Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Yum! Brands Named to Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index for Second Consecutive Year

Sep 13, 2018 4:50 PM ET

Yum! Brands today was once again named to the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (DJSI) for its ongoing commitment to sustainable business practices. DJSI is regarded as one of the leading sustainability benchmarks among businesses and investors alike.

“This recognition reflects our commitment to making the world better through our global citizenship and sustainability strategy called our Recipe for Good,” said Greg Creed, CEO, Yum! Brands.

Green Infrastructure

Starbucks Announces Global Greener Stores Commitment

Sep 13, 2018 4:30 PM ET

“Starbucks Greener Stores” framework will be co-developed by leading experts including World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and will be audited and verified by SCS Global Services, a third-party verification organization that also oversees Starbucks Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E.) Practices. This framework will be open-sourced to enable other retailers to engage in this initiative.

Environment

Today is the Day to Step Up for Global Climate Action

Sep 13, 2018 4:15 PM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

More than 800 Astellas Employees Volunteer for 16 Community Organizations as Part of Ninth Annual Changing Tomorrow Day

Sep 13, 2018 3:50 PM ET

More than 800 Astellas employees joined together across four countries to help their communities and volunteer at 16 local nonprofit organizations. The effort is part of Changing Tomorrow Day (#ChangingTomorrow) – an Astellas employee initiative dedicated to building stronger communities by giving back.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Visa Named to Dow Jones Sustainability Index

Sep 13, 2018 3:10 PM ET

Today, Visa announced it has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (DJSI), one of the world’s leading indices recognizing corporate leaders in environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. For the second consecutive year, the Index has recognized Visa as a leader in its sector for its commitments to and progress on corporate responsibility and sustainability.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Timberland Named Finalist for U.S. Chamber of Commerce Corporate Citizenship Award

Sep 13, 2018 2:25 PM ET

Timberland continues to gain recognition for its efforts to reintroduce cotton farming to Haiti through an agroforestry program that will also improve the lives of smallholder farmers and help to reforest the country. This week, the global outdoor lifestyle brand was named a finalist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Corporate Citizenship Awards, which honors excellence in corporate citizenship. Timberland’s entry, “Seeds for Haiti’s Future,” was recognized in the Best Economic Empowerment Program category.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

PNC’s Quarterly CSR Newsletter: Responsible Investing Growing in Popularity

Sep 13, 2018 2:20 PM ET

“More and more people want to invest in companies that match their values – or they want to avoid investing in companies that don’t match their values,” says David Alt, PNC Asset Management Group’s head of Responsible Investing. At PNC, responsible investing includes methods of investing in which you can choose how to invest your money based on environmental, social or governance issues, as well as financial performance.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Right Fit

Sep 13, 2018 2:15 PM ET

U.S. Army veteran joins Medtronic through a program focused on matching military skills with positions at the company.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

CNH Industrial Named as Industry Leader in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices for the Eighth Consecutive Year

Sep 13, 2018 2:15 PM ET

CNH Industrial (NYSE: CNHI /MI: CNHI) is the Industry Leader in Machinery and Electrical Equipment in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI), World and Europe, for the eighth consecutive year.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Hormel Foods Announces Donations Totaling More Than $300,000 to Fight Hunger Across the Country on Hunger Action Day

Sep 13, 2018 1:35 PM ET

Media & Communications

CECP Continues to Advance Business as a Force for Good with Hire of New Senior Director of Strategy

Sep 13, 2018 1:20 PM ET

CECP: The CEO Force for Good announced the addition of Nandika Madgavkar as Senior Director of Strategy, an integral part of CECP’s senior leadership team. As a CEO-led coalition of more than 200 of the world’s largest companies, CECP believes a company’s social strategy – how it engages with key stakeholders including employees, communities, investors, and customers – determines a company’s success. As a former leader of Metlife’s Corporate Responsibility efforts both in the U.S. and globally, Nandika brings many years of experience in executive communications, corporate social strategy, and brand development.

Innovation & Technology

Ethics and Responsibility in Tech-Driven Business With HP, Microsoft, Forgerock, Thomson Reuters, Google, Natura and Under Armour

Sep 13, 2018 12:45 PM ET

Ethics and responsibility in tech-driven business impacts everything from ensuring the proper use of data and being a privacy conscious company to social inclusion, freedom of speech and climate action. At the 2nd Annual Responsible Business Summit West 300+ business executives will meet to share ideas on how to address the three core pillars impacting digitally-driven business; Climate Action, Social Impact and Data, Privacy and Trust.

Innovation & Technology

Stoppenhagen Takes Seat on Board That Helps Plan 'Meeting of the Minds’

Sep 13, 2018 12:40 PM ET

As an authority on urban sustainability, technology and innovation, Black & Veatch’s Steph Stoppenhagen valued the yearly “Meeting of the Minds” as a preeminent platform for ideas about how cities can do things smarter and better for their citizenry. Now, she’s getting the chance to make a broader imprint on that thought leadership and knowledge-sharing.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Hallmark Supports Education by Cultivating Creativity in Arkansas

Sep 13, 2018 12:40 PM ET

Young children are creative because they’re not afraid to be. This idea inspired DaySpring Cards’ Creative Greenhouse program.

