Using extensive environmental experience to further progress company’s sustainability efforts

SOURCE:Sappi North America

DESCRIPTION:

BOSTON, October 30, 2018 /3BL Media/ – Sappi North America, Inc., a leading producer and supplier of diversified paper, packaging products and dissolving wood pulp, today announced the appointment of Alexander “Sandy” Taft as director of sustainability. Taft will work cross-functionally within Sappi’s North American operations to drive sustainability strategy and execution. Taft will also work with counterparts in Sappi’s European and South African offices to ensure consistency with global sustainability goals.

Taft joins Sappi from National Grid, a U.K.-headquartered energy delivery company, where he was most recently the Director of Environmental and Sustainability Policy for its U.S. subsidiary. He brings a strong background in U.S. energy and environmental policy, as well as a collaborative approach to global policy development. 

“Sandy is the perfect addition to our sustainability team. His experience in developing sustainability policy and managing environmental compliance and permitting for air, solid waste and water provides a solid foundation for his new post at Sappi North America,” said Jennifer Miller, chief business sustainability officer, Sappi North America. “Sappi has a strong foundation in and vision for sustainability, and we look forward to working together to drive the conversation, pursue these goals and set a strategy that continues to position Sappi as a leader in the industry.”

Taft will also join the Two Sides North America Board of Directors as a member this fall. Two Sides is a non-profit, global initiative by companies from the graphic communications industry including forestry, pulp and paper, among others. The common goal of the organization is to promote the sustainability of the graphics communications industry and dispel common environmental misconceptions by providing users with verifiable information on why print and paper is an attractive, practical and sustainable communications medium. Two Sides is further committed to ensuring that print and paper remains a versatile, effective and powerful means of marketing and communication.

“I am very excited to join the Sappi North America team. I’m eager to dive into this new sector and learn more about how to responsibly manage natural resources, while leveraging my background in renewable energy as it applies to Sappi’s business,” said Taft. “By also joining the TwoSides board, I hope to make an impact on the industry as a whole as we work to position the paper industry as a viable, sustainable resource for graphic communications.”

To learn more about Sappi North America’s current sustainability efforts, please visit:  www.sappi.com/sustainability-north-america.

To learn more about Sappi, please visit www.sappi.com.

ENDS

About Sappi North America, Inc.

Sappi North America Inc., headquartered in Boston, is a market leader in converting wood fiber into superior products that customers demand worldwide. The success of our four diversified businesses – high quality Coated Printing Papers, Dissolving Wood Pulp, Packaging and Specialty Papers and Casting and Release Papers – is driven by strong customer relationships, best-in-class people and advantaged assets, products and services. Our high quality Coated Printing Papers, including McCoy, Opus, Somerset, and Flo, are the key platform for premium magazines, catalogs, books, direct mail and high-end print advertising. We are a leading manufacturer of Dissolving Wood Pulp with Verve, which is used in a wide range of products, including textile fibers and household goods. We deliver sustainable Packaging and Specialty Papers for luxury packaging and folding carton

applications with our single-ply packaging brands, Spectro and Proto, and for the food and label industries with our specialty papers, LusterPrint and LusterCote. We are also one of the world’s leading suppliers of Casting and Release Papers with our Ultracast, PolyEX, Classics and Neoterix lines for the automotive, fashion and engineered films industries. Customers rely on Sappi for high technical, operational and market expertise; products and services delivered with consistently high quality and reliability; and, state-of-the-art and cost-competitive assets and innovative spirit.

Sappi North America is a subsidiary of Sappi Limited (JSE), a global company headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, with more than 12,000 employees and manufacturing operations on three continents in seven countries and customers in over 150 countries.

Tweet me:.@SappiNA appoints @SandyTaft1 as Director of #Sustainability, Taft also joins @TwosidesNA board http://bit.ly/2yEwsQw

KEYWORDS: Sappi, paper, pulp, Two Sides North America, Two Sides, Director of Sustainability, Sustainable Strategy, JSE:SAP

SOURCE:Common Impact

DESCRIPTION:

We are so excited to welcome Tim Smith, Senior Director of The Boston Foundation and Head of Pledge 1% Boston chapter, powered by The Boston Foundation to Pro Bono Perspectives this week. In his day-to-day work with The Boston Foundation, Tim advises individuals and companies in the region on a variety of philanthropic offerings including Donor Advised Funds. Prior to joining the Foundation in 2016, Tim spent over a decade in San Francisco, most notably as CEO of The Full Circle Fund. In his spare time (if you can believe it!)  he sits on the board of Tech Goes Home, the Advisory Board of Boston Private Bank, and the Selection Advisory Council of GreenLight Fund. If you couldn't tell already, Tim is dedicated to building the capacity of nonprofits to achieve their missions, a passion the Common Impact team shares! 

"I think there is more engagement, more folks joining boards, more folks wanting to volunteer, there are more folks wanting to work for social impact companies, whose business models are to give back."

Listen to Tim's episode here!

Check out how The Boston Foundation helps companies give back locally, nationally and internationally. Interested in learning more about how your company can take the pledge? You can sign up here to learn more!

Tweet me:Listen to @CommonImpact's new podcast episode with @TPPSmith from the @bostonfdn & @PledgeOne Boston to learn about the newest trends in #philanthropy & his dedication to building the capacity of #nonprofits to achieve their missions #pledge1BOS #probono http://bit.ly/2D7pjMM

KEYWORDS: Tim Smith, The Boston Foundation, Pledge 1%, Danielle Holly, Common Impact, pro bono perspectives, Podcast

SOURCE:ENGIE Storage formerly Green Charge

DESCRIPTION:

Battery-based energy storage is a proven technology that can enable your schools to use more self-generated solar power and help stabilize the grid, while significantly reducing district energy costs.

