Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Protecting Shareholders and the Public Interest

Oct 13, 2016 1:30 PM ET

In April 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a request for public comment regarding the modernization of certain business and financial disclosure requirements under Regulation S-K as part of its ongoing “Disclosure Effectiveness Initiative.” Under Regulation S-K, reporting companies must disclose non-financial information that is material to investors.

Diversity & Inclusion

Seeding Successful Flexible Work Arrangements in STEM

Oct 13, 2016 12:20 PM ET

While workplace flexibility has become commonplace in office and other more traditional work environments, it’s less often discussed and implemented in laboratories and other settings more common to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) occupations. One expansive team of approximately 170 employees in Life Sciences and Operations within Baxter’s CSO organization has found a way to make such flexibility work in what many may consider to be a non-traditional environment.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Sustainability Beyond the Photo Op

Oct 13, 2016 12:10 PM ET

One of the perks of attending sustainability and corporate social responsibility events is exposure to business leaders who are genuinely excited about the way their organizations are making the world a better place.

Increasingly, I’m encountering senior executives who encourage their peers to look closely at CSR programs to make sure they have adequate scale to actually make a difference, and that they connect to a company’s mission.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

New Report by Barclays Corporate Banking: Why Businesses Need to Enter the Military Mindset

Oct 13, 2016 11:55 AM ET

Businesses should adopt the agile, collaborative approach of the military to prevent their leaders making critical decisions based solely on “gut feel”, according to a new report by Barclays Corporate Banking.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Costa Cruises Supports “Pink is Good” Project on Board its Ships

Oct 13, 2016 11:30 AM ET

Innovation & Technology

CFSI 2016 Annual Conference: Advancing Responsible Sourcing

Oct 13, 2016 11:15 AM ET

The Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative (CFSI), a coalition of leading companies dedicated to improving the security and human rights conditions in their raw materials supply chains, today announced additional speakers for its annual conference in Santa Clara, California on November 9 and 10.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Korea’s CSR Strategy: An Interesting Mix of Profit and Social Change

Oct 13, 2016 11:00 AM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

DuPont Issues 2016 Sustainability Report

Oct 13, 2016 10:15 AM ET

DuPont has released its 2016 Sustainability Report, highlighting progress against its 2020 Sustainability Goals and ongoing commitment to areas such as food security, environmental stewardship, and diversity and inclusion.

“DuPont has a long history of developing sustainable solutions for a remarkable number of industries,” said Krysta Harden, DuPont vice president of Public Policy and chief sustainability officer. “We understand that to carry that legacy of success into the future, DuPont must not only innovate relentlessly to create value for our customers but also continue to integrate sustainability into how we operate and what we produce to also create value for society. Our sustainability goals and commitments do just that.”

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Successful Hiring, Development and Advancement Opportunities for Latina Talent Earns Sodexo 2016 LATINA Style® 50 Award

Oct 13, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life services, today announced being recognized in the 2016 LATINA Style® 50 Report highlighting companies with dedicated efforts to hire and promote Latinas. From more than 800 eligible organizations, Sodexo ranked 15 on a list of 50 award winners, and it is the only company in its industry to be recognized. Winners will be honored during LATINA Style’s Awards Ceremony & Diversity Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. on February 9, 2017.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

FOX25 Announces Adam Crellin-Sazama as Boston’s 2016 Cox Conserves Hero

Oct 13, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Ideas that Matter 2016 | Extraordinary Playscapes

Oct 13, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Extraordinay Playscapes is a national traveling exhibition and education program focused on the importance and design of outdoor play.

Diversity & Inclusion

Companies Use Storytelling to Communicate Progress: 5 Reasons to Commit to Diversity and Inclusion

Oct 13, 2016 9:45 AM ET

Facebook has figured out how to make an application so appealing that 1.13 billion people log in at least once every day. And Intel is credited with spawning the $300-billion semiconductor market, which touches every aspect of people’s lives daily.

These two highly successful technology businesses don’t have a shortage of smart people, or the cash to get things accomplished. But neither has been able to recruit and retain enough women and underrepresented minority employees.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Arrow Electronics and Cherry Creek Arts Festival Take Home “Best Individual Sponsorship” Award from International Festivals and Events Association

Oct 13, 2016 9:15 AM ET

Arrow Electronics and the nonprofit Cherry Creek Arts Festival won a gold award for “Best Individual Sponsorship” from the International Festivals and Events Association. The award was presented at the association’s annual conference in Tucson, Arizona on September 28.

