2022 Summit Summary

Tag Archive: business

  1. 2022 Summit Summary

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    The Texan by Nature Conservation Summit is an annual opportunity for leaders in business and conservation to convene and catalyze conservation in the state of Texas. Through panel presentations and Q&A sessions with the audience, the summit drives dialogue and highlights emerging sustainability solutions.

    The 2022 summit took place on November 2 in Dallas. Following two years of limited in-person attendance due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Texan by Nature team was happy to welcome 286 in-person attendees at the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas. To engage with partners far and wide, a virtual attendance option was available, and 665 leaders and advocates joined us virtually through video stream. In the post-summit attendee survey, an impressive 100% of respondents reported learning something new, up from 93% learning something new in 2021. 

    The overarching theme of the day was ‘The Future of Conservation.” The future of conservation, just like Texas’s beautiful landscape and leadership role in industry, is ever-evolving. The Summit explored human dimensions, ecosystem-level thinking, and best-in-class collaborations with the goal of inspiring new partnerships and driving conservation innovation and impact. 

    Texan by Nature CEO Joni Carswell’s opening remarks called on the audience to take an active role in shaping Texas’ conservation future: “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” Watch the opening remarks, full panel presentation recordings, and closing remarks from former First Lady and TxN founder Mrs. Laura Bush below.

    The Human Dimension

    As our population grows, the broad impact of human interaction with natural resources becomes clearly visible. From stewarding our resources to realizing the full health and economic benefits of working with and engaging with nature, new models and opportunities are emerging. The human aspect of conservation is multidimensional including coalition building, community engagement, urban planning, workforce development, health & healing, entrepreneurship, personal stewardship, and more. 

    Panelists included:

     

    Ecosystem Thinking

    Conservation and industry leaders often think and speak of ecosystems in similar yet very different ways. Conservationists most often refer to natural systems while industry leaders may refer to their supply chain or internal processes. Few entities look at the entire ecosystem and the interaction between industry and nature. With the rise in circularity discussion and goals, the need to view the entire ecosystem inclusive of industry and nature, creates a significant opportunity for impact, engagement, and economic growth. 

    Panelists included: 

     

    Models of Success

    The future of conservation relies on sound science, collaboration, metrics, prioritization, and reporting. There are projects and initiatives across Texas modeling these characteristics. From supporting our natural world and generating tourism, to feeding our population, to managing our waste, to collectively solving challenges, these projects and initiatives can be replicated in Texas and around the globe creating a thriving future for people and natural resources alike. 

    Panelists included: 

     

    If you’re interested in sponsoring our 2023 Summit – learn more here!

    Contact info@texanbynature.org for questions.

     

  2. ChampionX STEM Day for 200+ Midland-Odessa Students

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    Children are innate scientists as they try to experience the sights, scents, sounds, and textures of the world around them. Nature provides countless opportunities for discovery, creativity, problem-solving, and STEM education, a concept Texan by Nature, ChampionX, and the I-20 Wildlife Preserve understand deeply. 

    At the beginning of 2022, ChampionX partnered with Texan by Nature to identify a meaningful way to engage their community in Midland-Odessa.

    “Improving lives is our purpose at ChampionX, which doesn’t just apply to our employees and customers, we also want to ensure we are improving lives in the communities we work in.”

    Eilidh Shaw, ChampionX HR Leader – Permian Basin

    Through the Business Membership program, Texan by Nature proposed a STEM day, which activated local ChampionX employees, two IDEA Public Schools, and the I-20 Wildlife Preserve.

    “The I-20 Wildlife Preserve seeks to engage students of all ages in rigorous outdoor science education and purpose. As the students become comfortable in nature, they learn a sense of place and greater understanding of the natural world.”

    Elaine Magruder, Board President of the I-20 Wildlife Preserve

    The two-day event took 5th and 6th-grade students on a nature walk through the preserve and a series of STEM-focused stations. ChampionX employees and I-20 docents led the 200 students through the stations, teaching them about human interactions with nature, the importance of water to people and the ecosystem, abiotic and biotic factors, and ecosystem adaptations.

    “I really enjoyed seeing the students’ faces light up as they were discovering different parts of nature.  It was definitely very good for my soul.”

