Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Responsible Production & Consumption

Supply Chain Course: Manage and Communicate with Vendors and Suppliers

Nov 16, 2016 8:00 AM ET

This one-day course examines the environmental, social, and economic risks and opportunities present throughout a company's supply chain.

Energy

Off-grid Solar Sparks Energy Revolution in Africa

Nov 16, 2016 8:00 AM ET

Many parts of Africa that were never linked to an electric grid are skipping that bit and racing ahead with the solar revolution, thanks to off-grid solar. Several companies, including Off Grid Electric, Bboxx, Azuri Technologies and M-Kopa, have built a massive customer base that is bringing sustainable progress to that part of the world.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Challenges, Opportunities, the Road Ahead: Q&A with Norfolk Southern’s Corporate Sustainability Officer

Nov 16, 2016 6:30 AM ET

In this Q&A, Bruno Maestri, named CSO at Norfolk Southern in June 2015, talks about the sustainability opportunities and challenges facing the railroad, the role railroads play in reducing transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions, and the steps ahead on its social responsibility journey.

Innovation & Technology

Bloomberg Interns Decode an Out-of-this-World Challenge

Nov 16, 2016 5:15 AM ET

Picture this: What happens when you take Bloomberg global engineering interns and task them with fixing a broken rocket ship? Take a look here:

​The Engineering Intern Puzzle Challenge was an 18-hour overnight competition for Bloomberg interns in New York and London that unraveled an intricate space-themed story.

Environment

This America Recycles Day, HP & Staples Celebrated Their 10 Year Recycling Partnership.

Nov 16, 2016 2:30 AM ET

Diversity & Inclusion

Don't Miss this Free Webinar on the Role of Diversity in CSR!

Nov 15, 2016 6:35 PM ET

VolunteerMatch and Year Up have partnered to bring you a free webinar about the role of diversity in corporate social responsibility -- and the companies getting it right! It's happening this Thursday November 17, 2016. Learn more and reserve your spot.

Diversity & Inclusion

Open Source Needs to Deliver Diversity

Nov 15, 2016 5:20 PM ET

In this contributed post, Christine Flounders, regional manager for engineering at Bloomberg L.P. London explains the importance of diversity in open source.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Who Will Be This Year’s Most Community-Minded Companies?

Nov 15, 2016 4:30 PM ET

Washington (Nov. 15, 2016) – For Eli Lilly and Company, community change means ensuring every student in Indianapolis has access to STEM education. For FedEx, it means having FedEx team members help teach safe motorist behaviors to create safer, more walkable communities. For KeyBank, community change manifests itself in $25 million in funding and research efforts for affordable housing communities across the country. These are just three of the 50 companies Points of Light recognized as best practice corporate citizens in 2016. Who will be among the most community-minded companies in America in 2017?

Health & Healthcare

Dining Out For Life to Commemorate World AIDS Day With 360-Degree Video

Nov 15, 2016 4:15 PM ET

On World AIDS Day, December 1st, 2016, Project Runway All Stars winner and Dining Out For Life spokesperson Mondo Guerra will reveal a 360-degree video designed to emphasize the power of Pozitivity while fostering hope and inspiration for people infected or affected by HIV/AIDS.

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar Law and Public Policy Review

Nov 15, 2016 4:00 PM ET

Law and Public Policy includes the Legal Services Division and the Global Government & Corporate Affairs Division. Responsibilities include legal and compliance services; media relations; internal communications; government affairs advocacy; sustainability consulting; and global environmental, health and safety services. Support for the Caterpillar Foundation is also provided by our group, making sustainable progress possible around the world.

Research, Reports & Publications

Annual Corporate “Impact Investing” Market Estimated at $2.4 Billion; One-Third of Large Companies Actively Investing

Nov 15, 2016 3:00 PM ET

A new study released by CECP and supported by Prudential Financial, Inc. found that large corporations invest approximately US$2.4 billion each year in initiatives and ventures designed to achieve financial returns as well as a positive economic, social, or environmental impact – commonly referred to as “impact investing.” The groundbreaking pilot study, Investing with Purpose, is the first time that the corporate role in impact investing has been analyzed in depth.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Strangers Help a Wheelchair Racer (and Find Out Later She’s a Gold Medalist)

Nov 15, 2016 2:25 PM ET

The mystery of the Chinese Paralympic champion in the New York City Marathon took a while to unravel.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Acquisition Baseline Assessment for an Independent Refiner

Nov 15, 2016 1:55 PM ET

Antea Group was contracted to identify and quantify potential environmental liability associated with the operational acquisition of a multi-site portfolio of California retail fuel outlets. The objective consisted of characterizing existing petroleum hydrocarbon impacts by developing a custom Phase II baseline assessment scope of work to address specific data gaps identified in previously performed Phase I Environmental Site Assessments.

