Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Sustainable Development Goals

Reducing Risk by Encouraging Resilience

May 12, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Microfinance provides opportunities for borrowers to start and reinvest in businesses; generate income; and carve their own pathways out of poverty. But the path isn’t always so smooth. Poor households are especially vulnerable to economic shocks, ranging from common situations like illness and death in the family, to exceptional crises like health epidemics, natural disasters, and political instability.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Dave Thomas Featured in QSR Magazine's 20th Anniversary Issue

May 12, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Dave’s success in business is outshined only by his work to raise awareness for foster care adoption and creating the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption (DTFA). The DTFA is a national public charity, with a mission to find permanent, loving homes for children in the foster care system.

Since 2004, more than 6,200 children have been adopted through the Foundation’s signature Wendy’s Wonderful Kids® program — a program that funds full-time adoption recruiters in every U.S. state, the District of Columbia and six Canadian provinces.

Innovation & Technology

Arrow SAM Car Technology Featured in Upcoming Schmidt vs. Andretti Showdown

May 12, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Since 2013, Arrow Electronics has teamed with former racecar driver Sam Schmidt to evolve the Arrow SAM Car, a semi-autonomous car loaded with technological innovations that Arrow hopes will one day have broader applications for independent living.

Environment

County, Park Set Up Zero Food Waste Plan

May 12, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Last year 3.2 million people visited Grand Teton National Park. They left behind over 1,800 tons of trash. “Most of the people who come and visit the park aren’t necessarily thinking about what happens to their waste after they throw it in the trash bin,” park spokesman Andrew White said.

Education

Meet David Mangus, an Amgen Biotech Experience Teacher

May 12, 2017 9:00 AM ET

For almost half of his life, Dr. David Mangus worked as a research scientist. He loved working in the laboratory, trying to figure out how things work, designing experiments, and learning new things. As his own children started to grow, Dave began volunteering in their classes and schools, performing chemistry, math, and physics workshops.

Sustainable Development Goals

Major Brands and Entrepeneurs Now View 3rd-Party Certification as Integral to Operations

May 12, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Company efforts to establish sustainability and quality track records are increasingly being supported by third-party certification to market-recognized standards. SCS Global Services (SCS), a leading third-party certifier and standards developer, has once again documented this growth in its latest Annual Report, released Friday.

Education

PT Freeport Indonesia, a Freeport-McMoRan Company, Builds a New School for Early Childhood Education in Papua

May 12, 2017 8:35 AM ET

PT Freeport Indonesia, in partnership with the local government, has recently inaugurated a new school building for young children in the Banti village of Papua, Indonesia. The school building houses a new library in addition to classrooms for early childhood development.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Major League Baseball Players to Make Playground Dreams Come True in Opa-Locka, FL

May 11, 2017 5:30 PM ET

The Major League Baseball Players Trust and KaBOOM! are teaming up to build a new playground for Room2Bloom and the surrounding Opa-Locka, FL neighborhood to replace the dilapidated one that sits unused in the middle of the grounds.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Bloomberg Philanthropies Supports the 57th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia

May 11, 2017 5:05 PM ET

Bloomberg Philanthropies supports the 57th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia and its programs for broader audience engagement. Bloomberg Philanthropies’ support will enable the Biennale Arte 2017 to widen the reach of its public performance and artist discussion program.

Energy

Whirlpool Corporation Opens New EMEA Headquarters in Milan

May 11, 2017 4:30 PM ET

Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni dedicated the new headquarters of Whirlpool EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) in Pero (Milan) today. Whirlpool Corporation President and Chief Operating Officer Marc Bitzer, Whirlpool EMEA President and Whirlpool Corporation Executive Vice-President Esther Berrozpe Galindo, Regione Lombardia President Roberto Maroni, and the Mayor of Pero Maria Rosa Belotti attended the ceremony.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

University of Windsor Students Named National Champions of Youth Empowerment

May 11, 2017 4:30 PM ET

Upon learning that 60 per cent of students leave high school without basic financial education, students from the University of Windsor created Youthrive, an intensive 10-week one-on-one consulting and financial literacy education program focused on accelerating young entrepreneurs.

Innovation & Technology

FIRST Robotics & NRG Energy: Bringing on the "Coopertition"

May 11, 2017 4:20 PM ET

Coopertition produces innovation. It’s a philosophy based on kindness, mentorship, respect and sharing – all in the face of fierce competition. Learn more about coopertition at nrg.com/FIRST

Health & Healthcare

Obayashi Moves Forward in Pursuit of WELL Certification

May 11, 2017 4:05 PM ET

We are pleased to announce that Obayashi has completed the document acquisition and submission process for Techno-station for WELL Certification. Techno-station, the main building of the Technical Research Institute (TRI), is the first project in Japan to register and submit this high level of document verification.

