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AI makes job ads more inclusive
CategoriesSustainable News

AI makes job ads more inclusive

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Research has demonstrated that companies with better gender and ethnic diversity find it easier to attract top talent and are more likely to have above-average profits. 

But one major challenge when recruiting diverse candidates is that people often unknowingly write company descriptions and job postings focusing on a stereotypical type of person they expect would fill that role. To help change this, Develop Diverse has created a web-based artificial intelligence-(AI)-powered software tool that helps eliminate unconscious bias. 

The Develop Diverse platform analyses writing for stereotypical language, highlights non-inclusive or potentially problematic words, and suggests alternatives that are less stereotypical and more inclusive. Each highlighted word also includes a socio-psycholinguistic explanation that helps users unlearn the unconscious bias reflected in the language. 

In addition to replacing non-inclusive words, the platform can also deliver analytics and user reports that help organisations track changes in texts, such as job adverts, and improvements in the use of inclusive language over time.   

Develop Diverse was founded in 2017 and today claims to have more than 750 users in over 35 countries. In one example, Danske Bank increased their number of qualified female applicants by 81 per cent by using Develop Diverse.

In the archive, Springwise has spotted other tools and platforms working to improve inclusivity in the workplace, including analysis software to discover an organisation’s inclusivity ‘footprint’ and AI tech that measures a company’s diversity.

Written By: Lisa Magloff

Reference

An inclusive approach to upcycling low-value plastics into new products
CategoriesSustainable News

An inclusive approach to upcycling low-value plastics into new products

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Every year, between 8 to 10 million metric tonnes of plastic end up in our oceans. Countries in Southeast Asia are among the major offenders – many lack the infrastructure to collect and process plastic waste. Vietnam, which only recycles around a third of its plastic waste, is one of these. But a startup called ReForm Plastic is aiming to change this, as well as improve the lives of Vietnamese waste pickers – who are largely women. 

ReForm focuses on repurposing different types of waste plastic into moulded plastic products such as: construction tiles, tables, chairs, waste bins, playground equipment, and holds for rock-climbing walls. However, the startup is also repurposing the waste system by transforming existing collection centres into small production facilities. 

The small recycling centres are equipped with efficient low-cost machinery, collection and processing equipment. Each centre is partially locally owned and managed, but generates products that are centrally purchased and distributed by ReForm.  

ReForm already has four factories in operation in Vietnam – and is building six more in partnership with organisations in Thailand, Bangladesh, Laos, Mozambique, and the Philippines. In addition to providing work for thousands of workers, the circular system also formalises a large proportion of the informal waste sector. 

One way that innovators are tackling plastic waste is by collecting it and turning it into new products – reducing waste as well as the use of fossil fuels to make virgin plastics. Springwise has spotted a startup making backpacks from recycled plastic and a refillable and decomposable replacement for plastic pill bottles.

Written By: Lisa Magloff

Reference

Building an inclusive network of sustainable, connected farms
CategoriesSustainable News

Building an inclusive network of sustainable, connected farms

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: For farmers in Africa and the Middle East, reliance on an increasingly volatile climate is making it more and more difficult to achieve a stable, predictable income. And, according to The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, aridity in parts of the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region will increase in the next century, shrinking arable lands and disrupting agricultural patterns. This worrying trend inspired the foundation of Jodoor, a Rabat-based startup that designs, builds, and installs hi-tech connected greenhouses for farmers.

The company’s greenhouses are internet-of-things-enabled and can be used by farmers to produce 10 high-quality salad staples and herbs – from iceberg lettuce to basil. By producing leafy greens in a controlled environment, farmers are protected from the vagueries of climate and are able to produce crops year-round. The technology ensures consistent productivity and quality as well as a fixed price for farmers throughout the year. Moreover, the vegetables and herbs grown in the hi-tech greenhouses require no pesticides or herbicides.

The startup plans to use a franchise model to drive the implementation of its technology. Each greenhouse will be tailored to the exact local needs of each farmer, and by building a network of farmers, Jodoor is hoping to match local production to local demand.

Currently in the early stages of its development, Jodoor has nonetheless piqued the interest of several institutions including the Mohammad VI Polytechnic University (UM6P). At the end of 2021, the startup launched its first greenhouse on a 200-square-metre plot in Skhirat, a seaside town between Rabat and Casablanca. Its second greenhouse, which is intended to showcase the commercial potential of the technology, will be installed at UM6P.

Longer-term, the startup plans to hone its model in Morocco before expanding across the Middle East and North Africa. Many of Morocco’s neighbours share similar challenges when it comes to water scarcity and food sovereignty, making them prime candidates for Jodoor’s technology.

Other innovations spotted by Springwise that improve the prospects of small farmers include a startup that provides software and hands-on assistance for farmers in Nigeria and solar-powered irrigation pumps for farmers in East Africa.

Written By: Matthew Hempstead

Reference

A ‘spellchecker’ for inclusive writing
CategoriesSustainable News

A ‘spellchecker’ for inclusive writing

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Writing assistants have become a ubiquitous part of office life. Anyone who has worked with Microsoft Word will be familiar with the red and blue squiggly lines that indicate spelling and grammar mistakes. And sophisticated plug-ins like Grammarly—now the tenth most valuable US startup—provide more in-depth feedback on writing style and grammar. But what if the user experience of a spellchecker was leveraged to make people write more inclusively? This is the idea behind Witty Works, a Swiss startup that is using AI to uncover unconscious bias in corporate writing.

Why is inclusive writing important? Exclusionary and stereotypical language remains deeply embedded in professional vocabulary despite research demonstrating its harmful effects. A recent article published in the Harvard Business Review provides a good run-down of studies examining the impact of exclusionary language – from misused descriptors with negative connotations to terms in job postings that deter more women than men.

Witty Works, which was founded in 2018, is one of several AI tools that aim to tackle this issue. The company’s free plugin analyses text as it is written, highlighting stereotypical or exclusionary terms and offering an alternative. Crucially, Witty Works does not simply help time-poor writers produce more inclusive copy without pausing for reflection. Instead, it is designed to be an educational tool, providing a brief explanation of why a term has been highlighted. The company believes it is vital that employees recognise bias in their daily workflow, referring to their tool as ‘unconscious bias training on the go’.

The company operates a ‘freemium’ model, with the basic plugin available without charge. Users can then pay to upgrade to two more sophisticated packages known as Witty Teams and Witty Enterprise. These offer additional features that provide further training and help organisations manage inclusive writing across whole teams and organisations.

Inclusivity in the workplace is an important area of innovation and Springwise has recently spotted software that automatically analyses the diversity of media content, an artificial intelligence platform that helps companies improve diversity, and a tool for measuring workplace diversity and inclusion. 

Written By: Matthew Hempstead

13th July 2022

Email: contact@witty.works

Website: witty.works

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