Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Innovation & Technology

eHighway: The First Public Road Use

Aug 1, 2016 10:05 AM ET

Trucks equipped with electric pantographs are traveling a public road for the first time. Siemens has installed an overhead line for electric and hybrid trucks in Sweden.

Environment

Newest Class of Fulbright-National Geographic Fellows to Tackle Global Issues Through Digital Storytelling

Aug 1, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Beginning this fall, the 2016-2017 class of the Fulbright-National Geographic Digital Storytelling Fellowship will embark on global journeys to study significant social and environmental issues--from the need for community-based food systems in India to the effects of climate change on rural communities in Northern Africa--and share their findings with the world through National Geographic's media assets.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Northern Trust Maintains Inclusion in FTSE4Good Index

Aug 1, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Northern Trust announced today that it continues its inclusion in the FTSE4Good Index, a series of benchmark and tradable indices for investors who seek companies with a focus on ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) related practices.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Cormack Family Funds New Children International Community Center and Youth Center in Colombia

Aug 1, 2016 6:05 AM ET

Dave Cormack, the president and chief executive officer of the healthcare software provider Brightree, and his family were lead donors in the construction of the new Cormack Family Community Center and Youth Center in Cartagena, Colombia. The centers were inaugurated earlier this summer and will benefit nearly 12,000 children and youth.

Environment

Picture Earth Right Now

Jul 29, 2016 6:00 PM ET

Picture Earth Right Now features curated and recent visualizations of Earth by NASA Goddard.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Environmental Protection Agency Aligns EPCRA Chemical Compliance Rules with UN Globally Harmonized System on Hazardous Materials

Jul 29, 2016 4:35 PM ET

Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made an amendment to their Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) final ruling. The EPCRA was established in 1986 with the purpose of helping communities plan for and prevent chemical emergencies.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

B.C. Day Success Story: Homegrown Industry on Pace to Shatter Export Records, Creating Jobs in Coastal Communities and Opportunity for First Nations

Jul 29, 2016 4:30 PM ET

Recently released data from Stats Canada (January to May 2016) shows exports of farm-raised salmon to key Asian markets is on a record setting pace in 2016, with many markets already eclipsing previous annual volumes.

Education

Arrow Electronics Hosts Colorado STEM Champions

Jul 29, 2016 4:00 PM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Versaic Clients Making a Difference- July 2016

Jul 29, 2016 3:35 PM ET

The summer heat does not stop our clients from making a difference. Whether an airline or a bank or a grocery store, they're on a mission with their CSR program to change the world. We have picked some of the highlights from their various giving programs to share with you- we hope their good work will inspire you in your quest for making an impact in your community!

Innovation & Technology

Innovative Ideas to Solve Complex Social and Environmental Problems

Jul 29, 2016 3:30 PM ET

Arming women with the skills to build a more equal society. Providing marginalized expectant mothers with valuable health advice. Ensuring new entrepreneurs are set up for success. Preparing small and medium-sized businesses for disaster recovery. Ensuring that the free educational resources of the Internet are accessible to all.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Trevor Plouffe of the Minnesota Twins Helps His Country While Inspiring a Younger Generation

Jul 29, 2016 3:30 PM ET

Trevor Plouffe, Minnesota Twins third baseman, is all business on the field, but all smiles off of it.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Keep America Beautiful's Volunteer Spotlight: J.D. Franklin

Jul 29, 2016 3:15 PM ET

J.D. Franklin, a volunteer for Keep Riverside Clean & Beautiful, exemplifies what it means to be a hardworking man who cares about bettering his community. J.D. has always been conscious of the need to have a beautiful environment for all, evidenced by his involvement in Keep America Beautiful's Great American Cleanup.

Diversity & Inclusion

ColorComm Conference 2016: Leading the Way – Helping Companies Create Gender Diverse Workplaces

Jul 29, 2016 1:50 PM ET

We have all attended conferences in the hopes of leaving inspired and ready to take action on the topics discussed, but sometimes the conference falls flat. We attend breakout session after breakout session just to leave thinking, “I already knew that.” However, that was definitely not the case at ColorComm’s 3rd Annual Conference, Leading the Way (#C2Miami)!

