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Drink some bubbly to the latest chapter in Bacardi’s quest to become a more responsible company: One of its popular sparkling wine brands announced that all of the suppliers for its key ingredients will be certified as sustainable by the end of this year.

Martini, which of course also churns out that necessity for any bar, vermouth, has said that all of its asti grape growers are on target to score the sustainability stamp of approval from Equalitas, which in recent years has developed a leading sustainability benchmark for Italian wine making. A third party, Valoritalia, has verified that yes, indeed, those Moscato Bianco grapes grown in Italy’s Piedmont region are legittimamente sostenibile.

In fairness, Martini’s operations have already been sustainable and responsible, based on the fact that company has long been sourcing these grapes for its asti sparkling wine from hundreds of small grape growers. Those growers in turn churn the grapes into must, the juice that eventually becomes bubbly. According to the brand, 70 percent of those growers, which are organized into various cooperatives, have already completed the process to meet Equalitas’ standards; the rest are on course to meet those benchmarks before 2022. One of Martini’s wineries, which produces almost one-third of that asti must (the juice that eventually ferments and becomes wine), has already completed the entire sustainability process.

It’s not as if Martini and its parent, Bacardi, really have much to prove on the responsible business front. The brand's ongoing relationships with small growers and a quality product speaks to its longevity: Incidentally, 2021 marks 150 years since Martini & Rossi introduced its first moscato spumante d’Asti way back in 1871. Further, Martini has been ahead of many of its competitors in the sustainability race: The brand launched its own business center focused on sustainability practices in 1987.

But as more consumers demand that companies embed sustainability into the sourcing and production of their favorite products, market forces are at play here. It’s not enough to rely on tradition or source from family farms – consistency in manufacturing, proof that products are made responsibility and third-party verification are ways in which companies can prove to their customers that their products are legit. That goes for just about any gadget, food or drink, including sparkling wine. Companies must face the reality that they must respond to consumers' questions and concerns in kind.

“We have worked closely with the same farming communities growing the finest Moscato grapes in the same beautiful hills for generations – in fact for the last 150 years,” said Giorgio Castagnotti, Director of the company’s operations center in Pessione, Italy, “and we want to continue to do so for generations to come. It’s always made sense then for us support our grape growers through our sustainability initiatives.”

While many beer, wine and liquor brands are still centering their corporate responsibility efforts on responsible drinking, Bacardi has long checked that box and shows how a company in any sector can integrate the social, environmental and economic pillars of sustainability. Last year, as the pandemic devastated the restaurants and bars alike, the company launched an effort to take on youth unemployment while continuing to integrate environmental responsibility tactics within its internal employee engagement programs. The company has also rolled out compostable bottles and even deployed a campaign around an emoji to raise awareness about environmental challenges.

Image credit: Michael Heintz/Unsplash

Twyla: “I didn't know they'd make us change out of our own workout clothes.”

Jocelyn: “Yeah, I kinda wish I knew that before I spent all that money on my LuLu Limes.”

No, this wasn’t overheard at yet another high-end yoga studio, just banter from the final season of Schitt’s Creek. But speaking of workout clothes, in the coming years we can expect to see more athleisure wear, and all types of apparel, period, become made out of materials that are sourced by carbon emissions.

To that end, the real Lulu Lime, i.e. Lululemon, recently announced that it will partner with LanzaTech to develop yarn and textiles made out of recycled carbon emissions that if not captured, would otherwise be released into the atmosphere as pollution.

According to LanzaTech, it can capture carbon from various feedstocks, including synthetic gas, industrial emissions, agricultural and household waste, not to mention other sources of carbon that have already been emitted into the atmosphere. Microorganisms that the company has developed can then transform those carbon molecules into ethanol and other base ingredients that will eventually become fabric.

The result is a synthetic material that yoga devotees - and really anyone who works out regularly can tell you – provides the comfort, moisture wicking and yes of course, flattering shape and fit that are absolutely necessary for those requisite TikTok videos as well as Instagram posts and stories. However, Lululemon and LanzaTech say that instead of requiring virgin petroleum to manufacture these fabrics, the end result can help keep those hydrocarbons in the ground.

A similar process LanzaTech developed earlier this year has resulted in a laundry detergent that Unilever has rolled out in India.

Other companies have touted their green chemical processes as ways to manufacture just about anything from bioplastics to even vodka.

