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Benevity Releases First Enterprise Impact Platform To Solve CSR and Social Impact’s Biggest Challenges

Maximus To Help Build Cyber Readiness in High School Students

Everyday Care in Action: Thousands of Kenvue Employees Come Together Across 21 Markets To Help Advance Healthier Communities

<img alt="Exterior of a KeyBank branch." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="39959edc-443c-4879-b66b-9be326fc2e85" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/KeyBank%20SBA%20Loans_KeyBank_5.15.25A.jpg" width="640" class="align-center" height="906" loading="lazy" />Starting a small business takes a vision and resources that not every entrepreneur has at their fingertips. As the foundation of our communities, small businesses often require a full suite of financial of solutions* to meet their needs. That’s why KeyBank’s Small Business Administration (SBA) Specialists take the time to understand each business owner’s needs and create tailored financial solutions that help them achieve their goals

KeyBank’s SBA Loans Put Businesses First

As one of the nation’s top SBA Preferred Lenders for over 20 years1, KeyBank offers a full suite of SBA loan programs, including the SBA 7(a) loan, the SBA 504 loan, the SBA Express Loan Program. We work closely with entrepreneurs to identify the right loan solution that fits their business goals, whether that’s navigating ownership transitions or securing* growth financing to purchase new equipment, facilities, or inventory.

With a fully dedicated SBA lending platform, from loan origination through closing, KeyBank ensures that business owners can efficiently access the capital* they need while receiving the highest level of service from our specialized SBA lending staff. The goal is to provide custom support to make accessing capital easier, faster, and more personal for small business owners at every stage of growth.

"Getting capital* into the hands of more small businesses is a critical part of KeyBank’s purpose of helping the communities we serve thrive," said Jim Fliss, National Manager of KeyBank's SBA Program. "These small businesses are the backbone of our economy and they have shown such resiliency in recent years. We are committed to helping more small businesses take advantage of the benefits the SBA lending programs have to offer."

KeyBank’s SBA Loans Make Real Impact

SBA lending programs are pivotal to meeting the evolving needs of small business owners, and KeyBank’s impact is evident in its reach. Since 2015, KeyBank has provided $2.8 billion in SBA-guaranteed financing to thousands of small business owners, with $1.2 billion financed within just the past four years.2 $11 billion in critical funding has also been dispersed through SBA-approved PPP loans.3

Visit <a href="https://www.key.com/small-business/banking/loans-lines/sba-loan-programs.html" target="_blank">www.key.com/small-business/banking/loans-lines/sba-loan-programs.html</a> for more information.

KeyBank’s Commitment to Small Businesses

KeyBank is committed to investing in the communities we serve by helping the businesses that power them thrive, and Key’s continued growth reflects the real impact of that commitment.

Complementing our industry-leading SBA offerings, Key is proud to be a true relationship bank that offers holistic financial solutions including treasury*, merchant*, and wealth management services for the company, the entrepreneur and the company employees.

By emphasizing an advice-driven philosophy, KeyBank aims to strengthen relationships with business owners and help them achieve long-term success in an increasingly complex financial landscape. To learn more about how KeyBank can serve your business, visit <a href="http://www.key.com/smallbusiness" target="_blank">www.key.com/smallbusiness</a>.

CFMA #250513-3215228

1Source: U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) from August, 1997 to October, 2024.

2 Source:Statistics released by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) October, 2024 for total approved loans through the SBA’s 7(a) lending program during the federal fiscal year ending 9/30/2024.

3 Source: <a href="https://investor.key.com/press-releases/news-details/2021/KeyBank-Doubles-SBA-7a-Lending-Volume-Remains-a-Top-Small-Business-Lender-in-the-Country/default.aspx" target="_blank">KeyBank Doubles SBA 7(a) Lending Volume, Remains a Top Small Business Lender in the Country</a>

*All credit products, merchant services, treasury products are subject to collateral and/or credit approval, terms, conditions, availability and subject to change.

SBA loans subject to SBA eligibility.

KeyBank’s SBA Loans Provide Capital To Fuel Small Business Growth

<figure role="group" class="align-center"><img alt="&quot; &quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ae101952-1b01-4dcc-bb9b-ac5391f21d3e" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/IMG_1148.jpg" width="640" height="854" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>The panelists shared how their cultural identities, professional experiences, and creative vision have shaped their successful careers.</figcaption></figure><a href="http://aegworldwide.com/" target="_blank">AEG</a> hosted an employee event Beyond the Beats: API Leaders in the Music Industry, with two influential figures in music -- <a href="https://www.instagram.com/marisapizarro/?hl=en" target="_blank">Marisa Pizarro</a> and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/djflict/?hl=en" target="_blank">DJ Flict</a> -- to educate employees about the need for more Asian Pacific Islander (API) representation in the music industry.

