Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

When It Comes to Packaging, Plastic Is the Environmental Material of Choice

Aug 10, 2018 4:00 PM ET

This title may scream fake news to many of you. Yet it is true, and particularly relevant given the latest efforts to ban the plastic straw. A 2016 study found that replacing plastics in packaging and consumer products could raise environmental costs nearly fourfold. This is because strong, lightweight plastics help us do more with less material, providing environmental benefits throughout the lifecycle of plastic products and packaging. The study also concludes that the environmental costs of alternative materials can be lower per ton of production but are greater in aggregate due to the much larger quantities of material needed to fulfill the same purposes as plastics.

Environment

Smithfield Foods Honors Employees and Facilities with Environmental and Sustainability Awards

Aug 10, 2018 3:45 PM ET

Smithfield Foods, Inc. has honored multiple facilities and employees with Environmental and Sustainability Awards, recognizing efforts that helped Smithfield save more than 1.1 billion gallons of water, more than 8.8 million kilowatts of electricity, and more than 21.1 million pounds of solid waste generation in 2017.

Health & Healthcare

For Some Kids, Summer's Not so Healthy When School Lunch Goes Away

Aug 10, 2018 3:10 PM ET

It’s August, and we’re well in to the heat of summer. It should be a carefree time for children, but for those who depend on the National School Lunch Program during the school year, summer may mean poor nutrition, even hunger.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Kimberly-Clark Recognized at SBA Singapore for its Commitment to Sustainable Business

Aug 10, 2018 2:00 PM ET

Kimberly-Clark and its employees in Asia Pacific received two honors at the Sustainable Business Awards (SBA) Singapore for its sustainable business best-practices in the areas of waste productivity and water management.

Responsible Production & Consumption

The Future Is Sweet – and Sustainable – for Allbirds

Aug 10, 2018 1:35 PM ET

If you take a quick look around your office, it probably won’t be hard to spot a pair of shoes made by Allbirds, the San Francisco-based footwear company that makes its products using materials like wool and eucalyptus fiber.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

VIDEO | Teen Flies Around World Solo to Raise Money for Family Friend's 8-Year-Old with Brain Cancer

Aug 10, 2018 1:25 PM ET

A 19-year-old pilot spent less than a month flying around the world to raise awareness for pediatric cancer research.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Digital Innovator Akon Announces First Official AKoin Partner: Lottery.com

Aug 10, 2018 1:20 PM ET

Grammy-winning artist and techno-philanthropist, Akon, keeps the hits coming with the first announcement towards the goal of creating a digital currency to help empower young entrepreneurs. The renowned artist announced Lottery.com as Akoin’s first official partner in the creation and implementation of the Akoin currency. Lottery.com, the leader in Lottery and creator of a blockchain-powered global impact platform, is the first official Akoin partner.

Research, Reports & Publications

What a Sustainable Business Looks Like – Erb Institute Professor Sara Soderstrom Comments on Brewery Vivant

Aug 10, 2018 1:00 PM ET

When Kris Spaulding started Brewery Vivant, she did so mindful of the possibilities to create a sustainable business with inspiration sparked at the University of Michigan.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Why Investors Should Diversify More Than Just Their Assets

Aug 10, 2018 12:50 PM ET

The next generation of investors demands more from their portfolios. While they still expect to generate returns that will fund a home, their children's education and retirement, a growing number also expect their investments to make a difference. They believe the power of their portfolios can be harnessed to positively impact the issues they care most about, building more diverse, more sustainable and higher-performing companies.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Republic Services Joins Together for Safer Roads in Ringing Nasdaq Closing Bell.

Aug 10, 2018 12:20 PM ET

On Monday, August 6, Together for Safer Roads (TSR) had the honor of ringing the Nasdaq closing bell alongside many of its member companies, including Republic Services. TSR is a coalition of global private sector companies working to improve worldwide road safety through initiatives, ideas and innovation.

Green Infrastructure

The Next-Generation Logistics Network

Aug 10, 2018 12:15 PM ET

Innovation and sustainability are part of UPS's DNA - see how they merge in this Q&A with CIO Juan Perez.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

NAEM Introduces Excellence Awards

Aug 10, 2018 10:55 AM ET

The National Association for Environmental Management (NAEM) will host its inaugural Excellence Awards on Thursday, October 25, 2018 at the 26th Annual EHS & Sustainability Management Forum.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

How Workforce Incentives Can Help Win the War for Talent

Aug 10, 2018 10:50 AM ET

Energy

Aug. 11 (8-11) Serves as Convenient Reminder for Michigan Residents to Always Contact 811 before Digging

Aug 10, 2018 10:35 AM ET

With summer outdoor projects still in full swing, Aug. 11 or 8-11, serves as a natural reminder for Michigan residents to contact MISS DIG 811 before digging to have underground utilities marked.

