We’d be remiss if we didn’t thank our readers for your support during 2021. The editors and writers here at TriplePundit deeply appreciate your loyalty and we look forward to what hopefully will be a far less chaotic 2022 (but we’re prepared if that isn’t the case!). 

We’re powering down our laptops tomorrow, Friday December 24. We’ll also be slowing down our publishing schedule for the rest of the year but looking forward to continuing our coverage starting on January 3.

All of us here at 3p and 3BL Media wish you the happiest holiday season. Stay safe, stay healthy, and one more thing: Happy New Year, too!

In case you missed it, we’ve got a list of the stories during 2021 that meant the most to our fine group of writers.

<h2>After the IPCC Report: Why Communications Absolutely Matter</h2>

“The comms around climate change was so hyperbolic this year, but it's worth remembering that the way we communicate affects how and whether people, governments, and companies take action.” – 3p’s <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/-ipcc-report-communications/726881" target="_blank">Kate Zerrenner</a>.

<h2>Ownership Over the Female Body No More: How Women Athletes Are Taking a Stand</h2>

This August story discusses several important topics currently in the headlines: Women's autonomy over their own bodies, mental health awareness, and justice for the abuse survivors in USA Gymnastics, says <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/women-athletes-bodies/726381" target="_blank">Megan Amrich</a>.

<h2>Reconnecting America’s Racialized Roads? Infrastructure Bill Doesn’t Pack Enough Punch, But It’s a Start.</h2>

As the Biden administration's trillion-dollar infrastructure bill welcomes levels of spending on highways not seen since the Eisenhower-era Federal-Aid Highway Act, cities are clamoring to not only repair their crumbling roads, but also right the wrongs the paving left behind – read more from <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/-infrastructure-bill-start/728081" target="_blank">Grant Whittington</a>.

<h2>A Job Is Not Enough: How To (Really) Support Our Troops</h2>

Week after week, long-time senior writer <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/veterans-spouses-hiring/731566" target="_blank">Tina Casey</a> brings a valuable perspective to 3p, as in “I hadn’t thought about it that way.” In this story, Tina talks about why companies need to do more than hire veterans: It’s also important to ensure they can succeed in the private sector as they acclimate to civilian life.

<h2>As the Battle Over U.S. Immigration Reform Heats Up, Business Stays Largely Silent</h2>

With real immigration reform on the table for the first time in decades, the fight heated up from the halls of Congress to the streets of the largest U.S. cities. The business community, however, had stayed largely silent. And why was that? More from 3p’s senior editor <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/business-immigration-reform/729296" target="_blank">Mary Mazzoni</a>.

<h2>Ew, David! Schitt’s Creek Offers Companies A Cautionary Tale on Diversity</h2>

Addressing diversity in an honest way was among the final lessons that the popular comedy Schitt’s Creek offers us. As the show continued to generate more buzz and awards — even after it was long known it had filmed its final season — criticism also mounted, and the show’s creator responded and <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/ew-david-schitts-creek-diversity/718416" target="_top">took on that feedback head-on</a>.

<h2>After the Texas Winter Storm, a Clarion Call for Investing in Energy Efficiency</h2>

As <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/texas-winter-storm-energy-efficiency/719061" target="_blank">Kate Zerrenner writes</a>, what happened in Texas last winter was so intensely personal. And so deeply frustrating that in the end, the crisis was avoidable.

<h2>Bronx Highway May Get Capped: Here’s Why It Matters</h2>

In many places around the U.S., highways that thrashed through cities, particularly in communities of color, are being transformed into parks and boulevards that reconnect communities, spur investment and depollute the air. <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/bronx-highway-capped/733561" target="_blank">Grant Whittington shines light</a> on what is going on in the South Bronx.

<h2>‘Isn’t It Bad to Cut Down Trees?’ and Other Burning Questions About Sustainable Forestry</h2>

​<a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/forests-sustainable-forestry-101/719676" target="_blank">From Roya Sabri</a>: To so many, sustainable forestry means keeping forests untouched. Brad Kahn with the Forest Stewardship Council clarifies why that's not always the best approach: Since most forests in the U.S. are privately owned, those owners need to be gaining value from their land. Otherwise, he says, they may not "have an incentive to keep those forests as forests."

Image credit: <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/Mu_9w7l1koI" target="_blank">Aaron Burden</a> via Unsplash

We’re Closing In on 2022: Holiday Greetings from the Writers and Editors at TriplePundit!

Despite extensive in-person contact with customers, only half of U.S. employees working in the service industry were vaccinated for COVID-19 as of June 2021. Numerous factors have contributed to these low rates, including the lack of any paid time off for getting the shot or vaccine side effects, transportation to clinics and concern over the side effects of the virus. 

The <a href="https://shift.hks.harvard.edu/half-of-service-sector-workers-are-not-yet-vaccinated-for-covid-19-what-gets-in-the-way/" target="_blank">Shift Project</a> set out to determine what barriers prevented service sector workers from getting vaccinated and interviewed nearly 9,000 employees from large firms from March through May 2021. 

<h2>Lack of paid time off</h2>

Many service sector employees do not receive paid time off or any form of sick leave. Thus, employees without this benefit could experience financial hardship if they needed to take time off due to side effects from the vaccine. In fact, 50 percent of service workers who participated in the Shift Project’s research said they were unable to make the appointment. And, many have physically demanding jobs that are difficult to complete when feeling ill.

Of all the respondents, 54 percent said they had paid sick leave, and vaccination rates were 15 percent higher in this subset.

<h2>Employers offering support have employees with higher COVID-19 vaccination rates</h2>

Many <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/03/24/business/covid-vaccine-incentives-companies/index.html" target="_blank">employers offered incentives or support</a> to workers to remove barriers to getting inoculated. For example, Trader Joe’s, Krogers, and American Airlines are among companies that offered small bonuses to employees. Other corporations, including Aldi, Olive Garden and McDonald’s offered paid time off for getting the vaccine. Target even gave employees free rides to vaccination clinics. 

However, such incentives were far from universal, and many employers offered none at all. Of the respondents to the survey, only 41 percent said their employers offered an incentive or support. For companies that offered the vaccine, 68 percent of employees were vaccinated compared to 39 percent with no employer support. 

It’s clear that smaller gestures, such as a bonus or a few hours off, can <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/business-covid-19-vaccine/718616" target="_blank">motivate employees</a> to take the time they need to get inoculated. “Corporate action – or lack thereof – can make a significant difference, especially as it relates to issues of race and COVID-19 vaccine access,” TriplePundit’s Tina Casey said earlier this year.

<h2>Vaccination rates vary by age and race</h2>

The Shift Project survey examined several factors, including race and age. Not surprisingly, vaccination rates were nearly twice as high in employees over 70 compared to respondents ages 18 to 19. These findings follow a national trend where seniors are more concerned about the health impacts of the virus and are considered to be at a higher risk of severe infection.

Likewise, the study found that vaccination rates vary by race. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders were the most likely to be vaccinated, at over 60 percent, followed by Whites at 47 percent, Hispanics at 46 percent, Blacks at 42 percent and Indigenous citizens below 30 percent.

The exact concerns vary by race, ethnicity and even location. For example, <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/12/20/1065722958/nevada-health-officials-reach-out-to-spanish-speakers-about-covid-vaccinations">undocumented workers</a> might be concerned about deportation, and <a href="https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/stephaniemlee/coronavirus-vaccine-id-undocumented">ID requirements</a> could have a disproportionate impact across various demographics. Some Black citizens might distrust the medical community due to past injustices and <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/history/40-years-human-experimentation-america-tuskegee-study" target="_blank">deceitful practices in the medical field</a> - among them the The Tuskegee Study.

<h2>Businesses still face risks from the pandemic</h2>

For many companies, it’s in their best interests for employees to get vaccinated because it could reduce absenteeism; to that end, <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/vaccine-mandates-employee-engagement/729861" target="_blank">some corporations are starting to require them</a>. Cognizant of <a href="https://www.willistowerswatson.com/en-US/Insights/2021/08/infographic-employers-expect-challenges-in-attracting-and-retaining-talent-to-continue-through-2022" target="_blank">tight labor market</a>, more companies with a wide range of sectors are implementing such mandates, such as <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/03/business/vaccine-mandate-employees-microsoft.html" target="_blank">Microsoft and Tyson</a>. In addition, some companies, such as <a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-mcdonalds-mandate-covid-19-vaccine-20210811-iyy6jale2ng2dgenlz7ig3na6m-story.html" target="_blank">McDonald’s and Walmart</a>, will require inoculation for office workers but not frontline employees. 

Such policies are counterintuitive when considering that many service industry workers come in regular contact with the public, as well as workers employed at <a href="https://hbr.org/2021/09/should-your-company-implement-a-vaccine-mandate" target="_blank">restaurants and bars</a>. “Employees are most likely to accept vaccination mandates when there is strong evidence that they will protect the most vulnerable or have other clear business or public health benefits,” concluded the Harvard Business Review earlier this year.

Finally, employers must remember that they are responsible for ensuring worker safety. The science is out there, as Casey <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/omicron-frontline-workers/732251" target="_blank">reminded us earlier this month</a>. “Almost two years into the pandemic, the physical risk of COVID-19 transmission in retail stores and other indoor spaces is well understood,” she wrote.

But it’s not only companies that should step up to protect all workers. “Along with voluntary employer action, universal federal policies – such as paid time off to encourage vaccinations – have the potential to protect some of the country’s most vulnerable workers and the public’s health,” concluded the Shift Project’s researchers.

Co-written with <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/editor/141/leon-kaye" target="_blank">Leon Kaye</a>

Image credit: <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/ikAImpIfYj8" target="_blank">Melanie Lim</a> via Unsplash

Why Are Half of All U.S. Service Sector Workers Still Unvaccinated for COVID-19?

The industry consortium Fashion for Good launched last year with the goal of bringing innovative, disruptive solutions for recycling rayon and other synthetic cellulosic fibers to the global textile market. Now the group has broadened its reach to include polyester. In both cases, they are aiming high. Rather than downcycling recovered fibers, Fashion for Good is aiming to increase fabric recycling and send such fibers back into the apparel manufacturing stream.

<h2>Chipping away at a mountain of fabric waste, with chemistry</h2>

Based in Denmark, <a href="https://fashionforgood.com/" target="_blank">Fashion for Good</a> is a soup-to-nuts partnership founded with a singular purpose: to deploy innovative new chemical recycling processes in the fashion industry.

