Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Environment

PepsiCo Champions Farmer Economic Security, Sustainability

Jun 13, 2018 12:00 PM ET

The word “sustainability” doesn’t give too many farmers the warm fuzzies, admits Margaret Henry, PepsiCo director of sustainable agriculture. She gets it. Henry grew up on a Kentucky dairy farm.

But here’s why she thinks the concept is important: In her view, it allows the food system to speak with a common language that resonates with consumers. If used properly, it instills confidence that farmers and their food-system partners are conserving natural resources.

Environment

John Stoehr: Where’s the Party?

Jun 13, 2018 12:00 PM ET

From time to time, so-called moderate Democratic legislators cross party lines to work with Republicans. Do you ever wonder if voters from red states appreciate those gestures? More importantly, what kind of impact do these collaborations and compromises end up making in the crafting of policy? This week on Sea Change Radio, we take a deep dive into the political pool with John Stoehr, a columnist with the Washington Monthly and New Haven Register.

Green Infrastructure

Well Tip: Understanding the Comparison Between Well V1 and Well V2 Pilot

Jun 13, 2018 11:45 AM ET

Are you working on a WELL v1 project and wondering how your team can best utilize the new version of WELL? Are you eager to register your project, but would like to first understand the feature comparison between WELL v1 and the WELL Building Standard version 2 pilot: (WELL v2)? We have launched a new comparison tool to help you explore the changes between v1 and v2.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Multipliers of Prosperity | Money Is More Than Math: Exploring What Comes After Security for Low-Income Americans

Jun 13, 2018 11:35 AM ET

Events, Media & Communications

Brands Taking Stands | Big Tech Faces Bigger Social Issues

Jun 13, 2018 11:35 AM ET

Not so long ago, the major tech companies were held up as ideal models of innovation and progress. Now, a reality check seems to be setting in as they face increased consumer and regulatory scrutiny. Facebook continues to be under fire for lack of transparency in how it shares customer data. Amazon is taking hits for “unethical and illegal” workplace conditions in the Chinese factories that produce its Echo and Kindle devices. It’s gotten to the point where Hollywood is turning out features in which Silicon Valley figures are portrayed as supervillains.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Marina Bay Sands: Turning the Tide in Asia

Jun 13, 2018 11:05 AM ET

Just below the surface of Malaysia's bright blue and green waters, fish nets bob up and down in the ocean's current, bustling with abundant sustainably raised snapper, grouper, and seabass. It wasn't always like this. Mr. Lee Ya Qu, founder of Aqua Ceria fish farm, reflects, "I chose to give up fishing and started aquafarming because there were no fish left."

Environment

What Does China's Plastic Ban Mean for Healthcare?

Jun 13, 2018 11:00 AM ET

HPRC explores the consequences of the Chinese ban on the import of certain plastic wastes and the solutions being crafted to address this issue.

Sustainable Development Goals

How Communications Technology Is Supporting Human Rights: A Q&A With Verizon CSR Director Chris Lloyd

Jun 13, 2018 11:00 AM ET

In this Q&A, Chris Lloyd, Verizon’s Director of Corporate Social Responsibility Strategy, and Chair of the GeSI Human Rights Committee, shares his views on the industry’s responsibility to support human rights.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Volunteer Spotlight: Taryn Sauthoff Uses Tech Talent for Good

Jun 13, 2018 10:35 AM ET

Taryn Sauthoff, a Viacom employee in New York, is the embodiment of Talent for Good at work. She applied her web development skills to help YoungMoms, a non-profit organization that supports pregnant and parenting young women in rural Pennsylvania, build a new website. Sauthoff completed the volunteer project in a few months and continues to collaborate with the organization.

Events, Media & Communications

Sustainable Brands Vancouver Redesigns the Good Life

Jun 13, 2018 10:30 AM ET

Brands and organizations shared aspirational and inspirational messages and stories throughout the week – from Vancouver’s City Manager Sadhu Johnston who explained how Vancouver plans to be greenest city in the world by 2020 to REI’s ambition to awaken a lifelong love of the outdoors for all. Here are three ideas – some big and some small – that stood out to us last week:

Energy

Schneider Electric | Powering the Industry of the Future

Jun 13, 2018 10:15 AM ET

At the heart of innovation is action, and when it comes to energy management and automation, innovation means embracing digital transformation to build a more sustainable future.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

eBay | Everyday Heroes: Connecting a City

Jun 13, 2018 10:15 AM ET

Millions of people from all around the world connect on eBay. Each time that happens, something positive happens in the world. These are the stories of everyday people on eBay making an extraordinary difference in the lives of others.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Agroforestry Gives Kenyan Indigenous Community a Lifeline

Jun 13, 2018 10:05 AM ET

The Cherangani people, an indigenous community in Kenya’s Rift Valley, have always called the Cherangani Hills Forest their ancestral home.
Also known locally as the Sengwer, they were traditionally reliant on the forest for hunting and gathering, herbal medicines, honey, and sorghum and millet farming. Then the colonial government evicted them from the forest, only permitting them access to medicinal plants; gathering and hunting in the forest is still prohibited.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Committed to Adoption, Family Finally Has Their Day in Court

Jun 13, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Foster care adoption takes dedication and commitment from the families and the children they hope to adopt. It can be a long process depending on circumstances, but the Bruns family never let that dissuade them.

