Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Green Infrastructure

Is WELL Certification Worth It for Developers?

Jul 25, 2017 9:55 AM ET

Some argue that buildings with healthy features command up to a 20 percent rent premium over market rate, in addition to savings on operational costs. Launched in October 2014, WELL has registered or certified 450 projects, encompassing nearly 100 million sq. ft. of space in 27 countries, including 361 office projects.

Diversity & Inclusion

Parental Leave Is A Hit

Jul 25, 2017 9:35 AM ET

In 2016, PNC announced a change to its parental leave policy for all new moms and dads. Eligible new parents of any gender can now receive full pay for six weeks in the year following a baby’s birth. Here’s one dad’s take on how the leave helped his family.

Energy

Consumers Energy Breaks Ground on Cross Winds® Energy Park Phase II

Jul 25, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Consumers Energy broke ground on its third wind energy project, Cross Winds Energy Park II in Tuscola County’s Columbia Township.Michigan’s largest energy provider is working with lead contractor White Construction, which has started building access roads and will begin constructing concrete foundations within two weeks for the 19 new turbines that will be 499 feet tall and generate up to 44 megawatts. White Construction was the contractor for Consumers Energy’s Lake Winds Energy Park near Ludington, Mich.

Health & Healthcare

Sandoz Expands Partnership with World Child Cancer, to Help Children Access Treatment in Four Developing Countries

Jul 25, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Sandoz today announces the expansion of a pilot project with leading charity World Child Cancer, aimed at improving access to treatment and optimizing survival outcomes for children suffering from cancer in four developing countries.

Research, Reports & Publications

NRG Energy | Key Issues Assessment Following GRI Framework

Jul 25, 2017 9:20 AM ET

NRG follows the GRI Framework to report on issues of importance to the company and its stakeholders. As part of a re-evaluation of our sustainability strategy, 
in 2013, we engaged a third party to facilitate a formal assessment to determine these key issues. Our initial assessment identified 49 issues as important to stakeholders and the NRG business.

Education

2017 Amgen Scholars U.S. Symposium

Jul 25, 2017 9:20 AM ET

Education

HP Commits $20M+ to Enable Quality Education

Jul 25, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Making quality education accessible to the millions currently excluded is essential—and quality is key. HP is focused on reinventing the classroom in ways that engage students, empower educators, and build strong and vibrant communities. Furthermore, we are bringing these classrooms directly to students who otherwise may not have access to a quality education.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

HPE and Kiva Partner to Loan $14.5 Million to Low-Income Entrepreneurs

Jul 25, 2017 9:10 AM ET

Matter to a Million is a partnership between the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Foundation and non-profit, micro-lending platform, Kiva. The five-year global initiative has enabled thousands of HPE employees to help hard-working, low-income entrepreneurs around the world by providing them with a $25 microfinance loan credit. T

Energy

What Major Power Providers are Doing With Their Efficient Operations and how Companies can Utilize Renewable Energy Solutions

Jul 25, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Legacy energy producers and distributors have been the target of disruptive business models and technology for decades. Adapting to competition and increased demand for low-carbon power, even the largest electric utilities and multinational gas and oil giants are behaving like innovative startups in today’s economy.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Tetra Tech Employees Rack up the Kilometers in Biggest International Bike to Work Week Event

Jul 25, 2017 9:00 AM ET

As part of Tetra Tech’s Sustainability Program, the company challenges employees from around the world to park their cars and cycle to work each May.

Research, Reports & Publications

Doing Better Together: EDC Releases Its Corporate Social Responsibility Annual Report for 2016

Jul 25, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Export Development Canada is Canada’s export credit agency. Their job is to support and develop Canada’s export trade by helping Canadian companies respond to international business opportunities. In 2016, they helped more than 7,150 Canadian companies do business in over 200 countries.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Sodexo’s Global Chief Diversity Officer Dr. Rohini Anand Appointed New Chair of the Catalyst Board of Advisors

Jul 25, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life Services, announced today that Dr. Rohini Anand, senior vice president corporate responsibility and Global Chief Diversity Officer for Sodexo, has been appointed as the new Chair of the Catalyst Board of Advisors, which features a variety of senior leaders across Fortune 500 companies, including Coca-Cola Companies, Deloitte, IBM Corporation and Walmart.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

International Convention Center Sydney (ICC Sydney) Awarded U.S. Green Building Council Certification

Jul 25, 2017 8:30 AM ET

AEG’s International Convention Center Sydney (ICC Sydney), Australia’s premier convention, exhibition and entertainment venue, was awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED is the preeminent rating system for design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.