Pizarro is one of the highest-ranked Filipina women in the music industry and a Partner &amp; Manager at MWA Music and Beatclub. DJ Flict, a Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum record producer, songwriter, and artist who has collaborated with global names including Wiz Khalifa, Snoop Dogg, Rebelution, Meghan Trainor, and Fifth Harmony.

The event was hosted by the company’s employee network group API Desi@AEG in celebration of API Desi Heritage Month.

The discussion, which took place inside Coke Studios at Crypto.com Arena at L.A. LIVE on May 7, 2025, showcased how the panelists’ cultural identities, professional experiences, and creative vision have shaped their successful careers and helped pave the way for greater API representation in the industry.
<figure role="group" class="align-center"><img alt="&quot; &quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8f81d5dd-1460-4d76-820e-0e40bd0f471d" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/IMG_1144.jpg" width="640" height="854" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>AEG hosted an employee event Beyond the Beats: API Leaders in the Music Industry, with Marisa Pizarro and DJ Flict.</figcaption></figure>“Both Marissa and DJ Flict have played key roles in shaping the careers of top-music industry talent and continue to break barriers in an industry where API representation remains limited at the executive level,” said Leah Domantay, DEI Program Manager, AEG. “We were thrilled to have them partner with us on this empowering event, which not only celebrated their achievements but also inspired meaningful dialogue about representation within music and beyond.”

Following the interview, AEG employees networked with local API-owned businesses, including sushi handrolls from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/roll.me.up_/?hl=en" target="_blank">Roll Me Up </a>and artisan snacks from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tochisnacks/?hl=en" target="_blank">Tochi Snacks</a>, uplifting local business owners.

AEG’s Hosts “Beyond the Beats: API Leaders in the Music Industry” To Educate Employees About the Need for More API Representation in Music

<img alt="Principal Military Employees: CJ, Rhonda and Shelby." data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="24486e56-afa4-4728-aeba-363bf601c8ab" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Military%20employees_Principal%20Financial%20Group_5.14.25A.png" width="640" class="align-center" height="840" loading="lazy" />Three of our employees share their unique experiences in both the military and corporate worlds: CJ as an active service member, Rhonda as a veteran, and Shelby as a military parent.

One common theme: They feel their experience is supported and valued at Principal.

CJ Process improvement consultant  Captain, U.S. Air Force 
<figure role="group" class="align-center"><img alt="CJ (right) and his two older brothers while deployed in Saudi Arabia " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5db8b430-320d-410f-a328-a8a7b28accc2" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Military%20Employees_Principal%20Financial%20Group_5.14.25B.png" width="640" height="600" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Photo: CJ (right) and his two older brothers while deployed in Saudi Arabia.</figcaption></figure>Military journey 

I joined the International Guard when I was 18, starting basic training three weeks after I graduated high school. I started out as a jet mechanic and now have transitioned to an officer position leading a team. At first, I was primarily focused on the educational and life experience benefits, but I quickly became passionate about serving my country.

A family tradition

My two older brothers are in the Air Force as well. And when it comes to my brothers, I'm fairly impressionable. I love and look up to them a lot. So, I joined for that reason as well. We deployed together in 2021 to Saudi Arabia, which was a very unique experience.

From the military to Principal 

I joined Principal through the <a href="https://careers.principal.com/recent-graduates" target="_blank">rotational program</a>, which allowed me to explore different opportunities across the company, as I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do after I graduated college. I realized the culture is amazing, and the products we sell really do help people. I felt supported to provide value quickly and progress in my military career at the same time. Ultimately, I landed in Corporate Accounting and have been focused on continuous improvement efforts for the past six years.

Fulfilling dual responsibilities 

Principal has always allowed me to focus on my mission at hand. While working here, I’ve been deployed overseas once, activated twice—including during the COVID-19 pandemic—and have participated in multiple trainings that required time away. Throughout it all, I’ve felt nothing but support and gratitude from my Principal family. I’ve received heartfelt letters and generous gifts from my team. When I was deployed to Saudi Arabia, my peers were amazed by the care package sent by my Principal team; it was truly humbling and a powerful reminder of the support behind me.

