Covia

WESCO International

WK Kellogg Company

Covia Innovation Center: Where Minerals Power What’s Next

Wesco 2025 Sustainability Report: Employee Engagement and Recognition

WK Kellogg Co Launches New K-12 Innovations to Support Student Nutrition and Wellbeing

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<figcaption>Weatherization Demonstration</figcaption>
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In 2024, <a href="https://eco-act.org/" target="_blank">Environmental Community Action, Inc. (ECO-Action)</a> received a two-year<a href="https://www.drawdownga.org/grants-announced/?page=1&amp;category=58" target="_blank"> Drawdown Georgia Climate Solutions and Equity Grant</a> to engage community members from low-income, previously disinvested communities in Atlanta to access and participate in climate mitigation strategies to reduce energy burdens, optimize food waste diversion strategies and enhance their quality of life with ecological awareness, education and benefits.&nbsp;

Over the past two years, the grant has enabled ECO-Action to collaborate with residents and leaders in Peoplestown (South Atlanta), Intrenchment Creek (Southeast Atlanta) and Proctor Creek (Northwest Atlanta) to offer monthly community-wide training on issues where climate change and health intersect.
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<figcaption>ECO-Action Grantees and Funders</figcaption>
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They've partnered with community garden leaders to collect food scraps and establish free neighborhood-based composting programs in multiple neighborhoods across Atlanta. They've trained young adults and other community members on weatherization techniques to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy burdens in aging housing stock, and they've educated residents on issues and vulnerabilities at the intersection of climate and environmental justice.

Through monthly gatherings in their own communities, ECO-Action is empowering Atlanta residents to recognize issues and take action. Some of the activities residents have engaged in include planting trees where urban deforestation has occurred, reducing food waste sent to area landfills, and gaining insight into mitigating heat island effects.

A multigenerational approach has been successful for the ECO-Action team as they've trained young adults from the local communities to weatherize the homes of seniors and others in the community that they might not otherwise interact with. They're not just sharing knowledge and improved thermal comfort; they're forging lasting relationships.
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<figcaption>Buckets from the free composting program</figcaption>
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The ECO-Action staff and volunteers recently took funders on a tour of multiple locations in their targeted neighborhoods, exemplifying the grant in action. Some examples included:

Grove Park Community Gardens - This garden included raised beds and fruit trees maintained by community members. The site is equipped with a shed, gardening tools and a central compost collection area where residents can take their food scraps. They’re reducing greenhouse gas emissions and providing feedstock for compost that is processed locally at Truly Living Well Center for Natural Urban Agriculture. Finished compost is provided back to the community garden and to highly engaged residents who regularly contribute their kitchen scraps.

Parather-Williams Home in Collier Heights - Ms. Catherine Parather-Williams is a member of the ECO-Action Weatherization Team, and she participates in the household composting program. She has also been the recipient of some weatherization work at her own home. Weatherization interns demonstrated the weatherization upgrades that were made there, sealing cracks and ductwork, installing new dryer vents, replacing filters, and adding insulation.

When asked if she noticed a difference, Ms. Parather-Williams said, “I sleep a lot better at night, it’s more comfortable.” The compost she receives from ECO-Action is used in her front porch container garden where she grows peppers, collards, tomatoes, okra, and herbs.

Rick McDevitt Youth Center in Peoplestown - This is the hub for composting efforts in the neighborhoods of the Intrenchment Creek Watershed, and a portion of the grant was used to make weatherization upgrades to the Center.

The funders had a chance to hear from Donna Stephens, program manager for the Proctor Creek neighborhoods. Ms. Stephens reported that the Proctor Creek team continues to run educational sessions on composting, as well as supporting a cohort of youth ambassadors to recruit community members to participate in the weatherization and composting programs. Between March and August of 2025, neighbors in the Proctor Creek Watershed collected roughly 1,500 lbs of compostable materials.
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<figcaption>Grantees and Funders</figcaption>
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George Epps, program manager for the Drawdown Georgia efforts in the Peoplestown and Intrenchment Creek neighborhoods also reported great success with the program. Mr. Epps is responsible for picking-up the food scraps at a central point, delivering them to Truly Living Well, and redistributing the collection buckets. Between March and August, Intrenchment Creek residents collected roughly 4,500 lbs of compostable materials, thereby diverting them from landfill, and helping avert the associated methane emissions.&nbsp;

Neighbors in the Intrenchment Creek community are also focused on developing intergenerational learning via spring and fall break workshops on weatherization, composting, and urban gardening. The community has also partnered with Pike Nurseries and Trees Atlanta to plant fruit trees in the Peoplestown and the Intrenchment Creek watershed to help address heat island effects from previous urban deforestation.&nbsp;
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<figcaption>Community Garden in Grove Park</figcaption>
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The weatherization interns presented on their ongoing work after the tour. They participated in training at <a href="http://www.southface.org" target="_blank">Southface Institute</a>, learning how to patch and apply mastic and foam to seal gaps, and how to safely construct scaffolding in attics to support insulation work. The Rick McDevitt Youth Center, Little Five Points Community Center, and 12 residents’ homes received a variety of weatherization improvements during the summer.

