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Howard University's department of mechanical engineering will soon be home to an interdisciplinary maker space and innovation lab, where students can interact with peers from other disciplines such as architecture, science and business, thanks to a $1 million gift from Autodesk.

“This donation will help us better train and prepare the next generation of interdisciplinary engineers with the hands-on and digital skills necessary for the fast-evolving future workforce,” Nadir Yilmaz, chair and professor of Howard's department of mechanical engineering, told TriplePundit. “Such an interdisciplinary space, equipped with state-of-the art hardware and Autodesk software, will be used not only to teach courses such as CAD/CAM/CAE [computer-aided design, manufacturing and engineering], but also to provide students a medium where they can conceptualize ideas, find innovative solutions to today’s interdisciplinary grand challenges, and take advantage of experiential learning opportunities from freshmen year until graduation.”

The largest ever unrestricted gift to the department is the latest chapter of a five-year partnership between Autodesk and the historically Black university. In addition to Autodesk’s donation of its industry-grade software, Howard mechanical engineering students have received technical support from Autodesk experts, including hands-on software trainings provided both on-campus and virtually, and used cloud-based, high-power computing capabilities for Fusion 360 Generative Design, Yilmaz told 3p. 

“The Autodesk Student Ambassador program allowed our students to train their peers in CAD, CAM, CAE and generative design for Autodesk Certification,” Yilmaz said. Students have also participated in Autodesk Design Slam Competitions and attended annual Autodesk University conferences with the company’s support.

Fusion 360 is a cloud-based 3D modeling software which provides CAD, CAM, CAE, and printed circuit board (PCB) features within the same platform for professional product design and manufacturing. Howard University is one of the first academic institutions to have access to Fusion 360 Generative Design when it was previously only available to industry, Yilmaz said. 

“As a result of Autodesk providing support with free software and services, we advocated for Fusion 360 to train students with the professional-level software that combines multiple capabilities within the same platform and has a reputation for being user-friendly,” he said.

The company also collaborates with Howard University on curriculum development using Autodesk Fusion 360 and has hosted Fusion 360 workshops for students. Autodesk’s HBCU Tech Program provides career pathways to students at Howard and three other historically Black colleges and universities. As part of the HBCU Tech Program, students with computer science and engineering backgrounds have received paid externships at Autodesk. Students have also collaborated with Autodesk staff on specially curated projects, taking on technical challenges such as robotics security and manufacturing workflows, while gaining valuable work experience.

Providing tools like these to traditionally under-resourced students can make a real difference in the future of the field. Today, only 3.1 percent of the mechanical engineers in the United States are Black, according to research from career and jobs website Zippia. Of the Black engineers in the workforce, 40 percent received their degrees from an HBCU. 

As its mission statement reads, "The College of Engineering and Architecture at Howard University aspires to leverage its unique culture and strengths to become nationally recognized for providing a pathway to opportunities and careers in engineering, computer science, and architecture for Black and other underserved students, developing leaders who are inspired to serve humanity through their knowledge and innovation, and forging technologies and designing built environments that impact the Black community, as well as promote greater social prosperity." 

“Autodesk’s continued support of our faculty and students also positively impacts our efforts to train and develop engineers who become tomorrow’s leaders in education, government and industry,” added John M. M. Anderson, dean of the College of Engineering and Architecture.  

The news of the donation was also welcomed by mechanical engineering students. “They are very excited about how the donation from Autodesk will be utilized to enhance the student learning experience, with up-to-date digital tools and hardware and experiential opportunities, which will prepare them as industry-ready engineers for the fast-evolving, competitive workforce,” Yilmaz said.

Image courtesy of Howard University via Globe Newswire

In March of last year, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed a new rule that would govern how U.S. companies publicly disclose information related to climate change and sustainability. Release of the final climate disclosure rule has been delayed, due to an unprecedented number of public comments, and it's now expected to be published in April.

The new rule will mean massive changes for U.S. companies. However, recent polling from Workiva and PwC shows that many large companies are not waiting for the SEC’s final rule to make progress on their climate-related disclosures: 70 percent of business leaders have already started to gather and disclose data in alignment with what's expected from the SEC and plan to proceed with such efforts regardless of when the new rule is issued. However, 85 percent of business leaders surveyed reported that they do not have the technology they need in order to meet new expected reporting requirements. 

