Sustainability

New York – September 15, 2026 -- Karas Wines, an Armenian winery founded in 2004, has been nominated for 'New World Winery of the Year' in the 2026 Wine Enthusiast Wine Star Awards, marking a milestone for the country's wine sector on the international stage.

Karas cultivates over 400 hectares at elevations above 1,300 meters in Armenia's Ararat Valley

The estate, located in the Armavir region, grows both indigenous Armenian grapes and international varieties in mineral-rich volcanic soils. Karas has supported ampelographic research identifying more than 120 indigenous Armenian grape varieties, including Areni and Sireni, combining traditional clay vessel fermentation with modern viticulture.

Winery became first in Armenia to certify an organic vineyard

Karas has invested in solar energy, advanced drip irrigation and digitally managed water systems to address vineyard management challenges in the semi-arid Ararat Valley climate.

Lehigh Valley, Pa. – September 15, 2026 -- Air Products (NYSE: APD) will donate up to $15,000 to the Ceramic & Glass Industry Foundation and the Glass Manufacturing Industry Council through a donation tied to attendance at the 87th Conference on Glass Problems in Toledo, Ohio, running Sept. 14-17.

Air Products Foundation Ties Donation to Booth Visits

For each visitor to its exhibit and hospitality event, the Air Products Foundation will contribute $100, capped at a total of $15,000, to support the next generation of ceramic and glass professionals. The event runs 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET on Sept. 14 and 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET on Sept. 15 in Salon 2 of the Renaissance Toledo Downtown Hotel.

Madison, Wis. – September 15, 2026 -- Everlight Solar has been named a 2026 1-Star Champion in the Fleet category by Dane County's Climate Champions Program, marking its fourth recognition under the initiative since 2021.

Everlight Solar now operates 14 electric vehicles across its regional operations

The fleet supports company teams traveling to job sites and community events throughout the Dane County area. The 2026 designation builds on a 2025 Climate Champion recognition earned after the company converted 25-50% of its vehicles to clean energy.

Company's climate track record spans five years of escalating recognition

Dane County first named Everlight Solar an Emerging Climate Champion in Fleet Operations in 2023. In 2021, the company received Climate Champion Catalyst status for helping other local organizations take climate action.

Shenzhen – September 15, 2026 -- TCL has been named to TIME's World's Best Companies for 2026, a ranking compiled with Statista from an independent survey of 200,000 employees across more than 50 countries.

TCL Technology and TCL Industries post double-digit revenue growth in 2025

TCL Technology recorded revenue of approximately US$27 billion in 2025, up 11.7% year on year, while TCL Industries reported revenue of roughly US$24.9 billion, an increase of 13.8%. Overseas revenue exceeded US$24.93 billion, with average annual growth of more than 18.3% over the past five years.

Global footprint spans manufacturing hubs in five countries and 160-plus markets

TCL operates manufacturing and R&D facilities across China, Vietnam, Poland, Mexico and Brazil, serving customers in more than 160 countries and regions.

Research Triangle Park, N.C. – September 15, 2026 -- RTI International has opened a $14 million expansion of its Pilot Xcelerator platform, doubling the independent research institute's commercialization infrastructure for energy and industrial technology startups.

Expansion doubles pilot-scale capacity in North Carolina

The 25,000-square-foot facility on RTI's Research Triangle Park campus gives innovators access to pilot infrastructure, engineering expertise and independent scientific validation to bridge the gap between lab research and commercial deployment. RTI describes the Pilot Xcelerator as the only privately owned industrial pilot laboratory in North Carolina.

Ashburn, Va. – September 15, 2026 -- QTS Data Centers has committed $1 billion to a global water stewardship initiative aimed at making the company water positive by 2035, restoring more water than it withdraws across its operations.

QTS commits $250 million to Texas water infrastructure over the next decade

The company's first major deployment under the pledge targets Texas, where it will fund water infrastructure and conservation projects, including replacement of the aging water tower in Turkey, Texas. QTS is also allocating $15 million over 10 years to the Bonneville Environmental Foundation for leak detection, habitat restoration and irrigation-efficiency projects across the state.

Delray Beach, Fla. – September 15, 2026 -- The global molded pulp packaging market is projected to grow from $8.02 billion in 2026 to $10.82 billion by 2031, a 6.2% compound annual growth rate, according to MarketsandMarkets.

E-commerce and plastic-reduction rules drive fiber packaging demand

Rising e-commerce volumes are fueling demand for protective molded pulp inserts and cushioning for fragile goods, while corporate sustainability mandates push brands toward fiber-based alternatives to plastic and foam. Improved recycling of paper and agricultural fibers is expanding the raw-material base for manufacturers.

Berlin – September 15, 2026 -- Midea has sold more than 10 million air conditioners using the natural refrigerant R290 since 2018, cutting an estimated 5.2 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions, the company said at IFA 2026 in Berlin.

Midea holds the top spot in R290 air conditioner production for a 16th consecutive year

The company positioned itself as the world's largest manufacturer of R290-based air conditioning units, citing the refrigerant's near-zero CO2 footprint, absence of PFAS chemicals, and roughly 10% higher energy efficiency compared with conventional alternatives. Midea said the emissions avoided through its R290 sales volume are comparable to the carbon absorption capacity of 6.2 million hectares of Amazon rainforest. A cutaway model at its booth let visitors view the compressor technology in operation.

Berlin – September 15, 2026 -- Midea has sold more than 10 million R290-refrigerant air conditioners globally since 2018, cutting carbon emissions by approximately 5.2 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, an impact the company compares to the carbon absorption of 6.2 million hectares of Amazon rainforest. The Chinese appliance maker detailed its sustainable HVAC portfolio at IFA 2026 in Berlin, positioning R290 natural refrigerant technology as the centerpiece of its European growth strategy.

Gothenburg – September 15, 2026 -- Volvo Group will develop an energy park near its planned Mariestad battery cell production site, initially providing approximately 70 MW/260 MWh of battery storage capacity, making it one of the largest energy parks in Sweden.

Volvo Group commits to 70 MW/260 MWh storage capacity as first development phase

The energy park will grow along two parallel tracks: a large-scale battery storage facility using Volvo Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) from Volvo Energy, and a future test bed for developing new energy solutions. The facility is expected to become operational during 2027.