Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Lessons Learned from Restaurant Icon Dave Thomas

Jan 23, 2018 9:20 AM ET

It’s difficult to quantify the number of lives that Dave Thomas touched throughout his 69 years of life. From our 6,500 restaurants who employ around 30 employees per restaurant per year, combined with the thousands of children in the foster care system who have been paired with a Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Recruiter, plus all the restaurant support center employees, contractors, suppliers and agencies that serve to support the Wendy’s restaurants…the number must be in the billions and counting.

Responsible Production & Consumption

A Pick and a Spade May Triple Farmers’ Yields in the Kenyan Drylands

Jan 23, 2018 9:15 AM ET

The female farmers of Makueni County in southeastern Kenya rarely expect to triumph over their parched, unpropitious soils. A pick, a spade and a jovial, no-nonsense, will-to-survive scarcely seem sufficient for a transition to greener prospects. In addition, the need for cash frequently robs these hardy women of their men’s presence; casual labour in economic hotspots, or other work in livestock and poultry trading, is the norm. Producing the food thus rests on the shoulders of the women, many of whom are subsistence farmers or smallholders burdened with increasingly unproductive land. Severe land degradation coupled with drastic changes in climate has meant that many frequently face food shortages.

Sustainable Development Goals

30 Leading Companies with a Combined Revenue of USD $1.3 Trillion Join Forces to Implement the Circular Economy

Jan 23, 2018 9:15 AM ET

Today at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, over 30 leading companies across 16 sectors joined forces to implement the circular economy through WBCSD’s newest initiative, Factor10. Collectively responsible for USD $1.3 trillion in annual revenues, the companies in Factor10 represent a powerful business effort scale up momentum for circular economy solutions.

Innovation & Technology

Tech Careers That Make a Difference

Jan 23, 2018 9:10 AM ET

Add problem-solving savvy to technology skills, and anything is possible. Own your own businesses, develop a life-saving product, travel the world. Here are a few jobs that require these skills, and can get you out of the cubicle, into the world, and feeling good about what you do for a living.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Building an Economy That Works for Everyone

Jan 23, 2018 9:05 AM ET

Last year, as Coastal Enterprises, Inc. (CEI) conducted a strategic review as part of its leadership transition, we found ourselves asking the same questions that were being asked across the country, on both sides of the political aisle. At the heart of those questions was the recognition that our economy is not working for everyone. And a major takeaway was that rural regions, gateway cities, and the people who live there were being left behind.

Environment

Weather Project Helps Vietnamese Women Adapt to Climate Change

Jan 23, 2018 9:05 AM ET

Adapting to a changing climate relies on knowledge, experience and accurate weather forecasts. In the rugged northwest of Viet Nam, female farmers have been learning how to obtain and use forecasts with help from the World Agroforestry Centre.

Responsible Production & Consumption

First Seriola Farms Certified to ASC Standard

Jan 23, 2018 9:00 AM ET

The Standard, which establishes strict environmental and social requirements for farmed fish, is quickly gaining traction within the industry.

Health & Healthcare

Learn How Ryan Hansen is Turning Personal Tragedy into Meaningful Change

Jan 23, 2018 8:25 AM ET

Maternal mortality is a growing issue in the United States. I started the Tara Hansen Foundation in 2012 to raise awareness for mothers and families, and to let more people know that care for mothers after childbirth is just as important as care for the newborn baby.

Events, Media & Communications

Schneider Electric and CNBC LIVESTREAM from WEF Davos | IoT: Powering the Digital Economy

Jan 23, 2018 8:20 AM ET

Join Schneider Electric and CNBC as we bring you a panel debate live on Facebook at the World Economic Forum in Davos

Responsible Production & Consumption

Five Tips to Shop Sustainably in the New Year

Jan 23, 2018 7:55 AM ET

Shopping responsibly for you, your family and the planet doesn’t have to be a daunting task! Whatever your palette, diet or budget may be, you will find five tips and tricks to help you shop sustainably in the New Year below!

Diversity & Inclusion

GLAAD Media Awards Recognize “Battle of the Sexes,” "The Shape of Water,” and More Fox Projects for Outstanding LGBTQ Representation

Jan 23, 2018 7:30 AM ET

Eleven film and television projects from 21st Century Fox businesses received nominations for the 29th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. The awards honor media and entertainment for fair, accurate, and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community, as well as the issues that affect their lives. Nominees included Battle of the Sexes, The Shape of Water, This Is Us, Modern Family, One Mississippi, and more.

Research, Reports & Publications

COSO, World Business Council for Sustainable Development to Issue First-Ever Guidance for Applying Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) to Environmental, Social, Governance-related Risks

Jan 23, 2018 6:25 AM ET

The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) today released a draft executive summary to the new, cutting-edge guidance for applying Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) to Environmental, Social and Governance-related risks.

