SOURCE:Bacardi Limited

DESCRIPTION:

SHANGHAI, SEATTLE, and HAMILTON, Bermuda, September 10, 2018 /3BL Media/ – Family-owned Bacardi, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, and Lonely Whale, the award-winning non-profit dedicated to bringing forward courageous ideas that positively impact the health of our ocean, today announce hospitality group Cachet Hotels & Resorts has joined the global movement against single-use plastic.

Today, Bacardi extends the #TheFutureDoesntSuck campaign to Shanghai, China, at URBN Boutique, an award-winning environmentally conscious property known for its use of reclaimed construction materials and eco-chic design. Complementing the launch are two expert panels speaking on the impact of plastic pollution and the opportunity for China to lead the way in addressing marine debris at scale, starting but not stopping with the single-use plastic straw.

#TheFutureDoesntSuck was launched in July with a goal of permanently removing one billion single-use plastic straws by the year 2020. Launched in London with a series of images created by illustrator Sarah Tanat Jones, the campaign has already garnered international media attention and participation from top chefs including the award-winning Shanghai-based celebrity chef and co-founder of Cachet Hotels & Resorts, David Laris.

“Engaging accounts and consumers in the reduction of single-use plastic is a critical next step in helping to put an end to plastic pollution,” says Irving Holmes Wong, managing director for Bacardi in Greater China. “Single-use plastic items are among the most collected pieces of trash in our oceans, and we are urging our consumers to add ‘No plastic straw, please’ to every drink order so together we can make impactful change.”

Through a series of collaborations, events, and calls-to-action, Cachet Hotels & Resorts properties will encourage their customers, and all those looking to lend their ideas and voices to the initiative, to join the Bacardi and Lonely Whale campaign entitled #TheFutureDoesntSuck.

“Cachet Hotels & Resorts could not be prouder to support Lonely Whale and to collaborate with Bacardi to introduce #TheFutureDoesntSuck to Shanghai,” says Laris. “This campaign offers a fantastic way to bring attention to the plastic pollution issue to a larger audience. As a representative of the hospitality industry, I feel there is an obligation on our part to get behind this cause and begin reducing plastic waste immediately. Together, we can drive market-based impact in a region where plastic pollution is the most severe.”

“Every day we have an army of people walking in to bars and restaurants around the world. We share this campaign with our partners and people working the front-line, those who want to make their voice and support for eliminating single-use plastics heard,” adds John Burke, chief marketing officer for Bacardi globally. “Just as importantly, we want to raise the table stakes. Our focus for the past two years has been leading the industry charge with our #NoStraws pledge and now is the time to review the larger issue of single-use plastic in the greater Bacardi world to determine how and where we can truly make a bigger difference and continue leading the charge to build a more sustainable future. I believe through collaborations like this one, where we can bring society and business together, we can make impactful change to ensure #TheFutureDoesntSuck.”

Plastic waste has become the most pervasive sources of marine litter in the ocean. Once released into the ocean, plastic debris absorbs other toxic chemicals from the ocean and breaks down into microplastics, which are often mistaken for food by marine life. Collectively, plastic pollution results in more than in the loss of more than 100,000 marine animals each year through consumption and entanglement.

“Solutions to address the global plastic pollution crisis has been ignited thanks in part to the leadership shown by Bacardi with their 2016 #NoStraws pledge and then amplified this summer with the launch of our collaborative global campaign. We recognize that for real change to take place at the pace needed we must inspire a passion for change in the fastest growing and one of the most influential economies in the world, China,” says Dune Ives, executive director of Lonely Whale. “We’re excited to launch in Shanghai with Bacardi and in collaboration Cachet Hotels & Resorts to demonstrate that #TheFutureDoesntSuck in China.”

Both Bacardi and Lonely Whale are supportive of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, comprised of goals and targets set to stimulate action in areas of critical importance for both humanity and the planet. We believe that through partnerships with governments, other companies in the private sector, and others, we can have a positive impact on many of the goals.

To join this global campaign, visit www.thefuturedoesntsuck.org. There, individuals can declare their commitment to ensuring #TheFutureDoesntSuck by committing to go plastic-straw free and recruit restaurants, hotels, bars and other venues. Establishments can register their commitment and challenge others to do the same so that together we can all ensure #TheFutureDoesntSuck.

About Bacardi Limited
Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, produces and markets internationally recognized spirits and wines. The Bacardi brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDÍ® rum, GREY GOOSE® vodka, DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, MARTINI® vermouth and sparkling wines, PATRÓN® tequila, CAZADORES® 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON’S® Scotch whisky, ST-GERMAIN® elderflower liqueur, and ERISTOFF® vodka.

Founded more than 156 years ago, in Santiago de Cuba on February 4, 1862, family-owned Bacardi currently employs approximately 5,500, operates more than 20 production facilities, including bottling, distilling and manufacturing sites, and sells its brands in more than 170 countries. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. Visit bacardilimited.com or follow @BacardiLimited. 

About Lonely Whale

Lonely Whale is an incubator for courageous ideas that drive impactful change on behalf of our ocean. Inspired by the power of community, Lonely Whale is working towards a new era of radical collaboration, facilitating innovation that pushes the boundary on current trends in technology, media and advocacy to positively impact ocean health. Lonely Whale’s creative efforts to reduce, and ultimately eliminate, ocean-bound plastic pollution have earned them recognition as one of Huffington Post’s Top Ten Movers and Shakers in Environmental Sustainability and Fast Company’s World Changing Ideas as well as honors from the Cannes Lions, Effy, Shorty and ADDY Awards in 2018.  For more information, visit www.lonelywhale.org or follow along on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @lonelywhale.

About Cachet Hotels & Resorts

Cachet Hotels & Resorts (CHR) is a lifestyle and responsible hospitality branding and management company with New York City and Shanghai. CHR's mission is to be the leading innovative and socially responsible hospitality company in the Asia Pacific and the Americas. With numerous projects under development, CHR is focused on establishing properties in Greater China, Southeast Asia and the Americas. For more information, please visit www.cachethotels.com.

Media Contacts: Ching Li, chli@bacardi.com

Multimedia assets available via: Ching Li, chli@bacardi.com
www.thefuturedoesntsuck.org

Tweet me:Cachet Hotels & Resorts joins @BacardiLimited and @LonelyWhale to ensure #TheFutureDoesntSuck in China http://bit.ly/2MeW3n7

KEYWORDS: Bacardi Limited, Lonely Whale, #TheFutureDoesntSuck, Cachet Hotels & Resorts, No Straws, Plastic straws

This STEM program is empowering boys to put their world-changing ideas into action

SOURCE:Verizon

DESCRIPTION:

“He became a leader.”  Jean Nicoleau talked about her student, Tyghe, and his transformation after his first summer with Verizon Innovative Learning as if she were describing two different people. One version of Tyghe had an energy and attitude that were disruptive at times. Prior to Verizon Innovative Learning, Nicoleau had known Tyghe for several years and watched him struggle in school. But during the past school year, his grades, confidence and sense of responsibility all improved. New Tyghe was someone with a purpose; someone teachers wanted in their classrooms.

