Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Diversity & Inclusion

Minnesota Faces of Margraten: “The Biggest Gift”

May 29, 2018 2:45 PM ET

The call came from Minnesota Faces of Margraten, a joint project by Medtronic employees and retirees in the Netherlands and the United States, to locate photographs of all 234 Minnesota soldiers memorialized at the Netherlands American Cemetery near the village of Margraten. Thanks to Minnesota Faces of Margraten, Linda’s favorite picture of her father now stands beside his gravesite in the Netherlands.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Smithfield Foods and Victory Junction Unveil New Indoor Archery Facility

May 29, 2018 2:05 PM ET

Today, Victory Junction, a children’s camp committed to enriching the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses by providing life-changing camp experiences, unveiled the Smithfield Foods Archery Center. The camp’s new indoor facility is funded by a $500,000 gift from the Smithfield Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Smithfield Foods, Inc.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

The Hidden Story of Climate Proposals in the 2018 Proxy Season

May 29, 2018 2:00 PM ET

The 2017 proxy season offered some indelible headlines on climate-related shareholder action: majority votes at ExxonMobil, Occidental Petroleum and PPL Corporation; the first-ever votes in favor of climate shareholder proposals by major investors BlackRock and Vanguard; and the much-anticipated release of initial 2-degree scenario analyses from North American oil and gas and electric power companies. This year’s narrative is more subtle, but potentially more powerful.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Love, Security and a Second Chance

May 29, 2018 1:00 PM ET

This guest blog post is written by Chris Mace, an adoptive father of three. His two sons, Steven and Kota, were adopted through the Foundation’s Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program.

Environment

VIDEO | Ottawa County Plant Home to 3 New Peregrine Chicks

May 29, 2018 12:55 PM ET

Representatives from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Consumers Energy climbed the JH Campbell Generating Complex in West Olive to band three peregrine falcon chicks.

Media & Communications

Executive Compensation and the Investor, Worker & Stakeholder: The New Corporate Disclosures on CEO Pay Ratios Are Now Part of the Public Dialogue

May 29, 2018 12:30 PM ET

There are some interesting new angles to the perennial public dialogues that go on about issues related to executive compensation. The new news is regarding the compensation packages for the Top Man (in the Fortune 500 universe, there are only 24 companies that have female CEOs) and the relationship of that sum to (1) the employees of the firm and (2) the shareholders, including key fiduciaries managing OPM (other peoples’ money). The CEO Pay Ratio disclosures of 2018 are now becoming more of a public dialogue.

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: Talk Walking

May 29, 2018 11:45 AM ET

We recently set out to calculate our organizational carbon footprint for 2017 so that we could purchase carbon offsets and claim to be carbon-neutral in our operations. That probably sounds complicated…and yes, it is.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Viacom Supports 1in6 and NO MORE’s Powerful Public Service Announcement

May 29, 2018 11:30 AM ET

Yes, it’s hard to believe, and yes research shows that at least 1 in 6 men have been sexually abused or assaulted in either childhood or adulthood. 1 in 6 is an organization devoted to helping men who have experienced unwanted or abusive sexual experiences live happier and healthier lives. No MORE similarly operates with a goal to create a community with zero gender-based bias and is dedicated to ending domestic violence and sexual assault by creating awareness, inspiring action through movements as such, and fueling culture change.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Ambitious Targets in Essity’s New Fiber Sourcing Policy

May 29, 2018 11:20 AM ET

Essity has finalized a new Fiber Sourcing Policy, describing the company’s principles, intentions and requirements for its deliveries of fresh wood based fiber materials. The policy sets a target that all fiber raw material in Essity’s products will be certified.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Multipliers of Prosperity: Lending With a Mission

May 29, 2018 11:05 AM ET

Mohammed Ali and his siblings had been driving past the vacant gas station on the east side of Saint Paul, Minnesota for years before they finally decided to make an offer to buy it—with the idea of opening a restaurant and grocery store catering to the neighborhood’s vibrant community of immigrants.

