything CNH Industrial does, and it’s great to have those efforts and the hard work of our employees recognized once again through the Green Master’s Program,” says Steve Scharinger.

In September, CNH Industrial was reconfirmed as Industry Leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) World and Europe for the ninth consecutive year. Inclusion in these indices is exclusively for companies that are judged as exemplary in terms of their economic, environmental and social performance. CNH Industrial received the highest score in the areas of: Environmental Policy & Management System, Operational Eco-Efficiency (environmental dimension) as well as Social Reporting, Human Rights and Human Capital Development (social dimension), Code of Business Conduct and Supply Chain Management (economic dimension).

Northern Trust Asset Management, one of the world’s leading investment managers, has announced the further expansion of its sustainability strategies, enabling institutional investors to combine Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investing solutions with the manager’s expertise in quantitative investing across developed and emerging markets.

The Emerging Markets Quality Low Carbon Strategy aims to tackle climate change risk while enhancing performance through the integration of Northern Trust’s proprietary Quality factor, which targets companies that are efficiently managed, profitable, and have strong cash flows.

Designed to invest at the intersection of low carbon and high quality, the strategy is an example of Northern Trust’s approach of delivering quantitative investment solutions that focus on the efficient use of risk – without sacrificing performance. Driven by client demand, the strategy is executed using the investment manager’s proven record of innovation in ESG and quantitative investing.

“Having been at the forefront of ESG innovation for nearly 30 years, we’ve seen investors’ attitudes evolve over time,” said Marie Dzanis, head of Northern Trust Asset Management, Europe, Middle East and Africa. “Today’s investor not only wants to live their values – they want to partner with firms which can help them invest their values. At Northern Trust Asset Management, we’re passionate about identifying, building and delivering effective, responsible investment solutions – and we believe this can be achieved without sacrificing financial performance.”

“The quality of emissions data is constantly improving and this, coupled with the sophistication of our quantitative techniques, means we are in a strong position to combine Northern Trust’s core competency of quantitative investing with climate change investment considerations,” said Mamadou Abou-Sarr,  global head of product development at Northern Trust Asset Management. “Our focus is to help investors avoid unintended risks and sector biases within their portfolios by targeting exposure to risk factors – achieved through our range of tailored strategies.” 

The Emerging Markets Quality Low Carbon Strategy provides investors an environmentally cleaner exposure to emerging markets equities with a carbon intensity reduction target of 70 percent.

Other strategies, including Europe Value ESG, North America Value ESG or Emerging Markets Multifactor ESG, incorporate a set of norm-based and business-involvement screens. Within an end-to-end risk management framework, the strategies employ a proprietary multi-factor model using value, quality and momentum to score all investable constituents.

Northern Trust Asset Management also recently announced it had launched a World Green Transition Index Strategy, Small Cap ESG Low Carbon Index Strategy and has added thermal coal screens to its existing suite of Custom ESG Index Strategies to align with evolving investor preferences.

Entrusted with US$975 billion of investor assets, Northern Trust Asset Management is among the world’s largest investment managers. The firm helps investors navigate changing market environments so they can confidently realize their long-term objectives. It has more than 30 years of sustainable investing expertise and innovation, is a UNPRI signatory and manages three of the top 10 largest ESG index funds globally (eVestment data as of June 30, 2019).

About Northern Trust Asset Management

Northern Trust Asset Management is a global investment manager that helps investors navigate changing market environments, so they can confidently realize their long-term objectives. Entrusted with more than $900 billion of investor assets, we understand that investing ultimately serves a greater purpose and believe investors should be compensated for the risks they take — in all market environments and any investment strategy. That’s why we combine robust capital markets research, expert portfolio construction and comprehensive risk management to craft innovative and efficient solutions that deliver targeted investment outcomes. As engaged contributors to our communities, we consider it a great privilege to serve our investors and our communities with integrity, respect, and transparency.

Northern Trust Asset Management is composed of Northern Trust Investments, Inc., Northern Trust Global Investments Limited, Northern Trust Fund Managers (Ireland) Limited, Northern Trust Global Investments Japan, K.K., NT Global Advisors, Inc., 50 South Capital Advisors, LLC, and investment personnel of The Northern Trust Company of Hong Kong Limited and The Northern Trust Company.

About Northern Trust

Northern Trust Corporation (Nasdaq: NTRS) is a leading provider of wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking to corporations, institutions, affluent families and individuals. Founded in Chicago in 1889, Northern Trust has a global presence with offices in 20 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., and across 23 locations in Canada, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. As of September 30, 2019, Northern Trust had assets under custody/administration of US $11.6 trillion, and assets under management of US $1.2 trillion. For 130 years, Northern Trust has earned distinction as an industry leader for exceptional service, financial expertise, integrity and innovation. Visit northerntrust.com or follow us on Twitter @NorthernTrust.

Northern Trust Corporation, Head Office: 50 South La Salle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603 U.S.A., incorporated with limited liability in the U.S. Global legal and regulatory information can be found at https://www.northerntrust.com/terms-and-conditions 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION. This information is directed to eligible counterparties and professional clients only and should not be relied upon by retail investors. The information is not intended for distribution or use by any person in any jurisdiction where such distribution would be contrary to local law or regulation. This report is provided for informational purposes only, does not take into account the individual circumstances of each investor and is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, an offer, solicitation or recommendation with respect to any transaction and should not be treated as legal advice, investment advice or tax advice. The information is believed to be correct and accurate but may be subject to change without notice.

Investing involves risk- no investment strategy or risk management technique can guarantee returns or eliminate risk in any market environment.

Northern Trust Asset Management is composed of Northern Trust Investments, Inc. Northern Trust Global Investments Limited, NorthernTrust Fund Managers (Ireland) Limited, Northern Trust Global Investments Japan, K.K, NT Global Advisors Inc., 50 South Capital Advisors LLC and investment personnel of The Northern Trust Company of Hong Kong Limited and The Northern Trust Company.

HP released its list of predictions for 3D printing and digital manufacturing in 2020. Informed by extensive interviews with a team of experts, this year’s research identifies top trends that will have a major impact on advancing Industry 4.0 such as the need for more sustainable production, how automation will transform the factory floor, and the rise of data and software as the backbone of digital manufacturing.

“The year ahead will be a time of realizing 3D printing and digital manufacturing’s true potential across industries,” said Pete Basiliere, Founder, Monadnock Insights. “As HP’s trend report indicates, digital manufacturing will enable production of users’ ideal designs by unlocking new and expanded software, data, services, and industrial production solutions that deliver more transformative experiences while also disrupting legacy industries.”

Last year, HP’s predictions discussed the need for integrating machine learning into 3D printing, how generative design will increase speed for designers, and the explosion of medical 3D applications from surgical guides to prosthetics.   

Sustainable Production Will Continue to Be a Business Imperative

Traditional manufacturing processes were designed with little thought to the environment. As industrial 3D production intersects with manufacturing for example, the impact on the planet could be immense as nearly one-third of carbon emissions are related to the production and distribution of goods.

3D printing will enable the manufacturing industry to produce less waste, less inventory and less CO2 emissions. Engineers and designers will rethink design throughout the product lifecycle to use less material and reduce waste by combining parts and using complex geometries to produce lightweight parts. This further reduces the weight of vehicles and aircraft to improve fuel efficiency which can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption.

And as more manufacturers transmit digital files for production locally rather than shipping goods, there will be significant decreases in shipping, reducing costs, energy consumption, waste, and emissions.