Almost all of the 300 corporate executives surveyed said their company is prioritizing environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations more now than they were before the SEC rule proposal. But 39 percent feel their company is not currently prepared to comply with new requirements. Further, at least 70 percent believe they will need two years or more to become compliant with the new measures.

“Regardless of when the SEC rules are finalized, investors and stakeholders have made clear: this is important," Kevin O’Connell, trust solutions ESG leader at PwC, said in a statement. "Companies should be preparing by transitioning to investor-grade and tech-enabled reporting to help accelerate their reporting process and looking to implement effective governance and internal controls.” Forty percent of corporate respondents said they have already made investments in new reporting technology, and a third have invested in new hires to oversee ESG reporting. 

Aside from technology, staffing and human resource concerns related to ESG are also weighing on the minds of corporate leaders. More than a third of responding business leaders are not fully confident that their company is adequately staffed to meet the requirements of the SEC rules.

While leaders from larger companies are more confident they have the right technology to meet new ESG requirements compared to those from smaller companies, the converse is true for staffing. Larger companies are less confident they have adequate staffing in place to comply with the new rule. “Having the right technology, people, and timelines will be critical to complying with the proposed rule changes and other stakeholder demands for ESG transparency,” Julie Iskow, president and chief operating officer at Workiva, said in a statement. The current labor shortage could complicate efforts further, Workiva and PwC found. 

External assurance for ESG reporting is also growing in importance, as 70 percent of respondents said they already seek independent assurance for their reports and 96 percent said they will seek external assurance in the future, whether or not it is required in the final SEC climate disclosure rule. 

Of course, staffing, technology and external assurance carries a hefty price tag. The SEC estimates that compliance with the new climate disclosure rule would cost a business $640,000 in year one. But 61 percent of business leaders believe their price tag for compliance will exceed $750,000, and 27 percent predict they will spend more than $1 million, according to the Workiva-PwC survey. 

While almost 9 in 10 business executives indicated their companies already report some ESG data, companies still have much to do to prepare for the new SEC climate disclosure rule. Companies should ensure their technology, staffing, and external assurance plans are in place now to create a smoother transition into SEC compliance. 

Image credit: Diva Plavalaguna/Pexels

Most people don’t spend much time thinking about their roofs, but a home is quite literally a roof over our heads. Roofs will always need to be replaced at some point, and despite recession and supply chain woes, industry watch groups continue to predict growth in the construction sector. So, what does that mean for the asphalt shingles that make up over 80 percent of home roofs? Owens Corning, one of the top global manufacturers of asphalt shingles, has a plan.

Recycling 2 million tons of shingles per year

Owens Corning recently announced a commitment to recycle 2 million tons of shingles per year in the U.S. by 2030. 

Approximately 12 million to 14 million tons of asphalt shingles are sent to landfills every year across the industry. This creates a problem for several reasons. “Think about what these things are,” Mark Leo, director of circular economy initiatives at Owens Corning, told TriplePundit. “We develop [shingles] to be extremely durable, with 20- to 30-year lifespans. This material doesn’t degrade quickly in a landfill.”

Solving this waste problem sits front and center within the company’s sustainability goals, which include doubling the positive impact of products and halving the negative impact of operations. “We want our handprint — the positive — to be bigger than our footprint — the negative,” Leo explained. “The [recycling] program fits into our waste story to become a net-positive company.”

How does shingle recycling work?

To meet that 2 million ton goal, Owens Corning is testing out new ways to process shingles in partnership with the recycling companies ASR Systems, CRS Reprocessing Services and Indiana Shingle Recycling. A shingle recycling pilot in Indianapolis will utilize proprietary, patented processes to break down shingles and extract the raw materials for reuse. Those materials will then be tested in Owens Corning manufacturing facilities to produce new shingles made from old ones. 

“This is a first-of-its-kind pilot facility to break these components down,” said Gunner Smith, president of roofing for Owens Corning. “They break down the shingles and pulverize them. Then, through the process, out comes liquid asphalt. It was the first time I’ve seen old-use shingles turned into something we use every day. It’s a full circle.”