What you’ll learn in this eBook:

• The various ways you can save with energy storage
• How you can earn money for your general fund
• How other districts have benefited
• Answers to the questions many education leaders are asking

Download the eBook

Tweet me:eBook: Putting Energy Storage to Work for California’s K-12 Schools. Download here http://www.engiestorage.com/putting-energy-storage-to-work-for-ca-schools/

KEYWORDS: battery energy storage system, Energy Storage System (ESS), ENGIE Storage formerly Green Charge

By Peter Kotecki

SOURCE:Ray C. Anderson Foundation

DESCRIPTION:

Nucleário was created to help with large-scale forest restoration, Rutman said. While his team wants to help restore deforested areas globally, they are starting with Brazil, where 500 devices have been placed in test patches.

Along Brazil's coast, Rutman said, there are about 42 million acres of land that can be reforested. That's roughly the size of Florida.

"Nature needs human help to connect those fragments and create the forest corridors," he said. "We need to do that as soon as possible."

Read the full story from Business Insider.

Tweet me:"Forest restoration is the biggest opportunity for climate change mitigation," he said. "We will keep it going, with the politicians or without them. We can't stay waiting." Bruno Rutman @BiomimicryInst #RayofHopePrize @AskNatureTweets @janinebenyus https://read.bi/2P3cr0j

Contact Info:

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

Erin Connelly
Biomimicry Institute
+1 (415) 800-1407
erin.connelly@biomimicry.org

KEYWORDS: biomimicry, Ray of Hope Prize, Ray C. Anderson Foundation, Biomimcry Global Design Challenge, Biomimicry Institute, reforestation, Nucleário

RENEW Reduced Emissions Fuel Program has achieved their goal of planting 100,000 trees

SOURCE:Arbor Day Foundation

DESCRIPTION:

LINCOLN, Neb., October 30, 2018 /3BL Media/ – In one year, 7-Eleven, Inc. and its customers have planted 100,000 trees and offset 32,448 metric tons in carbon emissions through the RENEW™ reduced emissions fuel program. That is the equivalent of powering 1.6 million homes for a whole day with no environmental impact.

The RENEW program partners with the Arbor Day Foundation to ensure trees were planted strategically in some of the areas that needed them most, including reforestation projects for national parks impacted by forest fires. Since the launch of the program in September 2017, 7-Eleven RENEW, collaborating with the Arbor Day Foundation, has reached its goal of planting 100,000 trees.

The RENEW reduced emissions program is a collaboration between 7-Eleven and GreenPrint, a company that promotes sustainability through the retail gasoline, fleet and consumer product industries.

A total of 934 7-Eleven® locations offer the RENEW program in Northern California, Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington, Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Vancouver, B.C.  

Click here to locate a 7-Eleven store offering the RENEW program near you.

Customers can reduce their emissions by purchasing the same high-quality fuel they have always pumped at 7-Eleven stores. GreenPrint calculates tailpipe emissions from gasoline sales to determine the amount to invest in certified carbon reduction projects. The goal is to help offset carbon emissions in the atmosphere by up to 30 percent, while supporting local nonprofit organizations and planting trees together with the Arbor Day Foundation.

“We’ve expanded our sustainability footprint as it is important to our communities, customers and organization,” said 7-Eleven Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Chris Tanco. “In 2019, we look forward to continuing to make a positive impact on the local communities in which we operate by further growing the RENEW program.”

For every gallon of gas purchased in the 7-Eleven RENEW program, an investment is made in reforestation, green-scape projects, wildlife protection and renewable energy projects designed to help reduce tailpipe emissions. The local, regional and global certified carbon reduction projects are designed to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The RENEW program helps to fund more than a dozen sustainability projects.

“7-Eleven and their RENEW reduced emissions fuel program are an example of how to do the right thing in business and the communities you serve,” said Dan Lambe, President at the Arbor Day Foundation. “Through this collaboration, thousands will benefit from the positive environmental impact that 100,000 trees have on a community for many years.” 

7-Eleven’s Plant it Forward^SM program enables customers and local community members to take part in 7-Eleven’s planting initiative by dedicating a tree to family or friends. 

“It is exceptional to see an organization, such as 7-Eleven, that consistently listens to its customers’ ambitions and provides them with the resources they are looking for to fulfill them,” said Pete Davis, founder and CEO of GreenPrint. “With the RENEW program, 7-Eleven is able to help customers achieve their desire to help the environment and make their community a better place.” 

To locate a 7-Eleven store offering the RENEW program near you, visit: https://www.7-elevenrenew.com/locator. 

###

About 7-Eleven, Inc.
7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name and largest chain in the convenience-retailing industry. Based in Irving, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises and/or licenses more than 67,000 stores in 17 countries, including 11,800 in North America. Known for its iconic brands such as Slurpee®, Big Bite® and Big Gulp®, 7-Eleven has expanded into high-quality salads, side dishes, cut fruit and protein boxes, as well as pizza, chicken wings, cheeseburgers and hot chicken sandwiches. 7-Eleven offers customers industry-leading private brand products under the 7-Select® brand including healthy options, decadent treats and everyday favorites, at an outstanding value. Customers also count on 7-Eleven for bill payments, self-service lockers and other convenient services. Find out more online at www.7-Eleven.com, via the 7Rewards® customer loyalty platform on the 7-Eleven mobile app, or on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About GreenPrint

Founded by a team of loyalty and rewards experts, GreenPrint created the first reduced emissions programs for fuel which is licensed to convenience store chains, energy companies, and corporate fleets – enabling them to sell, or fill up with, more environmentally friendly fuel. Today the company reduces emissions on almost 360 million gallons annually across hundreds of retail locations and 100,000 corporate and municipal fleets in 12 countries.