Conventional fabric recycling typically involves mechanical or heat-based processes, such as shredding or melting. The resulting fibers are often of lesser quality, which limits the scope of <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2018/blockchain-and-ocean-plastic-pollution-fight-perfect-together/55506/" target="_blank">the market for recycled material</a>.

For example, until recently plastic bottles could not be recycled into new plastic bottles. The market for recycled paper was similarly limited.

New advances in recycling technology have expanded <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/paper-recyclers-plastic-bans/729936" target="_blank">the market for recycled paper</a> and plastics. That includes new <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2020/beyond-ocean-plastic-recycling-tackles-polyurethane-foam-problem/88981" target="_blank">chemistry-based processes</a> that break down plastic waste into <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2020/its-end-recycling-we-know-it/120391" target="_blank">elemental building blocks</a>, which can be reassembled into new materials that perform as well as — or even better than — the source materials.

Textile-to-textile fabric recycling would certainly disrupt the fashion industry as we know it today. When Fashion For Good started its “Full Circle Textiles Project - Scaling Innovations in Cellulosic Recycling” program last year, the organization stated that up to 73 percent of clothing globally ends up in the trash, and <a href="https://fashionforgood.com/our_news/a-new-frontier-in-chemical-recycling/" target="_blank">less than 1 percent of recycled fiber</a> makes its way back into fabric for the fashion industry.

<h2>Polyester fiber targeted for recycling</h2>

Those figures probably haven’t budged much since last year, but Fashion for Good’s collaborative, team-based strategy demonstrated enough progress on cellulosic fiber recycling to form the basis for a second team, focusing on polyester.

“<a href="https://fashionforgood.com/our_news/full-circle-textiles-project-focuses-on-scaling-polyester-recycling/" target="_blank">The Full Circle Textiles Project – Polyester</a> brings together a consortium of stakeholders including brands, innovators, supply chain partners and catalytic funders – a structure that has proven successful in driving and scaling disruptive innovation in the industry,” explains Fashion for Good.

The polyester team includes the catalytic funder Laudes Foundation, along with Adidas, Bestseller, C&amp;A, PVH Corp., Target and Zalando. Also affiliated with the team are Arvind Limited, the Fabrics Division of W. L. Gore &amp; Associates and Teijin Frontier. 

On the chemistry side, the firms Cure Technology, Garbo, Gr3n and Perpetual are among the recycling innovators selected to apply chemical processes to post-consumer textile waste.

“The project aims to validate the technologies and the scaling potential; prompting further implementation/offtake agreements to drive chemical recycling in the industry and mobilize more funding into the technology,” Fashion for Good explains.

<h2>This is not your parents’ fabric recycling</h2>

The Fashion for Good polyester team already has a running start. Cure Technology, for example, has a pilot plant up and running. Its chemical-based process can <a href="https://curetechnology.com/" target="_blank">recycle other plastics</a> in addition to polyester textiles, including PET bottles, films, and carpets.

The diversified firm Garbo has formed extensive industry contacts since its roots in 1997 within the field of materials recovery for the semiconductor industry. Among its current collaborations is the Reciplast initiative aimed at <a href="https://www.reciplast.it/project/" target="_blank">plastics used in the packaging and auto industries</a>.

Garbo states that its “ChemPET” process is “able to treat <a href="https://garbo.it/en/chempet/" target="_blank">most of the PET-based waste</a> that is currently not recoverable.” The process yields a building block called BHET (bis-hydroxy-ethylene-terephthalate). Once purified, BHET can be used in place of virgin petrochemical inputs.

The firm Gr3n demonstrates a similar level of <a href="https://gr3n-recycling.com/technology.html" target="_blank">cutting edge-technology</a>. Its energy-efficient process takes place in microwave-assisted reactors.

“We can obtain terephthalic acid (TPA) and monoethylene glycol (MEG) starting from bottles and textile in less than 10 minutes and working at less than 200°C,” the company notes.

<h2>More bad news for oil and gas stakeholders</h2>

Rounding out the innovation team is Perpetual, which emphasizes that its <a href="https://www.perpetual-global.com/manufacturing/#technology" target="_blank">chemical “deconstruction” process</a> yields a drop-in replacement for virgin petrochemicals.

“…the filtered ester stream is ready to be reformed into long repetitive chains (i.e. polyester) using the same equipment and comparable process conditions as would be used for conventional petrochemicals; except, in this case, the source material is used post-consumer bottles and not environmentally harmful new crude oil petrochemical derivatives,” Perpetual explains.

That emphasis on drop-in replacement should be a warning sign for those hoping to keep demand for oil, natural gas, and coal humming along.

Fossil energy stakeholders are depending on increasing demand for plastic and other <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2020/petrochemicals-plastics-pact/121311" target="_blank">petrochemicals</a> to stay afloat in future years, now that both the power generation and the transportation markets have begun to show signs that <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/ev-hydrogen-fuel-cells/732111" target="_blank">rapid decarbonization</a> is immanent. However, plastics are no longer a sure thing.

The trend towards reducing fossil energy and petrochemical dependency already shows signs of accelerating in the <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/floating-offshore-wind-power/727246" target="_blank">power generation</a> and <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/ev-hydrogen-fuel-cells/732111" target="_blank">transportation markets</a>. 

With partnerships like Fashion for Good, the fabric recycling movement is poised to disrupt the global textile market as well.

Image credit: <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/n29rGnbTid4" target="_blank">Divazus Fabric Store</a> via Unsplash

Fashion for Good Expands Fabric Recycling Initiative

Coal still holds a tight grip on the economy of West Virginia, as reflected in the personal <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/joe-manchins-deep-corporate-ties" target="_blank">business interests</a> of U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, and Governor Jim Justice, too. Nevertheless, policy makers are beginning to nudge the state in a more diverse economic direction. In addition, the still-powerful United Mine Workers of America is beginning to show signs that it is adapting to the green energy economy of the future.

<h2>Coal and the West Virginia economy</h2>

The coal economy has defined West Virginia throughout modern history, with mixed economic results. On a statewide basis, coal has been West Virginia’s leading export for generations. On a local basis, though, studies have shown that higher levels of <a href="https://cleantechnica.com/2009/07/12/new-study-lifts-the-curtain-on-clean-coal/" target="_blank">poverty, poor health, and economic malaise</a> bedevil communities that <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/storyline/wp/2014/08/27/coal-and-the-resource-curse/" target="_blank">depend on coal jobs</a> throughout West Virginia and the Appalachian region.

Senator Manchin’s opposition to the Build Back Better climate action bill has further underscored West Virginia’s dependence on the coal industry, even as the global economy transitions out of coal. In effect, he has pulled the rug out from under the state’s Department of Economic Development, which is seeking to attract new businesses to West Virginia by promoting the growing diversity of its economy.

To assist in that effort, the agency has established a business recruitment website that <a href="https://westvirginia.gov/thriving-industries/" target="_blank">highlights “thriving industries.</a>"

“West Virginia’s diverse economy has moved beyond our history of resource extraction to include a robust array of products and services,” the agency explains. They list aerospace, food and agriculture, automotive, building products, defense, metals, manufacturing, information technology, fulfillment warehouses and industries related to lumber and wood products as leading opportunities for businesses seeking a foothold in West Virginia.

<h2>Moving beyond coal — or not</h2>

The agency also includes “energy production” among the diverse opportunities, and that’s where things get complicated.

On a web page detailing what they mean by “energy production,” the agency notes that West Virginia is still among the <a href="https://westvirginia.gov/industries/energy/" target="_blank">biggest producers of fossil energy in the U.S.</a>, coming in at second for coal and seventh for natural gas. That is a fact, but it undercuts the messaging for most of the other business areas they seek to attract.

For example, the information technology industry has been <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2018/switch-drives-179-mw-solar-nevada-data-center/13851" target="_blank">shifting toward renewable energy</a> for years. Even the hard-to-decarbonize manufacturing sector is <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/gm-renewable-energy/729286" target="_blank">seeking more renewable energy</a>, with General Motors being a leading example.

As global industries accelerate their decarbonization plans, the emphasis on fossil energy production also undercuts West Virginia’s messaging about diversity in its exports.

A recent article by the state’s Department of Commerce suggests that West Virginia is attempting to position itself globally as something more than a coal and gas producing state.

“Plastics, chemicals, automotive, metals, aerospace, and hardwoods combined for more than <a href="https://commerce.wv.gov/export-report-shows-consistent-growth-and-diversification-of-west-virginia-economy/" target="_blank">$3 billion in exports</a>  from West Virginia” the Commerce Department wrote. “Notably, products and parts for the aerospace industry reported export growth at 17.8 percent over the previous year.”

The article also cited Governor Justice, who also emphasized diversity.

“To see our exports growing at almost double the national rate is truly incredible,” he said. “Not only is it great news for our manufacturers who have made a home here in West Virginia and have seen their businesses grow because of it, but it is also wonderful to know that West Virginia’s products are making an impact all over the world and that everyone gets to see just how good we really are.”

If Governor Justice means good at using coal, that’s not going to be a selling point for global industry stakeholders who are looking to clean up their supply chains. As of 2020 coal power plants still accounted for <a href="https://www.eia.gov/state/print.php?sid=WV" target="_blank">almost 90 percent of electricity generation</a> in West Virginia, leaving little wiggle room to attract new businesses in search of a clean power profile.

<h2>More green jobs for West Virginia, if Senator Manchin allows it</h2>

Signs of real change in West Virginia’s energy profile are slim, but they are happening. The “Thriving Industries” web page, for example, notes that a 2019 shift in state law will enable large scale solar development in West Virginia for the first time. That includes the potential for locating solar arrays on abandoned coal sites, possibly with an assist from foundations like Michael Bloomberg’s <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2017/bloomberg-pledges-3-million-coal-country-transition-low-carbon-economy/17621" target="_blank">Just Transition Fund</a>.

For real change to come about, though, a change in state leadership may be necessary, and that will require a massive shift in voter sentiment.

One sign of change came about last April, when the iconic United Mine Workers of America labor union expressed <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/umwa-coal-hydrogen-economy/721706" target="_blank">support for the Build Back Better bill</a>.

