Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Environment

GM’s Outreach Manager Believes Sustainability Stems from Collaboration

Feb 13, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Over Mary Alice Kurtz’s 34-year career at General Motors, she has channeled her education and background in mechanical engineering and facility operations into a new passion: sustainability.

Diversity & Inclusion

Peylina Chu Succeeds Tod Christenson as Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council’s Executive Director

Feb 13, 2017 9:30 AM ET

The Healthcare Plastics Recycling Council (HPRC) announced today that Peylina Chu has accepted the role of Executive Director. In this role, she will lead efforts related to strategic direction, tactical priorities, fiscal resources, and stakeholder engagement. “I am very excited and honored to assume this leadership role at HPRC,” says Peylina Chu, “Our efforts over the past six years are driving real change in the way that manufacturers, hospitals, and recyclers view healthcare plastics. As Executive Director, I look forward to continuing this collaborative work towards a society where healthcare plastics are safely and effectively collected, recycled and widely accepted as a valuable resource.”

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

BAT Named as a Top Employer in Europe for Seventh Consecutive Year

Feb 13, 2017 9:30 AM ET

British American Tobacco has been recognised as a Top Employer in Europe for the seventh consecutive year.

Social Impact & Volunteering

CITGO Lemont Refinery Helps Local Marines Bring Christmas Joy to Local Kids

Feb 13, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Employees and contractors at the CITGO Lemont Refinery joined forces this past holiday season with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots drive. Collections bins were placed throughout the refinery and over 600 unwrapped toys were collected for needy children in Will and Grundy Counties.

Environment

Reporting for Results

Feb 13, 2017 8:30 AM ET

Earlier this year, I wrote about navigating the voluntary reporting landscape for Corporate Responsibility Magazine. As I stated then, it is an exciting time to be a sustainability practitioner, particularly in the energy industry. Working with a cross-functional team of subject matter experts to execute voluntary reporting isn’t a simple process, but by setting and tracking against the best average targets for its operations, NRG Energy is executing its vision and holding itself publicly accountable.

Diversity & Inclusion

Introducing the Corporate Racial Equity Advantage

Feb 13, 2017 8:30 AM ET

Introducing the Corporate Racial Equity Advantage, the first comprehensive tool to guide companies in assessing and actively promoting equity in every aspect of their business operations and strategy.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sands Expo Convention Center and The Venetian Congress Center LEED Certification Helps Nevada Earn Ranking on ‘Top 10 States for LEED’ List

Feb 13, 2017 8:15 AM ET

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced their annual Top 10 States for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) list. The annual ranking highlights states throughout the United States that made significant strides in sustainable building design, construction and transformation over the past year. Nevada made the 2016 list with a total of 6,397,602 LEED-certified gross square footage.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Blackhawk Network Gift Card Sales At Whole Foods Market Generate $100,000+ For Whole Kids Foundation

Feb 13, 2017 8:05 AM ET

This past holiday season, Whole Foods Market collaborated with Blackhawk Network, a leading global stored value and payments provider, to introduce a selection of carefully curated gift cards from leading brands in stores throughout the U.S. Through an innovative program, a portion of sales from these cards generated more than $100,000 for Whole Kids Foundation over the holidays to further the nonprofit’s work improving children’s nutrition and wellness.

Education

Just an Hour of Coding Makes All the Difference for These Kids' Futures

Feb 13, 2017 7:55 AM ET

Diversity & Inclusion

Representation and Celebration: Bloomberg Recognizes Black History Month

Feb 13, 2017 4:50 AM ET

A diverse workforce and open culture are at the heart of our company and vital to our success. At Bloomberg, we recognize the positive impact African Americans have on our business and our world.

Events, Media & Communications

Announcing President of Costa Rica, Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera, as Our Newest Speaker at Our Women’s Empowerment Principles Forum!

Feb 10, 2017 2:30 PM ET

We’re honored to announce our newest speaker at this year’s Women’s Empowerment Principles Forum, President of Costa Rica, Luis Guillermo Solís Rivera. Join hundreds of leaders and innovators at this year’s Forum “Measuring Success, Making it Count: Business Investing in Women and Girls” on March 14-15 in New York City.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

GSK Creates a New Business Model with Innovative Marketing and Sales Practices

Feb 10, 2017 2:05 PM ET

The pharmaceutical company ranks first in both trust and customer value, according to a survey of 4,000 US healthcare professionals. Tom Idle reports…

Events, Media & Communications

Allie Kelly of The Ray to speak at SMPS Transportation Summit in Jacksonville, FL

Feb 10, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Allie Kelly, executive Director of The Ray will speak at the Society for Marketing Professionals Services North Florida's Transportation Summit. The focus of the summit is: Urban Connectivity: How Transportation Technologies are Changing Infrastructure.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Timberland Celebrates Dedicated Employees and Increase in Volunteerism

Feb 10, 2017 12:00 PM ET

For outdoor lifestyle brand Timberland, service permeates the company culture. Through the Path of Service™ program, Timberland provides full-time employees with up to 40 paid hours to perform community service each year.

