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There are many subjects that would be best left behind in 2021, never to be mentioned again. Then there are those stories that are just starting to garner more widespread attention, those that will continue to gain traction and inspire meaningful action in 2022 and beyond. Disability accessibility is among these ongoing stories.

Here are three stories on disability accessibility that not only had TriplePundit writers talking in 2021, but that also will hopefully continue to see improvement in 2022 and years to come.

Accurate, inclusive media representation

The phrase “Nothing about us without us” is commonly used by the disabled community when discussing media representation. It means that the best people to share stories of disabled life are, in fact, disabled people themselves. Disabled creators shared their unique perspectives and voices throughout 2021 across a host of platforms: social media, books, podcasts, TV, movies, advertising and more.

In May, for example, Netflix released the second season of Special, a scripted series following twenty-something Ryan, a gay man with cerebral palsy looking to find independence and romance in L.A.  As 3p’s executive editor, Leon Kaye, wrote about the TV series:

“Ryan is telling his own story, as the series is based on the experiences of Ryan O’Connell, a disability activist and LGBTQ advocate. He plays a fictionalized version of himself in the series, while also writing for and producing it….  And therein lies the gift of Special: It’s told in Ryan’s own words.”

In April 2021, beverage brand Lifewtr partnered with writer, producer and actor Issa Rae to launch Life Unseen, an initiative to better understand and recognize creators from underrepresented communities in the arts – including the disability community.  Twenty artists had their artwork featured on Lifewtr bottles sold in stores nationwide. In addition, five creators won mentorship opportunities with Rae, and grants of $10,000 each.

Rae spoke about the importance of this project in an interview with Trevor Noah:

“I know what it’s like to be in those early stages, and be like, ‘If someone just sees my work, if just that one person believing you has a platform, then that could change the game for me,’” she said. “We’re trying to create the pipelines.”

Adaptive clothing for children

In 2021, JCPenney became the latest national retailer to release its own line of adaptive clothing for disabled and neurodiverse children.

What is adaptive clothing? It is clothing that takes into account the wearer’s unique mobility, sensory, physical and accessibility needs.

Clothing in the JCPenney line, Thereabouts, includes many of the features commonly found in adaptive clothing: Larger openings, simpler fasteners, abdominal access, extended sizes, flat seams, tag-free labels and pants designed for wheelchair sitting.

Five years ago, adaptive children’s clothing was only available to those who could sew or hire a tailor. Premade items were sometimes available online, but the prices were often too high for families already struggling to afford their children’s therapies and medical bills. When major retailers like Target, Kohl’s, and JCPenney entered the adaptive clothing market, they were able to bring down the prices tremendously.

As I noted in my July article about adaptive clothing, “Today, my son’s clothes look just like his peers’, with bright colors and patterns and fun characters and all. The only difference is his pant legs have Velcro to accommodate his leg braces, and his shirts have special holes for his feeding tube to thread through.”

Digital inclusion and disability accessibility

Think of how many everyday activities have shifted online in recent years: banking, shopping, education, religious services, job interviews, doctor appointments and more. For the more than 1 billion people with disabilities worldwide, utilizing these services through technology can range from challenging to downright impossible.

Perkins School for the Blind defines digital accessibility as “how usable a website, app or other digital experience is by all possible users, regardless of their ability or disability.” Accessible technology doesn’t depend on a user’s vision, hearing, motor, or processing skills. It’s a spectrum of usability, rather than a definite “yes” or “no” rating.

“COVID-19 has made the lack of accessibility a more visible problem, but it hasn’t solved it,” Michael Hingson, chief vision officer for digital accessibility company AccessiBe, said in an interview with 3p’s Amy Brown.  “I think we’re going to see more of an outcry that accessibility isn’t built into the websites, apps and the products we’ve come to depend on.”

Businesses often view digital accessibility as a matter of compliance with legislation such as the Americans with Disability Act (ADA). Simply put: Make sure your website meets the minimum accessibility guidelines, or risk getting sued or fined. This limited view overlooks the opportunities accessible design can offer, though.