Health & Healthcare

Merck for Mothers May 2018 Newsletter | Leadership News, Evidence for Impact and More

Jun 13, 2018 9:55 AM ET

Read the Merck for Mothers May 2018 newsletter to catch up on everything being done to help end maternal mortality.

Environment

When Temperatures Rise—The Challenges of Hot Landfills

Jun 13, 2018 9:00 AM ET

James Walker, PE, is a senior client manager with Cornerstone, A Tetra Tech Company. He earned his degree in Civil Engineering and has 30 years of experience with Subtitle D landfill design and construction projects across the United States.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Mars Chairman Explains Why the $35 Billion Chocolate Giant Will Never Go Public

Jun 13, 2018 9:00 AM ET

With more than $35 billion in annual sales, Mars Inc — the company behind brands like Twix, M&Ms, and Skittles — is one of the largest family-owned companies in the world. And it has been around for more than 100 years.

But as the company makes changes and invests in its future, there is one thing that will continue to stay the same for the chocolate giant, Mars chairman Stephen Badger told Business Insider in a recent interview.

Staying private allows the company flexibility that many public companies could only dream of.

Research, Reports & Publications

Creating Good Homes at Kingfisher

Jun 13, 2018 5:00 AM ET

Kingfisher, the home improvement company, believes that a good home is a sustainable home.

As part of its journey to become a net positive business by 2050, Kingfisher recently launched its sustainable growth plan which sets out its sustainability targets for the next seven years. These targets aim to drive lasting change by translating sustainability into a language that connects with customers and the real concerns they have in their homes.

Diversity & Inclusion

21CF Joins With The Trevor Project to Inspire Audiences to Share Their Own ‘Love, Simon’ Truths

Jun 12, 2018 8:40 PM ET

21st Century Fox is launching a new campaign in partnership with The Trevor Project at the latter’s annual signature TrevorLIVE event, which raises funds to expand crisis services program and save the lives of LGBTQ youth across the United States.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Abbott Partners with Nonprofits to Provide Disaster Relief - Before the Storm

Jun 12, 2018 7:55 PM ET

It’s not enough to be reactive when hurricanes strike— for hurricane season, the best defense is a good offense. Advance preparation ensures that aid can be delivered more quickly, ultimately saving more lives.

Research, Reports & Publications

A Letter From Sappi North America President and CEO Mark Gardner

Jun 12, 2018 5:00 PM ET

Sappi North America saw many successes in 2017 despite challenging market headwinds. To our employees, customers and other partners whose dedication contributed to those successes, I thank you.

Our focused strategy and continued investment in our assets and operations set the foundation for our business success, but the nimbleness of our team in responding to changing markets with new products, new services and new ways of doing business really made the difference. That same agility and focus will define our performance in 2018 and beyond, ensuring that we meet our business plan and set new standards of excellence.

Research, Reports & Publications

Pro Bono Today: What’s New, What’s Working

Jun 12, 2018 2:45 PM ET

We selected 12 companies with reputations for having solid pro bono programs. We interviewed both the company and one of its nonprofit partners. After the interviews, we had to admit that we hadn’t uncovered anything particularly innovative. But we did find a lot to be excited about. The result is the newly published report, “Pro Bono Today: What’s New, What’s Working.”

Health & Healthcare

Shire Commitments to Support Patients as Part of Responsibility Strategy

Jun 12, 2018 12:45 PM ET

At Shire, supporting patients is at the heart of being a champion for patients. Beyond discovering and developing medicines, we are committed to dramatically shortening the time to diagnosis for rare diseases, and we aim to support patients along the entire patient journey, from conducting clinical trials to enabling patients to better manage their care through the use of innovative digital technologies, and beyond.

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: Go West Young Man

Jun 12, 2018 12:20 PM ET

Not hurricanes. Not flooding. Tornadoes are bad news if you run into one, but those fatalities are low too. Lightning strikes don’t hit many people, and blizzards aren’t so bad either. So what else is there?

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

American Express Awards $1 Million to Threatened Cultural Heritage Sites Included on 2018 World Monuments Watch

Jun 12, 2018 12:10 PM ET

American Express and World Monuments Fund (WMF) today announced $1 million in funding to support preservation efforts at eight endangered cultural heritage sites included on the 2018 World Monuments Watch.