About the Funders:&nbsp;

ECO-Action’s 2024-25 Drawdown Georgia Climate Solutions &amp; Equity Grant was supported by a funding cohort that included Atticus Fund, the R. Howard Dobbs, Jr. Foundation and its Dobbs Fund, Ghanta Family Foundation, The Ray C. Anderson Foundation, Reilly Family Fund, Tull Charitable Foundation and The Wilbur &amp; Hilda Glenn Family Foundation.

About ECO-Action:

Environmental Community Action, Inc. (ECO-Action) helps communities organize to confront environmental health threats, and to strengthen &amp; facilitate participation of communities in preventing and resolving such threats. ECO-Action serves the general population, with special focus on assisting residents of vulnerable communities – most often rural residents, people with limited formal education, those with few resources, women, and people of color. &nbsp;ECO-Action’s work is based on the intersection of three things – threats to human health, environmental degradation and social injustice.

ECO-Action Is Reducing Energy Burdens and Optimizing Food Waste Diversion in Atlanta

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By Jason Hartke, Ph.D.

With over a decade of experience in the smart buildings industry, Kashif Mughees, who leads commercial and partnerships at <a href="https://www.wellstat.io/" target="_blank">WellStat</a>, has built a career on turning complex energy and environmental challenges into opportunities for organizations to embrace solutions that yield powerful economic benefits. An engineer by training, Kashif’s work stands at the intersection of technology, data and human impact, partnering with leaders from across the public and private sectors to apply innovative solutions that advance energy security, environmental performance and healthier indoor spaces.

At its core, WellStat is helping reshape what it means to manage building performance, leveraging intelligent energy solutions and building analytics to help businesses achieve healthier, smarter and more sustainable spaces. The company’s approach combines industry knowledge with real-time insights and IoT analytics, improving operational performance while helping organizations optimize for health.

Kashif has been at the heart of this work, driven by a passion for sustainable energy management, cross-sector collaboration, and data-driven innovation. We sat down with him to learn more about the work WellStat is leading and how the company is addressing today’s most pressing challenges and empowering market leaders to champion health, sustainability, and long-term business resilience.
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Q: How do you see the relationship between energy efficiency and indoor air quality evolving and what kind of synergies should the industry be driving to advance both? 
For too long, energy efficiency and indoor air quality have been treated as trade-offs: save energy or improve comfort. Today, we have the tools and intelligence to achieve both.

In my experience, fine-tuning building systems through real-time insights can reduce waste and maintain healthy air at the same time. For example, in one project, simply adjusting HVAC start times cut energy use without affecting comfort. In another, tracking indoor air quality helped uncover efficiencies that, once fixed, improved both ventilation and performance. Demand Control Ventilation is a great example of this synergy in action, using live occupancy and air quality data to optimize airflow, reduce energy consumption, and maintain healthier environments.

It’s important to stop treating health and efficiency as separate goals and start measuring how they work together to improve overall building performance.
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Q: From your perspective, what is the business case for investing in buildings that prioritize health, well-being and sustainability? How do you communicate that to organizations you work with? 
The value is clear. Healthier buildings are higher performing assets. They attract and retain talent, reduce operational risk and strengthen long-term value.

I often say, if you can measure it, you can prove it, and if you can prove it, you can scale it. That is where data comes in. When leaders see tangible results such as improved air quality, reduced energy costs and greater occupant satisfaction, the conversation shifts from compliance to commercial advantage.

Even in residential developments, we are seeing growing interest in WELL-aligned design and monitoring. Healthier air, balanced humidity and thermal comfort reduce risks associated with damp and mould, while improving overall indoor quality and occupant well-being. These improvements do not just make homes healthier; they protect asset value, reduce maintenance costs and strengthen community trust.

Ultimately, prioritizing health delivers value for occupants while supporting long-term financial performance.

Q: Many organizations face difficulties in implementing these building strategies, such as cost constraints or new technology adoption. What are some of the biggest challenges you see in the field today and how are you working with stakeholders to overcome them? 
The challenge is usually not the technology. It’s getting different teams aligned. Facilities, sustainability and finance teams often have different success metrics. Our job is to connect those dots through shared outcomes.

We typically start small with a pilot project that proves measurable impact. Once the data speaks for itself, adoption accelerates across the portfolio. For example, demonstrating how small operational changes can lead to both lower energy costs and better IAQ helps shift the mindset from “new cost” to “new value.”

By focusing on visibility, evidence and shared success metrics, we help organisations move from good intentions to scalable results.

Q: As the demand for healthy buildings continues to grow, how is WellStat helping demonstrate the value proposition and where do you see the strongest market drivers helping build momentum? 
WellStat is helping organisations quantify what matters most, the measurable link between healthier spaces, operational performance and financial outcomes.

Our analytics platform captures real-time data on air quality, energy and environmental performance, turning it into clear, actionable insights. That enables leaders to demonstrate, not just declare, that their spaces are healthier and more efficient.

