ESG Happenings
Key Developments in Environmental, Social and Governance Across All Sectors
Information Technology

Department of Energy grants $3m contract to Amprius for nanowire tech development
Amprius Technologies has signed a $3m contract with the US Advanced Batter Consortium and the Department of Energy to develop silicon nanowire batteries. The contract will cover fast-charging, low-cost greater-than 80 Ah cells meeting or exceeding 2023 electric vehicle battery standards.

Tech Giants Could Find Conflict Minerals in Supply Chain
There is an emerging trend of companies checking their supply chain for non-conflict key minerals to improve their ESG standing. This may lead to shifts in sourcing globally, according to a new report from Global Witness, which states the oversight of the International Tin Association Tin Supply Chain Initiative (ITSCI) has resulted in large amounts of minerals from unvalidated mines.
Energy and Industrials

Lhoist Taps Air Liquide to Capture CO2 from French Lime Facility
French industrial gases firm, Air Liquide and lime production facility Lhoist have entered an agreement to capture 600,000 tons of CO2 annually from the site’s flue gases for storage. Cyrocap technology can reportedly capture and purify around 95% of CO2, mitigating the hard-to-abate emissions of limestone decomposition.

Innovatium LAES Project Sees the First Time Compressed Air Storage
Scottish firm Innovatium has launched its Peak Reduction by Integrated Storage and Management of Air (Prisma) at Aggregate Industries’ Cauldron Cement Works. This project has been developed in partnership with the University of Birmingham using a latent energy cold storage tank filled with a phase change material that stores thermal energy, which is then used to provide compressed air.
Consumer Goods and Services

TD Tawadang Uses Google Cloud for Retail AI and Analytics
French industrial gases firm, Air Liquide and lime production facility Lhoist have entered an agreement to capture 600,000 tons of CO2 annually from the site’s flue gases for storage. Cyrocap technology can reportedly capture and purify around 95% of CO2, mitigating the hard-to-abate emissions of limestone decomposition.

Drivers in Philippines use Price LOCQ App to Save on Fuel Costs
Around 200,000 Filipino petrol consumers in Metro Manila are using the PriceLOCQ app to save up to 50% on their weekly fuel bill by converting purchases into digital credits redeemable at SEAOIL Philippines petrol stations.
Healthcare

Telemedicine Use Increased Most in Disadvantaged Neighborhoods
According to a study by Health Affairs, telemedicine services increased the most in disadvantaged neighborhoods during the Covid-19 pandemic as eased restrictions allowed providers to offer virtual appointments which cost the same as in-person consultations.

Medicare Could Disappear for 14 Million Post-Covid
Up to 14.2 million Americans could lose Medicaid coverage after the Covid-19 public health emergency ends, according to an analysis from the Kaiser Family Foundation. US states received extra funding with the Covid-19 Relief Bill to ensure Medicaid coverage was maintained during the pandemic, but this relief will end when the emergency ends.
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