Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Environment

WATCH: Nestlé Waters to Certify All Sites with Alliance for Water Stewardship Standard by 2025

Jun 8, 2018 9:45 AM ET

Nestlé Waters is extending its commitment to water stewardship by certifying all of its sites to the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Standard by 2025.

The global standard promotes responsible water use that benefits local communities socially and economically, while ensuring environmental sustainability of watersheds - all priorities for Nestlé.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

What Corporate Leaders Are Saying About the Business of Gender Equity

Jun 8, 2018 9:35 AM ET

We had several illuminating conversations about the intersection of gender equity and shared value recently at the Shared Value Leadership Summit. The Summit brings together approximately 400 global leaders every year in New York to explore opportunities for shared value across industries and geographies.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Employees Celebrate Merck Medical Outreach Program by Giving Back

Jun 8, 2018 9:05 AM ET

Merck employees recently celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Merck Medical Outreach Program by assembling 1,500 disaster relief backpacks with MAP International.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Alumni, Whirlpool Gift $2M to Kelley School

Jun 8, 2018 9:00 AM ET

A pair of gifts totaling $2 million will support various initiatives at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business. The Michigan-based Whirlpool Foundation has donated $1 million, which is being matched by IU alumni Jeff and Marcia Fettig.

Sustainable Development Goals

South Africa: A New Model for Transformational USAID/Water Office Support?

Jun 8, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Jeremy Gorelick, senior infrastructure finance advisor for the Tetra Tech-implemented U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Finance (WASH-FIN) project, discusses the reality of decreasing water levels in Cape Town, South Africa, and the opportunity WASH-FIN has to set an example for how to best prepare for water scarcity challenges in a rapidly changing world. All opinions expressed in this post are the author’s own.

Sustainable Development Goals

Cerro Verde, a Freeport-McMoRan Company, Supports Organic Agricultural Business Development

Jun 8, 2018 8:00 AM ET

Cerro Verde has supported the Promotion for Agricultural Development Project in surrounding communities near its operations in Arequipa, Peru. The program benefits the farmers of Tiabaya, Uchumayo, Yarabamba, La Joya and Hunter. The Promotion for Agricultural Development Project started in 2012 with the aim of improving the quality and quantity of agricultural and animal yields to increase the economic income of local farmers.

Research, Reports & Publications

BCE Publishes 25th Corporate Responsibility Report

Jun 8, 2018 5:00 AM ET

BCE Inc. ("Bell Canada” or “Bell”) has released its 25th annual Corporate Responsibility Report, covering the company’s performance in 2017 and progress towards its short- and long-term sustainability goals.

Research, Reports & Publications

A Letter from Sappi CEO Steve Binnie

Jun 7, 2018 5:10 PM ET

At Sappi we believe that sustainable growth must emanate from a solid foundation where we do not focus exclusively on profits, but rather, balance our need to generate Prosperity by promoting the interests of People while respecting the boundaries of the Planet. Our value statement “at Sappi we do business with integrity and courage, making smart decisions which we execute with speed” is guiding people towards the right behaviour and is providing the foundation for further growth.

Energy

SCE’s Puerto Rico Restoration Effort Wraps Up

Jun 7, 2018 4:15 PM ET

When Southern California Edison asked David Elias to return to Puerto Rico for a second time this year to help restore power on the island, he had his doubts. There were family obligations. There was also the communications course he would have to drop at Copper Mountain College in Joshua Tree.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Avoiding High-Risk Ingredients Essential for Non-GMO Food Manufacturers: Webinar

Jun 7, 2018 4:00 PM ET

With consumer demand for non-GMO foods on the rise, food companies are increasingly making the decision to formulate their products to earn Non-GMO Project Verified distinction (see VIDEO). However, as many food companies have discovered, steering clear of GMOs can be tricky, given the pervasive degree to which genetically modified commodities and their derivatives have penetrated the world market.

Events, Media & Communications

WEBINAR: Insights From Taproot Foundation's U.S. Pro Bono Summit

Jun 7, 2018 3:35 PM ET

The Taproot Foundation’s U.S. Pro Bono Summit is an annual gathering of leaders from across sectors and industries with a shared vision to make the talents and skills of the business community accessible to social change organizations. Over the course of two days in April, 100+ CSR, nonprofit, and government leaders from across the country gathered in San Francisco to dig into topics ranging from tackling food access through pro bono to aligning programming with talent development strategies.

