Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Education

149 Middle and High Schools Join Get Schooled’s Seventh Annual Fall Attendance Challenge Reaching More than 100,000 Students

Oct 6, 2017 12:50 PM ET

In an effort to combat chronic abseentism and boost attendance, 149 middle and high schools around the country have joined the 2017 Get Schooled Fall Attendance Challenge. Launching today, the national competition uses Get Schooled’s award-winning gamification strategies to boost student engagement and school attendance. Most active schools can ‘unlock the box’ and earn a $500 grant. Top performing schools can earn a $3,000 grant and a custom-designed experience for their school.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Kohler’s Support of WaterSense® Program Once Again Earns EPA Recognition

Oct 6, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Kohler Co. has earned its fifth consecutive Sustained Excellence Award from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Kohler, the leading manufacturer of kitchen and bath plumbing products in the U.S., has partnered with the EPA’s WaterSense® program since 2007 and was recognized again in 2017 for its leadership in water-saving product innovation and consumer advocacy.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

CVS Health Announces $10 Million Donation Following In-Store Fundraising Campaign for Hurricane Rebuilding Efforts

Oct 6, 2017 11:45 AM ET

CVS Health [NYSE:CVS] today announced that its customers and colleagues donated nearly $4 million to support the Florida, Texas and Puerto Rico communities that were devastated by recent hurricanes, during a 10-day in-store fundraising campaign. The company also announced that it will donate more than $6 million of critical products and supplies to these communities, bringing CVS Health’s total support to $10 million.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

American Standard Wins 2017 WaterSense Partner of the Year

Oct 6, 2017 10:45 AM ET

American Standard, part of the LIXIL Corporation, has been recognized with a 2017 WaterSense Manufacturer Partner of the Year Award for the brand’s ongoing efforts to increase awareness about water conservation and the use of WaterSense labeled products. A two-time winner of this distinction from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), American Standard demonstrated the importance of looking toward the future through its research and development of new water-efficient technologies.

Research, Reports & Publications

Schneider Electric | The Definitive Guide to Global Energy Attribute Certificates: Companies Can Save Money While Being Responsible

Oct 6, 2017 9:55 AM ET

Renewable electricity purchasing in the commercial, industrial, and institutional sector (C&I) has exploded, bolstered by rapidly falling prices and improvements in technology. NGO mandates, such as the Scope 2 protocol, have further driven market development around the world.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

VIDEO | Dynamic Working is a Win-Win at Barclays

Oct 6, 2017 9:50 AM ET

As the UK marks National Work Life Week, we hear how dynamic ways of working have become embedded in Barclays’ culture, empowering colleagues to work in the way that suits their lives – and leaving the bank better able to serve customers’ needs.

Sustainable Development Goals

‘Major’ Food Alliance Commits to Halving Members’ Food Waste

Oct 6, 2017 9:50 AM ET

A global initiative committing major international food producers to tough new targets on food waste has been unveiled at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly’s Climate Week in New York.

Innovation & Technology

Arrow Electronics Launches Surface-as-a-Service to Help Companies Easily and Sustainably Manage Their Tech Assets

Oct 6, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Global technology-solutions provider Arrow Electronics, Inc. (NYSE: ARW) launched a new Surface-as-a-Service offering today that will help companies strategically manage their technology assets throughout the entire device lifecycle—from optimized procurement all the way through sustainable, end-of-life retirement.

Education

Kids in Arizona Dive into Water Education with Support from Essity

Oct 6, 2017 9:30 AM ET

"Water conservation is important to Essity, and teaching students about this topic is something we are proud to support. We know that educators have limited money available to do everything they would like to do with their students and we are proud to support their commitment to sustainability and provide extra funds to make their projects a reality. Getting students and young people involved in environmental learning is a key part of ensuring a life-long commitment to sustainability. Thank you to the city of Flagstaff for instilling this behavior in our young citizens. We are honored to support the cause."

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

De Beers Partners With Local Institutions to Provide Free Wifi to Young People

Oct 6, 2017 9:30 AM ET

A partnership involving De Beers Group has brought free wifi to the Oppenheimer Park in Kimberley to help scores of young South Africans without access to the internet.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Freeport-McMoRan’s Safford Operations Receives Award for Burrowing Owl Habitat Restoration Program

Oct 6, 2017 9:25 AM ET

Freeport-McMoRan’s Safford copper mining operations were recently honored by the Arizona Mining Association with the 2017 Sustainability, Preservation and Diversity in Environment award in recognition of environmental excellence. The site received the award for a habitat restoration program to construct artificial burrows, or underground homes, for owls displaced by land development and construction.

Diversity & Inclusion

Aflac | Doing Good for Our Employees

Oct 6, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Tyrone Kirkland’s role as a career counselor at Aflac’s Career Success Center goes beyond goal setting and résumé help. He sees his job as a chance to identify hidden talent. In this chapter, we’ll highlight essential features for becoming an employer of choice that fosters a culture and an environment of inclusion while attracting and retaining a diverse workforce.

