The superpower suit
Lowe’s and Virgina Tech have come together to develop a new wearable robotic suit with lift-assist technology. Lowe’s employees will use the suit to aid them in daily tasks such as lifting and moving heavy products. It will help improve efficiency throughout the store by fighting against muscle fatigue resulted from repetitive motion. The exosuit supports the employee, reducing tiredness and avoiding injuries. Through absorbing energy, the suit enables the user to exert less force when lifting objects, as well as ensuring the correct stance.
This will inevitably improve employee satisfaction and health, undertaking tasks in an easier manner without feeling stressed or overworked in the working environment. It will also maximize on-the-job performance, shortening the duration of strenuous tasks. After months of lab testing, the stocking team at Lowe’s Christiansburg store is currently trialing four exosuits. The two companies will then analyze the impact of the suit on the wearers to decide whether to expand the program throughout Lowe’s stores.
Read more information here.
The sustainable aim for agriculture
Mars is the latest global manufacturer to collaborate with the Field to Market alliance. It is a group of over 120 organizations working towards the improvement of agricultural sustainability and uniting supply chains to deliver an enhanced standard in the industry. Ensuring products are sustainably and responsibly sourced is important to Mars, and has become a commitment for the manufacturer in recent years.
The alliance joins experts from the agricultural industry. This aids Mars in learning from its previous and current successes and failures, which have occurred in its supply chain and resulted from its sustainability efforts. Mars will also share knowledge it has gained from its experiences to contribute to the alliance and its future achievements. The alliance provides a platform that will drive improvement throughout many industries such as farming and food, focusing on performance at field, local and national levels. It will aid in productivity, profitability and positive environmental outcomes.
Find out more on Mars’s new partnership here.
Goal completed!
On Tuesday, Lego revealed it had achieved its goal of balancing 100% of its energy use with that from renewable sources. It was estimated to be fulfilled by 2020; however, the goal has been surprisingly reached three years early. Over the past four years, Lego has invested $1.2 billion in two offshore wind farms in order to adhere to its goal. Since 2012, Lego has supported projects, which produced over 160 megawatts of renewable energy. It has also collaborated with two influential initiatives, WWF Climate Savers and RE100, which are advocating the use of 100% renewable energy in supply chains and focusing on reducing the total carbon emissions created by suppliers. To celebrate its early achievement, Lego has constructed a Guinness-World-Record-breaking turbine from Lego bricks in Liverpool, England.
The output of renewable energy now exceeds that needed to power all Lego factories, stores and offices globally. Lego will further extend its focus on renewable energy, with its latest investment looking to generate clean power for more than 230,000 British households.
To read more information click here.
Have a great weekend!
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