Tyghe returned to Verizon Innovative Learning as one of more than 60 boys in a three-week immersive program at Florida International University (FIU) in Miami. It’s one of 24 such programs occurring across the U.S. this summer geared to African American and Hispanic middle school boys. Students in the program are given access to world-class technology — from 3D printers to autonomous robots to drones — and asked to solve some of the globe’s biggest problems. It’s all part of the Verizon Innovative Learning mission to provide free technology, free internet access and hands-on learning experiences to under-resourced students to help them get the skills they need to succeed in a digital world.

Now in its second summer at FIU, the program not only increases students’ abilities with math and science, according to a 2017 study of program participants, but also motivates the young men to a new confidence that carries into the school year, putting them on a path to build brighter futures. They are in a better position to change the outcomes of their own generation, and those that follow. When asked why they believe they can change the world, participants like Jonathan, British and Gideon all had the same response: “Because we can.”

Jonathan, 7th Grade

“We have the power to help others,” said Jonathan as he sat a few feet from the 3D printer that will turn his design for a spoon to assist tremors patients into a prototype for his team’s STEM project. Like the rest of the boys in the program, Montero was given transportation from a surrounding Miami neighborhood and free breakfast as the day began. At home, Jonathan, whose roots are Puerto Rican and Dominican— used to watch his abuelo (“grandpa”) struggle to eat as tremors shook his hands. The program let Jonathan get his own hands on technology not readily available at school, and now he’s president of his after-school robotics club. Being in close contact with the tools for three weeks changed Jonathan’s outlook on how he can create positive change for patients like his grandpa. “The [program] helps us turn our ideas into a real life thing.”

British, 7th Grade 

One of the boys who engaged well beyond the borders of the program is 13-year-old British. Troubleshooting the 3D printer or autonomous robots was the game-changer that helped British believe he can turn designs in his head into tangible solutions. He preferred the program’s collaborative, hands-on approach to problem solving to the instruction he gets at school, but he also was focused on the challenge that awaited him once it was done. “I’m going to Puerto Rico to help my family with hurricane relief. I can build simple structures,” he said. “I need to help them.”

Gideon, 8th Grade

Gideon also spoke about the maladies of the modern world, but his observations and the program’s intensive curriculum birthed a question inside of his own consciousness. “There are so many negative things, so I wonder, why are we trying to help ourselves?” he asked. “We should be working to help others.”

Gideon’s STEM project turned food waste into electricity, and his eyes lit up when a similar project came up in the Flying Classroom lecture. Captain Barrington Irving — who grew up in Miami  under the very planes flying over campus — shared observations from his own world travels. At the age of 23, Irving went on a 97-day, 30,000-mile journey which made him the youngest person and the first African-American pilot to fly solo around the world in a single engine airplane. Like many of these boys, Irving had aspirations of being a professional athlete, but one encounter with a pilot changed his idea of what he could become if he pursued a career in STEM. Immersing middle school boys in an environment alongside STEM curricula and like-minded explorers creates a more open mindset, and it’s the greatest benefit of Verizon Innovative Learning according to Irving.

Monique Ross, Assistant Professor, Computer Science, Florida International University

Monique Ross, a researcher and assistant professor of computer science at FIU, said that it’s paramount to maintain unique pathways to STEM after the summer program, so her student-mentors see the boys several times throughout the school year as part of the Verizon Innovative Learning program. Ross’ study of the student-mentors after the program’s first summer revealed an increased desire to participate in altruistic opportunities, with some saying that the life-changing experience inspired them to take more command of their own lives and also better influence the lives of future generations.

The boys are shown that they can achieve lofty goals when they set a plan, execute, refine and repeat. Equipped with minimal resources, the boys solve simple dilemmas — like helping tired parents care for younger siblings — all the time when they’re not at the program or school. Being at FIU showed the boys that their inherent problem-solving skills also could land them jobs and give them opportunities to change the world. It also challenged them to change their approach to school.

Tweet me:The #VerizonInnovativeLearning #STEM program is motivating minority young men to a new confidence & putting them on a path to build brighter futures. Why do they believe they can change the world? They all agree: "Because we can.” http://bit.ly/2Q7lVor

KEYWORDS: NYSE:VZ, Verizon, Verizon Innovative Learning

SOURCE:Edison International

SUMMARY:

Editor’s Note: Photographs and b-roll are available here.

DESCRIPTION:

ROSEMEAD, Calif., Sept. 10, 2018 /3BL Media/ — As part of its ongoing efforts to protect customers and communities from the growing risk of wildfires, Southern California Edison proposed additional wildfire safety measures in a filing today with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).

The proposed $582 million Grid Safety and Resiliency Program (GS&RP) aligns with the wildfire mitigation plans required by Senate Bill 901, one of the wildfire bills passed by the legislature last month and currently awaiting the Governor’s signature.

“The devastation caused by the 2017 and 2018 wildfires leaves no doubt that wildfire risk has increased to the point where California needs to reassess the way we collectively prepare for and prevent wildfires,” said Phil Herrington, SCE senior vice president of Transmission & Distribution. “This includes a role for utilities in going beyond existing state standards and traditional utility practices to incorporate leading mitigation measures from around the world, selected based on their effectiveness.

“We are taking a holistic approach and proposing to implement measures between now and the end of 2020 that will further harden our infrastructure, bolster our situational awareness capabilities and enhance our operational practices,” Herrington said. “We also will continue to work with state leaders on policies to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire damages while ensuring equitable distribution of costs.”

Initiatives to Further Harden Infrastructure

Insulated Wires: SCE will replace nearly 600 miles of overhead power lines in high fire risk areas with insulated wire by the end of 2020. This will be the first large-scale deployment of insulated wire in the U.S. designed to reduce wildfire risk.

While up to 10 percent of wildfire ignitions in California are from power lines, in SCE’s service area more than half of ignitions associated with distribution lines are caused when objects such as metallic balloons, tree limbs and palm fronds come into contact with power lines. While bare, uninsulated wire meets California state standards and is widely used by utilities across the country, insulated wires can significantly reduce the potential for ignitions resulting from contact with foreign objects. In addition, insulated wires provide the greatest overall value compared to other mitigation measures such as undergrounding lines.

