Best Practices from Sustainability Conference 2024

The Raleigh Chamber hosted the second annual Sustainability Conference on Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Presented by Duke Energy, FIJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies, and Lenovo, the event provided a morning of insightful sessions focused on global best practices and the local actions being taken in our community to create a sustainable future for Raleigh and the greater region. 

The conference began with a One Water Panel, featuring Jamie Revels, Utilities Director for the Town of Cary, Les Stewart, Chief Brewing Officer at Trophy Brewing, and moderator Nancy Daly, Water Resources Manager for Wake County Government. The panelists discussed the proactive measures local businesses and governments take to maintain a clean and abundant water supply.

Mary Jacques, Executive Director of Global ESG & Regulatory Compliance for Lenovo, showcased Lenovo’s Path to Net-Zero during the conference. She was then joined by Kevin McLaughlin, Vice President of Government Affairs and External Relations at Duke Energy, for a Net-Zero Fireside Chat. Both leaders provided specific examples of current corporate sustainability initiatives and how North Carolina, Wake County, and the City of Raleigh’s net-zero goals continue to push for the elimination of carbon emissions.

After a networking break, attendees had the opportunity to learn from a Zero Waste Panel, featuring David Auge of Grifols, Nathan Daigle of Wolfspeed, Darla Rivera of FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies Holly Springs, Melody C. Ray of Raleigh Reclaimed, and moderator Josh Chronopolus of Triumvirate Environmental. The panelists went beyond what their companies are doing to reduce, reuse, and recycle waste as they focused on how they restructured systems for large-scale impact, rethinking the status quo to eliminate trash output completely. 

The conference concluded with a keynote session with Emily Adams, Director of Global Sustainability at MetLife. She discussed the company's focus on reducing emissions, engaging employees, and making responsible investments to achieve sustainability commitments. Emily highlighted MetLife’s employee engagement program, ‘Our Green Impact,’ and the importance of directing sustainability efforts where they can have the biggest impact now and into the future. Raleigh Chamber President and CEO Adrienne Cole joined Emily for the Q&A portion, learning how MetLife’s global commitments and work translate into local action for Cary and more broadly across North Carolina.  

Search for our social hashtag #RCSustainability24 for more coverage of the event.