AccountAbility

Global Environment &amp; Technology Foundation (GETF)

Pure Strategies

AccountAbility Releases Simplified Chinese Translation of Its AA1000 Assurance Standard (AA1000AS V3)

Global Water Challenge and Cargill Support New Community Water Partnerships Across the United States

Global Environment & Technology Foundation (GETF)

Pure Strategies Named to Inc.'s Best in Business 2022 List

<img alt="tree sprout" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8f6c3671-546a-4bae-a75e-387b258dfaef" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/c_pexels-david-alberto-carmona-coto.jpg" width="640" class="align-center" height="853" loading="lazy" />December 8, 2022 /CSRwire/ - With businesses increasingly seeking to use their green and ethical credentials as a selling point, sustainability claims are coming under renewed scrutiny. In Europe, new regulations are being introduced to prevent greenwashing, while high-profile cases have seen companies censured for making misleading claims.

Sustainability standards and similar systems can enable businesses to communicate their sustainability efforts, but it’s critical that these claims are trustworthy. To help sustainability systems and their stakeholders better navigate this tricky area, ISEAL is incorporating claims management into its revised Code of Good Practice – a global reference for credible, effective sustainability systems.

As part of its consultation on the draft Code of Good Practice, ISEAL recently hosted a <a href="https://vimeo.com/756303247" target="_blank">webinar</a> on claims management. The workshop looked at how the Code aims to ensure that schemes can be relied upon to manage claims, and that claims made are clear, accurate and relevant. It sought feedback from sustainability systems, businesses, NGOs and other stakeholders.

The draft Code contains a new chapter on claims management, which outlines the policies and processes that sustainability systems should have in place to maintain the integrity of any claims made and to make sure that any claims are being backed up with evidence. 

The draft Code – which also updates and integrates ISEAL’s existing Codes of Good Practice on Assurance, Impacts and Standard-Setting – establishes strong links between claims and other areas of good practice. For example, a strong assurance system and clear approach to traceability is essential for connecting customer-facing claims to performance on the ground, while monitoring, evaluation and learning systems help sustainability schemes to substantiate claims with evidence.  

ISEAL Innovations Director, Patrick Mallet, said: “Credible sustainability claims depend on credible systems. We believe the revised Code of Good Practice will help sustainability systems and the businesses that use them to stand out from the crowd with clear, honest claims about their impact. We’re keen to hear what you think, so please send us your feedback.”

Businesses are invited to have their say on the draft by taking part in our consultation, which is open until 16 December. Find out how you can get involved by visiting the <a href="https://www.isealalliance.org/iseal-code-consultation" target="_blank">Code consultation webpage</a>.

<a href="https://vimeo.com/756303247" target="_blank">Watch the claims workshop here</a>

What Does It Look Like in Practice To Credibly Manage Sustainability Claims?

<img alt="power plant" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3f34147c-c5a2-46fd-a87b-0eaf002c4d62" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Banner_IR_enb_112822.jpg" width="640" class="align-center" height="549" loading="lazy" />SAINT-NAZAIRE, France, December 8, 2022 /CSRwire/ - EDF Renewables and EIH S.à.r.l, a subsidiary of Enbridge Inc. (TSX: ENB) (NYSE: ENB) and CPP Investments, have achieved a significant milestone as France's first commercial-scale offshore wind project, the 480-megawatt Saint-Nazaire Offshore Wind Farm, is now fully operational. Located between 12 and 20 km from the southwest coast of France, the wind farm will help support the French State's energy transition goals, which include targets to generate 32% of its energy from renewable sources by 2030. By providing secure, low carbon, affordable and reliable energy, Saint-Nazaire is also responding to the global energy challenge at a crucial time. The wind farm will produce the equivalent of 20% of the Loire-Atlantique's annual electricity consumption and supply the equivalent of the consumption of 700,000 people with electricity every year. To celebrate this milestone, an inauguration will take place today in Saint-Nazaire, France.

After nearly three years of construction, the Saint-Nazaire Offshore Wind Farm first produced electricity at the beginning of June 2022 and proceeded to incrementally connect its 80 wind turbines to the national electricity transmission network. About one hundred people will continue to be employed at the site to help ensure the operation and maintenance of the wind farm in La Turballe, France.

Matthew Akman, Senior Vice President, Power, Strategy and New Energy Technology, Enbridge: "Enbridge is excited about the arrival of the first commercial-scale offshore wind project in France, the Saint-Nazaire Offshore Wind Farm, and about our role as a leader of the global energy transition. We're advancing several renewable energy projects in Europe and North America, and we are proud to have met this achievement ahead of schedule. We extend our appreciation and thanks to our partners, EDF Renewables and CPP Investments, and look forward to continuing our work together to grow France's offshore wind sector."

Bruce Hogg, Managing Director, Head of Sustainable Energies, CPP Investments: "We are proud to be part of a partnership with EDF Renewables and Enbridge that has successfully delivered the first major offshore wind project in France despite challenging economic circumstances. Saint-Nazaire is the first of many wind investments for us in France that will develop its energy sources and continue its energy transition. It will be a flagship project and an excellent example of our long-term commitment to developing major renewable projects through our global network of renewable energy businesses and partnerships."

Bruno Bensasson, EDF Group Senior Executive Vice-President Renewable Energies and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of EDF Renewables: "We are very proud to commission France's first industrial offshore wind farm. I would like to warmly thank all the EDF Renewables' teams as well as those of our partners, Enbridge and CPP Investments, for the work accomplished. This renewable electricity production facility would not have been possible without a close cooperation with the French government and its stakeholders, municipality, environmental associations, fishermen, economic players and local residents. Over the past 10 years, this project has contributed to the construction of the offshore wind power industry in France and has mobilized a significant number of jobs during construction and now in the operating phase. This first wind farm is part of the EDF Group's strategy to double its net capacity of global renewable energy to reach 60 GW in 2030. We are also participating in the National Low-Carbon Strategy of the government, which aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 through energy conservation, nuclear power and the acceleration of renewables."

