Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Sustainable Development Goals

Massachusetts Companies Meet With Lawmakers to Highlight Sustainability Leadership

Jan 24, 2018 10:15 AM ET

A dozen Massachusetts companies and investors representing some of the Commonwealth’s largest employers will gather on Beacon Hill today to meet with lawmakers about their corporate sustainability goals and how these initiatives make businesses more competitive and drive economic growth.

The participating institutions include: Eastern Bank, Legal Seafood, MilliporeSigma, Partners Healthcare, and Schneider Electric, among others. These companies have set notable sustainability, clean energy, and energy efficiency goals and invested in innovative programs and projects to achieve these goals.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

PNC Financial Services Included in Bloomberg’s First Sector-neutral Gender-Equality Index

Jan 24, 2018 10:05 AM ET

PNC Financial Services announced today that it is one of over 100 companies from ten sectors to join the inaugural 2018 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI). Launched January 22, 2018, the reference index measures gender equality across internal company statistics, employee policies, external community support and engagement and gender-conscious product offerings.

Innovation & Technology

Learn How General Motors is Putting Safety at the Core of Autonomous Vehicle Development

Jan 24, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Imagine a world with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion. General Motors’ self-driving vehicle technology aims at making zero a reality. The fourth-generation Cruise AV is the first production-ready vehicle built from the start to operate safely on its own, with no driver, steering wheel, pedals or manual controls.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Fair Trade Health and Wellness Shopping Guide

Jan 24, 2018 9:30 AM ET

Let’s face it: Nowadays, we’re not especially good at taking care of ourselves. Even when we do think about our health and wellness, it's often in terms of fitness goals and eating habits, but that’s only a small piece—complete health and wellness is about nurturing your mind, body, and spirit.

Energy

Ecocentricity Blog: The Anthropocene Can Wait

Jan 24, 2018 9:30 AM ET

Solar cells imported into the United States will now face a tariff. That’s the bad news. The good news is that it could have been worse.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

IFF Listed on Euronext Vigeo US 50 Index

Jan 24, 2018 9:30 AM ET

International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) is pleased to announce that the company was again included on the Euronext Vigeo US 50 index, recognizing IFF as a leader in corporate responsibility. The index is composed of the top 50 listed companies in the United States as evaluated by Vigeo Eiris for their performance in six categories: Human Rights, Human Resources, Corporate Governance, Business Behaviour, Environment and Community Involvement. The indices are updated biannually, with selection based upon data from the Vigeo-developed Equitics® methodology.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Marina Bay Sands Team Members Share: What Volunteerism Means to Me

Jan 24, 2018 9:25 AM ET

Jaybeth Gonzales, Slot Supervisor at Marina Bay Sands, keeps a full schedule as a working mother and an active volunteer in her free time. As a single parent of six children, Gonzalez juggles between being a mom and her career, but she still regularly volunteers and gives back to the various organizations she is involved with. Her call to volunteerism began at an early age, growing up in the Philippines where, along with her family, she would distribute Christmas presents to the street children in Manila.

Sustainable Development Goals

Disaster Response and Recovery – Design Better. Then Build.

Jan 24, 2018 9:25 AM ET

In the aftermath of Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, it is time to re-think our approach to disaster response and recovery. Since 1980, average annual disaster costs have doubled every decade. This is financially unsustainable.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Is Subaru Love Real? Owner's Survey Tells the Story

Jan 24, 2018 9:15 AM ET

Is Subaru “Love” for vehicles like the Outback, Forester and Crosstrek real, or just a marketing campaign? Consumer Reports just announced which brands satisfy drivers most after living with their vehicles for three years, and it reveals Subaru “Love” is real.

Environment

The Debate Over Forest Fire Control Rages On

Jan 24, 2018 9:10 AM ET

2017 was marked by devastating forest fires that ravaged large swaths of North America. Millions of acres were scorched, hundreds of thousands of buildings were destroyed, and tens of thousands of people were displaced. Amidst these disconcerting numbers is a debate among ecologists, scientists and forestry experts: Should wildfires be controlled? Or should nature be allowed to take it's course? It's a complex question with many compelling answers.

Research, Reports & Publications

Data and Partnerships Serve as the Foundation for Tomorrow’s Smarter Cities

Jan 24, 2018 9:00 AM ET

The insights uncovered in Black & Veatch’s 2018 Strategic Directions: Smart Cities & Utilities Report demonstrate a growing awareness among communities and utilities that modern, digital infrastructure such as data collection networks, infrastructure automation and advanced communication systems are the key components of today’s smart city initiatives. It is only through these systems that cities and utilities can optimize operations to realize the promise of the smart city – and create a sustainable future.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Benevity and General Atlantic Announce Strategic Partnership

Jan 24, 2018 8:30 AM ET

Benevity, Inc., a global provider of corporate social responsibility and employee engagement software, announced today that General Atlantic, a leading global growth equity firm, has made a strategic investment in the company. This investment comes as Benevity achieves record client growth with its workplace giving, volunteering and community investment technology.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

A Record $84 Million Raised for Charities Through eBay in 2017

Jan 24, 2018 8:15 AM ET

“With $84 million through eBay for Charity in 2017, we are demonstrating our commitment to supporting the thousands of charities who use our platform to connect and raise funds every day,” said Brenda Halkias, General Manager of eBay for Charity. “This year, we will continue to focus on leveraging our platform for good and delivering new experiences on behalf of the eBay community. Together with our eBay buyers and sellers, we aim to raise $1 billion for charities by 2020."