“Focusing on web and content accessibility improves brand perception, facilitates social inclusivity, and builds a better experience for all users,” said Mark Fries, AVP of web strategy and development at enterprise software company BMC, in Amy Brown’s aforementioned 3p article. “By making accessibility something we build in from the beginning of a project, we are able to focus our efforts on the things that will be most meaningful to the most people and ultimately make the greatest impact.”

Image credit via SportEngland.org

While the automakers’ bold pledges to focus on manufacturing electric vehicles (EVs) are so far generating more rhetoric than results, the shift at Ford appears to be strongly resonating with both drivers and investors.

Much of the media’s attention over the past year has been focusing on Tesla and the antics of Elon Musk, but at the same time the legacy automaker has been more than holding its own. Ford’s stock, priced at about $8.50 a share one year ago, is now approaching $22. That isn’t a headline-generating figure in itself, yet it is a 140 percent increase over the past year. That makes it the U.S. automotive sector’s top-performing growth stock, outpacing cross-town rival General Motors and yes, even Tesla.

It’s fair to be skeptical of the auto industry’s promise to go all-electric, especially as many of them ditched the manufacturing of smaller cars and sedans in favor of muscle trucks and SUVs. Ford has been a part of that trend, but at the same time the company has said it will invest billions in EVs in early 2021, and doubled down on that bet last fall.

Much of the credit for Ford’s recent performance has been given to its CEO. “Investors have rewarded the new direction under auto veteran Jim Farley, who took the helm in October 2020 after the Ford board ousted industry outsider Jim Hackett,” wrote CNBC’s Michael Wayland earlier today. “Farley promised to be more open and direct with investors. He also launched the Ford+ restructuring plan, which shifts more resources to build electric vehicles like the upcoming F-150 Lightning pickup.”

Farley has clearly put his money in his mouth is, as he is buying into the restructuring plan that he has been pushing all along. Almost two years ago, before he became the CEO of Ford, he bought about $1 million of stock when it was at $5 a share. As of last month, he still hasn’t sold those shares, reported CNN.

That F-150 Lightning pickup, it turns out, is already resonating with drivers with a reported wait list at least 200,000 long – or a backlog of three years. The F-150 series has already been the top-selling vehicle series in the U.S., which of course offers a lift to Ford as the company charts its course toward electrification.

As TriplePundit’s Phil Covington wrote last May, “After all, Ford isn’t inventing a category - it’s building on a brand and the reputation that comes with it. An electric F-150 has to be a workhorse, and frankly, given that it’s a pickup, it’s going to have to prove to prospective buyers of such vehicles, that it’s every bit as good, if not better than its gasoline powered stablemates - with which it will coexist.”

With the buzz surrounding Ford and the plans of other automakers, 2022 could be a banner year for EVs.

Image credit via Ford media relations

Mexican chorizo is among the ingredients that together add to the richness of the cuisine south of the border; it’s just most of us would prefer to not know what’s in it. For fans of Chipotle's menu who enjoy the spice but want to avoid animal products, the fast-casual restaurant chain Chipotle is now offering a vegan option at more of its locations.

The plant-based versions of chorizo that are available at some supermarkets more than hold their own if you’re looking for something to wrap in a tortilla or like to scramble with (chicken- or plant-based) eggs. But if you’re not up for cooking or would rather not deal with the mess (cooking with any version of chorizo is not for the faint-hearted in the kitchen), Chipotle has rolled out some new menu ideas to try out.

Today’s launch follows what the company says was a successful test run at more than 100 locations in Denver, Indianapolis and Orange County last summer. Participating restaurants will offer this filling in its popular bowls. The chorizo is soy-free and is made from peas blended with chipotle pepper, garlic, olive oil, paprika and tomato paste.

As part of encouraging customers to try out the vegan chorizo, Chipotle is offering free delivery for its plant-based chorizo orders through January 9.

The nationwide chorizo rollout comes on the heels of the success Chipotle has long had with its “sofritas.” First introduced almost a decade ago, the spicy braised Hodo soy tofu has become a mainstay, with at least one source verifying that the company sold 7.5 million pounds of the filling in 2018 alone.