Stakeholder consultation at the heart of the project

Throughout the development and construction phases, the project team worked closely with local stakeholders. Environmental protection associations, such as France Nature Environnement, Bretagne Vivante, the League for the Protection of Birds and associated experts from the National Museum of Natural History, National Institute of Research for the Exploitation of the Sea and independent design specialists provided the knowledge needed to design the wind farm while respecting its environment and biodiversity. Fauna and flora were rigorously monitored during the various phases of the work and environmental monitoring will continue.

Energizing French industrial capabilities

EDF Renewables and EIH S.à.r.l, a subsidiary of Enbridge Inc. and CPP Investments, officially launched construction of the wind farm in September 2019 alongside industrial partners and local stakeholders. The project's construction phase contributed significantly to the emergence of a new offshore wind industrial sector in France. The contracts awarded provided French companies the opportunity to increase their expertise to gain competitiveness and seek other global opportunities. In total, during the construction phase, an average of 2,300 people were employed in France, including 1,200 in the Pays de la Loire region. The 80 nacelles and the electrical substation were manufactured in Saint-Nazaire, in the factories of General Electric Renewable Energy and Chantiers de l'Atlantique, respectively.

About Enbridge Inc.

At Enbridge, we safely connect millions of people to the energy they rely on every day, fueling quality of life through our North American natural gas, oil or renewable power networks and our growing European offshore wind portfolio. We're investing in modern energy delivery infrastructure to sustain access to secure, affordable energy and building on two decades of experience in renewable energy to advance new technologies including wind and solar power, hydrogen, renewable natural gas and carbon capture and storage. We're committed to reducing the carbon footprint of the energy we deliver, and to achieving net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, Enbridge's common shares trade under the symbol ENB on the Toronto (TSX) and New York (NYSE) stock exchanges. To learn more, visit us at enbridge.com

Media: 
Mandy Dinning 
1-888-992-0997 
media@enbridge.com

Investment Community: 
Rebecca Morley 
1-800-481-2804 
investor.relations@enbridge.com

About CPP Investments

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPP Investments™) is a professional investment management organization that manages the Fund in the best interest of the 21 million contributors and beneficiaries of the Canada Pension Plan. In order to build diversified portfolios of assets, investments are made around the world in public equities, private equities, real estate, infrastructure and fixed income. Headquartered in Toronto, with offices in Hong Kong, London, Luxembourg, Mumbai, New York City, San Francisco, São Paulo and Sydney, CPP Investments is governed and managed independently of the Canada Pension Plan and at arm's length from governments. At September 30, 2022, the Fund totalled $529 billion. For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.cppinvestments.com/" target="_blank">www.cppinvestments.com</a> or follow us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cppinvestments" target="_blank">Facebook</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/cppinvestments" target="_blank">Twitter</a>.

Contact: 
Steve McCool <a href="mailto:smccool@cppib.com" target="_blank">smccool@cppib.com</a>

About EDF

As a major player in energy transition, the EDF Group is an integrated energy company active in all businesses: generation, transmission, distribution, energy trading, energy sales and energy services. EDF group is a world leader in low-carbon energy, having developed a diverse production mix based mainly on nuclear and renewable energy (including hydropower). It is also investing in new technologies to support energy transition. EDF's raison d'être is to build a net zero energy future with electricity and innovative solutions and services, to help save the planet and drive well-being and economic development. The Group is involved in supplying energy and services to approximately 38.5 million customers (1) of whom 29.3 million in France (2) it generated consolidated sales of €84.5 billion in 2021. EDF is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange.

(1) Since 2018, customers are counted per delivery site. A customer can have two delivery points: one for electricity and another one for gas 
(2) Including ÉS (Électricité de Strasbourg) and SEI.

About EDF Renewables 

EDF Renewables is an international leader in renewable energies, with gross installed capacity of 13.6 GW worldwide. Its development is mainly focused on wind and solar photovoltaic power. EDF Renewables has been operating historically in Europe and North America and is expanding into Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. EDF Renewables develops, builds, operates and maintains renewable energies projects, both for itself and for third parties. EDF Renewables is currently operating seven offshore wind farms and building five additional ones, including one floating demonstration project. EDF Renewables' purpose is to contribute building a net zero energy future with electricity and innovative solutions worldwide.

Contacts: 
Manon de Cassini-Hérail <a href="mailto:manon.decassini-herail@edf-re.fr" target="_blank">manon.decassini-herail@edf-re.fr</a> 06 29 48 43 40

Eugénie Gai <a href="mailto:eugenie.gai@edf-re.fr" target="_blank">eugenie.gai@edf-re.fr</a> 
06 10 89 41 24

Emilien Lacroix <a href="mailto:emilien.lacroix@edf-re.fr" target="_blank">emilien.lacroix@edf-re.fr</a> 
06 38 96 49 48

SOURCE Enbridge Inc.

EDF Renewables, Enbridge and CPP Investments Announce France's First Offshore Wind Project, Saint-Nazaire, Is Now Fully Operational

<figure role="group" class="align-center"><img alt="Tima Bansal" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f99584cd-afd8-4047-b9a1-7ca20b0a732a" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Tima-Bansal-headshot.jpg" width="640" height="1509" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Tima Bansal</figcaption></figure><a href="https://newacre.org/hari-balasubramanian-on-investor-interest-in-nature-based-solutions/" target="_blank">Originally published on NewAcre.org</a> Tima Bansal is a Professor of Strategy at Western University’s Ivey Business School and founded the <a href="https://nbs.net/" target="_blank">Network for Business Sustainability</a> and Ivey’s <a href="https://www.ivey.uwo.ca/sustainability/" target="_blank">Centre for Building Sustainable Value</a>. Tima also leads <a href="https://innovationnorth.ca/" target="_blank">Innovation North</a>, which is reimagining business innovation to create better businesses and a more prosperous society.