    Raul Pando, ChampionX Employee

    A study by Frontiers in Psychology shows that learning outdoors is not just a fun, novel experience for school-age children, but also helps them focus once they return to the classroom. After the STEM Day, students returned to their classrooms with a greater context and understanding of their interactions with nature and are primed to better learn for standardized testing. Through this collaboration, Texan by Nature, ChampionX, and I-20 Wildlife Preserve, were able to impact 200 students from IDEA Public Schools on the STEM day and potentially beyond. 

    About ChampionX:

    ChampionX is a global leader in chemistry solutions, artificial lift systems, and highly engineered equipment and technologies that help companies drill for and produce oil and gas safely, efficiently, and sustainably around the world. ChampionX’s expertise, innovative products, and digital technologies provide enhanced oil and gas production, transportation, and real-time emissions monitoring throughout the lifecycle of a well. To learn more about ChampionX, visit our website at www.championX.com 

    About IDEA Public Schools:

    IDEA Public Schools believes that each and every child can go to college. Since 2000, IDEA Public Schools has grown from a small school with 150 students to the fastest-growing network of tuition-free, Pre-K-12 public charter schools in the United States. Currently, the network serves 75,000 college-bound students in 137 schools across Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. IDEA has been recognized as a “Great Place to Work” and received national rankings on The Washington Post and U.S. News & World Report’s Top High Schools lists. IDEA remains on track to uphold its legacy of sending 100% of its graduates to college. 

    About I-20 Wildlife Preserve:

    The I-20 Wildlife Preserve is a 100-acre riparian forest campus in Midland, Texas. It is a wild space – not a park – managed by a nonprofit organization. The 86-acre urban playa lake is the highlight of the wetlands, floodplain thickets, and prairie grasslands – providing abundant avian, wildlife, and aquatic habitat. The urban playa at the Preserve is a treasured ecotourism destination of regional significance and a science education resource of the Permian Basin.

  3. TxN20 Industry Highlights — Healthcare

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    2022 TxN 20: Texan-led leadership in conservation for a sustainable future in Healthcare.

    The Texan by Nature team is excited to present the fourth annual list of Texan by Nature 20 (TxN 20) Honorees. TxN 20 recognizes outstanding work in conservation and sustainability from Texas-based businesses.

    It’s an opportunity to showcase innovation, commitment to conservation, and best practices from the industries that keep Texas running: Agriculture, Architecture, Financial Services, Food, Beverage, & Grocery, Technology, Energy, Healthcare, Municipal Services, Retail, Transportation, and Construction & Manufacturing. 

    Providing Care for Our Environment, the Texas Company Diverting 9,000 lbs of Single-Use Medical Devices – 2022 Honoree: Texas Health Resources

    Who is Texas Health Resources?

    Texas Health Resources is a large Arlington-headquartered health services system that serves much of North Texas and is one of the biggest providers in the country. Their impact extends far beyond human health toward the environment that supports us. Not only did they divert 9,000 pounds of single-use medical devices from landfills, but Texas Health Resources recycled 2 million pounds of materials, such as cardboard, paper, and plastics, and saved 4.1 million kilowatts of energy. 

    The Texas Health Resources Community is able to operate through a variety of roles, including 370 employees that are involved in conservation. Employees in Engineering, Plant Operations, Facilities Management, and Supply Chain Management – work in roles that are tied to the conservation of natural resources. Approximately 20% of those employees have roles involving significant investment in and oversight of building automation systems and other efficiency-related technologies, processes, sourcing, products, and usages.

    Outside of their organization, Texas Health’s Blue Zones Project® Fort Worth (BZP) works with the city of Fort Worth, area school districts, and numerous other city and county governments and community partners to increase health and well-being through a multitude of efforts. From instituting policies that promote well-being to encouraging local schools, businesses, restaurants, and community leaders to adopt healthy behaviors.

    Why Forward-Thinking Leaders in Healthcare Matter

    Healthcare matters for the millions of Texans who rely on the industry to provide quality care and support for themselves and their loved ones. In Texas, eight of the 25 largest employers are related to the medical industry as a hospital or place of research. The Dallas-Fort Worth area has a healthcare industry valued at $52 billion and in San Antonio, one out of every six Texans is employed in healthcare-related jobs and careers. These providers recognize the benefits of a healthy environment on community health and lead the way in advancing conservation through greater resource efficiency and sustainable supply chain strategy while maintaining high-quality care. 

