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UK public want chief execs to lead on climate action, survey finds
Almost two-thirds (60%) of the UK public believe that the chief executives of corporations should be leading the national fight against climate change, a new survey has found.
LIVE Sustainable Business Covered podcast: Leadership in the post-CSR era
The Sustainable Business Covered podcast returns, this time we're broadcasting LIVE from a panel discussion at the UK's largest sustainability and energy exhibition, edie Live. In this episode, four industry experts discuss how sustainability leadership is undergoing a transformation.
As it happened: edie Live 2019 (Day One and Day Two)
Relive the biggest sustainability and energy event of the year - edie Live 2019 - with our blog, which captured all the key talking points, quotes and discussions from expert speakers as they happened.
13 top tips for strengthening sustainability leadership in the face of 'Climate Emergency'
EXCLUSIVE: During Day One of edie Live 2019, a panel of expert speakers gave their top tips for businesses looking to "ride this green wave" and become more resilient climate leaders during an era of unprecedented public awareness.
edie Live 2019: Green ambitions to be turned into ACTION as show doors open
Thousands of energy, CSR sustainability professionals are descending upon the NEC Birmingham today (21 May) as edie Live 2019 officially opens its doors - and there's still time to register for a free two-day pass to the conference.
Teemill's closed-loop T-shirts and carbon-neutral cement: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
How SDG alignment helped Tideway engage key investors
EXCLUSIVE: Several companies to have aligned their strategies with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have claimed that doing so has improved communications and created a more joined-up approach - but for Tideway, a further benefit has been gaining investor buy-in.
New Wall's tool lets consumers track positive vanilla supply chain impacts
Unilever-owned ice cream brand Wall's will launch a new digital tool enabling consumers to track how their purchases are empowering people in the communities which form its vanilla supply chains in Africa.
Tesco slashes food waste by 17% in one year
Supermarket giant Tesco has published its annual food waste figures, revealing that it wasted 17% less food by weight during 2018-19 than during the previous 12-month period.
The Body Shop launches in-store take-back scheme for plastic packaging
Health and beauty retailer The Body Shop has launched a multinational take-back scheme for its plastic packaging, after consumers voiced concerns that not all of the brand's packaging is accepted by local authorities under kerbside recycling schemes.
Report: Mismanaged waste 'kills up to a million people a year globally'
Mismanaged waste is causing hundreds of thousands of people to die each year in the developing world from easily preventable causes, and plastic waste is adding a new and dangerous dimension to the problem, a report has found.
Henkel's black plastic solution and Amsterdam's diesel ban: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
Seven top tips for aligning your business strategy with the SDGs
During a "power hour" webinar hosted by edie on Wednesday (8 May), experts from Hilton, Thai Union, Asia Pulp & Paper and Centrica Business Solutions advised on aligning business strategies with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Here, edie rounds up the key takeaways.
M&S, Tesco, rank among top UK businesses for modern slavery compliance
Supermarket giants Marks & Spencer (M&S) and Tesco have been named among the corporates leading the FTSE 100's drive for better compliance with the Modern Slavery Act (MSA), in a new ranking of the nation's largest publicly listed organisations.
Manchester's NHS Foundation Trust launches gamification staff behaviour change scheme
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) has become the first NHS Trust to sign up to the JUMP employee engagement initiative, in a bid to encourage its 20,000+ employees to develop habits which improve the organisation's environmental impact while also boosting their own wellbeing.
Cambridge University agrees to explore fossil fuel divestment plan
The former archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has welcomed an "urgent change" by Cambridge University, after it agreed to provide fully costed plans setting out how it could divest multibillion-pound endowments from fossil fuel corporations.
Report: Fashion sector stalling on sustainability progress, with high street giants holding industry back
The global fashion industry's overall efforts to operate more sustainability have slowed by one-third on a year-on-year basis, with actions failing to decouple emissions from the sector's rapid growth in a way that would align with the Paris Agreement's aims.
Selfridges completes palm oil phase-out nine months ahead of schedule
Department store Selfridges has announced that it has achieved a goal of removing palm oil from 100% of its own-brand grocery products nine months ahead of schedule.
Etihad's plastic-free flight and Uber's public transport push: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
Seven top tips for making your organisation a purpose-led business
As businesses start to redefine their role in society, purpose has become an essential part of any company's social licence to operate. Here, edie rounds up seven top tips from green economy leaders on finding and communicating your organisation's reason for being.
Report: Oil and gas firms failing to disclose climate-related financial risks
The world's largest oil and gas firms must disclose more information on the financial risks that climate challenges will pose to their business, or face losing investment and stakeholder trust.
