Month: August 2021

Northern Ireland tech and innovation non-profit Catalyst is offering CEOs the chance to work with leading entrepreneurs to scale their businesses. Belfast tech non-profit Catalyst is inviting ambitious CEOs to apply for its ‘Way to Scale’ bootcamp in late September. The bootcamp has 20 places for CEOs and up to two members of their senior teams, and it offers a series of four 90-minute, online workshops focused on topics such as value proposition, business growth, go-to-market strategy, market positioning, team dynamics and business risk. CEOs can progress from the bootcamp to the ‘Way to Scale’ programme, which runs from January to March in 2022 and is comprised of three weeks of intensive training modules delivered in Belfast, Boston and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

A report published on 26 August by an independent group of experts warns that reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 is now “too little too late”, and will not achieve the long-term temperature goals identified in the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5°C by the end of the century. Drawing upon findings recently published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), the report from the Climate Crisis Advisory Group (CCAG) argues that current global emissions targets are inadequate and that net negative – rather than net zero – strategies are required.
The report, titled ‘The Final Warning Bell’ suggests that even if countries achieve net zero by mid-century, this will not tackle greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere, with CO2 equivalent concentrations potentially continuing to climb as high as 540ppm (parts per million). This means there is little to no room for manoeuvre, with only a 50% chance of holding the 1.5°C line.

Indian Institute of Guwahati (IIT-G) on Monday said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with a private, deemed university based in Coimbatore to help enrich academic programmes and promote an exchange of students between the two institutions. The MoU was signed by Prof G Sitharam, Director, IIT-G, and Dr Venkata Rangan, Vice-Chancellor of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (AVV) in this regard recently, an official release said. Highlighting the different aspects of this partnership, Prof Sitharam, said, “With the emergence of many new interdisciplinary research and academic centres equipped with state-of-the-art equipment at IIT-Guwahati, the institute is destined to serve the country with extra vigour.

There are a few stats in our ongoing Pulse data that have troubled me for quite some time: 70% of people living in America say they feel moderately to very strongly responsible for changing their daily choices to positively impact the environment. 77% say the average person should be taking concrete steps to reduce their environmental impact (though this is down from 90% in 2016). 80% agree that we have a moral duty to leave the earth in as good or better shape than we found it. I’ve been troubled because it’s not what’s actually happening. We don’t see three-fourths of the American population taking steps to reduce their environmental footprint (beyond recycling or wishcycling). Even in our own studies, only 26% of the American population can name a brand they’ve intentionally purchased or not purchased because of the perceived environmental or social record of the manufacturer. And while 26% is a great number — and headed in an upward right trajectory when you look at the data over the last 13 years — it’s still not 70-80%.

Nordson Corporation is to acquire NDC Technologies, a supplier of measurement and process control solutions, from Spectris. The acquisition expands Nordson’s test and inspection platform into new end markets and adjacent technologies. The all-cash transaction, subject to customary post-closing adjustments, is valued at $180 million.
“We are excited to welcome NDC Technologies’ nearly 300 employees into the Nordson family. They will bring exciting new capabilities and expertise to our test and inspection platform,” said Jeffrey Pembroke, executive vice president of Nordson Advanced Technology Solutions. “NDC’s customer-centric business model, differentiated technology and end markets make it a very Nordson-like business. This acquisition is further progress on our Nordson Ascend Strategy to achieve top-tier growth with leading margins and returns.”

Every day, more and more enterprises and investors are looking for straightforward ways to operate more sustainably and make a positive contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – the world’s blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. Indeed, enterprises and investors increasingly recognize that sustainable development is at the very heart of long-term value creation – for organizations and for society – and failing to achieve the SDGs is a constraint on economic potential and undermines system stability, future business prospects and future investment performance. 
Embedding the SDGs into decision making can help enterprises and investors use a common language and shared purpose to open-up new business and investment opportunities and efficiency gains; future proof their businesses and investment portfolios; manage risk more effectively; enhance their reputation; attract and retain employees, consumers, B2B customers, and investors; strengthen their stakeholder relations; drive innovation; secure their social license to operate; keep pace with – and anticipate future – policy developments; and help stabilize societies and markets (see here for sources).
Read the full article at: sdginvestorplatform.undp.org