Where appropriate, fire-resistant composite poles will be used when poles need to be replaced to support the increased weight and diameter of the insulated wire. SCE plans to replace about 3,400 miles of overhead line with insulated wire between 2021 and 2025; funding for that work would be included in future General Rate Case requests.

Current Limiting Fuses: SCE is installing 15,700 of these devices, which interrupt current more quickly and avoid the potential creation of their own heat source during fuse operation when compared to traditional, industry standard fuses. In addition to reducing the risk of wildfires, installation of the current limiting fuses is expected to boost reliability by segmenting circuits to isolate problems, thereby limiting the number of customers affected by an outage.

Remote-Controlled Automatic Reclosers (RARs): Under normal conditions, the grid automatically tests any circuit experiencing a temporary interruption or “fault”; if the fault condition no longer exists, the circuit is quickly re-energized. During Red Flag conditions (low humidity and high wind), SCE uses RARs to stop affected circuits from automatically re-energizing so SCE crews can physically inspect the lines before they are re-energized. SCE currently has 930 RARs and is installing another 98, in addition to updating the RAR settings to increase both the speed and sensitivity of the RARs to react to line faults.

Projects Increasing Situational Awareness

High-Definition Cameras: SCE will deploy up to 160 high-definition cameras which will enable emergency management personnel, including fire agencies, to more quickly respond to emerging and spreading wildfires and save critical time in assessing fire severity.

Weather Stations and Modeling Tools: SCE will install up to 850 weather stations, beginning with 125 weather stations in 2018. Data from the weather stations will be used by a new advanced weather modeling tool that can forecast weather conditions within a third of a mile. This information can be used to inform operational decisions and optimize resource allocation during emergency situations.

Enhancing Operational Practices

Vegetation Management: While the CPUC last year issued aggressive new rules on tree pruning in high fire risk areas, SCE is proposing to do even more: SCE will inspect all trees within 200 feet of its electric facilities and remove or prune trees that could strike the equipment. “These trees are far enough away from electrical equipment that they are not covered by existing clearance requirements, but close enough to present a possible threat during high winds,” Herrington said.

Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS): As a measure of last resort, the company proactively de-energizes portions of its system under extreme fire conditions to keep customers and communities safe. The company will implement a number of measures designed to minimize the inconvenience to customers, including:

• A new Emergency Outage Notification System to send customized messages before, during and after a PSPS.
   
• Portable Community Power Trailers so customers can charge their personal devices (mobile phones, tablets, laptops, etc.) and continue to receive outage updates and public safety information while staying connected with friends and family.
   
• A pilot project deploying drones operating Beyond Visual Line of Sight to quickly survey power lines after a PSPS so power can be restored more quickly.

​Infrared Inspections: SCE is expanding the use of infrared inspection for overhead distribution lines to help identify equipment at risk of failure. Visual inspections, while valuable, cannot identify potential issues inside sealed components or covered objects that may lead to component failure.

“With both safety and consumer cost in mind, we believe that the portfolio of projects we are proposing will work together to provide a comprehensive approach to further minimize the risk of wildfires and increase the resiliency and reliability of our grid,” Herrington said.

If the GS&RP is approved, the average monthly bill for a residential customer would increase by about $1.20; income-qualified CARE customers would see an increase of about 81 cents per month. The total costs include $175 million in Operations & Maintenance expenses and $407 million in capital spending.

About Southern California Edison
An Edison International (NYSE:EIX) company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a population of approximately 15 million via 5 million customer accounts in a 50,000- square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California. 

Media Contact:
Brian Leventhal, (626) 302-2255

Investor Relations Contact:
Sam Ramraj, (626) 302-2540

Tweet me:.@SCE proposes additional #wildfire #safety measures as part of Grid Safety and Resiliency Program http://bit.ly/2x1yREm #energy #utilities

KEYWORDS: Edison International, Southern California Edison, wildfires, Disaster preparedness, Disaster Response

SOURCE:Las Vegas Sands

DESCRIPTION:

When Suzanna Maule brought her mother to the ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands for the first time in 2017, she was impressed and awed by how the Visitor Services team attended to them.

“We felt so welcomed by the team. They were proactive in preempting our questions – it almost seemed like they could read my face!” Maule said.

Maule initially joined Marina Bay Sands as a Table Games dealer in 2013, leveraging her counting skills even though she was new to the gaming industry. “My cousin was working as a dealer as well and he recommended Marina Bay Sands as a great workplace to join. I decided to try for the job and trained for almost two months before dealing on the floor,” she shared.

While comfortable with the essentials of table games dealing, Maule felt nervous in front of guests at the start as she was unfamiliar with gaming culture. “It took me around four months to gain confidence before I could interact with guests properly. I had to learn how to balance my managers’ and guests’ expectations as well,” she said.

Eager to pursue further education and pave her future for more opportunities, she studied part-time for a hospitality degree while juggling shifts at work. She espoused the importance of education and believes that the sacrifice of personal time during that period to achieve her goals was worth every second.

“After graduating in 2017, I applied for internal transfers that would allow me to build the skills I’d learned in school. I was actually really excited to join the ArtScience Museum team after visiting with my mom,” she said.

After a successful interview, Suzanna embraced the 180-degree career change and started from scratch: her first step was to know her team well and communicate effectively with them. “My favorite parts of my jobs at Marina Bay Sands so far are my teams – even before transferring, I had a great Craps team and was sad to leave them. Now, I have a fantastic team as well. We are always there for one another when anyone needs help,” she elaborated.

As a Visitor Services Associate, she must know the exhibitions like the back of her hand in order to create the best experiences for her guests. Before an exhibition opens, the project manager brings the team for a walkthrough to become familiar with the layout and details of the exhibition. Wind Walkers, an interactive exhibition, had a reanimated portion that Maule was able to participate in, adding to her job’s purpose and allowing her to feel included in the installations.

“Sometimes, I see fellow dealers who moved on to other positons as well around Heart-of-House. I’m glad that we have the chance to try other roles in different fields within the same company,” she said.

Tweet me:How @MarinaBaySands supported the #professionalgrowth of Visitor Services Associate Suzanna Maule and helped her expand her career horizons: http://bit.ly/2M3pCrL @LasVegasSands #HospitalityCareers

KEYWORDS: Marina Bay Sands, Las Vegas Sands, professional development, Hospitality Careers, business skills

SOURCE:CBRE Group, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

Tweet me:.@CBRE announced that the company is among America’s Best Employers for New Graduates, according to a list published by @Forbes http://bit.ly/2N88giP

KEYWORDS: Top Employer for New Graduates, commercial real estate company, keeping top talent, investing in employees

SOURCE:NRG Energy

DESCRIPTION:

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a global set of goals, targets and indicators that United Nations member states, and increasingly businesses, are expected to use to frame agendas and policies surrounding development. The global community has given itself until 2030 to achieve the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which will require a significant contribution from the private sector and collaboration across industries.

