Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Events, Media & Communications

Reflections on Points of Light Service Unites 2018

Jun 28, 2018 10:15 AM ET

One of my favorite annual events is Points of Light’s Service Unites. Not only is the conference an opportunity to connect with peers to celebrate best practices and commiserate lesson learned, but it is also a chance to share updates on emerging philanthropy trends and hear from global service leaders. This year’s event delivered on its promise of incredible speakers and insights on the state of volunteerism, and I am happy to share my reflections on three networking and learning-filled days in Atlanta.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

The Rise of Employees As Agents of Change

Jun 28, 2018 10:00 AM ET

The corporate social responsibility software space has seen some pretty major changes over the past decade. It has long been our goal to evolve the prevailing approach to employee giving and cause marketing from one that is largely top-down and transactional to one that is experiential and cultural. Today, we are excited to announce the launch of Benevity’s next generation corporate social responsibility and employee engagement product: Missions.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Aflac’s CSR Efforts Fit the Bill: How a Duck Helped Strengthen the Company’s Reputation

Jun 28, 2018 9:50 AM ET

Aflac's modern brand identity was born after the insurance company’s ad team made a striking discovery nearly two decades ago: The sound “Aflac” resembles “quack quack.” The symbol debuted on Jan. 1, 2000 (yes, Y2K), and the rest is history. Since that time, the Aflac duck has become an advertising icon, signifying the company’s commitment to best business practices, philanthropy and corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Diversity & Inclusion

What Celebrating Pride in India Means to Symantec Employees and the World at Large

Jun 28, 2018 9:45 AM ET

Symantec still remains one of the few companies in India that is vocal both internally and externally about its culture of inclusion. For example, Symantec has been participating in the Pune Pride Parade for the past three years, making the company’s commitment to LGBTQ employees publicly visible. This also sends the message to our LGBTQ identified employees that we take LGBTQ inclusion seriously and to those outside, that Symantec is a safe place for them to work.

Events, Media & Communications

Join 3BL Media's Chicagoland Corporate Responsibility Stories Forum

Jun 28, 2018 9:45 AM ET

Astellas, Conagra,and Walgreens will share stories of corporate responsibility at a breakfast hosted by 3BL Media

Environment

Consumers Energy Marks 100 Years for Tippy Dam

Jun 28, 2018 9:35 AM ET

Diversity & Inclusion

Live from Cannes: Procter & Gamble’s Damon Jones on Boosting Diversity

Jun 28, 2018 9:25 AM ET

Procter & Gamble director of global communications Damon Jones joined PRWeek's Steve Barrett at Cannes for a quick chat about diversity in PR and at P&G.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sodexo Recognized for Leadership in Sustainable Purchasing

Jun 28, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

Pearson Announces Progress Towards 2020 Sustainability Plan

Jun 28, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Pearson, the digital education company, published its 2017 Sustainability Report, which highlights the progress made in implementing its 2020 Sustainability Plan and a continued vision for integrating social and environmental issues into every aspect of the business.

Sustainable Development Goals

Warranty Solutions Empowers Consumers to Leave a Greener Footprint

Jun 28, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Everything we do releases energy, energy that is converted into carbon dioxide and released back into the atmosphere. Every time you switch on a light, turn on your computer, or drive your car, you’re emitting carbon. It may not seem like much, but collectively we’re leaving a giant carbon footprint, 6-7 billion metric tons of carbon annually to be exact. These emissions contribute to climate change, which is negatively affecting the environment.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Benevity Launches “Missions,” a Purpose-Driven Employee Engagement Solution

Jun 28, 2018 8:15 AM ET

Today, Benevity announced the launch of its latest innovation: Missions, a new module for its award-winning cloud solution that lets companies engage employees in positive actions to do more good, helping create purpose-driven corporate cultures and increase their social impact. Missions empowers employees to adopt new prosocial behaviors through gamified and easy-to-complete activities, which can be tracked, measured and optionally rewarded through the software.

Research, Reports & Publications

Edmond de Rothschild Reports on Its Progress: Building a Sustainable Future

Jun 28, 2018 5:00 AM ET

Edmond de Rothschild Group is committed through its strategy to support the shift to a sustainable, low carbon economy and to contribute to the realisation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Whole Planet Foundation | Dispatch From the Field - Impact Dashboard Update

Jun 28, 2018 1:15 AM ET

Thanks to our microfinance partners around the globe who are working diligently daily to serve the world's poorest people, the average first microloan size we fund decreased over several fiscal quarters from $187 to $184 then $182 to now $180. What does this signify? That our partners continue to serve the unserved and that Whole Planet Foundation funds have created 15 million opportunities for low-income entrepreneurs to lift themselves and their family members out of poverty.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

An Incredible Team of Heroes Visits Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Jun 27, 2018 8:30 PM ET

On Monday, June 25, patients and their families enjoyed “Incredible” visitors at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The stars of Disney•Pixar’s Incredibles 2, Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl, paid a special visit to the hospital, where kids and families posed for pictures with the Supers, attended a private screening of the new film as part of the Disney Movie Moments program and also met Pixar animators, who created sketches of favorite Incredibles 2 characters for children in attendance. The young patients also received Disney toys, games, books and movies that were delivered in hospital care packages that are part of the Company’s Team of Heroes $100 million commitment to transform the children’s hospital experience over the next five years.