To be clear, UMWA advocated for the creation of new green jobs for unemployed coal workers and their communities, but not necessarily at the expense of existing fossil energy jobs. For example, the union voiced support for new job opportunities in the fields of <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2020/carbon-capture-gives-way-carbon-recycling/86336" target="_blank">carbon capture</a> and <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/hydrogen-economy-future/730836" target="_blank">fossil-sourced hydrogen</a>, though these two areas are not the clean energy solutions endorsed by most climate advocates.

The union shifted its tone dramatically earlier this week, after Senator Manchin appeared on a national television show to announce that he will not cast the deciding vote to pass Build Back Better in the Senate.

Manchin’s announcement provoked a firestorm of criticism, not the least from UMWA.

In a public statement dated December 20, UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts noted that the energy marketplace is changing, and he detailed <a href="https://umwa.org/news-media/press/umwa-statement-on-build-back-better-legislation/" target="_blank">how Build Back Better supports</a> the union’s previously published Principles for Energy Transition.

Specifically, Roberts noted that Build Back Better includes provisions that support economic diversification in West Virginia, such as re-purposing coal sites for manufacturing and other uses.

Roberts began the statement with a polite nod towards Manchin’s effort in the areas of pension and health care, but that was just the buildup for the real points he wanted to make. 

Noting that Build Back Better would provide penalties for employers that deny the right to unionize, Roberts said, “This language is critical to any long-term ability to restore the right to organize in America in the face of ramped-up union-busting by employers…now there is no path forward for millions of workers to exercise their rights at work.”

“For those and other reasons, we are disappointed that the bill will not pass,” Robert continued. We urge Senator Manchin to revisit his opposition to this legislation and work with his colleagues to pass something that will help keep coal miners working, and have a meaningful impact on our members, their families, and their communities.”

Roberts was not done yet. He went on to issue a sharp warning on voting rights.

“I also want to reiterate our support for the passage of voting rights legislation as soon as possible, and strongly encourage Senator Manchin and every other Senator to be prepared to do whatever it takes to accomplish that. Anti-democracy legislators and their allies are working every day to roll back the right to vote in America,” he said.

“Failure by the Senate to stand up to that is unacceptable and a dereliction of their duty to the Constitution,” Roberts concluded.

It remains to be seen if Roberts’s sentiments are reflected in the next statewide elections. However, if Manchin ever enjoyed a reputation as a friend of the ordinary citizen, he shredded it by failing to endorse Build Back Better.

Image credit: <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/5pZjJhmkoBU" target="_blank">Walter Martin</a> via Unsplash

Despite Joe Manchin, West Virginia is Poised to Move Beyond Coal — Eventually

Despite opposition from fossil fuel companies, <a href="https://www.courthousenews.com/nyc-passes-bill-banning-gas-hookups-in-new-buildings/" target="_blank">New York City</a> has become the largest municipality to enact a natural gas ban that applies to both heating buildings and gas hookups for appliances. This landmark climate change legislation is intended to help transition the city to cleaner sources of energy. The natural gas ban will take effect in December 2023 for buildings under seven stories and in 2027 for buildings greater than seven stories. 

<h2>Why a natural gas ban?</h2>

The city’s mayor, Bill de Blasio, <a href="https://www1.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/852-21/mayor-de-blasio-signs-landmark-bill-ban-combustion-fossil-fuels-new-buildings" target="_blank">applauded the ban</a> as he signed it into law. “New York City is proof that it’s possible to end the era of fossil fuels, invest in a sustainable future, protect public health, and create good-paying jobs in the process,” he said. “If the largest city in America can take this critical step to ban gas use, any city can do the same!”

The city joins 56 other towns and cities to prohibit new homes and offices from using <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2012/natural-gas-pros-cons/81896" target="_blank">natural gas</a> to mitigate fossil fuel consumption at the local level. As the largest city in the United States, this legislation sets a precedent: Instead of using natural gas furnaces, water heaters, and ranges, buildings are to use electric appliances, such as energy-efficient heat pumps, induction stoves, and hybrid water heaters.

<h2>Isn’t natural gas a clean fuel?</h2>

Although the energy industry has tried to tout natural gas as a clean fuel, studies show that it isn’t. Although burning it does release fewer emissions compared to coal, <a href="https://www.technologyreview.com/2011/04/15/195732/just-how-green-is-natural-gas/" target="_blank">the drilling and fracking process make its impact on the climate even worse</a>, according to researchers at Cornell University. <a href="https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/natural-gas/natural-gas-and-the-environment.php" target="_blank">Natural gas is primarily methane</a>, a highly potent greenhouse gas. Thus, <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2015/make-three-black-eyes-natural-gas-fracking/33046" target="_blank">fracking</a>, drilling, and gas leaks can result in significant methane emissions.

“We do not have time to continue to burn fossil fuels,” said Brad Lander, an outgoing council member and the next New York City comptroller. “We have a lot of work to do to make sure that we convert our energy grid to solar and wind and renewables so that the energy power that is powering our buildings is clean and renewable as well and I look forward to fighting hard to continue that in the Comptroller’s office.”

<h2>Is the electricity in New York from clean sources? </h2>

Currently, much of the <a href="https://www.eia.gov/state/analysis.php?sid=NY" target="_blank">power generated in New York state</a> is derived from natural gas, which fuels five of the ten largest power plants. In 2020, about 30 percent of the state’s power came from renewable energy, with hydroelectricity producing the lion’s share. 

Yet, the use of solar and wind energy capacity is growing dramatically, thanks in part due to<a href="https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/ny/PutEnergyToWork/Energy-Program-and-Incentives/Renewable-Technology-Programs-and-Incentives" target="_blank"> state incentives and policies</a>, including a state tax credit for solar energy. In 2020, 2.5 percent of in-state power production came from solar energy, and the state ranked fifth in the nation for small-scale solar. 

The goal of the city’s natural gas ban is to reduce the infrastructure that requires fossil fuels as the city increases its use of cleaner electricity over time. It also helps take the burden off of individuals by making systemic changes across the city’s infrastructure.

“Climate justice is racial justice, so let’s keep putting people first,” said NYC council member <a href="https://council.nyc.gov/district-41/" target="_blank">Alicka Ampry-Samuel</a>, who sponsored the bill. “The responsibility has always been on individuals: multi-use water bottles, shorter showers, home recycling; this council also prohibited single-use straws, plastic bags, and reduced the usage of plastic flatware. We have literally made personal environmental responsibility a letter of the law, but buildings are responsible for nearly half of the greenhouse emissions that are destroying our Earth every day.”

Image credit: <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/xzUA5stMyaA" target="_blank">Ivan Karpov</a> via Unsplash

NYC’s Natural Gas Ban Is Now Law: What That Means for Clean Energy

The Black Lives Matter Global Network is again promoting Black Xmas which, as <a href="https://blackxmas.org/" target="_blank">more of a movement</a> and less of a holiday, is centered around three pillars: Build Black, Buy Black and Bank Black. 

Much of the <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/black-lives-matter-blm-holds-christmas-boycott-white-companies-1655747" target="_blank">chatter in the press</a> covering Black Xmas sums up its organizers as calling for a “boycott” of “white companies,” but these stories are obfuscating the real message of this movement. Never mind the fact that the movement’s website doesn’t mention a boycott at all, at least one politician has called <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hawley-blm-sponsors-anti-american" target="_blank">ties to the movement</a> “anti-American.” Facts left out of these articles include the reality that as many as <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/black-owned-busineses-close-thousands-coronavirus-pandemic/" target="_blank">40 percent</a> of Black-owned businesses closed for good during the pandemic as federal relief efforts often <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/black-citizens-covid-19-relief/720941" target="_blank">failed to help</a> this community.

The movement takes aim at “<a href="https://blacklivesmatter.com/?__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=0JIdzhAlNv6dYkbKkTaBFjLjM0XzybJfo4IUE7uFRZs-1640094240-0-gaNycGzNCL0" target="_blank">white-supremacist-capitalism</a>.” For those who may be triggered by the term, take a step back and consider what’s happened to the manufacturing base in cities across the U.S., the financial industry’s contribution to the <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2020/black-families-intergenerational-wealth-gap/707026" target="_blank">intergenerational wealth gap</a>, and the treatment of frontline and essential workers <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/omicron-frontline-workers/732251" target="_blank">during the pandemic</a>. Meanwhile, many Black business owners felt alone in solving the challenges piling on their businesses, but were still determined to <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/black-business-owners-social-change/727041" target="_blank">do what they could to contribute</a> to their local communities.

Bottom line: More than an outright call for avoiding “white” companies, the #BlackXmas call is more focused on learning about Black-owned businesses in communities within the Los Angeles region and beyond. And in the end, the celebration is about giving back to the community. Considering Americans’ penchant to <a href="https://fortune.com/2021/06/15/americans-gave-a-record-471-billion-to-charity-in-2020-pandemic/" target="_blank">donating to good causes</a>, the message behind Black Xmas is about as red-blooded American as it can get.

Prominently displayed among the resources on the Black Xmas website are <a href="https://blackxmas.org/blackxmas-cards/" target="_blank">cards</a> that users can download and then pass on to loved ones urging them to contribute money to a cause instead of buying a gift. Also available are cards that can inform friends and family that instead of a gift, a donation was made in their honor instead.

“This is about building strong Black communities so that we can have a degree of autonomy and self-determination,” said Melina Abdulla, one of the founders of Black Xmas, <a href="https://www.yesmagazine.org/social-justice/2021/11/26/black-lives-matter-la-holiday-shopping-give-back" target="_blank">during a recent interview</a>. “When we think also about what Black-owned businesses do for the Black community, they — more than any other type of business — also create livable-wage jobs for other Black people.”

Image credits via Black Xmas <a href="https://blackxmas.org/blackxmas-cards/" target="_blank">website</a>

Giving: The Big Takeaway from Black Xmas

“Local Meals on Wheels programs never cease to amaze me,” Ellie Hollander, president and CEO of the nonprofit Meals on Wheels America, told TriplePundit in a recent interview. “Every one of them has gone above and beyond consistently for probably 20 months now.” 

