Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Responsible Production & Consumption

U.S. EPA Includes Declare and the Living Product Challenge in Recommendations to Federal Purchasers

Jan 20, 2017 1:45 PM ET

The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) announced that the Living Product Challenge and Declare are now recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in its Recommendations of Specifications, Standards and Ecolabels for federal purchasers.

The recommendations, which help federal purchasers identify and procure environmentally sustainable products and services, include the Living Product Challenge and Declare as recommended standards for a range of low-emitting materials including carpet, flooring products, furniture, and interior latex paint.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Why Companies Will Take the Lead on Important Issues in the Trump Era

Jan 20, 2017 1:35 PM ET

Business has the opportunity and obligation to advance critical social and environmental issues—and the momentum is undeniable. Regardless of who may be in office, business continues to move the needle on crucial causes.

Innovation & Technology

Study Looks at Biofuel for Flights Out of Sea-Tac

Jan 20, 2017 1:20 PM ET

Sea-Tac Airport could become one of the first major U.S. airports to start using biofuel for every flight that leaves its tarmac.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Why Your Employees Aren’t Using Their Allotted Volunteer Hours

Jan 20, 2017 12:55 PM ET

Managers of employee volunteer programs often say they aren’t seeing high enough participation rates within their volunteer initiatives. Based on what he has seen and heard, Caleb Dow of Porpoise explains a few reasons why their programs might not be working – and how to fix them.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Helping America's Working Poor

Jan 20, 2017 11:40 AM ET

Do I pay the rent or feed my children? Do I heat my home … or do I eat? These are some of the tough choices many families in America face today. Did you know that a staggering 1 in 6 children faces hunger in America?

Diversity & Inclusion

Introducing the Antea Group Boston Office!

Jan 20, 2017 9:45 AM ET

The Boston office is staffed with a diverse team, experienced in providing health and safety, environmental compliance, site assessment and remediation, and facility decommissioning support to a broad range of clients. We work with clients throughout Massachusetts and New England in the technology, food and beverage, railroad, oil and gas, healthcare, and manufacturing industries.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Keep America Beautiful National Youth Advisory Council Set to Visit Manassas National Battlefield Park

Jan 20, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s leading nonprofit that envisions a country in which every community is a green, clean and beautiful place to live, will provide it’s National Youth Advisory Council members with the chance to experience Manassas National Battlefield Park in a unique way – by mapping “Trees of Significance” throughout the park.

Innovation & Technology

Smart Grid Gains From New Black & Veatch EPC Program Management System

Jan 20, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Black & Veatch announced today a new tool aimed at helping utilities deploy large-scale grid modernization projects. The company’s cloud-based Spatial Engineering Knowledge Optimization Immersive Analysis system – SEKOIA – is a central hub for all project management and design-build applications.

Education

Meet Amgen Scholars Alumni Anthony Preza

Jan 20, 2017 8:45 AM ET

My mom is a scientist. She carried out microbiology research as a graduate student, and later as a postdoc, for most of my upbringing. I would go to the lab with her, and I also remember working intensely on school science projects.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Wells Fargo LIFT Programs Create 2,000 Homeowners in 2016

Jan 20, 2017 8:25 AM ET

More than 2,000 families and individuals purchased their home in 2016 through Wells Fargo LIFT programs, which offer homebuyer education plus down payment assistance in local communities.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Mind Your Menus: What to Expect from the World of Food and Drink in 2017

Jan 20, 2017 8:05 AM ET

With nearly everyone happy to see the backside of 2016, most of us are especially grateful to have a shot at that symbolic clean slate that January always promises. And this year, clean living doesn’t seem to be quite as important as social responsibility judging by many in the food and drink industries who are renewing their commitments to making the world a better place. As such, 2017 is already shaping up to be the Year of Mindful Eating and Drinking.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Kimberly-Clark Professional’s Supply Chain Team Inspired to Help Atlanta’s Homeless Children

Jan 20, 2017 7:00 AM ET

Inspired by a rally cry of “No Peanut Butter and Jelly for Christmas Dinner,” the Supply Chain team for Kimberly-Clark’s Professional business made time during the typical year-end rush of activity to coordinate employees on the company’s Roswell, Georgia campus in support another successful food drive for the Children’s Restoration Network, CRN, in Atlanta.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

MGM Resorts International Donates $150,000 to Support Best Buddies Nevada’s Jobs Program for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Jan 19, 2017 4:00 PM ET

Best Buddies International, a nonprofit founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), is excited to announce a generous donation from MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) of $150,000 to support the Best Buddies Jobs program in Nevada.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

U.S. Conference of Mayors, Wells Fargo Announce 2017 CommunityWINS Grant Program

Jan 19, 2017 2:15 PM ET

The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) and Wells Fargo today announced a call for nominations for the 2017 CommunityWINS℠ grant program, aimed at accelerating neighborhood revitalization, economic development, and job creation in municipalities across the country.

