Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Education

Alliance for Community Trees Mentor Exchange Program Connects Up With Trees with Trees Forever

Oct 29, 2018 9:00 AM ET

This year, Alliance for Community Trees hosted a mentor exchange program for members through a grant from the U.S. Forest Service. The mentor exchange program paired smaller non-profit groups with larger groups and allowed them to learn by travelling to their location and doing a site visit.

Research, Reports & Publications

Securing a Sustainable Future

Oct 26, 2018 5:55 PM ET

We are proud to share our 2018 Corporate Responsibility (CR) Report, which highlights the progress we’ve made in delivering on CR commitments to our people, your information, and the world. In this, our 11th CR report, we share both the progress we’ve made and the areas where we need to improve, as both are a part of our CR journey.

Our 2018 report also describes how we are contributing to specific UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs represent a unique opportunity to align our core business capabilities with society’s pressing needs and we provide progress updates on efforts towards Goal 4 (quality education), Goal 5 (gender equality), Goal 8 (decent work and economic growth), Goal 10 (reduced inequalities), and Goal 13 (climate action).

Events, Media & Communications

Discovery Education, TGR Foundation, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and University of Maryland Changemakers Discuss the Future Workforce and Talent Pipeline at ‘Brands Taking Stands’ 3BL Forum

Oct 26, 2018 5:00 PM ET

Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital education content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, TGR Foundation, A Tiger Woods Charity, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and University of Maryland panelists yesterday joined 3BL Forum: Brands Taking Stands - The Long View to discuss The Future Workforce and a Pipeline of Talent. Technology has drastically changed the technical skills needed to hold the jobs of today and greater job specializations are the driving force behind the need for a STEM talent pipeline.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Personalization and Sustainability Continue to Be Strong Influences in the Label and Packaging Industry

Oct 26, 2018 4:30 PM ET

Just over a week ago, I was in Chicago for Labelexpo, the largest trade show for the labeling and packaging industry. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the ongoing impact of the ever increasing demand from consumers for personalized products and experiences, that are more sustainable in their footprint, was evident across the booths at the show.

Environment

Partnering to Reduce Plastic Waste

Oct 26, 2018 4:30 PM ET

To achieve our long-term sustainability goals, we partnered with Plastic Whale to remove plastic waste from the Amsterdam canals to be recycled into raw material.

Events, Media & Communications

Mohawk Solar Energy “Handprinting” Initiative to be Featured on Oct. 30 GreenBiz Webcast

Oct 26, 2018 3:30 PM ET

Mohawk Industries’ George Bandy Jr., VP of sustainability and commercial marketing, will join Groundswell CEO Michelle Moore for an engaging webcast sharing how their respective organizations built a solar energy partnership geared towards schools and underserved communities. The GreenBiz webcast, titled “Powering Inclusion Through Solar Handprints: An Innovative Partnership,” will take place Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, 1-2 p.m. EST. Joel Makower, executive editor of GreenBiz, will serve as moderator. The webcast is free to attend online.

Environment

HP Sources More Than 550,000 Pounds of Ocean-Bound Plastic for New Cartridges

Oct 26, 2018 2:55 PM ET

Imagine the size of an adult humpback whale. Now imagine the whale relative to an empty plastic water bottle. No comparison, right? In fact, it would take about 12 million empty plastic bottles (that’s nearly one bottle per every person in the state of Ohio) to balance the scale against just seven adult humpback whales.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Xylem Employees in Germany Improve Their Communities During October Month of Service

Oct 26, 2018 2:00 PM ET

Xylem employees in Germany have been active during Xylem Watermark’s October Month of Service and have engaged children in their volunteer efforts. Last week, the Ludwigsburg site participated in a creative event, where they built a beautiful wooden shed at a youth farm for local children. Their neighbors at the Langenhagen site supported the Friends Children Forest in Hannover by planting trees and restoring a stream. Both the Ludswigburg and Langenhagen teams are showing how their volunteer efforts are improving their communities during Xylem’s Global Month of Service!

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

2018 Youth Homelessness Summit | Faces of Collaboration: Tayvon and Emily

Oct 26, 2018 1:55 PM ET

Emily Paulsen has served as the Executive Director of the Nevada Homeless Alliance since 2016. She believes housing is a human right and is dedicated to building a socially just community where everyone can be housed.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Celebrating Pro Bono Week 2018

Oct 26, 2018 1:05 PM ET

Happy Pro Bono Week! Pro Bono Week recognizes the skilled volunteers who put their talents to work making a positive difference in communities around the world. Common Impact is excited to celebrate the nonprofits, volunteers and leaders that make pro bono so successful - not just in October, but throughout the year!

Energy

UPS to Launch First-of-Its-Kind U.S. Urban Delivery Solution in Seattle

Oct 26, 2018 12:05 PM ET

In an effort to address growing traffic congestion and air quality concerns, UPS (NYSE: UPS) and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan today announced the deployment of an innovative downtown delivery pilot project using pedal-assist cargo eBikes and customized, modular trailers.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Subaru's Act of Kindness for an Area Family in Need

Oct 26, 2018 12:05 PM ET

A local family going through tough times purchased a new Subaru... but dealer Subaru of Gwinnett went above and beyond when they delivered their new car.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Transforming Inner-City Youth — Mind, Body, and Food Literacy

Oct 26, 2018 12:00 PM ET

At the peak of his teen rebellion in high school, De’shawn Woolridge left home and lived out of his car for a while, until his life was transformed with the help of a nonprofit agency and its after-school programs.