Environment

A Visit to a Treehouse in the Carpet Capital

Nov 15, 2016 1:35 PM ET

Light Lab, Mohawk Group's new design center, has won Petal Certification from the International Living Future Institute’s Living Building Challenge (LBC) program. Light Lab was the first LBC Petal Certified project in Georgia and the first restoration project in the Southeastern U.S.

Environment

Can Business Trump Trump’s Anti-Climate Stance

Nov 15, 2016 1:25 PM ET

Donald Trump’s election has sent the global climate community into a tailspin.

Social Impact & Volunteering

CSX Employees Volunteer at Baltimore School

Nov 15, 2016 1:25 PM ET

As the final stop on the company’s 2016 tour of volunteer events across its network, CSX hosted a day of service at Windsor Hills Elementary School in Baltimore, Md. More than 130 volunteers from CSX, Windsor Hills, and nonprofit organizations City Year and Action for Healthy Kids joined together to improve the school.

Education

Helping Women Entrepreneurs Build Business Skills

Nov 15, 2016 1:15 PM ET

Diversity & Inclusion

Supporting Military Reservists & Families in the Workplace

Nov 15, 2016 12:40 PM ET

This is the time of year when we reflect on the many things that those who have served in the armed forces have given to our country. But as service members like me know, serving in the military can give you back just as much. Serving as a Navy reservist gave me many skills that I brought with me to the workplace. But, at the same time, I could never have fulfilled my service without a supportive employer.

Environment

Mississippi River Tires to Become GM Car Parts

Nov 15, 2016 12:25 PM ET

Today is America Recycles Day – an opportunity to celebrate recycling in the United States. GM knows recycling is good business and enjoys turning waste streams into revenue streams daily. Its vision is a future where cars are built without waste. Momentum is strong with 139 landfill-free sites around the world and more on the way.

Energy

CTC Global’s ACCC® Conductor Earns First Third-Party Certification for Reduced CO2 Emissions from Improved Energy Efficiency

Nov 15, 2016 12:15 PM ET

SCS Global Services (SCS) has certified CTC Global's ACCC conductor for reducing CO2 emissions associated with transmission line losses by 27 to 31 percent under certain design conditions compared to the conventional ACSR conductor. The use of ACCC can achieve CO2 emission reduction goals and advance climate action plans.

Innovation & Technology

Social Good Meets Business Strategy With This Multi-Billion Dollar Tech Company

Nov 15, 2016 12:05 PM ET

In today's day and age it is all about social good (or at least it should be). There are numerous companies that are leading the trend. TOMS is one of the most widely recognized companies doing social good with the concept of buying a pair of shoes and giving one to someone in need.

Environment

This America Recycles Day, Remember: Empty, Clean & Dry

Nov 15, 2016 11:45 AM ET

This America Recycles Day, Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG) encourages consumers to ensure that their recyclables are Empty, Clean & Dry. These three simple steps will help to reduce materials contamination in the recycling waste stream and ensure recyclables are repurposed into new materials as intended, while also improving the economics of recycling.

Environment

Increasing Recycling Rather Than Just Supporting It

Nov 15, 2016 11:45 AM ET

America Recycles Day is upon us, but does America recycle? Studies overwhelmingly reveal that Americans support recycling. Unfortunately, support for recycling doesn’t always translate into action.

So, what is holding consumers back from recycling more? Find out on our newest blog post at Ideas Unpacked.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Supporting Foster Care Adoption…it’s as Easy as Eating Dinner!

Nov 15, 2016 11:35 AM ET

At Wendy’s we have a wonderful tradition of celebrating our birthday and honoring our founder every year during Founder’s Week. This year, we make Founder’s Week even more special with the introduction of National Adoption Night. Tonight, on November 15, more than 90 percent of our restaurants will donate 15 percent of their evening sales to help local children in foster care find loving homes.

Environment

Mars Calls on Global Leaders to Take Bold Action on Climate Change, Accelerates Its Own Renewable Energy Efforts

Nov 15, 2016 11:25 AM ET

Mars, Incorporated is urging the business community and global leaders at COP22 to take bold action to implement the targets agreed last year in Paris for tackling climate change. Mars combined this call to action with an announcement of plans for a wind farm in Mexico—its third major wind energy commitment in as many years.