For Lululemon, assuming this partnership with LanzaTech will thrive, this alliance could help the company meet its various long-term sustainability goals, which range from procuring 75 percent of its materials from more sustainable sources by 2025 to offering a more circular resell/repair/recycle model for its customers that same year.

Image credit: LanzaTech

As more fast food restaurants continue to experiment with plant-based protein alternatives - Little Caesars’ 'Planteroni' Pizza in a partnership with Field Roast being one of the most recent examples – plenty of consumer still haven’t bought into the fake meat craze.

Part of the problem behind consumers’ stubborn resistance to adopting more of a plant-based or “flexitarian” diet is the common, and fair, complaint that many of these meat alternatives taste “off.” Soy-based patties can leave an unpleasant aftertaste, and never mind the crumbly texture. Beyond Meat’s fake chicken of yesteryear offered notes of carrots, frozen peas and fava beans, and not necessarily in a good way. And while Beyond’s and Impossible Foods’ plant-based protein substitutions for burgers are about the closest thing one can get to the real thing, the coconut oil can result in traces of sweetness that can be off-putting. Of course, all of these are improvements over the veggie burgers from many years ago, which would have tasted far better if they were allowed to remain as vegetables.

But what if flavorings could help make these new and future plant-based protein products more palatable to more consumers? After all, the companies that are driving the multi-billion dollar global flavor and fragrance industry keep developing ingredients that are increasingly more sophisticated and are in just about in every product we put in or on us. Many of us are already taking such action in our kitchens – vanilla extract, for example, is a common ingredient in our cupboards because it easily binds to proteins without giving off its flavoring – and it masks other flavors that could otherwise taste unpleasant.

Now, let’s add another challenge, and one that if overcome, could help plant-based protein scale up: which of course would help wean more consumers away from the carbon- and water-intensive meat and dairy industry.

One hurdle that food companies face is that developing new products that will eventually be accepted by the masses can take years. But what if that process could be shortened by harnessing the potential of artificial intelligence (AI)?

To that end, Firmenich, the Switzerland-based fragrance and flavoring giant, says it’s on a path toward improving the taste of plant-based protein products.

The company recently announced the launch of what it says is the first flavor developed by AI, a “lightly grilled” beef taste that could be used in plant-based foods. Emphasis should be put on “lightly grilled,” as yet another complaint of fake meat is that no matter how it’s cooked, it can often leave diners with a cringeworthy charred taste.

Firmenich is understandably mum on what flavor notes are exactly in this new AI-induced flavor profile. Nevertheless, the company could provide that final piece of the puzzle to companies that seek to recreate the flavor and texture of meat: and not 95 percent, not 99 percent, but a 100 percent success in copying meat’s flavor profile. So far, companies like Beyond and Impossible Foods have pretty much nailed the texture part. What has proven to be difficult is finding that complexity behind the flavor of meat, which includes countless factors such as umami, fat and of course, how it was cooked, such as on a flame or in an oven. And, as we all know if we don’t follow directions, the way in which we cook our foods can affect the flavor: so, these plant-based foods need to hold their flavor profile as much as possible whether they are grilled, baked, toasted or out of desperation (ew!) even microwaved.

A company like Firmenich has the advantage of access to a wide range of flavorings within its labs. What it does not have is the time to test out the infinite number of flavor combinations. Therein lies the power of AI – the company recently described its database of flavorings to Phys.org as a “piano with 5,000 keys” that through algorithms allows its staff to test out different combinations. The results could include even more plant-based options coming soon to a supermarket near you.

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The quest for herd immunity against COVID-19 has a hit a wall as the timing of the vaccination slowdown arrived just as the Delta variant is causing another surge across much of the U.S.

But despite all their noise and dominance on social media, it’s not only right-wing anti-vaxxers who are behind the stall in vaccinations across the U.S.

According to a recent Axios report, it turns out that this vaccination slowdown is due to the reality that many Americans who struggle to make a living are also having a difficult time getting those jabs in their arms.

Axios’ Bob Herman based his conclusions on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, which found that close to 60 percent of the unvaccinated population has a household income of $50,000 dollars or less. “Vaccination has been politicized, but juggling work schedules and child care could be bigger factors than politics,” wrote Herman.

Much of the service industry, specifically retailers and the restaurant sector, shoulders much of the blame for the vaccination slowdown that soon enough could morph into yet another full-blown public health crisis.

With a few notable exceptions, many of these companies continue to complain about their difficulty in finding new workers, even though the truth is that many of them have decided on finding a new employer, or they completed online training with the goal of finding a completely different line of work.