So, vegetarians and vegans who have long felt they were limited to bean-and-cheese burritos while their pals scarfed down meaty options within their tacos and tortas have another choice.

This vegan chorizo joins a list of more meat-free options available at Chipotle and its competitors, including the Beyond Meat menu at Del Taco as well as the more conventional potato- and bean-based options at Taco Bell.

"Creating a delicious plant-based protein that sizzles on the grill with the robust flavor and texture profile chorizo-lovers expect was a real challenge," said Nevielle Panthaky of Chipotle in a public statement. "Our culinary team has worked relentlessly for years to develop this breakthrough Plant-Based Chorizo recipe that is uniquely Chipotle and aligns with the brand's industry-leading Food with Integrity standards."

Image credit via Chipotle media relations site

Carbon capture is not quite the planet-saving miracle touted by its advocates, many of whom have a stake in extractive fossil energy industries. However, captured and recycled carbon is making its way into some surprising new consumer products that reduce the need to mine and extract from the earth for coal, oil and natural gas. Brands can carve new pathways for expanding their sustainability profile by making choices that can help accelerate this trend.

What is wrong with recycled carbon?

The problem with the conventional approach to carbon capture is that it simply amounts to a global exercise in wheel-spinning that enables the pace of fossil energy extraction and usage to continue unabated.

Somewhat ironically, the primary use of captured carbon today is in oil fields, where it is used to enhance output from underproducing oil wells.

Fortunately, alternative uses are beginning to appear on the market. These alternatives could help accelerate global decarbonization, as long as they are not offset by business as usual in the fossil energy field.

Recycled carbon for the fashion industry

The carbon capture field scored a high fashion makeover in December, when the global retailer Inditex released a capsule collection of recycled carbon party dresses for its Zara stores.

The sleek, stylish line was made possible through a partnership with the firm LanzaTech, which has invented a bio-based carbon recycling method that deploys engineered microorganisms to digest airborne carbon from steel mill waste gas and other sources. The process yields Lanzanol, a proprietary brand of ethanol.

The rest was simple. Lanzanol underwent a basic petrochemical conversion into monotehylene glycol, which is the raw material for polyester yarn.

Recycled carbon for vodka

Perhaps the most inventive use of airborne carbon today comes from a company called Air Company, which takes an almost philosophical approach to the recycled carbon field, based on the premise that carbon is carbon, no matter what form it takes.

As it happens, carbon plays a big part in the human form. By mass, carbon is the second-most prevalent element making up the human body by mass, clocking in at 18.5 percent. Only oxygen outdoes carbon, at 65 percent. Hydrogen is the most abundant element in the universe, but it runs a distant third, with 9.5 percent. About a dozen elements consisting mainly of nitrogen and metals make up the rest.

Air Company sources its carbon from a variety of areas.

“The carbon dioxide (CO2) used in our process is captured from traditional fermentation and industrial alcohol plants prior to it being emitted into the atmosphere. The CO2 arrives to us in tanks after it has been cooled, pressurized and liquified,” Air Company explains.

So far, Air Company lists vodka, air spray, sugar and perfume on its recycled carbon list. Others are sure to follow. 

The artificial leaf: making all sorts of new plastics from recycled carbon

The appearance of sugar in Air Company’s product line may be surprising, but it is no surprise to many scientists. Researchers know how to create “artificial leaf” systems that replicate photosynthesis, the process by which plants deploy sunlight and water to convert carbon dioxide from the air into sugars.

They also know how to convert captured carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide, which is a building block for fuels and other industrial products.

To date, the artificial leaf process relies on recycled carbon that has already been captured and isolated. The next challenge is to capture carbon directly from the air, just like a plant.

Last year, researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory received a three-year, $4.5 million grant to demonstrate a new artificial leaf that could produce a variety of valuable chemicals for fuels and for plastics, resins and glues.

Recycled, and recyclable, carbon for vegan leather

One leading challenge in the recycling field is to come up with end products that can meet performance standards. That is especially tricky in the area of food packaging.