Research, Reports & Publications

BCtA's Must-read Reports for 2018

Jan 24, 2018 8:05 AM ET

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of reports, research, analysis and articles out there, because there just isn’t enough time in the day to read every hot new report. To make it easier for you, we have compiled a list of important BCtA reports and tools from the past two years that you should add to your early 2018 reading list.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Merck for Mothers Talks Innovative Financing at the World Economic Forum: Unlocking the Potential of Development Impact Bonds

Jan 24, 2018 8:05 AM ET

Achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 will require new tools, financing mechanisms and partnerships to fill the estimated $3 trillion investment gap. Development Impact Bonds (DIBs) are an emerging area of innovative financing to achieve social and development outcomes by bringing together private investors, implementers, governments and donors to pave the way for a more-results oriented and sustainable approach to supporting health and economic prosperity, especially in growing markets. The risk of failure is shifted to investors, allowing governments and other donors to spend resources more effectively.

Environment

ReFED Analysis Reveals Food Waste Represents $18.2 Billion Profit Opportunity for Grocery Retailers

Jan 24, 2018 7:55 AM ET

Today, ReFED, a multi-stakeholder nonprofit committed to reducing the $218 billion of food waste in the United States, launched the Retail Food Waste Action Guide, which finds that food waste represents an $18.2 billion opportunity for grocery retailers.

Diversity & Inclusion

10 Reasons Why Schneider Electric Integrates the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index

Jan 24, 2018 7:45 AM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

Rebuilding Together and Lowe’s to Restore Minneapolis Neighborhood During Super Bowl-Sanctioned Event

Jan 24, 2018 7:00 AM ET

Rebuilding Together will host the 23rd annual community revitalization project, Kickoff to Rebuild, on Friday, February 2 leading up to Super Bowl LII weekend. This Super Bowl-sanctioned event will take place in the Tilsenbilt neighborhood of Minneapolis; the first neighborhood in Minneapolis to end housing discrimination in the 1950s.

Environment

Integrating Ecosystem Impact Assessment into Life Cycle Assessment

Jan 24, 2018 6:00 AM ET

The world’s forests face multiple threats: climate change, agricultural conversion, urban encroachment, and intensifying wood harvesting used in construction and a variety of consumer products. Crucial to addressing this problem is understanding the causes of deforestation, and the severity of related ecosystem disturbance and threatened species losses. SCS' groundbreaking LCA study on behalf of Stella McCartney compared the environmental performance of ten different raw material sources of MMCF.

Environment

Kris De Decker: Enough Is Enough

Jan 23, 2018 6:20 PM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Women in Lodging & Tourism – Hawaii Chapter Honors AEG’s Hawaii Convention Center General Manager As Woman of the Year

Jan 23, 2018 5:50 PM ET

AEG’s Hawaii Convention Center General Manager Teri Orton has been named 2018 Woman of the Year, a top honor conferred by the Women in Lodging & Tourism – Hawaii Chapter, an affiliate of the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association (HLTA).

Diversity & Inclusion

Q&A With Global Diversity and Inclusion Leader Rohini Anand, PhD

Jan 23, 2018 5:00 PM ET

The role of anyone leading global diversity and inclusion (D&I) efforts and strategy is to impact culture change. My responsibility is to create a more inclusive culture at Sodexo and to position us as a good corporate citizen. As D&I change agents, we have to approach our work with a systems mindset, looking to address processes, policies and procedures, mindsets and behaviors, and, ultimately, the culture.

Events, Media & Communications

Five Reasons to Register for the 2018 International Women’s Day Forum Today

Jan 23, 2018 4:30 PM ET

On March 6—7, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the U.S. Department of State will host the 2018 International Women’s Day Forum, Partner With Purpose: Business for Gender Equality, in Washington, DC. This event will convene the business community, civil society, and government representatives to discuss how to advance women’s empowerment around the globe.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

KeyBank Provides $10.4 Million in Total Financing for Affordable Housing in Upstate New York

Jan 23, 2018 4:00 PM ET

KeyBank Community Development Lending & Investment (CDLI) has provided a total of $10.4 million in financing to Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc., for the acquisition and rehabilitation of Ithaca City Apartments, a 98-unit complex located in Ithaca, NY.

Environment

What To Do with Those Old, So-Last-Season Gadgets?

Jan 23, 2018 2:00 PM ET

The holidays have come and gone. The lights and decorations are packed away in storage bins ready for next year. With the holiday clutter put away, you may just now be setting up your new television, tablet, computer or other electronic gadget that was on your wish list.

But what do you do with your old devices? They take up a lot of room, yes. But more importantly, they contain sensitive information and harmful materials like arsenic, lead and mercury. To secure you and your family from data theft and to ensure the hazardous material doesn’t harm our environment; electronics need to be disposed of differently than other waste.