Companies looking to incorporate sustainability into their businesses are finding the conventional models of environmental investing, such as ESG and carbon offset programs, no longer meet their needs. This is prompting business leaders to look to nature-based investments that will make a meaningful difference to their bottom line—and the future of our planet.

“Growth is at the heart of most corporations, and they grow in order to generate more profit to the shareholders. But if they keep growing, it’s going to take more and more natural resources,” says Tima.

“Ultimately, this growth will undermine the ability to meet the needs of future generations, because the growth will tax natural systems, which will not be able to sufficiently regenerate. To provide future prosperity for future generations, we have to make sure that we steward the natural environment.”

Beyond net zero

When businesses embrace net zero goals, they often start by buying carbon offsets, typically in the form of investments in renewable energy projects. But as more companies move toward net zero, many are hitting a limit on available offsets to purchase.

“There’s increasing awareness that we not only need to slow down the amount of carbon that we emit, but that we also have to repair some of the harm that we’ve already done,” Tima says. “To do that, we need a very different quality of offsets that are based in regeneration and not just reduction.”

Offsets that are based on regenerating nature are especially attractive to business and society. Unlike renewable energy projects, such as wind or solar farms that have a limit on how long they can operate, nature will be with us in perpetuity.

<a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/timabansal/?sh=3142326b134d" target="_blank">In her regular column in Forbes</a>, Tima writes that Microsoft is not only reducing carbon in its operations and supply chain and scaling investments that remove carbon, but the company is also moving beyond net zero to net negative, meaning it will remove more carbon from the atmosphere than it emits.

In looking for new carbon solutions that are net negative, “that means they have to think of new technologies and look to regenerative nature and agriculture projects to absorb carbon. So now we are having a movement of capital into this space,” Tima says.

Sustainability and ESG

Aside from carbon reduction or absorption programs, Tima says there is an increasing need for companies to re-examine their ESG programs to make sure they are producing meaningful outcomes, creating internal and external value.

Environmental goals could mean reducing carbon emissions or water consumption, while social goals could focus on improving workforce diversity. Governance goals could include appointing independent directors, or female directors, to a company board.

While such efforts are important, they often aren’t enough to drive systemic change. Collectively, ESG efforts frequently fail to address the fundamental issues facing an organization and its business model, Tima says.

Embracing broad sustainability introduces new concepts, such as protecting future generations and regenerating the natural environment, into the conversation around ESG. This, Tima says, is a new approach for corporations.

Future prosperity

Embracing sustainability is shifting from an aspirational goal to an urgent business issue for many companies.

Corporations, institutions and governments are all facing mounting pressure to move in a way that values sustainability. Prompted by the Paris Agreement, a cascade of companies have started adopting sustainability in the last two or three years, Tima notes. “You can’t not do it,” she says.

The next generation of leaders is already rethinking their business models to be built on a foundation of sustainability.

“What we need to do is think about prosperity in a whole other way,” Tima says. “The question we should be asking is ‘are there companies with business models that are focused on doing good that are thriving?’”

Through her work at the Ivey Business School, Tima can see that incoming students are increasingly looking to build businesses that not only make a profit, but also strive to make the world a better place. “They are saying, ‘I want a different world and I want to be part of that better world,’” she says.

Partnering with farmers

One way business leaders are working to build a more sustainable world and hit net zero goals is by supporting farmers and ranchers to introduce innovative management practices that prioritize nature as well as agricultural production.

“There’s more realization now that the only way to reach biodiversity goals or net zero goals is if we have more land that is regenerative and isn’t using as much fossil fuels for agriculture,” Tima says.

New Acre Project is one such model that allows corporations to support farmers financially so they can invest in adopting nature positive practices into their operations. “The corporation pays the farmer to do things differently, and the farmer doesn’t have to lose the income.”

In order to ensure long-lasting outcomes when investing in nature-based solutions, it is critical that businesses directly support community-based projects, Tima says.

Tima Bansal on How Nature-Based Solutions Are Taking Businesses Beyond Net Zero

YKK Corporation has released “This is YKK 2022,” the company’s annual integrated report on medium-term management strategies, value creation aimed at long-term sustainable growth, and sustainability initiatives for YKK’s fastening business. The theme of this year’s report is “YKK's Purpose” as told through a message from the president of YKK Corporation, executive dialogs, and employee voices. “This is YKK 2022” also includes the company’s progress during fiscal year 2021 under the five themes of the YKK Sustainability Vision 2050, the company’s roadmap for achieving climate neutrality by 2050. Highlights are as follows:

Climate Change

<ul><li>18.2% reduction in Scope 1, 2 GHG emissions, 15.1% reduction in Scope 3 GHG emissions (from a FY2018 baseline)</li>
	<li>11 plants worldwide operating on 100% renewable energy (increase of one plant, year-on-year)</li>
</ul>Material Resources

<ul><li>Sustainable materials (such as recycled or plant-derived materials) used in zipper textiles increased to 13% (up 7 points year-on-year)</li>
	<li>Sustainable packaging usage increased to 3.3% (YKK JAPAN Company Kurobe Manufacturing Center completed the switchover of major interior packaging materials in July 2022)</li>
	<li>Landfill waste reduced by 272 tons year-on-year</li>
	<li>Waste resource conversion rate increased to 87% (up 3.7 points year-on-year)</li>
</ul>Water Resources

<ul><li>7.5% reduction in total water intake by all manufacturing sites (from a FY2018 baseline)</li>
	<li>Implemented wastewater management using voluntary control standards stricter than government regulations</li>
</ul>Chemical Management

