Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Duke Energy Celebrates National Giving Day by Awarding Nearly $235,000 in Environmental Grants in Greater Cincinnati

Nov 29, 2017 12:00 PM ET

In conjunction with National Giving Day, the Duke Energy Foundation announced it is investing nearly $235,000 in 11 Ohio and Kentucky environmental nonprofit organizations. The grants will help fund environmental projects, including tree planting, water quality testing, and environmental education programs in the Ohio and Kentucky service territories.

Education

LG Launches ‘Experience Happiness’ Initiative

Nov 29, 2017 11:55 AM ET

Aiming to enrich the lives of 5.5 million youth in the United States by 2021, LG Electronics USA is launching a unique new corporate social responsibility initiative called “Life’s Good: Experience Happiness.” The science-based platform is designed to engage non-profit partners who help equip American youth with the skills for sustainable happiness.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

How Michael Bloomberg Landed in the Center of the Virgin Islands' Hurricane Recovery

Nov 29, 2017 11:55 AM ET

Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, a billionaire known for his activism on climate change and gun safety, said he had no grand scheme to become involved in hurricane recovery in the Caribbean.

But what started off as an effort to provide quick emergency assistance in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where his Bloomberg L.P., co-founder Tom Secunda has a home, has turned into a new kind of project for Bloomberg and his key aides, putting them at Ground Zero of efforts to rebuild the tiny U.S. territory.

And there's a chance it could grow into a Bloomberg specialty as coastal communities and islands like these cope with increasingly extreme weather.

Innovation & Technology

The Possibility Report: Changing the Way We Connect

Nov 29, 2017 11:00 AM ET

The second theme in The Possibility Report series, CONNECT explores the emerging technologies that can bring us closer together, even when we’re far apart (geographically and mentally), and bring more people into the loop.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Voya Financial Awarded Corporate Secretary Magazine’s Corporate Governance Award for Best Ethics and Compliance Program for the Second Consecutive Year

Nov 29, 2017 10:45 AM ET

“It’s an honor to be recognized by Corporate Secretary Magazine for the second year in-a-row,” said William M. Welch II, chief compliance and ethics officer. “At Voya, we are proud of our values. Our commitment to doing the right thing is a business imperative that begins with our board of directors and extends to every Voya employee.”

Environment

Republic Services Offers Five Easy Tips to Help Make the Holiday Season More Environmentally Friendly

Nov 29, 2017 10:00 AM ET

This holiday season, Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG) encourages consumers across the country to incorporate environmentally responsible practices into celebrations and family gatherings with five simple tips.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Our Global Employee Advantage

Nov 29, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Environment

'Recycling Is Our License to Operate': How Tetra Pak Is Hoping to Package-up a New Wave of Sustainability Innovation

Nov 29, 2017 10:00 AM ET

From cutting food waste to ending hunger, Tetra Pak is getting excited about some big-picture sustainable thinking.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Serving the Poor in a Transformative Way at Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington

Nov 29, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social service agency offering services in 21 counties and seven independent cities in northern and central Virginia that comprise the Diocese of Arlington. The mission of Catholic Charities is to serve the most vulnerable and poor of mind, body, and spirit by offering programs that help clients recognize their abilities, develop self-sufficiency, and maintain dignity.

Environment

VIDEO | Domtar Sustainability: Everything About Biomaterials Is Looking Up!

Nov 29, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Before there was a word “biomaterials,” there were biomaterials.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

The Magic of Money and Other Cautionary Tales

Nov 29, 2017 9:05 AM ET

It began with a magic trick. My father’s friend would pull a quarter out from behind my ear and then make it disappear again. This became an apt metaphor for my relationship with money: one moment there and the next moment gone, feeding two powerful feelings about money: insecurity and lots of fear about never getting it back.

Environment

Infographic: Smithfield Foods Environment Sustainability Report Highlights

Nov 29, 2017 9:05 AM ET

In 2016, we took our environmental stewardship efforts to the next level in what was widely heralded as an ambitious first for our industry: a far-reaching greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goal across our entire supply chain, from feed grain to packaged bacon. We have pledged to reduce our absolute GHG emissions by 25 percent by 2025, which will cut emissions by more than 4 million metric tons (or the equivalent of removing 900,000 cars from the road).

Media & Communications

Houston, Texas Commits to Anti-Trafficking and Fair Trade

Nov 29, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Fair Trade Campaigns is proud to announce Houston’s designation as the first Fair Trade Town in the state of Texas, the second largest Fair Trade Town in the United States. Houston is also the first major city to announce a zero tolerance human trafficking policy in city service contracts.

Research, Reports & Publications

500th Cat® Certified Rebuild

Nov 29, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Fifteen years after Caterpillar, Cat® dealer PT Trakindo and customer PT Freeport Indonesia signed a strategic alliance agreement, the group celebrated its 500th Cat Certified Rebuild in 2016.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Sands China Responds to Typhoon Hato with Relief Efforts

Nov 29, 2017 8:55 AM ET

In the aftermath of recent typhoons, Sands China Ltd. contributed toward various disaster relief efforts aimed at Team Members and the wider community with transportation, technical and professional support, SME support, and long-term assistance. Sands China pledged to donate $8.4 million – $3.7 million from Sands China and a $4.7 million contribution from the Adelson Family Foundation – to assist with longer term relief, recovery, and rebuilding efforts in Macao.