About the Arbor Day Foundation

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than one million members, supporters and valued partners. Since 1972, more than 300 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to help others understand and use trees as a solution to many of the global issues we face today, including air quality, water quality, climate change, deforestation, poverty and hunger.

As one of the world's largest operating conservation foundations, the Arbor Day Foundation, through its members, partners and programs, educates and engages stakeholders and communities across the globe to involve themselves in its mission of planting, nurturing and celebrating trees. More information is available at arborday.org.

Tweet me:.@7eleven ’s RENEW™ Reduced Emissions Program and Customers Help Plant 100,000 Trees with @arborday. http://bit.ly/2OfVmuQ

Contact Info:

Maryann Garrett
GreenPrint
+1 (404) 207-1951
maryann@greenprintcorp.com

KEYWORDS: Arbor Day Foundation, 7-Eleven, The RENEW program, sustainability projects

SOURCE:Caterpillar Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

Grinder burn is caused by improper grinding in the manufacturing process and can cause parts to fail prematurely. Caterpillar routinely uses an acid etch check on a variety of manufactured parts to detect any presence of grinder burn.

Click here to read how the Advanced Materials Technology team learned about a new space-age chemical that ultimately helped reduce waste.

Tweet me:.@CaterpillarInc's Advanced Materials Technology team learned about a new space-age chemical that helped detect grinder burn without using methanol and ultimately helped reduce waste. Read more in the 2017 #sustainability report http://bit.ly/2zOhxV8

KEYWORDS: Caterpillar, Advanced Materials Technology, East Peoria, Cienega de Flores, grinder burn, Chemical, NYSE:CAT

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, our A&D Design Director Royce Epstein shares her experience with breast cancer – and how she keeps moving forward. Her insight and outlook are an inspiration.

SOURCE:Mohawk Industries

DESCRIPTION:

Last September, I had the honor of addressing the opening crowd at the Komen Philadelphia 3-Day Walk. I looked at my fellow breast cancer survivors and their family members from the stage and spoke humbly from the heart with a quiver in my voice. In May, I led the Komen Philadelphia Survivor’s Parade with two friends and other survivors, all who have recently battled breast cancer.

In the pouring rain, we marched with a giant banner down the Art Museum steps (the famous “Rocky Steps”), allowing the rain to wipe our fears and our tears away. And this September, I was asked again to speak to the Komen Philadelphia 3-Day walkers, this time as part of the evening speeches at the Hilton at Penn’s Landing. I was incredibly nervous, I mean, what can I tell hundreds of people about breast cancer?

I focused on a theme that was important to me during my treatment and recovery: Be your own hero.

I first learned about this idea from a card someone sent me that said “She needed a hero, so that’s what she became”. You see, when you are diagnosed with a potentially deadly disease and your fate is unknown, it’s not only overwhelming but lonely. No one around you really understands what you’re feeling and what you’re going through. And for many of us, we need great inner strength to get through every step. And while I had family and friends at my side, I felt very alone. And I watched my life as I knew it completely change. It’s like you shed an old skin and molt into another.

So, I became my own hero. I held myself up during the darkest and most demoralizing times. I did this one step at a time, literally minute by minute and reminding myself that these challenges are temporary. Minutes became days, days became weeks, weeks became months, and months became four years.

Yes, it’s been four years and I am still here. I shared my mantras of support and strength with the group by telling the stories of my three tattoos (BRAVE, VALOR, AVANTI), and left the stage perhaps inspiring a few people to get some new tattoos, but more importantly to advocate for their own wellbeing and space to heal.

I keep learning of more and more friends that are getting diagnosed. This disease is an epidemic and we will all be touched by breast cancer within our families and circle of friends. In August, I lost my friend Roberta from Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer, of which today there is still no cure. I was in a band with Roberta, we had a lot of fun together (she also cut my hair), and I will honor her every time I march with Komen. It’s been a heavy burden for me to carry that I got better and she didn’t.

Please join me and Mohawk in the fight against breast cancer, in fundraising via our Specify for a Cure program, and being supportive for the cancer fighters in our lives. Every minute, every day, every week, every month, and every year is something to be thankful for. I don’t take that for granted at all.

Stay brave, have valor, and keep moving forward. Avanti!

Tweet me:In honor of #BreastCancerAwareness Month, @MohawkGroup A&D design director Royce Epstein shares her experience with #breastcancer and how she keeps moving forward as a survivor in remission http://bit.ly/2Od4Pmx

KEYWORDS: NYSE:MHK, mohawk group, breast cancer, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Specify for a Cure, Susan G. Komen

SOURCE:Aflac

DESCRIPTION:

In Japan, Aflac insures 1 out of every 4 household, and Aflac Japan is proud to be the primary sponsor of “Gold Ribbon Walking” events, which the company supports to enhance the quality of life for children with cancer and improving the cure rate.

What a great way to raise awareness for childhood cancer and bring the community together in a big way!

About Aflac

Aflac is a Fortune 500 company, providing financial protection to more than 50 million people worldwide. When a policyholder or insured gets sick or hurt, Aflac pays cash benefits fairly, promptly and directly to the insured. For more than six decades, Aflac voluntary insurance policies have given policyholders the opportunity to focus on recovery, not financial stress.