The company NewLight recently leaped that boundary, by achieving approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its carbon-negative “AirCarbon” plastic.

To make AirCarbon, NewLight mimics ocean dwelling microorganisms that consume methane and carbon dioxide. The organisms produce a biomaterial called PHB, which can be melted and formed to make alternatives to leather, as well as fibers and plastics.

The company’s Covalent fashion brand is currently focused on replacing leather for carbon-negative bags, wallets and cases as well as plastic for eyewear, and its Restore brand is producing carbon-negative straws and cutlery.

Jet fuel from the air

Decarbonizing the airline industry is a major challenge. Batteries and fuel cells can (and most likely, will) power small aircraft over relatively short distances in the near future, but so far biofuel is the only option within reach for larger aircraft that travel long distances.

However, another option is also emerging. The California company Twelve is on track to compete with jet biofuel stakeholders. Twelve has developed an electrolyzer system for carbon capture, similar to the electrolyzers used for extracting “green” hydrogen from water. By adding carbon dioxide from the air to the process, Twelve deploys both green hydrogen and carbon to make jet fuel and other products, as well.

Twelve’s proprietary E-Jet fuel was certified for use by the U.S. Air Force last summer. The company has also partnered with Pangaia to produce sunglasses from captured carbon, and it is working with Tide and Mercedes-Benz on detergents and car parts made with captured carbon.

Moving past fossil energy

The common denominator among all five innovators is using captured carbon to make wide variety of products, reducing the need to continue extracting virgin carbon from underground.

So far these markets are vanishingly small, but they can contribute to larger trends, including bioplastics and plastic recycling, that help reduce dependence on conventional petrochemicals.

Signs of accelerated activity are already occurring. For example, Microsoft recently gave the field a kickstart by establishing a $1 billion next-generation carbon recycling fund. Other brands seeking to hop on board the trend will need to act fast if they want to establish their position in the vanguard.

Image credit via Air Company

As 2021 draws to a close, we thought we’d take a look at the state of play in the electric vehicle (EV) market and offer our thoughts as to where we see things headed for EVs in 2022 and beyond.

Continuing global supply chain issues, semiconductor shortages and the ongoing global pandemic notwithstanding - let us begin.

We start with perhaps the oldest talking point possible when it comes to EVs - but it’s still a thing:

Range!

Yes, when it comes to EVs, range remains top of mind, even as improvements in battery technology means range-anxiety continues to diminish. But the range that buyers think is acceptable continues to be a moving target as both technology and battery costs improve. So, what bar should car makers aim to clear?

Looking ahead to next year, we expect around 250 miles between charges will be the sweet spot many buyers will settle upon.

Eight out of 12 of the top selling EVs in the U.S. through the end of October this year, came in versions capable of at least that range. Yet some on the list, even from certain premium brands, only just crept over the 200-mile mark. Going forward, a sub-250-mile range will become a tough sell. And really, any new models in development, especially from premium brands, should include versions capable of at least 300 miles.

Tesla still sets the range standard as far as established brands go; the long-range Model S tops 400 miles. But while Tesla will no doubt continue to up its range game, a new entrant, Lucid Motors, already boasts an official EPA range of 520 miles with the most upscale versions of its Air, a luxury sedan. This is six-figure price territory, though.

Range is king, but not the whole story of EVs

Fast charging is something upon which automakers will increasingly compete.

While range is still king, car companies will increasingly compete on shortening charging times because doing so increases usability; the faster you can top-up your EV on a long road trip the better.

Generally, people are aware that EVs will charge quicker from a commercial fast charger than a standard wall socket. But it’s less well known that even if you plug into the fastest charging stations available, the speed at which a vehicle can be charged is also dependent on the vehicle’s ability to accept that charge.

Today’s fastest chargers operate at 800 volts, capable of delivering a charge of up to 350 kW. In practical terms, this is the EV equivalent of drinking from a fire hose! Though some come close, today’s EVs can’t accept that charge rate.