Diversity & Inclusion

Sharing Insights: Bringing a Customer-centric Focus to the Financial Inclusion Community

Nov 29, 2017 8:35 AM ET

Customer centricity is a win-win strategy no matter who your clients are; but for institutions looking to serve financially vulnerable populations around the world, such wins can have a tremendous positive impact on the economic livelihoods and future prosperity of their customers. To help these organizations overcome the challenges of modernizing strategies to be more customer-focused, The Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) – an initiative of the World Bank, and MetLife Foundation partner – looks to thought leaders in the field, like MetLife, to share their expertise.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

As #GivingTuesday Goes Global, Companies Around the World Join the Movement

Nov 29, 2017 8:30 AM ET

The day after one of the most successful and widely-adopted global giving events, CECP: The CEO Force for Good, one of the founding partners of the #GivingTuesday movement, announced record levels of corporate support for the global philanthropy movement. By 5:00 p.m. ET on November 28, online donations were up 25% compared to 2016. Begun in 2012, #GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. It kicks off the charitable season and takes place the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and the widely recognized global shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Education

De Beers Funds an Upgrade for Two Rural Schools

Nov 29, 2017 8:30 AM ET

As part of its Rural School Development Programme, the company teamed up with Kagiso Shanduka Trust (KST) and the Free State Department to unveil the two infrastructure projects in Viljoenskroon, one of the areas from which its Voorspoed mine recruits labour.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Philanthropy and the Impact Revolution

Nov 29, 2017 8:00 AM ET

Philanthropy has reached an “impact tipping point” and none too soon. On one side of the “leading with impact” divide is the learning-first sector, one where organizations are becoming empowered to track and monitor their results real-time and seamlessly share and learn best practices from similar initiatives.

Sustainable Development Goals

Building Stronger, More Resilient Cities

Nov 29, 2017 8:00 AM ET

As rapidly growing cities in developing countries become key frontiers of international development, urban areas require dynamic, local solutions to build resilience and sustain inclusive economic growth.

Social Impact & Volunteering

3,000 Colleagues Volunteer Across US for Second Annual 21CF Impact Week

Nov 28, 2017 7:15 PM ET

For six days and nights in October, nearly 3,000 colleagues from across 21st Century Fox businesses gave back to the communities around them as part of the second annual 21CF Impact Week. Building on the success of 21CF’s first ever company-wide week of service in 2016, which was piloted in New York and Los Angeles, colleagues in 25 U.S. cities took part in 99 service activities that benefited kids, veterans, the environment, victims of Hurricane Harvey, and many more. It is estimated that these efforts, which collectively totaled more than 9,000 hours of service, made a positive difference in the lives of more than 83,000 people. The company plans to further expand 21CF Impact Week to its global locations in 2018.

Environment

Poisonous Waters: Neela Banerjee on Fracking

Nov 28, 2017 6:15 PM ET

During the 2016 presidential race, many environmentalists found it disheartening that Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump actually seemed to agree on the expansion of fracking in the US. Some of us were wondering if the fight had been lost. That's why it's so encouraging to see good journalism persisting in the face of general indifference. This week on Sea Change Radio, we speak to Neela Banerjee of Inside Climate News, who recently wrote an article chronicling the travails of one small, vulnerable western Pennsylvania family. Her piece also brought to light why one government contractor was reluctant to attach its name to an EPA report that downplayed the risks of fracking. We discuss how irresponsible policy can lead to devastating consequences for real people.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Piedmont Natural Gas Invites Community to ‘Share the Warmth’ on #GivingTuesday

Nov 28, 2017 5:45 PM ET

Piedmont Natural Gas will participate in Giving Tuesday Nov. 28 by inviting its customers to support Share the Warmth, a Piedmont Natural Gas program that helps families in need stay warm when they can’t pay their energy bills.

To encourage the act of giving and sharing warmth with our neighbors, Piedmont is distributing symbolic orange scarves to its community partners, asking them to support Share the Warmth by posting selfies with the scarves on social media using the hashtag #PNGSharetheWarmth.

Research, Reports & Publications

See How Sappi Measured Success in 2016

Nov 28, 2017 4:05 PM ET

Our pulp and paper products are derived from renewable resources, made with high levels of renewable energy, and are designed to be reused or recycled. While it is difficult to identify a more sustainable industry than forest products, not all companies perform equally when it comes to operating safely and sustainably.

Education

6 Things For-Profit and Nonprofit Startups Can Learn From Each Other

Nov 28, 2017 3:45 PM ET

At AT&T, we believe great ideas can come from anywhere and impact kids and communities everywhere. That’s why we designed the AT&T Aspire Accelerator to support startups across the country, both for-profit and nonprofit organizations.