3D Printing Will Power the Electrification of Vehicles

Automakers are increasingly turning to 3D printing and digital manufacturing to help compete in a time of change, as the industry goes through its biggest transformation in more than a 100 years moving away from the internal combustion engine toward electric vehicles. As electric vehicles increase in popularity, automakers will continue to unlock the capabilities of both metal and plastic 3D printing systems to speed up their design and development in order to meet ambitious goals. For example, Volkswagen has committed to producing more than 22 million electric vehicles worldwide by 2028.

The large volumes of parts the automotive industry produces annually combined with the fast prototyping and production capabilities of 3D printing enables automakers and manufacturers to produce car parts that were previously impossible to create, pushing the capabilities of electric and even autonomous vehicles to new levels.

3D Printing Will Drive New Supply Chain Efficiencies

The capability to deliver things digitally and produce things locally has not always won out. At the end of the day, manufacturers must analyze where in the supply chain it’s the most efficient to root production – whether that’s near the end users or near the source of material production.

One interesting example of this is from the 2D world around packaging. Cardboard boxes provide a fascinating use case and growth market for digital prints, as there are interesting parallels for the 3D printing of final parts. The corrugated box business is quite localized with production of boxes happening within a 150-200-mile circle of where the trees that are turned into corrugate once stood.

About HP

HP Inc. creates technology that makes life better for everyone, everywhere. Through our portfolio of personal systems, printers, and 3D printing solutions, we engineer experiences that amaze. More information about HP Inc. is available at www.hp.com/go/3Dprinting.

The Sustainable Brands community today launches its flagship event, SB’20 Long Beach, with a call to action for igniting more sustainable systems through regenerative business practices. Scheduled for June 1-4, 2020 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, CA, the conference will convene 2,500 global sustainability practitioners and brand innovation leaders to discover how doing ‘more good’ transcends traditional sustainability practices, driving future growth and brand value creation.

‘We Are ReGeneration’ is the theme rallying the SB community with more than 300 influential leaders hosting interactive discussions, breakout sessions, keynote presentations, deep-dive workshops and networking activities throughout the week. The 4-day program encourages participants to collaborate around planned activities supporting insight and understanding of regenerative systems. There will also be facilitated design sprints and workshops to generate new partnerships, as well as ideas and solutions that drive momentum towards regenerative practices. Self-renewal and reflection activities span the week allowing participants the opportunity to balance the needs of nature and personal wellbeing with business success.

“Sustainable Brands is the respected community of business leaders that holds the responsibility and power to shape a new direction by responding to the needs of our time,” states KoAnn Vikoren Skrzyniarz, CEO and Founder of Sustainable Brands. “It is time to move past a limiting focus on reducing harm and expand to restore our planet, our communities and our brands. We see transformative innovation of our organizations and culture as the path, not only for a flourishing economy, but also for our future business success. We must be the change agents now who are going to make it happen.”

Nine educational program tracks provide a lens for learning and inspiration in support of regenerative business. Expect thoughtfully curated collections of top research insights that describe changing market dynamics, strategies and tactics for successfully activating brand purpose, examples of brand storytelling for a changing culture, case studies from companies who are influencing consumers at scale, regenerative practices in operations and supply chain, next-generation goals for circularity and net positivity, and more. Several visionaries have already been confirmed to speak about how they are sparking a shift towards a regenerative economy including:

• Marc Pritchard, Chief Brand Officer and Virginie Helias, Chief Sustainability Officer at Procter & Gamble on collaborating for culture change and the power of the CMO-CSO connection.  

• Janine Benyus, Co-Founder of Biomimicry 3.8 on what nature teaches us about regeneration and how to use its lessons wisely to shape the future of business.

• Rick Gomez, Chief Digital, Marketing & Strategy Officer at Target on renewing and recharging an iconic American brand for today’s context.

• Amanda Brinkman, Creator, Producer and Host, Small Business Revolution – Main Street, on revitalizing local economies through smart activation of collective purpose.

• Carol Sanford, Author of The Regenerative Business on translating the science of regeneration into practical business and leadership principles.

• Kate Cusick, Chief Marketing Officer of Porter Novelli on the latest market trends around the evolution of social and environmental purpose. 

• Kathy Fish, Chief Research, Development and Technology Officer at Procter & Gamble on partnering across departments and functions to bring sustainable design innovation to market.

• Douglas Sabo, Vice President, Global Head of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability at Visa on engaging the C-Suite to accelerate change.

• Nathalie Green, Co-founder & CEO of Doconomy on the power of fintech in enabling more sustainable lifestyles at scale.

• Chris Brandt, Chief Marketing Officer at Chipotle Mexican Grill on “The Reawakening of Chipotle” and continued brand leadership on important sustainability issues.

This year, a distinguished, invitation-only SB Brands for Good Leadership Summit will convene many of the world’s preeminent marketers, brand strategists, media and entertainment executives for deliberate conversations around systemwide purpose-driven change. As major global environmental and social challenges threaten the capacity to create flourishing conditions, over 300 hand chosen executives and senior thought leaders will convene for a half-day leadership summit on the front end of the main conference to align on actions needed to restore our planet and repair social rifts that threaten a regenerative future. Chief Marketing and Sustainability Officers, media and entertainment executives, as well as celebrity spokespeople are encouraged to apply to attend and participate in discussions around how key constituents can and are driving culture change in support of a better economy and a better future.

Sustainable Brands is proud to recognize Verizon as Lead sponsor for SB’20 Long Beach. Additional early sponsors and partners include: Nestlé, Procter & Gamble, Keurig Dr Pepper, Kohler Company, Porter Novelli, Tetra Pak, Forest Stewardship Council, Cox Enterprises, Tides, Cuningham Group Architecture, KAO USA, American Forest Foundation, Trex, WestRock, Lenzing AG, Vinyl Sustainability Council, Illinois Soybean Association, and Good360. Grounded World is the official Design and Innovation Partner and Global Strategy Group is the official Communications Partner. South Pole Group is the official Renewable Energy and Carbon Offset Partner. 

SB’20 Long Beach is scheduled for June 1-4, 2020 at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, CA. Further information, access to the downloadable conference brochure, and ticket pricing can be found on the event website. Register now to participate and find the partners and tools needed to advance your company’s goals towards regenerative business practices. 

Sponsorship opportunities are now available for those with breakthrough initiatives, tools and technologies that support business success through innovation for social and environmental benefit. For more information about attending or sponsoring SB’20 Long Beach, please visit SB20LongBeach.com, call 1.415.626.2212 or contact the SB team online.

About Sustainable Brands. Sustainable Brands® is the premier global community of brand innovators who are shaping the future of commerce worldwide. Since 2006, our mission has been to inspire, engage and equip today’s business and brand innovators to prosper for the near and long term by leading the way to a better future. Digitally published news articles and issues-focused conversation topics, internationally-known conferences and regional events, a robust e-learning library, and peer-to-peer membership groups all facilitate community engagement throughout the year. For more information visit www.SustainableBrands.com.

CONTACT
Marie Perriard +1 (415) 626-2212 mperriard@sustainablebrands.com Sustainable Brands

 CNH Industrial (NYSE: CNHI /MI: CNHI) announced today that it has joined CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™, the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advance diversity and inclusion in the workplace.  

The CEO-led coalition was launched in June 2017 and encompasses 85 industries and more than 50 academic institutions and associations in all 50 US States, representing millions of employees globally. To date more than 800 CEOs and Presidents of the world’s leading companies and business organizations have signed the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion pledge recognizing that change starts at the executive level.  