Media & Communications

Owned, Operated – and Committed

Aug 10, 2018 10:35 AM ET

NBC and Telemundo owned stations are deeply rooted in the communities they serve. With efforts that include nationwide awareness campaigns focused on helping teachers and students in need and annual health fairs that attract thousands of people and deliver vital preventive health screenings and services, the NBC and Telemundo stations are invested in creating long-term good.

Events, Media & Communications

Stand-Off in Refusal of Salesforce Grant for Immigration Relief

Aug 10, 2018 9:55 AM ET

The story behind why RAICES, a small Texas-based nonprofit raising funds to cover the legal costs of Latino families separated by ICE at the border, was refusing a $250,000 grant from Salesforce.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Marketers Speak to the Power of Purpose at the Cannes Lions

Aug 10, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Once upon a time, the concept of “purpose” was de rigueur at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. It was threaded through just about every conversation, panel and presentation. Increasingly, that required conversation has shifted to gender equality, diversity and inclusion. That doesn’t mean that purpose has taken a back seat, but the discussion around purpose has been modified and when it’s discussed, the examples appear more meaningful, transparent, and true to an organization’s DNA.

Energy

Opportunities to Procure Renewable Power in India

Aug 9, 2018 9:00 PM ET

With the increasing appeal of renewable energy deployment to reduce the environmental footprint and power costs, a new industry guide sheds light on approaches to renewable energy procurement in India for corporate buyers. The “Accelerating corporate procurement of renewable energy in India” report, released by the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, was the result of 23 companies, with CLP in the lead.

Events, Media & Communications

Spotlight on Scotiabank's Shirley, a Senior Aboriginal Recruitment Consultant

Aug 9, 2018 7:05 PM ET

“I'm still learning about my community and my culture. I owe a lot of my reconnecting to my past and culture to my job through traveling and meeting Indigenous people across the country. I can't really put into words what it’s meant to me to have this opportunity to gain this knowledge and meet these people, to hear their stories.” – Shirlie, Senior Aboriginal Recruitment Consultant

Responsible Production & Consumption

How Mohawk Integrates Innovation with Purpose

Aug 9, 2018 5:45 PM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Meet One of CBRE's Advantage Builders: Daniel Taylor

Aug 9, 2018 5:05 PM ET

One of Daniel Taylor’s earliest memories of real estate was asking his dad what “receivership” meant.

Taylor was a nine-year-old in Texas, and the savings and loan crisis barreled through the state like a cyclone. Profligate lending and overbuilding in the 1980s were made worse by an oil bust and a collapse in crop prices. “The Dallas real estate world was wiped out,” Taylor recalled. “I remember people around town losing their houses. I went to elementary school with kids whose dads were in serious financial trouble.”

Energy

Case Study: Bloomberg — From RECs to RE100

Aug 9, 2018 5:00 PM ET

This case study, presented by Edison Energy, powered by Altenex, details the renewables efforts made by Bloomberg L.P. — from their initial procurement of RECs in 2007 to a commitment to source 100% of electricity from renewable sources by 2025.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Hurricane Recovery Assistance Still Available for Military Families

Aug 9, 2018 4:45 PM ET

As America prepares for the 2018 hurricane season, Operation Homefront, thanks to generous support from the Walmart Foundation and others, are ensuring that military families in Florida and other locations impacted by the devastating series of natural disasters in 2017 are not forgotten. The need to assist these families continues, as temporary federal programs and moratoriums that were implemented to support the victims of these disasters are now expiring.

Diversity & Inclusion

GM Builds Winning Culture With Diversity

Aug 9, 2018 3:30 PM ET

Culture is everything in today’s agile business climate. General Motors outlines in its latest Diversity & Inclusion Report (www.gm.com/diversity) how it leverages diversity to build an industry-leading workplace of choice that drives business results.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

A Deeper Look at CECP's Investing in Society: Priorities

Aug 9, 2018 3:10 PM ET

Investing in Society, CECP’s recently launched compendium of data, research, and case studies illustrates innovations in corporate efforts to solve the world’s most pressing problems. Divided into five sections – Priorities, Performance, People, Planet, and Policies – the collection of insights offers a far-reaching assessment of what leading companies are doing in each of the five focus areas.