Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Responsible Production & Consumption

Drax Biomass Earns First Sustainable Biomass Partnership (SBP) Certificates Issued by SCS Global Services

Aug 3, 2016 12:30 PM ET

The first Sustainable Biomass Partnership (SBP) certificates issued by SCS Global Services (SCS),a leading global third-party certifier, were presented this week to industry leader, Drax Biomass Inc., for its Morehouse BioEnergy and Amite BioEnergy wood pellet manufacturing facilities. This certification follows on the heels of last month’s announcement that SBP had approved SCS as its newest certification body.

Environment

Narrow Streets, Unlimited Innovation

Aug 3, 2016 12:30 PM ET

The world’s largest transportation and logistics company proposed replacing its large delivery vehicles with a smaller, city-friendly fleet in Hamburg. UPS drivers would pick up deliveries from a storage container of consolidated shipments in the center of the city. UPS drivers would then use alternative methods, including walkers, conventional tricycles and electrically assisted tricycles, to make deliveries throughout the city center and in pedestrian-only zones.

Social Impact & Volunteering

IBM Consultants Donate Time and Expertise in Service to Others

Aug 3, 2016 12:00 PM ET

Those new to IBM may be (pleasantly) surprised by IBM’s and IBMers’ commitment to service, but current and retired IBMers have engaged in skills-based volunteering through IBM’s On Demand Community for more than 10 years.

Green Infrastructure

Siemens Makes Skyscrapers Greener

Aug 3, 2016 11:35 AM ET

Siemens is making the world's second tallest office building even greener. Representatives of Taipei 101 and Siemens recently signed a memorandum of understanding that paves the way for the installation of Siemens Navigator, a cloud-based energy and sustainability management platform for buildings.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Carnival Ecstasy Donates Tableware to Five Charleston-Area Charities

Aug 3, 2016 11:30 AM ET

Continuing Carnival Cruise Line’s ongoing support of its homeport communities, the Charleston-based Carnival Ecstasy has donated tableware – plates, saucers, cups, silverware, etc. – to five local charities, including Habitat for Humanity Restore, Windwood Farm Home for Children, Connie Maxwell Children’s Home, The Neighborhood House of Our Lady of Mercy, and My Sister’s House.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Why Embracing Profitable Good—Not CSR—Will Help You Stay Ahead

Aug 3, 2016 11:30 AM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

GM Student Corps Members Learn, Earn and Lead

Aug 3, 2016 11:10 AM ET

Since 2013, more than 500 high school students have earned a paycheck while learning real-world work skills and giving back to their communities via the GM Student Corps. This year’s Student Corps includes 129 students from 13 high schools in metro Detroit, Flint and Pontiac

Environment

Taking a Look Behind the Scenes at Yosemite National Park

Aug 3, 2016 11:00 AM ET

Sunshine and shadows dappled the Merced River canyon on a cool morning as I drove to Yosemite last week. Hillsides were dressed in dusty browns and variegated greens. It’s another summer in the Sierra Nevada.

Research, Reports & Publications

Harnessing Grit, Passion and the Power of Technology to Make a Difference

Aug 3, 2016 10:55 AM ET

Those of us GRI-trained reporting-types know that when putting together a sustainability report, we can find ourselves lost in the details – aggregating pages of data, writing countless stories, holding hundreds of meetings with colleagues, and securing approvals for every detail of a final report. This year, it was no different for my team as we put together AT&T’s sustainability report, which we call our “Annual Sustainability Update.” But, throughout the reporting process, it’s easy to lose sight of the bigger picture associated with what we’re doing: How our more than 250,000 employees have come together – harnessing grit, passion and the power of technology – to make a positive difference for our communities, our planet, and our company.

Environment

Dr Pepper Snapple Group and Keep America Beautiful Bring Recycling to More Public Parks

Aug 3, 2016 10:30 AM ET

STAMFORD, Conn. (Aug. 3) – Americans should expect to see cleaner public parks this fall thanks to a significant grant made possible by Dr Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS) in collaboration with Keep America Beautiful. The Dr Pepper Snapple Group/Keep America Beautiful Park Recycling Bin Grant Program provides funding for 900 new recycling bins in public parks across the country in 2016, making recycling more accessible for Americans enjoying the outdoors.

Environment

Nature Inspired Home Gardening System Wins Student Living Product Prize in Biomimicry Global Design Challenge

Aug 3, 2016 10:30 AM ET

The Biomimicry Global Design Challenge teamed up with the Living Future Institute to issue a prize for products that function as elegantly as the natural world.