“CNH Industrial has more than 64,000 employees in 66 manufacturing plants and 54 research and development centers around the world,” explained Hubertus Mühlhäuser, Chief Executive Officer, CNH Industrial. “We are truly global and need to operate successfully across different geographies and cultures. To do so, we need to cultivate a working environment where employees feel comfortable and empowered to discuss diversity and inclusion.”  

The Company has already taken a number of actions in recent years to advance diversity and inclusion and intends to further evolve and strengthen this important pillar of corporate culture. Joining the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion initiative is part of this commitment and will help to enhance its current diversity strategies.

“Diverse teams make us stronger. Whether it is diversity in gender, race, ethnicity, cultural background, age or experience. They offer us more perspectives, approach problems from different angles, bring more creativity to the table, perform better and overall benefit innovation,” said Mr. Mühlhäuser. “By joining CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion, we are raising the bar and challenge ourselves to do more and to do better. I’m looking forward to learning from our peers and sharing experiences to advance diversity and inclusion.”

Xylem (NYSE:XYL), a leading global water technology company dedicated to solving the world’s most challenging water issues, today launched a new multi-disciplinary center for water, wastewater and energy technologies at the company’s regional headquarters in Singapore.

Located at ICON@IBP, the expanded headquarters brings the company’s regional R&D capability into a new Xylem Technology Hub Singapore (XTHS), alongside its regional leadership and personnel. The XTHS represents Xylem’s continued investment in sustainable water technologies, and research at the new center will focus on developing breakthrough technologies in water distribution and water and wastewater treatment.

One of the first projects Xylem is pursuing at the center is a collaboration with A*STAR’s Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC). Xylem will combine its world-leading expertise in water technologies with IHPC's expertise in computer modelling and simulations. Together, they will evaluate fluid-structure interaction in pipe flow to develop a new computational fluid dynamics model tailored for Xylem’s applications such as SmartBall and PipeDiver. The model will then be applied to the design and testing of other advanced products and solutions to be deployed in treatment plants and water distribution networks.

“This new multi-disciplinary center will create ample opportunities to innovate and collaborate with our customers, as we work with them to tackle the region’s greatest water challenges, including water scarcity, affordability and infrastructure resilience,” said Mr. Patrick Decker, president and CEO of Xylem. “Bringing research and development capability into our regional headquarters in Singapore puts all of Xylem’s market-leading technology capability in one location, focused on the region’s water technology and infrastructure solutions.”

Dr. Lim Keng Hui, executive director of IHPC, said, “We are glad that Xylem has decided to set up its regional headquarters in Singapore, to be plugged into the robust R&D ecosystem here. A*STAR is happy to contribute its deep capabilities in modelling and simulation for sustainable water technologies, that will lead to good societal outcomes for Singapore and the region.”

In addition to the research and development Hub, Xylem’s new office will feature a customer experience center and a training center, bringing together all of Xylem’s sales, customer support and technical capabilities for Southeast Asia.

“We’re excited about the energy and innovation that’s possible when we focus our resources, talent and technologies in one center like this,” continued Mr. Decker. “This new integrated facility will offer our customers and partners an immersive technology experience, as well as a state-of-the-art training center. Singapore’s water sector continues to grow and innovate, so this is a great location to work together on solving the region’s water challenges.”

Work at the center will also be supported by Xylem’s ongoing partnership with PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency, to address challenges brought about by climate change and increasing water demand. Xylem continues to work with PUB on the development and implementation of technologies in common areas of interest, such as high-precision leak detection and condition assessment technologies, and using data analytics to pin-point water loss.

“Singapore is an internationally recognized model city for integrated water management and a thriving global hydrohub because of our strong belief in R&D and continuous innovation to tackle current and future water challenges,” said Mr. Ridzuan Ismail, director, Water Supply Network, PUB. “We are happy to work with Xylem to develop novel water solutions to enable IoT and data analytics to enhance our water network management. For instance, with predictive maintenance, we can achieve better resource optimization and extend asset life of the infrastructures, thereby reducing water loss and strengthening the resilience of our water supply.”

“We are delighted with Xylem’s expansion in Singapore, including the setting up of its new technology hub,” said Mr. Lim Tse Yong, director, Capital Goods, Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB). “This is testament to Singapore’s continued attractiveness as a location for companies to innovate and forge collaborations in developing solutions to meet the region’s needs. We look forward to the exciting technologies and solutions that Xylem will create in partnership with our innovation ecosystem.”

Xylem first entered the Singapore market in 1982 and has since grown and expanded its facilities. The expertise located in Xylem’s new Singapore office is focused on bringing new technologies to the region, such as the Advanced Infrastructure Analytics (AIA) platform, the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (which has more than 12 million water end points and 14 million combination-utility end points globally) and a powerful portfolio of digital solutions to optimize water networks.

About Xylem

Xylem (XYL) is a leading global water technology company committed to developing innovative technology solutions to the world’s water challenges. The Company’s products and services move, treat, analyze, monitor and return water to the environment in public utility, industrial, residential and commercial building services settings. Xylem also provides a leading portfolio of smart metering, network technologies and advanced infrastructure analytics solutions for water, electric and gas utilities. The Company’s approximately 17,000 employees bring broad applications expertise with a strong focus on identifying comprehensive, sustainable solutions.

Headquartered in Rye Brook, New York, with 2018 revenue of $5.2 billion, Xylem does business in more than 150 countries through a number of market-leading product brands. For more information, please visit us at www.xylem.com.

About A*STAR’s Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC)

A*STAR's Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC) was established in August 1998 to provide leadership in high performance computing as a strategic resource for scientific inquiry and industry development. It seeks to power discoveries through advanced methodologies, techniques and new tools in modelling, simulation and artificial intelligence.

Its core research areas are in the realm of complex-coupled systems, mechanics and fluid dynamics, large-scale systems, digital modelling, adaptive and collaborative computing, data mining and analysis, computational electronics and electromagnetics, computational materials science and chemistry.

For more information on IHPC, please visit www.a-star.edu.sg/ihpc.

The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is Singapore's lead public sector agency that spearheads economic oriented research to advance scientific discovery and develop innovative technology. Through open innovation, we collaborate with our partners in both the public and private sectors to benefit society.

For more information on A*STAR, please visit www.a-star.edu.sg.

About the PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency

​​​PUB is a statutory board under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. It is the national water agency, and manages Singapore’s water supply, water catchment and used water in an integrated way.

PUB has ensured a diversified and sustainable supply of water for Singapore with the Four National Taps (local catchment water, imported water, NEWater, desalinated water).

PUB calls on everyone to play a part in conserving water, in keeping our waterways clean, and in caring for Singapore’s precious water resources. If we all do our little bit, there will be enough water for all our needs – for commerce and industry, for living, for life.

Find out more about us

Like us at www.facebook.com/PUBsg

Follow us on www.instagram.com/PUBsingapore and www.twitter.com/PUBsingapore

Subscribe to our channel at www.youtube.com/sgPUB

Download our mobile apps: MyWaters for iOS or Android

Visit our website at www.pub.gov.sg

CONTACT Gracine Wee +65-62204787 gracine@redbugpr.com Sylvie Ta Higgs +65-88133578 Sylvie.TaHiggs@xyleminc.com

The increasing number of inquiries into the tax practices of corporations demonstrates why a transition towards transparent tax disclosure is urgently required.