In addition to roofs, the company plans to give old shingles a second life in paving. “The configuration of Owens Corning — our business, technology and the way our assets are distributed throughout the country — helps us choose the approaches we’ll take,” Leo said. The company intends to help incorporate these materials into the paving industry, where it already has relationships. “The paving industry is looking for ways to improve their processes, like we are,” he continued. “We’re trying to reduce the amount of virgin materials and use more recycled materials to reduce our overall footprint.”

The proof is in the pudding

The shingle recycling pilot launched in December of last year, and Owens Corning and its partners have been experimenting ever since — running trials in plants and testing how recycled-content shingles will stand up to tough conditions. “We need to go through it with a special eye,” Smith said. “We want this material to be as good or better than our traditional products.” 

Smith and his team believe Owens Corning’s decades of expertise give the company the flexibility and adaptability to push new processes forward. The industry has been trying to get its head around this problem for 20 years, Smith said, but he feels like this pilot is something different. “If we can prove this works and scale it, we’ve got a real game-changer here.”

“Stepping up.”

The construction industry faces significant challenges with the circularity of its materials — from concrete to steel to asphalt. Industry organizations are talking about how to increase sustainability while customers and contractors are asking for it. “It feels like we’ve gotten to a point as an industry where we all know we need to tackle these types of challenges,” Leo told us. “We’re all in. The industry needs leadership in this space, and we are happy to step up.”

The pilot is the first step toward making that happen. “We have a lot of work ahead of us,” Leo concluded. “We set that goal of 2 million tons a year, and we’ll advance toward it as fast as we can. We’ve got our marching orders.” And maybe the next time you replace your roof, it will be with recycled shingles born from a goal of making a handprint bigger than a footprint.

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

Images courtesy of Owens Corning

Despite increased attention on the issue — and the rollout of piecemeal reform policies in some cities — data indicates that police violence in the U.S. is actually getting worse.

The Washington Post's real-time database has recorded more fatal police shootings every year since it launched in 2015, with 2022 being the deadliest to date. Communities of color, particularly Black communities, continue to be disproportionately affected. Already this year, U.S. police have shot and killed 195 people, according to the database. Many, including the killings of Tyre Nichols, Keenan Anderson, Anthony Lowe Jr. and Manuel "Tortuguita" Terán, were highly publicized. Yet most of the brands that proclaimed to "stand with" Black communities following the murder of George Floyd in 2020 were largely nowhere to be seen. 

So, why have brands gone silent on the issue of police violence, and how can they do better? TriplePundit connected with leaders in sustainability and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) to get a better understanding. 

The hard work is just beginning 

Like the Black Lives Matter movement itself, the corporate pledges made after Floyd's murder were about much more than police violence. Companies committed billions of dollars in funding to tackle systemic inequities across society and the economy. Some succeeded in creating measurable progress — including the push to get more Black-owned brands on store shelves and devote more mainstream advertising spend to Black-owned media companies. 

But by and large, many of these initially outspoken brands have failed to follow through. "It’s easy for everyone to jump on the bandwagon," Emerald-Jane "EJ" Hunter, founder of the DEI-focused integrated marketing firm myWHY Agency, said of corporate stands in favor of racial equity. "But it’s hard work and often calls for financial investment for companies to actually do the work, and do it well."

Particularly during uncertain economic times, programming that is viewed as "nice-to-have" or unrelated to the business is always at risk of being cut. And unfortunately too many brands still view their racial equity work this way. 

"Many brands aren’t willing to part with the investment so take the lazy route by making a statement and claims and hope, just like many things, followers and consumers will forget over time what they said they would do," Hunter told us. "The commitment simply isn’t there to do what it takes to make the shift and change, and therein lies the problem: Until companies make the investment and give it the time that it takes, we’ll never see change."

The benefits of going bold: How can leaders convince their bosses it's worth the risk? 

"The issue of police violence has also become so politically charged, it’s safer for brands to not go 'too hard' on this stance for fear of being cancelled," Hunter said. While brands may be more keen to back off given the "anti-woke" political climate, consumer expectations — particularly among younger demographics — are only growing. 

"Remaining quiet when police brutality continues to disproportionately impact communities of color is no longer an option," said Alix Lebec, founder and CEO of Lebec Consulting, which specializes in environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues and impact investing. "Eighty-two percent of millennial consumers expect corporations to align with their social and environmental values — and to stand up for key societal issues in real time." 