Momentum is building across sectors:

• Corporate real estate leaders are investing to attract and retain talent. 
• Developers and owners see WELL as a differentiator in competitive markets. 
• Investors are demanding transparency and data-backed proof of impact.

We are moving into an era where sustainability, health and performance are one conversation, and the organisations that understand that will lead the market.

View original content <a href="https://resources.wellcertified.com/articles/iwbi-signature-interview-series-leveraging-analytics-to-propel-healthy-building-practices/" target="_blank">here</a>.

IWBI Signature Interview Series: Leveraging Analytics to Propel Healthy Building Practices

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<a href="https://www.path.org/" target="_blank">PATH</a> has launched a groundbreaking initiative to address the rising burden of hemoglobinopathies—particularly Thalassemia—in India, with the support of a grant from the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation (BMS Foundation). The program aims to strengthen local health systems and expand access to early screening, diagnosis, and treatment in high-prevalence areas.

India accounts for <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37947120/#:~:text=The%20thalassemic%20burden%20in%20India,the%20global%20%CE%B2%2Dthalassemia%20burden" target="_blank">nearly 25%</a> of the global β-thalassemia burden, with an estimated 10,000–15,000 children born each year with Thalassemia Major. Despite this, access to quality care remains limited, and treatment pathways are often fragmented.

This initiative marks among the BMS Foundation’s first grants in India to increase access to screening and build capacity to tackle the life-threatening burden of hemoglobinopathies.

The program will be implemented in the states of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, with a focus on:

Strengthening screening and prevention: Focusing on high-prevalence districts and prioritizing key population groups such as pregnant women, newborns, and families with known genetic risk factors.

Capacity-building and training: Equipping frontline health workers to deliver timely, evidence-based, and culturally sensitive care.

Coordinated care systems: Ensuring linkage to management services, including safe blood transfusion services, iron chelation therapy, and bone marrow transplant facilities, where appropriate.

Strengthening the Centre for Competence (CoC): Enhancing the ambit of existing CoCs for Sickle Cell Disease established by the Government of India under NSCAEM to serve as hubs of excellence for Thalassemia care.

Policy integration and innovation: Supporting alignment of national and state-level actions on integrated Thalassemia management with global guidelines and local realities to inform future efforts to scale up integrated interventions.

“This project is expected to directly impact the population across the states of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh,” said Neeraj Jain, Country Director, India, PATH. “The project’s goal is to impact over 1.8 million pregnant women, newborns, and families of affected individuals, who will receive integrated screening services during the project period. Enhanced capacity of health care providers and access to better treatment will help improve the quality of life for all individuals diagnosed with Thalassemia.”

Catharine Grimes, President of the BMS Foundation, added, “The BMS Foundation is proud to work with PATH on these critical efforts to close gaps in Thalassemia care in India. Across our global work to address pediatric blood disorders, we are committed to removing barriers and strengthening sustainable systems of care. By implementing evidence-based strategies tailored to local community needs, we aim to deliver a scalable, lasting impact.”

Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation Awards Grant to PATH to Improve Care for Inherited Blood Disorders in India

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<figcaption>Community Garden Kitchen and Green Mountain Energy Sun Club "Flip the Switch" on Solar!</figcaption>
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MCKINNEY, Texas, October 17, 2025&nbsp;/CSRwire/ - Community Garden Kitchen, a nonprofit founded to combat food insecurity in Collin County, is celebrating a major sustainability milestone with a new 34-kilowatt solar array and 20 kWh battery storage system, courtesy of a $118,000 grant from the Green Mountain Energy Sun Club®.

The solar array will support 65% of the restaurant’s energy needs, while the battery storage will maintain food production during weather emergencies or grid disruptions, allowing the nonprofit to remain operational. Energy savings from the sustainability grant are equivalent to serving more than 9,350 additional meals annually, or 180 additional dinners per week.
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<figcaption>The new 34-kilowatt rooftop solar array, funded by Green Mountain Energy Sun Club, at Community Garden Kitchen.</figcaption>
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In 2014, Community Garden Kitchen launched with the vision of a restaurant-style kitchen where guests can dine with dignity in a friendly environment. In 2022, a permanent home for the nonprofit was opened in McKinney, where the restaurant operates Monday through Thursday evenings with over 900 volunteers. Community Garden Kitchen is the only facility in Collin County open for dinner to meet the needs of those experiencing food insecurity. Last year alone, the kitchen served more than 40,000 free meals.

“We are incredibly grateful for this partnership and $118,000 sustainability grant from Green Mountain Energy Sun Club,” said Angela Poen, president, Community Garden Kitchen. “The energy savings from the solar array and battery storage will empower us to further our mission of serving nutritious meals and providing a safe space for our community.”

“We’re thrilled to join forces with Community Garden Kitchen to reduce their environmental footprint and, at the same time, help expand their capacity to serve nutritious meals for those in need,” said Andrea Ortega-Toledano, senior director of sustainability, Green Mountain Energy. “By empowering our community with the principles of sustainability, we can ensure future generations remain committed to nurturing our planet.”

