Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Diversity & Inclusion

Viacommunity Hosts a Screening of Selma in Honor of Black History Month

Mar 16, 2018 9:00 AM ET

On Feb. 21, 40 high school students from New York City and neighboring public schools made their way to Viacom’s Times Square headquarters to celebrate Black History Month with a screening of Paramount’s critically acclaimed "Selma," a crucial film about the African-American experience.

Viacommunity hosted the event, which featured members of The BEAT, Viacom’s employee resource group focused on the African-American experience, on a post-screening panel. To coordinate this celebration in honor of Black History Month, Viacom worked with nonprofit organizations The Opportunity Network and Sports and Arts in Schools Foundation (SASF), which provide academic support to students from underserved communities.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Xylem Watermark Sponsors EarthEcho Water Challenge Events on World Water Day

Mar 16, 2018 9:00 AM ET

In celebration of World Water Day on March 22 and Earth Day on April 22, Xylem will host the second annual Make Your Mark 30 Day Challenge, a month-long event that encourages employees to engage in efforts to solve global and local water and environmental issues. The 30 Day Challenge is a signature event of Xylem Watermark, the company’s corporate citizenship platform aimed at providing and protecting safe water resources in communities and educating people about water issues.

As part of the launch to this year’s Make Your Mark 30 Day Challenge on World Water Day, Xylem Watermark will sponsor employee-led events with global nonprofit partner EarthEcho International, kicking off the 17th edition of the organization’s EarthEcho Water Challenge.

Research, Reports & Publications

Kesko Is Transforming and Growing

Mar 16, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Kesko’s 2017 Annual Report describes the progress made in Kesko’s strategy and sustainability work, providing comprehensive performance indicators.

Social Impact & Volunteering

10 Innovations Changing How the UN Delivers Food

Mar 16, 2018 12:20 AM ET

Innovation is helping the World Food Program, frequent partner of The UPS Foundation, to explore more ways to accomplish their mission to address hunger and promote food security around the globe.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

VIDEO | Frontier Co-op Is Powering Her Potential Through Whole Planet Foundation

Mar 15, 2018 4:50 PM ET

Frontier Co-op is a $100,000 Fund partner responsible to people and planet and has been supporting Whole Planet Foundation's mission of global poverty alleviation through microcredit since 2012.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Celebrate the Extraordinary Achievements of People With Down Syndrome and Other Disabilities

Mar 15, 2018 4:00 PM ET

In 2018, people with Down syndrome and other disabilities are celebrating extraordinary achievements. They are graduating high school with their peers, attending postsecondary programs, enjoying meaningful careers, and living long, healthy and productive lives. NDSS works on behalf of all individuals with Down syndrome across the lifespan. However, challenges remain, as the following story illustrates.

Environment

Enhancing Mobility in a Congested World

Mar 15, 2018 3:30 PM ET

Last week, Maven Gig launched in Austin, a city ranked at the top of best cities lists with accolades such as “Greenest City in America,” and rated as one of the Best Cities for Recent College Grads. The Austin launch marked the first all-electric fleet for Gig, utilizing the Chevrolet Bolt EV as the sole vehicle offered. Through the platform, Austin residents now have access to vehicles on-demand for a weekly flat rate that includes the car, unlimited miles, insurance (minus deductibles) and maintenance.

Green Infrastructure

Data Base

Mar 15, 2018 3:20 PM ET

Few companies are lucky enough to have over €1bn to spend on building themselves new headquarters. But then few companies have the resources of Bloomberg, the global business and financial information company set up by Michael Bloomberg. Last October he and a team of architects from Foster + Partners unveiled a new European HQ, which was a decade in the making and now occupies a 1.3-hectare site in the City of London.

Research, Reports & Publications

Pfizer Releases 2017 Annual Review

Mar 15, 2018 3:00 PM ET

Pfizer released its 2017 Annual Review, which highlights how The Power of Science drives every aspect of Pfizer’s business in its mission to deliver innovative medicines and vaccines that help improve health and well-being at every stage of life.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

IBM Recognized by 2018 Global RepTrak®

Mar 15, 2018 3:00 PM ET

Today, Reputation Institute announced the company's annual results for the Global RepTrak® 100 ranking. Reputation Institute is the world's leading research and advisory firm for reputation measurement and management services. The RepTrak® model analyzes the reputations of companies and the 2018 study is based on more than 230,000 individual ratings

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

My Possibilities Campus for Higher Learning Opening in Plano [TX]

Mar 15, 2018 2:15 PM ET

My Possibilities, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, will be making history later this month as they celebrate the pre-opening of the My Possibilities Campus for Higher Learning in Plano.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Arrow Electronics Fosters Artistic Innovation Through Support of the Colorado Ballet

Mar 15, 2018 2:05 PM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Guest Post: Timberland PRO Team Leaves Service Footprint at Children’s Home in Puerto Rico

Mar 15, 2018 2:00 PM ET

I recently had the opportunity to visit Puerto Rico to help the Timberland PRO team plan and execute a two-day service event in conjunction with its spring sales meeting. Moved by the devastation caused by last fall’s Hurricane Maria and eager to make a difference, the PRO team decided to change its usual regional meetings and meet as one national team in Puerto Rico. Community service is core to Timberland’s DNA, so it’s not unusual for us to build service into key company events such as sales meetings, vendor summits, and more. But in this case, the PRO team went above and beyond a typical service event, and dedicated two ten-hour days of the three-day meeting to serve.