    How TxN20 Honorees Are Selected Each Year

    To select the 2022 TxN 20 Honorees, the TxN Team evaluated submissions and conducted independent research across 2,000+ of Texas’ publicly traded and private companies in 12 key industry sectors. 

    All companies were evaluated on a 17-point scoring system, from which the top 60 highest-scoring companies moved on to the final round of TxN 20. A selection committee of top industry leaders and experts was then formed to evaluate the top 60 companies and select the final 20 businesses recognized as TxN 20 Honorees.

    Honorable Mentions: Standouts in Sustainability

    In addition to this year’s TxN 20 honorees, here are three industry standouts for best practices in conservation and sustainability coming from companies across the agriculture industry.

    Industry Innovator: Alcon

    The American-Swiss company Alcon specializes in eye care products that help improve their clients’ vision. In 2020, they certified ~95% of manufacturing sites to ISO 14001, making it a standardized environmental management system, with a goal of 100% certification in 2021. Alcon implemented a Zero Manufacturing Waste policy, with ~60% of sites 100% landfill-free for non-hazardous waste disposal. 

    Industry Innovator: AmerisourceBergen

    The Pennsylvania-based AmerisourceBergen strives to provide pharmaceutical products, value-driving services, and business solutions that improve access to care. In 2021, they committed to setting a science-based target in line with the Science Based Target initiative (SBTi) guidance. They reduced greenhouse gas emissions by using hybrid vans to deliver medicines and medical products to Alliance Healthcare customers as well as adding an electric vehicle to their animal health fleet in the U.K. 

    Industry Innovator: Johnson & Johnson

    The New Brunswick-based Johnson & Johnson believes that good health is the foundation of vibrant lives which is why its mission is to keep people healthy at every stage of life. In 2021, they had a 34% reduction in CO2 emissions in 2016. Johnson & Johnson also added on-site solar arrays at their facilities in China, Columbia, South Africa, and Thailand. 

    Get Involved:

    Is your company at the forefront of sustainability in Texas? Share your work with Texan by Nature by submitting Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) data that showcases how your company benefits people, prosperity, and natural resources to programs@texanbynature.org.

    To be considered for the official TxN 20 list, companies must:

    • Have operations and employees based in Texas;
    • Share a demonstrated commitment to conservation & sustainability;
    • Showcase tangible efforts, impact, and data in conservation;
    • NOT be a conservation-based nonprofit (501c3).

  4. TxN 20 Industry Highlights — Financial Services

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    2022 TxN 20: Texan-led leadership in conservation for a sustainable future in Financial Services.

    The Texan by Nature team is excited to present the fourth annual list of Texan by Nature 20 (TxN 20) Honorees. TxN 20 recognizes outstanding work in conservation and sustainability from Texas-based businesses.

    It’s an opportunity to showcase innovation, commitment to conservation, and best practices from the industries that keep Texas running: Agriculture, Architecture, Financial Services, Food, Beverage, & Grocery, Technology, Energy, Healthcare, Municipal Services, Retail, Transportation, and Construction & Manufacturing. 

    Meet the 2022 TxN 20 Honorees leading sustainability in Financial Services: Comerica Bank and North American Development Bank.

    The Company Investing in Environmental Progress with $1.7 Billion Loaned to Green Projects – 2022 Honoree: Comerica Bank

    Who is Comerica Bank?

    Comerica Bank is a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA), a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, that understands the valuable return in supporting our environment. Their $1.7 billion in loans and commitments goes toward 14 green loan categories, including green building (new and retro-fit), bio-fuels, recycling, biogas, energy efficiency, vehicle electrification, brownfield redevelopment, smart grid technologies, wind energy, pollution control, solar energy, green engineering, geothermal, wave or tidal energy, other green services, and products.

    Comerica’s innovative Master of Sustainability Awareness (MSA) program is a colleague education and engagement program dedicated to sustainability. Developed in-house, this program seeks to move employees from learning about sustainability to sharing what they’ve learned and then putting it into action, both at work and at home. The effects are evident, as the organization recycled or repurposed 96 tons of electronic equipment in 2021 and diverted  57% of its total waste from landfills.

