Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Environment

Mars Takes Another Step on the ‘Path to Zero’ Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Operations

May 17, 2016 12:05 PM ET

The energy it takes to make MARS® bars, WHISKAS® cat food, EXTRA® gum and UNCLE BEN’S® rice in the U.K. is now provided by a new wind farm in Moy, Scotland. Through a partnership with Eneco U.K., the 20-turbine wind farm, located just south of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands, will generate electricity equivalent to what powers all 12 Mars U.K. sites solely with renewable energy.

Environment

U-M Erb Institute Erb Faculty Director, Joe Arvai, “What It Takes to Get People to Care About Climate Change” (Michigan Radio)

May 17, 2016 12:00 PM ET

As a follow-up to Erb Faculty Director, Joe Arvai’s publication in Nature Climate Change, Michigan Radio talks with Joe about his recent research which attempts to understand exactly what it takes to get people to care about climate change. This study was co-authored with Jing Shi, Vivianne H.M. Visschers and Michael Siegrist and is published in Nature Climate Change (April 2016.)

Environment

A New Kind of Climate Change Graphic

May 17, 2016 11:30 AM ET

On climate change: Urgency. Not panic, but a healthy sense of urgency. That’s what we need.

Education

Fox Hosts Teens From Ghetto Film School for Behind-the-Scenes Look at Studio Operations, Masterclasses With Top Execs

May 17, 2016 11:00 AM ET

On April 26, 21st Century Fox welcomed some of the top students from New York's Ghetto Film School onto the Fox Studios lot in Los Angeles for a day of workshops and masterclass conversations company leaders. Angela Courtin, Chief Marketing Officer at FOX Broadcasting, and Phoebe Tisdale-Andrews, VP of Production, spoke to the young filmmakers about their journeys into the entertainment industry, as well as how they see the business changing over time. Ghetto Film School teaches filmmaking to young people from communities traditionally underrepresented in Hollywood, and 21CF is the founding sponsor of its Los Angeles program.

Events, Media & Communications

Take a Dive Into the GRI Conference Marketplace!

May 17, 2016 11:00 AM ET

The 5th GRI Conference opens its doors tomorrow, in eager anticipation of the 1,150 registrants looking to sharpen their knowledge on the cutting-edge tools and techniques that will carry us forward into the new era of digital, responsive and interactive corporate disclosure.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

CITGO Honored as a Friend of Engineering by Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi for Furthering STEM Education

May 17, 2016 10:30 AM ET

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) recognized CITGO Petroleum Corporation for its commitment to supporting the next generation of engineers by honoring the company with the prestigious Friends of Engineering Award. A partner of TAMU-CC for more than 30 years, CITGO was one of three Friends of Engineering Award honorees at this year’s annual award luncheon held at the university. Award recipients are honored for their outstanding achievements in support of the School of Engineering and Computing Science.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Motivating Models for 21st Century Employee Engagement

May 17, 2016 10:30 AM ET

There are many ways an organisation can engage its employees. This article explores both the theory and practice, especially in relation to the social side of sustainability. I’ll highlight two best practice examples from this vast galaxy of programs, initiatives, and missions, one from either side of the Atlantic, one a niche NGO and the other a high profile brand.

Environment

Antea Group Case Study: Seeking Guidance on TSCA Section 8C

May 17, 2016 10:15 AM ET

A manufacturer of wood treatment chemicals became concerned with potential adverse chemical reactions to pressure treated wood. Although no formal letters or reports of such reactions had been reported to the EPA, the client became worried about how such reactions could impact business.

Events, Media & Communications

Watch 3BL Media Updates from GRI in Amsterdam on Facebook Live at 10 a.m. ET, May 18-20

May 17, 2016 10:15 AM ET

It’s been 24 months since corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability executives gathered in Amsterdam to discuss how their companies are tackling environmental and social challenges, and how best to report their progress.

Research, Reports & Publications

JetBlue Releases Annual Responsibility Report

May 17, 2016 10:10 AM ET

JetBlue (Nasdaq: JBLU) recently released its annual responsibility report outlining progress the airline made in environmental, social and business responsibility in 2015. This report highlights major developments including a 3.7 percent reduction in standardized emissions since 2009 and carbon offsets totaling more than 1.1 billion pounds of CO2e emissions.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

A New Look at CSR - Corporate Social Responsibility (All-Videos issue)

May 17, 2016 9:35 AM ET

GreenMoney Journal launches its first-ever all Videos issue on “CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility” (May 2016)

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

GRI Podcasts: Beyond Reports - Episode 4, Tamara Barker

May 17, 2016 9:30 AM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

Investors Care More About Sustainability Than Many Executives Believe

May 17, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Sustainability is increasingly important for investors, as evidence mounts that companies' environmental, social, and governance performance has an impact on long-term financial success.