Launched in 2015, the CommunityWINS grant program includes a $3 million investment by the Wells Fargo Foundation over three years. CommunityWINS grant program is administered by The U.S. Conference of Mayors and funded by the Wells Fargo Foundation.

Diversity & Inclusion

Nestlé in the U.S. Announces Veteran Career Support Partnerships with Hiring Our Heroes and The Mission Continues

Jan 19, 2017 2:15 PM ET

Events, Media & Communications

WEF 2017: Paul Jacobs and Industry Experts Discuss the Challenges and Opportunities of Autonomous Driving [Video]

Jan 19, 2017 2:00 PM ET

The world is shifting to autonomous and driverless vehicles, and Qualcomm is among those with their foot on the gas.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Comcast Named Top Military Spouse Friendly Employer

Jan 19, 2017 1:45 PM ET

Military Spouse magazine released its annual Top 100 Military Spouse Friendly Employers’ list, and Comcast NBCUniversal is number one overall in 2017.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Feature Q&A with Tyler Butler, Principal and Founder, 11Eleven Consulting and Former CSR Director at GoDaddy

Jan 19, 2017 1:30 PM ET

Tyler Butler is Founder and Principal of 11Eleven Consulting. 11Eleven is a boutique consulting firm focused on aiding companies who aim to do well by doing good. 11Eleven assists companies to develop meaningful and innovative corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs.

Energy

US Clean Energy Forecast for 2017

Jan 19, 2017 1:15 PM ET

With Davos this week and current uncertainty around climate change policy from the White House, it’s even more important for business to see the benefits clean energy renewable energy can provide for long term sustainable growth. Ethical Corporation has just produced 7 pages of exclusive insight into clean energy strategies from leading renewable businesses: General Motors and Autodesk.

Environment

LSU Football Fans Champions of 2016 GameDay Recycling Challenge

Jan 19, 2017 12:30 PM ET

While Clemson University recently defeated the University of Alabama in the College Football Playoff National Championship, football fans at Louisiana State University could also claim a championship of their own having been crowned the overall winners of the 2016 GameDay Recycling Challenge (GDRC), the national collegiate football recycling competition.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Nine Amazing Ways to Give Back in 2017

Jan 19, 2017 12:30 PM ET

Corporate houses and entrepreneurs are custodians of the future. They are responsible for creating a long lasting measurable change that could add value in the economic and social welfare arenas.

Energy

Duke Energy Turned N.C.'s Sunny Days Into More Solar Energy Capacity in 2016

Jan 19, 2017 11:00 AM ET

North Carolina's status as a national solar energy leader expanded further in 2016 as Duke Energy connected about 500 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity in the state to serve customers.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Return on Equality: Investment Opportunities that Help Close the Global Gender Gap

Jan 19, 2017 10:30 AM ET

Achieving gender equality is essential as a matter of justice and human rights — and it also unleashes a range of positive economic and development outcomes. While women and girls have made significant gains in the past decade in terms of education, health, economic participation, and political leadership, gender equality has yet to be attained in many critical areas, and at the cost of substantial and unrealized social and market benefits. In fact, the McKinsey Global Institute estimates that narrowing the global gender gap could add US $12 trillion in annual gross domestic product.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Jewelry Industry Moves Toward More Sustainable and Ethical Supply Chains

Jan 19, 2017 10:30 AM ET

The jewelry industry has forged ahead with recent efforts to ensure gemstones and other jewelry products are sustainably sourced. Before the American Gem Trade Association’s annual conference kicks off in Tucson, hundreds of jewelers and others will gather on Jan. 29-30 for their second “Jewelry Industry Summit” to advance efforts for responsible sourcing of gemstones and to improve sustainability in the gem supply trade.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Astellas Improves Rank in Second Year Named to Corporate Knights’ 2017 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations

Jan 19, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Astellas has been named for the second year one of Corporate Knights’ 2017 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World, moving up 10 spots in the index. Corporate Knights announced this year’s honorees at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.