Health & Healthcare

When a Service Provider is Part of the Team

Jul 29, 2016 1:45 PM ET

This is the third in a continuing blog series based on the findings from the Sodexo 2016 Healthcare Compendium, a compilation of research that examines the increasing trend toward a focus on value in the healthcare sector. Read the full article: Lowell General Hospital: Partnering for Excellence

Innovation & Technology

Cultivating Livelihoods in Indonesia

Jul 29, 2016 1:25 PM ET

East West Seed Indonesia (EWINDO), the country’s first integrated seed breeding and distribution company, has joined the Business Call to Action (BCtA) with a commitment to integrate 17,775 seeds growers into its value chain and transfer technical knowledge to 125,000 smallholder vegetable farmers by 2020.

Education

IBM and Sesame Street Transforming Education

Jul 29, 2016 12:00 PM ET

IBM and Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization that produces Sesame Street, formed a collaboration to use IBM Watson's cognitive computing technology and Sesame’s early childhood expertise to help advance preschool education around the world. As part of a three-year agreement, Sesame Workshop and IBM will collaborate to develop educational platforms and products that will be designed to adapt to the learning preferences and aptitude levels of individual preschoolers.

Events, Media & Communications

Domtar EarthChoice July Monthly Minute

Jul 29, 2016 11:05 AM ET

How do you reduce the need for 50,000 truck trips a year, avoiding the air emissions equal burning 100,000+ gallons of fuel? Domtar's Hawesville, KY mill found a creative strategy to do just that.

Responsible Production & Consumption

What Do Weddings and Recycled Healthcare Plastics Have in Common?

Jul 29, 2016 10:50 AM ET

HPRC got a nice shout-out in a recent Packaging Digest piece about Bella the Bride, a traveling display jointly put on by DuPont and Beacon Converters that features a wedding gown made of discarded Tyvek meant to encourage conversations about reuse of healthcare plastics. The gown was created by artist and environmental educator Nancy Judd.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

An Essential Nestlé Value: Investing in Our Communities

Jul 29, 2016 10:15 AM ET

We’re celebrating our 150th anniversary by going big — and going home
Planning a birthday party can be a joyful challenge, whether the guest of honor is a toddler unaware of the significance or an adult celebrating a landmark year. So imagine the endless possibilities before us as we plan the 150th birthday party for Nestlé, a company that spans the globe. How would you mark the occasion?

Research, Reports & Publications

Building Employee Loyalty to Xylem

Jul 29, 2016 9:05 AM ET

We are committed to meeting our customers’ needs and expanding the markets we currently serve. One way we can accomplish this is by enhancing our current offerings with complementary solutions and intelligent full-systems capability.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Mentoring "Moves" Young Students in the Right Direction

Jul 29, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Many people who have led successful and fulfilling lives cite the fact that a mentor had a major positive impact on them when they were growing up. In fact, a recent Brigham Young University study shows that mentors can be pivotal in a student’s decision to go to college, which is the core foundation for a bright future.

Energy

Balancing Renewables in the New Energy Landscape

Jul 29, 2016 8:55 AM ET

Renewable resources are plentiful, but also unpredictable. Siemens Flex-Plant™ technology is a reliable backup that produces the energy you need, when you need it.

Environment

WWF: Tiger Farming in Asia Must End; US has Role to Play

Jul 29, 2016 1:05 AM ET

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is using Global Tiger Day today to call on governments across Asia to investigate all tiger breeding centers and close any operations involved in the illegal tiger trade. WWF is also calling on the US to do more to address its own large captive tiger population.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

2016 Pocono Mountains Community Fundraiser

Jul 28, 2016 8:00 PM ET

At tonight’s sold out annual Pocono Mountains Community Fundraiser, one of the largest fundraising events in Northeast Pennsylvania, a record-breaking $225,975 was awarded to six Monroe County nonprofits, bringing the total raised since the event’s inception to more than $2 million.

Education

Sodexo Launches Innovative K-5 Dining Program

Jul 28, 2016 6:45 PM ET

The Clubhouse, the new K-5 meal program created by Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life Services, was developed using a custom-designed focus group process with students across the country. The Clubhouse program will launch in 400 schools for the beginning of the next school year.