Instead, software engineers at car companies throttle the rate of charging to balance speed with battery stability. Modulating the rate is important both during individual charging cycles, and also over the life of the vehicle, to limit battery degradation. How well engineers can solve this technical conundrum is key to charging performance. But statistics on how fast a car will charge is something car makers are increasingly keen to tell people about.

Consider Hyundai’s new Ioniq 5 electric SUV. The South Korean automaker claims that when plugged into a 350-kW fast charger, the Ioniq 5 battery will charge from a 10 percent capacity to 80 percent in just 18 minutes: about the time to enjoy a cup of coffee. Or, if you’re in a real hurry, Hyundai claims it takes just 5 minutes to add 62.5 miles (100 km) of additional range. Buyers will start to pay attention to these capabilities.

The future is electric vehicle platforms, not individual stand-alone vehicles

A brief evolution of EVs since around 2010 goes something like this: At the outset, legacy automakers generally offered one token EV in their range; usually, it was an awkward adaptation of an existing internal combustion engine model, with very limited production.

Sometimes, as with the Nissan Leaf, an EV would be created from the ground up, i.e. a stand-alone dedicated EV. But still, it is a solitary offering.

Now, and an imperative for the future, makers are increasingly developing dedicated EV platforms upon which they can build a whole range of EVs. Platforms allow scalability through modular design, leading to cost effectiveness and speed to market.

And as customers increasingly want choices, it will be scalable platforms which will deliver them. Among the examples:

General Motors has staked its EV future on the Ultium platform, with plans to build a range of vehicles across its brands around proprietary flat-pack battery packs. These can easily be reconfigured for smaller or larger vehicles, while leveraging a common technology. The first of GM’s Ultium products, the Hummer EV, just hit the market and 2022 will provide insight as to how well the company has executed on its strategy.

Similarly, Volkswagen has staked its I.D. family of EVs on its own “modular electric drive matrix” (MEB) platform which the company says will underpin a variety of classes of vehicles. VW is doing well with the ID 4 already on sale in the U.S. market.

Meanwhile, Hyundai says the company will produce 23 global electric vehicles by 2025 on its E-GMP platform; this is the platform upon which the aforementioned Ioniq 5 is built.

As more and more car companies pledged during 2021 to be all-electric by the end of the decade, building a platform-based family of vehicles appears to be the emerging strategy to realize that goal. And this will not just apply to cars, because:

Electric trucks are coming

Though there has been a steady increase in the choice of electric passenger vehicles over the last decade, 2022 will be the year when truck buyers can finally get in on the action.

The Ford F-150, which is America’s best-selling vehicle outright - let alone pickup - will come as an all-electric option in 2022. The F-150 Lightning is slated for launch in the spring and it can’t be overstated how important this vehicle is given the iconic nature of the F-150 nameplate.

Also, 2022 will see customer deliveries of the much anticipated Rivian pickup and SUV, while of course the Cybertruck from Tesla should finally go on sale later in 2022, two-plus years after it made its dramatic appearance.

Look out too, for the Silverado EV pickup from GM that is to be revealed at CES 2022, on January 5. This will be another GM vehicle built on the Ultium platform and will position the company to continue its rivalry with Ford’s pickup range - EV style.

The introduction of electric trucks will open up a new and hugely significant market segment, which dovetails nicely with a positive signal from the federal government. Help is on its way for needed infrastructure.

Infrastructure bill to boost EV charging

While it's looking as if the Build Back Better bill may not cross the finish line, the bipartisan infrastructure bill which has been signed, at least includes $5 billion investment for state-administered grants for charging stations nationwide.

Though funds won’t flow overnight, work can gather pace in 2022 towards allocating this infrastructure spending. Importantly, funds will be directed towards building EV charging stations in communities that include rural, disadvantaged and hard to reach areas as reported by Forbes.

Hopefully this development will help begin to nudge EV adoption towards a broader base of consumers, and not confine ownership solely to people of above average means. 

Image credit via Lucid Motors

The new Netflix movie Don’t Look Up is getting all sorts of reviews, many of which center around the film’s not-so-hidden messaging on climate action. Don’t Look Up also serves a much broader purpose, as a primer on communicating in the age of media clutter. In that regard it should make the “suggested viewing” list for corporate training on brand reputation and social responsibility.