<ul><li>Revised YKK Restricted Substances List and completed audit of all 1,204 suppliers on their compliance</li>
	<li>Renewed OEKO-TEX® certification for YKK® fastening products</li>
	<li>Developed paints with reduced toluene and xylene for use on main products</li>
	<li>Expanded lineup of products produced with YKK’s new eco-friendly AcroPlating® technology, which eliminates 100% of cyanide, chromium, selenium, and other harmful substances. The volume of products made with this technology increased 75% for zippers and 48% for snaps and buttons (year-on-year).</li>
</ul>Respect for People

<ul><li>Implemented YKK Global Criteria of Compliance self-checks at all applicable locations</li>
	<li>Confirmed that suppliers comply with basic trading principles in accordance with OECD guidelines. Regular status checks and evaluations conducted via CSR questionnaire audits.</li>
</ul>Detailed data about YKK’s progress on ESG goals and financial information is disclosed in a supplemental “Data Book.” “This is YKK 2022” and the “Data Book” are available on the YKK Corporation website at

<a href="https://www.ykk.com/english/corporate/csr/eco/report/index.html" target="_blank">https://www.ykk.com/english/corporate/csr/eco/report/index.html</a>.

 

Second edition of YKK’s Sustainability Journal released

- How YKK is putting people first to create a healthier planet while supporting local communities -

The second edition of YKK’s Sustainability Journal has been published. The journal uses stories from employees to highlight YKK’s sustainability journey. This edition showcases 1) solar power projects at the company’s manufacturing facilities in California and Mexico; 2) the development of AcroPlating® finishing technology, which eliminates harsh chemicals from the metal plating process; 3) TouchLink® zipper, which embeds a microchip in the zipper pull, providing information on the garment’s journey; and 4) the mono-plastic VISLON® zipper, a polyamide zipper that is more resistant to wear and tear. Social impact activities are also highlighted, such as 1) a tree donation project to support the areas ravished by forest fires in Turkey; 2) YKK’s donation of nearly 45,000 N95 masks to Ethiopia and Sudan; and 3) the placement of collection bins for PET bottles which are then crafted into Natulon® Ocean Sourced™ zippers in Sri Lanka.

The Sustainability Journal is available on the YKK Digital Showroom at <a href="https://ykkdigitalshowroom.com/en/b1f/sustainability_vision/sustainability_journal/" target="_blank">https://ykkdigitalshowroom.com/en/b1f/sustainability_vision/sustainability_journal/</a>

 

About YKK 
YKK solves the most complex fastening and attaching challenges. Since the company’s founding in Tokyo in 1934, YKK has continuously set industry standards for quality, innovation, and sustainability in the production of zippers, plastic hardware, hook and loop fasteners, webbing tapes, and snap and buttons. YKK’s “solutions-first” approach leverages its extensive product and machinery portfolio, engineering expertise, and integrated production, service, and supply chain solutions in 70+ countries/regions, leaving it well-positioned to support the growth of customers of all sizes and adapt to their evolving business needs. Guided by the CYCLE OF GOODNESS® philosophy – no one prospers without rendering benefit to others – YKK aims to contribute to a sustainable society through its products and manufacturing operations and constantly seeks new ways to serve the changing needs of its customers while at the same time investing in its employees and giving back to its communities.

###

Media contact: <a href="mailto:jessicacork@ykk.com">Jessica Cork</a>, YKK Corporation of America 
(+1) 770-261-6123

YKK, AcroPlating, CYCLE OF GOODNESS, Natulon, TouchLink, VISLON are registered trademarks of YKK CORPORATION.

Ocean Sourced is a trademark of YKK CORPORATION.

OEKO-TEX is a registered trademark of ÖTI - Institut Für Ökologie, Technik und Innovation GmbH

YKK Reports 18.2% Decrease in GHG Emissions

<figure role="group" class="align-center"><img alt="results of a diabetes test" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c1a47445-c9b3-4e72-bc3f-b024c5948de5" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/diabetes.jpg" width="640" height="853" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Health complications related to diabetes can be minimized or often eliminated through access to essential medicines and care. (Direct Relief photo)</figcaption></figure>December 6, 2022 /CSRwire/ - Direct Relief and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) developed and implemented the <a href="https://www.idf.org/news/179:collaboration-to-provide-diabetes-resources-in-emergency-and-crisis-situations-around-the-world.html" target="_blank">Global Diabetes Partnership</a> to encourage healthcare companies to donate diabetes-related medical products to countries experiencing a crisis and lower-income countries that lack consistent access to diabetes products. Since 2019, the collaborative effort has resulted in the donation of more than 40 million tablets of oral diabetes medications, over three million vials of insulin, and millions of units of diabetes-related consumables and diagnostics to at-risk countries and populations.

“IDF is delighted to collaborate with Direct Relief and support industry partners to provide people in need across the world with increased access to diabetes-related products,” said Prof. Andrew Boulton, president of the International Diabetes Federation. “Thanks to the generous charitable donations of Merck &amp; Co., Inc., Novo Nordisk, Eli Lilly and Company, Merck KGaA Darmstadt Germany, BD, embecta, and LifeScan, we can provide critical, uninterrupted care for people living with diabetes in countries where resources are limited."

According to the latest IDF Diabetes Atlas, the number of people living with diabetes around the world has risen to 537 million, and mortality from the disease correlates directly with the country of residence’s economic stability. Moreover, as the global disease burden continues to shift from communicable to noncommunicable diseases, diabetes has emerged as a major contributor to disability and death, responsible for 6.7 million deaths worldwide in 2021. Although it is often not the case for people living in countries experiencing a natural disaster or economic crisis, fortunately, health complications related to diabetes can be minimized or often eliminated through access to essential medicines and care.