Green Mountain Energy’s mission is to inspire hope and motivate action through the use of clean energy, and to advance sustainable communities through Sun Club. Since its founding in 2002, Sun Club has donated more than $15 million for 174 projects across Texas and the Northeast. Green Mountain Energy invites its customers and employees to contribute and help support more projects that promote renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation, and environmental stewardship.

# # #

About Green Mountain Energy Sun Club

Green Mountain Energy’s mission is to inspire hope and motivate action through the use of clean energy, and to advance sustainable communities through the work of Green Mountain Energy Sun Club. Since its founding in 2002, Sun Club has donated more than $16 million for 174 projects across Texas and the Northeast. Sun Club collaborates with nonprofit organizations on projects that focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency, resource conservation, and environmental stewardship. To learn more about Green Mountain Energy and Sun Club or to apply for a Sun Club grant, visit <a href="https://www.greenmountainenergy.com/en/sun-club" target="_blank">greenmountain.com/sunclub</a>.

Media Contact: 
Jeanie Davey, Green Mountain Energy 
445-544-1670 
<a href="mailto:Jeanie.davey@greenmountain.com" target="_blank">Jeanie.davey@greenmountain.com</a>

Angela Poen, Community Garden Kitchen 
214-842-8426 
<a href="mailto:directors@communitygardenkitchen.org" target="_blank">directors@communitygardenkitchen.org</a>

Community Garden Kitchen Goes Solar, Thanks to a $118,000 Green Mountain Energy Sun Club Grant

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<a href="https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/sustainability/key-takeaways-nycw-2025?utm_campaign=CPE-25-10-14-Blog-Key-Takeaways-from-Climate-Week-NYC-2025&amp;utm_medium=ContentSyndication&amp;utm_source=3BLMedia" target="_blank">Nasdaq</a>

This year’s <a href="https://www.climateweeknyc.org/" target="_blank">Climate Week NYC</a> events centered on the theme “Power On,” highlighting progress across climate, finance, technology, and more. As the days unfolded, the discussions moved from the strategic significance of sustainability to practical approaches and insights that can help organizations manage complexity and foster resilience.

Through participation in the week’s events, the Nasdaq team tuned in as leaders further explored the evolving role of technology and the importance of aligning sustainability and finance teams to create enduring value, and how an impactful sustainability strategy is designed to address the intricate climate landscape. The following key takeaways illustrate these principles and how they can be put into action:

1. Sustainability is a Strategic Imperative for Investors and CFOs

Sustainability is no longer a “nice to have,” it’s a core expectation from investors. CFOs are now deeply involved in both sustainability education and reporting, reflecting the growing demand for transparency and measurable impact across stakeholders. The week’s activity highlighted that resilience in the sustainability landscape isn’t going anywhere, and organizations must be prepared to adapt and thrive amid constant changes.

2. Approach Sustainability with Simplicity Over Complexity

While the world is becoming more complex, organizations should resist the urge to respond with more complicated processes. A successful sustainability strategy is often principle-based, seeking modern, innovative solutions that offer simplicity and reduce unnecessary complexity. For example, Nasdaq’s sustainability vision is built on three pillars: capital access and innovation, disclosure and transparency, and market infrastructure solutions. This vision is underpinned by a commitment to long-term, actionable initiatives and the belief that adaptability and partnership are essential in a dynamic sustainability ecosystem.

3. Alignment Between Sustainability and Finance Can Help Yield High Returns

Securing buy-in for sustainability initiatives can be challenging. It is important to nurture alignment between sustainability and finance teams, starting at the leadership level. Synergy between these business functions is crucial not only for maximizing tax incentives, but also for ensuring that investments in sustainability yield high returns. In the long term, better sustainability practices help drive growth, improve efficiency, and reduce costs, freeing up capital for further investment.

4. The Power of Networks and Collaboration

Leaders shared that involvement in leadership networks helps provide unique opportunities for peer learning and collaboration, all in the effort to advance sustainability goals. Organizations should consider prioritizing collaboration, adaptability, and a forward-looking mindset to build resilience amid complexity.

Driving Lasting Value Through Sustainability and Innovation

Ultimately, sustainability should be a strategic priority for corporate leaders and investors alike. Success in this space requires not just robust reporting, but also a culture of innovation, strong alignment between sustainability and finance, and a relentless focus on resilience. As the sustainability and climate landscape continues to evolve, <a href="https://www.nasdaq.com/sustainability/report?utm_campaign=CPE-25-10-14-Blog-Key-Takeaways-from-Climate-Week-NYC-2025&amp;utm_medium=ContentSyndication&amp;utm_source=3BLMedia" target="_blank">Nasdaq’s approach</a> offers a blueprint for organizations seeking to turn complexity into opportunity and drive lasting value.

Nasdaq’s Sustainability Technology, Innovation, and Resilience

<a href="https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/sustainability/how-sustainable-company-leaders-leverage-nasdaq-sustainability-solutions?utm_campaign=CPE-25-10-14-Blog-Key-Takeaways-from-Climate-Week-NYC-2025&amp;utm_medium=ContentSyndication&amp;utm_source=3BLMedia" target="_blank">Technology and innovation</a> are at the heart of Nasdaq’s sustainability journey. We are leveraging AI and cloud solutions to drive efficiency, productivity, and resilience. In addition to in-house innovation efforts, we are focused on building scalable solutions that can adapt to regulatory and market changes to best support its clients. By fostering inclusive growth through innovation and collaboration, Nasdaq and its clients are well positioned to create enduring value, no matter how the landscape shifts.

