Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Diversity & Inclusion

Brands Align Values With #FamiliesBelongTogether

Jun 22, 2018 5:45 PM ET

The topic of immigration proved to be a hot-button issue in early 2017 when protests broke out at airports across the country decrying the Muslim Ban. This week, the immigration policy has once again dominated the media and divided the country as stories and images of families begin separated at the U.S.-Mexico border surfaced. However, despite the controversy, brands were prepared to take a vocal stand and support the #FamiliesBelongTogether outcry in a variety of ways that align with their company values and missions.

Innovation & Technology

Three Things You May Have Missed: GM Moves Quickly, Safely to Lead in Future of Personal Mobility

Jun 22, 2018 3:50 PM ET

Over the last several years, General Motors has made considerable progress towards realizing our vision of a world with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion. Those efforts were advanced recently with three key announcements over a brief, seven-day period.

Sustainable Development Goals

The Agricultural Community Is Buzzing to Protect the Bees

Jun 22, 2018 2:00 PM ET

If you eat, you need bees. In fact, one in three bites of our food relies on honey bee pollination. This, naturally, means that farmers rely on honey bee pollination. With increasing food demands due to population growth, we all need modern agriculture to be successful. That success requires healthy honey bee colonies.

Diversity & Inclusion

On World Refugee Day: An Opportunity to Change the Narrative

Jun 22, 2018 2:00 PM ET

In 2016, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) launched a #WithRefugees campaign and petition and to date, almost two million people have pledged their support. With World Refugee Day this month, the UNHCR hopes to continue to build momentum for this petition, which encourages decision makers to ensure three basic goals: that every refugee child gets an education, has somewhere safe to live, and can work or learn new skills to support their families.

Research, Reports & Publications

Erb Featured Business Sustainability Case Study | Dell: Upcycling Ocean Plastics Through Supply Chain Innovation

Jun 22, 2018 1:45 PM ET

This case focuses on Dell’s efforts to develop an open-source, scalable, and cost-effective supply chain capable of delivering ocean plastics waste to its production facilities, and potentially to those of partnering companies through a consortium. Piyush Bhargava, vice president of global operations at Dell and leader of Dell’s Ocean Plastics Initiative, must deliver a strategic plan for how to proceed with the initiative but has three primary challenges: (1) how to deliver “additionality”, (2) how to operationalize an ocean plastics supply chain at scale, and (3) how Dell should approach developing a consortium to ensure meaningful demand for the material.

Environment

Subaru Supports National Park Foundation Pic Your Park Instagram Contest

Jun 22, 2018 1:20 PM ET

A new Instagram contest launched by the National Park Foundation, the official nonprofit partner of the National Park Service, is inviting park goers – amateur and experienced – to submit pictures of themselves in national parks for the chance to win a variety of prizes. The contest, called Pic Your Park, is open now through September 28.

Green Infrastructure

Mohawk Builds on Commitment to Sustainability with New Living Products at NeoCon

Jun 22, 2018 12:55 PM ET

The majority of designers and manufacturers recognize the need to incorporate sustainable practices into the way they do business, and many do a commendable job. But there are those who go above and beyond to embrace the strictest policies and accreditations because they know it is difficult but vital work.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Sands for Singapore Charity Festival

Jun 22, 2018 12:45 PM ET

Marina Bay Sands (MBS) held its fifth annual Sands for Singapore Charity Festival in 2017 with overall results again surpassing previous years’ efforts. A primary initiative for Sands Cares in Singapore, the week-long festival raised S$3.9 million (USD $2.8 million) for local community charities and welcomed more than 20,000 visitors to its various events. Since 2013, Sands for Singapore has raised more than S$20 million (USD $14.7 million).

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

United Nations Development Programme Announces ‘The Lion’s Share’ Fund With Founder Finch and Founding Partner Mars to Tackle Crisis in Wildlife Conservation and Animal Welfare

Jun 22, 2018 11:15 AM ET

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), FINCH and founding partner Mars, Incorporated today announced an initiative aimed at transforming the lives of animals across the world by asking advertisers to contribute a percentage of their media spend to conservation and animal welfare projects.

The initiative, a fund called The Lion’s Share, will see partners contribute 0.5 percent of their media spend to the fund for each advertisement they use featuring an animal. Those funds will be used to support animals and their habitats around the world. Mars is the first advertising partner in The Lion’s Share.

Education

How to Train Today’s Students to Be Tomorrow’s Tech Workforce

Jun 22, 2018 11:00 AM ET

At the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, people had no idea how machines would change their lives. Today, as we’re poised at the precipice of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, we can relate. Although predictions differ, most experts agree tomorrow’s workers must have a new skill set to thrive.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Financial Services Support a Low-Carbon Economy

Jun 22, 2018 10:20 AM ET

In markets around the world, BNY Mellon is working to support clients in ways that have a positive impact on the environment and society, including by facilitating the issuance of green bonds. These securities are an innovative tool for driving capital to sustainable investment; in 2017, global green bond issuance totaled a record $155.5 billion, and volume could reach $250 billion to $300 billion in 2018, according to research from the Climate Bonds Initiative.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Smithfield Foods Partners With Johnson & Wales University for Ongoing Pork Education Series & Cooking Competitions

Jun 22, 2018 10:05 AM ET

Smithfield Foods’ Foodservice team proudly partnered with Johnson & Wales University (JWU) to train and educate the next generation of chefs on the versatility and sustainability of pork this spring.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Why Should Investors Care About ESG Data?