“We took that idea and said ‘What if everybody, regardless of skill, was given an opportunity to be creative?’ ” explained Brenda Turner, vice president, communications and administration, DaySpring, a Hallmark-owned greeting card company in Arkansas.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Bristol-Myers Squibb Named Top 10 Company for Diversity & Inclusion

Sep 13, 2018 11:45 AM ET

Sustainable Development Goals

How Professionals Are Tackling the American Sanitation Crisis

Sep 13, 2018 11:35 AM ET

The lack of basic water sanitation is affecting several American communities, and organizations like LIXIL are pledging to step up and provide support and relief.

Environment

What Truly Drives EHS Compliance in the Tech Sector?

Sep 13, 2018 11:25 AM ET

Antea Group blogs on how business value, risk mitigation, and brand reputation– are some of the powerful drivers of EHS compliance in a tech company.

Environment

INFOGRAPHIC: Americans Are Concerned About Climate Change, but Question Personal Impact

Sep 13, 2018 11:15 AM ET

Although the United States is currently the only country that is not committed to the Paris Climate Accord, U.S. citizens are not turning their attention away from the effects of climate change.

Media & Communications

National Geographic Documentary Films Announces Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Paris to Pittsburgh

Sep 13, 2018 11:10 AM ET

National Geographic Documentary Films announced today that the company will distribute Bloomberg Philanthropies’ second film, Paris to Pittsburgh premiering on Wednesday, December 12 at 9pm ET/PT in the U.S. and will air globally in 172 countries and 45 languages.

Environment

Global Climate Action Series: Stepping Up on Workplace Sustainability

Sep 13, 2018 11:05 AM ET

In light of the Global Climate Action Summit taking place this week in San Francisco, where leaders and individuals are coming together to take ambition to the next level on climate change, I wanted to spend some time reiterating Cisco’s commitment to solving climate change and embedding sustainability into our global real estate operations.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Guinness World Record for Largest Serving of Pulled Pork Provides Protein for Area Individuals in Need

Sep 13, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Smithfield Foods, Inc. joined with Southern Event and Party, Pleasant’s BBQ, Wildes Tavern, and Overtime Sports earlier this year to break the current Guinness World Record for Largest Serving of Pulled Pork. The previous record was set by Sonny’s BBQ in 2016, weighing 2,012 pounds. In August, the Records Management Team from Guinness World Records officially recognized the attempt to top the previous record, weighing 2,390 pounds. The world’s largest serving of pulled pork, made from Smithfield Fresh Pork Boneless Loins, was then served to Shepherd of the Gulf, #DoMore Pantry, and local first responders providing more than 2,000 meals to community members in need.

Events, Media & Communications

Common Impact, Social Venture Partners Boston and Impact 2030 Announce First-of-its-Kind Skills-Based Day of Service for Boston

Sep 13, 2018 11:00 AM ET

BOSTON, MA September 13, 2018 — Common Impact, a nonprofit recognized as a national leader in skills-based volunteerism, Social Venture Partners Boston, an organization focused on engaged philanthropy, and Impact 2030, a collaborative initiative that seeks to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through corporate volunteerism are launching a new model for citywide impact through a day of skilled service.

Media & Communications

CMT Celebrates the Women of Country Music with First-Ever All-Female “Artists of the Year” Special Honoring Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Kelsea Ballerini, Maren Morris, Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman and Hillary Scott

Sep 13, 2018 10:30 AM ET

In recognition of the undeniable influence and impact of female artists in country music, CMT today announced that for the first-time ever the annual “CMT Artists of the Year” special is dedicated to the women of country music—past, present and future.

A staunch advocate for country music’s female artists, CMT launched its dedicated “Next Women of Country” campaign in 2013 as a way to give female artists voice and airplay across all CMT platforms. The franchise has received critical acclaim, and in five years since launch CMT has expanded to include tours, digital programming and more. Ballerini and Morris are both alumnae of the “Next Women” franchise.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The Four Ps of Leadership

Sep 13, 2018 10:30 AM ET

In today’s highly competitive and polarized environment, any movement or cause needs energetic and effective leaders. This is especially true in the social sector, which is chronically understaffed and undercapitalized. Therefore, truly successful and sustainable leaders need to combine the skills and attributes of both leadership and management. They require a vision as well as the ability to execute it.

Health & Healthcare

Delos Partners With Simonds to Bring Wellness Homes to Australia

Sep 13, 2018 10:25 AM ET

Global wellness real estate pioneer, Delos™, has partnered with Simonds Homes to launch DARWIN Home Wellness Intelligence, a world-first wellness platform that will revolutionise the healthy home movement in Australia.