Since the pandemic began in March 2020, Meals on Wheels programs around the country have been feeding <a href="https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/learn-more/research/covid-19-research-portfolio" target="_blank">hundreds of thousands more seniors</a>. At the peak in summer 2020, programs were delivering twice as many meals compared to pre-pandemic times. By July of 2021, programs were still serving an average of 57 percent more home-delivered meals each week. With all that COVID-19 has put us through as a society at large, the eldest among us may have a harder time <a href="https://abc3340.com/news/local/senior-care-expert-offer-ways-to-help-elderly-bounce-back-after-covid-19-isolation" target="_blank">bouncing back</a>, Hollander explains, and an estimated <a href="https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/docs/default-source/fact-sheets/2021/2021-national/2021covid19factsheet_final.pdf?sfvrsn=cf1bb13b_2" target="_blank">80 percent</a> of programs say the new clients they’ve found are here to stay.

That’s a lot to take in, especially as the <a href="https://acl.gov/aging-and-disability-in-america/data-and-research/projected-future-growth-older-population" target="_blank">population of Americans 65 and older</a> continues to rise, and the vast majority of Meals on Wheels programs say they doubt they are meeting all the <a href="https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/docs/default-source/covid-19/make-good-go-further/make-good-go-further_final-report.pdf?sfvrsn=a7d0b73b_4" target="_blank">needs of their communities</a>, even though the programs are already financially strapped. The pandemic has shined a light on the growing epidemic of isolation and hunger in seniors, Hollander said, and Meals on Wheels programs are showing how a simple meal can create ripple effects across these seniors’ lives. 

<h2>Providing for seniors’ increased needs during the pandemic</h2>

Nearly all Meals on Wheels programs <a href="https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/docs/default-source/covid-19/research/covid-19-member-impact-report_executive-summary_final.pdf?sfvrsn=89fb13b_2" target="_blank">reworked their services</a> at the outset of the pandemic. Yes, they had to suspend group dining, but they also put together grab-and-go drive-through sites nearly overnight. Recognizing the broader impact Meals on Wheels has on seniors, many programs also supplemented their meal delivery with friendly phone call check-ins, Zoom gatherings, driveway visits, card writing, and other ways to ensure seniors in their communities knew they weren’t alone and that someone was thinking about them.

One volunteer in Saint Paul, Minnesota, told the <a href="https://www.wilder.org/courageous-stories/meals-wheels-rolls-covid-19-changes-continue-serving-older-adults-and-adults" target="_blank">Amherst H. Wilder Foundation</a>: “Obviously it feels more remote, but I’m really excited that we can still meet the needs of the people in the community. At a time like this we have to remember that we’re human and we have to take care of each other.”

<h2>How is a meal more than a meal for solitary seniors?</h2>

Despite the name, Meals on Wheels gives more than food. There’s more going on than meets the eye, Hollander said, adding that for so many seniors, the individual who delivers their meals is the only person they see during the week. Knowing this, staff and volunteers go above and beyond to be the eyes and ears in a home, making sure to notice if something needs special attention. 

When she asks a client about the impact they feel from Meals on Wheels, Hollander said they often say the meal is important, but the socialization, companionship and check-ins mean just as much. 

In Scarborough, Maine, for example, client Edith hadn't seen family or friends in months amidst COVID-19 lockdowns, but her Meals on Wheels volunteer, Candy, <a href="https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/docs/default-source/covid-19/make-good-go-further/make-good-go-further_final-report.pdf?sfvrsn=a7d0b73b_4" target="_blank">has dropped by regularly for the last eight years</a>. One day last year, Edith had a fall and couldn't pick herself up or reach a phone. Candy knew something was wrong when Edith didn't come to the door and immediately called 911. Edith was rushed to a hospital and nursed to health, filled with gratitude that Candy was there in her time of need. 

Beyond the wellness checks, <a href="https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/docs/default-source/fact-sheets/2020/2020-national/mowa_2020factsheet_deliver.pdf?sfvrsn=4da8b53b_2" target="_blank">90 percent</a> of clients say Meals on Wheels helps them continue living independently. From an economic perspective, helping seniors continue living happily and healthily on their own saves on unnecessary spending. Meals on Wheels calculates that serving a senior meals for a year costs about as much as one day in a hospital or 10 days in a nursing home. The economic burden of <a href="https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/docs/default-source/fact-sheets/2020/2020-national/mowa_2020factsheet_issue.pdf?sfvrsn=75a8b53b_2" target="_blank">senior malnutrition</a> adds up to $51 billion, and Medicare expenditures associated with social isolation in seniors cost almost $7 billion a year. 

"We need to continue to meet homebound seniors where they are,” Hollander said. “And when you give a little bit or a lot to Meals on Wheels, you're actually supporting local programs that brighten these dark days for America’s seniors. This holiday season and all year round, we want to ensure that no senior is hungry and alone, and we need everyone's help to do that."
<figure role="group"><img alt="Subaru donates vehicles to Meals on Wheels" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="88f2bf99-5248-4ae1-b57b-fff271d74ae6" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Subaru%20Meals%20on%20Wheels.jpg" width="1500" height="1000" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>On its 50th anniversary, Subaru of America donated 50 Outback SUVs to Meals on Wheels for use as delivery vehicles. </figcaption></figure><h2>Meeting seniors where they are during the holiday season</h2>

The holidays can be <a href="https://www.ncoa.org/article/four-steps-to-combat-loneliness-in-seniors-during-the-holiday-and-beyond" target="_blank">particularly difficult</a> for seniors living alone. During times of high need like these chilly months of winter, longstanding partnerships can lighten a nonprofit’s load. It’s up to each company to decide how they will contribute, but some Meals on Wheels partners provide useful examples. <a href="https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/take-action/donate/corporate-giving/our-partners/the-home-depot-foundation" target="_blank">The Home Depot Foundation</a>, for example, funds home repairs and modifications for veterans and their families, fixing safety hazards, installing wheelchair ramps, and doing critical repairs. The foundation has donated more than $11 million since 2015, alongside volunteer hours.

Subaru of America has included Meals on Wheels as one of the four featured national charities in its annual <a href="https://www.subaru.com/share-the-love.html" target="_blank">Share the Love Event</a> for the past 14 years. During the event, which is still active through the start of 2022, Subaru donates $250 to a customer’s chosen charity for every new vehicle purchase or lease. Over the years, the automaker’s donations have helped deliver <a href="https://www.mealsonwheelsamerica.org/take-action/donate/corporate-giving/share-the-love" target="_blank">over 2.5 million meals</a>. Separate from the Subaru Share the Love Event, on its 50th anniversary, Subaru of America donated 50 Outback SUVs to the nonprofit, recognizing the need for more wheels to deliver more meals, Hollander said. And this year, some Meals on Wheels programs have partnered with local Subaru retailers to create emergency blizzard kits and shelf-stable meals and deliver them in borrowed vehicles.

“I believe, and I've worked for many companies that would agree, that companies that do good and give back, frankly, do well,” Hollander told us. Companies that want to make a difference can donate, volunteer or advocate, she said. With three-quarters of Meals on Wheels programs worrying they’ll lose financial support but maintain the same load of clients after the pandemic, now is the time for businesses to reach out to their local programs as they continue to help those most in need. 

This article series is sponsored by Subaru and produced by the TriplePundit editorial team. 

Images courtesy of Meals on Wheels America

More Than Just a Meal: Solving the Hidden Epidemic of Senior Hunger with Meals on Wheels

Despite one COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer’s <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/12/17/moderna-vaccine-patent-dispute-nih/" target="_blank">recent announcement</a> that it would suspend its fight with the U.S. government over its mRNA patent dispute, we’re still facing this reality: There’s little hope of stopping the spread of the coronavirus if poorer countries cannot access vaccines safely and cost-effectively, as we can see less than one month after South African scientists first identified the Omicron variant.

To that end, <a href="https://accessibsa.org/about/" target="_blank">AccessIBSA</a>, a project spanning three continents that seeks to expand both access to pharmaceuticals and accelerate the discovery of new drugs in developing countries, has issued a <a href="https://accessibsa.org/about/" target="_blank">list</a> of what it says are 100-plus companies in Africa, Asia and Latin America that can develop mRNA vaccines.

Here’s your quick mRNA primer: These vaccines are possible due to the development of technology that allows a molecule called messenger RNA (ribonucleic acid) to trigger an immune response. Such vaccines transmit these mRNA molecules to immune cells, which then gives the human body the ability to identify, respond and then neutralize the related virus. Such vaccine technology is what allowed for the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines.

But one disadvantage of mRNA vaccines is that many of them require ultra-cold storage after they are manufactured, thereby creating a major challenge in vaccinating citizens of development countries with vaccines that are manufactured elsewhere. Nevertheless, research and development efforts are underway to develop vaccines that don’t require extremely cold temperatures for storage, and some of the current COVID-19 vaccines — including the one Moderna now manufactures — <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/11/17/935563377/why-does-pfizers-covid-19-vaccine-need-to-be-kept-colder-than-antarctica" target="_blank">can be stored</a> in conventional freezers.  

Therein lies another problem: Supporters of the sharing and transfer of mRNA vaccine technology say that such action must be taken now (well actually, yesterday), especially when considering the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. 

“One year after multiple effective vaccines against COVID-19 were brought to market, we have failed to vaccinate the world,” wrote the authors of the AccessIBSA report earlier this month. “The distribution of vaccines remains highly unequal. In Portugal, a high-income country, 87 percent of the population has been fully vaccinated; in Nigeria, the largest country on the African continent, the corresponding figure is less than 2 percent.”

The organization added that, to date, about 74 percent of all COVID-19 vaccines distributed worldwide went to high- and middle-income nations. Meanwhile, less than 1 percent of them made their way to low-income countries, and that latter figure is rounded up, as the World Health Organization (WHO) has suggested the number is <a href="https://www.who.int/director-general/speeches/detail/who-director-general-s-opening-remarks-at-the-special-session-of-the-world-health-assembly---29-november-2021" target="_blank">0.6 percent</a>. Add the surge in demand for booster shots in wealthier nations, and the Omicron variant poses an even more dire risk for citizens of poorer countries.

To that end, organizations including <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/12/15/us-should-transfer-technology-covid-19-vaccines" target="_blank">Human Rights Watch</a> have <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/12/15/experts-identify-100-plus-firms-make-covid-19-mrna-vaccines" target="_blank">urged</a> the U.S. and German governments to take steps to allow the transfer of vaccine technology to the 120 companies identified in the AccessIBSA report. The bulk of them are in India and China; others are located in Argentina, Bangladesh, Brazil, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia and Vietnam.

