Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Environment

Four Mutual Fund Giants Begin to Address Climate Change Risks in Proxy Votes: How About Your Funds?

Dec 21, 2017 3:35 PM ET

Nearly all climate scientists and every government on earth (except for one) agree that society faces profound risks from human-induced climate change. Does your mutual fund company, investment manager, or 401(k) manager agree that the risks are serious and extend to companies in their portfolios?

For an overview of risks to businesses from climate change and what they should disclose, see reports and recommendations of the Financial Stability Board’s Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD), Chaired by Michael Bloomberg, former Mayor of New York City. Examples of these risks already translating into impacts include the record-breaking string of Atlantic hurricanes and wildfires in North America.

Environment

10 Sustainability Stories From GM in 2017

Dec 21, 2017 3:30 PM ET

For General Motors, 2017 was a year of both long-term aspirations and short-term progress. The company declared its vision of zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion. Transformative mobility developments took place in areas such as connectivity, car- and ridesharing, and electric and autonomous vehicles – keys, it believes, to unlocking a more sustainable future.

Research, Reports & Publications

Monsanto Announces Significant Progress on Commitments in 2017 Sustainability Report

Dec 21, 2017 2:00 PM ET

Monsanto Company has released its 2017 Sustainability Report, Growing Better Together. The report demonstrates Monsanto’s commitment to sustainability and details the company’s progress against all of its goals including improving irrigation water efficiency which has the potential to save up to 80 billion gallons of water each year.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

New Investor Toolkit: Investor Voices on Water

Dec 21, 2017 2:00 PM ET

Monika Freyman, Director of Investor Water Engagement shares her insights on the latest interactive web-based resource - “The Investor Water Toolkit” - a comprehensive tool that helps investors become more water aware. The Toolkit closes a critical gap for institutional investors who have long sought a how-to-guide for integrating water risks into portfolio management and decision-making.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Our Community Impact in 2017

Dec 21, 2017 1:10 PM ET

This time of year, our thoughts are often full of colorfully-wrapped gift bags or boxes with big bright bows. While the holiday season is a special time for giving, we are thankful as well for the opportunity to strengthen lives and communities all year long. Whether through mentoring students, teaching digital skills that lead to higher-paying jobs, or supporting entrepreneurs working to make a difference in their community, our employees and our thousands of nonprofit partners are improving lives every day.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Simple Joys Are Not a Given for Children in Foster Care. You Can Change That.

Dec 21, 2017 1:00 PM ET

It’s what many of us consider a simple rite of passage. Getting your driver’s license. But for teenagers in foster care, it’s not a given. Often times they aren’t in one place long enough to find someone to teach them and if they do get their license, whose car would they drive?

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Welcoming GRI’s New Governance Body Members for 2018

Dec 21, 2017 1:00 PM ET

The multi-stakeholder nature and global representation of GRI's governance bodies is one of the key factors in the organization's success. We welcome new members at the start of 2018 in out Board of Directors, Global Sustainability Standards Board, Stakeholder Council and Independent Appointments Committee.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Duke Energy in Top 15% of Newsweek's 2017 Green Rankings

Dec 21, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Duke Energy has ranked in the top 25% of Newsweek's 2017 Green Rankings. One of the most recognized environmental performance assessments of the world's largest publically traded companies, the Green Rankings rate the top 500 U.S. companies, top 500 Global, and best in industry.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Cutting Through the Haze of Business and Human Rights in India

Dec 21, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Arriving in Delhi by night doesn’t give you a true sense of the city’s vastness. The low hum of hundreds of taxis whizzing around the airport terminal and the dirt kicked up from the wheels of 11:00 p.m. traffic blur the senses. But when morning came, and I saw the prim, gleaming hotels and office buildings of Gurgaon rise from a sprawling landscape of poverty and poke through the hazy, brown-grey horizon line, a clearer picture of India emerged.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Arrow Electronics Employees Cycle for a Good Cause

Dec 21, 2017 12:50 PM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Timberland Employees Across the Country Engage in Holiday Giving

Dec 21, 2017 11:30 AM ET

This holiday season, global outdoor lifestyle brand Timberland is focused not only on equipping shoppers with the latest in cold weather gear, but also with serving those in the community who are less fortunate. With the message “Made to Give” appearing in stores across the U.S., the brand engaged both employees and consumers in a variety of efforts to support communities in need.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Consumers Energy Named “Business Customer Champion” by Market Strategies International

Dec 21, 2017 10:05 AM ET

Market Strategies International recognized Consumers Energy as one of 18 energy providers in its Utility Trusted Brand & Customer Engagement™: Business, a Cogent Reports™ study.