Moreover, <a href="https://www.nasdaq.com/solutions/sustainability?utm_campaign=CPE-25-10-14-Blog-Key-Takeaways-from-Climate-Week-NYC-2025&amp;utm_medium=ContentSyndication&amp;utm_source=3BLMedia" target="_blank">Nasdaq Sustainability Solutions</a> empowers organizations to address evolving regulatory demands, unlock investor capital, and accelerate decarbonization with best-in-class technology and trusted advisory expertise. Our tools simplify reporting, enhance data quality, and help teams focus on delivering measurable sustainability outcomes. To learn how we can support your organization throughout its sustainability journey, <a href="https://www.nasdaq.com/solutions/sustainability#contact?utm_campaign=CPE-25-10-14-Blog-Key-Takeaways-from-Climate-Week-NYC-2025&amp;utm_medium=ContentSyndication&amp;utm_source=3BLMedia" target="_blank">contact us here</a>.

Key Takeaways From Climate Week NYC 2025

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October 15, 2025&nbsp;/CSRwire/ - The UK is setting a global benchmark in sustainability, driven by businesses that increasingly recognise the competitive, reputational, and financial advantages of sustainable practices. However, progress is uneven across sectors, as each industry faces distinct environmental, social, and governance challenges shaped by differing operational, regulatory, and market priorities. Recognising these differences is crucial to developing targeted strategies, prioritising actions, and implementing practices that deliver measurable sustainability outcomes.

To support businesses in strengthening competitiveness and resilience, the UN Global Compact Network UK, in collaboration with University College London, Newcastle University, and Euromonitor, has launched the report ‘<a href="https://www.unglobalcompact.org.uk/trailblazers-transformers-uk-business-sectors-redefining-sustainability/" target="_blank">Trailblazers &amp; Transformers: UK Business Sectors Redefining Sustainability</a>’, examining how six high-impact sectors in the UK are performing against the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Drawing on rigorous data and market insights, the report identifies sector-specific challenges, benchmarks performance, and presents actionable recommendations to support effective sustainability strategies.

<a href="https://www.unglobalcompact.org.uk/trailblazers-transformers-uk-business-sectors-redefining-sustainability/" target="_blank">DOWNLOAD THE REPORT</a>

You can now download the full report to:

<ul>
	<li>Gain in-depth analysis of UK business progress on the SDGs;</li>
	<li>Access sector-specific insights to strengthen ESG performance and support the integration of sustainability into strategy and operations;</li>
	<li>Understand cross-sector trends highlighting shared barriers, leadership gaps, and opportunities for collaboration and innovation;</li>
	<li>Inform your company’s sustainability strategy with evidence-based findings and global benchmark comparisons;</li>
	<li>Leverage data-driven insights from UN Global Compact Communication on Progress (CoP) data, World Benchmarking Alliance benchmarks, policy context, and market trends to guide decision-making; and</li>
	<li>Explore policy priorities that can shape the enabling environment to help businesses operate responsibly, compete globally, and unlock sustainable investment at scale.</li>
</ul>

You can find more information about the report&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unglobalcompact.org.uk/trailblazers-transformers-uk-business-sectors-redefining-sustainability/" target="_blank">here</a>, and please share it with your networks.

Media Contact: 
Lily Venables 
Senior Project Manager (Governance and SDGs) 
<a href="mailto:lily.venables@unglobalcompact.org.uk" target="_blank">lily.venables@unglobalcompact.org.uk</a>

<a href="https://www.unglobalcompact.org.uk/trailblazers-transformers-uk-business-sectors-redefining-sustainability/" target="_blank">Read More</a>

New UN Global Compact Network UK Report Launch - Trailblazers & Transformers: UK Business Sectors Redefining Sustainability

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<a href="https://www.mastercard.com/global/en/news-and-trends/stories/2025/mastercard-ASEAN-inclusive-growth-summit.html" target="_blank">Originally published by Mastercard</a>

The Asia-Pacific region is undergoing the largest middle-class expansion in history. By 2035, it will be home to 3.2 billion of the world’s 5 billion middle-class consumers. This transformation is reshaping global consumption, financial behavior and digital engagement, creating new demand for financial products and solutions such as mobile wallets, access to finance and savings accounts.

The growth of the middle-class in the region presents a generational opportunity to build inclusive economies — and to serve a rising consumer base that is increasingly connected, entrepreneurial and digitally enabled.

