Water quality and accessibility can impact most aspects of life such as hygiene, medicine, thermal comfort, sewage disposal, and health, to name a few. Rising concerns related to the quality of drinking water in the United States caused by municipal water utility failures such as in Texas or in Michigan has led to an inquiry into the root cause of how a supply-chain for a basic necessity such as water can run into issues. After initial research and investigation, one hypothesis for this was the nature of how recyclable materials in a linear economy eventually run into production or storage problems as exhaustible resources (or space) become less accessible over time. To remedy this issue, LifeGear360 is introduced to allow individual users the liberty to treat their water directly if needed, while also remaining in a circular economy for the lifecycle of the product. As a backpack with water treatment capabilities, natural plant fibers are used to ensure a renewable cycle of production while also redefining the traditional “plastic-taste” characteristics many people associate with water pouches to a smoother, cleaner taste. Engineering, sustainability, and business and public service practice have been used in an interdisciplinary way to prepare this product for its intended use such as in school, for travel, and for the outdoors. According to the collected outreach, many indicated that they feel as though there is a need for a product that allows for the feeling of water security which can include carrying any personal belongings as well. Marketing strategies such as logo creating and online outreach continually influence product design, up until production would take place following the finalized design.

Water quality and accessibility can impact most aspects of life such as hygiene, medicine,<br/>thermal comfort, sewage disposal, and health, to name a few. Rising concerns related to the<br/>quality of drinking water in the United States caused by municipal water utility failures such as<br/>in Texas or in Michigan has led to an inquiry into the root cause of how a supply-chain for a<br/>basic necessity such as water can run into issues. After initial research and investigation, one<br/>hypothesis for this was the nature of how recyclable materials in a linear economy eventually run<br/>into production or storage problems as exhaustible resources (or space) become less accessible<br/>over time. To remedy this issue, LifeGear360 is introduced to allow individual users the liberty<br/>to treat their water directly if needed, while also remaining in a circular economy for the<br/>lifecycle of the product. As a backpack with water treatment capabilities, natural plant fibers are<br/>used to ensure a renewable cycle of production while also redefining the traditional<br/>“plastic-taste” characteristics many people associate with water pouches to a smoother, cleaner<br/>taste. Engineering, sustainability, and business and public service practice have been used in an<br/>interdisciplinary way to prepare this product for its intended use such as in school, for travel, and<br/>for the outdoors. According to the collected outreach, many indicated that they feel as though<br/>there is a need for a product that allows for the feeling of water security which can include<br/>carrying any personal belongings as well. Marketing strategies such as logo creating and online<br/>outreach continually influence product design, up until production would take place following<br/>the finalized design.

This report is concerned primarily with explaining the deliverables that our team, the Sustainable Saguaros, developed for the Kim Center for Social Balance (The Kim Center), as a requirement for graduation from the Master of Sustainability Solutions program at Arizona State University. As a growing non-profit organization, the Kim Center for Social Balance has a vision for integrated gender equity in workplaces nationwide but lacks the bandwidth to advance its strategy forward. The requested deliverables are: (1) a set of sector analyses for municipal government, healthcare, construction, and finance, (2) a summary of the gender-related reporting requirements for three reporting standards, and (3) a strategic action plan to improve the Kim Center’s board governance and engagement. Our sector analyses revealed common themes associated with gender-specific challenges in the workplace and identified sector-specific challenges that should be addressed in ways that are tailored to the sector. We developed the sector analyses by conducting extensive research into the current state of each sector as it pertains to gender equity, and then identifying challenges to women in the workplace. While we attempted to assess the state of each sector beyond the gender binary, consistent or reliable data was not readily available in most cases. We see this as an area where the Kim Center could help organizations improve in recognizing and supporting employees across the gender spectrum. The summary of reporting standards revealed that the existing gender-related requirements for the most well-established reporting standards are highly inconsistent. The gender-related reporting requirements for GRI, SASB, and NASDAQ did not have any significant overlap. The information required by these standards is routinely collected by US companies as part of their EEOC compliance, but may not be legal to collect in other countries. The strategic action plan for the Kim Center’s Board of Directors was formulated by analyzing the board’s bylaws, a survey conducted with current board members, and an internal non-profit assessment that was answered by their Executive Director. Using these resources, our team identified gaps in board governance that must be addressed in order to build the internal capacity for the Kim Center to operate effectively. From there, our team developed a case for improving board governance and outlined specific recommendations to strengthen the Kim Center’s board alignment and responsibilities.