Although it may seem safer to stay silent, brands that go bold — and back it up — stand to see real benefits. "Ben & Jerry’s is one of the best examples of a company and brand that immediately spoke up after George Floyd’s murder caused by inhumane police brutality in an authentic manner," Lebec said. "From its voice, consumer products, donations and stance on public policy, Ben & Jerry’s took action. This is a brand that leads with empathy and purpose." 

The brand continues to work with grassroots racial empowerment and civil rights organizations like the Advancement Project, Close the Workhouse Coalition and the Power U Center for Social Change. "Taking bold positions on political topics has often helped the ice cream brand," Hunter added, citing a 2020 analysis from YouGov which found customer affinity scores double after Ben & Jerry's publicly condemned white supremacy and police violence. "The brand’s activism isn’t just the right thing to do. It also can help, in all honesty, your bottom line."

Still, what's a leader to do if their company remains hesitant? "One thing a business leader can tell their boss when they receive pushback is to look at the generations to follow and what matters to them. If their company wants to be around for years to come, they’ll soon be challenged by Gen Z and millennials for whom why businesses exist matters more than what they do," Hunter said. "You won’t exist for much longer without aligning with a cause or issue or a why that goes beyond dollars and cents."

"It doesn’t have to be specifically police brutality," she added, "but should that be the cause, then it’s worth knowing that advocacy work equals longevity for a brand. It also takes time to become the likes of Ben & Jerry's, so start now, be intentional, and practice what you preach internally and externally."

Ready to take action to curb police violence and promote equity? Here's how to start

Hunter highly recommends connecting with outside experts or enlisting an agency to help you get better about acting and communicating around issues like police violence and equity more broadly.

"This isn’t the time to risk making mistakes with a DIY approach. You’re in this boat because if you had known better, you would’ve done better," she told us. "Nothing is worse than getting it wrong. Let the experts guide you so you do it right." 

For most brands, the first step in "getting it right" will start internally, with building inclusivity in operations, hiring and promotion practices, and supply chains. "It begins at home, so ensure you’re all squared away internally before making external statements that become void of truth once you’re called out on your internal practices," Hunter advised. 

Lebec agreed. "In addition to speaking up, companies need to truly live the values they espouse," she said. "This includes engaging in catalytic and trust-based philanthropy, impact investing and public-private partnership, supporting public policies that value equality and sustainability, and showing up for local communities."

If brand leadership has money to invest, the way they choose to do it also makes a big difference — both in terms of maximizing impact and supporting changemakers of color who are often overlooked. "Donate and invest in local, minority-owned businesses and nonprofits that have a strong track record with local communities, are typically underfunded, and have the potential to create more thriving local economies," Lebec told us.

"Corporations can also leverage their philanthropy in ways that will attract other forms of financing to the table — such as impact investment capital — and financially support organizations that are really making a difference here in the U.S. and across developing and emerging markets," she said. "Investing directly from corporate balance sheets, for instance, could unlock billions to trillion dollars of capital for economic and social equality."

Don't have money? Lend your voice. "Support public policies that are leveling the playing field for underrepresented business owners and entrepreneurs and are pro-equality and sustainability," she advised. 

However they do it, brands would be wise to recognize the urgency of getting started. "In 2023, companies need to be vulnerable, action-oriented, timely, creative and authentic — or risk losing relevancy and loyalty," Lebec said. 

Image credit: Clay Banks/Unsplash

Pharmacy giant Walgreens took the tiger by the tail earlier this month when it issued a policy statement on the medication abortion pill mifepristone. Instead of clarifying matters, the company touched off a firestorm of criticism that has yet to die down. 

Mifepristone under threat

Mifepristone was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2000 for use in terminating a pregnancy. The drug has a proven record of safety and effectiveness, and the FDA has affirmed and expanded access to the drug several times since then. In 2019, for example, the FDA approved a generic version. 

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, the FDA also approved mifepristone for use through telemedicine. On Jan. 23 of this year, the agency revisited the issue and affirmed that mifepristone can be dispensed in person or through the mail by telemedicine up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. Dispensers must be certified by the FDA under its risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS), known as the Mifepristone REMS Program, which standardizes the protocol for using the drug to terminate a preganancy. 