Health & Healthcare

Merck Announces Findings from WHO-led Study of Investigational Heat-Stable Carbetocin for Preventing Excessive Bleeding After Childbirth

Jun 27, 2018 6:15 PM ET

Study results announced on an investigational heat-stable formulation of carbetocin for the prevention of excessive bleeding after childbirth, also known as postpartum haemorrhage (PPH). The results demonstrated that heat-stable carbetocin is clinically non-inferior to the standard of care, oxytocin, for the primary outcome of ≥500 ml blood loss or additional uterotonic use.1 Non-inferiority was not demonstrated for the second primary outcome of blood loss of ≥1,000 ml or more

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Northern Trust Sponsors the QCF Philanthropy in Focus Photo Challenge

Jun 27, 2018 5:45 PM ET

Partner Simon Gaites, Head of Client Servicing for Global Fund Services in Australia, attended the launch of Queensland Community Foundation Philanthropy Week. Northern Trust sponsored the QCF Philanthropy in Focus Photo Challenge. The winning charity was SevGen and the photographer of the winning entry was Jamie Robertson. The photo titled 'Compassion' captured hope, love, loss, and support during an emotional moment.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

The 20 Most Influential People in ESG Investing

Jun 27, 2018 4:40 PM ET

No report about sustainable investing would be complete without a Who’s Who—a record of the people setting the agenda. Over the past few months, we talked to dozens of people, all of them active in sustainable investing, to find out who they thought should make our list. We also talked to our colleagues at Barron’s, who have been watching the rise of the sustainable-investing space.

Research, Reports & Publications

CBRE Releases Eleventh Annual Corporate Responsibility Report

Jun 27, 2018 4:05 PM ET

CBRE released its eleventh annual Corporate Responsibility Report. The 2017 report – themed “Sharing the Responsibility” – highlights CBRE’s many accomplishments as a leader in responsible business practices within the commercial real estate industry.

“CBRE is increasingly integrating corporate responsibility initiatives into our daily business practices. As a result, our business solutions are creating environmental, social and governance benefits for our company and our communities and better outcomes for our clients,” said Bob Sulentic, CBRE’s president and chief executive officer.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

JetBlue’s Soar with Reading Initiative to Provide 100,000 Free Books to Children in San Francisco and Oakland Area Book Deserts

Jun 27, 2018 2:05 PM ET

JetBlue today launched its eighth annual Soar with Reading initiative, which provides free books to children who need them most. This summer, Soar with Reading lands in San Francisco and Oakland, Calif. This award-winning literacy initiative tackles the issue of “book deserts,” areas with limited access to age-appropriate books. Since 2011, JetBlue has donated nearly $3 million worth of books to children in areas of need.

JetBlue and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing are bringing books to children in the Bay Area through 5 custom vending machines which will distribute 100,000 books starting today through August 31, 2018, free of charge. To commemorate this year’s initiative, San Francisco Mayor Mark Farrell and Supervisor Jane Kim recognized June 27, 2018 as “Soar with Reading Day.”

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Collaborating Toward the Good Life: A Conversation with Keurig Green Mountain’s Monique Oxender

Jun 27, 2018 2:00 PM ET

A self-proclaimed “complexity junkie,” Monique Oxender, Keurig Green Mountain’s Chief Sustainability Officer, doesn’t bat an eye at tackling big, complicated issues. From the future of coffee to the recyclability of Keurig’s pods, Oxender and her team have provided innovative solutions to complex issues across the value chain — all while embodying Keurig’s signature focus on collaboration.

Education

FCA Supports Education Through Inspired Teachers

Jun 27, 2018 2:00 PM ET

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles launched the Rota do Saber program in Brazil with the aim to improve public education in schools by creating a network of collaboration between private companies and local governments.

Environment

IFF Launches New Environmental Goals With Ambitious Science-Based Targets

Jun 27, 2018 2:00 PM ET

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (NYSE:IFF) (Euronext Paris:IFF), a leading innovator of sensory experiences that move the world, today launched new environmental goals focused on emission reductions, zero waste to landfill and water stewardship. The initiatives are known collectively as “EcoEffective+.”

Events, Media & Communications

Brands Taking Stands | Businesses Square Off Against Government Policy

Jun 27, 2018 1:05 PM ET

One of the hottest of hot button political-social issues got pushed, hard, last week. The separation of children from immigrants seeking asylum in the U.S. blew up into a major conflict zone in the larger culture wars that shows no signs of quieting down anytime soon. As before, following the issue of the “Muslim ban” immigration executive order issued in early 2017, business squared off against government policy in a high volume debate over values.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Keeping Siblings Together Through Foster Care Adoption

Jun 27, 2018 1:00 PM ET

Ty came to the Vogt family as a toddler. A few months later, his baby sister Mya joined him. The Vogt family knew they wanted to keep the siblings together. After 743 and 570 days in foster care, they were both adopted!

Research, Reports & Publications

amfori Builds Stronger Worldwide Support for Open and Sustainable Trade

Jun 27, 2018 1:00 PM ET

Launching today its first annual report (2017-2018) under the name of amfori, the leading global business association for open and sustainable trade showcases a year of landmark achievements, rooted in its new Vision 2030 Strategy for inspiring action around the world.