Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Diversity & Inclusion

The Gender Equality Balancing Act

Jan 9, 2018 11:55 AM ET

In January 2018, National Grid will sponsor the Leadership Conference for Women in Energy – Europe in London. It’s a timely reminder that there’s still a lot of work to do to achieve parity between men and women in senior leadership roles in energy and beyond. Alan Foster, National Grid’s UK Chief Financial Officer, explains.

Environment

Video on Floating Desalination Plant Wins Xylem Water Prize

Jan 9, 2018 11:30 AM ET

A team of students from India recently won the Xylem Water Prize for their video on how to solve water. The competition was part of the International Junior Science Olympiad, which this year had the theme “Water and Sustainability”.

The 14th annual International Junior Science Olympiad 2017 was held in the Netherlands in December 2017. Students aged 15 and under from 50 countries competed with one another in physics, biology and chemistry.

As a sponsor of the Olympiad, Xylem launched the first Xylem Water Prize, which invited participating students to produce a video answering the question: “How do you solve water?” All submissions were evaluated for impact, clarity, creativity and innovation by an international judging panel.

Sustainable Development Goals

Updates to SDG Compass – Call for Business Tools

Jan 9, 2018 11:00 AM ET

GRI, the UN Global Compact and WBCSD are inviting submissions to an inventory, which is part of the SDG Compass, to support organizations in measuring their contributions to the Sustainble Development Goals.​

Social Impact & Volunteering

Reminder: Take the Social Value Canada Survey

Jan 9, 2018 10:55 AM ET

In late 2016, the SROI Canada Network and the Social Impact Analysts Association merged to become Social Value Canada (SVC). SVC is positioning itself to be the national hub for Canadians to connect, learn and exchange ideas about social impact, social value creation and measurement methodologies.

Innovation & Technology

Bloomberg's Data Initiative: Big Data for Social Good in 2018

Jan 9, 2018 10:40 AM ET

Big data has become ubiquitous in recent years. Whether it is data-driven marketing, sports analytics, political campaigns, or national security threats, data has become central to any type of informed analysis and plan of action. Consequently, the arrival of Big data has also spawned a data industry and the emergence of data professions – data analysts, data architects, data scientists, and chief data officers.

Research, Reports & Publications

CLP Creates Value for Stakeholders

Jan 9, 2018 10:00 AM ET

At the heart of the CLP Group's success in the Asia Pacific power sector is its value creation process, which draws on various inputs and through its business activities converts them to outputs that create positive value for its stakeholders.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Waste Not, Want Not

Jan 9, 2018 9:45 AM ET

It is not conservative to say that food waste is a huge issue. It affects each and every one of us, or will at some point in the near future. The rumblings of experts say that our current worldwide population will increase more than 35 percent by the year 2050.

Both the opportunity and need to reduce our world’s food waste have never been greater than they are now. Starting right in the United States, reducing food waste can deliver significant environmental, social and economic benefits.

Environment

Party Like It’s 2017

Jan 9, 2018 9:30 AM ET

I’ve had the privilege of sharing Andrew Winston’s company twice, and he’s simply brilliant. I hope you read and enjoy his writing.

Education

Arrow Electronics Supports Accenture’s “Hour of Code”

Jan 9, 2018 9:25 AM ET

Arrow Electronics’ employees supported an Hour of Code event at Accenture’s Denver office last month that was attended by local students and their families. Arrow provided 20 laptops for the event, and employees volunteered to coach students through the event’s interactive coding modules.

Environment

It's Not Your Imagination, Dallas Is Getting Hotter — And Here's Why

Jan 9, 2018 9:25 AM ET

Traditionally, economic growth and environmental sustainability have been at odds. In Texas, we tend to adopt a "growth first" attitude, and then worry about environmental and lifestyle impacts later. But the 2017 Dallas Urban Heat Island Management Study from the Texas Trees Foundation provides reasons why we need to rethink how we handle the region's growth, building a better balance between the gray and green infrastructures.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Time for an Employee Giving Program Pulse Check

Jan 9, 2018 9:15 AM ET

When it comes to annual check-ups we make it a priority to visit the doctor, dentist or even a vehicle inspection. Although many of us put it off as long as we can, or even avoid it all together. Why? Fear of bad news, fear of being judged, fear of costs, fear of change…the list goes on. But check-ups are necessary and good for us. The same holds true with your employee giving program. No better time than now to get started.