BCG’s seventh sustainability report in collaboration with MIT Sloan Management Review found that 75% of senior executives in investment firms see a company’s sustainability performance as materially important to their investment decisions—and nearly half would not invest in a company with a poor sustainability track record.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Cerro Verde, a Freeport-McMoRan Company, Wins National Award for Environmental Excellence

May 17, 2016 8:35 AM ET

The Cerro Verde mining company was awarded the Green Life seal for its innovative conservation efforts to protect the Peruvian long-snouted Bat (Platalina genovensium). Cerro Verde received the highest score from Peru's Agency for Environmental Assessment and Enforcement in the Annual Environmental Excellence Ranking.

Innovation & Technology

Twitter Chat Recap: How to Leverage Free Tech to Further Your Mission

May 17, 2016 7:00 AM ET

In this Twitter Chat recap, nonprofit tech experts share how organizations can accelerate their mission with free technology.

Health & Healthcare

Novartis Foundation and Partners Launch Innovative Hypertension Program in Vietnam

May 17, 2016 7:00 AM ET

On the occasion of World Hypertension Day 2016, the Novartis Foundation and its partners, including the international nonprofit organization PATH, are announcing the launch of the Ho Chi Minh City Communities for Healthy Hearts Program, which is designed to improve health outcomes of adults with hypertension living in low-income households in urban Vietnam.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Sodexo Supports Gonzaga University Students in Fight Against Hunger

May 16, 2016 5:25 PM ET

240 people enjoyed a meal at the Salvation Army in Spokane, WA, on April 26, prepared and served by Gonzaga University students and the Sodexo management team. This is the third year that Sodexo and Gonzaga students have sponsored an event as part of the company’s Stop Hunger Servathon held every April and it is just the most recent example of how the company and campus community have partnered to combat hunger.

Research, Reports & Publications

Walmart 2016 Global Responsibility Report | Advocating for the Customer

May 16, 2016 4:00 PM ET

Winning with customers means being actively on their side – making their daily lives better. As we share in our Annual Report, customers should be able to shop on their own terms – in a great store or club, with a quick pickup stop on the way home from work, or with items reliably arriving at the front door.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

JPMorgan Chase and Bloomberg Philanthropies Announce $7.5 Million to Prepare New Orleans Students for High-Demand Jobs

May 16, 2016 4:00 PM ET

JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Bloomberg Philanthropies today announced $7.5 million to expand young people’s access to economic opportunity in New Orleans. As growing industries in Greater New Orleans require a more skilled workforce, these grants are designed to dramatically increase the number of young people graduating from the city’s public high schools with opportunities to secure well-paying, high-demand jobs.

Social Impact & Volunteering

TransCanada Stands Strong with Fort McMurray

May 16, 2016 3:50 PM ET

From providing fuel to desperate evacuees, to shelter at work camps for displaced residents of Northern Alberta communities and fundraising for short- and long-term relief efforts, TransCanada is there.

Diversity & Inclusion

Inclusive Employment is a Team Effort

May 16, 2016 3:30 PM ET

Inclusive employment is a team effort between the person, their parents, residential specialists, employment specialists, and businesses. In this blog post, we’re going to focus on teamwork between employment specialists and residential specialists.

Environment

Aramark Kicks Off Summer Travel Season with New Partnerships, Upgraded Amenities, Centennial Celebrations

May 16, 2016 3:05 PM ET

With travelers finalizing their summer vacation plans, Aramark (NYSE: ARMK), the award winning food and hospitality partner for national and state parks and other leading leisure and cultural attractions across the country, is kicking off the travel season by celebrating new and continuing partnerships, debuting enhancements to its portfolio of properties and attractions, and introducing promotions to celebrate the National Park Service’s Centennial.

Events, Media & Communications

VM Summit 16 to Bring Good Companies and Causes Together in Chicago, IL

May 16, 2016 3:00 PM ET

VolunteerMatch, the web’s largest volunteer engagement network, announced today that it has opened registration for VM Summit 16, which will be held on October 25, 2016 in Chicago, IL.

VolunteerMatch’s annual conference, officially known as VM Summit, brings companies and nonprofits together in one place to learn and collaborate on how to create better, more impactful partnerships, and harness the power of corporate volunteering for real community impact.

Diversity & Inclusion

Dare to Be Yourself: Lily Chang

May 16, 2016 1:45 PM ET

No matter the role, level within the organization, or location in the world, our people are empowered to lead at VMware. And for Lily Chang, VP of R&D – Central Engineering, harnessing her platform as a leader is inspiring people across the globe to grow as leaders and is helping redefine how people view making an impact at work and in the broader community. Discover how a defining moment in Lily’s life sparked her drive to lead in life.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Businesses Expected to Excel and Grow in Infrastructure and Innovation (SDG 9)

May 16, 2016 12:50 PM ET

This week, Global Sourcing Council's 17 Weeks for 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) explores SDG 9 with examples of corporate action for building resilient infrastructure, promoting sustainable industrialization and fostering innovation.