Woolridge said he found direction in his life with the help of Success Through Self Academy, or STS, a nonprofit that provided after-school programs for inner-city youth in Pittsburg, California. He flourished in its multimedia program, while living temporarily in STS’ parking lot at its main location.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Introducing the MTV EMA Generation Change Award

Oct 26, 2018 11:30 AM ET

For the first time ever, the MTV EMA is recognizing the inspiring, young changemakers of the world with the MTV EMA Generation Change award. The five changemakers nominated for the award this year are Xiuhtezcatl "X" Martinez, Sonita Alizadeh, Mohamed Al Jounde, Hauwa Ojeifo and Ellen Jones. They're all no older than 25 and tackling some of the world's toughest problems in substantial ways.

Social Impact & Volunteering

The Multiplier Effect

Oct 26, 2018 11:15 AM ET

The term “capacity-building” tends to be thrown around quite a bit in the nonprofit sector. And as jargon, it has the unfortunate fate of being pretty obscure outside of our sector—not to mention losing its meaning when overused within the field. But at the heart of it, nonprofit capacity-building is one of the most exciting and inspirational ways to support an issue. Quite simply, it’s about achieving a multiplier effect—creating more change in the world by helping to strengthen the organizations that are tackling society’s greatest challenges. At Taproot, we are driven by a strong belief in the exponential impact that can come from supporting nonprofits in this way.

Research, Reports & Publications

A Message from Raymond W. McDaniel Jr., President & CEO, Moody's Corporation

Oct 26, 2018 11:15 AM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

NAEM Recognizes the Best in EHS and Sustainability Leadership

Oct 26, 2018 11:15 AM ET

This week the National Association for Environmental Management (NAEM) recognized the achievements of seven EHS and Sustainability leaders during a luncheon ceremony at the 26th Annual EHS & Sustainability Management Forum in Louisville, Ky.

Research, Reports & Publications

Tracking Sustainability Commitments on a Quarterly Basis is Possible

Oct 26, 2018 11:05 AM ET

For the fourth year, Schneider Electric, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, announces its financial and non-financial results together for the third quarter of 2018. Each quarter, Schneider Electric publishes 21 indicators across 5 megatrends from the Schneider Sustainability Impact, measuring progress towards its ambitious sustainability commitments for 2018 to 2020, in line with the COP 21 and United Nations objectives. With a total score of 5.25 out of 10 at end-October 2018, the Group has exceeded its Schneider Sustainability Impact target of 5 out of 10 for the end of 2018.

Social Impact & Volunteering

NASCAR and eBay Launch Joint Auction

Oct 26, 2018 11:00 AM ET

eBay and NASCAR today launched their first joint charity sale giving fans the opportunity to bid on autographed memorabilia and once-in-a-lifetime racing experiences.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Aflac’s Newest Cancer Policy Helps Families Focus on Recovery, Not Cost

Oct 26, 2018 10:40 AM ET

Did you know that Aflac’s newest cancer policy provides coverage for dependent children at no additional charge?

Aflac cancer insurance is there to help offer financial protection for insureds so they can focus on what matters most: recovery and one another.

Health & Healthcare

LIXIL Transfers Sustainable ‘Green Toilet System’ Technology to Local Kenyan Business to Accelerate Access to Basic Sanitation in East Africa

Oct 26, 2018 10:35 AM ET

LIXIL, maker of pioneering water and housing products, is accelerating access to basic sanitation in East Africa by transferring proprietary sustainable sanitation technology to Kenyan company, ACE Environmental Consultancy (ACE). The Green Toilet System (GTS) has been nearly a decade in development and has the ability to transform thousands of lives through improved access to toilets.

GTS safely processes human waste without using water, enabling it to be recycled as fertilizer. Co-working with UN-Habitat (the United Nations Human Settlements Program), the system was introduced to Kenya’s Kalobeyei refugee settlement earlier this year, where it helps refugees achieve greater economic independence by using the converted fertilizer to cultivate crops.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Breaking Out of the CSR Box: How to Build Social Impact Into Your Whole Business

Oct 26, 2018 10:25 AM ET

In recent years, the push for businesses to be about more than business and embrace a social purpose has risen from a murmur among millennial workers and the occasional CEO to a resounding call across the business world. Executives, employees, consumers, and even investors are looking beyond the bottom line and asking, “What does it really mean for companies to have social impact?”

Energy

Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District Improves Classrooms, Earns Trane Energy Efficiency Leader Award

Oct 26, 2018 10:15 AM ET

Trane®, a global leader in indoor comfort solutions, and a brand of Ingersoll Rand, recognized the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District (DRRSD), with an Energy Efficiency Leader Award for a multi-year energy conservation program that improves classroom comfort and reduces district energy costs by 62 percent.

Research, Reports & Publications

7 Questions for Alex Gorsky About Johnson & Johnson's Groundbreaking Work in South Africa

Oct 26, 2018 10:05 AM ET

Preventative HIV innovations. Better access to oncology care. A mobile messaging service for moms. These are just a few of the initiatives underway—and Chairman and CEO Alex Gorsky sits down for an exclusive interview about all of them.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Mohawk Group’s Sunweave Woven Broadloom Marries Best Practices of Past and Present

Oct 26, 2018 10:05 AM ET

To offset the energy used to produce Sunweave, Mohawk engaged in a unique “handprinting” initiative, partnering with Virginia’s Hampton University to install 152 low-flow showerheads, equating to an annual water savings of approximately 4 million gallons. Mohawk has also partnered with Groundswell to ultimately install 10 smartflower™ solar systems at community centers and schools with STEM programs across the U.S. Mohawk is not only committed to bringing warmth back to commercial interiors through flooring products like Sunweave, but to leaving a lasting impact through meaningful initiatives and manufacturing practices that give more back to the environment than they take.