Advocating for others

I think the biggest difficulty is the translation gap between how the military describes your responsibilities versus how corporate America would. I recommend finding a professional organization or a mentor who previously made that transition to help bridge that gap.

I had my brothers and a mentor who coached me through the transition. Now, I advocate for and coach younger airmen to identify the responsibility they hold; there's a lot of weight and power to it that they probably don't recognize.

<blockquote>
Closing the skills translation gap: When you <a href="https://careers.principal.com/careers-home/jobs" target="_blank">search for a job at Principal</a>, you can enter your MOS code to find roles that match your military skills. 
</blockquote>

Rhonda  Advisor care specialist Army veteran 
<figure role="group" class="align-center"><img alt="Rhonda during her time at the Pentagon " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e1e8fdb6-6faf-42c4-8eb8-611f828221fd" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Military%20Employees_Principal%20Financial%20Group_5.14.25C.jpg" width="384" height="550" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Photo: Rhonda during her time at the Pentagon.</figcaption></figure>Military journey 

I entered the military right out of high school. I gained confidence and discipline through serving as a squad leader throughout basic training and as the designated class leader throughout extensive eight-month schooling. That experience earned me an opportunity to serve at the Pentagon for the Army Chief of Staff for Intelligence (and top-secret security clearance) at age 19.

From the military to Principal 

My time in the military provided me with skillsets to successfully navigate university (a disciplined approach to studying and time management) as well as the confidence and organizational skills needed for every step in my career, including my time at Principal since 2001.

Finding community 

In my early days at Principal, I joined the board of our Veteran Employee Resource Group (VERG), helping bring military community events and fundraisers to our satellite offices. There, I found camaraderie and community. Even though our experiences were different, it was fun to connect and see the passion that we all had for supporting veterans.

A note for potential military employees 

I think Principal is among the top tier of employers with their support of veterans. They actively seek out veterans and military people for employment. They view military experience as a huge asset. They know that veterans bring a lot to the table with their experience, and there's a good chance there’s a position that will fit you perfectly.

Shelby  Licensed senior client investment and expense associate Military mom and granddaughter 

A family tradition

Both my grandfathers are veterans. One served in Japan and the other is a Korean War combat veteran. Listening to them talk about their experiences instilled a sense of respect and appreciation for the sacrifices they made. Sharing military stories has also helped bridge connections across generations, as my two stepdaughters currently serve in the Marines.

Finding community at Principal

Being a mom of military service members means experiencing a wide range of emotions at any given period, including pride, worry, and anxiety, which can all affect your career. I’ve been able to network with other employees through VERG who were going through similar situations with their own children, along with military veterans who offered support and guidance along the way.

Leaning into flexibility 

One thing we've learned being a military family is that things can change quickly. It can be hard to schedule holidays and other family gatherings; sometimes we might only have a week’s advance notice. Fortunately, my leaders are incredible about giving me the flexibility to take time off when opportunities for family time come.

<blockquote>
<a href="https://careers.principal.com/employee-benefits" target="_blank">Learn more about our benefits</a>, like flexibility and time away.
</blockquote>

Military to corporate values 

The work environment at Principal is based on integrity, respect, community, and trust—very similar to that of the military. I am proud to work for a company with these strong values. Everything has a trickle effect. If I instill these same values in my home and in my family, my hope is that my children will continue to instill these values in their lives, whether in the military or civilian world.

A full circle moment 

After my grandpa passed, my grandmother wanted his clothes to go to another veteran. Through a VERG event, I had the opportunity to fulfill her wish at a local veteran’s shelter. That was a humbling, full circle moment.

Principal® is an equal opportunity employer and an E-Verify participant. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion or religious creed, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, mental or physical disability, medical condition, genetic information or characteristics, sexual orientation, marital status, domestic partner status, military status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We also prohibit harassment on these bases.

<a href="https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/OFCCP/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights-ScreenRdr.pdf" target="_blank">Know your rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal (</a><a href="http://dol.gov/" target="_blank">dol.gov</a><a href="https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/OFCCP/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/22-088_EEOC_KnowYourRights-ScreenRdr.pdf" target="_blank">)</a> 

If at any stage of the employment application process you need a reasonable accommodation due to a disability, contact Human Resources at MyHR@principal.com or 1-866-524-6947. Read our <a href="https://www.principal.com/about-us/our-company/policies/employment-policies" target="_blank">employment policies</a> for more information. 

