Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Health & Healthcare

Merck for Mothers Lead Dr. Naveen Rao Announces Intent to Retire, Effective July 1, 2018

May 24, 2018 10:05 AM ET

Dr. Rao initiated and led Merck for Mothers, Merck’s 10-year, $500 million initiative to reduce maternal mortality around the world. He was responsible for leveraging the company’s science and business expertise to accelerate progress in reaching the Sustainable Development Goals and advancing Merck’s mission to improve and save lives. Since its launch in 2011, Merck for Mothers has improved access to quality maternal care and family planning services for over 6 million women in more than 30 countries.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

On the Journey to Adopt GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards

May 24, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Understanding and reporting on companies' sustainability impacts cannot be driven by outside forces alone, but are often part of the core values that drive an organization. This article describes the journey of a chemical materials solutions provider Trinseo, which is taking steps together with GRI towards delivering their first GRI Standards report.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

INFOGRAPHIC: Smithfield Foods 2017 Sustainability Report: Helping Communities

May 24, 2018 9:35 AM ET

Smithfield Foods is proud to support the communities we call home. In 2017, Smithfield’s charitable giving donations totaled $27.4 million in support of hunger relief, education, veterans, and other causes that align with our industry-leading sustainability program.

Innovation & Technology

Announcing the 2018 Cisco Global Problem Solver Challenge Winners

May 24, 2018 9:20 AM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Tetra Tech Involved in the New Quebec City – Lévis Transportation Link

May 24, 2018 9:00 AM ET

The Groupement mobilité inter-rives―a joint venture composed of Stantec, Tetra Tech, and Hatch―has been chosen by the Quebec Ministry of Transportation, Sustainable Mobility, and Electrification of Transport (MTMDET) to prepare an opportunity study related to the new transportation link between Quebec City and Lévis. This link aims to improve the flow of trips on the Greater Quebec City territory.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Rebuilding Together Montgomery County Brings 400+ Volunteers Together to Help 13 Homeowners with Critical Needs and Repairs

May 23, 2018 7:30 PM ET

Rebuilding Together Montgomery County has provided critical-needs home repair to low-income residents of Montgomery County free of charge for the past 27 years. Last year alone, we completed 304 projects for 112 homeowners thanks to the support of more than 681 volunteers who invested over 6,000 hours of service into our community.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

‘Main Street Investor’ Coalition Aims to Undermine Shareholder Rights

May 23, 2018 4:35 PM ET

A new coalition backed by the National Association of Manufacturers aims to 'undermine critical shareholder rights that investors have long supported and relied on to help them effectively and efficiently protect the long-term value of their investments,' Ceres CEO and President Mindy said in a statement.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

How Wendy’s Created Joy and Opportunity for 200 Top GMs

May 23, 2018 3:55 PM ET

Last month, Wendy’s recognized and celebrated 200 outstanding restaurant General Managers (GMs) for their leadership, performance, dedication, and continued service to the Wendy’s brand.

Diversity & Inclusion

Ultimate Medical Academy’s Brian J. Fitzpatrick Joins the Florida Diversity Council Board of Directors

May 23, 2018 3:30 PM ET

The Florida Diversity Council recently appointed Brian J. Fitzpatrick, senior director of Administration at Tampa-based Ultimate Medical Academy, to its board of directors.

Research, Reports & Publications

Wynn Resorts Issues 2017 Global Sustainability Report

May 23, 2018 3:00 PM ET

Wynn Resorts today issued its 2017 Global Sustainability Report, providing a comprehensive view of the Company’s commitment to responsible business practices, corporate culture, environmental protection, and community service. The report also outlines several new initiatives supporting employee diversity and gender equity at the Company, reinforcing why Wynn Resorts continues to remain the industry employer of choice.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Accenture Commits US$200 Million to Education, Training and Skills Initiatives Over Next Three Years to Equip Disadvantaged People for Work in the Digital Age

May 23, 2018 2:15 PM ET

Supporting its vision to improve the way the world works and lives, Accenture (NYSE: ACN) is committing more than US$200 million over the next three years to help equip disadvantaged people with job skills for the digital age.

Events, Media & Communications

Global Brand Leaders Set to Redesign the Future of Commerce at SB’18 Vancouver

May 23, 2018 2:00 PM ET

Sustainable Brands® recently unveiled the full programming and schedule for the Activation Hub at SB’18 Vancouver, running June 4-7 at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Activation Hub is the central hub of the Vancouver conference, an area where attendees gather to hear from solution-providers, to collaborate and co-create on market sector innovations, and to network with current and future partners.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Bloomberg's Erika Irish Brown Recognized by CollegeBound Initiative

May 23, 2018 1:45 PM ET

Erika Irish Brown was honored for her contributions to the finance industry at the 2018 CollegeBound Initiative (CBI) Celebration on Tuesday evening, May 15, 2018. CBI is a comprehensive college guidance program which empowers more than 18,000 young women and men to realize their higher education and life potential.