It is no secret that sustainability within the logistics sector is a huge talking point. Reducing the greenhouse gases contributing to global warming is a responsibility felt by all of us. Emissions from the transportation sector, both domestic and commercially, accounts for a large percentage of overall global emissions. Our commitment is to reduce greenhouse gases within the sector by innovating dimensioning within logistics. Accurate dimensions, in turn, leads to accurate cargo planning and loading. Data is collated, including stored images, using Freight Measure and can be used to form on target pricing eliminating estimations. How can we as a company use Freight Measure to promote better sustainability within logistics?  Many logistics companies pledge to have zero emissions by a target date by converting to electric or hybrid vehicles and reaching for technology to streamline warehouse processes in keeping with demand. Ocean and air freight are the biggest contributors, with road transport following behind. We at GPC pledge to assist companies, in keeping with international law, to focus on automation and digitisation. The technology we have created using artificial intelligence (in conjunction with Intel RealSense 3D cameras and other hardware manufacturers) excels at simplifying dimensioning, increasing accuracy and cargo optimisation. Clear dimensions of freight which are obtained within 1 second using Freight Measure, means forward planning is easier and cost effective. Precise cargo loading will reduce half loads and work towards a sustainable future hand in hand with Freight Measure.

Minister of State with special responsibility for the Circular Economy and Communications Ossian Smyth, TD, has announced €490,000 in funding for 10 projects that are looking to boost Ireland’s circular economy.
These projects are designed to foster sustainable practices by reducing waste and to keep resources in use for as long as possible. The funding comes from the Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme (CEIGS), which was initially to receive €250,000 but was increased by an additional €240,000 after the quality of applications was observed.
The selected projects range from marine plastics and construction to fashion and reusable food packing.

The UK government has an opportunity to create new jobs and drive economic growth through expanding the circular economy. This sees products and resources kept in use for as long as possible through reuse, recovery, remanufacturing and recycling. The UK’s current approach is unsustainable. Too many products and materials are cast aside without a structure in place to reclaim them or prolong their use. Too much value is lost through destruction and disposal. A reused iPhone, for example, retains around 48 per cent of its original value, whereas as recyclate it retains just 0.24 per cent. Here Green Alliance shows that greater government ambition for an effective and expanded circular economy by 2035 would create hundreds of thousands of new jobs across the country. Just a few new policies focused on improving the use of valuable resources, led by the Treasury, would help to drive economic growth and the government’s own levelling up agenda, while supporting environmental aspirations.

Bitcoin Cash Argentina, a nonprofit organization that seeks to increase the knowledge and adoption of bitcoin cash (BCH) in Argentina, has successfully funded its second Flipstarter campaign, receiving 250 bitcoin cash to support its operations for the next proposed set of goals Bitcoin Cash Argentina expressed its gratitude with everyone that donated to reach this milestone via its official Twitter account. Big figures in the Bitcoin Cash community as Roger Ver and Marcelo Fleischer, also know as Majamalu, an Argentinian Bitcoin Cash supporter, donated to the initiative. Now Bitcoin Cash Argentina is proposing to further expand its reach, using these new funds to onboard the next 150 merchants in the country during the next 180 days. Also, it has proposed to bring remittance operations to propose the use of Bitcoin Cash for this function.

As the host for the COP26 this November, the UK is in the spotlight when it comes to reducing emissions. Plastic production and consumption is an important contributor to climate change, business models that are cutting back on single-use plastic offer important lessons, and inspiration, to drive an agenda that moves towards a circular economy. These are also timely inputs to the discussion on the Environment Bill, which includes several measures to tackle plastic pollution. In this blog Mariel Vilella looks at how businesses reduce their plastic waste and work towards circular economy principles. With increased public awareness about the impacts from plastic pollution, the transition towards a zero waste circular economy, where production and use of single-use disposable products is limited to the bare minimum, is ongoing and growing.

Paper mill pulp washer for paper making is mainly used for washing and concentrating waste paper pulp to efficiently remove ink particles, filters and other fine impurities in the pulp. Paper Pulp Washer has outstanding advantages in the washing and concentration of deinked pulp. The impurity removal efficiency is high, the dehydration efficiency is high, and the pulp is very clean after washing. The washing machine occupies a small area, has a large production capacity and low power consumption. Paper Pulp Washer runs fast, the pulp layer is thin, the washing effect is good, the mesh belt tension is adjustable, the electromagnetic speed is adjusted, and the deviation is automatic.

Sustainability is as important to Volvo Cars as safety. By working towards climate-neutrality, embracing the circular economy and conducting our business operations responsibly, we help protect the planet and contribute to a fairer society.
Climate-neutral manufacturing – We aim to have climate-neutral manufacturing operations by 2025. Already today our global plants are powered by over 80 per cent climate-neutral electricity. Since 2008, all our European plants have been running on hydro-electric power.
Working with suppliers – Reducing emissions in our supply chain is critical to reaching our climate target. We are encouraging our top suppliers to use 100 per cent renewable energy by 2025 and to develop a more circular approach to materials.