Water firms urged to collaboratively develop "net-positive" vision for the sector
UK water firms are being urged to co-develop and jointly adopt a new long-term sustainability strategy for the sector, set to have an overarching aim of the industry "having the most positive impact possible on society and the environment".
Environment ranks behind health and wellbeing as main business priority
Environmental issues such as the circular economy and net-zero carbon targets have been highlighted as a main priority by more than one-third of UK businesses, second only to health and wellbeing, according to a new Responsible Business Tracker.
Seven tips for turning your organisation's green ambitions into ACTION
During a sustainability leadership webinar hosted by edie last week, representatives from Tideway, Business in the Community (BITC), WSP and EDF Energy gave their advice for sustainability and energy professionals looking to turn green ambitions into tangible actions. Here, we round up their key takeaways.
London's low-emission buses and Ralph Lauren's recycled plastic shirts: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
In numbers: How businesses and consumers are adapting to the war on plastic
Plastics is a sustainability topic that rarely dies down and the past few weeks were no different. Here, edie rounds up the key findings of several new surveys on attitudes to plastics, capturing the changing opinions of businesses and consumers alike.
Fashion Revolution Week: Adidas, Reebok and Patagonia top sector transparency rankings
Sportswear giants Adidas and Reebok and outdoor clothing brand Patagonia have been named as the corporates leading the fashion sector's drive for greater transparency around supply chain activity, in a new ranking of 200 of the industry's largest companies.
Walmart partners with HSBC to launch green finance programme for suppliers
As part of a partnership with HSBC, US-based retail giant Walmart has developed a green finance initiative that rewards suppliers for setting, meeting or exceeding ambitious sustainability aims.
Xerox's reforestation drive and KFC's science-based targets: Sustainability success stories for Earth Day
While many of us in the UK will be enjoying the bank holiday break today (22 April), the global business community has been busy making pledges, events and announcements to mark Earth Day. This round-up highlights some of the best sustainability success stories to mark the occasion.
Sustainable Business Covered Podcast: Who Made My Clothes? A Fashion Revolution Week special
To mark Fashion Revolution Week 2019, episode 61 of the Sustainable Business Covered podcast sees reporter Sarah George quiz some of the key figures helping to make the fashion sector a more planet-friendly and ethical industry.
Coalition of central banks urge finance sector to 'raise the bar' on climate action
A coalition of 36 central banks and regulators, including the Bank of England and the World Bank, have issued a rallying cry urging all stakeholders across the global sector to address climate challenges by "greening" the financial system.
Costa joins Hull redistribution scheme to combat food waste and hunger
Coffee chain Costa has joined a collaborative, business-led initiative which uses a food sharing app to help tackle food waste and food poverty issues in Hull.
Unilever reveals mixed progress towards Sustainable Living Plan goals
Unilever has posted strong progress towards its manufacturing waste, low-carbon energy and water abstraction goals, while also revealing that is it off-track to meet its sustainability commitments regarding the consumer-level water and waste footprint of its products.
We Mean Business boss: Companies must 'embed' ESG to survive low-carbon transition
EXCLUSIVE: In the face of pressing climate challenges, the business and finance sectors must now collaborate to ensure that environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues are embedded in all financial decisions to spur the creation of a zero-carbon economy.
Sydney's renewables aim and Ikea's 'Outstanding' store: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
Walmart launches reusable bag range and spurs progress on supply chain emissions
The world's largest retailer, Walmart, used its annual sustainability summit to reveal that checkouts at its US stores will offer reusable bags made from post-consumer recycled content for the first time, alongside an update to its Project Gigaton supply chain emissions programme.
SDGs becoming a 'new compass' for sustainable investing, survey finds
More than half of institutional investors to have incorporated environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues into their frameworks are using the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a guideline, a new survey has found.
New World Bank chief confirms commitment to environment
Donald Trump's choice to run the World Bank has moved swiftly to allay fears that his appointment will lead to a softening of the organisation's approach to climate change.
Report: Failure to implement clean air laws cost EU €24bn in 2018
By failing to meet targets and regulations set out in EU environmental laws, Member States collectively cost the bloc's economy almost €55bn last year, a new report from the European Commission's Directorate General for the Environment has found.
How gamification is helping Bournemouth University engage staff with the SDGs
EXCLUSIVE: With 169 targets and 232 indicators across 17 large-scale sustainability challenges, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are often seen as a communications challenge due to their scope and scale. But by using gamification, Bournemouth University has managed to engage the majority of staff with the vast SDG agenda.