    Covering Carbon Offsets for Employee Flights — 2022 Honoree: North American Development Bank

    Who is North American Development Bank?

    North American development bank is a San Antonio-based financial services company dedicated to helping fund the environment and people of both Mexico and Texas. With nearly a 1,255-mile shared border with Mexico, Texas is an optimal location and has benefitted from the Bank’s financing programs. Of the 140 projects located in the U.S., 76 are in Texas, and of the US $1.5 billion in funding provided to projects in the U.S., just over half has gone to support projects in Texas.

    Their commitment beyond our shared region extends to their purchase of carbon offsets for each flight NADBank staff takes on work-related travel. Carbon offsets are voluntary schemes whereby people pay to offset or make up for the emissions their flights produce. This means that even on the go, NADBank employees can give back to the environment. 

    North American Development Bank recognizes the value of conserving our natural resources. NADBank has contributed a significant impact in up to 4.2 million gallons per year by installing more than 20 miles of drinking water distribution lines, more than 5000 new or improved water connections, and installing 3.43 million gallons per day of new or improved wastewater treatment systems capacity. In addition, NADB eliminated 20.5 million gallons per day of untreated or inadequately treated wastewater discharges. 

    Why Forward-Thinking Leaders in Financial Services Matter

    It is no secret that Texas is a national leader in industry and economy, with a GDP of 1.83 trillion dollars in 2021, rising over 3.5 percent from the previous year and taking the claim for second highest GDP in the country. To future-proof this growth, the financial service industry has the opportunity to innovate and invest in environmental sustainability. By investing in green services, and weaving conservation efforts into business strategy, we can secure a prosperous economy and rich natural resources for future generations of Texans.

    How TxN20 Honorees Are Selected Each Year

    To select the 2022 TxN 20 Honorees, the TxN Team evaluated submissions and conducted independent research across 2,000+ of Texas’ publicly traded and private companies in 12 key industry sectors.

    All companies were evaluated on a 17-point scoring system, from which the top 60 highest-scoring companies moved on to the final round of TxN 20. A selection committee of top industry leaders and experts was then formed to evaluate the top 60 companies and select the final 20 businesses recognized as TxN 20 Honorees.

    Honorable Mentions: Standouts in Sustainability

    In addition to this year’s TxN 20 honorees, here are three industry standouts for best practices in conservation and sustainability coming from companies across the agriculture industry.

    Industry Innovator: Allegiance Bank

    • Allegiance Bank is a financial services company that prioritizes sustainable practices throughout its company. In 2021, the bank launched its Allegiance Goes Green initiative in 2021 on Earth Day’s 50th anniversary, forming a “Green Team” of 15 bankers who are passionate about environmental issues such as recycling, and reducing their carbon footprint.
    • Additionally, the bank recycled over 221,000 lbs of paper, saving more than 1,885 trees.

    Industry Innovator: JP Morgan Chase Bank

    • JP Morgan Chase introduced a beekeeping program and installed 20 beehives at six of their corporate offices. These hives brought 750,000 bees into the communities that helped pollinate 450 different plant species over 300 square miles of land. The success of these hives will only increase as they plan to introduce more hives to more offices across the country.
    • In 2021, the organization diverted 490 metric tons of solid waste from landfills.

    Industry Innovator: Prosperity Bank

    • Prosperity Bank is a financial services company working towards a more sustainable world by tracking sustainable efforts and their return on investment. Through all of their methods of sustainability and conservation, Prosperity Bank saved $4,276,564.03 in 2021.
    • By tracking financial savings, Prosperity Bank promotes the economic benefits of incorporating sustainable practices in their industry. By investing in efficient energy, the company saved 3,190 kw of energy, equating to $255,268.88.

    Get Involved:

    Is your company at the forefront of sustainability in Texas? Share your work with Texan by Nature by submitting Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) data that showcases how your company benefits people, prosperity, and natural resources to programs@texanbynature.org.

    To be considered for the official TxN 20 list, companies must:

    • Have operations and employees based in Texas;
    • Share a demonstrated commitment to conservation & sustainability;
    • Showcase tangible efforts, impact, and data in conservation;
    • NOT be a conservation-based nonprofit (501c3).