Diversity & Inclusion

American Express Included in First Sector-Neutral Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index

Jan 22, 2018 5:25 PM ET

American Express today announced that it is one of over 100 companies from ten sectors to join the inaugural 2018 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI). Launched today, the reference index measures gender equality across internal company statistics, employee policies, external community support and engagement, and gender-conscious product offerings.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

PNC ranked #2 on Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies Superregional Banks List

Jan 22, 2018 4:00 PM ET

PNC Financial Services has been named to FORTUNE magazine’s 2018 list of the World’s Most Admired Companies in the category of superregional banks.

Media & Communications

We Love “Top 10” Lists Right? So –Who Were The Top 10 Movers & Shakers in Sustainability 2017? Huff Po Has Their List…Who Are Your Nominees?

Jan 22, 2018 3:15 PM ET

Huffington Post writer Lauren DeMates has her “Top 10” list up for the 2017 forces that shaped (in her opinion) sustainability. Guiding her choice: “…many of 2017’s activities were prompted by the unprecedented attack on science and environmental protection by the Trump administration. However, efforts to counteract the anti-environmental agenda and work towards a more sustainable society have been unprecedented as well...”

And in that context, she identifies these as 2017's top 10 movers & shakers in sustainability.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

CBRE Group, Inc. Named a World’s Most Admired Company by Fortune Magazine for Sixth Consecutive Year

Jan 22, 2018 2:45 PM ET

CBRE Group, Inc. today announced that Fortune magazine has named the company a World’s Most Admired Company in the real estate industry for the sixth consecutive year.

Fortune rates companies on nine attributes related to corporate performance. In 2018, CBRE was ranked second overall in the real estate sector (behind only Host Hotels & Resorts) and was among the top three companies on all nine attributes, including global competitiveness, people management, financial strength and long-term investment.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

104 Companies Included in First Sector-Neutral Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index

Jan 22, 2018 2:10 PM ET

Over 100 companies from ten sectors headquartered in 24 countries and regions joined the inaugural 2018 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI). Launched today, the reference index measures gender equality across internal company statistics, employee policies, external community support and engagement, and gender-conscious product offerings.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Beth Jenkins: New Resources to Speed Employees Up the Intrapreneurial Learning Curve

Jan 22, 2018 1:40 PM ET

Business Fights Poverty, Barclays, Pearson, and Cemex, together with The Intrapreneur Lab and Be Inspired Films, have developed a series of videos and tip sheets designed to jump-start the Intrapreneurial Learning process. These resources are intended to give intrapreneurs the confidence that comes with knowing what they’re getting themselves into – even if they won’t fully figure it out until they try.

Education

Curiosity Cube: Sparking STEM Investigation

Jan 22, 2018 1:35 PM ET

This 22x10-foot, retrofitted shipping container that has been transformed into a mobile science lab is featuring hands-on science experiments to "spark" interest in STEM.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Fortune Magazine Names Merck One of World’s Most Admired Companies

Jan 22, 2018 1:25 PM ET

Fortune Magazine has released its annual list of the World’s Most Admired Companies. For the first time, Merck ranked first among its peers for pioneering innovation andsecond overall among pharmaceutical industry in the survey.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Millions of American Small Business Owners Feel Left Behind, and This Is How Tech Can Help

Jan 22, 2018 1:15 PM ET

Small businesses are already the biggest generator of jobs in America. They make up almost half of private sector employment. Those of us in tech and in the public sector need to take the next step to rev that engine more.

Education

Republic Services Teaches St. Louis Students About Recycling

Jan 22, 2018 12:10 PM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

FORTUNE® Recognizes CVS Health on 2018 List of “World’s Most Admired Companies”

Jan 22, 2018 12:00 PM ET

CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), the nation's largest pharmacy innovation company, today was recognized by FORTUNE® magazine as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies. CVS Health was honored as No. 39 on the corporate rankings, up six spots from the previous year and marking the fourth consecutive year on the Global Top 50 list.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Nestlé’s Parent Support Spotlight on Michael: Taking the Time You Need as a New Foster Dad

Jan 22, 2018 12:00 PM ET

Nestlé’s Parent Support Policy has only been in place a year, but it’s already making a difference in the lives of employees like Michael.

Environment

The TD-Bloomberg Sustainability Dialogues Shine a Spotlight on the Business Case for a Low-carbon Economy

Jan 22, 2018 12:00 PM ET

Today, a main topic of discussion for many businesses is what it will take for society to transition to a low-carbon economy – and what role business can play. To shine a spotlight on this question, Bloomberg BNA released a report that captures the insights and different perspectives that were shared at the Bloomberg Sustainable Business Summit in Toronto this past September.