To learn more about Aflac, visit the company's website.

Tweet me:In Japan, @Aflac is sponsoring "Gold Ribbon Walking" events to enhance the quality of life for children with cancer http://bit.ly/2Ow1C6D

KEYWORDS: Aflac, Gold Ribbon Walking, quality of life, Cancer

by Nithin Coca

SOURCE:TriplePundit

DESCRIPTION:

This past May, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) went into effect. The comprehensive regulations shift the dominant paradigm of online data from an opt-out model, in which users had to take action to control their data, to a privacy by design model where privacy and user control must be up-front and center.

This small shift has wide-ranging impacts. While for most people, GDPR meant their email in-boxes were flooded with updated privacy notices and email opt-in requests, in the business world, it was when data privacy and protection became a required business practice and no longer optional.

In fact, companies would not have been caught of guard had they been following the basic tenets of corporate social responsibility. Privacy is increasingly being accepted as core to good CSR, and forward-thinking companies have been integrating it into the policies for years. Companies should not merely be taking privacy seriously, and ensuring that all of it suppliers and other actors along a supply chain are complaint merely because of GDPR, but because it is part of their core values as good corporate citizens.

One area especially affected is a company’s supply chain. Because GDPR gives little leeway for non-compliance, has strict enforcement mechanisms, and applies to all companies that do business in Europe (whether they’re based there or not) supply chains – which often cross multiple markets and borders – are key to GDPR compliance. This means that all companies that do any business whatsoever with Europe must not only comply with the GDPR by receiving adequate consent from users whose personal data they store, they must also ensure that all of their suppliers and the technologies they use are compliant as well.

“The revolutionary technologies that have enabled modern business, such as infrastructure as a service, platform as a service, software as a service, and business processes as a service, all need to be reexamined under the new rules,” said Nazli Erdogus, a senior solution consultant at Kinaxis, a supply chain management company based in Canada.

To do this, companies must first understand what data practices along their supply chains look like, which often requires audits and risk assessments centered around data privacy. While that sounds like a daunting task, forward-thinking companies should have had time to prepare as there were two years between GDPR being passed and going into effect. During that period, many supply chain experts, platforms operators, and industry leaders worked to create strategies for how companies around the world could factor in how GDPR’s data privacy requirements would impact operations.

“I believe most U.S. companies, especially ones that have global business, are aware of the GDPR impacts in their operations at this point,” said Erdogus.

At the same time, data shows that many companies have dropped the ball. A study from CompTIA in April 2018 of 400 U.S. companies discovered that only 13 percent were fully GDPR compliant. While that number is likely higher now, the survey shines a light on the scope of change that GDPR created in how businesses manage and handle data.

According to experts, some key factors that companies need to consider to ensure that their supply chains are GDPR compliant includes creating mechanism to structure data, audits to understand where data is held, protocols to react to situations such as “right to be forgotten” requests, and regular data and privacy audits.

The good news it that there are several new tools and platforms for vendor management that factor in GDPR compliance into their frameworks, reducing risk for companies, particularly smaller ones that may lack the resources to conduct detailed audits or even provide guidelines to all of their suppliers. But to truly succeed in this environment, Erdogus believes that companies need to make data privacy part of their corporate culture.

“Training employees is also a big part of this puzzle. Awareness comes from within, not just at a Data Protection Office,” said Erdogus. “Companies should ensure within their supply chain organizations, employees have been given right information as to what it is to protect data and the privacy of that data.”

GDPR is not going away. In fact, it is likely only the start, and we’re already seeing moves in other places, such as California, which passed its own strong data privacy law earlier this year. What this means is that companies can only be certain of one thing: Protecting privacy and ensuring that customer, supplier, and client data is compliant with all regulations will become only a bigger challenge in a more interconnected business world. The future of supply chains will be secure, privacy-protecting, and one in which data is no longer handed haphazardly.

Tweet me:How do #dataprivacy regulations affect your business #supplychain? http://bit.ly/2yCSwej @excinit @TriplePundit @Symantec

KEYWORDS: Data Privacy, GDPR, Symantec, nithin coca, supply chain, triplepundit

SOURCE:Northern Trust

DESCRIPTION:

Tweet me:Teresa Parker, President EMEA Northern Trust, Featured for the Third Time in Financial News Most Influential Women in Finance http://bit.ly/2yFZQWQ @NTCSR

KEYWORDS: Northern Trust, financial news, Women in Finance

EVs are speeding ahead, even as questions persist over charging infrastructure

SOURCE:Black & Veatch

DESCRIPTION:

Separated by decades of progress and technology’s endless march, it’s easy to think electric vehicles share little heritage with their internal combustion forebears. But even as they bookend the automotive spectrum, today’s EVs are much like the first automobiles in one important respect: When the first cars were made, they had an outsized dependency on infrastructure. Without a robust system of roads (let alone highways), what was the incentive to buy?

Fast forward to 2018, and the comparison comes into sharper focus. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are speeding their moves toward electric vehicles, even as questions persist over whether charging infrastructure can support wider adoption of EVs by consumers and accommodate corresponding power demands on the grid.

Recent years have seen more utilities in planning mode as they worked to better understand aggregated charging. In 2018, utilities are putting those plans into practice as they launch pilot programs. Hastened by the release of 2018’s crop of EVs (the Chevy Bolt, Tesla’s Model 3, the Nissan Leaf, etc.) and the announcements of a plethora of new EVs planned for 2019, we see a growing sweet spot of customer adoption as more Americans are sold on EVs. Regulatory moves are also part of the equation, as states such as California adopt climate change mandates that encourage EV adoption.