Environment

Days of Our Droplets Series: The Story of Water

May 23, 2018 1:30 PM ET

This year for World Water Day we decided to get creative and introduce you to a story about water! Days of Our Droplets combines an explanation of where water comes from and where it goes at a mine site with a story about some of the unfortunate potential consequences of poor water management that you may have heard about in the news.

Environment

Better Together: The Next 10 Years of BIER—And Beyond

May 23, 2018 1:30 PM ET

BIER believes that collaboration is key to tackling the complex and ever-changing sustainability challenges our world and industry faces. We’ve done incredible work, but we’re just getting started. Meet the environmental leaders committed to forging a more sustainable future for the beverage industry and world.

Health & Healthcare

In Pursuit of Universal Health Care: Time to Take Public-Private Partnership to the Next Level

May 23, 2018 1:30 PM ET

The buzz around public-private partnership (PPP) keeps getting louder. And yes – PPPs are everywhere, operating in virtually every industry sector around the world, including health.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Summer of Safety

May 23, 2018 12:50 PM ET

School will soon be out for the summer, which means more children will be outside playing in their neighborhoods. The National Safety Council has declared June to be National Safety Month, and it’s the perfect time to talk about summer safety around recycling and waste collection trucks.

Diversity & Inclusion

Women Help Women Reach for More In Life

May 23, 2018 12:35 PM ET

‘Having it all’ is a concept that women have been discussing and aspiring to attain for nearly 40 years. Still, the conversation continues because no one has determined what having “it all” actually means. After decades of debate, women today are reshaping the definition. And female relationships are proving to be a powerful force.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Improving the Sustainability of Cocoa Grown in West Africa

May 23, 2018 12:30 PM ET

Cocoa is far from the only ingredient in Betty Crocker baked goods, but when you long for a brownie, it’s likely chocolate that you’re craving.

We use high-quality cocoa in everything from baked goods to cereal to snacks. Making sure that cocoa is grown in an environmentally sustainable and socially responsible manner is a priority for General Mills.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Marina Bay Sands Celebrates its Partner Charities at True Colors Festival

May 23, 2018 12:20 PM ET

Sands for Singapore, an initiative through Sands Cares, is a multi-day festival that serves to increase public awareness of partner charities and raise funds for them through several series of events. At the True Colors Festival in March, more than 100 Team Members at Marina Bay Sands spent an evening with 40 Sands for Singapore beneficiaries from Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore (CPAS), Association for Persons with Special Needs (APSN), and AWWA.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Volunteers Put Work on Hold and Serve in Puerto Rico

May 23, 2018 12:15 PM ET

Medtronic continues to team up with All Hands and Heart, a disaster relief organization. Together, they’re providing opportunities for employees to put a pause on their day jobs and pitch in throughout hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Advice on Giving Back – Words of Inspiration from Connie L. Lindsey of Northern Trust

May 23, 2018 11:35 AM ET

This year we are proud to honor Northern Trust as Corporate Partner of the Year. Accepting the award on their behalf is Connie L. Lindsey, Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate and Social Responsibility and Global Diversity and Inclusion. We recently sat down with Connie to talk about Northern Trust’s commitment to corporate responsibility and her advice to young professionals looking to give back.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The PepsiCo Foundation Commits $4 Million to the Robin Hood Foundation to Support Education and Job Training for 20,000 Young Women and Girls in the Bronx

May 23, 2018 11:25 AM ET

The PepsiCo Foundation today announced a $4 million grant to the Robin Hood Foundation – New York City's largest poverty-fighting organization – to support high-quality education and workforce training programs for young women and girls in the Bronx. The grant will fund initiatives to help 20,000 females ages 13-24 in the Bronx increase their earning potential, addressing an acute need in New York City's poorest borough in which 1 in 3 women – more than 220,000 women – are living in poverty.

Research, Reports & Publications

GRI Publishes Its Own Annual Report Using the GRI Standards

May 23, 2018 11:00 AM ET

2017 marked 20 years of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). Learn more about the successes and challenges, and how GRI engages with its vast stakeholder network in the GRI 2016–2017 Annual Report.

Innovation & Technology

Aflac Presents My Special Aflac Duck at The Atlantic's Children and Cancer: An Atlantic Forum

May 23, 2018 10:45 AM ET