Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Innovation & Technology

UPS Creates Global Partnership with Zipline and Gavi to Transform Delivery of Humanitarian Aid and Life-Saving Vaccines with Drones

May 9, 2016 11:45 AM ET

The UPS Foundation (NYSE: UPS) today announced a partnership with Zipline, a California­-based robotics company, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to explore using drones to transform the way life-saving medicines like blood and vaccines are delivered across the world.

Events, Media & Communications

PYXERA Global will Moderate Discussions on the Circular Economy at the 2016 Sustainability Forum

May 9, 2016 11:30 AM ET

PYXERA Global is a proud partner of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce 2016 Sustainability Forum. The Forum will convene tri-sector thought leaders and practitioners to share best practices for unlocking the business value of the circular economy. Laura Asiala, Vice President of Public Affairs and Client Relations, PYXERA Global, will speak on a panel and co-facilitate a working session during the Forum.

Innovation & Technology

Forest Gardens in Senegal Help Subsistence Farmers Thrive

May 9, 2016 11:25 AM ET

After decades of backbreaking subsistence farming, Malik Ndao faced a bleak future. Despite years of work cultivating his fields, Malik could barely grow enough crops in Senegal’s barren land and arid soil to feed his family, much less make a living. He was often forced to leave his wife and five children for months in search of additional work to support the family. “I used to leave my mother and wife for the entire dry season, and still I struggled to bring home $20,” Malik recalls from years earning tips pushing wheelbarrows and carrying boxes. Hunger drove him to scavenge the local forest for wood and fruit, where he gathered anything he could eat or sell. Barely surviving, he could only dream of a better life.

Environment

General Mills Creates Bee-Friendly Habitats in Supply Chain

May 9, 2016 11:15 AM ET

Education

AT&T Kicks Off Aspire Accelerator With 6 Leading Ed-Tech Startups

May 9, 2016 11:05 AM ET

AT&T is working with 6 innovative ed-tech startups for the 2016 AT&T Aspire Accelerator class. The program is in its second year and is part of our $350 million commitment to help students succeed in school and beyond. The Accelerator supports for- and non-profit organizations driving student success and career readiness. The primary measure of success for the Aspire Accelerator is societal impact that the participating organizations create.

Social Impact & Volunteering

How a Service Dog Buys Socks

May 9, 2016 11:00 AM ET

Did you know service dogs can make purchases? SSD Colorado, one of Susquehanna Service Dogs’ service dogs in training, is practicing how to make purchases at Foot Locker in Capital City Mall in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Louisiana Clean Fuel Leader Award Winners Announced

May 9, 2016 10:15 AM ET

Louisiana Clean Fuels (LCF) announced the winners of the Louisiana Clean Fuel Leader Awards on Apr. 14 during the organization’s annual conference and expo at the Lafayette Cajundome. LCF, a designated US DOE Clean Cities Coalition, awards the top alternative fuel users in the organization’s territory each year. This year’s event hosted over 100 attendees.

Responsible Production & Consumption

“Tin Mountain” Stirs Up Conflict Minerals Conversations in the Congo

May 9, 2016 10:05 AM ET

The Democratic Republic of Congo has faced extreme complications and exploitation via conflict minerals within the last decade. A new tin mine has been discovered by mining company Alphamin. Will things be different for mineral mining in the Congo this time around?

Innovation & Technology

Making the Right Partnership Connections

May 9, 2016 10:05 AM ET

It’s very much a case of chips with everything at ARM, the British semiconductor IP company. It patents and licenses chip technology to manufacturing giants that end up powering everything from our smartphones and household appliances to, more recently, our cars.

Responsible Production & Consumption

EU Commission on Cosmetics Approves Two Previously Restricted Substances For Use

May 9, 2016 10:05 AM ET

This past October, the European Commission on Cosmetics voted to approve the use of two previously restricted substances in products. Starting May 21st, the use of these compounds will be available for use in cosmetics products. This addition will have a tangible impact on the chemical management of many companies looking to, or already doing business in Europe.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Video Produced by MetLife Foundation and WSJ. Custom Studios Wins Three Telly Awards