Recruitment fraud is a scheme that offers fictitious job opportunities to people. This type of fraud is normally done through online services such as bogus websites, social media, or through unsolicited emails/SMS texts claiming to be from Principal or Principal employees. Only applicants who have filled out an official application on our career site (<a href="http://careers.principal.com/" target="_blank">careers.principal.com</a>) will be considered for employment opportunities. Principal will never ask for money during any stage of the employment application process. If you receive a communication (e.g., LinkedIn message, Facebook Messenger, SMS text, personal email, etc.) asking for money or personal financial information, don’t engage or respond. Please contact our Human Resources team at MyHR@principal.com or 1-866-524-6947, and your local law enforcement. For more information, review our <a href="https://www.principal.com/about-us/our-company/policies/current-fraud-alerts-scams" target="_blank">recruitment fraud</a> information. 

You can review our <a href="https://secure02.principal.com/publicvsupply/GetFile?fm=WW962-1&amp;ty=VOP&amp;_gl=1*18hfy2h*_ga*MzY5NjcxMTEzLjE2MjkzODA4MjA.*_ga_GP3ZP21MGH*MTY5NDAzODAyMi4xNC4xLjE2OTQwMzgwMzEuMC4wLjA." target="_blank">U.S. workforce privacy notice</a> (PDF).   

Insurance products and plan administrative services provided through Principal Life Insurance Company®, a member of the Principal Financial Group®, Des Moines, IA 50392.  

4468340-052025

Honoring the Experience of Military Community Employees

<img alt="&quot;Smarter Impact Communications. Power your message with data, insights and confidence.&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3e826661-b34a-4fc4-b955-29cc1b17b5a0" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/3bl-launches-focus-impact-comms-professionals_3BL_051525.png" width="640" class="align-center" height="980" loading="lazy" />3BL, a communications technology company helping organizations transform impact programs into a business advantage, today released <a href="https://go.3bl.com/l/37792/2025-05-14/5zc8wx" target="_blank">Focus</a>, an improved strategic intelligence platform designed to meet the evolving demands of today's high-pressure corporate communications.

Focus represents the latest milestone in 3BL’s commitment to helping organizations connect purpose and performance. By combining market analysis and industry expertise with cutting-edge distribution and analytics, the platform redefines how organizations engage with an increasingly discerning and data-savvy audience.

<blockquote>
We designed Focus by listening to our clients' needs for practical tools that deliver results you can actually measure. Focus represents a critical evolution of our platform, addressing the challenges our clients face daily. The enhanced research and analysis tools provide clearer market insights, while our distribution network ensures your story reaches the key decision-makers you care about. The new real-time analytics helps teams make smarter decisions with their resources and demonstrate tangible impact.

— Charlie Wilkie, CEO, 3BL
</blockquote>

 

A New Standard: Power your message with data, insight and confidence

Focus provides communications leaders with critical tools to balance impact goals while effectively managing their key audiences. Here’s how we work with our clients:

1. Understand the Market

Focus equips teams with insights, peer benchmarking, and strategic analysis to help define and sharpen messaging. By aligning communication strategies with evolving audience expectations and competitive trends, Focus enables brands to be recognized for their values and work.

2. Engage Target Audiences

Through 3BL’s proprietary distribution network—built and refined since 2009—Focus connects organizations with their key stakeholders. From business media and investors to employees and consumers, messages are tailored and targeted to achieve optimal resonance and reach.

3. Measure Your Results

With advanced analytics and performance dashboards, Focus tracks how messaging is landing in real time. Organizations can understand stakeholder sentiment, monitor positioning, and refine campaigns to drive measurable outcomes such as brand trust, awareness and influence.

4. Extend Your Team

Focus is more than a platform—it’s a service-backed solution. 3BL’s Client Success Team integrates seamlessly with internal teams to offer strategic guidance, custom reporting, and executional support, helping even the most resource-constrained teams operate with efficiency and confidence.

Impact communications have never been more important—or more difficult to get right. Get in touch to learn how Focus can help your team deliver smarter impact communications—visit <a href="https://go.3bl.com/l/37792/2025-05-14/5zc8wx" target="_blank">here</a> to explore the platform.

About 3BL

3BL transforms impact and sustainability initiatives into business advantages. Since 2009, we've helped 1,500+ organizations—from Fortune 500s to NGOs—connect purpose with performance. Our proprietary platform delivers targeted distribution, strategic insights, and measurable analytics, while our media division TriplePundit provides solutions-focused journalism and brand storytelling support.