Now comes the difficult work to ensure enough infrastructure — and grid modernization — to support this growing network of vehicles. How are utilities planning for increased load and charging? What steps are they taking to harmonize this need with grid operations?

SOLVING RANGE ANXIETY
Among the main challenges in hastening broader EV adoption is customer perception of miles traveled, range and reliability. Some vehicle batteries are moving past the 200-mile-percharge barrier, solving one problem. But what about broader availability of EV infrastructure? Range, vehicle price and lack of publicly available charging infrastructure rank as the biggest obstacles to increased EV adoption, survey respondents told us (Figure 1).

These sentiments reflect challenges often cited by customers: Where can I charge my car, and will I have to charge every day? How long does it take to charge with a Level 2 versus a DC charger? Do I have to wait in line? How much will it cost?

A major hurdle was cleared earlier this year when Electrify America detailed its national DC fast-charger network, the nation’s largest public DC fast-charging network (Black & Veatch was one of two companies selected by Electrify America to design and build the charging station sites). This new DC charging network is a strong complement to existing public infrastructure such as the EVGO network, and the ChargePoint, ClipperCreek, Volta and Greenlots stations found in many public and private parking lots.

Electrify America’s ultra-fast EV chargers are the first certified cooled-cable 150- to 350-kilowatt (kW) chargers deployed in North America, capable of delivering enough energy for up to 20 miles of range per minute — seven times faster than today’s 50kW DC chargers. Black & Veatch is currently supporting site development services across the U.S., as well as performing engineering,  permitting and construction of DC Fast Charger electric car charging station sites in the Pacific Northwest, Northern California, Southern California, Mountain, Central, Midwest, Southeast Central and Southeast regions. The large number of charging sites will open unprecedented options and raise convenience for motorists.

GRID ANXIETY?
Wider EV adoption rates are raising new questions about the readiness of our grid. Presuming a significant growth rate, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has estimated that there will be 21 million plug-in EVs on the road by 2030. That growth is motivating new planning and solutions among utilities, which must consider where they can reliably predict and control load related to increased charging stations, some of them high-power.

Without adequate planning and investment, charging stations could tax the grid and bring about unplanned distribution grid investments to deal with transformer upgrades, brownouts or costly repairs. In addition, the traditional business model of utilities as the sole power generator is being upended by the emergence of end-customer and private company-owned renewable technology generation, like solar and wind, as well as other DER and energy management solutions.

However, utilities are recognizing that with proper planning, these disruptive technologies can be turned into new streams of revenue. Many utilities have begun the planning process, with survey respondents saying grid modernization and programs that encourage customer charging during specific times will be important to managing additional load demand brought on by EVs (Figure 2).

A thoughtful approach to grid modernization can help utilities meet growing energy needs, balance supply and demand, and integrate renewable energy generation. It also can provide grid services and help fund new grid and charging infrastructure by providing additional revenue.

While the DOE’s 2030 timeframe seems like a long way off, these capital-intensive upgrades require careful coordination and have long lead times for approvals, engineering, permitting and construction. As more EVs hit the streets, utilities should move now to plan for their impacts on their systems, along with the market deregulation brought by state-level public utility commissions (PUCs).

GRID MOD THROUGH UNIQUE PRICING STRUCTURES
We increasingly see that as the EV market matures, utilities are understanding the need for more renewable energy. If they want to avoid the problems associated with peak demand, it follows that solar produced during the day can deliver the excess supply needed for daytime charging.

In California, one challenge is the mismatch between peak production from solar energy — which occurs between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. — and peak EV charging time, which is typically overnight. This has produced a midday energy surplus that EV cannot take advantage of. To remedy this, charging network providers could install charging stations at workplaces and business parks, and adjust rates to encourage midday charging. Such actions would directly impact and shape consumer behavior and charging patterns. Investor-owned utilities (IOUs) in California have been exploring such rate adjustments.

Various other types of grid modernization can help mitigate impacts. One such method is managed charging — often referred to as “smart charging” — that occurs when the utility signals the network to reduce charging levels if a high-load event is occurring on the grid. Or, in situations where there is a surplus of energy, utilities can signal the network that charging load can be increased. Battery storage is also a key strategy, as it drastically reduces the amount of power consumed from the electrical grid during peak times, while freeing up capacity for other uses.

Pricing signals also can influence charging behavior and balance energy supply from renewable energy resources. In addition, other types of distributed generation powered by conventional fuels, such as micro-turbines, fuel cells, combined heat/power systems and energy storage can be integrated with EV charging at a local level.

THE ROAD AHEAD
Henry Ford’s Model T changed the fate of passenger vehicles through a revolutionary production strategy that put the car within reach of buyers. That, in turn, helped spur the build-out of roads — and later, highways — that would fulfill the promise of the
automotive industry.

In much the same way, widespread EV charging infrastructure will be foundational to fulfill the promise of zero-emissions transportation. So, too, will be the moves we make to accommodate the added demand of expansive, high-power charging and DER grid impacts, which will happen concurrently.

To prepare for and realize the benefits of a zero-emissions future, stakeholders such as cities, utilities and private enterprises like
automakers and medium- to heavy-duty vehicle OEMs must work together on planning, designing and building systems to accommodate their corresponding power demands. Standards must also be deployed and implemented to maximize equipment
utilization. Much great work is underway, and there is more to come.