Shell taken to court over climate impacts and alleged human rights 'violations'
Oil and gas giant Shell is facing legal actions over "slow" progress in reducing its emissions, improving its human rights protections and eliminating oil spills, with green campaign group Friends of the Earth's (FoTE) Netherlands arm claiming its current business model is "wrecking the climate".
Co-op targets 100% sustainably sourced soy through credits scheme
Supermarket chain Co-op has set a new, ongoing target of sourcing 100% sustainably certified soy across its supply chains, after joining global Roundtable on Responsible Soy (RTRS).
Budweiser's plastic football pitch and Arval's EV chargers: the sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
GRI calls for business and governments to partner on SDGs
The chairman of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) had called for greater collaboration and cooperation between businesses and national governments in order to achieve the aims of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Is it time for the hospitality sector to align to the SDGs?
The Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) has called on the food industry to follow the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in order to achieve the innovation required to accelerate climate action.
Pernod Ricard targets SDGs and regenerative agriculture as part of 2030 goals
Beverage giant Pernod Ricard has today (3 April) launched a new sustainability roadmap aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that commits to ambitious new targets relating to regenerative agriculture and biodiversity, recyclable packaging and a science-based carbon target.
Sustainable Business Covered podcast: In the Green Room with Pernod Ricard's Vanessa Wright
Welcome back to the green room - edie's exclusive interview hub for sustainability leaders, brought to you as part of the Sustainable Business Covered podcast. Up next to provide the insights of a leading sustainable business: Pernod Ricard's vice president of global sustainability Vanessa Wright.
The sustainability communications handbook: Engaging with different audiences
Communication is a vital component of any organisation’s strategy – and an aspect which businesses of all sizes and sectors will have to continually fine-tune as digitisation progresses. Similarly, sustainability is now widely considered to be a business-critical consideration and a must-have for staff, consumers and investors alike.
Fashion firms urged to log global supply chains on new digital open-source map
Fashion giant C&A's charitable arm, the C&A Foundation, has teamed up with geospatial technology firm Azavea to develop a new open-source digital map aimed at helping fashion retailers, suppliers and designers to boost their transparency efforts.
Danone's ultra-sustainable factory and Hilton's soap recycling: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
One hour, no power: Millions of kWh of energy to be saved as landmarks switch off for Earth Hour
The UK alone could avoid the use of more than nine million kWh of energy during this year's Earth Hour, as landmarks across the globe turn off their lights in a bid to highlight the scale of global environmental challenges.
Aldi targets 100% sustainably sourced soy by 2025
Supermarket chain Aldi has pledged to source 100% sustainably certified soy across its supply chain by 2025, including soy used as animal feed.
'I certainly didn't do it for sales': Iceland boss sheds fresh light on palm oil phase-out
Iceland's managing director Richard Walker has discussed his decision to ban palm oil from the retailer's own-brand products for the first time since the phase-out was completed in January, claiming that the move has helped to "democratise environmentalism".
ASOS urges fashion sector to take tougher action on modern slavery
Online fashion retailer ASOS is calling on other firms in the sector to take stronger action to eliminate modern slavery from their supply chains, after teaming up with several of its third-party brands to develop a five-point "roadmap".
Panasonic's zero-carbon factories and Ford's $850m EV plant: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
How can business transform unsustainable economic models from within?
We are only able to enjoy our current standard of living due to economic growth. But with emissions, resource consumption and social inequality all rising under capitalism, will the economic model need to be completely overhauled to ensure a sustainable future?
SSE launches new corporate strategy aligned to SDGs
UK energy firm SSE has unveiled a new sustainability strategy for 2030 aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), that will deliver a 50% cut in carbon intensity, trebling its renewable electricity output and facilitating the uptake of 10 million electric vehicles (EVs) in the UK.
UN launches global alliance to combat fast fashion's biggest sustainability challenges
The United Nations (UN) has launched a new alliance aimed at uniting businesses to combat the fashion sector's biggest environmental and social challenges, including waste, carbon emissions and modern slavery.
Nestlé's plastic-free pouches and James Bond's electric car: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
Europe's largest Coca-Cola bottler reveals progress on plastic reduction
Europe's largest independent Coca-Cola bottler used 27.6% recycled content in its plastic bottles last year - more than ten times the beverage sector's global average proportion of 2-3%.
Fashion industry sourced record amount of sustainable cotton in 2018
Fashion brands and retailers collectively sourced more than one million metric tonnes of sustainably certified cotton through the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) last year, breaking the industry standard operator's record.