A few highlights of product support from within the Global Diabetes Partnership include:

Merck &amp; Co., Inc., known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, provided a donation of nearly 10 million tablets of its diabetes medicines, an amount sufficient to meet the need for a year of treatment for approximately 25,000 patients requiring second-line innovative oral therapy to treat their Type 2 diabetes.

The company’s contribution was a manufacture-to-donate commitment made to provide supplies for patients in 11 countries across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe, and the Middle East.

“Addressing the growing burden of cardiovascular and metabolic disease in low- and middle-income countries requires a multi-sectoral effort to build sustainable health systems that provide access to care and essential medicines, regardless of geography or economic circumstance,” said Allison Goldberg, executive director of Global Impact Giving for Merck &amp; Co., Inc. “We are proud to be partnering with Direct Relief and the International Diabetes Federation to help increase access to second-line Type 2 diabetes treatments for patients in need around the world.”

Eli Lilly and Company provided over 1.4 million cartridges, pens, and vials of insulin to support patients impacted by emergencies in Ukraine, Haiti, and Lebanon. This included a significant supply of insulin to Direct Relief for Ukraine in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) to support the Ukrainian Ministry of Health, managed public hospitals.

“Lilly is committed to providing access to our medicines for people around the world – including in areas affected by disasters and other humanitarian crises,” said Michael B. Mason, executive vice president at Lilly and president of Lilly Diabetes. “We greatly value our collaboration with the International Diabetes Federation, Direct Relief and other private sector partners to deliver insulin and diabetes supplies to patients in some of the most difficult and life-threatening conditions.”

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, provided over 20 million tablets of Type 2 diabetes therapies to support numerous countries experiencing an emergency situation or significant gaps in access, such as Ukraine, Haiti, Lebanon, Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Togo, and other countries.

Novo Nordisk A/S provided over 2 million vials of insulin to support underserved patients in Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Togo, Ethiopia, the Central African Republic, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Burundi, Afghanistan, and other countries. Novo Nordisk also manufactured a special donation of its various insulins to support Direct Relief’s Ukraine and Lebanese emergency responses, as well as manufacture-to-donate insulin for Direct Relief’s long-term partner FHADIMAC in Haiti.

The company embecta, formerly part of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), provided diabetes pen needles and syringes to support children with Type 1 diabetes in over 30 countries worldwide. This donation was key to those patients being able to access the donated insulin that they received. Over the past three years, as the diabetes care business of BD, they’ve made significant diabetes product donations to Direct Relief.

LifeScan provided 90 pallets of glucose meters and test strips to support children with diabetes in Ukraine. Direct Relief provided these products to the Ministry of Health of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Diabetes Federation to support children with diabetes.

“The Central African Republic is ranked as the fifth poorest country in the world, making it extremely difficult to buy required medicines for chronic diseases. This IDF and Direct Relief medicines initiative allowed our patients a means for recovery and access to healthcare, which are among their most basic human rights. The donations we received were key to preserving good health and life," stated Dr. Gaspard Kouriah, medical advisor of the Association des Diabetiques Centrafrique.

“According to our medical staff, the access of these medicines has led to an influx of diabetic patients seeking help and care from our association. These efforts have considerably improved our system and access to health care within our country.”

About International Diabetes Federation

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is an umbrella organization of over 240 national diabetes associations in 160 countries and territories. It represents the interests of the growing number of people with diabetes and those at risk. The Federation has been leading the global diabetes community since 1950.

About Direct Relief

A humanitarian organization committed to improving the health and lives of people affected by poverty or emergencies, Direct Relief delivers lifesaving medical resources throughout the world to communities in need—without regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay. For more information, please visit <a href="https://www.DirectRelief.org" target="_blank">https://www.DirectRelief.org</a>.

Direct Relief and International Diabetes Federation Provide Vital Access to Health Care Through Global Diabetes Partnership

<img alt="wind turbines at sea" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3816f178-f1ad-48a3-9837-ab0f394e0eff" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Nature-based-Solutions-Innovative-Approaches-to-Increase-Impact-and-Reduce-Risk-NE22-031-960.jpg" width="640" class="align-center" height="540" loading="lazy" /><a href="https://www.tetratech.com/en/sustainability" target="_blank">Sustainability</a>

Jason Coccia, Tetra Tech’s Director for Sustainability and Nature-based Solutions, discusses how organizations can increase the impact of their efforts to address biodiversity loss and other nature- and climate-related risks.

Nature-related investments are critical for business continuity

For many business leaders, the connection between climate change, biodiversity loss, and reduced ecosystem functionality is clear. However, until recently the financial implication of nature-related risks on business operations has been unclear.

A World Economic Forum study estimates that more than <a href="https://www.weforum.org/reports/nature-risk-rising-why-the-crisis-engulfing-nature-matters-for-business-and-the-economy" target="_blank">half the world’s total gross domestic product (GDP) is moderately or highly dependent on nature and its services</a>. That’s at least $44 trillion of economic value generation. The report notes that "nature-related risks are undervalued in business decision-making," emphasizing the critical link between climate change and biodiversity loss. The study also highlights the growing risk—and cost—of the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, especially for industry sectors that are inextricably tied to the use of natural resources. Extractives, agriculture, construction, and energy are among those most at risk.

Risk management needs aside, investing in projects that reverse those climate- and nature-related losses just makes good economic sense. On average, <a href="http://www.ipbes.dk/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/LandDegradation_SPM_2018.pdf" target="_blank">ecosystem restoration benefits outweigh costs by a factor of ten</a>, according to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services—and that number could be low.

According to the World Resources Institute (WRI), "at the global level, every <a href="https://www.wri.org/initiatives/global-restoration-initiative/financing-restoration-implementation#" target="_blank">$1 invested in restoring landscapes can create between $7 and $30 in economic benefits</a> for local people." That business case will be important for decision-makers as the need for investments in nature grows.

