Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

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Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

American Express Announces $500,000 Commitment to Strive for College and UStrive Inc.

American Express announced today that the company will join forces with Strive for College and UStrive Inc. to increase college access for students across the United States. Strive for College is a national nonprofit that provides students with mentoring through the college admissions and financial aid application process through the UStrive virtual mentoring platform. American Express has committed $500,000 to the initiative, and plans to engage hundreds of American Express professionals as mentors to the underserved youth Strive for College serves.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

VIDEO | eBay Retail Revival: Akron Honey Company

Brent Wesley started an urban beekeeping movement in Akron, Ohio, creating natural honey and personal care products featuring pure, all-natural ingredients. Today, Brent is one of more than 100 small businesses participating in eBay’s Retail Revival program, a 12-month economic development pilot. Retail Revival harnesses the power of technology and eBay’s global marketplace to support and grow small businesses, strengthen local economies and foster vibrant community growth.

Green Infrastructure

The Ray Joins World Class Sustainable Electrified Transportation Center

The Ray is excited to announce a new partnership with Sustainable Electrified Transportation (SELECT) Research Center, led by Utah State University. As a member of SELECT, The Ray will join the nation’s leading researchers and experts across sectors, including automotive OEMs, suppliers/manufacturers, civil engineering firms, departments of transportation and academia, in understanding and developing ways in which a fully electrified transportation ecosystem can be strategically and successfully piloted in the near future.

Research, Reports & Publications

‘We Will Become A Better, Stronger Wells Fargo’

Jon Campbell, head of Corporate Responsibility for Wells Fargo, shares how the company is enhancing its approach to corporate social responsibility to make a bigger impact.

Social Impact & Volunteering

NRG Energy’s PositiveNRG Week Delivers People Power to Communities Nationwide

For the 11th consecutive year, NRG Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NRG) employees took to the communities where they live and work to volunteer in the name of “positiveNRG week,” the company’s annual week of volunteering. This year’s efforts resulted in nearly 1,000 NRG employees across 16 states volunteering nearly 5,000 hours to 71 charities and nonprofits.

Innovation & Technology

FCA US LLC Expands Partnership With Waymo

FCA US LLC and Waymo today announced they will expand their partnership with an agreement to add up to 62,000 Chrysler Pacifica Hybridminivans to Waymo’s self-driving fleet. This venture builds upon a previous commitment, announced in January, to deliver thousands of vehicles to Waymo’s driverless transportation service. Vehicle delivery is expected to begin in late 2018.

Education

Can Creativity Be Taught?

Experts agree that creativity is critical to success in the future. But can creativity be taught? If so, how? Middle school teachers are finding answers to these questions in a program that aims to put today’s students on the path to success in tomorrow’s jobs.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

An ‘Activist at Heart’ from the Nonprofit World Joins Nestlé

Riham recently came to Nestlé after spending nearly five years working for a nonprofit. In her new role as an Employee Ambassador and Thought Leadership Manager, she will help Nestlé employees from across the company share their stories. Riham works with the communications team at Nestlé USA’s new Arlington, Virginia headquarters. We spoke with her during her fourth week on the job about what drew her to Nestlé, the transition from the nonprofit sector, and advice for others considering an industry change.

Environment

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation and National Recreation and Park Association Launch ‘Parks for Pollinators’

To address the critical need to increase pollinator habitat for beneficial insects, such as honey bees, monarch butterflies and others, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) have teamed up on a new “Parks for Pollinators” campaign aimed at raising public awareness of pollinator health and encouraging local action through public parks and pollinator gardens.

Research, Reports & Publications

New SEC Search Tool Finds Inadequate Human and Workers’ Rights Disclosure in Financial Filings

Ceres and CookESG Research released a new tool for identifying corporate disclosure of human and workers’ rights risks and opportunities in annual financial filings. The tool covers more than 5,000 U.S. and foreign companies’ filings (10-K, 20-F and 40-F) to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The SEC search tool also expands Ceres’ work to address investors’ concerns about improving the disclosure of decision-useful sustainability information in mandatory filings.