Environment

Andrew Winston on the North American Clean Economy Agreement

Aug 3, 2016 10:15 AM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

YUM! China Receives the 2016 CSR Excellence Award

Aug 3, 2016 10:10 AM ET

Events, Media & Communications

National Geographic Channel's Summer 2016 TCA Announcements: Climate Change, Gender Fluidity, Ivory Trade VR Documentary, More

Aug 3, 2016 10:00 AM ET

National Geographic Channel made a number of big announcements during its summer 2016 Television Critics Association (TCA) press tour Saturday, signaling the realization of the transformational vision to become the world's leading destination for premium science, adventure and exploration programming announced last year.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

CITGO and Charlie’s Place Recovery Center Partner for “A Night in Vegas” Fundraiser Benefitting Patients Battling Addiction

Aug 3, 2016 10:00 AM ET

For more than 50 years, Charlie’s Place Recovery Center, one of Texas’s largest nonprofit, residential drug and alcohol treatment centers, has helped thousands of people suffering from drug and alcohol addiction rebuild their lives. To further the center’s work helping patients overcome addiction, CITGO Petroleum Corporation is again sponsoring the Charlie’s Place “A Night in Vegas” fundraiser. Funds raised from this year’s event, which will be held August 20 at the American Bank Center, will go toward patient care.

Energy

Black & Veatch Takes on Innovative South African Waste-to-Energy Project

Aug 3, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Black & Veatch was selected by MBHE African Power (PTY) Ltd, a local renewable energy developer, to provide technical assistance for the country’s first waste-to-energy (WTE) plant.

Research, Reports & Publications

Las Vegas Sands | Excellence Around the World

Aug 3, 2016 9:30 AM ET

We believe creating excellence in the hospitality industry is not only good for our business, but for the health of our local communities and the industry as a whole.

Research, Reports & Publications

From Connecting Classrooms to Making Smarter Cities, AT&T’s Tech is Driving Change

Aug 3, 2016 9:00 AM ET

AT&T has released its annual sustainability update, which highlights the company’s successes, progress and opportunities for the future.

Our world has never been more connected than it is today. From smartphones and smartwatches to smart homes and cities, connectivity is changing virtually everything about how we live, work and solve problems. And AT&T is proud to be in the center of it all. Everything the company does is designed to harness the power of connectivity to change the world.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Success Builds on Success

Aug 3, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Environmental and social responsibility goals go hand in hand with financial success. Environmental initiatives drive direct savings in energy and materials, employee training increases productivity and customer satisfaction, and strong sustainability positioning results in higher levels of customer loyalty, revenue and profit.

Energy

Lost in Translation -- Making Sense of Three Critical Renewable Energy Strategies: Power Purchase Agreements, Virtual PPAs and Renewable Energy Certificates

Aug 3, 2016 9:00 AM ET

An increasing number of enterprises are focused on going 100% renewable, driven in large part by the recent push to established science-based carbon reduction goals. Three of the supporting energy strategy trends to help enterprises achieve these goals are Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), Virtual PPAs, and Renewable Energy Certificates. None of these is probably a term that comes tripping off the tongue of the average businessperson.

Health & Healthcare

Innovating to Save Women’s Lives

Aug 3, 2016 12:00 AM ET

Kenya-based Jacaranda Health has joined the Business Call to Action (BCtA) with a pledge to provide 50,250 low-income women and children with high-quality maternal and child health care at its maternity hospitals by the end of 2019. The company has also committed to open two more maternity hospitals in 2018 and pilot innovative healthcare delivery models in 25 public health facilities to reach 250,000 additional women and children.

Events, Media & Communications

Women of FOX Sports and Geena Davis Institute discuss importance of female role models in sports

Aug 2, 2016 8:00 PM ET

More than 100 people gathered in Los Angeles on July 28 to hear from a panel of truly inspirational women on the importance and impact of positive role models in the world of sports. At the beautiful Fairmont Hotel in Santa Monica, the Women of FOX Sports partnered with the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media to host "A League of Their Own: Sports Inspiring Social Change."

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Source Intelligence® Earns Additional Honors For Innovation, Technology and Leadership

Aug 2, 2016 7:55 PM ET

Source Intelligence® continues to earn global awards in recognition of its superior technology and innovation as well as its strong, creative leadership.

Innovation & Technology

The Technology and Sustainability Entanglement

Aug 2, 2016 6:00 PM ET

Technology has momentum. It is disruptive and unstoppable. You can’t build a wall around it. To say that technology is more than the sum of its parts is a vast understatement, since technology in its connected aggregate is akin to an atmosphere that envelops us.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Making a Positive Impact: Inspiring Young People to Get Involved in Their Community

Aug 2, 2016 4:00 PM ET

Actively engaging young people in their community can result in positive and meaningful social change. Learn more about how to engage young people by reading Six Steps to Engage Millennials in Social Change and utilizing the complimentary Youth Engagement Toolkit.