Add a report from the Pew Research Center from earlier this year, which found that getting a vaccine is easier when one has access to paid sick leave – which almost one-quarter of U.S. workers, or almost 34 million citizens, do not have. Among the industries that rank toward the bottom when providing their employees paid sick leave are the service industry and construction sector.

Part of the problem is the patchwork of employment laws across much of the U.S., which can lead to confusion over what is mandated and what is not. But another piece of the puzzle is many companies’ reluctance in providing their employees the time off to schedule, receive and often recuperation from the vaccine. Plenty of employers will tout that will give two hours or even a half-day to score a COVID-19 vaccine. But as many people who are already vaccinated can tell you, that morning jab may not hit you like a ton of bricks until later that day or evening: Hence the more forward-thinking employers are the ones that at minimum will offer a sick day gratis to make sure their employees can feel better before they return to their jobs.

Some employers may respond to any criticism by saying they are offering a financial bonus for workers to get vaccinated. But any such bonus really won’t make a difference if that worker living paycheck-to-paycheck cannot get the necessary time off in the first place – and therein lies the reason for this hamster wheel, otherwise known as the stubborn U.S. vaccination slowdown.

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As more consumers clamor for climate action, manufacturers and other big ratepayers are in a squeeze. They want to compete for customers, and they could do it by purchasing clean electricity. However, without a federal clean electricity standard, corporate energy buyers are faced with a patchwork of state regulations that hinder progress, create cumbersome obstacles and discourage renewable energy investment.

Support grows for a federal clean electricity standard

President Joe Biden supports a federal clean electricity standard. It was left out of the infrastructure deal so now attention is turning to the budget reconciliation process, and energy stakeholders have been jockeying to include their priorities in the legislation.

Last April, for example, a group of public and private sector power producers wrote to President Biden and argued that a federal clean power standard would provide energy investors with certainty, helping to accelerate progress toward the President’s goal of cutting power sector emissions by 80 percent reduction in emissions compared to 2005 levels by 2030.

However, they also pointed out that the availability of wind, solar and other renewable resources varies from one place to another. They made the case for a federal clean electricity standard that provides for flexibility and feasibility.

In a further indication that the April letter represented a cautious approach, one of the signatories was Calpine Corporation, which owns a sprawling fleet of 76 power plants in operation or under construction in 22 states plus Mexico and Canada.

Though one of its power plants deploys geothermal energy, Calpine relies heavily on natural gas as a lower-carbon power generation resource. Unfortunately for natural gas stakeholders, the lower-carbon argument is falling apart as evidence grows on the extent of methane emissions issues stirred up by the natural gas industry, including local air pollution impacts as well as global warming risks.

The green hydrogen trend could enable power producers like Calpine to substitute renewable hydrogen gas for natural gas in power plants. However, the global supply of green hydrogen is still vanishingly small, and the scaling up of this technology is years away.

Reading between the lines, the April letter seems more focused on preserving the role of natural gas in pushing coal out of the power generation sector over the near term, rather than advocating for a more rapid transition out of all fossil fuels.

Electricity buyers write letters, too

A new letter obtained by Politico last week takes a more aggressive approach. Addressed to Congress, the new letter urges “support for a Federal Clean Electricity Standard that will transform the U.S. electric power grid to 100 percent clean energy by 2035.”

“Passage of a federal clean electricity standard will drive large amounts of new renewable generation and do so in a way that provides businesses with a clear path and expectation to make needed investment as the scale and speed necessary,” the letter argues.

The letter caught attention in the media because it was signed by scores of leading corporate electricity buyers, including Apple, Ben & Jerry’s, DSM North America, General Motors, Google, Levi Strauss & Co., Mars, Salesforce, Tesla and Unilever.

Interestingly, none of the signers of the April letter participated in the new letter with the exception of Holy Cross Energy, a rural electric cooperative base in Colorado. As with other utilities of its type, HCE is encumbered by long term contracts that continue to sustain fossil energy use. Nevertheless, it has succeeded in integrating a significant amount of renewable energy.

HCE is also involved in at least two potentially game-changing areas that would a federal clean electricity standard. One is the development of a suite of experimental grid controls that would enable a “hard pivot” away from centralized power plants. HCE is working with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory on that project.

The other area is the “coal-for-solar swap” model adopted by the firm Guzman Energy, which enables power producers to disencumber themselves from long term fossil energy contracts without making onerous up-front payments.