3BL Launches Focus for Impact Comms Professionals

In 2024, Vancity initiated a values-led transformation focused on improving member service and restoring profitability, while staying true to its co-operative values. 
  
The year marked a strategic reset under new CEO Wellington Holbrook, reaffirming Vancity’s commitment to delivering modern, people-centered banking rooted in equity, inclusion, and climate action. Key initiatives included rolling out long-requested service upgrades and streamlining operations for greater efficiency. Despite economic headwinds, Vancity returned to profitability with $5.8 million in net income, and continued its community impact work—such as financing affordable housing and supporting climate-ready home retrofits and Indigenous entrepreneurs. 
  
Vancity’s 2024 <a href="https://www.vancity.com/SharedContent/documents/AnnualReportArchives/Vancity-2024-Annual-Report.pdf" target="_blank">Annual Report</a>, along with its Consolidated Financial Statements, Climate Report, Accountability Statements, and Sustainability Issuance Report, can be viewed here: <a href="https://www.vancity.com/AnnualReport" target="_blank">https://www.vancity.com/AnnualReport</a>. 
  
The <a href="https://www.vancity.com/SharedContent/documents/AnnualReportArchives/Vancity-2024-Climate-Report.pdf" target="_blank">Climate Report</a> outlines its strategic alignment with the Paris Agreement and UN Sustainable Development Goals, integrating climate action into its core strategy, risk management, and governance. The report highlights progress on emissions reductions. 
The <a href="https://www.vancity.com/SharedContent/documents/AnnualReportArchives/Vancity-2024-Accountability-Statements.pdf" target="_blank">Accountability Statements</a> outline Vancity’s approach to managing key material topics and provide detailed data, disclosures, and impact insights. 
The <a href="https://www.vancity.com/SharedContent/documents/AnnualReportArchives/Vancity-2024-Sustainability-Issuance-Report.pdf" target="_blank">Sustainability Issuance Report</a> outlines the purpose, use, and impact of funds raised through its Sustainable Bearer Deposit Notes program. The report details how proceeds were allocated to eligible green and social investments under Vancity’s Sustainability Issuance Framework. 
  
Report highlights include: 

<ul><li>$12.1B of Vancity’s $36.0B in assets and assets under administration were focused on both generating a profit and creating positive impact.</li>
	<li>71% of procurement spent locally</li>
	<li>Financed the construction or renovation of 1,924 units of affordable housing</li>
	<li>7,810 tonnes of avoided emissions from clean energy projects</li>
	<li>Financed 1,036,020 square feet of energy-efficient buildings </li>
</ul>Vancity’s annual reporting is designed to promote transparency and accountability by openly reporting on how its actions impact people, communities, and the environment. 2024 reporting follows the International Integrated Reporting Framework and GRI Standards, and incorporates elements from IFRS S1 and S2, and the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) standards. It is intended to meet the disclosure requirements of Vancity’s membership in the UN Principles for Responsible Banking and was also guided by the disclosure requirements of the Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA) and the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF). 
2024 reporting reflects Vancity’s dual focus on material financial risks and broader social and environmental impacts. It was shaped by ongoing member engagement and supported by external assurance of several key metrics. About Vancity 
Vancity is a values-based financial co-operative serving the needs of its 570,000 member-owners and their communities, with offices and more than 50 branches located in Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Victoria, Squamish and Alert Bay, within the territories of the Coast Salish and Kwakwaka'wakw people. With $36 billion in assets plus assets under administration, Vancity is one of Canada's largest credit unions. Vancity uses its assets to help improve the financial well-being of its members while at the same time helping to develop healthy communities that are socially, economically and environmentally sustainable. Media Contact: <a href="mailto:mediarelations@vancity.com" target="_blank">Media Relations</a> 
Phone: 778-837-0394

Vancity Restores Profitability and Stays True to Its Co-Operative Values

<figure role="group" class="align-center"><img alt="Aerial shot of KFC " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a7310079-de15-425f-9a5b-69e5a09f4b74" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Green-building_YumBrands_050625_1.jpeg" width="640" height="405" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>Image provided by Yum! Brands.</figcaption></figure><a href="https://www.yum.com/wps/portal/yumbrands/Yumbrands/news/!ut/p/z1/04_Sj9CPykssy0xPLMnMz0vMAfIjo8ziLQK9jTwM_A38LEKdTQ0CjQy9PX3czA0NQg31w8EKDHAARwP9KGL041EQhd_4cP0oVCv8LfzNDAKdnY09vALNjS0CzKAK8JhRkBsaYZDpqAgA7y4Qyw!!/?urile=wcm:oid:53005007-cf50-4037-84f1-4e0cd57da9e0" target="_blank">Yum! Brands</a>