  5. Green Transformation: From Mine to Garden

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    Texan by Nature is partnering with NRG Energy to build a garden on the site of their former lignite coal mine near Jewett, Texas. An initial one acre plot is currently under construction, with the opportunity for the garden to expand up to 10 acres. Upon completion, the NRG Dewey Prairie Garden will provide up to 10,000 pounds of fresh produce annually to local community food pantries.

    We recently asked the NRG Dewey Prairie Garden team about the history of the site and their vision for the future of this unique reclamation project.

    Tell us a little about the history of the Jewett mine and the reclamation process.

    NRG: Mining along the lignite belt running across the middle of Texas goes back to the early 1900s. In 1979, Houston Lighting and Power obtained rights for 15 miles of the coal belt near Jewett for a 35-year supply. After that, NRG in 2020 purchased the mine and assumed responsibility for reclamation efforts with the goal of restoring the land to a better condition than before mining started.

    In 2013 the Jewett Mine site was awarded the coveted Texas Lone Star Land Steward Award for reclamation activities at the site. Reclamation accomplishments at the mine include planting 3,500 acres of native bunch-grasses and constructing 700 acres of wetlands. Use of new technologies, software and specialized equipment is helping with stream reclamation that mimics natural processes.

    NRG Garden Glass
    The mine reclamation process included planting 3,500 acres of native bunch-grasses

    TxN: We first visited the Jewett Mine site in fall 2019. We’re quite familiar with rural Texas, but we weren’t sure what to expect of this site given the images you typically see of mining operations. We were blown away by the pristine beauty of the reclamation site. For miles in all directions, all we saw was native prairie grasses waving in the breeze. We had the opportunity to meet with many mine and NRG team members who were passionate about the land, community, and best sustainable options for their operations and reclamation. It was obvious during these discussions that this attention to impact and environmental concern were entrenched in the culture and had been in place for many, many years.

    What was the inspiration for the garden and how did it come to be?

    NRG: An NRG board member was familiar with Texan By Nature’s mission and noticed how well it aligned with the mission of NRG’s philanthropic arm, positiveNRG. We began working together, and the planning firmed up for what became the garden. A reclaimed section of the Jewett mine was a perfect way to bring the idea to life.

    positiveNRG is a central part of our identity – enabling partnering with change-making non-profits like Texan By Nature to positively contribute to the places where we live and serve.

    Positive NRG Volunteers
    positiveNRG Volunteers in Houston

    TxN: We had the wonderful opportunity to get to know one of the NRG board members at a dinner. He talked about how they wanted to take the reclamation of the mine site to the next level and do something more for the community. He asked if we had any ideas. Our team took the question and did a lot of research on the area. We ended up discovering that the food insecurity rate in the area was 50% higher than the national average and the soil and climate is near perfect for growing many fruits and vegetables. After consulting with a few TxN partners, we put a proposal together and outlined a plan for a garden to serve the food pantries in the tri-county area. The more conversations we had, the more excited we became with the vision for the garden and working with positiveNRG to bring the garden to reality.

    How does the project fit in with other sustainability projects that NRG is doing?

    NRG: NRG’s sustainability efforts are wide-ranging – from our employee groups who volunteer countless hours for community efforts to the Dewey Garden to financial goals tied our sustainability efforts. The Dewey Garden effort was a perfect fit.

    TxN: From our perspective and knowledge of NRG, it’s a perfect fit. The passion for sustainability and community is obvious in every conversation we have with NRG team members. From knowing the history of the community to sourcing the project locally to reusing materials from the reclamation in the garden construction efforts, the project implementation has been seamless with the NRG team.

    What is your hope and vision for the future of the garden?

    NRG Dewey Prairie Garden Carrot

    NRG: In this project, the goal is to provide fresh and nutritious produce in a food desert and create a supply for local area food banks. Our goal is to be resilient; to look to the long game. When we refer to sustainability, we want to invest in projects that help people thrive so that we can all achieve our highest potential. The Dewey Garden and Texan By Nature are exactly what we need to assure that hope and vision continues for a long, long time.

    TxN: First and foremost we want to work with the fertile land in the Jewett area to provide consistent, fresh, nutritious produce for this community. We also want the garden to serve as an example of collaboration between industry, community, conservation, and education. One that inspires others to look at their resources and operations and dream of new ways to create long term positive impact.

    Learn more about the NRG Dewey Prairie Garden on the garden project page.

     

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