Green Infrastructure

DERA Grant Funding Announced by EPA

May 11, 2017 3:45 PM ET

As a courtesy to our stakeholders, Leonardo Academy is excited to forward an available funding opportunity for Clean Diesel projects though the EPA’s Diesel Emission Reduction Program (DERA). EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality is soliciting proposals nationwide for projects that achieve significant reductions in diesel emissions, particularly from fleets located in areas designated as having poor air quality. The EPA anticipates awarding approximately $11 million in DERA funding to eligible projects​.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Bridging the Technology Divide: Key Takeaways from Taproot's First-Ever Technology Convening

May 11, 2017 3:15 PM ET

How can pro bono service help nonprofits access technology solutions that transform their organizations and solve our communities’ challenges? That’s what Taproot sought to discover at Bridging the Technology Divide, our first-ever technology convening at the U.S. Pro Bono Summit. The day was comprised of a cross-sector group of leaders in technology and service coming together to explore and collectively shape how we can solve social sector needs with technology expertise.

For those who missed the action, here’s a recap of the day’s key takeaways:

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Astellas’ Tina Karunaratne named a 2017 Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association Luminary

May 11, 2017 3:10 PM ET

Astellas and its wholly owned subsidiary, the Astellas Institute for Regenerative Medicines (AIRM) today announced that Tina Karunaratne, director of clinical and late-stage project management, will be honored as a 2017 Luminary by the Healthcare Businesswomen's Association (HBA) at the 28th Woman of the Year event.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Ryerson University Students Named National Champions of the Environment

May 11, 2017 2:05 PM ET

In Gujarat, India, where 70 per cent of the population faces high water stress, Enactus Ryerson University students created Project Pura, which empowers local waterpreners to manufacture and sell ceramic water filters, while simultaneously providing a water sanitation education and entrepreneurship program to drive industry growth.

Innovation & Technology

Is That It? The Benefits of Continuous Configuration

May 11, 2017 2:00 PM ET

Versaic is the only company in our line of business to take a different approach to software implementation, a model called continuous configuration which is a nerdy name for something that delivers huge benefits.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Supply Chain Transparency: A Change Tool for Successful Global Businesses

May 11, 2017 1:45 PM ET

Identifying companies’ vast supply networks is challenging, and tracking their sustainability performance even more so. However, measuring data and increasing transparency are powerful tools for managing the risks and grasping the opportunities of global supply chains, contributing to sustainable development and a positive effect on the bottom line.​

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Consumers Energy Recognized by Forbes Magazine as Michigan’s Best Employer in National Survey

May 11, 2017 1:40 PM ET

Last week, unemployment fell to its lowest level in a decade. Companies are competing aggressively for talent, piling on more perks and benefits every year. But which organizations have the most satisfied employees? Forbes worked with research firm Statista to compile the definitive list of the best employers in America.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Water Supply Project Earns Global Desalination Plant Honor

May 11, 2017 1:30 PM ET

Environment

Migrating Birds at Musselwhite

May 11, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Habitat loss, whether through natural or man-made causes, is one of the main triggers for the extinction of migratory birds and a main topic for this year’s World Migratory Bird Day.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Why Millennial Moms Deserve a Pat on the Back

May 11, 2017 12:25 PM ET

It’s 2 am. I’m lying on the floor of my son’s room for the third night in a row. I’m pretty sure I’m doing a terrible job as a mother since I’m not letting him “cry it out” like all the sleep books instructed. To make myself feel better, I pick up my phone and post an angelic picture of my son on Facebook. With each notification of activity on my post, I am lulled into a state of contentment. Perhaps I am a great mom after all…

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Comcast NBCUniversal Moves Up 10 Spots to No. 19 on DiversityInc’s Top 50 Companies List

May 11, 2017 12:15 PM ET

DiversityInc recognized Comcast NBCUniversal as one of the nation’s leading companies for Diversity & Inclusion at its annual Top 50 Awards Dinner on May 2nd in New York City.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

How Workplace Policies Can Make the Office Friendlier for New Parents

May 11, 2017 11:45 AM ET

Given the lack of sleep, jumbled schedules and general unpredictability of the situation, mixing work with life as a new parent is never going to be easy.

Nonetheless, there are steps workplaces can take to ease the load for employees with young children. All manner of things, ranging from strategically placed refrigerators to flexible policies around off-site working, play a role in making the kid-work balancing act a little less hectic.