This was a key message from Elise J Bean, former United States Senate tax investigator, as she addressed an event in London today to highlight GRI’s launch of the world’s first country-by-country public reporting standard for tax. Governments around the world, including several EU countries and Australia, are currently reviewing the tax practices of multinationals.

The GRI Tax Standard responds to concerns over the impact corporate tax avoidance has on the ability of governments to fund services and support sustainable development. It is now available as the latest addition to the GRI Standards, the most widely used sustainability reporting framework.

During 15 years with the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Ms Bean handled high-profile investigations, hearings and legislation on tax avoidance, corporate misconduct and financial corruption. Setting out why global change is needed in support of tax transparency, she said:

“Corporate tax transparency is the next big sustainability task. In 2018, at least 90 hugely profitable US corporations paid no US tax at all – an outrage that is not sustainable morally or in light of the societal investments needed worldwide.  

Corporations want better infrastructure, an educated workforce, patent enforcement, trade protection, and more.  And some corporations impose enormous costs on society through environmental damage, worker injuries, financial fraud, or worse.  

Companies need to pay their fair share, and the new GRI Tax Standard will encourage responsible corporations to do just that. Not only because it’s the right thing to do but because it is in their self-interest to help provide the revenue needed to sustain the economy and restore public confidence in the business world."

More than 100 people attended GRI’s event hosted at London Stock Exchange, including senior representatives from business, civil society and investment institutions – indicating the high interest from many stakeholders in making transparent tax reporting a reality.

Tim Mohin, GRI chief executive, said:

“GRI’s Tax Standard can be a game changer. For the first time, we have a global standard that can ensure companies demonstrate effectively how they contribute through taxes in each of the locations where they operate. This crucial information is needed if we are to have a well-informed global debate about corporate tax practices.

I thank Elise J Bean for her insights, which underlines the urgency, international relevance and practical application of the Standard. I think companies themselves are recognizing that changes are needed and GRI looks forward to working closely with them, to encourage uptake of the Tax Standard and help them unlock the benefits that come from committing to transparency.”

Watch the recording of the GRI’s event at the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), which included addresses by Waqas Samad (Group Director of Information Services at LSEG), Elise J Bean and Tim Mohin. It was followed by a panel discussion, moderated by Judy Kuszewski (chair of GRI’s Global Sustainability Standards Board) with:

• Andy Cale, Head of Financial Reporting Tax, Vodafone Group Plc

• Alex Cobham, Chief Executive, Tax Justice Network

• Wilhelm Mohn, Head of Sustainability, Norges Bank Investment Management

• Séverine Picard, Senior Policy Advisor, OECD Trade Union Advisory Committee

GRI 207: Tax 2019 is freely available for use by any organization. It’s publication received widespread support from many stakeholders.

For nearly 30 years Elise J Bean worked as an investigator for Senator Carl Levin. From 2003 to 2014 she was Staff Director and Chief Counsel, US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. She is author of ‘Financial Exposure: Carl Levin’s Senate Investigations into Finance and Tax Abuse’.

A study from the Institute on Taxation & Economic Policy (published in December) found 91 companies in the Fortune 500 did not pay federal income taxes on their 2018 US income.

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is the independent international organization that helps businesses and other organizations understand and communicate their sustainability impacts.

Swarovski named five students as winners of the Conscious Design program: Sean Ross for Solar Furnace (MA Material Futures); Imogen Burch for ‘Creating Clarity’ (BA Jewellery Design); Hannah Livesey for ‘This Little Light of Mine’ (BA Textile Design – Weave); Sissel Gustavsen for ‘Precious Fish’ (BA Textile Design – Print); and Millicent Saunders for ‘Construction Rebellion’ (BA Textile Design – Knit). 

The Conscious Design program was integrated into the curriculum of the Jewellery, Textiles and Materials Programme at Central Saint Martins, UAL over a period of six months. Each student was challenged to create work that takes Swarovski upcycled crystal as its starting point, embracing sustainable materials and concepts that have a positive social impact and address real business challenges.

Designed to inspire and educate, the program featured briefing presentations followed by lectures for each course on the theme of Conscious Design, co-curated by Swarovski and Central Saint Martins and delivered by expert guest speakers including Greg Valerio, Fairtrade Gold advocate, and Wilson Oryema, artist and writer.

Wilson Oryema mentored the students throughout the design process and provided creative feedback on their first presentations alongside Central Saint Martins tutors and Swarovski representatives. Short-listed students then presented their final work to a judging panel, who selected the winners.

As part of the program, students contributed to the Swarovski Conscious Design Hub, an online platform on Central Saint Martins’ website curated by Wilson Oryema and Swarovski.

The open source hub contains insight on the research and creative process of the students’ projects and inspiration for conscious design initiatives, showcased through video, research and design work.

Through the Conscious Design program, Swarovski aims to nurture the next generation of conscious designers who will contribute towards a more sustainable industry.

Wilson Oryema commented: “The principles of Conscious Design are needed now more than ever. It has been a great opportunity to learn more about the concept, and work with Swarovski on this project at Central Saint Martins. From start to finish, it has been incredibly inspiring. Seeing the initial reactions from students, to how they each took the brief in a unique direction, to then seeing the many innovative final projects. I am very excited to see where they, and future students, take Conscious Design to next.” 

WINNING PROJECTS

Material Futures (MA)

Students were challenged to explore the power of light through the medium of Swarovski crystal. As future thinkers, these students were asked to develop innovations that harness the potential of light and may inform new technological or scientific processes.

Sean Ross designed Solar Furnace, a conceptual installation to use the power of crystal to harness light to create synthetic gems. A large satellite dish covered in mirror-backed Swarovski crystals reflects sunlight into a second smaller dish, which reflects sunlight back through a glass Fresnel lens. This lens focuses the solar energy into a crucible where solar fusion takes place to create the gem.

Jewellery Design (BA)

Students were challenged to create jewelry pieces that combine upcycled Swarovski crystals with other materials, in particular ‘future materials’ that may be zero waste, environmentally friendly or part of the circular economy.

Imogen Burch designed Creating Clarity, a range of rings that highlight the issue of climate change. Angular gold frames are set with upcycled Swarovski crystal stones. Each crystal is engraved with words connected to a poem called ‘Dear Climate’ written by Burch to accompany the project. The rings are a tool for discussion as well as a personal reminder of the wearer’s commitment to sustainability.

Textile Design (BA)

Students were challenged to develop new crystal applications in print, weave and knit designs that celebrate cultural fusions in the city of London, working the concepts of sustainability and social purpose into their design story.

Weave

Hannah Livesey designed This Little Light of Mine, a structural weave designed to enhance the beauty of natural light. Natural yarns were colored with natural dyes, including turmeric powder and blueberries, which will biodegrade more easily than synthetic fibers. Upcycled crystals were woven throughout the fabric to reflect light on surrounding surfaces and complement the design. 

Print

Sissel Gustavsen designed Precious Fish, a decorative wallpaper embellished with Swarovski crystals for home or hospitality interiors. The artistic design celebrates the wonder of fish and sea creatures that we should admire and protect. It is a creative reminder that seafood is something we should enjoy in moderation to prevent overfishing.

Knit

Millicent Saunders designed Construction Rebellion, an upcycled fabric to be used for green walls and plant pots. The design is created from reflective waste materials from construction sites, such as hi-vis jackets, knitted together with colorful Swarovski crystals. The fabric is designed to reduce air pollution while also attracting wildlife, helping to mitigate the negative effects of construction on the environment.

