Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Sustainable Development Goals

Leveraging the Human Factor to Manage Extreme Weather Events

Aug 14, 2018 1:50 PM ET

As part of Bechtel’s commitment to contribute 100 ideas to support the United Nation’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we share insights on leveraging the “human factor” to improve resilience from extreme weather events. These insights are based on a joint IBM-Bechtel field project Puerto Rico.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

NO MAN IS AN ISLAND: Lending a Hand to Puerto Rico

Aug 14, 2018 12:40 PM ET

In the wake of Hurricane Maria, which hit Puerto Rico in September 2017 and left a majority of the island without power, homes and roads destroyed, and water contaminated, Northern Trust’s Latin Heritage Leadership Council (LHLC) partnered with other Chicago-area firms to provide help.

Innovation & Technology

Connecting More Than 6 Million Low-Income Americans

Aug 14, 2018 12:35 PM ET

Comcast today announced it has now connected more than six million low-income Americans to the Internet through its Internet Essentials program, which is the largest and most comprehensive broadband adoption program for low-income families in the U.S. The company connected more than two million people in the last year alone, which is the largest annual increase in the program’s history. The company also announced it will significantly expand eligibility – for the eleventh time in seven years – to low-income veterans, nearly one million of whom live within the Comcast footprint. According to the United States Census Bureau’s 2016 American Community Survey, less than 70 percent of low-income veterans have Internet access, and about 60 percent own a computer.

Events, Media & Communications

CR Leads from Aflac and Tupperware to Emcee at 3BL Forum

Aug 14, 2018 12:30 PM ET

Catherine Hernandez-Blades, Senior Vice President; Chief Brand and Communications Officer, Aflac, and Mark Shamley, Vice President, Global Social Impact, Tupperware, lead corporate responsibility at two mission-driven Fortune 1000 brands.

Environment

Philippines to Access the Green Climate Fund

Aug 14, 2018 12:10 PM ET

“Ambition enables finance,” said Redentor Constantino, executive director of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, as he introduced another way of merging climate-related action and finance to achieve a low-carbon and resilient economy in the Philippines. Echoing the words of Senator Loren Legarda, Constantino said that economic resilience, especially in the face of climate threats, entailed a strategic use of available funding from the local through to the international level.

Environment

Denali National Park Tackles Trash With Zero-Landfill Initiative

Aug 14, 2018 12:05 PM ET

A record number of visitors traveled to Interior Alaska's Denali National Park and Preserve last year, but they left behind less trash than a few years before. A push to send less waste to the local landfill is working, officials say.

Events, Media & Communications

Partnership and Purpose at Sustainable Brands

Aug 14, 2018 12:00 PM ET

I was excited to attend and present at Sustainable Brands 2018. My research focuses on how organizations are engaging with sustainability challenges, and my work’s motivation stems from my deep-seated hope that business will transform how we address the many societal challenges that we face today. I believe that business is uniquely situated to help solve challenges like climate change and poverty. It was inspiring to hear from hundreds of companies at Sustainable Brands that are working to redefine how they do business—to do well by doing good.

Environment

Worst Types of Litter: Plastic Straws Not Even in the Top 5

Aug 14, 2018 11:30 AM ET

Plastic straws aren't the only environmental contaminants missing the trash can, or, rather, the recycling bin. As companies such as Starbucks move away from plastic straws, environmental advocates say these items aren't the worst litter offender.

Environment

Inogen Member Spotlight--Alex Ferguson

Aug 14, 2018 11:25 AM ET

Antea Group is a part of the Inogen Environmental Alliance—a global network of EHS&S consultancies that work together to provide environmental health and safety solutions on every continent in the world. Our Inogen Member Spotlight series highlights the experience and knowledge from our fellow Inogen Associates from all around the world.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Ecocentricity Blog: Can't Trust This

Aug 14, 2018 11:15 AM ET

US businesses have the lowest trust scores of all OECD countries being tracked, other than those headquartered in Mexico.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

In Our Ranks

Aug 14, 2018 11:05 AM ET

We were honored to receive the 2017 Secretary of Defense Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Freedom Award. Nominations of employers can be made only by Guard and Reserve employees or a family member acting on their behalf. In 2017, Comcast NBCUniversal received more than 30 individual nominations.

Many unique service members have joined our ranks at Comcast NBCUniversal. Each military employee brings distinct experiences and skill sets from his or her service. Jeff Tzeng, Sabrina Spirito, and Ernest Easter are just three of the military employees who inspire and lead by example daily.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Pork Processor Brings Home the Bacon

Aug 14, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Smithfield's solution meant combining its three supply chains into one, which dovetailed nicely with its "One Smithfield" initiative to unify the three companies and their brands under one corporate umbrella. The process would not only help get to the root cause of problems, it would also improve operating efficiency and reduce costs while contributing to the organization's aggressive sustainability goals.

