Sustainability is key in several industries these days. Such is the case in manufacturing. Let’s consider the example of a new ice cream plant. Idaho Milk Products celebrated the groundbreaking of its new, sustainable ice cream and powder blending plant earlier in October. Owned by local Idaho dairy farmers, Idaho Milk Products is dedicated to a consistent and sustainable milk supply and has invested in innovation capabilities. Here is how this can help in manufacturing: Produce a variety of novelty products. Co-manufacture various ice cream products in partnership with brands. Capacity to produce roughly 14 million gallons of ice cream mix per year. Looking to the future, we will continue to see greater innovation and sustainability inside manufacturing plants, as companies look to produce a variety of more products. This is simply one example of how a plant is…

We know the labor shortage is a challenge. In fact, the U.S. BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) numbers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce show there are a defined number of jobs and not enough workers or skilled workers to fill them—to the tune of roughly 2.2 million open jobs. In construction specifically, ABC (Associated Builders and Contractors) estimates the industry needs to attract an estimated 501,000 additional workers on top of the normal hiring pace in 2024 to meet labor requirements. If you were to ask Chicago’s Richard Group what the solution to this challenge is, it could be summed up in one word: culture. Established in 2014, Richard Group is a veteran-owned, national general contracting company, building efficient and dynamic spaces that advance community and sustainability. CEO and founder Jed Richard says the company prioritizes people and fosters an environment of grit, gratitude, and greatness. As it has done this, it has seen growth in a number of different areas. Here is how this approach can help in construction: Attracted key hires in operations, finance, and marketing. The company has more than doubled in size since 2022. The company has seen a staggering 390% revenue growth in the past five years. The company’s success extends beyond Chicago, with Richard now operating across 16 states and ranking as a large builder of Dept. of Veterans Affairs hospitals in the country. This expansion has brought more than 100 high-quality jobs, with more growth on the horizon. Looking to the future, we are going to have to be very creative if we want to solve the labor shortage in the construction industry. Workplace culture will be one of the keys to driving success in the construction industry for years to…

Cities are experiencing natural phenomena unlike anything we have ever seen before. The hottest day recorded in human history was broken twice in July 2024. As a result, we are seeing more urban heat island effect, which leads to increased energy consumption, heat-related health issues, strain on urban infrastructure, and disruption of ecosystems. It is a vicious cycle to say the least. Enter CoolCrete, which is a supplementary cementitious material engineered to address the global heat crisis and urban heat island effect. The material can reflect sunlight. It also has a unique composition, and it is able to rapidly release heat, which means efficient cooling, especially during nighttime. Here is how this can help: Reduce heat absorption and improve the release of absorbed heat. Cool concrete surfaces by up to 10°C or more at peak temperatures. Reduced carbon footprint of concrete by up to 40% by replacing traditional cement. Overall, we will begin to see new materials come to market that will promote greener infrastructure, while actively cooling our urban environments. Looking to the future, we can expect to see more materials such as this, as businesses and cities look to respond to the environment challenges that are necessitating a…