Energy

Major U.S. Businesses Call on EPA to Keep Strong MPG and Emissions Standards

Mar 15, 2018 2:00 PM ET

A national network of influential American businesses is calling on the Trump administration to maintain robust fuel-economy and emissions standards for passenger vehicles, and expressing support for states' rights to maintain those standards.

Energy

Duke Energy Funding N.C. Wood Stove Changeout Program to Improve Air Quality

Mar 15, 2018 1:15 PM ET

Duke Energy is committing $500,000 to help fund an American Lung Association program targeting high-emitting wood stoves in North Carolina – replacing them with cleaner, more efficient models.

Innovation & Technology

SCE Uses Innovation to Improve the Power Grid

Mar 15, 2018 12:00 PM ET

It seems like a simple enough idea — Why can’t the power company identify the place on an electrical circuit that caused an outage so fewer customers are affected and it takes less time to fix?

Diversity & Inclusion

How to Address Gender Equality Through Reporting?

Mar 15, 2018 12:00 PM ET

Sustainability reporting helps organizations address gender equality from various perspectives. Not only will it help companies identify their impacts on these matters, but also benefit the business by enabling a diverse, equal, and productive workforce.

Environment

Why EHS Needs a Seat at the Mergers & Acquisitions Table

Mar 15, 2018 11:25 AM ET

Antea Group blogs on key areas where an EHS perspective can provide crucial transaction support and help drive better business results.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

After More than Three Years in Foster Care, Little Boy Finally Has Forever Family

Mar 15, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Did you know that the average length of time that a child is in foster care before being adopted is about three years? Most children move house-to-house during that time and often fall behind in their school work, aren’t able to make lasting friendships and find it difficult to trust.

Education

Discovery Education Teams Up With LG Electronics USA to Launch 'Discover Your Happy' Program That Combats Youth Stress With Science-Based Happiness Curriculum

Mar 15, 2018 10:30 AM ET

In celebration of the International Day of Happiness, LG Electronics USA has teamed up with Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, to launch Discover Your Happy – an exciting new program designed equip students nationwide with the skills for sustainable happiness.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Making the Midlands the Heartbeat of the UK Economy

Mar 15, 2018 10:10 AM ET

New research from Barclays has found that the Midlands is one of the most cost effective regions for small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) in the UK to start. The Barclays Midlands Growth Fund is targeted at these SMEs and is designed to boost jobs and economic growth. The five-year initiative will work in tandem with the UK Government’s own £250m Midlands Engine Investment Fund.

Events, Media & Communications

Excitement Builds for Sustainable Brands ‘18 in Vancouver

Mar 15, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Sustainable Brands® reveals program, networking and activity highlights for its upcoming global flagship conference: SB’18 Vancouver. More than 3,000 brand and business leaders will convene June 4 -7 at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia for a conversation on brand innovation for the 21st century.

Health & Healthcare

National Nutrition Month Highlight: Aramark and American Heart Association Helping Children and Families Lead Healthier Lives

Mar 15, 2018 10:00 AM ET

March is National Nutrition Month and throughout the month, Aramark and the American Heart Association are presenting a series of videos highlighting the work of their breakthrough health impact initiative, Healthy for Life 20 By 20. Experts from Aramark and the American Heart Association, as well as community members, will talk about the multi-year collaboration, and how we are working together to help millions lead healthier lives.

Diversity & Inclusion

The JetBlue Foundation and The Nantucket Project Support the Rwanda Girls Initiative

Mar 15, 2018 10:00 AM ET

In celebration of Women’s History Month, JetBlue would like to bring attention to the great work being done by the Rwandan Girls Initiative (RGI) whose mission is to educate and empower girls of Rwanda to reach their highest potential. JetBlue was recently introduced to RGI through our inflight entertainment partners - The Nantucket Project (TNP). Last fall, the JetBlue Foundation helped fly several women from RGI to Nantucket for the TNP annual gathering.

Events, Media & Communications

WBCSD's Panorama Podcast | Sustainability at Microsoft: IT Innovation, the Future of Work and Moving From a Know-it-all Culture to a Learn-it-all Culture

Mar 15, 2018 9:35 AM ET

Where does sustainability fit in a diverse IT company like Microsoft? For a special edition of Panorama, WBCSD President and CEO Peter Bakker sits down with Toni Townes-Whitley, Corporate Vice-President for Industry at Microsoft, to discuss the increasing role of information technology in our lives, Microsoft’s vision for the future of work and how business leaders can work to deliver the SDGs.