Don’t Look Up is more than a climate crisis message

Don’t Look Up begins with a scientist literally doing the opposite. She looks up into the cosmos through a powerful telescope and discovers a new comet, which is big enough to destroy the Earth. On further examination it is barreling straight towards Earth, no doubt about it.

Given that the title of the movie is Don’t Look Up, but the protagonist does the opposite, that opening sequence preps the audience for a primer on how to communicate what you see with your own eyes, when your society is overwhelmed by non-factual information.

Many reviewers have made the connection between Don’t Look Up and climate action, but that misses the point. In terms of communication, the film’s central message is about the social spread of non-facts, a problem that applies equally to the COVID-19 pandemic and the “Big Lie” about voter fraud in 2020 presidential election.

Life imitates art in Don’t Look Up

The A-list cast of Don’t Look Up includes Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio, Tyler Perry, Meryl Streep, Mark Rylance and Timothée Chalamet. They carry the film along at a good clip, but many critics have complained that the overall messaging is too heavy-handed.

Isherwell, played by Rylance, represents the Tech Hero Money Genius, an agglomeration of characteristics that encompasses Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates. Like the “manic pixie dream girl” character, a Tech Hero Money Genius has no inner life. Instead, they exist to fulfill the needs of others. In return they receive an almost unimaginable degree of power, and the money to go with it.

Meanwhile, DiCaprio's role dovetails with his real life, in which he is a high-profile climate activist. DiCaprio has leveraged his star power to draw attention to the climate crisis in various ways, from speaking before the United Nations to participating in protest marches and sponsoring a racing team in the Formula E electric vehicle racing circuit.

In recent years, DiCaprio has also invested in various areas with a focus on sustainable foods as well as manufactured diamonds. He is also a backer of the fossil-free financial services firm Aspiration along with investors such as Orlando Bloom and Robert Downey, Jr. Aspiration has seen its growth skyrocket since its launch in 2015.

The message on this point is subtle but sharp. Corporate leadership could make a difference, but only if it is not misdirected by ego and self-interest.

A communication lesson for corporate leaders

Negative reviews aside, Don’t Look Up assembles a deft, entertaining list of characters who illustrate many of the obstacles in the way of fact-based communications.

On the science side, the film shows how the researchers with their hands directly on the data can be hampered by youth, inexperience, personal anxieties and a singular focus on detail at the expense of clarity.

Nevertheless, all of these obstacles can be overcome if people on the other side are paying attention. As expressed by Don’t Look Up, the most critical failure is on the part of the voting public.

The film portrays a public obsessed with interpersonal communication through Isherwell’s fictional “BASH” network, to the extent that citizens fail to grasp the role that basic competency plays in sustaining a modern democracy.

The result is catastrophe. The film does highlight the role of a jaded, complacent media, but that is a side note to the main thread. The centerpiece of the film is Meryl Streep’s over-the-top portrayal of an abysmally incompetent, self-centered U.S. president who assigns equally incompetent, self-absorbed people to head up critical tasks and agencies, such as placing an anesthesiologist at the head of NASA. In contrast, the staff that engineers the president’s lavishly staged public statements is evidently at the top of its game.

Brand reputation and voter education

The election of incompetent leaders is nothing new in a democracy. In the U.S., the debacle of the one-term Trump presidency is the culmination of generations-long messaging about voter education that revolves around who to have a beer with, instead of who has the experience and temperament to administer powerful offices in a diversified industrial economy.

Many corporate leaders have begun to build their brand reputation on get-out-the-vote efforts. That is all well and good, but the damage has already been done. Local, state and federal offices are already saturated with elected officials who obstruct climate action, violate basic COVID-19 prevention guidelines and promote lies about voter fraud — and that’s on top of the ones who support armed insurrection and promote religion over science in the area of women’s reproductive health.

It’s going to be a tough row to hoe, but corporate leaders who are really serious about cutting through the communications clutter need to focus like a laser on voter education.