Environment

Xylem Watermark: Protecting Watersheds and Wetlands

Oct 6, 2017 9:00 AM ET

As part of Xylem Watermark’s inaugural Global Month of Service in October 2016, a team of employees helped replenish critical wetlands that protect the New Orleans region of the Mississippi River from soil erosion and flooding.

Social Impact & Volunteering

City High Student Wins ArtPrize in SmartArt Competition

Oct 6, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Innovation & Technology

NYC Mayor’s Office for Economic Opportunity, Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, and Citi Community Development Announce the Launch of the Nation’s First-Ever Municipal Service Design Studio Dedicated to Improving Services for Low-Income Residents

Oct 6, 2017 9:00 AM ET

The Mayor's Office for Economic Opportunity, the Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City, and Citi Community Development announce the launch of the nation’s first-ever Service Design Studio and toolkit dedicated to making public services for low-income New Yorkers as effective and accessible as possible.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Hunger Is, a Joint Charitable Initiative of the Albertsons Companies Foundation and the Entertainment Industry Foundation, Announces the $30K in 30 Days Project to Support Charities That Share Stories About the Impact of Hunger Is Funding

Oct 6, 2017 8:55 AM ET

LOS ANGELES, October 5, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Hunger Is, a joint charitable initiative of the Albertsons Companies Foundation and the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), announced today the $30K in 30 Days Project to award an additional $30,000 to organizations tha

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Corporate Responsibility Practitioner Roundup: Whirlpool Corporation

Oct 6, 2017 8:55 AM ET

CR Magazine sat down with Ron Voglewede, Global Sustainability Director of Whirlpool Corporation, to discuss the value of corporate responsibility and the company's corporate strategy for 2017 and beyond.

Environment

TD and Bloomberg BNA Bring Industry Leaders Together to Discuss Transition to Low-Carbon Economy

Oct 6, 2017 8:00 AM ET

TD Bank Group and Bloomberg BNA recently launched a two-year program, the TD-Bloomberg Sustainable Dialogues, that will host a series of dialogues to bring together industry leaders to talk about what it will take to meet 2030 targets and transition to a low-carbon economy. The series kicked off at the Bloomberg Sustainable Business Summit in Toronto on September 27, 2017, with over 20 speakers at the event from industry, government and not-for-profit.

Research, Reports & Publications

VMware Global Impact Report: Annual Progress Update

Oct 5, 2017 4:55 PM ET

VMware has a reputation for tackling big challenges boldly. Nowhere is this more evident than in our journey to leave ahead a better future, particularly when it comes to the environment and society. In 2016, we presented our first ever Global Impact Report, “Force for Good,” which details 15 ambitious aspirations and goals we have set out to reach by 2020.

Environment

New Study Reaffirms Newmont Tailings Responsibly Managed at Buyat Bay in Indonesia

Oct 5, 2017 4:50 PM ET

A recently published report, coordinated by the Government of Indonesia’s Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education, concluded that Newmont’s former Mesel gold mine in North Sulawesi, Indonesia – which ceased production in 2004 – responsibly managed tailings disposal at the operation.

Diversity & Inclusion

How Diversity Leads to Better Technology

Oct 5, 2017 3:50 PM ET

Our world is changing more quickly than ever through the advent of digital technology. Fuencis Gómez, Vice President of Digital Banking at Scotiabank Mexico, remembers the beginning of her digital journey. “I had the opportunity to experience the first stages of e-commerce in the travel industry in 1997. Twenty years later, we see that those first technology players are now the leaders in travel.”

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Timberland Volunteers Leave Their Footprint in the Community for the Company’s 20th Annual Serv-a-Palooza

Oct 5, 2017 3:30 PM ET

While the name Serv-a-Palooza may conjure thoughts of the mid-to-late 1990s, global outdoor lifestyle brand Timberland’s enthusiasm for its annual day of service is as current as ever. Over 350 employees of Timberland’s Stratham, New Hampshire headquarters and guests pulled on their boots on September 14 to serve at seven community projects aimed to make nearby communities a little brighter.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Celebrate Main Streets This Weekend!

Oct 5, 2017 3:05 PM ET

American Express has long advocated for historic preservation and small businesses, engaging the public in activities that help commercial corridors thrive.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Ellen DeGeneres Announces Wells Fargo’s Additional Funding for Puerto Rico

Oct 5, 2017 2:30 PM ET

Ellen DeGeneres announced on the Sept. 29 episode of her television show that Wells Fargo will donate $250,000 to support relief efforts in Puerto Rico. The funding will help immediate and long-term recovery efforts in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria hit the island as a Category 4 storm on Sept. 20. Habitat for Humanity® of Puerto Rico is the primary beneficiary of the funding.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Corporate Responsibility Practitioner Roundup: Whirlpool Corporation

Oct 5, 2017 2:25 PM ET

While in Detroit for Sustainable Brands, CR Magazine spoke with Ron Voglewede, Global Sustainability Director, Whirlpool Corporation. Ron is also on the Board of Directors at the Alliance for Water Efficiency.