For more information, please contact:

Communications Director, Swarovski: myriam.coudoux@swarovski.com

CSM x Swarovski Conscious Design Hub: http://bit.ly/SwarovskiConsciousDesignHub

NOTES TO EDITORS

• Swarovski’s Conscious Design initiative is focused on how the company can inspire others to spark positive change in the world by motivating the next generation of outstanding designers to create their products and collections responsibly, and by integrating sustainability into the creative learning projects supported by the brand.

• Swarovski has partnered with BA Jewellery Design students at Central Saint Martins for over 18 years on numerous projects.

  • Since 2011, Swarovski and the Swarovski Foundation has supported two final year BA students at Central Saint Martins, one in Jewellery Design and one in Fashion. 2019 sees the Swarovski Foundation widen its support by increasing the number of recipients to its prestigious scholarship program from two to eight BA students in their final year, split equally across fashion and jewelry courses.

  • In 2016, Swarovski introduced upcycled crystal to its partnership with Central Saint Martins, underlining the importance of sustainability and responsible practices in the creative process.

    • Swarovski is currently working with 17 design schools globally including Parsons School of Design, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), and Bunka Fashion College, helping incorporate sustainability into the curriculum with upcycled crystal and sustainable design challenges.

    • These partnerships provide emerging talent with the opportunity to build a career driven by purpose, responsibility and commitment to making a positive impact. 

Swarovski

Swarovski delivers a diverse portfolio of unmatched quality, craftsmanship, and creativity. Founded in 1895 in Austria, the company designs, manufactures and markets high-quality crystals, genuine gemstones and created stones as well as finished products such as jewelry, accessories and lighting. The Swarovski Crystal Business is run by the fifth generation of family members and has a global reach with approximately 3,000 stores in around 170 countries, more than 27,000 employees, and revenue of about 2.7 billion euros in 2017. Together with its sister companies Swarovski Optik (optical devices) and Tyrolit (abrasives), Swarovski Crystal Business forms the Swarovski Group. In 2017, the Group generated revenue of about 3.5 billion euros and employed more than 32,000 people. A responsible relationship with people and the planet has always been an integral part of Swarovski’s heritage, and is embedded today in the company’s well-established sustainability agenda. In addition, the global Swarovski Waterschool education program has reached 500,000 children on the world’s greatest rivers, and the Swarovski Foundation, set up in 2013, works to support culture and creativity, promote human empowerment, and conserve natural resources to achieve positive social impact. www.swarovskigroup.com

Swarovski Foundation

The Swarovski Foundation was set up in 2013 to pursue charitable goals to honor the philanthropic spirit of Daniel Swarovski, who founded the crystal business in 1895. Since then, five generations of the Swarovski family have reinforced the company’s commitment to philanthropy and charitable giving. The Swarovski Foundation’s mission is to build on this heritage by supporting charitable initiatives and organizations working in three areas. Fostering Creativity and Culture by promoting the arts, advancing education, supporting cultural institutions and innovative projects with cutting edge talent; Promoting Wellbeing, supporting initiatives on women’s empowerment, access to health and education and assisting the advancement and development of young people and communities; and Conserving Natural Resources through water sustainability and environmental projects to promote the conservation, protection and improvement of the physical and natural environment. The Swarovski Foundation Board of Trustees is chaired by Nadja Swarovski. www.swarovskifoundation.org

Central Saint Martins, UAL

Central Saint Martins, UAL is globally renowned for the creative energy of its students, staff and graduates. Its educational reputation across art, design and performance is demonstrated by alumni who shape the world including Grace Wales Bonner, Matty Bovan, Terence Conran, Michael Fassbender, Antony Gormley, Craig Green, Tom Hardy, Isaac Julien, Jean Jullien, Christopher Kane, Helen Marten, Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Morag Myerscough, Sandy Powell, Laure Prouvost and Raqib Shaw among many others. Central Saint Martins is part of University of the Arts London (UAL), an international centre for innovative teaching and research in arts, design, fashion, communication and the performing arts. www.arts.ac.uk/csm 

UAL               

University of the Arts London (UAL) offers an extensive range of courses in art, design, fashion, communication and performing arts. Our graduates go on to work in and shape the creative industries worldwide. UAL is ranked second in the world for Art and Design in the 2019 QS World University Rankings by Subject ®. The University has a world-class reputation and is made up of six equally renowned Colleges: Camberwell College of Arts, Central Saint Martins, Chelsea College of Arts, London College of Communications, London College of Fashion and Wimbledon College of Arts. www.arts.ac.uk

The Sensata Technologies Foundation, launched in November 2017, announced its second annual grant award recipients for funding year 2020. Community organizations in California, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota and Rhode Island were among the thirty-two recipients.  Award criteria was based on alignment with employee feedback including level of impact; STEM and Community priorities; population served and applicant’s demonstrable track record of success.

The 2020 funding of $250,000 provides support for STEM learning, programs for children, domestic issues, literacy and special needs. For a complete list of grant winners, please visit  www.sensatafoundation.org.

The Foundation also announced that the grant application for the 2020-2021 grant cycle is now available on the Sensata Foundation website and will close on Tuesday, June 30, 2020.  The Sensata Foundation’s annual grants are 12-month grants for new or existing projects related to one or more of the Foundation’s priorities of STEM and Community. Unrestricted general operations are not eligible for funding in this grant cycle. The Foundation looks forward to another successful grant cycle, and hopes that many qualifying organizations will seek funding.

About the Sensata Technologies Foundation

The Sensata Technologies Foundation, Inc., is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting communities where Sensata has operations and fostering a passion for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects and all that they can make possible in the 21st century. The Foundation will achieve these objectives by making strategic grants, forging strong community partnerships and fostering innovation through financial support and employee volunteerism. For more information, please visit the Sensata Foundation’s website at www.sensatafoundation.org.

About Sensata Technologies

Sensata Technologies is one of the world’s leading suppliers of sensing, electrical protection, control and power management solutions with operations and business centers in 11 countries. Sensata’s products improve safety, efficiency and comfort for millions of people every day in automotive, appliance, aircraft, industrial, military, heavy vehicle, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, data, telecommunications, recreational vehicle and marine applications. For more information, please visit Sensata’s website at www.sensata.com.

# # #

Johnson & Johnson, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, GSK and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation have joined forces with Last Mile Health and Living Goods to increase access to community-based primary healthcare for nearly 1.7 million people in up to six African countries, as part of their shared commitment to accelerate universal health coverage. The Health Worker Training Initiative is a three-year investment, generously matched by The Audacious Project, and totals USD $18 million.

Harnessing the synergy of cross-industry collaboration is key to advancing universal health coverage. Living Goods and Last Mile Health have pioneered the community health worker model and are continually exploring novel approaches to training and retaining community health workers. By teaming up with Johnson & Johnson, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, GSK and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, precious resources and acumen can be maximized. All are united by the belief that community health workers play a catalytic role, and all share a commitment towards advancing universal health coverage.

Leveraging the unique expertise of each organization will drive tech innovation and deepen impact. In addition to financial contributions, industry partners will contribute disease-specific expertise and experience in the discovery and development of new tools, which will supplement the community health worker models pioneered by Last Mile Health and Living Goods, in partnership with government.

