Sat.Oct 12, 2019 - Fri.Oct 18, 2019

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Opus 12 is one startup on a mission to convert CO2 into useful products

GreenBiz

It may sound a bit like alchemy to create building blocks out of thin air, but plants and algae have been doing essentially the same thing for hundreds of millions of years.

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New Zealand impact investments set to grow six-fold over five years

Impact Alpha

ImpactAlpha, Oct. 16 – Just 1% of New Zealand’s private assets under management, or $889 million, is in impact investments, according to the first in-depth study of the country’s impact investing market. Last year, an Impact Enterprise Fund in the country fell short of its fundraising target. Still, “There’s high interest and demand for impact The post New Zealand impact investments set to grow six-fold over five years appeared first on ImpactAlpha.

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Fighting fatbergs and hidden plastics: Unblocktober movement underway to save UK’s sewers and seas

Envirotec Magazine

Unblocktober , a campaign to save Britain’s sewers and seas from the devastation caused by fatbergs and hidden plastics, is underway and more than 4,000 individuals and employees have already embraced the month-long challenge. With support from the UK’s leading utilities firms and the likes of Defra and Keep Britain Tidy backing Unblocktober on social media, word is spreading – and there is still time for more businesses and individuals to get involved.

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Understanding Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Deep Learning

Daniel Burrus

Technological change is the only constant in today’s business world, disrupting everything from large organizations to small start-ups. Disruption affects everyone, but will you be the disruptor or the disrupted? You must pay close attention to the Hard Trends shaping the future of your industry, your business, and the outside world to identify opportunities used to innovate and grow rapidly, additionally using those Hard Trends to solve any problems your organization and customers might have be

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Are Your Impact Comms Resonating With Stakeholders?

Whether your organization is at the start of its sustainability and impact journey or years into it, many brands share a common concern: the uncertainty of whether they are sending stakeholders mixed messages. Creating content that speaks to your audience's “love language” can be a tricky dance. But, worry not! 3BL has put together tips to ensure that your content not only finds its rhythm but also resonates with your target audiences.

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How the U.S. power grid is evolving to handle solar and wind

GreenBiz

As renewable energy sources move mainstream, electricity generation and distribution systems are getting an extreme makeover.

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The Brief: Farewell to Paul Polak, IFC’s Neil Gregory, de-risking cleantech, affordable lab-grown meats, sustainability-linked loans, climate-smart in Africa

Impact Alpha

Greetings, Agents of Impact! Farewell to Paul Polak. We salute serial social entrepreneur Paul Polak, who died last week. The global development approaches Polak pioneered are now accepted wisdom for thousands of Agents of Impact. “We need to see the poor as customers rather than charity recipients,” said Polak, author of “Out of Poverty” and co-founder of Windhorse The post The Brief: Farewell to Paul Polak, IFC’s Neil Gregory, de-risking cleantech, affordable lab-grown meats, sustainabil

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Blog by Fred van Beuningen: In Pursuit of Net Zero

Clean Tech Delta

We visited the Cleantech G roup’s Asia summit in Singapore on October 8th and 9th with a delegation from Rotterdam (vice mayor, city officials and entrepreneurs). I was invited to speak during the opening session and wanted to remind the audience that we need to get honest and on with climate change. We have about 12 years. Thankfully this was not me saying this but Michael le Page in the New Scientist in his excellent overview article Climate (un)certainty : “Amid the morass of confusin

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4 carbontech companies making products from thin air

GreenBiz

From feedstock to fuel to flooring, these businesses are turning excess carbon dioxide into value and profit.

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Philanthropy can do more to catalyze private capital for public good

Impact Alpha

ImpactAlpha, Oct. 16 – We’re on the brink of a significant shift in the global flow of capital. We have the opportunity to redirect trillions of dollars as new wealth seeks to align investments with values – a massively different scale than philanthropy today. Unfortunately, very few in philanthropy are taking advantage of this potential. The post Philanthropy can do more to catalyze private capital for public good appeared first on ImpactAlpha.

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German clothing detergent opts for bottles made from chemically recycled plastic

Envirotec Magazine

German industrial and consumer products manufacturer Henkel announced on 17 October that it has produced bottles using chemically recycled plastic for the first time, working in collaboration with packaging manufacturer Alpla. Through chemical recycling, mixed plastic waste that was previously impossible to recycle can be effectively reprocessed and reused.

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Mastering Supply Chain Sustainability: Where Does ESG Fit In?