Tweet me:Americans are sold on #EVs & automakers are responding with a new fleet for 2019. But questions persist over whether charging infrastructure can support wider adoption & if the grid can accommodate the greater demand. Learn more in new @Black_Veatch report http://bit.ly/2yuRn8U

KEYWORDS: Black & Veatch

Company sets sights on 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging by 2025

SOURCE:Johnson & Johnson

DESCRIPTION:

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J., Oct. 31, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Inc. today announced the company is joining an ambitious effort to move the world closer to a circular economy in which plastic never becomes waste. Together with the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the UN Environment Programme, and many industry-leading companies, governments, and NGOs this commitment will strive to meet goals to tackle one of the most urgent environmental issues of our time: plastic waste and the necessity of consumer packaging reform.

As a signatory to the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, Johnson & Johnson Consumer is committing to use more recycled materials in packaging, reduce reliance on the single-use model, and ensure that 100% of plastic packaging be reusable, recyclable or compostable via design, partnerships, and investments by the year 2025.

"With this decision to accelerate our sustainability goals, Johnson & Johnson Consumer is acknowledging the ever-increasing urgency of the issue of plastic waste—and our own responsibility to work towards innovative solutions," said Paulette Frank, Worldwide Vice President, Environmental Health, Safety & Sustainability at Johnson & Johnson.

The New Plastics Economy Global Commitment reflects a growing consensus that plastic waste has become one of the most pressing environmental threats of our time. According to a report issued by the World Economic Forum, more than 40 years after the launch of the first universal recycling symbol, only 14% of plastic packaging is actually collected for recycling. This collective commitment moves us closer to making a significant impact on the estimated 19 billion pounds of plastic that ends up in the ocean annually—a number that is expected to double by 2025.

"We are embracing the issue of packaging reform as both a challenge to do better and an opportunity to do good," said Alison Lewis, Global Chief Marketing Officer, Johnson & Johnson Consumer. "We believe this initiative can be a powerful catalyst for driving meaningful changes in our behavior as a company—as well as the behavior of consumers themselves."

About Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc.
At Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., we believe good health is the foundation of vibrant lives, thriving communities and forward progress for everyone. With global headquarters located in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and products sold in over 140 countries, we're one of the world's largest consumer wellness and personal care companies—and home to many of the brands families trust most, including: JOHNSON'S®, LISTERINE®, NEUTROGENA®, and TYLENOL®. Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. believes in blending heart, science, and ingenuity to create products and experiences that improve health and happiness at every stage of life. For more information, please visit www.jnj.com/healthcare-products/consumer.

SOURCE Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc.

Related Links

http://www.jnj.com/healthcare-products/consumer

Tweet me:.@JNJNews sets sights on 100% reusable, recyclable or compostable packaging by 2025 http://bit.ly/2yFRnCS #healthforhumanity #sustainability

KEYWORDS: New Plastics Economy Global Commitment, johnson & johnson, 100% reusable recyclable or compostable packaging by 2025, sustainability

SOURCE:Realized Worth

DESCRIPTION:

The only voice in the corporation that can authentically stand for purpose is the voice of the employee. Explore with us how companies are entering the conversation about corporate citizenship and civic engagement and how you can connect your company’s purpose and values to the activism of employees.

Read Angela Parker's latest blog: Employee Activism: Where CSR and Civic Engagement Meet 

Realized Worth offers consulting on employee volunteering and giving programs. We are a global agency that specializes in program design, employee volunteer training, and employee engagement. Contact us to learn more!

KEYWORDS: Realized Worth, angela parker, civic engagement

SOURCE:VMware

DESCRIPTION:

VMware Cork was recently announced as a winner of the Corporate Social Responsibility award at the it@cork leaders awards 2018.
The award submission was a joint effort on behalf of VMinclusion Cork, Cork Giving Network and Real Estate and Workplace. Representatives from across these groups attended the awards at Rochestown Hotel on Friday the 19th of October.

A major part of the award was in recognition of how Real Estate and Workplace supports, manages and communicates responsible and sustainable business practices within the campus and how we manage our impact on the environment.

Read more about Sustainability at VMware.

Tweet me:.@vmwarecork presented with #CSR award at the @itcork Leaders Awards 18 http://bit.ly/2ReIwyT #forceforgood #sustainability

KEYWORDS: IT@Cork, Cork Giving Network, VMware, Ireland, force for good

Award recognizes exceptional achievement in supply chain sustainability and freight transportation efficiency

SOURCE:UPS

DESCRIPTION:

ATLANTA, October, 31 2018 /3BL Media/ - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) earlier this week presented UPS (NYSE:UPS) with a SmartWay Excellence award, which recognizes leading carriers who have made significant contributions to reducing the impact of freight transportation on air quality.

“UPS is committed to delivering goods to people in the most sustainable way possible,” said Tamara Barker, chief sustainability officer, vice president of environmental affairs and domestic plant engineering at UPS. “We are honored to be recognized by the EPA for our accomplishments and look forward to continuing our work to create smarter and cleaner communities.”

UPS was one of 40 companies to receive this distinction, and was acknowledged for its commitment to using alternative fuels and advanced technologies to improve transportation and operations sustainability, as well as for its transparency in reporting SmartWay data on emissions reductions.

UPS operates one of the largest alternative fuel and advanced technology fleets in the U.S. Using its “Rolling Laboratory” approach, UPS deploys approximately 9,300 alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles worldwide, including all-electric, hybrid electric, hydraulic hybrid, ethanol, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) and propane vehicles. In addition to its use of alternative vehicles, UPS uses millions of gallons of lower carbon footprint renewable diesel and renewable natural gas (RNG) in its fleet each year.