In particular, the nations that comprise the <a href="https://asean.org/member-states/" target="_blank">Association of Southeast Asian Nations</a> (ASEAN) are emerging as a powerful pillar of middle-class momentum. If the ASEAN region was a single economy, it would rank third globally in middle-class additions by 2035, adding 112 million people — just behind India (411 million) and China (163 million). This shift represents a critical opportunity to shape the future of inclusive economic growth.&nbsp;

To unlock this potential, we are partnering to map the middle-class journey across geographies, generations and income thresholds. Our work together will unlock the insights and knowledge that will help policymakers, public sector leaders and organizations invest in systems that build resilient growth.

Defining the opportunity: The middle-class in Asia

ASEAN countries are at different stages of this transition to the middle class, which is rapidly becoming the majority in the region. More than 50% of the population in Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam are considered middle-class, with active participation in the economy and access to both disposable income and regular savings. In Malaysia, that figure goes up to 89%. Meanwhile, Indonesia and the Philippines will reach middle-class majority by 2031–2032.&nbsp;

With incomes ranging from $13 to $120 daily, these individuals will have an outsized impact on economic mobility and outcomes for the ASEAN region. As incomes rise, people spend more on education, health, recreation and financial services. Asia’s discretionary spending is projected to grow from $23 trillion in 2025 to $35 trillion in 2035. And financial services spending will more than double, reaching $1.2 trillion.
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This growth will reshape consumption patterns, increasing demand for secure products and services such as digital accounts. It will create new opportunities for small businesses — a new set of consumers that could drive demand and provide opportunity for scale. And it will drive more inclusive economic growth around the world — a stronger middle class means a path towards financial health, resilience and safety.&nbsp;

As the majority of this region is either in transition or already middle-class dominant, we should seize the opportunity to make sure everyone is getting access to the benefits of a digital economy. That means millions of people are ready to access tools and resources — such as lines of credit, savings accounts, digital wallets and mobile payments — that can help secure their middle-class status and unlock economic potential.

Unlocking data for action

To understand how this expansion can shape our steps forward in supporting economic opportunity and growth, we’re identifying tipping points, such as the income levels at which people gain access to financial tools and start participating in the modern economy. For example, access to finance typically begins around $5 a day, while credit card adoption starts closer to $25 a day. These thresholds help us understand the journey towards economic mobility and what interventions can accelerate that journey.

Gaps in inclusion are also important, so we can take actions to bring everyone into the middle class. Low mobile wallet uptake in rural Asia to irregular savings in Vietnam shows why we need to come together to help businesses, governments and organizations design interventions that support upward economic mobility.

On October 24, the <a href="https://www.mastercardcenter.org/?cmp=paid.partner.syndicated.engagement.website.all.global.3bl.article" target="_blank">Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth</a> hosted its inaugural <a href="https://globalinclusivegrowthsummit.com/" target="_blank">ASEAN Inclusive Growth Summit</a>, where private, public, governmental and social impact leaders will come together to discuss the opportunities in the ASEAN region — and more importantly, understand how to drive financial health and inclusive growth for the people there. This is a generational opportunity to move beyond financial inclusion to invest in systems that make prosperity sustainable and durable.

This shift is a story of economic mobility, financial inclusion and inclusive economic growth. The emerging middle class is not just a statistic or trend. It’s a story of ambition, resilience, and transformation — and ASEAN is writing the next chapter.

<a href="https://www.mastercard.com/global/en/news-and-trends/stories/2025/mastercard-ASEAN-inclusive-growth-summit.html">Originally published by Mastercard</a>

<a href="https://www.mastercard.com/news/" target="_blank">Follow along Mastercard's journey to connect and power an inclusive, digital economy that benefits everyone, everywhere.</a>

The Asia-Pacific region is undergoing the largest middle-class expansion in history. By 2035, it will be home to 3.2 billion of the world’s 5 billion middle-class consumers. 

Mastercard: How Asia’s Emerging Middle Class Is Driving Inclusive Growth

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3BL’s media division TriplePundit is celebrating 20 years as a newsroom with a new multimedia campaign exploring the past, present and future of the corporate sustainability field.

3BL’s acquisition of TriplePundit (3p) in 2017 marked a formative moment in our journey to collaborate with the leading voices in responsible business. TriplePundit has helped propel 3BL forward, and we are proud to support them as they honor their legacy and look ahead to what’s coming next.

Shortly after the development of the “triple bottom line” framework, 3p launched as a side project of MBA candidates at Presidio School of Management in San Francisco, the first accredited business master’s program with a focus on sustainability. Fresh off media architecture stints at Mother Jones and Treehugger, Nick Aster founded the site to spread the word about the emerging concepts he was studying and recruited a few classmates to contribute. They described themselves as “critical optimists,” aiming to grow TriplePundit into a resource about the development of sustainable organizations, brands and workplace cultures.

Within a few years, it was one of the world's most well-read websites on the subject of responsible business, with an audience of over 100,000 readers a month and bolstered by a vibrant community of professionals, advocates and curious minds. In keeping with a history of listening and responding to their community of readers and contributors, TriplePundit pivoted to <a href="https://triplepundit.com/2023/triplepundit-solutions-journalism-sustainability/" target="_blank">solutions journalism</a> in 2023, with a focus on telling the under-told stories of people and organizations making measurable progress on complex and seemingly intractable challenges.