Innovation & Technology

IBM SAFETY-NET: IBM Bolsters Social Services Sector With Technology Grants

Oct 13, 2016 9:05 AM ET

IBM (NYSE: IBM) is kicking off an $18 million grant program to put no-cost cloud hosting, customizable software, and consulting services into the hands of not-for-profit social service agencies that qualify.

Responsible Production & Consumption

What It Takes to Be a Wendy’s Supply Partner

Oct 13, 2016 9:05 AM ET

At Wendy’s and QSCC, we talk a lot about dedication to quality and doing the right thing. And that goes beyond the walls of One Dave Thomas Boulevard in Dublin, Ohio and into every corner of our business: from the team members in Wendy’s restaurants to the interactions within our communities and ultimately it extends to our supply chain. For us, if you’re going to talk about a dedication to quality, it has to start in the field where the ingredients are grown and distributed throughout the whole of the business.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Tetra Tech Announces 50th Anniversary Global Clean Water Fund Grant Recipients

Oct 13, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Celebrating our anniversary by helping bring clean, safe water to communities around the world through EWB projects

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Patriot Subaru of Saco Wins Cox Automotive Leader in Sustainability Award

Oct 13, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Cox Automotive presented its Leader in Sustainability Award to Patriot Subaru of Saco, Maine at the 2016 Automotive News Best Dealerships to Work For celebration this week.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Video | Sustainability at HP

Oct 13, 2016 8:55 AM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Get to Know Appirio, Finalist for 2016 Employee Volunteer Program of the Year

Oct 13, 2016 8:55 AM ET

Appirio has a commitment to volunteering at all company and team events. They also have 75% remote employees, so they get creative with their virtual volunteerism. In this post, learn how else they engage employees in their award-nominated employee volunteer program.

Environment

National Geographic's Newest Climate Change Documentary 'Extreme Weather' to Hit Theaters on October 15

Oct 13, 2016 8:00 AM ET

National Geographic recently announced that its newest documentary feature Extreme Weather, a big-screen look at how climate change influences natural disasters, will arrive at IMAX theaters and more across North America on Saturday, October 15. The film takes audiences on a nationwide journey, tracking the causes and effects of wildfires in California, tornadoes in the Midwest, and melting glaciers in Alaska. 21st Century Fox expanded its partnership with National Geographic last year to create National Geographic Partners, bringing together all of National Geographic's media properties with 27% of all proceeds going toward the Society's research and grantmaking efforts.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Women in Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Economic Development Program in Rwanda Secure Largest Commercial Deal Yet with The Marriott Hotel

Oct 13, 2016 7:30 AM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

Providing Youth in Under-Resourced Communities the Opportunity to Reach Their Full Potential Through Education

Oct 12, 2016 6:30 PM ET

Today, 51% of students in U.S. public schools—over 25 Million children—live in poverty. Many of the impacts of poverty—like access to healthy foods, school attendance, and stability at home—are immediate and stretch across generations.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation Announce $2 Million Towards Hurricane Matthew Relief and Recovery Efforts

Oct 12, 2016 4:25 PM ET

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have made a commitment to provide support through cash and product donations of $2 million to organizations helping with relief efforts for those affected by Hurricane Matthew. As a part of this commitment, the Walmart Foundation is allocating $500 thousand specifically toward CARE and Team Rubicon Global for relief efforts in Haiti.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Evolving Role of Latinas in the Workplace

Oct 12, 2016 3:40 PM ET

September 15 to October 15 is Hispanic Heritage Month. This is a good opportunity to reflect on the progress Latinas have made in the workplace. Compared to previous generations, today’s Latinas tend to be more educated, empowered, independent and comfortable putting themselves at the center of life decisions.

Green Infrastructure

CBRE Study Finds San Francisco The Nation’s Greenest City

Oct 12, 2016 2:05 PM ET

Institutional owners of office buildings continued to pursue green building certifications in the 30 largest U.S. markets during 2015. Continuing an upward trend over the past decade, green certifications are now held by 11.8 percent of all surveyed buildings, representing 40.2 percent of all office space. Both figures are slightly above last year’s results, according to the third annual Green Building Adoption Index study by CBRE Group, Inc. and Maastricht University. “Green” office buildings in the U.S. are defined as those that hold either an EPA ENERGY STAR label, USGBC LEED certification or both.