There is both urgency and demand for quality investments in natural systems. Cumulative financing of <a href="https://www.worldwildlife.org/magazine/issues/summer-2022/articles/what-are-nature-based-solutions" target="_blank">$8.1 trillion for nature-based solutions is required by 2050</a> to meet global targets for climate, biodiversity and avoid land degradation, according to the United Nations Environment Programme. Companies affected by lost ecosystem functionality have an opportunity to proactively share the associated risk, which protects organizational value and supports operational continuity.

Developing a defined framework for nature-based solutions

No single, consensus definition or framework exists for nature-based solutions. Nature-based solutions are varied and can encompass nature-inclusive design, natural climate solutions, nature-integrated solutions, green infrastructure, blue infrastructure, and natural carbon solutions. Each organization should develop its own standardized definition and framework for nature-based solutions to support effective communication and consistent project implementation.

A good start is to leverage one of the frequently cited definitions for nature-based solutions, such as those of the <a href="https://www.iucn.org/our-work/nature-based-solutions" target="_blank">International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN)</a>, the <a href="https://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/?5226891/nature-based-solutions-UNEA" target="_blank">UN Environmental Assembly</a>, or the <a href="https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/research-area/environment/nature-based-solutions_en" target="_blank">European Commission</a>. While exact wording varies, these definitions consistently call for nature-based solutions to:

<ul><li>Provide biodiversity benefits</li>
	<li>Deliver human well-being benefits</li>
	<li>Achieve economic feasibility</li>
</ul>Organizations must keep true to these three sustainability principles to maximize project benefits and stakeholder engagement associated with nature-based solutions.

A nature-based solutions framework that supports strong governance and consistent project execution is critical, too. An ideal framework should cover all project lifecycle stages, from initial planning and design through implementation and performance monitoring.

Because no legislated standard for nature-based solutions exists, organizations have the flexibility to adopt a framework that most closely aligns to their risk footprint and sustainability goals. This enables organizations to ensure their projects thoroughly address priority risks and opportunities related to biodiversity and ecosystem services. The <a href="https://www.iucn.org/news/europe/202007/iucn-global-standard-nbs" target="_blank">IUCN</a> and the <a href="https://framework.tnfd.global/" target="_blank">Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD)</a> provide two such global frameworks. Industry frameworks, like that of <a href="https://www.ipieca.org/resources/good-practice/biodiversity-and-ecosystem-services-fundamentals/" target="_blank">IPIECA</a> for oil and gas, are also good references.

Leading practices for nature-based solutions programs

To build an effective nature-based solutions program, we recommend a few straightforward practices.

Be consistent. Identify a definition of nature-based solutions and related framework that works for your organization while incorporating generally accepted nature-based solutions terms and principles. Consistency ensures more effective communication and quality reporting on risk and sustainability metrics for individual projects and portfolios.

Be holistic. Account for both the flow (ecosystem services) and the stocks (natural capital assets) that contribute to inputs and outputs of an organization’s value chain when designing a nature-based solution. A holistic assessment of the stocks (natural, statutory, or voluntary) and services (provisioning, regulating, and cultural) when identifying a project can help uncover all opportunities and maximize co-benefits. For example, if developing a project to improve aquifer recharge, assess the site early on for other potential benefits like improved crop health, pollutant runoff reduction, soil carbon retention, enhanced species habitat, and even recreational access.

Be adaptive. Projects involving natural resources and processes do not follow a typical project investment timeline. They can last 5, 10, 15 years or more, especially when factoring in long-term maintenance and monitoring. Adaptive management ensures issues are resolved when identified, and the nature-based solution implementation can effectively handle near-real-time changes.

Scaling nature-based solutions and their impact

Tetra Tech partners with private and public sector clients to increase the impact and scale of nature-based solutions. We do this in three ways:

Shared investment. Organizations can effectively scale nature-based solutions by leveraging different sources of capital. Mitigation or restoration responsibility typically falls to the organization with directive to use or manage a natural resource. Increasing availability of third-party funding for financing nature-based solutions provides opportunities for organizations to enhance outcomes of those interventions, possibly even creating net-zero or net-positive natural resource solutions. As part of our project work for clients, we identify and pursue financing nature-based solutions across sources ranging from government programs to impact investors. In the United States, the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Acts will infuse billions of dollars for nature-related restoration and resiliency projects across terrestrial and aquatic systems over the next 10 years and beyond.

Innovative partnerships. Public-private partnerships are an effective mechanism for elevating nature-based solutions. A good partnership scales a project, results in financial wins for multiple parties, and even shares risk. Our Tetra Tech teams actively collaborate with public benefit B Corporations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private investors, and government agencies. All are great partners that can bring additional resources and generate greater impacts for nature-based solutions.

Performance-based initiatives. While fee-for-services is the typical contract model on these types of projects, Tetra Tech is advancing more innovative approaches that save clients time and money. By focusing on measurable outcomes, projects end up less prescriptive and can be expedited. Examples include incentives-based shared revenue models, blended fee-for-services with equity payouts, and pay-for-performance contracts.

Tetra Tech works with clients to implement nature-based solutions standards and practices in a timely, impactful way. Our approach reinforces <a href="https://www.wri.org/insights/3-steps-toward-growing-funds-restoration#" target="_blank">WRI’s call to action</a> for identifying a pipeline of investable restoration projects and expanding the investor base. These actions are critical for meeting international climate change goals and reversing global biodiversity loss.

Nature-Based Solutions: Innovative Approaches To Increase Impact and Reduce Risk

ISEAL’s revised Code of Good Practice looks to support trustworthy sustainability claims, and businesses are invited to have their say.

