Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Environment

PT Freeport Indonesia, a Freeport-McMoRan company, provides relief to region battling smoke from forest fires

Nov 10, 2015 8:15 AM ET

Since mid-October, the archipelago of Indonesia has been under a haze of smoke from fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan. Mimika Regency in Papua, located east of where the fires rage, has smog thick enough to close the local airport.
In response to the smoke and haze damage, PT Freeport Indonesia has provided 6 tons of food as well as supplies for response teams dealing with the smoke and fire devastation.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Food Giants Commit to Testing World’s First Sustainable Rice Standard

Nov 10, 2015 8:00 AM ET

Rice is a food staple to more than half of the world’s seven billion people. A large part of rice consumption occurs in Asia, where it is a staple for a majority of the population, including the region’s 560 million hungry people. At the current global population growth rate, the world will have to grow 50 percent more rice by 2050.

Events, Media & Communications

Code.org, Disney and Lucasfilm Broaden Participation in Science with Star Wars™ Hour of Code Tutorial

Nov 10, 2015 7:50 AM ET

This week, Code.org, Disney and Lucasfilm unveiled a Star Wars™-themed computer science tutorial featuring Princess Leia, C-3PO and R2-D2, as well as Rey and BB-8 from the upcoming film Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The online lesson kicks off the third-annual Hour of Code campaign, a worldwide effort to broaden participation in computer science during Computer Science Education Week, December 7–13.

Education

A Conversation with Amy Bird, Lending Manager for the Education Portfolio at RSF Social Finance

Nov 10, 2015 7:05 AM ET

Amy Bird joined RSF Social Finance in June of this year, and is responsible for cultivating strong relationships with education borrowers. RSF’s communications manager, Enrique Perez, recently interviewed Amy about her journey from student to globetrotter to move-and-shaker in the Waldorf education movement.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Help Us Support Local Heroes at Your Neighborhood Albertsons, Safeway, Jewel-Osco, and Vons

Nov 10, 2015 7:00 AM ET

In honor of Veterans Day, Albertsons Companies would like to express our sincerest gratitude to all who have served our country, both active military as well as veterans. There are nearly 22 million veterans in the U.S.; these brave individuals are our friends, neighbors, relativ

Innovation & Technology

NS: Innovative Service Solutions

Nov 10, 2015 6:05 AM ET

Environment

Goldcorp’s Role in Helping Conserve Pacific Salmon

Nov 9, 2015 7:00 PM ET

In western Canada, vibrant salmon populations have long been considered an important bellwether of the health of the surrounding ecosystem.

Environment

Le rôle de Goldcorp pour aider à la conservation du saumon du Pacifique

Nov 9, 2015 7:00 PM ET

Dans l’ouest du Canada, les populations vibrantes de saumons ont longtemps été considérées comme un important indicateur de la santé de l’écosystème environnant.

Social Impact & Volunteering

A Walk in the Woods Leads to an Unexpected Journey for This Veteran

Nov 9, 2015 6:45 PM ET

This week, in honor of Veterans Day, we celebrate the men and women who have served our country, who today are channeling that impulse to serve to make a difference in their communities. Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree, Sean Gobin.

Environment

Indonesia Fires: What Can Be Done About Them

Nov 9, 2015 4:00 PM ET

Indonesia has become the site of the greatest environmental disaster of the 21st century. Since August, raging fires have enveloped the country in a film of smoke. Wildlife, including the iconic orangutan, has been displaced or burned alive, and one third of them are in serious danger in the islands of Sumatra and Borneo.

Social Impact & Volunteering

SCE Employees Rally to Help Syrian Refugees

Nov 9, 2015 4:00 PM ET

Southern California Edison employees recently rallied to collect donations to help refugees.