No country for natural gas

Also of interest is the new letter’s emphasis on a federal clean electricity standard that tosses natural gas out of the clean power bucket. The signers simply do not want natural gas included in a “clean” electricity standard.

“The electric power sector accounts for one-half of U.S. natural gas consumption, a major driver of upstream leaks of methane,” the letter points out.

“Methane is a potent greenhouse gas 84 times more powerful than carbon dioxide in its first two decades after release. Researchers estimate that methane from human sources is responsible for at least a quarter of today’s warming,” the letter emphasizes.

What about compliance?

This firm position against natural gas by some of the nation’s top corporate energy buyers is a welcome change from the “all of the above” decarbonization strategy advocated by former President Obama. It is also a giant step in the right direction after former President Trump’s efforts to coddle gas producers, which included the relaxation of methane emission rules.

However, the new letter leaves out the key issue of compliance.

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and other advocates for a federal clean electricity standard argue that an enforceable compliance structure, complete with penalties, is the only way to ensure that the energy transition continues to accelerate.

“The U.S. cannot get where it needs to go on climate through investments alone. Incentive-based policies can only go so far, and a payment-only strategy cannot provide the certainty we need to ensure that the power sector becomes the backbone of a clean economy,” EDF argues.

“Financial incentives cannot be a substitute for strong standards that ensure pollution cuts and secure the deployment of clean energy, and Congress should not offer off-ramps or alternative compliance payments as a substitute to achieving the required outcomes,” adds EDF.

Where are the votes?

Realistically, it appears that financial incentives will win out over penalties.

Democrats have the majority in both houses of Congress, so they could pass a budget through reconciliation with the clean electricity standard, even if no Republicans vote with them.

However, Democratic senators from gas-producing states, like Joe Manchin (D-WV), are likely to dig in their heels against an enforceable standard with penalties. As a result, if a clean electricity standard is included in the budget, it will most likely provide for significant flexibility and it will focus on incentives, not penalties.

That may sound like pretty weak tea, and it is, considering that the impacts of catastrophic climate change are already occurring in the U.S. and other parts of the world.

Nevertheless, the new letter sends a strong signal to Senator Manchin and other policy makers from some of the top employers in the nation. These job creators are ready and willing to throw natural gas under the bus for the sake of climate action, and members of Congress who want to grow the job market for their constituents back home would be wise to do the same.

Image credit: Ruben Gutierrez/Unsplash

Among the daily headlines is talk about the labor shortage that is bedeviling many businesses across the U.S. Shares on social media that discuss a struggle to find workers, or the mismatch between jobs available and the work many people are seeking, are often followed by snark about “lazy people looking for handouts” or “free government money.” The truth about this volatile job market and perceived labor shortage, however, is far more complex.

Employees across the U.S. had already become fed up with living a life with irregular work schedules that came with terrible pay. As the pandemic exacted a toll on essential workers starting well over a year ago, many also received the message that the types of work available to them would be vastly different come 2021 and 2022. Add the harassment far too many had to endure during the worst stages of the COVID-19 crisis, and it is no wonder that more of them searched for a new line of work or sought online training with the goal of finding a different type of employment.

Is this a labor shortage, or impatience with low wages?

But while retail and restaurant managers complain that they cannot find enough workers to keep their businesses running smoothly, one East Coast pizza chain is actually doing quite well — and it has its own response to complaints about labor shortages.

&pizza has taken a divergent route from many of its competitors. Instead of talking about workers in the abstract like a Wall Street analyst or corporate CEO on a quarterly earnings call, the company’s CEO, Michael Lastoria, has insisted that he wants the company to achieve social good while serving good pizza. Currently, &pizza workers start with an hourly wage of $16. The company has bold plans for expansion, and Lastoria has claimed that &pizza has received about 100 job applications for each new opening.

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In a recent profile on Business Insider, Lastoria dismissed the conventional corporate wisdom about fast-casual restaurants, a sector that has long relied on low wages, the exploitation of staff, and high salaries and bonuses for the very few working in the C-Suite.

What kind of shortage is this, again?

In addition to paying a competitive wage, &pizza says it also offers healthcare benefits (including a vaccine bonus) as well as paid time off for participating in activist causes. During the pandemic the company also reportedly offered expanded sick time and $5 Lyft rides to work.

"There isn't a labor shortage, there is a shortage of business owners willing to pay a living wage,” Lastoria told Insider’s Zahra Tayeb. "Higher wages lead to greater consumer spending and greater workforce productivity, things every company benefits from."