The EPA’s SmartWay program was launched in 2004 as a voluntary public-private program to help companies advance supply chain sustainability by measuring, benchmarking, and improving freight transportation efficiency. Since 2004, SmartWay Partners have avoided emitting more than 103 million metric tons of harmful air pollution, while saving more than 215 million barrels of oil and $29.7 billion in fuel costs.

For more information on UPS's sustainability initiatives, please visit www.ups.com/sustainability. 

About UPS

UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including transporting packages and freight; facilitating international trade, and deploying advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. UPS is committed to operating more sustainably – for customers, the environment and the communities we serve around the world. Learn more about our efforts at ups.com/sustainability. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the web at ups.com and its corporate blog can be found at longitudes.ups.com. Our new sustainability eNewsletter, UPS Horizons, can be found at ups.com/sustainabilitynewsletter. To get UPS news direct, follow @UPS_News on Twitter.

Tweet me:.@EPA #SmartWay has recognized @UPS for leadership in supply chain #sustainability for the #logistics leader’s Rolling Lab of more than 9,300 #EVs and other #altfuel vehicles. https://3blmedia.com/node/228976

KEYWORDS: UPS, Rolling Lab, EPA SmartWay Excellence Award

SOURCE:Gilead Sciences

DESCRIPTION:

For Kite’s Week of Service, employees spent the day decorating for Halloween with local chapters of Boys & Girls Clubs of America in Santa Monica and Venice, which offer programs to inspire young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens.

Tweet me:.@GileadSciences Kite #volunteers spent #WeekofService decorating for #Halloween with @SMBGC and @BGCVenice, which offer programs to inspire young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. http://bit.ly/2OfavMZ #communityengagement #CSR

KEYWORDS: Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Gilead Sciences, Kite Pharma, Halloween, Boys and Girls Clubs of Santa Monica, Boys and Girls Clubs of Venice

SOURCE:Lockheed Martin

DESCRIPTION:

Lockheed Martin employees participated in dozens of volunteer events in communities around the world this October as part of the company’s annual “Month of Giving.” These “Be the Difference” days highlight employees’ commitment to service and giving back.

During an event at A Wider Circle in Silver Spring, Maryland (pictured above), 20 employees from Lockheed Martin’s nearby global headquarters donated and assembled dozens of pieces of new furniture for families. They also assembled “Welcome Home Kits” for veterans, who account for a quarter of the nonprofit’s clientele.

“It’s inspiring when so many of your colleagues come together to make a difference,” said Lisa Connole a Maryland-based employee who participated in the event at A Wider Circle. “Volunteer opportunities like these are a great way to give back to our local communities.”

A Wider Circle is one of several nonprofit organizations that Lockheed Martin engages with to support military veterans and their families. Last year, the company contributed more than $8.5 million to military and veteran-focused organizations, while employees logged more than 43,000 hours of volunteer service for military and veteran efforts.

Learn more about Lockheed Martin’s commitment to giving back and strengthening the communities where employees live and work.

About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 100,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. This year, the company received three Edison Awards for groundbreaking innovations in autonomy, satellite technology and directed energy. Learn more at www.lockheedmartin.com.

Tweet me:.@LockheedMartin employees make a difference in their communities. #Volunteers recently assembled furniture for families and welcome home kits for #veterans http://bit.ly/2DeNLvr @awidercircle #nopoverty

KEYWORDS: A Wider Circle, Maryland, Lockheed Martin, Veterans

SOURCE:Caterpillar Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

Underground hard rock mining companies continue to go deeper in search of more raw materials and higher-grade ore. Working at such depths leads to air quality concerns due to equipment emissions, which today are primarily powered by diesel.

Click here to learn about how Caterpillar leveraged our investments and deep expertise in energy storage and electric drive technology to design and assemble the R1300 Battery Electric Load-Haul Dump, a fully battery-powered machine.

Tweet me:In an effort to improve the health and safety of operators underground, @CaterpillarInc leveraged existing investments and expertise to produce a fully battery-powered machine. Learn more in their 2017 #sustainability report http://bit.ly/2zODbsk

KEYWORDS: Caterpillar, Cat R1300, R1300 battery electric load-haul Dump, Clean Air, NYSE:CAT

Subaru of America donates nearly $57,000 to Oregon Humane Society as part of the automaker’s Subaru Loves Pets initiative

SOURCE:Subaru of America

DESCRIPTION:

CAMDEN, N.J., October 31, 2018/3BL Media/– Subaru of America, Inc. today announced the donation of nearly $57,000 to the Oregon Humane Society (OHS) as a part of the Subaru Loves Pets initiative to help improve the safety and wellbeing of animals in local Oregon communities. The gift marks the single largest corporate donation received by OHS in 2018 and is the result of the pets-focused initiative of the automaker’s Love Promise philanthropic platform. Seven Subaru retailers in the Portland metro area participated in the promotion in which $25 from each new car sale was allocated to OHS during the months of June and July. Participating retailers included Carr Subaru, Dick Hannah Subaru, Gresham Subaru, Lithia Oregon City Subaru, Royal Moore Subaru, Wentworth Subaru and Wilsonville Subaru. 

“Subaru and our Portland Metro retailers believe in making the world a better place, for our drivers and their furry friends, and the Subaru Love Promise brings that vision to life,” says Jason Hirata, District Sales Manager, Subaru of America, Inc., Portland Zone. “Subaru Loves Pets was our first metro-wide Love Promise event bringing the Portland retailers together to celebrate OHS in its 150^th year of helping the animals. We are proud to support OHS and its many great programs with this donation.”