Our core business and corporate strategy and vision directly align with two of the goals, 7 and 13. 

Download and read our full 2017 Sustainability Report here.

Tweet me:.@nrgenergy's core business and corporate strategy and vision directly align with two of the goals, 7 and 13 http://bit.ly/2O6nBNg

KEYWORDS: SDG's, NRG Energy, affordable and clean energy, climate action, 2017 Sustainability Report

SOURCE:3BL Forum

DESCRIPTION:

Get the first look at the 2018 3BL Forum Agenda here.

Click here to register. 

Tweet me:Get the first look at the #3BLForum: #BrandsTakingStands agenda http://bit.ly/2oXgsUJ @BrandsTkgStands @3BLMedia #corporateactivism #CEOactivism

KEYWORDS: corporate activism, CEO Activism, Brands Taking Stands, 3bl Media, 3BL Forum

SOURCE:Northern Trust

DESCRIPTION:

Female leadership is on the rise in a big way right now, and the world is taking notice. Here at home, look closely at where the most positive impact is being generated around Chicago, and there’s a good chance you’ll find an inspiring woman pulling the strings. From senator, Supreme Court justice, and MLB owner to CEOs, presidents, and philanthropists, these 25 women are Chicago’s top female movers and shakers right now. They control multi-million-dollar budgets, powerful media or other public platforms, and have created transformational models worthy of wide replication.

What advice would you give to your younger self (and other women on their way up)? 

“Be bold, brave, and inclusive!”

-Connie L. Lindsey, Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and Global Diversity and Inclusion, Northern Trust

Click here to continue reading

Tweet me:“Be bold, brave, and inclusive!” @makeitbetterNS names @connieleads on the list of The 25 Most Powerful Women in Chicago http://bit.ly/2QmPjHm @NTCSR

KEYWORDS: Northern Trust, csr, diversity and inclusion, connie lindsey, women in business

SOURCE:Discovery Education

DESCRIPTION:

By Nathaniel Wallace, M.A.T.L.T., M.A., Media Arts & Technology Teacher, Prince George’s County Public Schools

Efforts to equip students for college and career readiness are beginning earlier and earlier in the classroom. A 2015 Gallup poll of one million students in the U.S. found that only half reported feeling engaged in school, and one-fifth feel actively disengaged. These statistics show a disconcerting lapse among curriculum, students and the reasoning behind why we teach what we teach.

Fortunately, many districts are making moves toward building connections in the classroom, showing students real-world applications of lesson plans. In my classroom, I focus on skills such as computational thinking to show students how what they are learning now can help them in a future career. This ideology can be applied to any subject, with the most important part being that we are exposing students to a variety of skills and showing the application across subjects and job industries. By encouraging the exploration of career options, learners are being inspired and empowered to choosing their own path.

Educators can spur student interest and boost confidence through a variety of resources and activities. In my district, we use Ignite My Future in School, a partnership between Tata Consultancy Services and Discovery Education, that helps inspire students through computational thinking. The program offers up a unique career vignettes resource that highlight diverse and dynamic people who have launched careers in computer science, design thinking and more through their passion for STEM, an interest that was ignited during their school years.

It’s incredibly valuable to connect with professionals and introduce them to students. There is an ‘aha!’ moment that occurs when students realize that what they are learning now can be used in a career later on. Students see these specialists as mentors who can share real-world advice on careers, industries and more.

Project-based instruction is a core part of my curriculum, and I’ve found major success by incorporating it into my lessons. Project-based learning is a way to help students develop knowledge and 21st century skills that they can then transfer into real-life situations. When students are given the opportunity to be hands-on, their interest increases tenfold. For example, one lesson that I’ve used combines bird watching with technology to form a well-rounded, deep learning experience that emphasizes inquiry and problem solving.

Ignite My Future provides an offering of Curriculum Connectors organized by the seven computational thinking strategies. Each of these Connectors identifies how professionals in various industries are using computational thinking in their careers, and how the skill links to a subject, such as science or social studies. Introducing students to a variety of subjects increases the chance that they’ll find something appealing that they’d like to explore further. As important as STEM is, I try to broaden the spectrum by showing how computational thinking can be applied to more than math and science, but to social studies and language arts too.

In our district, we highlight the importance of experimenting, repeating experiences and empower students in order to contribute to thriving communities.  I want students to feel that they are able to learn about a skill without the pressure, and in turn, bolster their confidence in the subjects they find exciting. Through this, we can help students find where their interests lie, and potentially, help identify a future career.

For more information on Ignite My Future in School, please visit ignitemyfutureinschool.org.  

Tweet me:.@TCS_na and @DiscoveryEd share the importance of career exploration in K-12 http://bit.ly/2Mo1W1H #IgniteMyFuture

KEYWORDS: discovery education, tata consultancy services (TCS), Ignite My Future in School, Computational Thinking, career exploration

SOURCE:World Environment Center

DESCRIPTION:

September 11, 2018 /3BL Media/ - The World Environment Center (WEC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Emilio Tenuta, vice president of Corporate Sustainability at Ecolab, to its board of directors.  

Tenuta is a recognized sustainability leader and for the last six years, has led Ecolab’s sustainability strategy focused on corporate responsibility, internal environmental stewardship and helping customers operate more sustainably.  He is actively involved in advancing global sustainability practices, with a significant focus on water stewardship. Ecolab helps companies in a wide range of industries worldwide meet their own sustainability goals. The company’s 26,500-strong field team helps customers operate more efficiently, using less water and energy, at nearly three million customer locations in more than 170 countries.  

“I am delighted to join the board of an organization whose chief purpose is to strengthen sustainable development globally through its member companies and partnerships with governments, non-governmental organizations, universities and other stakeholders,” said Tenuta.

Commenting on the appointment, Francisco Suarez Hernandez, chair of WEC’s board of directors and director of Coca-Cola FEMSA’s New Business Initiatives said, “The World Environment Center is delighted to have Emilio join our board. His deep knowledge of sustainability and water stewardship will help the World Environment Center prepare businesses to be future-proof.”
Tenuta is actively involved in advancing sustainability practices. He sits on the sustainability leadership council for Corporate Eco Forum and is chair of the sustainability council of the Conference Executive Board.  He also is an active member of several industry organizations, including serving on the sustainability work group for the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

Tenuta holds a bachelor of science degree in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and a master’s degree in Business from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

###

About World Environment Center 
WEC is an independent, global non-profit, non-advocacy organization that advances sustainable development through the business practices and operations of its member companies and in partnership with governments, multilateral organizations, non-governmental organizations, universities and other stakeholders. 