Investing in community health workers produces some of the best returns in health. Community health workers can yield a 10:1 return on investment, due to a healthier population, increased employment, and lower odds of health crises. In addition, community health workers can help primary healthcare systems serve the majority of a population’s health needs, which means community health workers are one of the most efficient and effective ways to achieve universal health coverage. This partnership is a response to the growing call to action globally to advance universal health coverage and Sustainable Development Goal 3.

“Focused investment in community health workers can accelerate progress to make universal health coverage a reality,” said Dave Ricks, chairman and CEO of Lilly and president of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations. “Public-private collaboration is critical to help governments lower barriers to quality care and innovative medicines that save and improve people’s lives.”

“Community health workers are the critical frontline to sustainably impact the health of communities in resource poor settings,” said Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis.  “Novartis is committed to strengthening healthcare systems and is proud to be part of this coalition to use digital technologies to reimagine the future of community health delivery.”

The three-year investment will cover three areas:

• Supporting the training and deployment of 2,500 digitally-enabled community health workers, reaching nearly 1.7 million people by 2022. Community health workers will be trained and deployed in Liberia, Kenya, Uganda, Malawi and up to two additional countries.

• Supporting Last Mile Health’s Community Health Academy, which is an open source, digital learning platform for community health workers and health systems leaders used worldwide. Training curricula for community health workers initially focuses on diarrheal diseases, family planning, malaria and pneumonia, with further modules expected to address non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension.

• Contributing expertise and personnel to Living Goods’ new Kenya Performance Lab to develop mobile-based tech innovations that will improve community health worker productivity, strengthen supply chains and better identify obstacles to coverage. The Lab will leverage the knowledge and assets of partners in areas including data science, behavior change, performance management, analytics and technical health expertise. Innovations would be introduced in Kenya and then scaled to other countries within the broader initiative.

Together, these pieces of the investment aim to scale up access to life-saving primary healthcare while building stronger, tech-enabled community health programs for the future.

“Well-trained community health workers play an integral role in providing quality care in low-resource settings,” said Andrin Oswald, Co-chair of the CEO Roundtable Executive Council and Director of Life Sciences Partnerships at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “The Gates Foundation is committed to working with partners across sectors to achieve universal health coverage, which is necessary to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and reducing the burden of diseases that disproportionately affect pregnant women and young children. We thank the companies involved in this initiative for their efforts to increase data-driven solutions to train and deploy effective community health workers.”

“This partnership will play a critical role in helping to scale and empower the world’s most promising health resource—community health workers—so that they can thrive and effectively save lives,” said Dr. Jane Aceng, Uganda’s Minister of Health. “Ensuring community health workers have the right training, digital technology, medical equipment and supervision is critical for ensuring they can help transform health outcomes, no matter where people live.”

Each of the six investors will contribute USD $1.5 million total over the next three years. This funding will be matched by the Audacious Project through an existing USD $50 million matching commitment to scale community health workers in Africa, resulting in an USD $18 million total investment.

This investment will also support the sustainability of community health worker programs. Living Goods and Last Mile Health partner with governments to deploy digitally-empowered community health workers. Not only will this partnership support community health workers to reach more patients, but the curricula and tools developed through the investment will support improved community health worker performance for years to come.

“We are inspired that healthcare companies are taking collective action to strengthen community health systems in the public sector across sub-Saharan Africa to advance universal health coverage,” said Liz Jarman, CEO of Living Goods, and Dr. Raj Panjabi, CEO of Last Mile Health. “This partnership is much more than a financial commitment; it joins a growing movement of philanthropists, companies, and governments that have committed to scale digitally-empowered community health workers and build stronger primary healthcare systems across Africa to ultimately save more lives."

To learn more about the community health movement and efforts to advance universal health coverage in partnership with governments, watch this video produced by Freethink.

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

 media@gatesfoundation.org

About the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to help all people lead healthy, productive lives. In developing countries, it focuses on improving people’s health and giving them the chance to lift themselves out of hunger and extreme poverty. In the United States, it seeks to ensure that all people—especially those with the fewest resources—have access to the opportunities they need to succeed in school and life. Based in Seattle, Washington, the foundation is led by CEO Sue Desmond-Hellmann and Co-chair William H. Gates Sr., under the direction of Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.

 GSK

corporate.media@gsk.com

About GSK

GSK is a science-led global healthcare company with a special purpose: to help people do more, feel better, live longer. For further information please visit www.gsk.com/about-us.

Johnson & Johnson

nsaloma7@its.jnj.com

About Johnson & Johnson

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe good health is the foundation of vibrant lives, thriving communities, and forward progress. That's why for more than 130 years, we have aimed to keep people well at every age and every stage of life. Today, as the world's largest and most broadly-based health care company, we are committed to using our reach and size for good. We strive to improve access and affordability, create healthier communities, and put a healthy mind, body and environment within reach of everyone, everywhere. We are blending our heart, science and ingenuity to profoundly change the trajectory of health for humanity.

Last Mile Health

siobhan@lastmilehealth.org

About Last Mile Health

Last Mile Health partners with governments to design, scale, strengthen, and sustain high-quality community health systems, which empower teams of community and frontline health workers to bring life-saving primary healthcare to the world’s most remote communities. To learn more, visit

lastmilehealth.org.

Lilly

marbaugh@lilly.com

About Lilly

Lilly is a global health care leader that unites caring with discovery to create medicines that make life better for people around the world. We were founded more than a century ago by a man committed to creating high-quality medicines that meet real needs, and today we remain true to that mission in all our work. Across the globe, Lilly employees work to discover and bring life-changing medicines to those who need them, improve the understanding and management of disease, and give back to communities through philanthropy and volunteerism. To learn more about Lilly, please visit us at lilly.com and lilly.com/newsroom.

Living Goods

jhyman@livinggoods.org

About Living Goods

Living Goods is a nonprofit that saves lives at scale by supporting digitally empowered community health workers who deliver care on call – making it easy for families in need to get the care they need. Beginning its operations in Uganda in 2007 and expanding into Kenya in 2015, Living Goods works with governments and partners to ensure community health workers have access to the digital technology, medical treatments, supervision and compensation to cost-effectively deliver high quality, impactful health services. At the end of 2019, Living Goods was supporting more than 10,000 CHWs to deliver care to more than 7 million people.  Learn more at www.livinggoods.org.

Novartis

media.relations@novartis.com

About Novartis

Novartis is reimagining medicine to improve and extend people’s lives. As a leading global medicines company, we use innovative science and digital technologies to create transformative treatments in areas of great medical need. In our quest to find new medicines, we consistently rank among the world’s top companies investing in research and development. Novartis products reach more than 750 million people globally and we are finding innovative ways to expand access to our latest treatments. About 109,000 people of more than 140 nationalities work at Novartis around the world. Find out more at

www.novartis.com.

Pfizer Inc.

sally.beatty@pfizer.com

About Pfizer Inc.: Breakthroughs that change patients’ lives

At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products, including innovative medicines and vaccines. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.pfizer.com. In addition, to learn more, please visit us on www.pfizer.com and follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer and @Pfizer_News, LinkedIn, YouTube and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer.

VolunteerMatch, the world’s largest volunteer engagement network, and Benevity Inc., the global leader in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and employee engagement software, announced their partnership today. Benevity clients can now access the VolunteerMatch Open Network within their existing CSR programs, adding over 4.5 million volunteer opportunities to the approximately 3 million opportunities currently in Benevity’s Spark product. This provides Benevity’s clients with the most choice in the industry, helping companies scale their volunteering programs and empower today’s workforce to do more good in their communities.