Education

Walmart’s New Education Benefit Puts Cap and Gown Within Reach for Associates

In partnership with Guild Education, a leading education benefits platform, Walmart associates will be able to access affordable, high-quality associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in Business or Supply Chain Management. Under the program, which will be made available to all Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club associates, Walmart will subsidize the cost of higher education, beyond financial aid and an associate contribution equivalent to $1 a day.

Education

Consumers Energy, Grand Rapids Public Schools Announce Finalists for Sixth Annual Student Art Competition

Organizers have announced the 10 finalists out of nearly 50 entries from Grand Rapids Public Schools student artists who will have their energy-related art work highlighted during this fall’s ArtPrize competition through collaboration with the school district and Consumers Energy.

Research, Reports & Publications

A Right to Water – Is Water a Human Right or a Commodity?

Is water a human right or a commodity? It’s treated like both. As water scarcity becomes more pressing, both public and private entities have had to examine their stances on how water resources should be controlled. These issues frequently arise in the developing world, where water resources and sanitation often are inadequate—but are now arising increasingly in U.S. cities, when drinking water gets contaminated or residents can’t pay their water bills.

Health & Healthcare

Good Eating

Wanting food to look appealing and taste good is a reasonable expectation. But for many people – those who suffer from cancer or a swallowing disorder known as dysphagia, for example – there are no guarantees. All of that is changing, however, thanks in part to Hormel Foods and people like Tim Garry.

Tim is part of Hormel Health Labs, where the mission is to provide nourishment for people with special dietary requirements. People who are often overlooked, he says.

Diversity & Inclusion

PNC Bank CEO Recognized for Efforts to Promote Diversity and Inclusion

On May 23, 2018, William Demchak, chairman, president and CEO of PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., received the 2018 A. Leon Higginbotham Corporate Leadership Award at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law’s Leadership Award Dinner.

Education

Caterpillar Graduates First Hiring Innovation Program Class

This program has changed me; I’m truly a different person now than I was at the start of the year.” That’s how CHIP – the Caterpillar Hiring Innovation Program – student Cole Measheaw described his five months of hands-on training at Caterpillar East Peoria during a recent graduation ceremony filled with the students’ family, Caterpillar top leadership and CHIP organizers, members of the Peoria Public Schools and even local media.

Innovation & Technology

Sands Cares Gives Students an Opportunity to Learn IT in the Hospitality Industry

Las Vegas Sands is committed to the communities in which it operates by providing financial or in-kind support through Sands Cares, its global corporate giving program. In Las Vegas, The Venetian and The Palazzo welcomed a group of 20 students from Tech Impact’s ITWorks program for a chance to meet with the Information Technology (IT) department.

Education

Voya Financial Announces Recipients of 2018 Voya Scholars Program

Voya Financial, Inc. has announced the winners of Voya Scholars — a scholarship program launched in collaboration with its nonprofit partner, Scholarship America. Voya Financial Chairman and CEO Rodney O. Martin Jr. announced the recipients of five $10,000 scholarships at Scholarship America's 2018 Dreams to Success awards dinner in Washington, D.C. The event celebrated students completing their postsecondary degrees, and honored those who have helped students achieve their educational goals.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Wells Fargo Awards $300,000 in Grants for Veteran Housing Efforts

Wells Fargo Housing Foundation's VeteranWINS program addresses veteran homelessness and sustainable housing

Health & Healthcare

Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance with The Power of Science

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), or the ability of a bacterium, virus, or fungus to develop resistance to the medicines commonly used to treat them, is one of the leading global public health threats today. Currently, AMR causes more than 700,000 deaths annually. If left unchecked, this number is expected to rise to 10 million deaths annually by 2050. In collaboration with the infectious disease community, we are working to develop solutions that address and help treat the serious and growing AMR crisis. Through a comprehensive approach, we are proud to be a leader in the fight against this global public health threat.

Research, Reports & Publications

State of the Low-Income Housing Finance Market 2018

New research from FSG examines the state of the low-income housing finance market in India and provides recommendations for facilitating greater scale so that even more households can to own or improve their homes. The report also includes a pragmatic set of recommendations for government to address issues, ensure robust growth and facilitate serving currently unserved/underserved segments.