The approach &pizza and Lastoria have taken toward the chain’s employees is the reality many businesses across the country must learn to embrace. Labor shortage or not, it's a different work environment now.

While some Americans found comfort during the pandemic, many suffered

One massive change that marked 2020 is that many white-collar professionals waxed on about the changes involved with working from home, which included more family time, additional time to connect with nature and achieving that evasive work-life balance. The positive and celebrated changes they enjoyed, however, came at the expense of countless essential workers who often found themselves working twice as hard, subjected to more risk, yet not receiving compensation commensurate with what they had to put up with day after day.

With more workers realizing that they are deserving of a workday with dignity no matter their education, job experience or level of skills, &pizza's success shows how the entire restaurant industry is in need of a reset. Low hourly wages in exchange for the promise of tips no longer has the pull it once did, especially as consumers too often act as if taking a seat in a restaurant entitles them to cheerful service from wait staff. Enough restaurant guests feel they can behave any way they wish if they are paying a gratuity, including one disturbing trend Fast Company has called “maskual harassment.”

It might be time for U.S. restaurants to adopt the standard that many restaurants overseas have long taken: Add a 10 percent service charge to the tab and pay employees a higher hourly wage. After all, no one should feel entitled to a cheap meal — and no one should feel as if they can behave cheaply while visiting a restaurant, either. &pizza gets it. It’s finally time corporate America hears this, too.

It's not a labor shortage. It's more like a labor liberation.

Image credit: &pizza/Facebook

It’s not on many corporations’ ESG bingo cards, but “encouraging citizens to be considerate of others” certainly comes to mind when considering the news of the past few weeks. Ongoing resistance to vaccinations, the threat of the COVID Delta variant and what that all means for the fragile economic recovery — and quite frankly, our social and mental health recovery — should be top of mind for companies and everyday citizens alike. World Mask Week and more awareness surrounding this event offer organizations one way to do good for society.

Leading the charge for publicizing World Mask Week includes the Pandemic Action Network, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the African Union, 3M and more than 50 global and regional partner organizations. The campaign seeks to unmask a universal truth: Wearing face masks in public, along with handwashing and social distancing, are still among the best ways people can protect themselves and others against COVID-19, especially at a time when many countries are in overdrive to vaccinate their citizens.

"Last year, with the first World Mask Week, we sparked a global movement in 117 countries to wear masks. This year, as the pandemic persists in much of the world, we're coming together around the message that masking still matters and to show gratitude for those who have worn a mask and continue to mask up," said Eloise Todd, co-founder of the Pandemic Action Network, in a public statement.

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Whenever and however the global pandemic recedes, the reality is that society needs to decide if mask wearing should continue as a means to improve public health. Plenty of evidence suggests that the wearing of masks during the pandemic made a difference when it came to stalling the spread of the common cold and flu; at least one study has concluded that the wearing of masks was also linked to a steep plunge in the rate of pediatric respiratory illnesses.

Many companies will respond that they have enough on their plate in dealing with the post-pandemic work environment, including the challenges involved in convincing employees that returning to the office is a safe decision for everyone. But as fall and winter draw closer on the calendar, it’s hard to dispute the data suggesting that wearing a mask is one of the simplest ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and just about any other virus-induced illness. Furthermore, as we’ve seen just about everywhere from Instagram to Red Bubble to Etsy, the mask business has unleashed its fair share of creativity and entrepreneurship in the name of helping us to make a small fashion statement, too.

World Mask Week shouldn’t just be a 2020 or 2021 thing. Wearing masks has become one of the most effective ways to stall the spread of diseases, and companies seeking to check some ESG boxes would be wise to support such a global effort.

Image credit: Pandemic Action Network/Facebook; Atoms/Unsplash

The global auto industry has had a friendly relationship with oil and gas stakeholders for more than 100 years, but things are taking a sharp turn. Electric vehicles are enabling car makers to shake off the legacy of fossil energy, and that includes producing green hydrogen for fuel call electric cars. Startups have already begun testing the green hydrogen waters, and now Hyundai Motor Group is putting its considerable influence to work within this sector.

Green hydrogen for fuel cell electric vehicles

Hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) run on electricity, like their battery-powered cousins. They also produce no tailpipe emissions, other than water. They generate electricity on-the-go, by fostering a reaction between hydrogen and ambient oxygen.