Tweet me:.@WorldEnvCenter is pleased to announce appointment of @emiliotenuta to the WEC’s Board of Directors #boardmembers http://bit.ly/2MkCKZH

Contact Info:

Lori Michelin
World Environment Center
info@wec.org

KEYWORDS: World Environment Center (WEC)

SOURCE:Booz Allen Hamilton

SUMMARY:

Generation Z represents today’s students and tomorrow’s workers. According to a survey by software marketing company Marketo, they’re future-focused realists with a drive to create things, and a majority (60%) want their jobs to impact the world. Does the terrain ahead present clear passage, or a possible ambush? Thanks to the winning project of the Booz Allen Summer Games intern challenge, ground commanders in war zones will be able to make decisions like this in minutes, rather than hours, with a portable reconnaissance device that’s easy to assemble and repair. Chase Seals, host of Newsy’s show “The Why,” took time to hear from senior leaders on the success of the program and impact of the winning solution through eyes of the winning Summer Games interns. The full video can be found here, with the summary of the conversations, below.

DESCRIPTION:

A summer project that saves lives

“We designed a drone from scratch,” said intern Robyn Kincade, a member of the winning team from Huntsville, AL. “It’s modular, tool less, snap able, and super easy to put together. Everything is 3D printable.”

The drone responds to the need to get servicemembers better intel, faster, out in the field. 

“The problem we started with was: How do we get this thing into their hands faster? And the way for them to do that is to carry it,” said intern Ryan Fernandez. “So we had to make it lightweight.”

Every aspect of the drone was designed with practicality in mind.

“We wanted everything to be easy to assemble so everything could be snapped together without tools,” said intern Bradley Evans. “Then, with the 3D printing, if something breaks, it can be fixed by simply printing off a new part and then replacing that part within the drone.”

Solving real-world problems

Intern teams were given timely, complex challenges to solve from Booz Allen professionals across sectors and around the world.

“We use crowdsourcing technologies to go out to all of our business leaders and ask them: What are the tough problems you’re trying to solve? Where could you use a team this summer to really make a dent on those problems?” said Booz Allen Talent Strategy Officer Aimee George Leary.

Training and testing the innovators of tomorrow

Since 2014, the Summer Games challenge has engaged university students from across the country to respond to major world problems through collaboration and elaboration. This year, 400 interns were chosen from 7,000 applicants. The ten teams who made the final cut presented to senior Booz Allen leadership at Booz Allen’s McLean, Virginia headquarters in August 2018.

“This has really given me a sense of what it’s like to be on a team and what it’s like to actually make real things and help people in a real way,” said Catherine Henderson from the Huntsville team.

But the students aren’t the only ones who benefit. “We’re able to take some of the solutions back to our clients,” said Leary. “We’ve really seen a tremendous value to the program.”

To learn more about other key innovations from Booz Allen’s 2018 Summer Games interns, read more, here.

Tweet me:.@Boozallen #interns are changing the world, one drone at a time – find out how: http://bit.ly/2QnmEBZ

KEYWORDS: NYSE:BAH, Booz Allen Hamilton, Interns, summer games, drones, 3d printing, STEM

SOURCE:Sappi North America

DESCRIPTION:

Responsible manufacturing begins with responsible sourcing. For the wood products industry, it is paramount that our natural resources are used wisely. In the US, a strong legal framework has shaped and upheld responsible forestry practices for generations. The Clean Water Act first established the requirement for best management practices (BMPs) in the 1970s. Forestry BMPs have been evaluated, tested, revised, and adapted over time by each state. Third-party certification standards have led to additional improvements and provide a scalable assurance mechanism for stakeholders.

Forest Certification

The amount of certified forest varies significantly by country and region. North America is home to over one-third of FSC certified land globally and over half of the world’s PEFC certified fiber. While it is diffi cult to quantify precisely, in the US a significant portion of the forest is certified under more than one standard and roughly one-third of our fiber meets both the FSC and PEFC standards. However, because of the high level of private ownership and the number of smallholders in the supply chain, it is not possible to achieve 100 percent certified fiber. At over 50 percent certified forest fiber in our supply, we have achieved levels higher than most North American manufacturers.

Holistic Fiber Sourcing Assurances

Because of the limited availability of certified forest fiber, nearly all supply chains use a blend of certified and uncertified fi ber. In order to maintain the highest levels of assurances with chain of custody claims, the leading global standards have instituted additional control measures for the uncertified lands. The FSC has established a Controlled Wood standard while the SFI program has a separate Fiber Sourcing Standard. Both of these standards are separate from the Chain of Custody Standards. The FSC Controlled Wood standard is designed to eliminate the presence of controversial sources. There are five categories of unacceptable material that cannot be mixed with FSC certifi ed materials:

• Illegally harvested wood
• Wood harvested in violation of traditional and human rights
• Wood harvested in forests in which high conservation values (HCVs) are threatened by management activities
• Wood harvested in forests being converted to plantations or non-forest use
• Wood from forests in which genetically modified trees are planted

Our group wood and fiber policy requires that all wood and pulp sourced for Sappi (globally) must come from well-managed forests and be third-party verifi ed that it is from controlled and noncontroversial sources. In North America, all of our wood and pulp purchases also meet the SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard which has additional requirements beyond avoiding controversial sources. Building on top of a very strong legal framework within the US and Canada, the SFI Fiber Sourcing Standard also requires that we meet several measurable objectives including:

• Landowner Outreach: To broaden the practice of sustainable forestry by forest landowners through fi ber sourcing programs.
• Use of Qualified Resource and Qualified Logging Professionals: To broaden the practice of sustainable forestry by encouraging forest landowners to utilize the services of forest management and harvesting professionals.
• Adherence to Best Management Practices (BMPs): To broaden the scope of sustainable forestry through the use of best management practices to protect water quality.

Building on the solid legal framework and bolstered by our adherence to third-party verifi cation standards, we can assure stakeholders that 100 percent of our forest fiber is from a well-managed forest, at low risk of any controversial source.

Logger Education Efforts

Our procurement foresters work directly with landowners and can make recommendations for forest management and harvesting professionals. Maine and Minnesota have strong professional logging associations that offer a range of training activities to logging professionals, including certifi cation to Master Logger and Certifi ed Logging Professional (CLP) standards. The Maine CLP program emphasizes safety, and its curriculum includes separate modules centered on the business of logging; forest management/silviculture; safe and effi cient harvesting; and CPR/First Aid. 