May 9, 2016 10:00 AM ET

MetLife Foundation today, announced that Dispatch from India, a film co-produced with WSJ. Custom Studios, has won three Bronze Telly Awards. This premier award honors the finest in film and video productions, groundbreaking web commercials, videos and films, outstanding local, regional, and cable TV commercials and programs.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Emerging Issues, New Formats Keep the Forum Program Fresh

May 9, 2016 10:00 AM ET

One of the hallmarks of NAEM’s annual Forum is the leadership by a committee of peers, who crafts the conference program to showcase real-world solutions to the professional challenges they face. Committee chairman Frank Marino, Sr. Manager of Environmental, Health, Safety and Sustainability at Raytheon Co. , is heading up this year’s committee. We spoke with him to hear about some of the issues he’s looking forward to discussing this fall.

Health & Healthcare

A Golden Opportunity to Change Diabetes in Johannesburg

May 9, 2016 10:00 AM ET

In 1886 a large gold reef was discovered on a remote African farm setting off a major gold rush that led to the establishment of Johannesburg. As the news spread, the population of the city exploded with people hoping to find the riches and Johannesburg quickly became the largest city in South Africa.1 In fact, the Zulu name for Johannesburg is Egoli which means City of Gold.

Energy

National Grid talks Clean Energy Economic Development

May 9, 2016 9:30 AM ET

Events, Media & Communications

Team Behind Domtar’s Award-Winning Sustainability Report Share Best Practices on 3BL Media Webinar, June 21

May 9, 2016 9:15 AM ET

The team that wrote and distributed an award-winning 2015 sustainability report will join 3BL Media’s next “Best Practices” webinar to share their formula for creating unique and engaging content that garnered interest far beyond launch day.

Research, Reports & Publications

Wellness Begins with Safety at Lockheed Martin

May 9, 2016 9:10 AM ET

Energy

Clean Energy (SDG 7) in Focus for Investors; Corporations Taking Action; Identify Trends

May 9, 2016 9:00 AM ET

This week, Global Sourcing Council's 17 Weeks for 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) explores SDG 7 with examples of corporate action to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.

Research, Reports & Publications

Customer Input Shifts Cat® 994K Design Into High Gear

May 9, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Corporate Giving & Engagement: Values Alignment

May 9, 2016 8:35 AM ET

One of the hallmarks of a strategic CSR program is aligning your program with your business values.

Research, Reports & Publications

GRI Podcasts: Beyond Reports - Episode 3, Ernesto Ciorra

May 8, 2016 1:00 PM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

GRI Podcasts: Beyond Peports - Episode 2, Dr. Nelmara Arbex

May 7, 2016 1:00 PM ET

This month Nelmara Arbex talks about the initial findings of the Sustainability and Reporting 2025 project in the new GRI publication "The Next Era of Corporate Disclosure: Digital, Responsible, Interactive".

Innovation & Technology

MGMThink – Q+A with Bill Hornbuckle, President of MGM Resorts International

May 6, 2016 6:00 PM ET

The first week of May is National Travel and Tourism Week - America’s annual salute to travel and tourism.

We are pleased to welcome Q+A guest Bill Hornbuckle, President of MGM Resorts International. Bill has worked in hospitality and tourism for more than 40 years.

Innovation & Technology

Ideagen Convenes the World's Leading Companies, NGO's and Public Sector at Annual EU Leadership and Data for Good Summits

May 6, 2016 5:30 PM ET

Leading corporations, NGOs, and public sector organizations gathered together for the Data for Good Summit at Gallup World Headquarters on March 18, 2016. Leaders at the Data for Good Summit convened around the creation of new ideas regarding the impact of data and how cross-sector collaboration and innovation can be used to solve some of the world’s most vexing issues and the importance of developing a framework for sharing data across sectors.

Innovation & Technology

Bloomberg Engineers Tackle San Francisco Civic Challenges with Bayes Impact

May 6, 2016 5:00 PM ET

This month, engineers from Bloomberg’s Quant and Software Infrastructure teams built a toolkit that allows policy makers to study the communities of San Francisco and identify the types of investments that could have the greatest impact on a given neighborhood. The data used for the toolkit was provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the Bloomberg Philanthropies What Works Cities program.

Events, Media & Communications

Watch Shared Value Summit Live

May 6, 2016 5:00 PM ET

May 10-11: Watch live as leaders from across sectors share their perspectives on how business can change the world.