Despite the absence of tailpipe air pollution, FCEVs are not necessarily a sustainable mobility solution. That’s because almost all of the global supply of hydrogen in circulation today comes from fossil sources, primarily natural gas.

Fortunately, alternative sources have begun to emerge. Electrolysis systems, which use electricity to pry hydrogen gas loose from water, have been attracting much research and development activity to date. Add low-cost wind or solar energy to supply the electricity, and the so-named green hydrogen field has provided automakers with a unique new opportunity to collaborate on fuel production.

Unlike fossil fuels, green hydrogen can be produced practically anywhere that water and clean electricity are available. Though hydrogen fuel stations are few and far between today, the potential for rapid expansion is coming into focus. Here in the U.S., for example, the company IVYS Energy Solutions has developed a modular system called SimpleFuel, which combines green hydrogen production with a fueling station that fits into a standard parking spot.

One legacy automaker is pushing the green hydrogen envelope

Green hydrogen is still relatively expensive, mainly due to the high cost of electrolysis systems. The race is on to develop new, less costly technology, and that’s where Hyundai Motor Group comes in.

Last week, Hyundai and its Kia brand signed on to an agreement with the Canadian green hydrogen producer Next Hydrogen in an R&D project aimed at pushing down the cost of this source of fuel.

The partners will focus on an electrolysis system based on alkaline chemistry, among other options.

“The alkaline water electrolysis system is regarded as technologically one of the most rigorously tested and proven means with a long track record of research and development. Also, it has the advantage of being able to produce large-scale hydrogen and using relatively inexpensive catalysts, making facility costs low,” Hyundai explained.

Under the agreement, Hyundai and Kia will combine their experience in the fuel cell area to create a new fuel cell stack for Next Hydrogen's electrolysis system. The partners anticipate that the result will be a significant boost in performance and a consequent drop in the cost of green hydrogen.

In addition to improving performance, the partners also plan to focus on reducing costs related to construction, operation and maintenance.

The global auto industry is embracing fuel cell vehicles

The Hyundai announcement is another indication that leading global automakers are pivoting into both fuel cells and batteries in order to decarbonize the transportation sector, with the rather famous exception of Tesla Motors.

Fuel cell passenger cars have been slow to catch on in the U.S., but the market is rapidly expanding elsewhere around the world, and various automakers are persisting in their efforts to crack the U.S. market.

The Toyota Mirai was an early entrant in the field, as part of Toyota’s broader vision for a decarbonized “hydrogen society.” Honda has joined in the hydrogen fuel cell trend with its Clarity sedan. More recently, Hyundai introduced its Nexo fuel cell car (shown above) to the U.S., with an assist from the U.S. Department of Energy.

The Big Three U.S. automakers have been slow on the uptake, with the exception of General Motors. GM has been pursuing fuel cell technology for many years, partly with an eye on the military market. It has partnered with Honda on fuel cell projects and last spring the company also announced plans to test its Hydrotec fuel cell in the aviation sector.

Startups may stumble, but hydrogen could save the day

As for fuel cell vehicle startups, Tesla-style success in the U.S. has proved to be elusive so far. However, the opportunity to form partnerships in hydrogen production appears to have provided at least two fuel cell stakeholders with a lifeline.

One is the firm Plug Power, which got its start in the early 2000’s promoting fuel cell forklifts as a zero-emission solution for warehouse operations.

Investor interest appeared lukewarm at first, but in recent years Plug Power has expanded its fuel cell marketing plans to include just about anything that moves, including aircraft.

In support of that business, Plug Power jumped into the green hydrogen field last year by acquiring the firms GinerELX and United Hydrogen. Earlier this year the company also announced plans to construct the largest green hydrogen production facility in North America.

Half-steps to decarbonization can help, too

The other startup attracting media notice is Nikola. The company launched in 2016 with an ambitious plan for building a network of green hydrogen production and fuel stations, for a forthcoming long-haul fuel cell truck.

The plan attracted considerable attention from industry leaders including Ryder, UPS, Anhueser-Busch and GM, though Nikola later modified its fuel supply plan to focus more on fuel station availability, and less on green hydrogen. That made sense, considering that the supply of green hydrogen is still miniscule even today.

Late last year critics raised questions about Nikola’s business model and its stock took a nosedive. However, earlier this year Nikola took a series of steps to get back on track. Its actions so far have been consistent with the aim of producing lots of fuel cell vehicles as quickly as possible, while faced with the scant availability of green hydrogen with which to fuel them.