Coursework offered through the Minnesota Logger Education Program includes:

• Biomass harvesting guidelines
• Chainsaw felling • Compliance with transportation rules and guidelines
• Designing timber sales for wildlife
• Estimating timber volume; fi nancial skills
• Forest management guidelines
• Forest pest detection
• Human resource management
• Information technology (e.g., GPS, GIS, LiDAR)
• Log scale and grading
• Markets for wood products

Tweet me:Learn more about how @SappiNA sources its fiber through #sustainable #forestry: http://bit.ly/Sappi-SR17

KEYWORDS: WOOD FIBER, Responsible Forestry, Sappi, environment, JSE:SAP

The learning platform provides businesses with the knowledge and skills they need to meet their sustainability objectives

SOURCE:United Nations Global Compact

DESCRIPTION:

NEW YORK, September 12, 2018 /3BL Media/ — Today, the United Nations Global Compact launched a new digital learning platform to help companies become more sustainable.

The UN Global Compact Academy is designed to provide businesses with the knowledge and skills they need to meet their sustainability objectives, mitigate business risks and achieve long-term growth by contributing to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The UN Global Compact Academy delivers an engaging learning experience focusing on the issues that matter the most to sustainable companies. It gives participants access to expert-led and interactive how-to sessions, e-learning courses and a global community of sustainable businesses.

Users will be able to access on-demand learning resources and measure their progress. The sessions provide practical guidance for companies on aligning their business strategies and operations with the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact and the Global Goals.

“To achieve the Global Goals, we need companies to step up and fully engage in the process,” said Lise Kingo, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact. “Through the Academy, we’re answering the call from business to provide more guidance to help them implement a principles-based approach to sustainable development.”

The Academy features a new interactive e-learning course that helps companies understand and take action on the Global Goals.

Available to companies engaging with the UN Global Compact at the Participant level, the UN Global Compact Academy is complemented by a publicly-available influencer series, which started earlier this year with special sessions with former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, Professor John Ruggie of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and Guy Ryder, Director-General of the International Labour Organization.

To learn more about the Academy and how to join, click here. For a first look, visit the new platform.

About the United Nations Global Compact
The United Nations Global Compact is a call to companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, and to take action in support of UN goals and issues embodied in the Sustainable Development Goals. The UN Global Compact is a leadership platform for the development, implementation and disclosure of responsible corporate practices. Launched in 2000, it is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world, with more than 9,500 companies and 3,000 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries, and nearly 70 Local Networks.

For more information, follow @globalcompact on social media and visit our website at www.unglobalcompact.org.

Tweet me:Introducing the new UN @globalcompact Academy platform designed to help companies gain the knowledge and skills they need to meet their #sustainability objectives. Explore here: academy.unglobalcompact.org/learn

Contact Info:

Leila Puutio
United Nations Global Compact
+1 (646) 884-7523
media@unglobalcompact.org
@globalcompact
https://www.facebook.com/UNGlobalCompact
https://www.linkedin.com/company/united-nations-global-compact
https://www.instagram.com/globalcompact/

KEYWORDS: UN Global Compact, United Nations Global Compact, UN Global Compact Academy, Lise Kingo, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, John Ruggie, Guy Ryder, Digital Learning, Global Goals, Ten Principles, responsible business

SOURCE:Nestlé

DESCRIPTION:

STAMFORD, Conn., September 12, 2018 /3BL Media/ – For the third time in four years, Nestlé Waters North America has turned over the keys to its former bottling facility in Calistoga, California to the American Red Cross to use as a staging area to help Northern California communities facing wildfires. 

“The American Red Cross has a critical need for temporary warehouse space to provide support for victims of the Northern California wildfires,” said Joe Lund, Director of Operations for American Red Cross in Northern California. “In 2015 and then again in 2016, Nestlé Waters North America graciously offered the use of their former bottling plant as a temporary disaster supply center. Allowing the American Red Cross to use the facility again this year for the current fires is giving our response a huge boost.”

 “We are committed to being good neighbors in the communities in which we live and work,” said Tara Carraro, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Nestlé Waters North America. “We understand how critical it is to have access to safe, clean drinking water, especially during times of emergency, and we know the important role that first responders and relief organizations play in getting these resources to communities where and when they’re needed. That’s why we’re proud to support the amazing work of the American Red Cross.”

In addition to opening the doors of the former Calistoga bottling facility to the American Red Cross, Nestlé Waters has been actively responding to requests for water donations from first responders and communities in Northern California that have been impacted by wildfires, including sovereign tribal nations. In the month of August, the company delivered nearly 250,000 bottles of water to ensure that those impacted by the recent wildfires have access to clean drinking water during the recovery process.

Nestlé Waters North America also offers the following natural disaster preparedness tips:

• Bottled water should be stored in a cool (i.e., room temperature), dry environment away from sources of odor, such as household cleaning products, solvents such as gasoline, paint thinners and other toxic or odorous materials, and away from direct sunlight. A partially consumed bottle should be capped when not being consumed.
• Bottled water can be used indefinitely if stored properly, but Nestlé Waters recommends no more than two years for non-carbonated water, and one year for sparkling water.
• Nestlé Waters' three- and five-gallon bottles are intended to be used for water only. For safety reasons, gasoline, antifreeze, kerosene and other toxic substances should never be placed into our water bottles. 
• All Nestlé Waters bottles are recyclable. Recycling empty bottles after drinking the water is critically important to keep plastic out of our waterways and landfill. 

How to Help 

Those interested in aiding relief efforts can support the work of the American Red Cross. To get in contact with or to seek assistance at a disaster relief site, please call or visit the following website:

The American Red Cross
P: 1-800-RED-CROSS

About Nestlé Waters North America

Nestlé Waters North America offers an unrivaled portfolio of bottled water brands for healthy hydration, including Poland Spring^®, Nestlé^® Pure Life^®, Perrier and S. Pellegrino^®. The company also owns and operates ReadyRefresh^SM by Nestlé^®, a customizable water and beverage delivery service. Just Click and Quench^SM. Based in Stamford, Connecticut with some 8,500 associates located across North America, we are committed to reducing our environmental footprint across our operations. As a natural resource company, we sustainably manage 47 spring sources and conserve nearly 21,000 acres of natural watershed area. We are also committed to creating shared value and being a good neighbor in the 140 communities where we operate in the U.S. For more information, visit us at www.nestle-watersna.com/en and follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram: @NestleWatersNA.

Tweet me:.@NestleWatersNA hands over keys to their Calistoga, California facility to @RedCross to help support wildfire response efforts in Northern California https://bddy.me/2x7G1GV

Contact Info:

Kristina Wilson-Rocheford
Nestle Waters North America
+1 (203) 246-6642
kristina.wilsonrocheford@waters.nestle.com
@NestleWatersNA

KEYWORDS: California, wildfires, Red Cross, Calistoga, VTX:NESN.VX, Nestle Waters

SOURCE:SiMPACT Strategy Group

DESCRIPTION:

More time to volunteer doesn't always equal more participation. Participation increases when employees have 1-2 volunteer days.