Environment

Advancing Water Security: 5 Tips to Help Food & Beverage Companies Power Up

Dec 21, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Antea Group provides 5 tips on how food and beverage companies can move from water stewardship to water security to strengthen their business.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Families Impacted by California Wildfires Get Help for the Holidays

Dec 21, 2017 9:50 AM ET

A nurse and ten families affected by the recent California Wildfires received a special Christmas surprise, thanks to Walmart and the Today Show.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Supplemental Safety Net: An Innovative Model Paves the Way for Inclusive Insurance in China

Dec 21, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Despite rapid economic growth that has benefited many, hundreds of millions of people in China still remain outside the formal financial system without access to safe and affordable financial products. One of the biggest unmet financial needs is insurance.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

CBRE Group, Inc. Named to 2018 Military Friendly® Employers List for Seventh Consecutive Year

Dec 21, 2017 9:00 AM ET

CBRE Group, Inc. has earned the 2018 Military Friendly® Employer designation by Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs® and Military Spouse. This is the seventh year in a row CBRE has been recognized by Victory Media for its military friendly practices.

CBRE earned a bronze status from Military Friendly. The bronze designation is given to companies that have programs that score among the top-ranked institutions.

Sustainable Development Goals

Dole Pineapple Workers Open Community Center Thanks to Fair Trade

Dec 21, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Dole Food Company and Fair Trade USA jointly announced today the inauguration of two new community centers near Dole’s Muelle and Bosque Farms in Costa Rica, made possible by Fair Trade purchases made at Whole Foods Market stores, which drive additional money to pineapple farmworkers to invest in projects of their choosing.

Energy

How Individuals Move the Needle by Buying on Voluntary Carbon Markets

Dec 21, 2017 8:15 AM ET

Global carbon dioxide emissions are projected to reach record highs in 2017 and again in 2018, according to estimates by the Global Carbon Project. This comes after a three-year period where emissions remained flat, which many scientists had hoped signaled a peak in climate warming emissions.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

“Share the Love” for Our National Parks

Dec 21, 2017 8:00 AM ET

In the past, around this time of year, we’ve encouraged the community to share their favorite national park road trip memories. That’s because for the past three holiday seasons the National Park Foundation has been honored to participate in Subaru of America’s annual Share the Love event.

Research, Reports & Publications

CAT® D6T Fuel Efficiency

Dec 21, 2017 8:00 AM ET

One of our most versatile dozers, the new fully automatic D6T, continues to drive customer value through dramatically improved fuel efficiency and ease of use.

Sustainable Development Goals

Verizon Makes 250,000 Tree Commitment With the Arbor Day Foundation to Restore Hurricane Destroyed Tree Canopies in Forests and Communities

Dec 21, 2017 7:00 AM ET

The Arbor Day Foundation announced today an expanded partnership with Verizon as part of its newly launched Hurricane Tree Recovery Campaign. Verizon has committed 250,000 trees as part of the tree restoration efforts in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Wells Fargo to Raise Minimum Hourly Pay Rate to $15, Target $400 Million in 2018 Philanthropic Contributions, Including Expanded Support for Small Businesses and Homeownership

Dec 20, 2017 6:30 PM ET

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) today announced an expansion of its ongoing investments in team members, communities, small businesses, and homeownership, pledging the following actions once tax reform is signed into law

Energy

Addressing the Cost of Home Heating for Working Families

Dec 20, 2017 5:00 PM ET

For more than a third of American earners, paying monthly bills is a challenge. For some – nearly a fifth of American residents – that struggle can include choosing which essential commodity to go without during peak usage periods: Food, medications or the electricity to power and heat their homes.

Education

Meet Tiger Tech: Verizon Innovative Learning Students

Dec 20, 2017 4:55 PM ET

A group of 24 students, the Tiger Tech team keeps the school’s technology running smoothly. To see them at work, it’s hard to imagine the team is only four years old, but until 2014, Armstrong had little technology and no access to Wi-Fi. The school was transformed thanks to a Verizon Innovative Learning initiative that provides free tablets, two-year data plans and teacher training to select underserved schools across the country.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Social Impact in a Network World

Dec 20, 2017 4:35 PM ET

Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and Google all have three things in common – they are simple to use, effective and fun. They have revolutionized the way that we interact with each other, shop, watch TV and gather information.