Research, Reports & Publications

GRI, IIRC, Barclays and SustainIt on the Future of Reporting

Jul 25, 2017 6:00 AM ET

Events, Media & Communications

Creative Sustainability Thinking: Using Art to Help United Way

Jul 25, 2017 5:45 AM ET

On July 7, 2017 at the Avery Dennison corporate headquarters in Glendale, California, employees presented a donation to the United Way of Greater Los Angeles. The $10,156 donation was a surprise to the United Way and the culmination of a creative sustainability effort led by Avery Dennison’s 207 Green Team.

Green Infrastructure

The GreenSportsBlog Interview: Vijay Sudan on 21st Century Fox, Fox Sports and Sustainability

Jul 24, 2017 8:30 PM ET

Sports stadiums and arenas were the first to join the sports-greening movement. After all, that’s where the games are played and where tremendous amounts of energy is expended, including getting to-and-from the venue. Media companies, while a “second order” greenhouse gas emissions driver at sports events, still are part of the energy mix. Plus they of course communicate what is happening on the court, field or course to billions of people worldwide. How do they look at their own sustainability issues around sports? And how do they communicate sustainability-related issues to their viewers and listeners? To get into this question, GSB spoke with Vijay Sudan, VP of Social Impact at 21st Century Fox, the corporate umbrella under which Fox Sports resides.

Environment

Earn Your Stripes By Volunteering

Jul 24, 2017 6:30 PM ET

Energy

Corporate Responsibility Practitioner Roundup: Totem Power

Jul 24, 2017 5:45 PM ET

In the run up to the COMMIT!Forum, CR Magazine spoke with Brian Lakamp, Founder and CEO at Totem Power. Totem’s smart hub combines modern communications, advanced energy, and distributed intelligence into a single, powerful platform for modern campuses, retail centers, commercial facilities, cities and more. We spoke with him about being a practitioner in the clean energy space.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Whirlpool Raise Funds for United Way with Their 2nd Annual "Rock the Boat" Races

Jul 24, 2017 5:45 PM ET

Dozens of teams launched hand-crafted boats into the St. Joseph River as part of the 2nd annual "Rock the Boat" races, sponsored by Whirlpool Corporation to raise money for United Way.

Environment

Why More Companies Should Have a 2020 Philanthropic Goal like Wells Fargo

Jul 24, 2017 5:25 PM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Bloomberg Philanthropies and Harvard Launch First-Ever Executive Leadership Program for Mayors and City Leaders

Jul 24, 2017 4:45 PM ET

This week, Bloomberg Philanthropies and Harvard University convened the inaugural class of the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative. A first-of-its-kind collaboration, Bloomberg Philanthropies has brought together Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and its business school to help mayors become even stronger leaders.

Research, Reports & Publications

Far Beyond the Quarterly Call: Research Refutes "Short-Termism"

Jul 24, 2017 4:30 PM ET

In a paper published earlier this month in the Spring 2017 Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, Tim Youmans, Research Director, Strategic Investor Initiative, CECP, and Brian Tomlinson, Senior Research Advisor, Strategic Investor Initiative, CECP, detail how the existing structure of corporate shareholder communications encourages “short-termism,” or the narrow focus on immediate profit at the expense of long-term security. The paper summarizes the substantial evidence that corporate management, boards, and investors are concerned about the failure of quarterly earnings framework to adequately address the importance of long-term value creation.

Research, Reports & Publications

Hess Corporation’s 2016 Sustainability Report Shows Continued Progress in Safe, Responsible Business Practices

Jul 24, 2017 3:00 PM ET

Hess’ sustainability strategy is driven by its unwavering commitment to protect the health and safety of its people, safeguard the environment, and contribute to the sustainability of the communities where it operates, while delivering long-term value to its shareholders.

Research, Reports & Publications

Decision Support Framework for Developing Regional Energy Strategies

Jul 24, 2017 2:55 PM ET

In an effort to reduce “carbon pollution” as well as prepare the U.S. for the impacts of climate change, President Obama’s Climate Action Plan called for changes to be made to the nation’s energy system. This call to action, put the energy industry at the heart of a national effort to meaningfully address the national and global risks posed by climate change.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Environmental Challenges and Opportunities in the Supply Chain

Jul 24, 2017 2:40 PM ET

As a supply chain leader for Boeing’s Defense, Space & Security business unit, Dana Hullinger helps drive the effort to improve performance and use data analytics to gain new insights into Boeing’s complex and diverse network of suppliers.