Executive champions, encouragement, celebrating impact - these features of world-class programs are more likely to increase participation than more or unlimited days.

Are your Community Investment programs having impact? Join the conversation!

-30-

About LBG Canada

LBG Canada is a network of corporate community investment professionals from many of Canada's leading companies, who work together to apply, develop and enhance the use of the LBG Model and measurement framework in Canada. Participation in LBG Canada encourages companies to focus on strategy, measurement and reporting to demonstrate the business value achieved through investment in community. LBG Canada is facilitated by SiMPACT Strategy Group. For more information, please visit: https://www.lbg-canada.ca

Tweet me:Employers: #DYK that more time to #volunteer doesn't always equal more participation? So how much is the "right" amount? Click here to learn more! http://bit.ly/2CP2ZIb #CIMatters #LBGCanada

KEYWORDS: LBG Canada, London Benchmarking Group, employee volunteering, Community Investment, Corporate Social Responsibility, Employee Engagement, Simpact strategy group

SOURCE:Ray C. Anderson Foundation

SUMMARY:

So much of Yvon Chouinard's book's contents match perfectly with Ray Anderson’s own philosophies. For instance, on page 151 of  Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman, Patagonia founder, Chouinard writes, “Our mission statement says nothing about making a profit. In fact, our family considers our bottom line to be the amount of good that the business has accomplished over the year. 

DESCRIPTION:

In my ongoing quest to drive readership of this blog to zero (somehow, people still read this), I’m going to base my introduction on the least exciting concept yet … the trademark search function on the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s website! Let’s do this.

Tweet me:.@johnalanierRCAF continues his #Ecocentricity blog series focused on the great books he read this summer. One of them was Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman, by @patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard. http://bit.ly/2oYwQ7s

Contact Info:

Valerie Bennett
Ray C. Anderson Foundation
+1 (770) 317-5858
valerie@raycandersonfoundation.org

KEYWORDS: Trademarks, Ray C. Anderson Foundation, John A. Lanier, patagonia, Yvon Chouinard, Ecocentricity

AIDA Cruises, the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the Hanseatic and University City of Rostock and ROSTOCK PORT sign Declaration of Intend to jointly promote environmentally friendly and sustainable cruise shipping in Rostock.

SOURCE:Carnival Corporation & plc

DESCRIPTION:

ROSTOCK, Germany, September 12, 2018 /3BL Media/ - On September 11, 2018, around 280 executives of AIDA Cruises welcomed the prime minister of Mecklenburg- Western Pomerania, Manuela Schwesig at the AIDA Management Days in Rostock. The occasion was marked by the signing of a Declaration of Intend between AIDA Cruises, the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the Hanseatic and University City of Rostock and ROSTOCK PORT to jointly promote environmentally friendly and sustainable cruise shipping in Rostock,.

"Cruise tourism is of particular significance to Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. We are proud that so many ships arrive here and that, today, Warnemünde is the most important arrival port for cruise ships in Germany. And we are also very pleased that with AIDA Cruises, one of the industry's most important companies is based here in Rostock and is securing jobs. We are signing a joint declaration so that in future cruise ships can be supplied with shoreside power at the Port of Rostock. I am convinced that this is a good step and it is an important contribution towards making cruise tourism more sustainable."

AIDA President Felix Eichhorn underlined: "With our Green Cruising strategy, we are investing billions of euros in a future-proof cruise market – both in the area of sustainable propulsion technologies like the use of LNG or shoreside power, as well as in environmental management on board. The partnership that we have sealed today is an important milestone for the further development of sustainable cruise tourism in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and it is an important step for AIDA in achieving emission-free cruising. Together we will continue to expand our long-standing and successful collaboration with the federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the City of Rostock, and will be sending out an important signal – not only in Germany but across Europe."

The aim of the agreement is, analogous to Hamburg and Kiel, to build a shore power plant for cruise ships in the port of Rostock. Already in 2020, the first ships of AIDA Cruises should be supplied with shore power while docking in Rostock-Warnemünde. Therefore AIDA Cruises will fully equip its ships that regularly call Rostock-Warnemünde with a shore power connection.

Furthermore, AIDA Cruises will support Rostock Port and the Hanseatic and University City of Rostock in important projects and events through sponsorship activities. From September 14 to 16, 2018, the first Rostock Cruise Festival will be celebrating its premiere with AIDA as premium partner.

Tweet me:.@CarnivalPLC enters groundbreaking partnership for environmentally friendly cruise tourism in Mecklenburg- Western Pomerania http://bit.ly/2O9DQZT

Contact Info:

Claire West
+1 (214) 208-3718
claire@ldwwgroup.com

KEYWORDS: Rostock, green cruising, LNG, LNG-Powered Cruise Ship, Partnership, sustainable cruising, Eco-Tourism, emission free cruising, declaration of intend, NYSE:CCL, Carnival Corporation & plc

SOURCE:Toronto Sustainability Speaker Series

DESCRIPTION:

Sustainability has come a long way in the last 10 years. It's now common language in boardrooms across the world. Most companies have someone who has a title that includes the world Sustainability, CSR, Value Creation or Shared Value. This is a great achievement and we should all be thrilled with this cultural shift. But we're not there yet and lately inspiration has been lacking.

Let the SDGs lead the way with a competition that will inspire.

Sustainable Development has proven to be an elusive target. Many of world's most significant social and environmental problems not only remain but in some cases, they're getting worse. In many regions, people still lack access to basic services like clean water, sanitation, family planning and reliable communications (among others). Similarly, environmental challenges such as climate change, biodiversity and habitat loss (aquatic and terrestrial) all need urgent attention to halt and reverse decades-long declines.

To further complicate issues, many of the challenges are highly interconnected as they traverse borders and poorly align with the narrow goals of business. For example a bottled water company might rely on a nearby creek or a local creek ecosystem for their supply and would thus work to protect that water as a necessity for their business. The investment of time and capital can be easily justified and the company can simultaneously feel good about their efforts to protect the environment – a win-win.

The next era of sustainability leadership will generate social impacts on an entirely different scale.

But the market system fails miserably to protect when larger environmental issues come into play, such as; biodiversity protection, aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem health and climate instability. While all of these issues can play a role when it comes to the bottling companies supply of fresh water, via their local creek, the company will find it difficult to justify investing in these problems which cause an unquantifiable impact on their business and thus is beyond their scope. And with that uncertainty built into the business model, most companies do little or nothing to address these environmental and/or social issues. They leave it for others to act....the classic tragedy of the commons but on a global scale. This failure for business is ground zero of the sustainable development dilemma and how business attempts to find a profit opportunity while operating more sustainably.