<img alt="Nobukhosi Ndlovu cooking" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="79409426-39ef-4a38-b2fd-4b8e55631c02" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Nobukhosi-Ndlovu-Nutrie-Foods.png" width="640" class="align-center" height="542" loading="lazy" />By Nobukhosi Ndlovu, Founder and Managing Director, Nutrie Foods

I come from a family of entrepreneurs — my parents were farmers who owned a grocery store and a trucking company. That’s no small feat in a country like Zimbabwe, where <a href="https://www.care.org/our-work/disaster-response/emergencies/zimbabwe-food-insecurity-crisis/" target="_blank">4.1 million people deal with food insecurity</a> and <a href="https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000142768/download/?_ga=2.11775668.1409723601.1667241462-313717519.1647364350" target="_blank">49 percent of the population lives in extreme poverty</a>.

Like many rural women farmers in Zimbabwe, my mother grew peanuts but didn’t have a market for them. Growing peanuts was challenging work, as they would eventually become contaminated with mold due to a lack of proper storage facilities.

Inspired by my childhood experiences and the desire to positively impact the world, I set out to build a business that would add value to myself and others. That’s how Nutrie Foods was born.
<img alt="Nobu with female farmers" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="01c07100-875a-42c4-81da-8559dd6953e3" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Nobu-with-female-farmers_herbalife_112922.png" class="align-center" width="640" height="349" loading="lazy" />Nutrie Foods: Nutritious Products That Promote Economic Empowerment

I started Nutrie Foods as a company that offers healthy food while giving back to the community by providing a fair-trade market for female farmers’ produce.

Nutrie Foods manufactures peanut butter, mixed fruit jam, salted corn, roasted corn, chili corn, and marmalade. It also packages honey, sugar beans, soy chunks, and rice imported from Kilombero, Malawi.

Producing high-quality food is as important to me as promoting female economic empowerment. Not only because it is central to realizing women’s rights and gender equality, but because women’s dignified labor is good for any economy, especially one like Zimbabwe’s.

Women’s economic empowerment boosts productivity and increases economic diversification and income equality, according to the <a href="https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/economic-empowerment/facts-and-figures" target="_blank">United Nations</a>.

To support female farmers, we:

<ul><li>Buy produce from rural women farmers who rely on farming as their primary source of income.</li>
	<li>Train rural women farmers to use proper farming techniques and agricultural practices.</li>
	<li>Provide seeds and fertilizer to women farmers to improve production.</li>
	<li>Provide a steady and predictable market for farmers’ produce at a fair price.</li>
	<li>Contribute to steady employment and job creation.</li>
</ul>Nutrie Foods started with only eight employees; today, we employ 48 people in Zimbabwe and create employment in other African countries through produce importation.

But our path hasn’t been an easy one.
<img alt="Nutrie Foods team" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="f0beacfe-40b0-4bd3-ab09-adb5d5427093" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Nutrie-Foods-team_herbalife_112922.png" class="align-center" width="640" height="349" loading="lazy" />Access to Financing: A Challenge for African Entrepreneurs

As a young entrepreneur, one of the major challenges when starting Nutrie Foods was access to funding.

Thanks to local micro-finance institutions, I received startup funding, and Nutrie Foods started its operations in 2013 in a small, rented warehouse. In the beginning, I played every role in the business, but I knew my hard work would eventually pay off.

Like many startups in Africa, I had to compete with larger brands, but as I persisted, major retailers started to sell my products in their stores. It brings me great pleasure to see the hard work of female farmers back home now on the shelves of major African retail stores and wholesalers. Knowing that the ingredients of my products come from farmers like my mother inspires me to keep growing.

Once our products were officially sold in big corporate stores, we were ready to dive into obtaining the certifications required to export Nutrie Foods products.

But then the pandemic hit.
<img alt="Nobukhosi Ndlovu with quote" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b396a4d4-201f-4377-b2fa-c789ec8479d4" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Herbalife-Nutrition-Supports-USADF-Entrepreneurs_herbalife_112922.png" width="640" class="align-center" height="1000" loading="lazy" />Being Resilient and Planning for the Future

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a lot of challenges to our business. Although most companies were shutting down, we managed to stay open by qualifying as an essential service. Even so, our working hours were restricted due to the lockdown, and we had to cut down on production.

Partnering with Herbalife Nutrition through its <a href="https://iamherbalifenutrition.com/global-responsibility/nutrition-for-zero-hunger/" target="_blank">Nutrition for Zero Hunger</a> (NFZH) initiative, the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) supports African social entrepreneurs through the Food and Nutrition Stars (African FANS) Program. With financial assistance from NFZH, I was awarded a grant from USADF along with <a href="https://iamherbalifenutrition.com/global-responsibility/usadf-entrepreneurs/" target="_blank">four other African social entrepreneurs</a>. The FANS grant enabled Nutrie Foods to buy a van to transport employees to work safely. It helped us limit exposure to COVID-19 for our employees, cut our transport costs, and increase our productivity. The safety and happiness of our employees are paramount, and motivated employees produce better results.

But not all changes brought about by COVID-19 have been bad. The pandemic had an impact on consumer behavior. Many people have tried to eat healthier, and this increased health consciousness drove up honey sales. People are also buying Nutrie peanut butter to use as a cooking alternative to oil. The trend towards healthy eating is so pronounced that Nutrie Foods is looking into more nutritious grains, such as finger millet, to expand our product offering.

<article>Our exportation plans were on hold for a while, but we are ready to restart that process. We have a growing list of potential markets for our natural products, but we plan to first look towards our neighbors in the African region. Our goal is to provide healthy foods to neighboring African countries and contribute towards alleviating food insecurity in the region.