Along the way, 3p’s journalists have seen it all — covering some of the most significant developments in the space as they happened, from the launch of pioneering corporate frameworks like Unilever's Sustainable Living Plan and Marks &amp; Spencer’s Plan A, to the adoption of the Paris climate agreement and the U.N. Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

“Having joined a few years shy of TriplePundit’s first decade, our 20th year as a newsroom is a milestone that means a lot to me, but the nature of the time we’re in — and the questions it inevitably brings forward about the measurable outcome of corporate sustainability — puts the occasion in a different perspective,” TriplePundit’s executive editor, Mary Mazzoni, <a href="https://go.3bl.com/l/37792/2025-11-14/5zz19x" target="_blank">wrote on the site this month</a>. “In some areas, we’ve come a long way. In others, not so much.”

The Long View: 20 Years of Sustainability in Motion looks back on the pivotal moments, breakthrough technologies and disruptive ways of thinking that shaped the corporate sustainability field. Veteran journalists will take stock of what’s gone right and what’s gone wrong, and leaders, experts and advocates will share their projections and hopes for the future, while an accompanying social media campaign puts the progress and pitfalls into stunning visuals and invites our community to take part.

<a href="https://go.3bl.com/l/37792/2025-11-14/5zz19t" target="_blank">Check out the campaign here</a> on TriplePundit’s brand new website, and follow along on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/triple-pundit/" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TriplePundit" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/triplepundit.bsky.social" target="_blank">BlueSky</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/triplepundit/?hl=en" target="_blank">Instagram</a>.

3BL’s media division TriplePundit is celebrating 20 years as a newsroom with a new multimedia campaign exploring the past, present and future of the corporate sustainability field.

Celebrating the Past (and Future) of Corporate Sustainability As TriplePundit Celebrates 20 Years

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<figcaption>In recognition of its steadfast, decades-long commitment to women’s health, the Mary Kay Ash Foundation was honored with the prestigious Circle of Care Award at the 2025 Celebrating Women Luncheon, hosted by the Baylor Scott &amp; White Dallas Foundation. The award celebrates those who have made a profound impact in shaping the future of breast cancer care through advocacy, philanthropy, and innovation. Since its inception, the luncheon has raised more than $42 million to fund research, advance detection, and support programs that empower women and families facing breast cancer. Photo Credit: Kristina Bowman</figcaption>
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Originally published on <a href="http://newsroom.marykay.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">newsroom.marykay.com</a>

DALLAS, November 14, 2025&nbsp;/CSRwire/ - The Mary Kay Ash Foundation®, a champion of women’s health innovation for nearly three decades, announced a $500,000 grant to Baylor Scott &amp; White Dallas Foundation to accelerate a pioneering triple-negative breast cancer clinical trial and advance early detection initiatives that shift care from reactive to proactive at&nbsp;the newly established Texas Cancer Interception Institute.

The two-fold grant includes:&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li>$100,000 in continued support of a forward-thinking TRIM-EBC Clinical Trial led by world-renowned Celebrating Women chair for Breast Cancer Research,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.bswhealth.com/physician/joyce-oshaughnessy" target="_blank">Joyce O’Shaughnessy, MD</a>. The trial explores the potential of weight-loss medications to reduce recurrence risk in overweight breast cancer patients.</li>
</ul>
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<figcaption>Mary Kay Ash Foundation’s grant of $500,000 includes: $100,000 in continued support of a forward-thinking TRIM-EBC Clinical Trial led by world renowned Celebrating Women chair for Breast Cancer Research, Joyce O’Shaughnessy, MD. The trial explores the potential of weight-loss medications to reduce recurrence risk in overweight breast cancer patients. Photo Credit: Baylor Scott &amp; White Health</figcaption>
</figure>

<ul>
	<li>The second part is a multi-year gift to the&nbsp;<a href="https://pages.bswhealth.com/cancer-interception.html" target="_blank">Texas Cancer Interception Institute</a>, which aims to detect and intercept cancer at its earliest stages – when it is most treatable, will help shift women’s cancer narratives from “I have cancer,” to “I have cancer, but we caught it early.” Designed to be deployed on a broad scale, the program aims to revolutionize early detection and intervention strategies for better breast cancer survivorship and beyond.</li>
</ul>

This latest commitment underscores a shared mission between the two organizations: to invest in transformative cancer research that improves outcomes and brings us closer to curing cancers that disproportionately affect women. Over the past two decades, the&nbsp;<a href="https://marykayashfoundation.org/" target="_blank">Mary Kay Ash Foundation®</a> has contributed $1.3 million to the Baylor Scott &amp; White Dallas Foundation, reflecting an enduring alliance rooted in scientific discovery and compassion.
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<figcaption>The Mary Kay Ash Foundation®, a champion of women’s health innovation for nearly three decades, announced a $500,000 grant to Baylor Scott &amp; White Dallas Foundation to accelerate a pioneering triple-negative breast cancer clinical trial and advance early detection initiatives that shift care from reactive to proactive at the newly established Texas Cancer Interception Institute. Photo Credit: Lara Bierner</figcaption>
</figure>

“The Mary Kay Ash Foundation remains committed to finding cures for cancers affecting women – we are championing for our mothers, daughters, sisters, and all the women in our lives,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-lunceford-339852b/" target="_blank">Michael Lunceford, President, Mary Kay Ash Foundation Board of Directors</a>. “This grant represents a powerful next step in redefining cancer care – moving from a reactive nature to early detection and viable treatment options – with the goal of a long, healthy life after cancer. We are honored to stand alongside Baylor Scott &amp; White in shaping the future of women’s health.”