Even before the Omicron variant provoked a new wave of travel restrictions and mandates, the WHO estimated that booster shots were occurring at a rate six times that of first vaccine doses in low-income nations.

Despite promises of delivering vaccines across the globe along with some interest by U.S. leaders to do whatever is possible to inoculate the world, the Omicron variant is proof that such steps are not moving fast enough, say many organizations.

“The development of variants depends on the extent of the spread of the virus. The more people who get COVID-19, the more opportunity the virus has to mutate,” said <a href="https://cepr.net/yes-folks-omicron-can-be-blamed-on-patent-monopolies/" target="_blank">Dean Baker</a> of the Center of Economic and Policy Research earlier this month. “If we had really engaged in an all-out effort to get the world vaccinated, it is likely the vast majority of the world’s population could have been vaccinated by the summer.”

Hence the argument that the sharing of technology, not the sharing of manufactured vaccines, is what needs to be done.

At its conclusion, the AccessIBSA report makes this point: “If a company in Spain such as Rovi, that produces sterile injectables, with no experience making either biologic drugs or vaccines, can make Moderna’s vaccine, then there is no reason why a company with a similar profile based in Morocco, South Africa, Brazil, India or Bangladesh, cannot do the same — should it receive a full technology transfer from Moderna, as Rovi did.”

Image credit: <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/8thMgrYrjLc">Gani Nurhakim</a> via Unsplash

Omicron Variant Underscores Push to Share mRNA Technology Worldwide

South Bronx residents may soon be able to breathe again. Nearly six decades after the first drivers entered the Cross Bronx Expressway, the city has received $2 million in funding to devise a plan to “cap” the highway with green spaces, pedestrian walkways and air filtration systems. The study should kick into motion federal funding of upwards of $1 billion with the hopes to depollute an area in South Bronx dubiously dubbed <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/apr/04/new-york-south-bronx-minorities-pollution-inequity" target="_blank">“Asthma Alley.”</a>

The Cross Bronx Expressway is likely to meet the same fate as its fellow dilapidating highways across the country: it’s getting capped. Capping consists of building parks and other structures on top of the thoroughfares to push these roads underground, transforming pollutant-generating, <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/-infrastructure-bill-start/728081" target="_blank">neighborhood-splitting highways</a> into green spaces that reduce noise and reconnect communities. Major U.S. cities like Philadelphia, Denver and Dallas have jumped on this trend, capping or lidding their highways with <a href="https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2018/04/more-cities-are-banishing-highways-underground-and-building-parks-on-top" target="_blank">“deck parks.”</a>

<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/nov/30/plan-transform-cross-bronx-expressway-green-space" target="_blank">The study</a> of the Cross Bronx Expressway is the first step in addressing the marred legacy of the New York highway. Though the construction of the Cross Bronx Expressway pre-dated the highway building frenzy that followed the passing of the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, it shared many of the troubling development patterns that haunt many communities of color still today. Highly populated communities of color were forced from their homes and flattened to pave way for highway construction. Bustling boulevards ripe with shops, music halls, and restaurants that served as the center of Black culture were converted into highways that separated the community. 

Robert Moses, the chief architect and designer of Cross Bronx Expressway (along with many other roads, bridges, parks and pools in New York City), has been heavily criticized for the damage he left behind in many of his development projects. In the Pulitzer-prize winning book <a href="https://www.robertcaro.com/the-books/the-power-broker/" target="_blank">“The Power Broker,”</a> author Robert Caro uses nearly all of his book’s more than 1,200 pages to tarnish Moses’ legacy as a master builder. 

One of the 1974 biography’s most memorable chapters is titled <a href="https://eportfolios.macaulay.cuny.edu/annb/files/2012/01/The-Power-Broker-Chapter-37-One-Mile.pdf" target="_blank">“One Mile,”</a> and tells the story of Moses’ determination, at any human or financial cost, to build one mile of road on the Cross Bronx Expressway that led to the forced relocation of 1,530 families (figures which are likely to be underestimated). While Caro says the other six miles that make up the Cross Bronx Expressway were designed more or less with “logic,” the sudden bulge that Moses proposes for the one-mile stretch is inexplicable. An alternative option that cuts just south would have required tearing down just six small tenement homes housing 19 families wasn’t given a second thought. 

Despite the protests and cries from the community, Moses got his way: The Cross Bronx Expressway was to run right through the bustling East Tremont, requiring the demolition of 159 buildings, including 54 apartment complexes and 91 or 92 family homes. 

“Neighborhood feelings, urban planning considerations, cost, aesthetics, common humanity, common sense - none of these mattered in laying out the routes of New York’s great roads,” Caro wrote. “The only consideration that mattered was Robert Moses’ will.”

Even those who defend Moses’ legacy as a tactful builder of many New York projects may struggle to defend the route he devised for the Cross Bronx Expressway. Along with displacing more than 1,500 poor families for the construction of one mile of road, the highway, seen by many residents as “America’s Parking Lot,”  is among the most congested and dangerous in the United States. The lasting health effects of the highway may be the worst of all - Bronx residents have one of the <a href="https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/research/columbia-center-childrens-environmental-health/asthma" target="_blank">highest death and disease rates of asthma</a> in the country.

Capping the Cross Bronx Expressway won’t be cheap. Similar projects typically run a price tag in the tens, if not hundreds, of millions, and the New York highway may exceed that given its congestion. But creating deck parks can also yield generous economic returns. Dallas’ Klyde Warren Park, which sits atop Woodall Rogers Freeway, cost $110 million to construct in 2012 but has generated $312.7 million in economic benefits, according to one <a href="https://www.cnu.org/sites/default/files/Spokane%20Case%20Study%204%20-%20Dallas.pdf" target="_blank">impact study</a>. Beyond the financial impact, 90.9 percent of park visitors said the 5.2-acre park improved their quality of life. It’s no surprise then that the city <a href="https://www.klydewarrenpark.org/about-the-park/phase-2.html" target="_blank">approved plans to expand the park</a> an additional 1.7 acres to relocate a popular dog park, enhance a children’s playground and build “an iconic water fountain” which will draw crowds for nightly light shows.

Just three hours south, in Austin, Texas, residents and advocacy groups are <a href="https://www.cnu.org/highways-boulevards/freeways-without-futures/2021#35Austin" target="_blank">pleading with the Texas Department of Transportation</a> to meet I-35’s challenges with anything other than highway expansion. TxDOT has remained steadfast that the only solution for improving the city’s most dangerous road for pedestrians is to use $4.9 billion to build up to 20 additional lanes. Advocacy groups, well armed with data and case studies proving the ineffectiveness of highway expansion, are lobbying hard to cap the highway instead, pointing to their fellow Texans in Dallas as inspiration.

Bronx residents hope projects like Klyde Warren Park in Dallas can be replicated in their backyard. As the <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/11/15/1055841358/biden-signs-1t-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill-into-law" target="_blank">$1 trillion infrastructure bill</a> welcomes levels of spending on highways not seen since the Eisenhower-era Federal-Aid Highway Act, cities are clamoring to not only repair their crumbling roads, but also right the wrongs the paving left behind.

While reversing Moses’ <a href="https://pages.vassar.edu/realarchaeology/2019/11/10/the-cross-bronx-expressway-and-the-ruination-of-the-bronx/" target="_blank">lasting and visible legacy</a> won’t happen overnight, rethinking the Cross Bronx Expressway is a first step in hiding the road that US representative Ritchie Torres called “a structure of environmental racism.” 

Image credit: <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/U7_eLkxpmpk" target="_blank">Matthew LeJune</a> via Unsplash

Bronx Highway May Get Capped: Here’s Why It Matters

New energy storage technologies are on the horizon, promising to solve the largest barrier to renewable energy — short term variability and seasonal imbalance, aka the need for power when the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining. Long-term energy storage would ideally store and deliver days’ — or even weeks’ — worth of electricity, rather than just a few hours. For example, storing solar power from August’s sunny days until the overcast tinge of January. But full commercialization of these long-duration technologies is years away, even as the need for energy storage continues to grow rapidly.

Even a few hours of stored electricity can make a significant difference in terms of grid resilience and other bottom-line benefits. Before long-term storage is made widely available, facility managers can — and should — take advantage of energy storage in the form of rechargeable batteries available today.

<h2>The growing need for energy storage</h2>

Climate change, <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/solar-energy-us-2035/728246" target="_blank">renewable energy</a>, and the <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2020/coalition-electric-vehicles/120836" target="_blank">electrification movement</a> are the intertwined drivers behind the surging interest in battery energy storage systems (BESS). 

Wind and solar power help resolve the climate crisis by replacing fossil energy with zero-emission electricity, but these resources are, by nature, intrinsically variable. BESS can smooth out the gaps between this newly variable supply and traditional variable demand.

Much of the media conversation around BESS has focused on once-upon-a-time startups like the electric vehicle leader Tesla Motors and dozens of other emerging startups among the many technologies. In reality, automakers — including Tesla — have been relying heavily on legacy engineering and technology leaders to supply lithium-ion batteries and related electrification infrastructure.

Global consulting, engineering and construction firm Black &amp; Veatch was very much involved in the initial build-out of Tesla’s Supercharger vehicle <a href="https://www.bv.com/projects/partnering-tesla-construct-largest-contiguous-electric-vehicle-charging-system-world?utm_medium=partner&amp;utm_source=association&amp;utm_campaign=decarbonization&amp;utm_content=triplepundit" target="_blank">charging station network</a>. The partnership,  launched in 2014, provided Black &amp; Veatch with an opportunity to demonstrate its ability to scale up deployment of large-scale battery energy storage systems.

Black &amp; Veatch has also been applying its expertise in BESS to the fields of distributed generation and microgrids. Microgrids are designed to supply electricity to a limited area, such as small communities, military facilities, academic campuses and corporate parks. They incorporate energy storage to deliver power when wind or solar are insufficient or not available.

<h2>Battery energy storage is filling the gaps</h2>

Frank Jakob, technology manager for energy storage at Black &amp; Veatch, notes that a dramatic, ongoing drop in the cost of lithium-ion batteries has made energy storage a mainstream, bottom-line option for facility managers. The same economics driving batteries for electric vehicles is enabling stationary energy storage for electricity. 

