Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Responsible Production & Consumption

The War on Straws Is Coming to a Bar Near You

Mar 19, 2018 1:30 PM ET

Bacardi Ltd. cited the 500 million estimate when it became one of the first spirits makers to take a stand against plastic straws and swizzle sticks, banning them two years ago from its events. A Bacardi spokeswoman says the initiative spares more than 1 million straws a year.

Events, Media & Communications

CBRE Hosts 2018 Women’s Networking Forum

Mar 19, 2018 1:15 PM ET

CBRE hosted its 2018 CBRE Women’s Networking Forum, the largest company gathering of women, March 14-16 in Chicago. The conference theme this year was “Impact,” recognizing the positive impact of women in the company and the commercial real estate industry.

“The Women’s Networking Forum has been an important business development opportunity for our members for 18 years,” said Lisa Konieczka, Women’s Network chairperson and executive vice president in the company’s Chicago office. “The environment is collaborative and focused on success. We meet, share best practices, explore new ideas, improve our business skills, and recognize and celebrate the positive impact of women to our organization and CBRE.”

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sodexo Awarded for Catering and Event Excellence

Mar 19, 2018 12:45 PM ET

Sodexo, a food services and facilities management company committed to improving Quality of Life, announced today that its catering and event teams at the legendary Hollywood Bowl in California and the iconic Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago have been recognized with a prestigious Catersource Achievement in Catering Excellence (ACE) Award, which honors companies that have shown noteworthy achievement in the catering industry through culinary, business, community and professional development.

Environment

T. Rowe Price’s CSR Report Shows Emissions and Waste Reductions

Mar 19, 2018 12:30 PM ET

T. Rowe Price has published its 2016 – 2017 corporate social responsibility report. The Baltimore-based global investment management organization demonstrated reductions in greenhouse gas emissions per associate over a six-year period. Between 2010 and 2016, the firm’s total GHG emissions went down 4% and were reduced by 31% per associate, according to the report. This occurred despite a 51% increase in the firm’s associate population.

Research, Reports & Publications

British American Tobacco Underlines Commitment to Transforming Tobacco in Latest Group Reports

Mar 19, 2018 12:25 PM ET

British American Tobacco (BAT) today published its Annual Report and Sustainability Report – both of which outline the Company’s commitment to transform tobacco by offering an unrivalled suite of potentially reduced-risk products that address the varied preferences of today’s consumers.

Diversity & Inclusion

Columbia University and Citi Announce National Expansion of Columbia’s Center for Veteran Transition and Integration

Mar 19, 2018 11:30 AM ET

Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration today announced a new collaboration with Citi to increase educational programming and support for veterans and military family members making the transition to two- and four-year colleges, graduate and professional schools, civilian life, and the workforce. With $300,000 in support from Citi Community Development, the national expansion of the Center will provide tools and resources that address the unique challenges veterans face entering the classroom and workplace with the aim to reach 10,000 service members and their families in the first two years.

Green Infrastructure

UPS London Switches on Smart Grid to Super-Charge Electric Delivery Fleet

Mar 19, 2018 11:20 AM ET

UPS has deployed a radical new charging technology in London that overcomes the challenge of simultaneously recharging an entire fleet of electric vehicles (EVs) without the need for the expensive upgrade to the power supply grid.

Environment

World Water Day: Nature for Water

Mar 19, 2018 10:40 AM ET

This World Water Day, we’d like you to imagine a few simple scenes. First, imagine yourself on a sweltering summer day, drinking a refreshing cup of cold water. Then, picture yourself finally getting to bathe after a long day of work or travel. Lastly, think of getting up early to cook a big pot of oatmeal for your family’s breakfast. In your mind, was the cold water you drank a cloudy yellow color? Did you have to walk a mile or more to bathe in a murky river or pond? Or did you have to consider that your family might become ill from the food you cooked with contaminated water?

Green Infrastructure

Consumers Energy Plans New Grand Rapids Headquarters

Mar 19, 2018 10:35 AM ET

Consumers Energy’s investment in West Michigan continues with plans announced today for a new $20 million headquarters in the city of Grand Rapids to serve the fastest-growing region of its company. Locating the building in the city’s West Side, a vibrant area seeing significant redevelopment centered on sustainability and walkability, is a promise to Consumers Energy’s employees of today and tomorrow.

Diversity & Inclusion

Las Vegas Sands Honors International Women's Day: Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Mar 19, 2018 10:35 AM ET

In honor of International Women’s Day, Las Vegas Sands has chosen to highlight female Team Members in all of the regions in which we operate that have initiated change in their communities and the workplace. Here we recognize Christine Kaelbel-Sheares, Hazel Chan, and Chan Yit Foon.

Education

21 Savage and Get Schooled Launch the “21 Savage Bank Account” Campaign to Teach Teens Money Managing Basics

Mar 19, 2018 10:30 AM ET

Today, 21 Savage and Get Schooled launched, “21 Savage’s Bank Account,” a campaign to teach teens money basics. The campaign, announced on Ellen today, includes a digital badge, 21 Savages’ money tips for young moguls, as well as the opportunity for young people to receive $1,000 from 21 Savage’s Leading by Example Foundation to start their own bank account and gain knowledge in financial literacy. Savage is giving the first 21 accounts to deserving teens and people are encouraged to donate and sponsor for just $1,000 a kid at www.getschooled.com.

Education

How Barclays Helps Prepare People for the Workplace

Mar 19, 2018 10:25 AM ET

Innovation & Technology

Fostering a Secure Tomorrow

Mar 19, 2018 10:15 AM ET

Events, Media & Communications

In Search of the Next Generation of Sustainability Leaders

Mar 19, 2018 9:55 AM ET

GreenBiz Group, in partnership with the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, is opening nominations for the 2018 class of "30 Under 30" honorees, showcasing the next generation of sustainable business leaders.