Jun 22, 2018 10:00 AM ET

GRI believes that in order to achieve real progress, there's a need to align capital investment with sustainable business. We asked prominent investors why they think sustainability matters – watch this video to find out what they had to say.

Sustainable Development Goals

Barclays and Columbia University Students Address Global Water Stresses

Jun 22, 2018 9:40 AM ET

Graduate students in Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs program joined Barclays this spring in a commitment to help address stresses on the world’s freshwater supplies through a Capstone workshop. This was the fifth consecutive year Barclays hosted its work-study program with Columbia University students.

Sustainable Development Goals

Fortune 500 Companies Focus on Climate Change's Effect on Earnings

Jun 22, 2018 9:35 AM ET

The implications are clear for publicly traded companies, said the ratings agency: “We may begin to see institutional investors build climate risk factors into their portfolio selection processes, thereby placing greater emphasis on climate when directing investments.”

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Seeking New Frontiers in Green Energy

Jun 22, 2018 9:30 AM ET

Seeking new frontiers in green energy is what CLP Chief Financial Officer Geert Peeters is committed to as he charts the way forward for sustaining the company’s growth and powering the communities it serves.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Circular Business Models Avoid Risks and Stimulate Innovative Decision-Making

Jun 22, 2018 9:10 AM ET

Energy

Gas: A Tried and True Solution to Accessing Energy in Developing Countries

Jun 22, 2018 9:00 AM ET

History shows that the introduction or increased supply of gas as an alternative energy source has a transformative impact on economies.

Besides power generation, gas can be used for transport, industrial applications, mineral beneficiation, and production of liquid fuels and fertilizer. The construction schedule of a combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant is approximately 30 to 36 months, with open cycle capability often being available after roughly 20 months. The feasibility, licensing, and financial close process of these projects can take 2 to 5 years. In the interim, many other users would be able to use the gas if it was available. The markets for liquid fuel products in Africa make up roughly 40 percent of the total energy consumption and are projected to hold steady for the near

Research, Reports & Publications

HP Tracks Progress and Renews Commitment to the Planet, People and Communities in its 2017 Sustainable Impact Report

Jun 22, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Sustainability Impact is at the heart of HP’s reinvention journey, fueling the company’s innovation and growth, and strengthening HP’s business for the long term. It supports HP’s vision of creating technology that makes life better for everyone, everywhere.

Education

These Wildlife Species Are Disappearing From North American Forests

Jun 22, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Our forests are home to critical wildlife habitat. When our forests are threatened, it also threatens the homes of all the diverse wildlife habitat that live there. Natural disasters, urbanization, and agriculture are just a few of the common causes of deforestation. But as deforestation continues to rise, the animals that call it home start to disappear. These are just a few of the endangered and threatened animals disappearing as recorded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Sustainable Development Goals

Freeport-McMoRan Invests in Skills Development for Indigenous Entrepreneurs

Jun 22, 2018 8:00 AM ET

PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI), a Freeport-McMoRan company, has an extensive Community Economic Development program in the region where it operates in Papua, Indonesia. PTFI’s Social Local Development department worked in partnership with the local government and the Timika Catholic Church to host boat operation and safety training and fishing skills for local entrepreneurs.

Research, Reports & Publications

Singtel Group Publishes Its Fourth Group Sustainability Report 2018

Jun 21, 2018 11:00 PM ET

The Singtel Group Sustainability Report 2018 is the company’s fourth Group report which covers the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and sustainability strategies, initiatives and performance of its operations in Singapore and Australia for the financial year ended 31 March 2018 (FY2018).

Events, Media & Communications

Ideagen Annual Global Leadership 2030 Summit 2018

Jun 21, 2018 4:30 PM ET

Ideagen -- Where the world’s leading companies, NGOs, and public sector organizations convene to develop systemic solutions via catalytic collaboration to solve for x.

Leaders and Luminaries from the world's leading brands, companies, trade associations, NGOs and public sector collaborated for the Annual Ideagen Global Leadership 2030 Summit at the Gallup World Headquarters in Washington D.C. on June 7th, 2018. Leaders and Luminaries came together to generate new ideas and solutions to the world's most vexing issues via catalytic collaboration change the world. Topics included the disruption of aging, effective leadership, policy and innovation, global health leadership, the future of mobility, Ideagen’s catalytic impact, creating global movements, Women in Cloud, Power Storytelling...

Research, Reports & Publications

Comcast NBCUniversal Releases 2018 Corporate Social Responsibility Report

Jun 21, 2018 4:15 PM ET

Comcast NBCUniversal released its 2018 Corporate Social Responsibility Report today. It covers the following seven themes: Bridging the Opportunity Divide; Building a Community of Civic Engagement; Using our Platforms to Inform and Inspire; Supporting our Military Community; Stronger, Better: a Year of Disaster and Resilience; Transforming the Customer Experience, One Customer at a Time; and Sustainable Excellence from the Ground Up.

Research, Reports & Publications

New Sustainability Report Highlights Ecolab’s Role as a Global Catalyst for Corporate Responsibility

Jun 21, 2018 4:00 PM ET

In its new annual corporate sustainability report, Catalyst for a Better World, Ecolab Inc. (ECL) highlights how it helps customers reduce water and energy use, ensure clean hospitals, hotels and restaurants, and safely produce the world’s food and energy.