In recognition of its steadfast, decades-long commitment to women’s health, the Mary Kay Ash Foundation was honored with the prestigious Circle of Care Award at the 2025 Celebrating Women Luncheon, hosted by the Baylor Scott &amp; White Dallas Foundation. The award celebrates those who have made a profound impact in shaping the future of breast cancer care through advocacy, philanthropy, and innovation. Since its inception, the luncheon has raised more than $42 million to fund research, advance detection, and support programs that empower women and families facing breast cancer.

“Mary Kay Ash believed in the power of women to change the world – that conviction lives on through her namesake Foundation’s bold commitment to advancing women’s health by investing in early detection and better treatments,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/christina-goodman-0a5a4811/" target="_blank">Christina Goodman, President, Baylor Scott &amp; White Dallas Foundation</a>. “When brilliant minds like Dr. Joyce O’Shaughnessy, MD and compassionate hearts come together, extraordinary things happen. This partnership is focused on bringing hope, healing, and new possibilities to patients and families across our communities.”
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<figcaption>Together, Mary Kay Inc., its global markets, and its four company-sponsored foundations and charitable funds have contributed nearly $44 million worldwide to help eliminate cancers affecting women. Photo Credit: Jeanne Heinen / Baylor Scott &amp; White Dallas Foundation</figcaption>
</figure>

Did You Know?

Mary Kay is committed to ending cancers affecting women globally with its impact extending around the world through research funding and awareness campaigns driven by Mary Kay markets on multiple continents:

<ul>
	<li>In Spain, Mary Kay partners with the&nbsp;<a href="https://fero.org/en/" target="_blank">FERO Foundation</a>&nbsp;to support metastatic breast cancer research.</li>
	<li>In Brazil, the Instituto Mary Kay funds cancer education and screening programs reaching thousands of women annually.</li>
	<li>In Malaysia, Mary Kay collaborates with the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.uicc.org/membership/national-cancer-society-malaysia" target="_blank">National Cancer Society of Malaysia</a> to promote early detection.</li>
	<li>In Canada, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.marykay.ca/en-ca/about-mary-kay/our-commitment/mkacf-2021" target="_blank">Mary Kay Ash Charitable Foundation</a> supports&nbsp;<a href="https://lgfb.ca/" target="_blank">Look Good Feel Better</a>® workshops for women undergoing cancer treatment and provides product donations to help women feel beautiful after cancer.</li>
</ul>

Together, Mary Kay Inc., its global markets, and its four company-sponsored foundations and charitable funds have contributed nearly $44 million worldwide to help eliminate cancers affecting women. Learn more about Mary Kay’s ongoing global impact – from advancing women’s health and empowerment to protecting natural resources and fostering lasting change – in the&nbsp;<a href="https://marykayglobal.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/GM-Sustainability-Initiative-Report-2025.pdf" target="_blank">2025 Sustainability Report</a>.

***

About Mary Kay Ash Foundation®&nbsp; 
Guided by Mary Kay Ash’s dream to enrich the lives of women everywhere, the Mary Kay Ash Foundation®&nbsp;raises and distributes funds to end domestic violence and invest in breakthrough cancer research to find cures for women-related cancers. Since 1996, the Mary Kay Ash Foundation&nbsp;has contributed more than $98 million to organizations aligned with its two-fold mission. In addition, the Foundation supports awareness initiatives, community outreach programs, and advocates for legislation to ensure women are healthy and safe. Together, we can make the world better for women. To learn more about how to educate, advocate, volunteer, donate, and join life-saving work to support and empower women, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://marykayfoundation.org/" target="_blank" title="marykayfoundation.org">marykayashfoundation.org</a>, or find us on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MaryKayAshFoundation/" target="_blank" title="Facebook">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/marykaycares/?hl=en" target="_blank" title="Instagram">Instagram</a>.

About Baylor Scott &amp; White Dallas Foundation 
Baylor Scott &amp; White Dallas Foundation raises money to advance the Mission of Baylor Scott &amp; White Health: Founded as a Christian ministry of healing, Baylor Scott &amp; White Health promotes the well-being of all individuals, families and communities. At Baylor Scott &amp; White Dallas Foundation, philanthropy is the catalyst for change – advancing innovation, expanding access to compassionate care and empowering more people to live well. Together, we are shaping the future of healthcare in North Texas.&nbsp;

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The Mary Kay Ash Foundation®, a champion of women’s health innovation for nearly three decades, announced a $500,000 grant to Baylor Scott &amp; White Dallas Foundation to accelerate a pioneering triple-negative breast cancer clinical trial and advance early detection initiatives

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