How to cut through the media clutter

One good place to start would be to take a page from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

In 2016, CDC issued a report on the "Tips from Former Smokers” media campaign. “Tips” was launched in 2012 as the first anti-tobacco media campaign to be funded by the federal government. According to CDC, it was an overwhelming success. By 2016 the campaign was credited with helping 400,000 smokers to quit permanently. The number has swelled to approximately 1 million since then.

CCD relaunched the campaign last March. It provides clear guidance on effective messaging across any number of issues.

“Research shows that emotionally evocative, evidence-based campaigns, like Tips, are effective in raising awareness about the dangers of smoking and helping people who smoke to quit,” CDC explains. “These campaigns are even more effective when coupled with quit lines, which provide free, confidential support services to help people quit smoking.”

As applied to voter education, the lesson for corporate leaders is clear. Like it or not, an effective voter education effort needs to be bipartisan.

Corporate leaders who are truly serious about climate action, COVID-19 prevention and voter suppression need to send powerful, emotional messages about harm and potential harm, and those messages need to provide voters with specific action steps that prevent harm — namely, voting for candidates who are capable of preserving foundational values in a modern democracy.

Image credit: Matese Fields via Unsplash

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 vaccination 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 vaccines.

The Shift Project 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.

Lack of paid time off

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.

Employers offering support have employees with higher COVID-19 vaccination rates

Many employers offered incentives or support 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 motivate employees 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.

Vaccination rates vary by age and race

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, undocumented workers might be concerned about deportation, and ID requirements could have a disproportionate impact across various demographics. Some Black citizens might distrust the medical community due to past injustices and deceitful practices in the medical field - among them the The Tuskegee Study.

Businesses still face risks from the pandemic

For many companies, it’s in their best interests for employees to get vaccinated because it could reduce absenteeism; to that end, some corporations are starting to require them. Cognizant of tight labor market, more companies with a wide range of sectors are implementing such mandates, such as Microsoft and Tyson. In addition, some companies, such as McDonald’s and Walmart, 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 restaurants and bars. “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 reminded us earlier this month. “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 Leon Kaye

Image credit: Melanie Lim via Unsplash

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.

After the IPCC Report: Why Communications Absolutely Matter

“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 Kate Zerrenner.

Ownership Over the Female Body No More: How Women Athletes Are Taking a Stand

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 Megan Amrich.

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

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A Job Is Not Enough: How To (Really) Support Our Troops

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

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After the Texas Winter Storm, a Clarion Call for Investing in Energy Efficiency

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

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​From Roya Sabri: 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: Aaron Burden via Unsplash

Coal still holds a tight grip on the economy of West Virginia, as reflected in the personal business interests 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.

Coal and the West Virginia economy

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 poverty, poor health, and economic malaise bedevil communities that depend on coal jobs 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 highlights “thriving industries."

“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.

Moving beyond coal — or not

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 biggest producers of fossil energy in the U.S., 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 shifting toward renewable energy for years. Even the hard-to-decarbonize manufacturing sector is seeking more renewable energy, 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 $3 billion in exports  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 almost 90 percent of electricity generation in West Virginia, leaving little wiggle room to attract new businesses in search of a clean power profile.

More green jobs for West Virginia, if Senator Manchin allows it

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 Just Transition Fund.

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 support for the Build Back Better bill.

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 carbon capture and fossil-sourced hydrogen, 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 how Build Back Better supports 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: Walter Martin via Unsplash

Despite opposition from fossil fuel companies, New York City 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.

Why a natural gas ban?

The city’s mayor, Bill de Blasio, applauded the ban 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 natural gas 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.

Isn’t natural gas a clean fuel?

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, the drilling and fracking process make its impact on the climate even worse, according to researchers at Cornell University. Natural gas is primarily methane, a highly potent greenhouse gas. Thus, fracking, 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.”

Is the electricity in New York from clean sources?

Currently, much of the power generated in New York state 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 state incentives and policies, 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 Alicka Ampry-Samuel, 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: Ivan Karpov via Unsplash