Responsible Production & Consumption

WWF Exposes Ivory Trade Loopholes Using Fictitious Online Store

Aug 14, 2018 10:45 AM ET

From limited edition logo swaps to Tinder profiles made for endangered monkeys, many organizations have interjected their wildlife conservation messages into the everyday lives of consumers in an effort to bring the topic to the forefront. Recently, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) pulled off its own stunt to raise awareness about the ivory trade in Singapore and the loopholes that make it possible.

Innovation & Technology

Revolutionizing India’s Rural Healthcare Through Technology

Aug 14, 2018 10:40 AM ET

Approximately two-thirds of India’s 1.3 billion people live in rural areas, according to the World Health Organization. Imagine the challenge of delivering preventive healthcare to over 800 million remote villagers and tracking patient records without the use of technology.

Environment

Americans Say That Clean Water Is the Most Important Factor to Living a Healthy Lifestyle, According to Second Annual Study from Nestlé Waters North America

Aug 14, 2018 10:30 AM ET

Americans rank clean water as the most important factor to living a healthy life (27 percent of consumers and 32 percent of experts) – higher than even getting enough sleep (25 percent of consumers and 22 percent of experts) and eating healthy foods (23 percent of consumers and 25 percent of experts), according to “Perspectives on America's Water.” The study, the second annual of its kind commissioned by Nestlé Waters North America, surveyed a total of 6,142 American consumers and experts on water-related topics.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

SC Johnson Brasil é considerada Melhor Empresa para Trabalhar pelo quarto ano consecutivo

Aug 14, 2018 10:30 AM ET

A SC Johnson Brasil anunciou hoje que foi reconhecida como uma das Melhores Empresas para Trabalhar de 2018 pelo Instituto Great Place to Work®. A organização obteve a classificação XX na relação de Melhores Empresas para Trabalhar de Médio Porte do Brasil. Este é o quarto ano consecutivo que a operação brasileira da SC Johnson é reconhecida na lista de Melhores Empresas para Trabalhar, lançada anualmente pelo instituto, e seu quinto reconhecimento geral.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

SC Johnson Brazil Named Best Workplace for 4th Consecutive Year

Aug 14, 2018 10:30 AM ET

SC Johnson Brazil today announced it has been recognized as a 2018 Best Workplace by the Great Place to Work® Institute. The organization earned the No. 5 spot on the list of Best Medium-sized Multinational Workplaces in Brazil. This is the fourth consecutive year SC Johnson’s Brazil operation has been recognized on the Institute’s annual Best Workplace list, and its fifth recognition overall.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Inspiring Career Growth at Las Vegas Sands

Aug 14, 2018 10:05 AM ET

Las Vegas Sands is the world’s leading global developer of Integrated Resorts, and was recently recognized in Forbes annual list of America’s Best Employers. As one of the nation’s most respected employers, our company is dedicated to its Team Members and providing a great working environment.

Innovation & Technology

Hallmark Elevates Employee Engagement Through Mobile Technology

Aug 14, 2018 10:05 AM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

Visa Announces Progress in Latest Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Report

Aug 14, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Visa today released its 2017 Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Report, the company’s summary of progress in its ongoing commitment to corporate responsibility, sustainability and ethical leadership. The report addresses the commitments and progress Visa has made across its most significant environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

VIDEO | Barclays Citizenship Awards: Azure Power Team Uses Green Bonds to Finance Solar Projects

Aug 14, 2018 9:55 AM ET

Azure Power raised $500 million from green bonds, with help from our team, to finance solar power projects, contributing to India’s goal to move towards 40% electricity generation from non-fossil sources by 2030.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

INFOGRAPHIC | Sustainability Goals & Performance at NRG

Aug 14, 2018 9:55 AM ET

See how NRG continued to showcase our industry leadership in sustainability disclosure and transparency in 2017.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

One Year Ago: CEOs Respond to Charlottesville

Aug 14, 2018 9:45 AM ET

Today marks one year since Merck CEO Ken Frazier announced his resignation from the President's American Manufacturing Council in response to what he and his company felt was a failure to appropriately denounce "expressions of hatred, bigotry and group supremacy" on the part of the federal government. In the days that followed, nearly all CEOs followed suit and resigned from the group, marking a new era in brands and CEOs taking stands in support of social issues of critical importance to their stakeholders.

Sustainable Development Goals

The Next Resource Frontier: 5 Strategies to Improve Your Company’s Water Security

Aug 14, 2018 9:45 AM ET

Water is arguably our most precious resource. It is requisite for the survival of all life on our planet. It is also finite. While water is endlessly recyclable through the hydrologic cycle, there’s only so much of the stuff, and only about 1% of it is freshwater that is usable for human consumption.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

GreenMoney’s BEST Articles Issue – 25 Years of Influence and Impact

Aug 14, 2018 9:30 AM ET

Narrowing down the list to just 15 articles on Sustainable Business and Impact Investing was no easy task for the GreenMoney team. We believe this powerful and unique collection of articles, as well as a favorite podcast featuring David Brancaccio of Marketplace Radio interviewing GreenMoney’s founder Cliff Feigenbaum, and a BioMimicry video (produced by Leonardo Dicapirio) will inform and inspire you. Check out the complete Aug/Sept 2018 issue of GreenMoney - 25 years in the making