Jakob says lithium-ion energy storage passed the cost threshold back in 2015. “Today, it’s now an economical substitute for grid power, for single-cycle gas turbines, and for demand-response elements such as reducing peak load,” he told TriplePundit. “You no longer have to pull down your peak load — you can use a battery to sustain operations.”

Part of the force behind the drop in cost is the scale-up of the battery supply chain, for which automakers can take much of the credit. Currently, the auto industry accounts for about 90 percent of the market for lithium-ion battery cells. 

<h2>Taking battery energy storage to the next level</h2>

Despite a vigorous conversation around introducing more BESS into the grid, energy storage in the power sector currently accounts for only 5 percent of the battery cell market, with the remaining 5 percent taken up by forklifts and mobile electronic gear.

Leslie Ponder, technology portfolio director for global distributed energy at Black &amp; Veatch, notes that market forces can make the case for utilities to adopt more BESS. Energy storage helps utilities add more wind and solar generation to the grid without sacrificing power quality or reliability. Some utilities are also turning to microgrids with BESS as a means of isolating and maintaining critical loads during periods of high fire hazard as long-distance overhead distribution power lines are deenergized to reduce fire risk.

Still, market incentives can vary from one region to another, depending on the cost of energy, Ponder noted. Businesses can use BESS to reduce their costs during peak demand periods. Under a scenario in which energy costs are relatively high, an investment in BESS can yield significant benefits.

BESS can also yield significant benefits in areas where energy costs are relatively low. Energy storage can provide resiliency from grid outages. It can also enable energy users to mitigate capacity hurdles that restrict how much power they can draw from the grid at certain times. Additional usage for electric vehicle charging, for example, can be a key issue for fleet managers seeking to <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/fleet-electrification-us-postal-service/722706" target="_blank">electrify their vehicles</a> or provide <a href="https://cleancities.energy.gov/technical-assistance/workplace-charging/" target="_blank">workplace charging</a> for their employees. That consideration applies to <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/electric-fire-truck/725266" target="_blank">government fleets</a>, those of other institutions, as well as commercial fleets.

<h2>Beyond market forces</h2>

Overall, the rising cost of natural gas has motivated utilities and energy users to take a closer look at BESS. Even before the current gas price spike, utilities were beginning to develop renewable energy paired with BESS to reduce or eliminate the need to build new gas power plants. Customer sited rooftop solar systems and on-site wind turbines are also becoming commonplace. Meanwhile, the installed cost of wind and solar continues to drop, along with BESS.

A number of different state-based energy policies provide utilities in some areas incentive to move more aggressively toward BESS, Ponder said. “There are different markets in the U.S., different areas of the country, with mandates or incentives that cause battery energy storage solutions to be considered for work as well as being constructed,” she explained. “For example, California and New York require utilities to look at BESS or other non-wire alternatives as options to solve grid problems. States also have incentives around resiliency and reliability needs that are driving the increase in battery energy storage.”

Also helping to drive the market is last year’s rule change by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which enables owners of BES systems and other distributed energy resources to aggregate and <a href="https://www.ferc.gov/news-events/news/ferc-opens-wholesale-markets-distributed-resources-landmark-action-breaks-down" target="_blank">compete in wholesale electricity markets</a>. 

<h2>Beyond lithium-ion storage</h2>

From a facility manager point of view, the case for BESS is strong. On-site energy storage provides for more control over the power supply and enhances the ability to electrify operations. It can also provide facility managers with opportunities to explore new revenue streams for these new technologies and become energy sellers as well as consumers.

As a means of reducing reliance on fossil energy, BESS can also relieve corporations from the policy uncertainty and regulatory stress involved in fossil energy infrastructure, including the controversial area of <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2020/new-black-eye-keystone-xl-pipeline-covid-19/87136" target="_blank">oil and gas pipeline construction</a>.

In past years, safety concerns may have caused some hesitation around lithium-ion-based BESS. However, technology improvements in recent years have mitigated this issue. Black &amp; Veatch currently recommends the lithium iron phosphate formula, for example, which is considered even more safe than other lithium-ion batteries.

Jakob also points out that system improvements, such as cooling plates, enable BESS systems to operate more efficiently at an optimal temperature, while new predictive sensors and other monitoring equipment enable operators to spot and fix potential problems before there is any impact on the system.

Lithium-ion-based BESS systems still cost more upfront than lead-acid batteries. However, they can easily make up the difference over time because they last about 10 times longer.

Still, the increase in climate-related disasters and the urgent need for additional resiliency are driving interest in technology that can outperform BESS on duration.

Black &amp; Veatch has been tracking the development of long-duration energy storage systems, based on a variety of different technologies. Some are based on new chemistries that can last 10 hours or more, such as flow batteries. Others are based on gravity, temperature, or pressure.

When long-duration technology does hit the market, developers may still need to convince corporate and facility energy planners of their value. Jakob notes that under current conditions, most electricity users do not “value the 10th hour of storage any more than the first hour,” and resign themselves to the current state of lithium-ion-based BESS.

Energy planners will have many more opportunities to adopt new storage systems in the coming years, considering the Joe Biden administration’s focus on clean technology.

The new bipartisan infrastructure bill is already signed into law, along with provisions for <a href="https://www.aip.org/fyi/2021/new-infrastructure-law-provide-billions-energy-technology-projects" target="_blank">significant new investments</a> in energy storage and renewable energy technology. The companion bill, Build Back Better, has already passed the House of Representatives. If it squeaks through the Senate, it will also help accelerate the clean energy transition in the U.S.

Energy users who plan ahead for BESS and other new energy storage opportunities will be all the more prepared to harden their operations against the impacts of climate change, including price spikes and other power system disruptions.

This article series is sponsored by Black &amp; Veatch and produced by the TriplePundit editorial team. 

Image courtesy of Sandia Labs via <a href="https://flickr.com/photos/sandialabs/51729854373/in/photolist">Flickr</a>

Why Battery Energy Storage Is the Solution Everyone Needs … For Now

Maybe it isn’t fair to kick them to the ‘urb when they’re down, but then again, maybe Urban Meyer shouldn’t have kicked his team’s kicker, which earlier in the week led to one of the most vivid late-night firings since President Nixon’s “Saturday Night Massacre” in October 1973. In case you’ve had zero screen time of late, one of 2021’s bigger stories in sports is how Meyer, now the former head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, became an unfortunate gift that kept on giving since the Jaguars made a splash in hiring him 11 months ago.

Speaking of Urban Meyer moments, the world of environmental and social sustainability had its own fair share of face-palming incidents during 2021. This list is by no means an exhaustive list, but the following are some of the more head-scratching moments over the past year.

<h2>As the UN says eat less meat, COP26 rolls out a meat-heavy menu</h2>

While the organizers of COP26 touted a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/23/cop26-menu-plant-based-dishes-scottish-food" target="_blank">largely plant-based menu</a> with the vast majority of food sourced locally in Scotland, some critics were less than impressed. One attendee noted that <a href="https://www.bigissue.com/news/environment/cop26-haggis-the-most-unsustainable-dish-at-glasgow-climate-conference/" target="_blank">almost 60 percent</a> of the menu items available during the annual climate talks were made with animal products. “This is the equivalent of serving cigarettes at a lung cancer conference,” sniffed another COP26 attendee <a href="https://twitter.com/Joelscotthalkes/status/1455828102509117442?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1455828102509117442%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Finsideclimatenews.org%2Fnews%2F06112021%2Fwarming-trends-cop26-food-greta-thunberg-vanessa-nakate%2F">on Twitter</a>. Considering the United Nations itself <a href="https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/whats-your-burger-more-you-think" target="_blank">has said</a> that “if cows were a nation, they would be the world’s third largest greenhouse gas emitter,” such an oversight is at the very least awkward.

The <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/11/12/1055030272/fossil-fuel-cop26-climate-change-glasgow" target="_blank">heavy presence</a> of the global fossil fuels sector, the amount of <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/oliverwilliams1/2021/11/05/118-private-jets-take-leaders-to-cop26-climate-summit-burning-over-1000-tons-of-co2/" target="_blank">private jet travel</a> that took leaders to Scotland and accusations of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/11/cop26-police-tactics-creating-atmosphere-of-fear-protesters-say" target="_blank">heavy-handed police tactics</a> taken toward activists also contributed to the poor optics in Glasgow. 

<h2>John Kerry reminds us why he wasn’t elected president</h2>

While we’re on the topic of COP26, former presidential candidate and secretary of state John Kerry, and currently the Biden administration’s climate envoy, did a fine job reminding us why the latest round of climate talks was weak tea. Call it death by platitudes.

In a Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/11/03/glasgow-summit-climate-change-john-kerry/" target="_blank">op-ed</a>, he opened up rather awkwardly by claiming the Glasgow event “has already achieved success” while saying that “time is running short.”

It gets worse. Kerry commends the Indian government for its commitment to renewables (but doesn’t mention its ongoing commitment to coal); lauds Saudi Arabia and Russia for their net-zero goals (need we say more?); and continues by reminding us that “We have seen remarkable progress in just a matter of months, but we must all accelerate our efforts.”

As just about every character on Schitt’s Creek said during that show’s six-year run, “I don’t know what that means.”

<h2>Insisting on having its own grid led to a winter mess in Texas</h2>

The February blackout that struck much of Texas evoked gasps of surprise across the U.S., but TriplePundit writer and Austin resident Kate Zerrenner reminded us we should have seen it coming. “The state leadership has resolutely refused to admit that climate change is already wreaking havoc on the state, from droughts to floods, hurricanes to the latest Texas winter storm,” <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/texas-winter-storm-energy-efficiency/719061" target="_blank">Zerrenner wrote</a> on February 26. “They claim they could not have predicted a storm of this magnitude. They also didn’t think Hurricane Harvey would wreak such havoc.”

Naturally, Lone Star State politicians blamed renewables for causing the deep freeze, but the state’s own grid operator said <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2021/04/28/texas-power-outage-wind/" target="_blank">lost natural gas power generation</a> was the largest culprit.

<h2>California’s governor undercuts wildfire prevention issues</h2>

Among the reasons why the effort to recall California Governor Gavin Newsom failed so spectacularly back in September was that it came across as a crass power grab; the Golden State’s absurd recall laws allowing someone like Caitlyn Jenner to run didn’t help much, either. But while Newsom’s opponents harped on pandemic restrictions and the governor’s ill-timed visit to the hoity-toity French Laundry, they overlooked one of the governor’s decisions that didn’t bode so well during yet another horrid season of wildfires.