Diversity & Inclusion

JetBlue Encourages Young Aviators to #FlyLikeAGirl

Mar 19, 2018 9:30 AM ET

In celebration of Women’s History Month, last week JetBlue’s Women in Flight crewmember resource group, in partnership with the airline’s diversity & inclusion teams and the JetBlue Foundation, hosted its signature Fly Like a Girl event, bringing aspiring and youth from local organizations to JetBlue’s Hangar at New York’s JFK Airport. For the fourth year in a row, participants heard what it’s like to run an airline from female crewmembers representing careers below the wing, above the wing and everywhere in between.

At the event, the attendees participated in sessions throughout the day which included a crewmember Q&A, an airplane engine “show and tell,” and an opportunity to board an aircraft and sit in the Captain’s seat and a meet-and-greet with women pilots and inflight crewmembers.

Environment

Go Behind the Scenes of Fox’s “The X-Files” and Learn How Season 11 Went Green on Set

Mar 19, 2018 8:00 AM ET

The X-Files diverted 68% of its waste from landfill, avoided 19 metric tons of carbon emissions, and saved nearly $150,000 in the process. The production also introduced a new food donation program that distributed more than 2,500 meals to those in need in the Vancouver area, and has already encouraged other film and TV projects in the region to adopt similar programs.

Health & Healthcare

Breath for Life: The Johnson & Johnson Program That's Helping Eradicate Tuberculosis in Vietnam

Mar 18, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Le Van Giang doesn’t know if his family would be alive today were it not for an observant health worker at his local clinic.

In 2016, on a visit to get a persistent cough checked out, she suspected that Giang might have tuberculosis (TB)—a disease that has seriously burdened the healthcare system in Vietnam, with over 100,000 new cases identified in the country in 2016 alone.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Engaging Employees Through Volunteering Programs

Mar 16, 2018 7:20 PM ET

Companies in the LBG Canada network are engaging their employees through volunteering programs. Employee volunteering is an important aspect of community investment. LBG Canada companies are engaging their employees through both, during work hours and during non-work hours volunteering.

Innovation & Technology

International Committee of the Red Cross Uses AR to Show Reality of War

Mar 16, 2018 6:00 PM ET

Over the past few years, the topic of refugees has dominated the news. Despite the widespread conversation, the realities of wars in faraway places are still hard to grasp for most people. To help them better realize the effects of conflict, a few companies have recreated scenarios to give consumers a glimpse into how war affects people’s every day. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) just launched a new campaign to create an experience using today’s latest technology, allowing everyone, everywhere to immerse themselves in what is happening thousands of miles away.

Sustainable Development Goals

Global Trends Report on the Women’s Empowerment Principles Gender Gap Analysis Tool Launched by UN Global Compact, UN Women and IDB Invest at 2018 WEPs Forum

Mar 16, 2018 5:15 PM ET

Unleashing the full potential of women and girls by empowering them to be equal members of society has a multiplier effect on families, businesses, communities, and nations and is essential to achieving sustainable development. Today, in the spirit of advancing the crucial role of the private sector in achieving Goal 5: Gender Equality, the United Nations Global Compact, UN Women and the United Nations Office for Partnerships (UNOP) joined forces to organize the 2018 Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Annual Forum — the premier event on gender equality for the private sector held each March as part of the annual session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

Research, Reports & Publications

Business Sustainability 2.0: Market Transformation (Adapted from “The Next Phase of Business Sustainability” by Andy Hoffman)

Mar 16, 2018 4:00 PM ET

Education

Good Sports, FOX Sports Supports and FOX Sports "Magnify" Series Team up to Bring Sports Equipment to Chicago Youth

Mar 16, 2018 4:00 PM ET

Good Sports has teamed up with FOX Sports Supports and FOX Sports Films’ MAGNIFY documentary “Shot in the Dark,” providing sports and fitness opportunities to the youth of Chicago. Supporters of the initiative can visit www.goodsports.org/shotinthedark to personally handpick sports equipment that will be directly donated by Good Sports to the youth programs in Chicago. In addition, all donations made through the “Shot in the Dark” webpage will be matched up to $25,000 by 21st Century Fox.

Health & Healthcare

Meet the Scientist: Zaven Kaprielian, Director of Research in Neuroscience at Amgen Massachusetts

Mar 16, 2018 2:30 PM ET

I manage a team of Amgen Neuroscience Discovery Research scientists dedicated to developing new therapeutics for ALS and Parkinson’s disease. As part of this, I set the scientific strategy for my team, and identify and foster collaborations with academic labs/start-up biotech companies to strengthen our pipeline of innovative therapies and technologies. I also play a role in recruiting the next generation of Amgen scientists.

Diversity & Inclusion

VMware Diversity and Inclusion Update 2018

Mar 16, 2018 2:05 PM ET

This year, the conversation around diversity has been amplified. While progress is being made in the area of diversity and inclusion (D&I) from Hollywood to the C-suite, company diversity report releases alone won’t move the needle in our communities. Conversation – and action – need to take place every day.

Events, Media & Communications

What Purpose-Driven Leaders Can Learn from SXSW

Mar 16, 2018 1:30 PM ET

This week, individuals, executives and world figureheads convened in Austin for SXSW Interactive – a mammoth event where leaders shared ideas, solutions, innovations and a positive outlook for the future. Although the conference features a Social Impact track where activists, social enterprises and entertainers shared how they are creating solutions, the theme of Purpose extended far beyond this singular track.