The Joe Biden administration’s Department of Justice has also affirmed that the U.S. Postal Service cannot be prosecuted for delivering mifepristone by mail, even in states that ban or restrict the drug.

The FDA and Justice Department actions are intended to protect access to mifepristone in the wake of Dobbs v. Jackson, the 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned 50 years of abortion protections under Roe v. Wade, enabling states to enact their own restrictions.

Despite these federal actions, the attorneys general of 20 states have warned Walgreens and other pharmacies that they are breaking the law if they ship mifepristone into their states.

In addition, all eyes are on Texas, where a conservative federal judge, Matthew Kacsmaryk, has agreed to hear a lawsuit that challenges the FDA’s approval of mifepristone 23 years ago. There is no precedent for a single federal judge to overturn a longstanding decision of the FDA. However, court watchers point out that Kacsmaryk is a Donald Trump appointee who is affiliated with the First Liberty Institute, described as a conservative legal Christian organization.

Vox reporter Ian Millhiser is among those noting that Kacsmaryk’s extremist decisions on abortion rights, contraception rights, and LGBTQ+ rights are “poorly reasoned” and riddled with basic errors, making it all the more likely that his decision will go against the FDA.

Why Walgreens?

Against this backdrop, Walgreens decided to clarify its position on mifepristone. “Walgreens plans to dispense [mifepristone] in any jurisdiction where it is legally permissible to do so," the company said in a statement dated March 6.

But legality on this issue is increasingly murky, and someone at Walgreens may have failed to do their homework. Though 20 state attorneys general wrote a letter to pharmacies threatening legal action over mifepristone, not all of them represent states that ban the drug.

On March 11, reporter Nathaniel Weixel of The Hill cited a Walgreens spokesman, who said the company responded to all of the attorneys general to let them know that Walgreens will not dispense mifepristone in their states, whether in person or through the mail.

That group includes AGs representing Alaska, Iowa, Kansas and Montana. Though abortion medications have been challenged in some of those states, the restrictions are currently suspended or permanently blocked in court, Weixel reported. Attorneys general from those states clearly overstepped their authority. Nevertheless, to critics it seemed like Walgreens had knuckled under. 

To make matters worse, as of this writing none of the other leading pharmacies in the U.S. have taken a public position on mifepristone, including Albertsons, Costco, Kroger and Walmart, as well as CVS. That leaves Walgreens to bear the brunt of criticism alone, including the loss of a $54 million contract with the state of California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom has pushed back aggressively against Walgreens’ apparent stance. 

Democratic members of Congress also turned up the heat. On March 7, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts wrote a letter to Walgreens seeking clarification on the March 6 statement, including whether or not the company’s policy on mifepristone was informed by medical experts and reviewed by its board of directors.

Help is on the way...?

Confusion aside, Walgreens' statements indicate it still intends to obtain FDA certification through the REMS program. “Once we are certified by the FDA, we will dispense this medication consistent with federal and state laws," the March 6 statement reads. CVS has also indicated it plans to be certified. That laid the groundwork for the threatening letter sent by the 20 anti-mifepristone attorneys general.

But those AGs aren't alone. Another coalition of 23 state attorneys general has since formed to support pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS in their decision to seek FDA certification. In their own letter, they reassure pharmacy companies that they are on solid legal footing. 

“According to these anti-abortion states, ‘[a]bortion pills are far riskier than surgical abortions’ and providing this medicine 'increase[s] . . . coerced abortions.’ These claims are utterly false," their letter reads. “In a time when access to abortion is under attack — now more than ever in the past 50 years — we stand in full support of pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS becoming FDA-certified to dispense and mail these essential medications and to make them available as broadly as possible."

This represents a potentially broad and powerful pool of support for pharmacies like Walgreens. In addition to the economic powerhouses of California and New York state, the pro-mifepristone coalition includes Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington.

Kacsmaryk's decision could throw all pharmacies into a public relations nightmare, not just Walgreens. However, Walgreens did put itself out there all alone, and now it must weather the consequences. A hearing in the case is scheduled for Wednesday, March 15.

Image credits: Gayatri Malhotra and Kateryna Hliznitsova via Unsplash