Primark launches jeans made with 100% sustainably sourced cotton
Fashion retailer Primark has launched its first range of jeans made with 100% sustainably certified cotton, after expanding its sustainable cotton farming and sourcing scheme.
Dow's Project Butterfly and Ikea's EV charging push: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
International Women's Day: How can sustainable businesses truly promote gender equality?
EXCLUSIVE: Corporate efforts to champion women's rights across supply chains and within communities are not matched by internal actions, with some boards failing to understand the opportunities offered, making gender and inclusion activities feel like a "tick-box exercise".
National Apprenticeship Week: The skills you need to become a great sustainability leader
To mark National Apprenticeship Week (4-8 March), edie recently spoke with a selection of renowned sustainability leaders to find out what skills are essential for up-and-coming professionals to succeed in their careers.
Mondelez turns to satellite mapping in fight against deforestation
The owner of Oreo and Cadbury's Dairy Milk has pledged to map all farms covered by its sustainability scheme using satellite technology by the end of 2019, as it strives to eliminate deforestation from its key sourcing regions.
Corporate reporting bodies launch framework championing SDG alignment
A coalition of corporate reporting framework providers and CDP have published new advice aimed at unifying the business community's approach to reporting in line with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Scottish Power's £2bn renewables pledge and Dublin's zero-emission post: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
How to green your office: edie launches free guide for businesses
Sustainability and energy professionals wishing to implement a 'green office' programme within their organisation now have access to a comprehensive guide outlining practical tips for implementation.
Hospitality trade urged to step up to the plate on climate action
Foodservice firms across the country have been called upon to accelerate efforts to tackle climate change, through a new report by the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA).
More plastic pledges, rising CSR stars and #ThisIsACrisis: Top 10 sustainability stories of February 2019
As the shortest month of the year draws to a close, we take a look back at February's biggest sustainability and energy stories. The round-up includes Iceland's plastic-free produce, Amazon's carbon-neutral shipments, edie's new 30 Under 30 initiative and the 'Sustainability Oscars'.
Plastics and biodiversity: Forum for the Future spotlights sustainability's biggest challenges
Global non-profit Forum for the Future has named plastic pollution and biodiversity loss as two of the "fundamental" sustainability challenges of the 2020s, arguing that governments and corporates have not yet adopted holistic, long-term solutions to these issues.
Bafta launches training scheme for TV's rising sustainability stars
As awards season comes to a close, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) has unveiled plans for a new sustainable film and TV programme aimed at helping those in the screen industries lead the sector's low-carbon transition.
How employee engagement has pushed Henkel's sustainability ambitions to new heights
EXCLUSIVE: Henkel's decision to bolster its sustainable packaging strategy last year was largely driven by the ambitions of a workforce of 'sustainability ambassadors', the company's director of sustainability management has revealed.
CDP: Consumer goods giants prioritising plastic alternatives over low-carbon innovation
As consumer demand for plastic-free and plant-based products soars, large consumer goods firms are prioritising vegan products and recyclable packaging over low-carbon innovation, new research by CDP has concluded.
Report: British firms leading animal welfare practices, but laggards remain
Some of the UK's largest food firms, including Marks & Spencer (M&S) and Cranswick, have been named as the corporate leaders on animal welfare issues in a new report which names the likes of Mars, Subway and Starbucks as laggards in this space.
Waitrose pledges to source 100% Fairtrade cocoa by the end of 2019
Supermarket giant Waitrose & Partners has committed to sourcing only Fairtrade cocoa for its own-brand confectionary products by the end of the year, in a bid to help improve living standards for its cocoa farmers.
Evian's reusable water bottles and VW's 'carbon-neutral' EVs: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
Sustainable Business Covered podcast: Polman's pearls of wisdom, Ikea's super-sustainable store & George's goodbye
The edie team returns to the podcast studio to reflect on the recent Sustainability Leaders Forum and Awards. Meanwhile, Sarah takes a tour of Ikea's latest sustainable store, and George delivers his final 'success story' as he leaves the team to join Defra.
World's food supply under 'severe threat' from loss of biodiversity, UN warns
The world's capacity to produce food is being undermined by humanity's failure to protect biodiversity, according to the first UN study of the plants, animals and micro-organisms that help to put meals on our plates.
Lidl's community food redistribution scheme surpasses 58,000 meals in Manchester
Since moving to donate surplus food directly from its stores to local community causes last February, Lidl has provided more than 58,000 meals to those in need in Manchester, the supermarket has revealed.