Earlier this year Nikola formed a fueling station partnership in Germany with the natural gas pipeline operator OGE and the fuel station firm Iveco. Though the initial focus appears to be on conventional hydrogen, OGE has begun to expand its interest in green hydrogen, and Germany is part of an aggressive EU-wide program supporting the development of green hydrogen.

Here in the U.S., last month Nikola expanded its interest in hydrogen production by investing in the firm Wabash Valley Resources LLC, which is building a hydrogen facility in Indiana.

The facility will not produce green hydrogen from water, but it is a step in the right direction because it does not involve natural gas or other virgin fossil energy inputs. It will pry hydrogen loose from solid waste, including biomass and petroleum coke, the latter being a byproduct of oil refining.

In combination with carbon capture, this type of waste-to-hydrogen solution will help wean the hydrogen fuel cell sector away from natural gas. As the global economy decarbonizes, presumably facilities of this type will rely more on biomass and other renewable wastes, and less on fossil waste from refineries.

The natural gas industry may think it holds the zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell field firmly in its friend circle, but fair-weather friends is more like it. Fossil energy is losing its grip on the fuel cell market with every new stakeholder and innovator that enters the field.

Image credit: Hyundai USA

Renewables were the sole energy source to increase in demand in 2020 and through the pandemic, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reported in May. The IEA found that wind and solar actually claimed their fastest growth rate in two decades. Electric vehicles (EVs) also saw increased demand, with most markets finding increased registration of such automobiles. This trend is great news for the green economy and the reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions, but there are always hiccups to overcome when a new industry scales. For clean energy and transportation, one challenge is the responsible sourcing metals for batteries. Hence there is growing concern over deep sea mining and its long-term impact on the globe’s environment.

Batteries that store renewable energy, including those used for EVs, require rare and expensive materials such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper and manganese. These materials are not as readily available as fossil fuels have been. There may be times when supply needs to catch up with demand, as the IEA projected in another May report. That survey recommended that governments stockpile the metals used in batteries so they can weather any supply disruptions.

So far, mining for these metals occurs on land, but deep ocean floors are gaining attention for their polymetallic nodules, stones about two to four inches in diameter and composed mostly of manganese and iron, but also sometimes nickel, copper and cobalt.

A push to start deep sea mining within two years

Today, deep sea mining remains in the exploratory phase. Where polymetallic nodules are concentrated in international waters, they are in the jurisdiction of the International Seabed Authority, mandated under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to regulate mining activities and give licenses to prospectors. To date, 19 companies and nations have secured such licenses.

Recognizing an economic opportunity in mining, some Pacific island nations, such as the Cook Islands, Kiribati and Nauru, have sponsored companies to explore the mineral-rich Clarion Clipperton Zone that extends west from Mexico. Nauru has sponsored Canadian mining company DeepGreen Metals Inc., expected to be trading on the Nasdaq Global Select Market later this year.

Last month, Nauru President Lionel Aingimea informed the ISA of plans to start mining within two years — a process akin to vacuuming nodules from the sea floor. The nation invoked a “two year rule” in the UNCLOS that puts a deadline on negotiations if a nation feels the process is going too slowly.

Why a moratorium on deep sea mining?

While companies are hoping to put their machinery to work, marine scientists and some companies — including Google, BMW, AB Volvo and Samsung — are arguing for a moratorium on mining until we understand more about the high seas. They contend that just because deep sea mining supports the renewable energy transition doesn’t make it sustainable. Supporting battery development doesn’t necessarily result in activity that serves as a net positive for the climate, especially if the ocean’s ability to store carbon is compromised.

We just don’t know the consequences, marine scientists say. A recent statement from marine experts, calling for a pause on deep sea mining, states in part: “There is a paucity of rigorous scientific information available concerning the biology, ecology and connectivity of deep-sea species and ecosystems, as well as the ecosystem services they provide. Without this information, the potential risks of deep-sea mining to deep-ocean biodiversity, ecosystems and functioning, as well as human well-being, cannot be fully understood.” After all, more than 80 percent of the ocean remains unexplored.

“The scraping of the sea floor and pollution from mining processes can wipe out entire species – many yet to be discovered,” adds the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Even so, why would companies like Google and Samsung want to put a pause on nodule mining if their products could benefit from potentially new and plentiful materials for batteries? Here's one example: BMW recently told Reuters that sourcing materials from deep sea mining is not a viable option as the automaker would not be able to assess the environmental risks.