In June, <a href="https://www.capradio.org/articles/2021/06/23/newsom-misled-the-public-about-wildfire-prevention-efforts-ahead-of-worst-fire-season-on-record/" target="_blank">journalists revealed</a> that not only had Newsom overstated the level of wildfire prevention projects accomplished across California, he also cut $150 million from the state’s wildfire prevention budget. A surprise budget surplus in California’s budget this year spurred the governor to boost spending on wildfire prevention. Granted, climate change, manifested in drought, has been the big underlying factor in California’s wildfires. Nevertheless, try explaining the sudden boost in fire prevention as good news to residents who in recent years have lost just about everything to the fires, including their homes.

<h2>Canada’s PM just can’t quit the tar sands</h2>

It’s not Justin Trudeau’s fault that he reminds many people of that smarmy high school classmate who was captain of the football team, lacrosse team, tennis team, golf team, debate team, Junior UN, Junior OAS, glee club, LGBTQ-straight alliance club, Diner’s Club, future global leaders who sport a tattoo club, and student representative to the PTA – all while (or after?) his mother was partying with the Rolling Stones. He also, unfortunately, reminds us of that annoying colleague or neighbor who harps constantly about their life-changing, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/canadian-pm-trudeau-mocked-for-political-fashion-blunders-in-india-2018-2" target="_blank">and wardrobe-changing</a>, trip to India and how they saw the light and found inner peace and fulfillment. 

But it is Trudeau’s fault that when it comes to the environment, he’s trying to have it both ways: <a href="https://pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2021/11/01/prime-minister-trudeau-announces-enhanced-and-ambitious-climate" target="_blank">positioning himself</a> as a global climate action champion while supporting Canada’s controversial tar sands industry. “Since 2015, Trudeau’s position has been to try meeting Paris Agreement goals while also pumping billions of dollars in corporate welfare to the oil and gas industry,” <a href="https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/05/24/green-canada-trudeau-oil-gas-keystone-xl-energy-sector/">Taylor C. Noakes</a> wrote for Foreign Policy.

<h2>Whatever happened to honoring the legacy of George Floyd?</h2>

Pivoting to social sustainability: Remember all those corporate pledges we heard about in the weeks after the murder of George Floyd last year? It turns out a lot of those financial commitments have fallen short, or even worse, have been outright forgotten. In fact, a Washington Post <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/interactive/2021/george-floyd-corporate-america-racial-justice/?itid=sf_business#black-banks" target="_blank">analysis</a> of the financial promises that 50 of America’s largest companies made to Black America last summer shows that those once-bold pledges have so far <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/commitments-black-america/727391" target="_blank">led to questionable impact</a>. 

The fact that many companies have been silent as voting suppression legislation keeps unfolding in statehouses across the U.S. also sows more doubt about whether companies are as committed to social justice as their comms departments makes them out to be. Bottom line, “these pledges ring hollow as state legislatures overturn decades of progress on voting rights, with a ripple effect on women and LGBTQ persons as well as Blacks and other people of color,” 3p’s Tina Casey <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2021/companies-george-floyd-pledges/723241" target="_blank">wrote back in August</a>.

<h2>And, why you should never, ever fire people using Zoom</h2>

We don’t pile on here at 3p – there are enough news and gossip sites that already do that and do it well. But as for that CEO who <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2021/12/10/22827834/better-com-ceo-vishal-garg-fired-900-people-zoom-time-off" target="_blank">fired 900 people</a> via a Zoom meeting earlier this month: What’s up with that? Well, <a href="https://www.inc.com/jason-aten/the-ceo-who-fired-900-employees-on-a-zoom-call-is-out-its-a-tragic-example-of-how-not-to-manage-people.html" target="_blank">karma bit him back</a> and chomped quite hard, but if there is a Razzie award for corporate leadership, this would be the “winner,” big time.

Image credit: <a href="https://pixabay.com/photos/boy-facepalm-child-youth-666803/" target="_blank">Anita S.</a> via Pixabay

Seven Urban Meyer Moments in Sustainability That Marked 2021

Whether you're wishing your loved ones good tidings in person or from afar, we've got you covered with our sustainable holiday gift guide. From zero-waste options to gifts that give back, check off your list with these choices that are big on cheer but light on impact. 

<h2>For the most sustainable holiday gift, start by shopping local and buying used </h2>

As we say each year, it's hard to find a more sustainable holiday gift than something that already exists and might otherwise go to waste. Fortunately for waste-free shoppers around the world, a host of top brands are diving into re-commerce and making it easier than ever to shop secondhand without sacrificing style. Check out <a href="https://www.rei.com/used" target="_blank">REI</a> and <a href="https://wornwear.patagonia.com" target="_blank">Patagonia</a> for outdoor gear or brands like <a href="https://www.thenorthfacerenewed.com/" target="_blank">The North Face</a> and <a href="https://www.eileenfisherrenew.com/" target="_blank">Eileen Fisher</a> for clothing and outerwear worthy of a second life. <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2019/buy-used-secondhand-gifts/85901" target="_blank">Check out more of our favorite re-commerce shops here</a>. 

If you can't buy used, buy local. Most small businesses are still struggling amidst the pandemic, and your support can help them stick around. Even if you're still avoiding in-person shopping, sources like Google Maps and Yelp make it a breeze to find nearby mom-and-pops with online shopping options. To support Black-owned businesses, which have been particularly hard hit, directories like <a href="https://webuyblack.com/" target="_blank">We Buy Black</a>, <a href="https://officialblackwallstreet.com/directory/" target="_blank">Official Black Wall Street</a> and <a href="https://www.eatokra.com/" target="_blank">EatOkra</a> can help guide your way. And don't forget restaurants! Purchasing gift certificates can help your favorite eateries and bars weather the storm and remain part of your community. 
<figure role="group"><img alt="National Parks Wall Calendar - Sustainable Gift" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2de72acd-4818-441a-ab63-b073c9a381c2" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/National%20Parks%20Wall%20Calendar%20-%20Sustainable%20Gift.png" width="1000" height="1157" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>(Image courtesy of Parks Project) </figcaption></figure><h2>U.S. National Parks wall calendar from Parks Project</h2>

Gift the nature-lovers and art aficionados on your list with this practical and sustainable holiday gift that gives back. Sales of this eye-catching calendar, made from certified sustainable paper and featuring art from Wyatt Hersey of Chico, California, go to support the <a href="https://www.npca.org" target="_blank">National Parks Conservation Association</a>. Parks Project also sells <a href="https://www.parksproject.us/collections/top-holiday-gifts" target="_blank">a bunch of other cool</a> sustainable holiday gift options like puzzles, scented candles and outdoor gear featuring the work of up-and-coming artists and benefiting various organizations that work to protect public lands. 

<a href="https://www.parksproject.us/products/our-national-parks-2022-wall-calendar" target="_blank">Price: $25</a>

 
<figure role="group"><img alt="Sustainable Wood iPhone Charging Dock - Sustainable Gifts" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="7afc3555-51d0-40ce-a79d-8fa676d57890" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Sustainable%20Wood%20iPhone%20Charging%20Dock%20-%20Sustainable%20Gifts.png" width="1018" height="1074" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>(Image courtesy of Oakywood) </figcaption></figure> 

<h2>Handcrafted charging dock from Oakywood </h2>

These smart charging docks for iPhones, Apple watches and Android devices are handmade from <a href="https://oakywood.shop/pages/our-materials" target="_blank">responsibly sourced wood</a>, and this Polish brand <a href="https://oakywood.shop/pages/tree-planting" target="_blank">plants a tree for every purchase</a> in partnership with One Tree Planted. It also sells handcrafted laptop sleeves, cases for phones and AirPods, and sleek work-from-home desks that are sure to make your favorite techie smile. 

<a href="https://oakywood.shop/collections/charging-docks" target="_blank">Price: Starting at $49</a>
<figure role="group"><img alt="recycled plastic cutting board - sustainable gift" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6c9c0fa3-e186-4ba3-b0e1-698688ca025e" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/recycled%20plastic%20cutting%20board%20-%20sustainable%20gifts.png" width="1423" height="1442" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>(Image courtesy of Material Kitchen)</figcaption></figure><h2>Recycled and renewable cutting board from Material Kitchen</h2>

Boost up your favorite foodie's sustainability chops with this cult favorite cutting board from Material Kitchen. With a modern minimal design made from recycled plastic and renewable sugarcane, the reBoard became a fast social media favorite — and it's easy to see why.

New York City-based Material regularly gives back to hunger relief organizations, and this year 50 percent of the profits from two reBoard colors (a peachy nude called To Pó-Po with Love and a rich green called Reimagine Justice) will support two awesome local organizations: <a href="https://www.heartofdinner.org" target="_blank">Heart of Dinner</a>, a nonprofit meal delivery service for East Asian elders, and <a href="https://www.drivechangenyc.org" target="_blank">Drive Change</a>, which trains formerly incarcerated young people for jobs in the food and hospitality industry.  

<a href="https://materialkitchen.com/products/the-reboard" target="_blank">Price: $35</a>
<figure role="group"><img alt="Ojas and Woo Vegan and Eco-Friendly Candles - Sustainable Holiday Gift" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="809c7c2b-8b4c-4438-86c6-71fcbc6f990b" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Ojas%20and%20Woo%20Vegan%20and%20Eco-Friendly%20Candles%20-%20Sustainable%20Holiday%20Gift.jpg" width="1500" height="1000" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>(Image courtesy of Ojas &amp; Woo) </figcaption></figure><h2>Sustainable scents from Ojas &amp; Woo</h2>

Brooklyn-based Ojas &amp; Woo is an eco-friendly, vegan, and zero-waste scent shop that collaborates with artists and artisans from across the U.S. The brand's small-batch scented candles feature wood wicks, coconut apricot wax, and "nice, natural smells," says our writer who gave them a try in her home this year. The best part is: When the candle is used up, your favorite luxury-lover can <a href="https://ojas-and-woo.com/shop/p/refill-12-oz" target="_blank">send the glass jar back to be refilled</a> at a steep discount compared to the original sticker price. 