Speaker: Hortense Grouvel

In this new webinar, you will learn firsthand how to set up a sustainable supply chain program that will help meet increasing ESG requirements stemming from regulators, customers, consumers, and investors alike. Hortense Grouvel, ESG expert at IntegrityNext, and Sean Whelan, Global Senior Manager at Halliburton, will look at how ensuring compliance will also help you increase sustainability performance, resilience, and innovation, allowing you to unlock the full potential of your supply chain op

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New Global Mentoring Program Targets Several SDGs

Sustainable Development Network

We've recently launched a global youth mentoring program that impacts some key SDGs. As a publication editor, I was interviewing youth leaders from around the world for an edition of The Introducer Magazine on "Developing Youth as Global Citizens." The Introducer is an international, social-impact focused publication meant to stir up meaningful conversations and actions that expand impact of SDGs and SDG-related goals.

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5 startups unlocking the mobility revolution

GreenBiz

From data to electrification, these entpreneurs are surmounting barriers to reaching an equitable, sustainable mobility future and empowering first movers to act.

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In Africa, climate-smart private equity investors have the opportunity to lead

Impact Alpha

ImpactAlpha, Oct. 15 – Climate change poses an existential threat to our societies. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Africa – the most vulnerable continent to climate change, both in terms of impact and ability to mitigate damage. Africa’s private equity funds must become leaders in the global fight against climate change. While environmental, The post In Africa, climate-smart private equity investors have the opportunity to lead appeared first on ImpactAlpha.

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Environmentally friendly leather wins European circular economy startup award

Envirotec Magazine

The winning entry from Gelatex Technologies is described as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional leather. The material is produced “without the use of toxins and comes at half the price.” Gelatex Technologies from Estonia has won the Green Alley Award 2019 – an annual prize recognising startups in the circular economy, which has been running since 2014.

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What Regulations Will Impact Sustainability Comms in 2024?

Navigating the waters of sustainability reporting disclosures and regulations can be intimidating, to say the least. With various measures set in motion in 2023 to keep companies accountable, there is a lot in store for brands’ impact communication in the upcoming year. 3BL is kicking off this January with our Navigating ESG Comms Through the Cosmos - Capricorn Edition by highlighting the impact of: The U.S Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Climate disclosure rules The European Commission

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These 20 companies are personally responsible for the majority of carbon waste hurting our planet

Good.is: Planet

At this point most reasonable people agree that climate change is a serious problem. And while a lot of good people are working on solutions, and we're all chipping in by using fewer plastic bags, it's also helpful to understand where the leading causes of the issue stem from. The list of 20 leading emitters of carbon dioxide by The Guardian newspaper does just that. unsplash.com In early October The Guardian unveiled research that offers a great insight into the entities responsible for the pol

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How the Urban Freight Lab seeks to fix the last 50 feet of shipping

GreenBiz

Packed with automotive and logistics giants, the living lab out of Seattle aspires to test solutions to "the transportation challenge of our time.".

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Gender-Smart Investing: More than two dozen new funds investing with a gender lens

Impact Alpha

ImpactAlpha, October 17 – I’m getting calls regularly from people who are starting new funds or who want to reshape the funds they already have to include a gender lens. Many of the funds featured in Project Sage last year have raised a lot more capital. Catalyst At Large and the team at Wharton Social The post Gender-Smart Investing: More than two dozen new funds investing with a gender lens appeared first on ImpactAlpha.

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Scottish water utility reaches energy self-generation milestone

Envirotec Magazine

Wind power on the Isle of Stornoway. Scottish Water has reported significant growth in the number of its sites across the country which have become self-sufficient through the use of hydro, wind, solar and waste conversion. Over the past six years, the utility has increased renewable energy self-generation capacity to 63 Gigawatt Hour (GWh) per annum – three times the capacity available in 2013.

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What Questions Are Brands Asking About Their ESG Initiatives Ahead of 2024?

Temperatures are rising (and not just metaphorically) as key stakeholders anxiously anticipate the outcomes of COP28. While companies reconsider their 2024 environmental sustainability strategies, there is another aspect of ESG that deserves exploring, the social sector. In the latest edition of "Navigating ESG Comms Through the Cosmos - Sagittarius Edition", 3BL hones in on this sign’s bold quality of asking questions others are burning to know the answers to.

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Should the Philippines copy Indonesia and relocate its sinking capital?

Eco-Business

Manila is sinking at a rate that could make it unliveable in two decades, a report by a team of scientists from the Philippines' state university has found. Could a solution be to transfer the nation’s capital elsewhere, as Indonesia is planning?

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Are paper bottles a solution to reduce plastic waste?

GreenBiz

Brewing giant Carlsberg debuted new bottle prototypes made from sustainably sourced wood fibers, which it claims are fully bio-based and recyclable.