Environmental risks in supply chains are increasingly relevant to companies hoping to maintain trust with consumers and keep a social license to operate. One study that focused on consumers in Scotland and Norway showed that the public did not have comprehensive awareness of the deep sea, but those surveyed still recognized a need for sustainable management. Even in the middle of the Pacific, mining companies are not necessarily excluded from the public’s perception and their own need for a social license. Slowing down the push to launch deep sea mining may just ensure the industry lasts in the long run – and push companies to seek new innovations in battery technology.

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Summer is a time for lemonade, fishing and taking a dip in a local lake. Unfortunately, many communities are also experiencing the effects of harmful algal blooms (also called algae blooms) in lakes, rivers and coastlines this summer. These algal blooms can form mats, films, clumps and foams and often have hues of white, green, red, yellow and brown. In addition to hindering recreational activities including swimming and fishing, these algal blooms can increase water costs, hurt local businesses, contaminate drinking water and cause harmful health effects in many areas across the globe.

What causes harmful algal blooms?

Although colonies of algae are naturally occurring, excess nutrients can cause them to grow out of control. In particular, nitrogen and phosphorus-rich runoff from commercial agriculture, wastewater and lawn fertilizers cause explosive growth.

Nutrient loads in runoff, rising temperatures and intense rainfall events that carry soil and nutrients into lakes are all contributing to harmful algal blooms. In some cases like in Utah, drought can exacerbate algal blooms when water becomes stagnant and in high-heat conditions. Likewise, diverting fresh water upstream can also exacerbate this problem.

Once optimum conditions are reached, the algae multiply, and populations frequently grow out of control. This means that some years can be worse than others, yet the harmful effects of algal blooms are steadily becoming worse across the globe over time. California, for example, reports that harmful algal blooms have increased by 464 percent in the last five years.

The exact culprit of these blooms varies a bit by the waterway. In part, it depends on the cyanobacteria at play because the exact conditions in which they thrive varies by the species. As heat waves, droughts, and extreme rainfall become increasingly common, harmful algal blooms will become more severe in many areas. Unfortunately, harmful algal species can be transported by ships in ballast water. This means that new species can be introduced, leading to new environmental problems if such algae grow unchecked into new blooms.

Why are algal blooms so concerning?

People can come in contact with algae by eating seafood, swimming, drinking water or even breathing contaminated air. Not all algal blooms are harmful, but certain species can lead to environmental and health risks. Some produce highly potent toxins, which are harmful to aquatic life and humans. Coming in direct contact with such blooms or ingesting food that contains harmful algae can lead to such extreme human health risks as liver failure, cancer and respiratory problems.

Other types of algal blooms create biomass that blocks sunlight or decreases oxygen levels in the water. Sadly, they can create dead zones or mass mortality of aquatic life. This is especially concerning in regions that are dependent on fisheries or rely on tourism. Although commercial fisheries are monitored and typically closed when unsafe conditions are reached, recreational fishing can lead to the unsafe consumption of seafood. Likewise, the closure of fisheries can have significant financial impacts on surrounding communities.

Unfortunately, toxic algae are causing beaches to close and are even contributing to water wars along the California and Oregon border. Some communities aren’t able to ensure safe drinking water supplies for their residents because they lack adequate water treatment infrastructure to respond to this threat. Unfortunately, boiling water doesn’t remove the toxins – and any necessary infrastructure improvements could cause the cost of sourcing local water supplies to increase.

Long-term economic and public health risks

In Toledo, Ohio, the cost of water is expected to double between 2019 and 2025, boosting living expenses for residents. The expenses of ensuring a safe drinking water supply are being passed on to residents through water rate hikes. Unfortunately, that burden can fall the hardest on low to moderate-income residents. 

Algal blooms are also covering Lake Okeechobee, Florida’s largest freshwater lake. Its once clear waters are now opaque. This green carpet is hurting the local tourism industry and human health, but political issues are hindering any positive action and progress. There is also disagreement within the surrounding region on the best way to mitigate algal blooms without hindering commercial agriculture.

“None of this is cheap,” said conservation biologist and ecologist Hilary Swain, director of Archbold Research Station, located near Lake Okeechobee. “None of it is easy, and all of it’s going to, unfortunately, take quite a long time. But all of it is worth doing and all of it’s worth doing now because our problems are only going to get worse. We’re only digging ourselves a deeper hole down the road if we don’t address this.”

Image credit: Koushik Chowdavarapu/Unsplash