A BIG Milestone...the SDG's

One recent milestone of the global community was the creation, in September 2015, of theUnited Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) also known as the Global Goals or 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The SDG's which have been adopted by 193 countries, serve as a collection of seventeen north-star goals ranging from poverty elimination to climate change. Thanks to this initiative, we now have a big picture and easy to understand breakdown of our global challenges.

Learning and Adapting to Changing Needs

While in many cases progress remains slow, it is important to remember that the corporate sustainability profession is relatively new and is constantly changing. Less than five year ago, leadership was defined by LED retrofits, paper reduction campaigns and corporate green teams.. A focus on supplier engagement, materiality assessments, sustainability reporting and disclosure programs soon followed. Then came the rise of creating shared value, responsible investment and the corresponding demand for corporate ESG data. Despite their various contributions to the field of corporate responsibility, the next generation of sustainability leadership will generate social impacts on an entirely different scale.

The Era For Optimism Has Arrived

Increasingly, industry voices are calling for entrepreneurs and corporate intrapreneurs to create profitable (and scalable) solutions. Project Breakthrough, co-developed by Volans and the United Nations Global Compact, is one such leading example. Venture capital firms – like DBL Partners, Acumen and Chrysalix– are investing in companies that solve social and environmental problems via their business models. Acumen has invested USD $65 million by funding more than 100 companies that serve low-income customers in 13 countries and DBL manages two funds worth USD $225 million.

Leading corporate citizens have also created in-house venture capital firms to support their environmental and social goals (Patagonia's Tin Shed Ventures, IKEA GreenTech and The Unilever Foundry are among the most well-known examples). A recent Volans report titled Investing in Breakthrough Corporate Venture Capital suggests that firms like these are helping to "... transform the way we collectively think about global challenges — [by bringing] promising, viable and effective solutions to scale".

SDG Financial Unicorns

Concurrently, the hunt is on for innovative financial structures that can support the development of these companies. The Rockefeller Foundation is currently working to develop ten financial structures, dubbed SDG Finance Unicorns, that can "... mobilize at least USD $1 billion each for sectors key to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals". This new combination of SDG venture capital and innovative SDG finance models has turned the sustainability industry on its head as exciting new companies like Off-Grid Electric and Bird have raised more than USD $400 million in private investment.

Off-Grid Electric's pay-as-you-go solar panel leasing service currently has 50,000 customers across Tanzania, Rwanda, Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana. By allowing customers to pay for solar energy in installments (via mobile payment technology), Off-Grid Electric has reduced kerosene lamp use, increased access to energy and reduced direct GHG emissions. Bird, an electric scooter-sharing technology company, is currently valued at more than USD $1 billion. Customers can rent a scooter via their mobile app for $1, plus 15 cents for every minute. With more than half-million rides completed since September 2017, Bird has reduced travel related GHG emissions by creating a market based solution to public transit's last mile problem.

Huge Rewards When Profit And Purpose Collide

Rather than focusing on the cost of achieving the SDGs, sustainability professionals should consider their enormous market potential as indicated by the examples above. The authors of a recent Business Commission Report titled Better Business, Better World: The Business Case for the Sustainable Development Goals came to similar conclusions. According to their analysis, "achieving the Global Goals will unlock USD $12 trillion in new market opportunities by 2030".

A Competition To Recognize The Next Generation Of Sustainability Leadership

The Global SDG Awards was recently launched to support this new era of sustainability leadership – specifically, by driving private sector SDG engagement through competition. To learn more please visit The Global SDG Awards website.

Brad Zarnett is the Strategy and Communications Advisor for The Global SDG Awards, a non-for-profit corporation created to increase private sector engagement with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through competition. You can follow Brad on twitter @bradzarnett

Tweet me:.@TSSStweets promotes The Global SDG Awards to support a new era of #sustainability #leadership. Learn more about the competition here: http://bit.ly/2p146uI

KEYWORDS: sustainability, Toronto Sustainability Speaker Series

SOURCE:Republic Services

DESCRIPTION:

While many of us have the best intentions about recycling, we aren’t always doing it right. For example, the clothes hangers that came with the new outfit you bought may be made of plastic, but that doesn’t mean they’re recyclable. 

Many people will toss items like this in their recycling bin, hoping they can be recycled. In the industry, this is referred to as “aspirational recycling” or “wish-cycling.” But these items become contaminants in the recycling stream. One contaminant can lead to an entire truckload of perfectly recyclable items being sent to a landfill. 

Republic Services recycling managers have identified five items they see all too often in recycling facilities, none of which belong there: 

1. Plastic bags: Keep your recyclables loose and never bag them. Sorters at the recycling facility are unable to sort through what’s in the bag, so the whole thing could wind up in the garbage pile. To dispose of plastic bags, return them to the store where you got them, or throw them in the trash. Better yet, don’t use them. 
2. Toys: Though many toys are made of plastic, they generally can’t be recycled. Donate them for reuse, or dispose of them in your trash. 
3. Clothing: Like toys, clothing can be reused but not recycled. Give unwanted clothing to a local charity, or sell it at a consignment shop. If items are worn out, throw them away or repurpose as rags. 
4. Disposable diapers: Eww! Clean or dirty, diapers can’t be recycled. Dispose of them in the trash. 
5. Yard debris: Grass clippings, leaves and branches should go in a dedicated yard waste container, or in your trash can. Yard debris also can be composted in some places. 

“We all play a critical role in keeping our community recycling programs running properly and helping to reduce contamination,” said Pete Keller, Republic Services’ vice president of recycling and sustainability.

If you’re unsure whether something can be recycled, it’s better to put it in the trash can. Keep this in mind: When in doubt, throw it out. 

For more simple recycling tips, visit our website recyclingsimplified.com. 

Tweet me:While many of us have the best intentions about #recycling, we aren’t always doing it right. Read on for 5 things you shouldn't recycle http://bit.ly/2COOofT @RepublicService #sustainability

KEYWORDS: Recycling, waste management

SOURCE:Caterpillar Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

Our success contributes to the social stability of regions around the world in many ways. Caterpillar’s products help build infrastructure for transportation, energy, telecommunications, waste and water.

Learn more here about how we, as individuals and as a company, contribute our time and resources to promote the health, welfare and economic stability of communities around the world.

Tweet me:.@CaterpillarInc is committed to conducting business in a manner that respects human rights, and employees are encouraged to actively engage in activities that contribute to the betterment of society. #sustainability http://bit.ly/2KSoc2B

KEYWORDS: Caterpillar, Caterpillar Foundation, disaster relief, NYSE:CAT