May 13, 2025 /CSRwire/ - Yum! Brands has long prioritized the integration of sustainable practices into its development strategy. If it was simply good for the environment, it’d be a nice-to-have, but the parent company of KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Habit Burger &amp; Grill has identified both economical and eco-friendly ways to outfit its restaurants. In other words, Yum! believes that building green can help to save green.

Here's how the company does it.

In 2014, Yum! adopted sustainable development guidelines for its restaurants that have since influenced its brands’ current standards. These guidelines took inspiration from the <a href="https://www.usgbc.org/leed" target="_blank">Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program</a> and include aspects like strategically placed exhaust hoods and using appropriate lighting. But where they differ from LEED is that the Yum! guidelines leverage a scaled point system more specific to the quick-service restaurant industry with the goal of building more sustainable, energy efficient restaurants.
<img alt="Interior of Zamow" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="3f80bd33-f984-43e1-92a7-a1ad79f24959" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Green-Building_YumBrands_050625_2.png" width="640" class="align-center" height="803" loading="lazy" />“We meet our franchisees where they are, so they can build according to what makes the most sense for their budgets,” said Yum! Chief Sustainability Officer Jon Hixson. “Thankfully, most of the methods we’ve identified are both good for the environment and for business.”

Recently, the brands took these guidelines one step further, with KFC evolving its Building Green Standards through the introduction of its 11 must-haves and Pizza Hut developing its Green Hut Toolkit with its own set of requirements. These standards, built on the foundation of sustainability and resilience, are aimed at being a win-win that helps conserve resources while saving franchisees money.
<img alt="Exterior of Pizza Hut" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0a875d27-0dbd-4e38-883c-390301ba75d0" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Green-Building_YumBrands_050625_3.jpg" width="640" class="align-center" height="667" loading="lazy" />For Pizza Hut, optimized HVAC and exhaust hoods and efficiencies across equipment, refrigeration and lighting are all must-haves. A similar list applies to KFC’s set of standards. Habit Burger &amp; Grill, headquartered in California, is committed to ensuring that all U.S.-based restaurants meet or exceed the California Green Building Standards Code, the first-in-the-nation mandatory green building standards code.

Successful examples range from the obvious – LED lighting that led to emissions cuts of about 5% on average across the KFC restaurant portfolio in 2024 – to focusing on HVAC systems that enable a single Pizza Hut location to achieve around 30% in energy savings and prevent approximately 7 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

The brands also continue to evolve their standards. In 2023, KFC introduced its Green Line Furniture, which is developed and finished using recovered materials while maintaining performance and durability. In addition to the pieces of furniture being more sustainable, they also weigh significantly less, which means transportation of furniture to the restaurants generates fewer greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions – approximately 32% less!

Around the world, Energy Management Systems (EMS) are utilized by the brands to optimize operations and identify areas for further improvement. EMS provide monitoring and control services to maintain temperature and humidity in restaurants, as well as automatically adjust energy usage and identify issues or opportunities for optimization. In India, for example, EMS have been installed in 315 Pizza Hut and over 500 KFC restaurants resulting in approximately 7% savings on KFC’s electricity bill. Other brands and markets have seen similar results. Taco Bell U.S. also uses EMS to automatically control the temperatures in its HVAC and walk-in refrigerators in approximately 150 corporate locations in the highest energy use markets.
<img alt="Exterior of Taco Bell" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ba8f9956-29c7-43c1-9b5e-9672eb34b1ef" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Green-Building_YumBrands_050625_4.jpg" width="640" class="align-center" height="675" loading="lazy" />The company also takes a strategic approach to solar, analyzing the building footprint, cost of electricity and location’s access to the sun. KFC has solar panels on every continent that it operates, including one KFC in California, which operates its drive-thru entirely on solar power, saving its franchisee 20% off its energy costs.

These standards and additional efforts have helped Yum! earn external climate recognition from groups like CDP, a global organization that runs a leading sustainability disclosure system, as well as restaurants around the world becoming LEED-certified, including KFC in Thailand and Pizza Hut in Vietnam, and a KFC restaurant receiving Gold certification from India’s Green Building Council.