Diversity & Inclusion

Interview: How Dr. Sara Brand Empowers Women Entrepreneurs via True Wealth Ventures

Sara Brand is a new partner to Whole Planet Foundation, delivering a keynote conversation at our June 2, 2018 Power Her Potential Women’s Expo. Her venture capital firm, True Wealth Ventures, is an early-stage venture capital fund investing in women-led businesses in the sustainable consumer and consumer health markets.

Research, Reports & Publications

Schneider Electric is Seeing the Rewards of Its Corporate Responsibility Performance

April and May have been successful months for Schneider Electric, ranked twice for its corporate responsibility by non-financial rating agencies; ISS-Oekom and Vigeo Eiris. With 25 years experience on conducting an annual report on sustainability in corporate management, ISS-Oekom featured Schneider Electric as leader of the Electronic Components and one of top 6 French leader companies of their sectors among with: Valeo, Peugeot, Amundi, CNP Assurances, and Sanofi on ISS-Oekom Corporate Responsibility Review 2018.

Diversity & Inclusion

Brands Taking Stands Newsletter, 5/30/18

“The Big Story” in this week’s edition of the Brands Taking Stands Newsletter focuses on the NFL’s adoption of a new policy about players’ protesting during the playing of the national anthem. The organization is in brand reputation management mode following last season’s controversy over the protests, aimed at drawing attention to social injustice by kneeling during the music instead of standing.

Events, Media & Communications

Live #CiscoChat June 4th: Making Global Problem Solving More Intuitive

How can we work together to speed the pace of social change while making it more intuitive than ever before? To find out, make sure to attend the next #CiscoChat, a live video discussion on Monday, June 4th starting at 10 am PST.

Latest Campaigns

  1. AMD Environmental Sustainability
    Advancing sustainability across our operations, supply chain manufacturing and product stewardship
  2. AEG Celebrates Inclusion
    At AEG, we embrace inclusion and strive to create a workplace where our employees feel welcomed, valued and respected for the viewpoints, ideas...
  3. Sustainable Products and Innovation
    Ongoing research into innovative solutions enables CNH’s brands to manufacture products that respect the environment while satisfying customers’...
  4. Healthy Spaces Podcast: Season 5
    Welcome to Season 5 of Healthy Spaces by Trane Technologies, the podcast where experts and disruptors explore how climate technology and innovation...
  5. Kingfisher Around the World
    The SCS Kingfisher certification mark is showing up on an increasing number of products around the world. It differentiates companies that are making...
  6. Impacting Today and Tomorrow
    What we do matters and our associates can expect opportunities to create real impact at work and in the community.
  7. International Paper | SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS
    Vision 2030 Goal: Improve our climate impact and advance water stewardship
  8. Sustainability by Antea Group
    At Antea Group, we believe the best sustainability programs integrate sustainability into core business practices, we identify and act on relevant...
  9. PSEG People & Communities
    PSEG is committed to improving the lives of our customers, our employees and the diverse communities we serve throughout New Jersey and Long Island...
  10. KeyBank Foundation: Helping Communities Thrive through Education, Workforce Development, and Service
    KeyBank Foundation helps build thriving communities by supporting organizations and programs that foster thriving students and a thriving workforce...
  11. AEG Celebrates Inclusion
    At AEG, we embrace inclusion and strive to create a workplace where our employees feel welcomed, valued and respected for the viewpoints, ideas...
  12. Sustainability- Carnival Corporation's Way of Doing Business
    Carnival’s approach to sustainability is a full-time commitment; it is not a cost of doing business, it is a way of doing business. We at Carnival...
  13. Sustainable Products and Innovation
    Ongoing research into innovative solutions enables CNH’s brands to manufacture products that respect the environment while satisfying customers’...
  14. Enriching Women's Lives
    60 years ago, Mary Kay Ash created an unparalleled opportunity for women to define their own successes and control their own futures. Her vision of...
  15. License to Operate
    Corporate governance, risk management, operational integrity, and regulatory compliance are demanding challenges that companies face in today’s ever...