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog - November 9, 2015

Nov 9, 2015 2:30 PM ET

Environment

National Grid Recognised for Climate Change Transparency

Nov 9, 2015 2:30 PM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

Electric Lights Parade

Nov 9, 2015 1:45 PM ET

Environment

VIDEO | Why Recycling – And Buying Recycled – Matters

Nov 9, 2015 1:30 PM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

Benevity Acquires GrantStream, Offering Single, Integrated Solution that Delivers Greater Engagement and Impact

Nov 9, 2015 12:45 PM ET

Benevity Inc., the leading global supplier of workplace giving and volunteer management software, announced the acquisition of GrantStream, a long-recognized leader in grants management software. The partnership provides a single solution that seamlessly integrates employee giving, volunteering and grantmaking for all Benevity and GrantStream clients, which include some of the most iconic companies in the world.

Environment

Corporate Philanthropy is More Than Writing Checks

Nov 9, 2015 11:15 AM ET

Health & Healthcare

Student Farmers Growing Veggies, Engaging Community and Raising Academic Performance

Nov 9, 2015 11:15 AM ET

On behalf of the children, families and community of the South Bronx, I thank you for opportunity to share my story, my passion and my mission with you. One might wonder what a teacher from the South Bronx – the poorest Congressional District in America – would have to say? The answer is simple; Green Bronx Machine!

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

The Power of Sustainable Business

Nov 9, 2015 11:00 AM ET

Innovation & Technology

Villa Vassilieff: Launch of the Pernod Ricard Fellowship

Nov 9, 2015 10:55 AM ET

Diversity & Inclusion

Carnival Shifts Key Sales Leadership Positions and Creates New Roles to Better Serve Travel Agents

Nov 9, 2015 10:25 AM ET

Carnival Cruise Line has made a number of enhancements to its trade sales organization, shifting two of its most experienced sales professionals to new roles and appointing sales directors to oversee two newly created territories. The company is also adding a new sales position responsible for the Gulf Coast region. Sales management positions have been added within the line’s international sales division, as well. The changes are part of Carnival’s “Onboard with You” trade support platform, launched last month.

Events, Media & Communications

28 Predictions from Bentley University Experts On the Future Directions of of Sustainability (Sustainability Highlights | 11.05.2015)

Nov 9, 2015 10:15 AM ET

Bentley University (Waltham, MA) is a leading business school offering undergrad and MBA / MBS degrees. There are 4,200 undergrad and 1,400 grad students enrolled, studying accounting, finance, marketing, managements and liberal arts, all (the university says) "anchored" in technology. This private, not-for-profit institution of higher learning offers a blend of business, technology and liberal arts to prepare students with "relevant, practical, transferable skills." So where does Bentley the institution stand on matters regarding sustainability, corporate responsibility, ethical behaviors and other important aspects of 21stCentury business?

Events, Media & Communications

New Emoji Empowers Teens to Stop Online Bullying

Nov 9, 2015 10:15 AM ET

Health & Healthcare

IBM World Community Grid Pioneering New Techniques in the Fight Against HIV

Nov 9, 2015 10:00 AM ET

In a decade-long collaboration with over half a million World Community Grid volunteers, The Scripps Research Institute has made significant advances in the fight against HIV. With the virus constantly evolving, the research team is leveraging World Community Grid to pioneer the use of new analysis techniques to more quickly and accurately identify promising anti-HIV drug candidates. These techniques could prove effective for other medical research efforts too.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Mind the Gap: Companies Partner to Build Skilled Labor

Nov 9, 2015 10:00 AM ET

In India, where over 12 million young people join the labor force every year, an even more acute skills gap has far reaching socio-economic implications; just two percent of the nearly 500 million-person workforce can be classified as skilled. Although India has world-renowned educational institutions, such as the Indian Institute of Technology, the vast majority of students are ill-prepared for the demands of the modern labor market due to outdated curriculum and a lack of qualified instructors. A 2012 study by the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and EY noted that to meet vocational training needs, the country will require 70,000 additional instructors. Currently qualified instructors are entering the market at a rate of only 1,600 per year.