Because of this work, Yum! has made steady progress on its <a href="https://www.yum.com/wps/portal/yumbrands/Yumbrands/impact/planet/climate-action/" target="_blank">science-based climate targets</a>. At the end of 2023, the company achieved a 28% reduction of GHG emissions per franchisee restaurants compared to 2019, and Yum! continues to see cost savings through a range of technologies and programs.

“We’ve committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions per franchise restaurant by 46% by 2030, and we’re more than halfway to this target, thanks to our green building efforts,” Hixson said. “By saving our franchisees money and conserving energy, it’s a win for the company and our planet.”

The World’s Largest Restaurant Company Believes That Building Green Can Help Save Green

Starting a small business takes a vision and resources that not every entrepreneur has at their fingertips. As the foundation of our communities, small businesses often require a full suite of financial of solutions* to meet their needs. 

<img alt="A family enjoying an outside event" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="51d77518-01e2-4e12-9720-d3ed3f524a1a" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Events%20Toolkit.jpg" width="640" class="align-center" height="544" loading="lazy" />Ready to go green at your next event? Drawdown Georgia's free toolkit, <a href="https://info.drawdownga.org/sustainable-events-toolkit" rel="noopener" target="_blank">"How to Make Your Event More Sustainable in Georgia,"</a> provides everything you need to get started—from venue selection checklists to questions for caterers, from waste management strategies to recommendations for local sustainable vendors.

Check out the toolkit today and join Georgia's community of forward-thinking event professionals creating gatherings that not only bring people together but also protect our shared environment. Together, we're bringing climate solutions home--one event at a time.

The event planning community has an opportunity to lead by example. This toolkit provides a comprehensive list of Georgia-specific resources, from borrowing event supplies to specialized sustainable event production companies and vendors.

How To Make Your Event More Sustainable

<img alt="Gopher Tortoise" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="beddeb7c-e6fe-4918-99d9-8da68e32e5af" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Gopher-Tortoise_International-Paper_050925_1.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="1075" loading="lazy" />The best way to celebrate Gopher Tortoise Day is to ensure there are more gopher tortoises across their natural range in the southeast United States. Founded in 2013, the <a href="https://www.internationalpaper.com/resources/articles/forestland-stewards-partnership-improving-our-forests" target="_blank">Forestland Stewards Partnership</a> between the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and International Paper, funds a variety of forest and wildlife conservation projects across the southeast — including efforts to restore and conserve gopher tortoise populations and longleaf habitat.

Helping gopher tortoises to thrive isn't just good news for tortoises; it also means good news for hundreds of other species that depend in big and small ways on the tortoise in its role as a keystone species.

<blockquote>
They are called a ‘keystone species’ because more than 350 other animals — like owls, snakes, foxes, toads, skunks, and lizards — use gopher tortoise burrows to shelter from the heat, fires, and predators. 
- Kurt Buhlmann, Senior Research Associate, University of Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology Laboratory
</blockquote>

Gopher tortoises spend most of their lives in burrows that can be more than 20 feet long and eight feet deep.

Forestland Stewards Partnership grants are helping gopher tortoises and their habitat by supporting collaboration between <a href="https://longleafalliance.org/" target="_blank">The Longleaf Alliance</a>, the <a href="https://srel.uga.edu/" target="_blank">University of Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology Laboratory</a>, the <a href="https://www.dnr.sc.gov/" target="_blank">South Carolina Department of Natural Resources</a>, Eglin Air Force Base and many other partners. These organizations are helping to conserve gopher tortoises threatened by development by translocating, or moving, tortoises from planned development sites to protected habitat and augmenting and restoring gopher tortoise populations through a technique called “head-starting.”

In Florida, where relatively large numbers of adult tortoises remain compared to other states, partners have successfully translocated over 3,000 tortoises from planned development sites to Eglin Air Force Base and other sites, where restoration efforts have created suitable habitats in these protected properties.