For decades, transportation has been considered as a link to all aspects of life worldwide. In this case, the world’s natural environment, social well-being and economic development all usually depend on transportation systems. In most cases, safe, clean, sustainable and equitable transport systems help countries, especially in cities and urban centers, to thrive. However, a wide range of research shows that transportation systems in most of the cities and urban areas are unsustainable. In fact, some of these transportation systems are considered to be a threat to the environmental, social and economical aspects of future generations. In this perspective, therefore, changing such trends in transportation requires the collaboration of various stakeholders at regional, national and international levels. In this paper, therefore, a wide range of definitions of sustainable transport are discussed. More so, some of the aspects of smart transport for modern cities such as cycling and the role of women in sustainable transport were explored.

In June and July of this year, an African Development Bank (AfDB.org) technical review committee approved eight project proposals to receive funding is an important milestone for its Jobs for Youth in Africa Strategy. Approved proposals will receive grant funding of more than $7.3 million to operationalize their activities, creating several new enterprises and an estimated 20,000 jobs for youth across the continent. Several of the approved proposals were submitted in response to a call from the Human Capital, Youth and Skills Development Department (AHHD) through the Youth Entrepreneurship and Innovation Multi-Donor Trust Fund (bit.ly/3gw7LvF) late last year. Bank offices, complexes and departments from across regional member countries submitted nearly 24 proposals for committee review.

1,500 farm union representatives from across India to come together at national convention. On one of the days of the national convention, Rakesh Tikait is expected to visit our gathering and address the crowd, he said.Leaders of different farm unions will also participate to discuss how the agitation should be taken forward, Singh said.He added that the farmers have ensured that their protests are peaceful and do not cause any inconvenience to people.Farmers have been very straightforward about their demands from the beginning.

In a globalised world, Europe is vulnerable to climate extremes and the effects of climate change. Tropical cyclones, droughts and melting ice sheets in other parts of the world directly or indirectly impact Europe. Our focus in RECEIPT is to map these connections and to build storylines showing the effect of climate change on society and the economy.
Do you know where your food is produced? How about your clothes, electronics, or car? Much of what we consume and buy comes from outside of Europe. Changes in other regions affect how Europe manages its coastal infrastructure and how European financial institutions operate global portfolios. International cooperation to address global needs and responsibilities will also be affected by climate change.
Objectives
RECEIPT aims to outline Europe’s vulnerability to remote climate events. We will achieve this by looking into climate risks outside Europe and their potential consequences for key European socio-economic sectors such as:
Agriculture
Finance
International development
Manufacturing chains
Coastal infrastructure
The project will:
reveal impacts of remote climate extremes on the European economy
map ways to identify and reduce vulnerabilities
inform about future business opportunities
Our news

The global plastic recycling sector will be worth around US$ 45.5 billion this year, new market data reveals. The figure is expected to exceed US$ 65 billion by 2026, representing a compound annual growth rate of 7.5% during the forecast period. On a global scale, the Asia Pacific region is anticipated to lead the plastics recycling market, says a new report by Research & Markets. This is mainly thanks to rapid industrialisation and the importance of waste management in countries like China, Japan, and India. Other factors include a surge in automotive and textile production as well as a big appetite for plastics in the construction industry. By material, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is believed to be the fastest-growing segment in the years to come. ‘It is cost-efficient in terms of its recycling process, has high flexibility, which makes it suitable for use in various industries ranging from packaging, textiles and plastic film, to moulded parts for cars and electronics,’ market analysts state.

The Covid-19 pandemic has placed a severe strain on the health system in the world and many healthcare workers have been stretched far beyond their capacity. For most African countries, balancing a response to the pandemic with the challenges of providing universal health care has highlighted the need for resilient health systems that will address the imperatives of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and prompt novel, custom-made solutions for the continent and its people. While the collection and analysis of data across the region has enabled some of the continent’s success stories to be showcased, experts agree that the health system challenges faced by the region span over the financial, political and socio-economic spheres and that addressing them will take a multi-faceted and African approach.

The ubiquitous use of plastics has been driven by their combination of low cost and properties, but these attributes directly challenge waste management schemes for plastic recycling. Some postconsumer recycling programs are now nearly 50 years old, but a significant fraction of plastics still finds landfills or other dumping strategies at their end of life. With the growing concern regarding plastic waste, especially ocean plastics, there is a need for innovation and alternative strategies for the economic translation of plastic waste to valued product(s) that will promote their efficient circular utilization. This review first describes the technical and economic hurdles associated with the recycling of postconsumer plastics, but then it focuses on providing an overview of emergent strategies to recover plastic waste through new polymer design, new recycling processes, and chemical transformations to value-added products. Specific challenges discussed include plastic waste sorting and separations, product variability including additives, and the high efficiency/low cost in which the existing petrochemical industry can produce virgin polymers, in particular polyolefins.