<a href="https://ojas-and-woo.com/shop" target="_blank">Price: Starts at $33</a>
<figure role="group"><img alt="GOTBag ocean plastic backpack - sustainable holiday gift" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6c0df757-020a-49eb-825e-41d3cd51a99a" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/GOTBag%20ocean%20plastic%20backpack%20-%20sustainable%20holiday%20gift.jpg" width="1500" height="1000" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>(Image courtesy of GOT BAG) </figcaption></figure><h2>Ocean plastic backpack from GOT BAG</h2>

This German brand <a href="https://us.got-bag.com/pages/about-us#mission" target="_blank">bases its supply chain</a> around a network of around 2,000 fishermen and women in Java, Indonesia, who often get plastic caught in their fishing nets. GOT BAG uses 3.3 to 9.9 pounds of this plastic "bycatch" to produce each of its stylish and functional carry-alls, which range from laptop sleeves up to roll-top travel backpacks. I've been testing out the $99 daypack (pictured above) for the past year, and with a seamless transition from backpack to briefcase and band that easily slips over the handle of rollaway luggage, it's perfect for commuting and traveling alike. 

<a href="https://us.got-bag.com/collections/backpacks" target="_blank">Price: Starts at $49</a>
<figure role="group"><img alt="Honest Company Reusable Sheet Mask - Sustainable Gifts" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1599a379-cee1-4aff-ac69-3cc505994104" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Honest%20Company%20Reusable%20Sheet%20Mask%20-%20Sustainable%20Gifts.jpeg" width="1000" height="1000" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>(Image courtesy of the Honest Company) </figcaption></figure><h2>Reusable sheet mask from the Honest Company</h2>

It can be tempting to gift your favorite skincare addict with the latest viral product you saw on social media, but let's be real: Chances are you don't know enough about another person's skin to choose what's best, and if it doesn't work for them, your well-intentioned gift may be destined for the garbage.

Instead of adding to the potential waste stream, consider a clever way to cut it down to size, like this reusable silicone sheet mask from the Honest Company. The mask works to lock in any essence, serum, cream or oil, and it can be washed and reused after each use for an effective nightly treatment without the waste. 

<a href="https://www.honest.com/beauty-products/skincare/reusable-magic-silicone-sheet-mask/B0065MRM0000S.html" target="_blank">Price: $15</a>
<figure role="group"><img alt="Cookbook that supports restaurants during COVID-19 sustainable holiday gifts" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bcc066cd-c217-4c05-ba79-cfb9df5fbef4" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Cookbook%20that%20supports%20restaurants%20during%20COVID-19%20sustainable%20holiday%20gifts.png" width="1000" height="961" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>(Image courtesy of Penguin Random House via Amazon) </figcaption></figure><h2>A cookbook that benefits struggling restaurants</h2>

This digital-only cookbook from Penguin Random House includes never-before-seen recipes from celebrity chefs like Ina Garten and Bobby Flay, and all proceeds go to support the <a href="https://www.restaurantworkerscf.org/covid19faq" target="_blank">Restaurant Workers' COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund</a>, which provides direct crisis relief to restaurant workers, supports nonprofits serving restaurant workers in crisis, and gives out interest-free loans to help restaurants get back up and running. 

<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0871LJG1X?linkCode=ogi&amp;tag=oprah-auto-20&amp;ascsubtag=[artid|10072.g.25223818[src|[ch|[lt|" target="_blank">Price: $6</a>
<figure role="group"><img alt="J.Hannah Dune Nail Polish - Sustainable Gift" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2e285674-913d-4034-a27f-e14ff107ec27" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/J.Hannah%20Dune%20Nail%20Polish%20-%20Sustainable%20Gift.png" width="933" height="1238" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>(Image courtesy of J. Hannah) </figcaption></figure><h2>Universally flattering nail polish from J. Hannah</h2>

This nude nail color with a cause is a good look for any beauty-lovers on your list. All profits from this universally flattering shade from sustainable startup brand J. Hannah are donated to an evolving roster of human rights organizations. This season's recipient is <a href="https://janesdueprocess.org/about/" target="_blank">Jane's Due Process</a>, which helps young people in Texas access abortions and birth control. 

<a href="https://jhannahjewelry.com/products/dune-polish?sscid=c1k5_8zn2p&amp;" target="_blank">Price $19</a>
<figure role="group"><img alt="recycled fiber blanket - sustainable gift" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="ae665ffd-5544-4f42-9ac1-a459689b06a5" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/recycled%20fiber%20blanket%20-%20sustainable%20gift.png" width="824" height="982" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>(Image courtesy of Sackcloth &amp; Ashes) </figcaption></figure><h2>Nature-inspired blanket from Sackcloth &amp; Ashes</h2>

Entrepreneur Bob Dalton founded Sackcloth &amp; Ashes after his mother found herself homeless in 2013. The brand donates one blanket to a homeless shelter for each one sold, and it's on a mission to "<a href="https://sackclothandashes.com/pages/about" target="_blank">blanket the United States</a>" by donating 1 million blankets by its 10-year anniversary in 2024. 

This throw is one of <a href="https://sackclothandashes.com/pages/shop-all" target="_blank">five new designs</a> made in collaboration with National Geographic and inspired by the diverse topography of planet Earth. Like all blankets from the brand, it's made from recycled fibers by workers earning fair wages, and as an added bonus a portion of the proceeds from this collection go to support the nonprofit <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.org/society/" target="_blank">National Geographic Society</a>. 

<a href="https://sackclothandashes.com/collections/shop-all/products/national-geographic-dunes" target="_blank">Price: $130</a>
<figure role="group"><img alt="Handcrafted necklace - Sustainable Gift" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8676e662-99fc-492a-b2fe-5937954b67e4" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Handcrafted%20necklace%20-%20Sustainable%20Gifts.png" width="730" height="874" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>(Image courtesy of Purpose Jewelry)</figcaption></figure><h2>Minimal necklace from Purpose Jewelry</h2>

This lovely drop necklace is designed to train young women who have escaped human trafficking with introductory jewelry-making skills, and all proceeds go to benefit the brand's nonprofit, <a href="https://www.internationalsanctuary.com/" target="_blank">International Sanctuary</a>, which provides women artisans with fair wages, education and  healthcare as they look to rebuild their lives. For other styles to choose from, check out the <a href="https://www.purposejewelry.org/collections/one-day-of-hope" target="_blank">One Day of Hope line</a>, which is made up entirely of "training pieces" made by women who have recently arrived at <a href="https://www.internationalsanctuary.com/sanctuaries" target="_blank">one of the nonprofit's sanctuaries</a>. 

<a href="https://www.purposejewelry.org/collections/one-day-of-hope/products/ava-necklace" target="_blank">Price: $26</a>
<figure role="group"><img alt="Sustainable Bar Soap Set - Sustainable Holiday Gifts" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9d31d081-d618-4e33-bf68-a11767390ecc" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Sustainable%20Bar%20Soap%20Set%20-%20Sustainable%20Holiday%20Gifts.jpeg" width="1000" height="1000" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>(Image courtesy of Hand in Hand) </figcaption></figure><h2>Assorted soap set from Hand in Hand</h2>

Friends don't let friends have dry, cracked COVID hands. If someone on your list is going through it, reach for this gentle soap bar set from Hand in Hand, which is free of palm oil and made with fair trade, organic and vegan ingredients. The brand <a href="https://www.handinhandsoap.com/pages/story" target="_blank">provides soap and clean water to children in need</a> with every purchase, benefiting communities in over 20 countries to date. (Also available in fragrance-free.) 

<a href="https://www.handinhandsoap.com/collections/bar-soap/products/6-pack-new-assorted-bar-soap-set" target="_blank">Price: $30</a>
<figure role="group"><img alt="Homeboy Industries Gift Package - Sustainable Gift" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="cba6e322-003a-4485-9aa7-703f2e01b828" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Homeboy%20Industries%20Gift%20Package%20-%20Sustainable%20Gift.jpeg" width="1000" height="666" loading="lazy" /><figcaption>(Image courtesy of Homeboy Industries)</figcaption></figure> 

<h2>Tasty gift packages from Homeboy Industries</h2>

If food is your go-to gift, consider swapping out your standbys for a gift package from one of 3p's favorite socially conscious brands. Operating under the motto "jobs not jails," Homeboy Industries offers employment, education, and <a href="https://homeboyindustries.org/stand-heal-invest/#heal" target="_blank">other services</a> to former gang members after they are released from prison. Having served well over 100,000 people in its home city of Los Angeles since 1986, it now powers the <a href="https://homeboyindustries.org/our-story/global-homeboy-network/" target="_blank">Global Homeboy Network</a> of more than 400 organizations committed to giving formerly incarcerated people a second chance.  

Homeboy's selection of gift packages include coffee, snacks, preserves and baked goods, and all proceeds support its re-entry programs. 

<a href="https://homeboyfoods.com/collections/gift-packages" target="_blank">Price: Starting at $35</a>

 

<figure role="group"><img alt="Greyston Bakery brownies" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9f492e79-4ba3-412a-9fa2-e7e6827e2c34" height="618" loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/Greyston%20Brownie%20pack%20holiday%20gift.png" width="672" /><figcaption>(Image courtesy of Greyston Bakery)</figcaption></figure><h2>Sweet treats from Greyston Bakery </h2>

Greyson Bakery is another perennial favorite among the TriplePundit team. The brand's brownies are tasty enough to make an appearance in Ben &amp; Jerry's ice cream flavors like Half Baked, and the social enterprise is also a trailblazer for <a href="https://www.triplepundit.com/story/2019/hiring-formerly-incarcerated-people-good-communities-and-business-leaders-say/85501/" target="_blank">open hiring</a>. Having built its team without interviews, job applications or background checks, Greyston is now primarily staffed by people with criminal justice histories, as well as those experiencing homelessness, substance abuse issues or who, for whatever reason, have trouble finding steady work.

From classics like brownies and blondies to creative flavors like snickerdoodle and cinnamon roll, these socially conscious treats are sure to please any sweet tooth on your list. (And yes, they have vegan options!) 

<a href="https://greystonbakery.com/collections/all" target="_blank">Price: Starting at $25</a>

Image credit: asife/Adobe Stock and <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/ffSGBn2xTSI" target="_blank">Priscilla Du Preez</a>/Unsplash

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We report the business case for sustainability.

Leon Kaye

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