I am excited about the future and constantly turn towards this mantra to remind myself that the sky is the limit if I keep working hard: “Limitation is only a belief, but if practiced daily, it can become a reality.”
</article><a href="https://iamherbalifenutrition.com/global-responsibility/zimbabwe-nutrie-foods/?utm_source=linkedin&amp;utm_medium=corporate_social&amp;utm_campaign=corporate_channels&amp;linkId=100000163556981" target="_blank">View original content here.</a>

I started Nutrie Foods as a company that offers healthy food while giving back to the community by providing a fair-trade market for female farmers’ produce.

Providing Nutritious Food While Empowering Female Farmers in Zimbabwe

<img alt="KeyBank team shown with Food Bank of the Rockies team." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7a675250-e2e7-4f53-b83d-1dcba829c8b3" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/KeyBank12.5.22A.jpg" width="640" class="align-center" height="600" loading="lazy" />DENVER, Colo., December 8, 2022 /CSRwire/ — Food Bank of the Rockies and KeyBank announced a $450,000 grant from <a href="https://www.key.com/personal/index.html" target="_blank">KeyBank</a> at a mobile food pantry hosted by Food Bank of the Rockies this week at an event held at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

Since its founding in 1978, Food Bank of the Rockies has been a leader in the fight against hunger. The organization serves about half of Colorado and all of Wyoming, providing food and other essentials to over 800 Hunger Relief Partners and through signature programs like their monthly 70 plus mobile pantries.

The KeyBank grant will aid Food Bank of the Rockies in purchasing fresh and nutritious produce and additional culturally responsive food for partners serving their communities through the Culturally Responsive Food Initiative, which impacts approximately 10,000 households annually in the Metro Denver area. During the next three years, Food Bank of the Rockies plans to scale the program to serve approximately 30,000 households through 10-20 Hunger Relief Partners and their 70 plus mobile pantries.

“The work Food Bank of the Rockies is doing through the Culturally Responsive Food Initiative will change lives in our community by offering nutritious food, and also delivering training to Hunger Relief Partners serving food insecure populations,” said Mike Katz, president of KeyBank’s Colorado market. “KeyBank is proud to help scale this meaningful community program over the next three years.”
<img alt="Food Bank of the Rockies truck shown with KeyBank logo." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="645cce1f-25cc-4053-ad07-195a1861fc44" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/KeyBank12.2.22B_0.jpg" class="align-center" width="800" height="533" loading="lazy" />In addition to food distribution, the Culturally Responsive Food Initiative offers an Inclusive Capacity Building Program to Hunger Relief Partners, which includes best practices and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training for agency staff members and volunteers, an implementation plan for operational changes and capacity building projects, and completion of a six-month progress report detailing participation with the program.

“Inflation is currently at a 40-year high and is hitting Food Bank of the Rockies’ budget with some staple items costing as much as 70% more than last year. To meet the needs of our neighbors experiencing hunger, we are spending $1.3 million or more on food purchasing every month – more than triple what we were spending pre-COVID,” said Erin Pulling, President &amp; CEO of Food Bank of the Rockies. “We’ve been able to meet the increased demand, thanks to the generosity of companies like KeyBank. Their gift will help fuel our culturally responsive food initiative and allow us to distribute food to our diverse communities while honouring their needs and preferences with respect. We are grateful for KeyBank’s inspired support in answering the challenge of hunger across our communities.”

During Food Bank of the Rockies mobile pantry, volunteers from KeyBank distributed corn husks, masa flour, pork, chilis, fresh produce, and more to ensure families have the ingredients for tamales to enjoy during Navidad. “Having the ingredients to make tamales will help a lot, especially right now with the prices so high. And it’s hard sometimes to find stuff in the stores, especially right now…I’m excited to have ingredients for tamales. We’re going to have food on our table. I bought 12 tamales for Thanksgiving and they were small, and it cost $35! It’s a lot. So this helps a lot,” said Estela Michel, a food box recipient from Aurora, CO.

Download photos from the check presentation and mobile food distribution here: <a href="https://foodbankrockies.canto.com/v/KeyBankCRFI/allfiles?from_main_library&amp;viewIndex=0" target="_blank">https://foodbankrockies.canto.com/v/KeyBankCRFI/allfiles?from_main_library&amp;viewIndex=0</a>

####

About Food Bank of the Rockies

Food Bank of the Rockies is the largest hunger-relief organization in the Rocky Mountain region. Since 1978, we’ve put the power of community to work for our neighbors in need. Through partnerships. Through programs. Through people. Through you. Everything we do is fueled by the support of our community and donors, and 96 cents of every dollar goes directly to distribution. With support from our community, we distribute enough food daily for over 178,000 meals. For more information, visit <a href="https://www.foodbankrockies.org/" target="_blank">foodbankrockies.org.</a>

About KeyCorp

KeyCorp's roots trace back nearly 200 years to Albany, New York. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, Key is one of the nation's largest bank-based financial services companies, with assets of approximately $190.1 billion at September 30, 2022. Key provides deposit, lending, cash management and investment services to individuals and businesses in 15 states under the name KeyBank National Association through a network of approximately 1,000 branches and approximately 1,300 ATMs. Key also provides a broad range of sophisticated corporate and investment banking products, such as merger and acquisition advice, public and private debt and equity, syndications, and derivatives to middle market companies in selected industries throughout the United States under the KeyBanc Capital Markets trade name. For more information, visit <a href="https://www.key.com/" target="_blank">https://www.key.com/</a>. KeyBank is Member FDIC.

CONTACTS: 

Food Bank of the Rockies: 
Aditi Desai 
973-919-0109 <a href="mailto:adesai@foodbankrockies.org">adesai@foodbankrockies.org</a>

 
KeyBank: 
Cori Keeton Pope 
720-290-3352 <a href="mailto:cori@keetonpr.com">cori@keetonpr.com</a>

 Food Bank of the Rockies and KeyBank announced a $450,000 grant from KeyBank at a mobile food pantry hosted by Food Bank of the Rockies this week at an event held at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

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