Innovation & Technology

Take a Ride on The Ray

Feb 10, 2017 11:15 AM ET

The Ray is a proving ground for the evolving ideas and technologies that will transform the transportation infrastructure of the future, and it starts on 18 miles of West Georgia's I-85, and the land and communities surrounding it.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Kimberly-Clark Receives U.S. EPA 2016 SmartWay® Excellence Award

Feb 10, 2017 11:15 AM ET

Kimberly-Clark Corporation (NYSE: KMB) has been honored as an industry leader in freight supply chain environmental performance and energy efficiency with its seventh SmartWay® Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Diversity & Inclusion

Volkswagen Continues Efforts to Increase Supplier Diversity

Feb 10, 2017 11:10 AM ET

Edkedsha “KeeKee” Mathis Is on a Mission to Increase Supplier Diversity at Volkswagen. As the Supplier Diversity Manager at the Volkswagen Group of America’s plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., Mathis said she relies on a concept called the three A’s: Aim high, apply yourself and achieve your goals.

Events, Media & Communications

Ethical Corporation Partners with PYXERA Global -- Just Announced!

Feb 10, 2017 10:40 AM ET

PYXERA Global is delighted to announce that it is now collaborating with Ethical Corporation to drive the movement for responsible business, CSR, and sustainability executives to further link purpose with profit.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Maven Launches City Car Sharing in Atlanta

Feb 10, 2017 10:25 AM ET

Maven, General Motors’ personal mobility brand, is expanding its offerings in Atlanta from the Lyft Express Drive program to now include Maven City car sharing.

Environment

Where the World Stores Its Seeds: The Svalbard Global Seed Vault

Feb 10, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Hidden deep in the permanently frozen mountainscape of the world’s northernmost inhabited place, lies the ultimate agricultural failsafe for cities and populations around the globe: a remote vault with the capacity to store billions of seeds. A sharp decline in seed biodiversity – largely due to the fact that three-quarters of the world’s food supply comes from just 12 plant species, including major staples like rice, wheat and maize – has made preservation of seed and crop diversity more important than ever.

Green Infrastructure

International WELL Building Institute™ CEO Rick Fedrizzi Lays Out 2017 Goals

Feb 10, 2017 9:00 AM ET

The International WELL Building Institute’s™ (IWBI™) new Chairman and CEO Rick Fedrizzi capped the first 100 days in his new role by laying out the cornerstones of his 2017 plan for the rapidly growing WELL Building Standard™ (WELL). These pillars will come as no surprise to those who have followed Fedrizzi’s leadership as the founding chairman and former CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council: Identify, simplify, solidify, amplify.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

When the Business Case and Shared Value Aren’t Enough

Feb 10, 2017 9:00 AM ET

BSR Vice President Laura Gitman explores the concept of shared value and why "proving the business case" isn't always enough.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Fortune Magazine Names Astellas Among 50 Best Companies for Giving Back in the US Across All Industries

Feb 10, 2017 8:55 AM ET

Astellas is committed to changing tomorrow for the patients we serve, our employees and the communities in which we live and work. Astellas was recognized as one of 2017’s 50 Best Companies for Giving Back in the United States across all industries by consulting firm Great Place to Work® and Fortune magazine. Astellas ranked 25th on the list.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sands Cares Heroes of the Year Announced

Feb 10, 2017 8:45 AM ET

On February 1, Team Members around the world were congratulated after learning they had been selected as Sands Cares Heroes of the Year, as well as finalists for The Sheldon G. and Dr. Miriam Adelson Citizenship Award presented by Sands Cares. Sands Cares is the corporate giving program of Las Vegas Sands, where we make our communities better places to live through philanthropic giving, volunteerism and other in-kind support to local organizations.

Innovation & Technology

YourMatch™ Feature Spotlight: Volunteer Shifts

Feb 10, 2017 8:40 AM ET

Imagine this scenario: After extensive planning and discussion with your nonprofit partner, you finally iron out the details for an upcoming, large-scale volunteer event.