Subaru has been a supporter of OHS since 2004 and has partnered on a variety of programs and events including Doggie Dash and Giving Tuesday.

“We are so grateful for this generous gift,” says Sharon Harmon, President & CEO, Oregon Humane Society. “These funds will go a long way in saving lives and caring for pets in need.”

About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Camden, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 630 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company’s vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA has donated more than $120 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged more than 40,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do.

For additional information visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

The Oregon Humane Society
The Oregon Humane Society is the Northwest's oldest and largest humane society, with one of the highest adoption rates in the nation. OHS receives no government funds for its adoption, education, medical and behavior programs. Visit oregonhumane.org for more information.

Contact:

Diane Anton
Subaru of America, Inc.
856-488-5093
danton@subaru.com

Laura Klink
Oregon Humane Society
office: 503-416-2985
cell: 503-758-8127
laurak@oregonhumane.org

Tweet me:.@Subaru_USA & #Portland metro #Subaru retailers donate nearly $57,000 to help improve the health and safety of animals at the @OregonHumane Society http://bit.ly/2De7N9s #SubaruLovePromise #SubaruLovesPets #PDX #ohspets

KEYWORDS: NYSE:FUJHF, Subaru of America, Oregon Humane Society, Subaru Loves Pets, animal welfare, Subaru Love Promise

Dan Amos faces 11-year-old cancer survivor Chloe Davison in ‘hard-hitting’ interview

SOURCE:Aflac

DESCRIPTION:

COLUMBUS, Ga., November 1, 2018 /3BL Media/ – In what he describes – tongue firmly in cheek – as “one of the toughest interviews I’ve ever done,” Aflac Chairman and CEO Dan Amos, the second longest tenured CEO in the Fortune 200 and four-time recipient of the Harvard Business Review’s recognition as one of the 100 Best-Performing CEOs in the World, recently sat down at the company’s headquarters in Columbus, Georgia, for an interview with 11-year-old cancer survivor Chloe Davison of Grants Pass, Oregon. In this “hard-hitting” examination, they covered several crucial topics such as where Amos’ dogs sleep when his wife is traveling, how the Aflac Duck came to be and My Special Aflac Duck™ – a robotic duck designed to help children cope with cancer that Aflac is giving to every newly diagnosed child with cancer, between the ages of 3-13, free of charge.

The interview is part of Tough Questions, an annual six-episode series from Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals^® (CMN Hospitals) providing a look at how to execute corporate social responsibility plans. For this series, one of the 10 million children who are assisted by CMN Hospitals each year interviews a selected executive. Each featured organization is a proud partner of CMN Hospitals and supports the nonprofit’s mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Each episode provides a balance of personal interest and business as the executive and child explore how organizations can work with employees and customers to create positive change in local communities.

“I’ve been CEO of Aflac for nearly 29 years. In that time, I’ve been interviewed by every major newspaper and television network in the country, including The New York Times, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News and CNN, but I don’t think I was ever more nervous than when Chloe walked into my office,” Amos quipped. “But truthfully, Chloe was absolutely lovely and full of energy. I thoroughly enjoyed speaking with her and working alongside CMN Hospitals to raise the level of awareness of everything they do. Like Aflac, their mission is to help children facing tough medical challenges, and as a CMN Hospitals partner, we want to promote their work whenever possible.”   

“Our Tough Questions series highlights companies that go above and beyond with their corporate social responsibility,” said CMN Hospitals CEO John Lauck. “These companies, like Aflac, impact future generations through their culture of doing good, while boosting the bottom line. Dan was a great sport with Chloe, and our episode featuring Dan and Chloe provides a special look at how Aflac is helping kids cope with cancer.”

The video of Chloe interviewing Dan can be seen at CMNhospitals.org/ToughQuestions as well as on YouTube and other social media channels. Download a copy of the interview here.

Featured organizations for the Tough Questions series include Aflac, Ace Hardware, Marriott International, Speedway and Dairy Queen. Aflac is the first episode in season one and will be in the season premiere spot.   

About Aflac 

When a policyholder gets sick or hurt, Aflac pays cash benefits fast. For more than six decades, Aflac insurance policies have given policyholders the opportunity to focus on recovery, not financial stress. In the United States, Aflac is the leader in voluntary insurance sales at the worksite. Through its trailblazing One Day Pay^SM initiative, for eligible claims, Aflac U.S. can process, approve and electronically send funds to claimants for quick access to cash in just one business day. In Japan, Aflac is the leading provider of medical and cancer insurance and insures 1 in 4 households. Aflac insurance products help provide protection to more than 50 million people worldwide. For 12 consecutive years, Aflac has been recognized by Ethisphere as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies. In 2018, Fortune magazine recognized Aflac as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work for in America for the 20th consecutive year and included Aflac on its list of World’s Most Admired Companies for the 17th time. Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac and One Day Pay^SM, visit aflac.com or aflac.com/espanol.

Aflac herein means American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus and American Family Life Assurance Company of New York.

Tweet me:.@Aflac CEO meets his match with @CMNHospitals Tough Questions program http://bit.ly/2P1bdmk #CSR

Contact Info:

Jon A. Sullivan
Media contact
+1 (706) 763-4813
jsullivan@aflac.com

David A. Young
Aflac analyst and investor contact
+1 (706) 596-3264
dyoung@aflac.com

KEYWORDS: NYSE:AFL, Aflac, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Dan Amos