Education

New York City Department of Education ‘Lighthouse School’ M.S. 88 Integrates Computational Thinking Into Core Subjects to Prepare Students 21ST Century Careers

Jun 7, 2018 3:05 PM ET

Tata Consultancy Services, (TCS), (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS) a leading global IT services, consulting and business solutions organization, and Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital education content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, announced the launch of their Ignite My Future in School initiative in partnership with Cornell Tech. Through this program, New York City teachers will receive professional development, educational resources and year-round support to integrate computational thinking into core subjects such as math, sciences, arts, and social studies. In turn, students will learn foundational skills for 21st century careers – across industries – through this pioneering approach.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Supporting the Wellbeing of Local Communities through Legal CARES Day

Jun 7, 2018 3:05 PM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Whirlpool Corporation and Habitat for Humanity Renew Commitment Through 2018

Jun 7, 2018 3:00 PM ET

Today, Whirlpool Corporation announced it will continue its longtime relationship with Habitat for Humanity through 2018. This marks the 19th year the appliance manufacturer and nonprofit organization collaboration to support families in need of affordable housing, with Whirlpool Corporation committing to providing a new range and refrigerator for every new Habitat home built in the U.S. and Canada.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Smithfield Foods Donates $25,000 to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to Fund Environmental Education Programs in Virginia

Jun 7, 2018 2:45 PM ET

The Smithfield Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Smithfield Foods, Inc., recently announced a $25,000 donation to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF). The gift will support CBF’s environmental education programs in Virginia, providing opportunities for students and teachers throughout the state.

Sustainable Development Goals

How Governments Can Monitor Progress Towards Better Nutrition

Jun 7, 2018 2:40 PM ET

Goal 2 of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development calls on governments to "End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture". Each of the 193 countries that adopted the Agenda are faced with their own set of uncertain factors that influence their progress, making it difficult to obtain information to support policy, planning and implementation of practices that will result in better nutrition.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Wells Fargo Now Is ‘Preferred Bank’ for Manhattan’s Hudson Yards Neighborhood

Jun 7, 2018 1:30 PM ET

Wells Fargo today announced it is a founding partner of New York’s newest neighborhood and largest private real estate development in U.S. history − Hudson Yards. As a founding partner, Wells Fargo will be the “preferred bank of Hudson Yards.” The company recently opened a bank branch and is expected to move the regional headquarters of its investment banking unit to Hudson Yards.

Events, Media & Communications

Dispatches from the Sustainable Brands Conference - Vancouver 2018, Days 2-3

Jun 7, 2018 1:25 PM ET

“Society is now expecting more from businesses,” said Sara Soderstrom, assistant professor of Organizational Studies and Program in the Environment at the University of Michigan, in the session “Company-Community Partnerships for Purpose and Sustainable Impact.” She explained that tensions exist between aspirations and objectives, and she used President John F. Kennedy’s approach to putting a man on the moon as an example: The aspiration was to advance science, and putting a man on the moon was an objective that served to advance science.

Innovation & Technology

Electrify America to Energize U.S. Highways, Selects Black & Veatch for Ultra-fast EV Charging Station Program

Jun 7, 2018 1:00 PM ET

Black & Veatch announced today it will design and construct hundreds of sites for Electrify America’s high-powered DC Fast Chargers, part of a nationwide network of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations that will dramatically reduce charging times and raise convenience for EV consumers.

Environment

CSRHub and The National Wildlife Federation Announce Partnership

Jun 7, 2018 12:15 PM ET

CSRHub is pleased to announce it has formed a partnership with The National Wildlife Federation (NWF). The NWF is the United States' largest private, nonprofit conservation education and advocacy organization, with over six million supporters, and 51 state and territorial affiliated organizations (including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands).

Education

Verizon Innovative Learning Has Helped More Than a Million Kids Like Nakia

Jun 7, 2018 12:10 PM ET

Verizon Innovative Learning has committed more than $400 million to provide free tech, access and innovative learning programs that transform schools and children's lives. This is Nakia's story.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

CMS Energy Becomes First U.S. Company to Enter Sustainability-Linked Loan

Jun 7, 2018 12:05 PM ET

CMS Energy and its primary subsidiary, Consumers Energy (collectively “CMS”), announced they have entered the first syndicated sustainability-linked revolving credit facilities for a U.S. borrower. The aggregate $1.4 billion of new credit facilities allow CMS to reduce its interest rate by meeting targets related to environmental sustainability, specifically renewable energy generation.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Republic Services of Michigan Recognized for Recycling Program Excellence

Jun 7, 2018 12:00 PM ET

Congratulations are in order for our Republic Services team in Michigan, which was recently recognized with the Michigan Recycling Coalition 2018 Award of Program Excellence!

Education

Verizon Innovative Learning Is Helping Teachers Like Dawn Give Kids a Better Education

Jun 7, 2018 12:00 PM ET

Millions of American students lack the access to technology and the skills they need to succeed in the digital world. Since 2012, Verizon has been working to help solve this problem holistically through a transformative program called Verizon Innovative Learning. Verizon Innovative Learning provides free technology, free internet access, and hands-on learning experiences to help give under-resourced students the education they deserve.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

He Simply Needed “Someone to Show Him He Was Worth Loving.”

Jun 7, 2018 12:00 PM ET

Often, children in foster care act out because they don’t know who they can trust. The trauma they’ve experienced, the reason they are in foster care, can be difficult for them to process. It takes time and love for children to heal and to move forward.