The Sustainability Oscars 2019: Celebrating the best of climate activism
The film awards season reaches its grand finale for 2019 on Sunday in the form of the Oscars. But for those wanting an alternative to "Black Panther," and "A Star Is Born", edie has created a - by no means official - round-up of the best climate-related films and documentaries.
Clean200: Low-carbon corporate investments outperforming those in fossil fuels
By investing in low-carbon products and renewable energy procurement, 200 of the world's largest corporates have continued to deliver strong returns against stock market averages, despite global political, social and economic tensions.
Aldi launches new regional redistribution scheme in bid to slash food waste
Discount supermarket chain Aldi is set to directly donate surplus food from 24 of its UK stores to local charities after partnering with product redistribution platform Neighbourly.
Rising stars of sustainability: edie's 30 under 30 class of 2019 revealed
Aspiring young sustainability, CSR and energy professionals from the likes of the BBC, innocent Drinks, Formula E and Harrods have been announced as the inaugural members of edie's brand new 30 Under 30 initiative for 2019.
edie launches new case study series highlighting business action towards the SDGs
In an effort to mobilise business contributions towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), edie has launched a new best-practice case study series highlighting how businesses are helping to achieve the Global Goals.
Hydrogen delivery scooters and Olympic medals made from e-waste: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
How SDG alignment helped Walgreens Boots Alliance prove the profitability of sustianability
EXCLUSIVE: By aligning the company's sustainability strategy with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Walgreens Boot Alliance's sustainability team have been able to secure "far greater" boardroom-level support for its actions, the company's vice president for CSR has revealed.
Network Rail partners with water firms to tackle chemical contamination
A collective environmental stewardship programme from Network Rail and several of the UK's largest water companies is now protecting more than 600 vulnerable drinking water sources from herbicides, the rail infrastructure manager has announced.
Valentine's Day: How the cocoa supply chain is falling in love with ethical practices
Chocolate remains the most popular gift for Valentine's Day, but climate change and environmental pressures are already creating tensions along the global supply chain. Here, edie explores how the food and drink industry is working to make its reliance on cocoa more sustainable.
How can sustainable businesses prosper post-Brexit?
As the Brexit deadline looms and the UK struggles to place an agreeable deal on the table, leading sustainability and energy experts have called on the nation’s business community to maintain progress towards a low-carbon, resource-efficient economy without support from Government.
Verizon's green bonds and Nike's clean energy deal: The sustainability success stories of the week
As part of our Mission Possible campaign, edie brings you this weekly round-up of five of the best sustainability success stories of the week from across the globe.
WATCH: Paul Polman's inspiring Lifetime Achievement Award acceptance speech
EXCLUSIVE: edie's Lifetime Achievement Award-winner and former Unilever chief executive Paul Polman has issued a rallying cry for businesses to take corporate responsibility onto the next level by collaboratively ramping up climate action and championing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Nottingham Trent University signs up to JUMP employee engagement initiative
Nottingham Trent University (NTU) has become the 11th University to sign up to the JUMP employee engagement initiative, as it attempts to encourage its 4,000 staff members to develop habits that boost sustainability and wellbeing.
Mike Barry: Five steps to go from good to GREAT sustainability leadership
EXCLUSIVE: Speaking on-stage at the Sustainability Leaders Forum in London yesterday (6 February), Marks & Spencer's (M&S) director of sustainable business Mike Barry offered up his five key steps that all sustainability professionals should embrace to become "great leaders".
As it happened: edie's Sustainability Leaders Forum & Awards 2019
Relive edie's biggest ever sustainability events - the Sustainability Leaders Forum and Awards - with our live blog, which captured all of the key talking points, quotes and discussions from expert speakers as they happened.
CDP: Corporate demand for supplier transparency increased eight-fold since 2008
More than 110 of the world's largest companies are now requesting sustainability data from their suppliers, up from just 14 in 2008, new research from the CDP has found.
Jonathon Porritt: Silence 'no longer an option' for business sustainability
EXCLUSIVE: With the challenge of limiting the global temperature increase to 1.5C at hand, corporates wishing to become sustainability leaders must now get vocal about driving the "unprecedented" societal changes outlined in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) landmark report.
A sustainable Super Bowl and Ikea China's EV deliveries: The sustainability success stories of the week
Published every week, this series charts how businesses, city leaders and sustainability professionals are working to achieve their 'Mission Possible' across the campaign's five key pillars - energy, resources, mobility, built environment and business leadership.
Sustainable investing is finally 'going mainstream', BlackRock claims
As concerns that the next financial crash may be climate-related grow, impact investment and green finance products are "going mainstream" and ceasing to be classed as a "niche" area, global investment management firm BlackRock has claimed.
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