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Gig economy insurer Verifly raises $22 million and rebrands as Thimble

Impact Alpha

ImpactAlpha, October 16 – The founders of Verify picked a niche demographic when they launched the insurance company in 2016: drone pilots. Last year they shifted focus to a much larger opportunity, launching insurance products for contractual and part-time workers, who make up more than one third of the U.S. workforce. Their company, now operating The post Gig economy insurer Verifly raises $22 million and rebrands as Thimble appeared first on ImpactAlpha.

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Making biofuels from seawater rather than crude oil

Envirotec Magazine

Researchers from The University of Manchester are using synthetic biology to explore a more efficient way to produce the next generation of bio-based jet fuels – partly made from seawater. The Manchester research group, led by Professor Nigel Scrutton, Director of the Manchester Institute of Biotechnology (MIB) and supported by the prestigious US-based international maritime research agency Office of Naval Research Global (ONR), is using synthetic biology to help identify a more efficient and su

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The Silver Lining to Corporate DEI Challenges

In our latest edition of Navigating ESG Comms Through the Cosmos - Scorpio Edition, 3BL embraces the perspective of one of the zodiac's most misunderstood signs: Scorpio. While this sign often has a darker view of the world, they do not shy away from shining a light on controversial topics. This month we take a deep dive into corporate pullback of DEI and how companies can utilize astrological advice to reinvent its social impact communication.

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Southeast Asian conglomerates to pump US$30 million into renewable projects in Myanmar

Eco-Business

Only 40 per cent of Myanmar's rural population has access to grid power. The joint venture by Singapore-listed Yoma Strategic Holdings and the energy platform of Philippine conglomerate Ayala Corporation aims to boost access to electricity.

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5 emerging jobs in the circular economy

GreenBiz

Nearly any job could "go circular" but these positions are critical to accelerating circularity.

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Agent of Impact: Rodney Foxworth, Common Future

Impact Alpha

ImpactAlpha, Oct. 18 – Rodney Foxworth knows how hard it can be to create change with meager resources. He created social and economic development initiatives in Baltimore—a city disparaged by the current occupant of the White House as “disgusting, rat and rodent infested”—to help lift up its residents. He cofounded Impact Hub Baltimore and created The post Agent of Impact: Rodney Foxworth, Common Future appeared first on ImpactAlpha.

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Nominees announced for Aquatech Innovation Award 2019

Envirotec Magazine

Urbanisation and online sensors key trends in Aquatech Innovation Award nominees. 12 innovative technologies nominated by expert jury. This year a total of 12 innovative technologies have been selected by an expert jury in the lead up to the Aquatech Amsterdam event , taking place in early November. Award entries were submitted across four categories, with the jury identifying nominees from each category to be considered as candidates for the overall prize. “This year we received a really

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Supercharge Your ESG Content This Libra Season

Throughout Climate Week, a feeling of urgency on tackling the climate crisis was palpable. Yet, questions continue to linger about corporate progress. Are we truly moving the needle or are we stuck in a cycle of empty statements and a flood of reports and guidelines? In the latest edition of Navigating ESG Comms Through the Cosmos - Libra Edition , we use Climate Week outcomes to explore how brands can communicate progress credibly.

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Why don’t consumer brands promote their sustainable palm oil credentials?

Eco-Business

Some companies think the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil logo looks too much like a marijuana leaf. Others don't want to highlight that the controversial oil is an ingredient at all. Why?

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Making buildings the next great climate project

GreenBiz

Sponsored: Buildings are the next frontier for carbon emissions reduction and businesses should leverage a holistic approach.

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True Balance closes $23 million to expand mobile payments to rural India

Impact Alpha

ImpactAlpha, October 16 – True Balance started in 2014 to give prepaid mobile customers in India an easy way to check their cellular data usage and balance. It soon discovered there were other services its mobile customers lacked. The Gurgaon and Seoul-based startup now offers a range of financial services through its app, including utility The post True Balance closes $23 million to expand mobile payments to rural India appeared first on ImpactAlpha.

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How making your fleet eco-friendly protects your business

Envirotec Magazine

Derek Bryan of fleet management software and solutions firm Verizon Connect offers a rundown of pointers for improving the sustainability of fleet-based businesses. Going green is currently front of mind for businesses and consumers alike. According to a national study by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, concern about the environment is currently polling at its highest level since 2008.

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How Will Virgo Season Impact Your ESG Communication?

3BL’s in-house experts merge the celestial wisdom of astrology with current environmental, social, governance (ESG) communication trends to offer a unique perspective and practical advice on sharing your company’s commitments effectively. 3BL’s new “Navigating ESG Comms through the Cosmos” series begins with Virgo season! In this edition, we delve into: How businesses have responded to environmental disasters over the past few months and why you can expect a continued focus on the climate crisis