According to the Deloitte Volunteerism Impact Survey, 89% of employees believe that companies who provide volunteer activities offer a better overall working environment than those who do not. Furthermore, Benevity’s client data reveals that 70% of volunteers also donate money, with volunteers giving almost double what non-volunteers give. By providing greater choice and relevant volunteer opportunities to their employees, within a single experience, Benevity clients can drive more participation and deeper engagement in their Goodness programs. The partnership also expands VolunteerMatch’s potential reach through exposure to Benevity’s client community comprised of over 600 clients and 12 million users.

Over 60% of volunteer opportunities in the VolunteerMatch Network are skills-based, with opportunities offered in every US zip code and growing internationally. Benevity clients can now offer even more volunteer opportunities to their people, including local and virtual opportunities, skills-based activities, and board leadership roles. Through Benevity’s all-in-one employee engagement solution, which includes volunteering, giving, and positive actions, companies can inspire more people to participate in purpose-driven initiatives and deliver meaningful impact for causes, communities and people.

Employers are recognizing the importance of relevant volunteer experiences to develop valuable skills and qualities for employees to be successful at work and in life. “Our vision is to create better ways to connect the talent of the business sector with the needs of the social sector, one volunteer at a time,” says Greg Baldwin, CEO of VolunteerMatch. “We are thrilled to be working with Benevity to create new possibilities for corporations and their employees to make a real difference in the communities they care about most.”

“Benevity’s partnership with VolunteerMatch is a great step towards furthering our vision in creating a content-powered experience for users of our software that provides a deep sense of personal choice and purpose,” said Bryan de Lottinville, Founder and CEO of Benevity. “By bringing even more volunteer choices into our platform through VolunteerMatch, we are delivering a convenient, democratized and user-centric solution that empowers companies and their people to easily give time, money, product and skills to almost 2 million vetted global causes.”

Visit the VolunteerMatch website to learn more about the network of Volunteer opportunities being added from VolunteerMatch.

About VolunteerMatch 

VolunteerMatch believes everyone should have the chance to make a difference. As the Web’s largest volunteer engagement network, serving 130,000 participating nonprofits, 150 network partners, and 13 million annual visitors, VolunteerMatch offers unique, award-winning solutions for individuals, nonprofits, and companies to make this vision a reality. Since its launch in 1998, VolunteerMatch has helped the social sector attract more than $6.8 billion worth of volunteer services. Learn more about VolunteerMatch at www.volunteermatch.org. 

About Benevity

Benevity, Inc., a certified B Corporation, is the global leader in corporate social responsibility and employee engagement software, including online giving, matching, volunteering, community investment and purpose driven actions. Many of the world’s most iconic brands rely on Benevity’s award-winning cloud solutions to power corporate “Goodness” programs that attract, retain and engage today’s diverse workforce by connecting people to the causes that matter to them. With software that is available in 17 languages, to an employee base of 12 million users around the world, Benevity has processed over 4 billion dollars in donations and 23 million hours of volunteering time to over 230,000 charities worldwide.

LG Electronics USA has been recognized for leadership in responsible electronics recycling by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. At CES® 2020, LG received the highest-level recognition in the EPA’s Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Electronics Challenge.

Highlighting the company’s dedication to environmental sustainability at CES 2020, LG Electronics North America President and CEO Thomas Yoon applauded the EPA SMM program, which encourages responsible recycling. “By using third-party certified recyclers, we’re proud to help drive environmentally protective practices,” he said.

The EPA recognized LG’s significant contributions to the SMM Electronics Challenge goals by collecting a substantial amount of used electronics for reuse and recycle, sending 100 percent of used electronics to certified third-party recyclers, and publicly sharing detailed information about its electronic management practices. 

Recognizing LG and other industry leaders for “inventive and forward-thinking achievements” in sustainable product design and lifecycle management, EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler said, “The environmental benefits associated with keeping electronics out of landfills and recycling them for use in new products are enormous.”
 
The EPA Gold Tier SMM Challenge Award presented to LG at CES recognizes the company’s collection and responsible recycling of more than 21,000 tons of used electronics, diverting solid waste from landfills in the past year. This avoided the equivalent of more than 55,000 tons of CO2 emissions. 

Supporting its commitment to responsible recycling, LG Electronics Inc. is the world’s first “Global e-Stewards Enterprise.” The e-Stewards standard, developed by the Basel Action Network, is the world’s most rigorous certification program for electronics recyclers. It prevents the export and dumping of toxic electronic waste in developing countries and calls for safeguards to protect private data and ensure that recycling plant workers are not exposed to toxic materials.

LG’s EPA award at CES 2020 comes on the heels of LG receiving the EPA’s 2019 ENERGY STAR® Emerging Technology Award for breakthrough technologies in super-efficient room air conditioners and being named 2019 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year-Sustained Excellence for exemplary leadership in developing and promoting energy efficient products. 

At CES 2020, LG unveiled dozens of ENERGY STAR certified kitchen and laundry appliances, including advanced new artificial intelligence-infused washing machines from the company’s new Clarksville, Tenn. plant, believed to be the most advanced washer factory on the planet. Among other innovations highlighted at CES, LG also is showcasing its “ThinQ Home” energy management dashboard on 2020 LG AI-enabled smart TVs.

“Sustainability is a core business principle at LG Electronics, and we believe LG has a shared responsibility to protect the environment by reducing our environmental impact while enhancing the quality of life for consumers. We call this ‘Innovation for a Better Life,’ and it means both responsible recycling and developing innovative products with the environment in mind,” Yoon said.

Today’s electronics are made from materials that, if not properly managed at the end of their lifetime, may pose a risk to human health and the environment. According to the EPA, electronics lifecycle management, “through source reduction of materials used; increasing reuse, refurbishing, extending the life of products; and recycling of electronics can reduce the total quantity of waste that needs to be managed domestically and globally.”

Learn more about LG’s responsible electronics recycling programs and overall sustainability efforts by visiting www.lgrecyclingprogram.com and www.LG.com/energy-star.

# # #

About LG Electronics USA 

LG Electronics USA, Inc., based in Englewood Cliffs, N.J., is the North American subsidiary of LG Electronics, Inc., a $54 billion global innovator in technology and manufacturing. In the United States, LG sells a wide range of innovative home appliances, home entertainment products, mobile phones, commercial displays, air conditioning systems, solar energy solutions and vehicle components. The “Life’s Good” marketing theme encompasses how LG is dedicated to people’s happiness by exceeding expectations today and tomorrow. LG is a 2019 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year-Sustained Excellence. www.LG.com.

Media Contact:   LG Electronics USA John I. Taylor 202 719 3490 john.taylor@lge.com

Sustainability Roundtable, Inc. (SR Inc), the leader in outsourced Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) assistance, announced Akamai Technologies as the Sustainable Business & Enterprise Roundtable (SBER) Outstanding Corporate Leader of 2019 and Sean Kinghorn, Intuit’s Global Sustainability Leader as the SBER Outstanding Corporate Executive of 2019. SR Inc made that announcement at its fourth quarter Executive Symposium in Washington DC as it released proprietary Executive Guidance and Tools to Member-clients on “Charting a Profitable Path to Net Zero Emissions” based on Member-client Akamai Technologies, Bloomberg, Cisco and Intuit case studies.   