In South Carolina, where adult tortoises are less abundant, about 350 eggs have been collected from wild populations to hatch in captivity. Hatchling tortoises are reared indoors for one year to achieve larger body sizes than would occur naturally and thus become more resistant to predation. This gives tortoises a greater chance to survive and eventually become subadults.
<img alt="Gopher Tortoise being picked up " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="66c02ccd-ab3d-4753-89d6-4a40c77c4d8f" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Gopher-Tortoise_International-Paper_050925_2.jpeg" width="640" class="align-center" height="854" loading="lazy" />Head-starting increases survival

“Hatchling tortoises have naturally low survival in the wild. Raccoons, coyotes, and other predators often eat tortoise eggs and hatchlings, and mortality rates can be as high as 95%,” says Lisa Lord, Conservation Programs Director at The Longleaf Alliance. “The head-started juveniles are about a year old — but the size of wild 3-to-4-year-olds — when released back into well-managed longleaf pine habitat. The juveniles are released in a 1.5-acre pen to minimize wandering, help establish fidelity to the site, and increase their chances of staying in the area when the pen walls are removed.”

Gopher tortoise habitat covers the coastal plain from South Carolina through Florida to southeastern Louisiana, mostly in longleaf pine savanna habitats. The gopher tortoise is federally listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in the western portion of its range (from Louisiana, east to the Mobile River in Alabama).

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), the agency responsible for assessing the potential listing of species as threatened or endangered under the ESA, issued a decision in October 2022 announcing that the eastern population of the gopher tortoise (east of the Mobile and Tombigbee rivers in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina) did not warrant federal listing as threatened. The Service cited the collective work of federal agencies, state agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and private landowners to restore, maintain, and protect longleaf pine habitat, conserve existing tortoise populations and head-starting efforts like the one in South Carolina as contributing to their decision.

<blockquote>
Hatchling tortoises have naturally low survival in the wild. Raccoons, coyotes, and other predators often eat tortoise eggs and hatchlings, and mortality rates can be as high as 95% 
- Lisa Lord, Conservation Programs Director at The Longleaf Alliance
</blockquote>

Private landowners help gopher tortoises by caring for longleaf pine habitats, including by using prescribed burning

Longleaf pine forests and savannas are fire-adapted, meaning they depend on periodic burning to thrive. They also make up one of North America’s most biodiverse forest ecosystems and are home to countless rare species, especially when they have open canopies and diverse ground cover. Longleaf pine once covered an estimated 90 million acres across the southeast but now covers only about 5.2 million acres. The diminished forest significantly contributes to the decline in gopher tortoise populations.

The decline in longleaf pine forests means the other critical piece supporting translocation and head-starting efforts is having enough restored longleaf habitat for the gopher tortoise to be released. More than 80% of potential tortoise habitat is privately owned, with the rest managed by local, state, federal, or conservation organizations.

“We have educational and cost-sharing programs to help landowners restore and conserve the longleaf pine ecosystem, which also helps gopher tortoises. A big focus is teaching landowners to use prescribed burning, which also maintains the ground cover that tortoises need to thrive,” Lord says.

The Longleaf Alliance’s <a href="https://longleafalliance.org/what-we-do/education-outreach/longleaf-academy-program/" target="_blank">Longleaf Academy Program</a> prepares private landowners and natural resource professionals to manage, restore, and enhance longleaf pine ecosystems through techniques like prescribed fire. The Academy Program includes <a href="https://longleafalliance.org/what-we-do/education-outreach/longleaf-academy-program/#fireandlongleaf201" target="_blank">Fire and Longleaf 201</a>, a three-day course that teaches people how to maintain their longleaf stands with fire.

Coming together for the gopher tortoise

Improving and sustaining gopher tortoise populations takes a multi-faceted approach — from restoring and maintaining longleaf habitat with prescribed fire to giving young tortoises a head-start in the wild. The efforts of partners like The Longleaf Alliance to rally public agencies, private organizations and landowners around this important work is critical to ensuring the gopher tortoise and the many other species that live in the longleaf pine ecosystem can thrive.

Learn more about our forest restoration and conservation efforts in our latest <a href="https://www.internationalpaper.com/reports" target="_blank">sustainability report</a>.

About International Paper  
International Paper (NYSE: IP; LSE: IPC) is the global leader in sustainable packaging solutions. With company headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, and EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) headquarters in London, UK, we employ more than 65,000 team members and serve customers around the world with operations in more than 30 countries. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Net sales for 2024 were $18.6 billion. In 2025, International Paper acquired DS Smith creating an industry leader focused on the attractive and growing North American and EMEA regions. Additional information can be found by visiting internationalpaper.com

The best way to celebrate Gopher Tortoise Day is to ensure there are more gopher tortoises across their natural range in the southeast United States. 

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