Education

Hands-on Learning Leads to an IT Career

Jan 9, 2018 9:05 AM ET

To prepare for CCNA certification Nurayy Guerler, 32, studied networking hardware with her hands at SFZ Förderzentrum Academy in Chemnitz, Germany, a vocational training center for people with visual impairments. Though Nuray is legally blind, she is now a successful IT trainer at an engineering office.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Essity Inspires Sustainability in Local Communities

Jan 9, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Each year, Essity employees at facilities throughout the United States take time to give back locally – all sites contribute in a way that is special to their own communities. Here are some of the ways different groups took to the streets to connect with communities and celebrate Essity’s commitment to sustainability during the last quarter of 2017:

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Bringing Light to People Across the World

Jan 9, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Teachers like Joseph Alter, and their students, are supplying energy to countries without access to electricity, thanks to We Share Solar® Suitcases and support from Wells Fargo.

Innovation & Technology

Robot Duck’s Aim: Helps Kids With Cancer Via Power of Play

Jan 9, 2018 8:45 AM ET

A plush, robotic duck may soon become a fixture in the world of children who have cancer — a social robot that can be silly, happy, angry, scared or sick just like them, and help them cope creatively with their illness through the power of play. The duck, developed by robotics expert Aaron Horowitz and his company, is undergoing testing and is expected to be widely distributed by the end of this year.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

China Can Reduce Air Pollution By Repurposing Leftover Straw

Jan 9, 2018 8:25 AM ET

HP uses shipping materials made from straw to help reduce environmental and health concerns.

Events, Media & Communications

Speaker Proposals Now Being Accepted for COMMIT!Forum 2018: Brands Taking Stands – The Long View, Oct. 23-25 in Washington

Jan 9, 2018 8:05 AM ET

The Corporate Responsibility Association and CR Magazine are now accepting presenter proposals for the 2018 COMMIT!Forum conference to be held at MGM National Harbor Oct. 23-25. Submission deadline is March 15.

Research, Reports & Publications

Financing the SDGs

Jan 9, 2018 8:00 AM ET

Responsible Production & Consumption

RSPO Announces Formation of the North American Sustainable Palm Oil Network (NASPON)

Jan 9, 2018 7:55 AM ET

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) announces the formation of the North American Sustainable Palm Oil Network (NASPON), today following the 15th Annual Roundtable Meeting in Bali, Indonesia. In an effort to accelerate collaboration within the market, NASPON’s mission is to educate, build momentum and assist North American companies in making and delivering on commitments to source sustainable palm oil.

Environment

Internationally Recognized Sustainability Certifications Extended Into Turkey

Jan 9, 2018 6:00 AM ET

SCS Global Services (SCS) is pleased to announce that it has partnered with DOĞA HSE Group to extend SCS’ internationally recognized sustainability services into Turkey. DOĞA will serve as SCS’ local representative in Turkey, offering a range of sustainability services and certifications for products and manufacturers.

Events, Media & Communications

Share Your Story at the 2018 Shared Value Leadership Summit

Jan 9, 2018 6:00 AM ET

The Shared Value Initiative is seeking proposals for the 2018 Shared Value Leadership Summit's popular Storytellers speaking opportunities and we want the Summit stage to come alive with your story of shared value innovation and inspiration.

Education

Next Generation of Major Leaguers Prepare for the Future

Jan 8, 2018 7:30 PM ET

Baseball's worldwide appeal was on full display from January 4-7 when the Major League Baseball Players Association and Major League Baseball hosted their annual Rookie Career Development Program (RCDP) at the Landsdowne Conference Center in Leesburg, Va.

Media & Communications

2017’s Top 10 Sustainable Business Stories – HBR Author Andrew Winston Weighs In – What Are Your Top 2017 Stories?

Jan 8, 2018 3:20 PM ET

As we all quickly learned after the January 20 inauguration, the U.S. signaled it would be pulling out of the historic Paris Climate Accord – to become at some point in 2018 probably the ONLY country standing by itself. At least at the [Federal] governmental level.

And so, Trend #1, writes Andrew Winston, is the “Newtonian equal-and-opposite reaction from business, states, and cities – nothing short of amazing – their pushback on policy decisions is my #1 story of 2017.”

Media & Communications

Kroger Expands Fair Trade Certified™ Offerings

Jan 8, 2018 3:15 PM ET

Kroger, in partnership with Fair Trade USA, announced today that its Simple Truth® brand will expand in 2018 to offer more Fair Trade Certified™ products. The Simple Truth® brand’s current portfolio of Fair Trade products spans multiple commodities, including coffee, cocoa, coconut, tea, sugar and agave, and leads the private label grocery industry in Fair Trade offerings.

Environment

CIT To Plant 18,000 Trees Across California And Florida Through Its Gratitude & Growth Project

Jan 8, 2018 1:40 PM ET