For more than a decade SR Inc has assisted more than 75 Fortune 500 and growth companies on a multi-year basis in their move to more sustainable/ESG high-performance.  Each year with each client SR Inc performs a detailed Management Diagnostic and comparison to peer enterprises.  Intuit and Akamai Technologies have increasingly scored across all aspects of corporate sustainability/ESG as highest performing companies in SR Inc’s 20+ Member Group of global Information Communication Technology companies. 

Akamai is a leading global content delivery network that provides edge security, web and mobile performance, and over-the-top media solutions. Its global platform spans nearly 270,000 servers in nearly 4,000 locations; 1,700 networks; in 137 countries. Despite a greater than 50% increase in network traffic over the past five years, Akamai’s energy and carbon usage has grown at only 1/10th of that rate. Renewable energy and network efficiency are the keys to this decoupling of business growth from energy consumption and carbon emissions. Akamai set 2020 goals to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions below 2015 levels by sourcing renewable energy for 50% of global network operations and to reduce network energy and scope 2 GHG intensity per unit traffic per year by 30%. Akamai also set a 2020 goal to process 100% of its electronic waste at e-Stewards certified facilities. As part of Akamai’s strategy to meet its goals and to positively affect communities, the following initiatives have been implemented:  

• Working with strategic partners such as Iron Mountain to provide data center users with renewable electricity. Akamai was a launch partner of Iron Mountain’s Green Power Pass in 2019, a data center focused renewable energy reporting solution, the first of its kind in the industry.

• Procuring Power Purchase Agreements and Buyer Organized Aggregated Virtual Power Purchase Agreements (VPPA) such as the Buyer Organized Aggregated VPPA in 2018 entered by Apple, Akamai, Etsy and Swiss Re for a 125-MW wind farm in Illinois and a 165-MW solar farm in Virginia.

• Akamai’s new global headquarters, which opened in Cambridge, Massachusetts in November 2019, prioritized sustainability in the design. The building’s core and shell were built to achieve LEED Gold v4 certification standards as defined by the U.S. Green Building Council.

• Offering Public Leadership on renewables with a recent example at the Massachusetts State House in supporting the 100% Renewable Energy Act – which would transition the state to 100% renewable electricity by 2035.

“From the CEO to genius software architects, Akamai takes seriously their opportunity to make the internet more secure and sustainable across their nearly 4,000 data center locations globally.  That leadership is exemplified in many aspects of their achievements – from their collaborative approach to secure a highly scalable model for supplier-provided RECs for their data centers while driving new renewable energy to building a new school with local property tax dollars that flow from their VPPA to help finance new wind energy in Texas” – David Osborn, SR Inc’s COO & Senior Advisor.

SR Inc recognized Sean Kinghorn in part for his leadership in helping Intuit, makers of TurboTax, QuickBooks and Mint, become a global leader in the movement to climate positive companies. Intuit has committed to reducing emissions 50X more than the 2018 emissions of its own operations in the next decade.

For six years Sean has led in developing and implementing Intuit’s sustainability strategy that has maximized financial savings and reduced emissions as Intuit and its global portfolio of mostly leased space has grown.  Intuit set original 2015 goals to reduce its operational carbon footprint 50% by 2025, reduce its buildings’ carbon footprint 80% by 2025, and procure 100% renewable energy by 2030. Sean led the efforts to enable Intuit to surpass those goals for scopes 1 and 2 emissions, globally, five years early. Intuit’s bold new goal, announced during Climate Week in New York City, is to reduce carbon emissions 50 times greater than its own 2018 emissions footprint by 2030. To get there, Intuit will amplify its partnerships with SR Inc and with Project Drawdown, the world’s leading resource for climate solutions. The following initiatives are part of Intuit’s three-pronged strategy of boosting energy efficiency internally, investing in renewable energy, and buying verified strategy aligned carbon offsets:

• Energy Efficiency program featuring green building standards and initiatives to address supply chain, business travel, data center, and commuting emissions.

• Investing in renewables by committing to green tariffs and long-term on- and off-site renewable energy projects while operating a nearly 100% leased office portfolio.

• Leading SR Inc’s Net Zero Consortium for Buyers in partnering with other Member-clients through Buyer Organized Aggregated Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) to procure for Intuit the Renewable Energy Credits created by 10 MW of Texas Wind that will enable Intuit to meet its 100% renewable energy goal 10 years early.

• Intuit’s “Purely Green” initiative which enables customers, employees and business partners in Texas to buy wind energy at or below the price of traditional grid power.

• Partnering with Project Drawdown to purchase carbon offsets for emissions Intuit is unable to eliminate to help power prosperity through projects across the world.

“I’m honored to be named an Outstanding Corporate Leader by SR Inc and it has been a privilege to advance Intuit’s leadership to a best-in-class climate positive strategy. As the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has made clear, driving to a Net Zero Emissions should be the minimum goal of a responsible global company. Partnering with firms like SR Inc. and benefiting from the shared services of Renewable Energy Procurement Services (REPS) has been critical to help us drive Net Zero results with a cost advantage through a utility scale renewables that aggregates the demand of smaller firms. Together we can make an outstanding – and profitable – difference at growing scale for our company and for solutions for the planet.” – Sean Kinghorn, head of global sustainability at Intuit.

“It’s SR Inc’s great privilege to work with inspirational leaders at some of the best managed companies in the world; none is more impressive than Sean Kinghorn and none has provided more efficient leadership to both Intuit and to the corporate sustainability field globally than Sean as he helps customers, suppliers and peer enterprises understand they too can chart a strategic and profitable path to net zero emissions.” - SR Inc CEO & Founder, Jim Boyle.

About Akamai

Akamai secures and delivers digital experiences for the world’s largest companies. Akamai’s intelligent edge platform surrounds everything, from the enterprise to the cloud, so customers and their businesses can be fast, smart, and secure. Top brands globally rely on Akamai to help them realize competitive advantage through agile solutions that extend the power of their multi-cloud architectures. Akamai keeps decisions, apps and experiences closer to users than anyone — and attacks and threats far away. Akamai’s portfolio of edge security, web and mobile performance, enterprise access and video delivery solutions is supported by unmatched customer service, analytics and 24/7/365 monitoring. To learn why the world’s top brands trust Akamai, visit www.akamai.com, blogs.akamai.com, or @Akamai on Twitter. 

About Intuit Inc

Intuit’s mission is to Power Prosperity Around the World. Our global products and platforms, including TurboTax, QuickBooks, Mint and Turbo, are designed to empower consumers, self-employed and small businesses to improve their financial lives, finding them more money with the least amount of work, while giving them complete confidence in their actions and decisions. Our innovative ecosystem of financial management solutions serves approximately 50 million customers worldwide, unleashing the power of many for the prosperity of one. Please visit us for the latest news and in-depth information about Intuit and its brands and find us on social.

About Sustainability Roundtable Inc 

Sustainability Roundtable, Inc. (SR Inc) is the leader in outsourced Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) assistance. SR Inc provides confidential, membership-based, Strategic Advisory & Support Services to help management teams set goals, drive progress, and report results internally and externally as they lead their organizations to greater sustainability. Customer, talent, investor, and regulator interest in more sustainable and healthy corporate operations increases every year.  To help enterprises meet the expectations of these important stakeholders, SR Inc helps enterprises with industry specific ESG programs across all areas of corporate operations with a special focus on solution assessments, Sustainably Healthy Workplaces, as well as the procurement of on-site and off-site renewable energy and advanced energy systems. For information regarding Membership in SR Inc’s Sustainable Business & Enterprise Roundtable service, please visit our website at www.sustainround.com or call us at 617-682-3630.