Health & Healthcare

How Nutrition Data Can Be Used to Give Kids a Healthy Start

May 29, 2018 10:15 AM ET

Stacey Ragin aims to make busy parents’ lives easier — and healthier — by teaching nutrition classes to parents in Newark, New Jersey. During her courses, offered as part of Nestlé’s Start Healthy, Stay Healthy program, she lays out the benefits of breastfeeding, provides tips for managing picky eaters, and makes suggestions for healthy snacks.

Research, Reports & Publications

VIDEO | A Chapter Closed for Schneider Electric’s 2015-2017 Planet & Society Barometer

May 29, 2018 9:45 AM ET

Every three years, Schneider Electric defines a new indicator to measure its sustainability achievements which form part of the Group’s non-financial results. The sustainability indicators are presented together with the Group’s financial information: by the CEO at the annual and half-year results, and by the CFO at the first and third quarter results. This integrated communication demonstrates Schneider Electric commitment to making sustainability part of the company’s long-term strategy.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Northern Trust London Partners Take on Tough Mudder to Raise Money for The Open University Disabled Veterans

May 29, 2018 9:40 AM ET

Sustainable Development Goals

Georgian Microfinance Lender Brings Innovative Financial Services to Rural Areas

May 29, 2018 9:25 AM ET

Crystal, a leading Georgian microfinance lender, has joined Business Call to Action (BCtA) with a pledge to provide access to finance – including loans and value chain services – to 30,000 new clients in rural areas of Georgia, as well as disperse 1,000 new loans for green/solar solutions and energy efficiency projects by 2020. As part of this commitment, Crystal will continue its record of fostering economic opportunity for farmers, women and micro entrepreneurs.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Investing Human Capital: A New Approach to Achieving the SDGs

May 28, 2018 2:00 PM ET

The private sector has direct access to financial and human capital. With the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework to provide a shared lexicon and to guide decision-making, the private sector can lead a global social movement ­– and corporations are in a unique position to leverage existing resources to help save the planet. Through IMPACT 2030, which provides the platform for investing these resources, the private sector can collaborate with other investors and measure the long-term return. But, what do we mean by “resources”? And how do we leverage these resources through IMPACT 2030 to get closer to achieving the SDGs?

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Bloomberg's Data Center in Upstate NY Has a Rainwater Capture System That Saves Us 5 Million Gallons of Water Annually

May 28, 2018 1:35 PM ET

Bloomberg is always looking for opportunities to reduce water-consumption in our facilities. We used an estimated 122 million gallons of water in 2017, largely driven by our employees and building operations. Accurately quantifying the scale of our global water consumption has proven challenging, but that has not deterred our global water-reduction strategy.

Environment

How EHS + Due Diligence Can Power Up Your Acquisition and Integration Strategy

May 28, 2018 12:20 PM ET

From safeguarding your risk to protecting your brand, Antea Group brings you the benefits of factoring in EHS and due diligence in your transactions.

Education

In Their Own Words: Why Storytelling Is a Powerful Tool for Children

May 28, 2018 9:45 AM ET

Paro, the young daydreamer at the center of a new short film by the same name, can’t help but see stories all around her. She’s constantly writing and drawing — during class and under the covers in bed at night. Her creative passion draws her attention away from schoolwork, leading to a confrontation with her parents and her teacher, who confiscates Paro’s beloved journal.

Responsible Production & Consumption

First Squid Fishery in the World MSC Certified as Sustainable

May 25, 2018 1:00 PM ET

The U.S. Northeastern Longfin Inshore Squid fishery in the Northwest Atlantic is the first squid fishery in the world to achieve MSC certification as a sustainable and well-managed fishery. The certification was awarded on May 22 by independent certifier SCS Global Services following an 11-month long detailed assessment.

Innovation & Technology

New Cameras Installed on SCE Telecom Tower to Monitor Wildfire Activity

May 25, 2018 1:00 PM ET

The Orange County Fire Authority is now part of a growing number of fire agencies that use a high-tech approach to monitor wildfire activity. Recently, six cameras and a weather station were installed on a Southern California Edison telecommunications tower located on Santiago Peak, the highest point in Orange County.

Research, Reports & Publications

E-Buses to Surge Even Faster Than EVs As Conventional Vehicles Fade According to Bloomberg's 2018 EV Outlook

May 25, 2018 12:20 PM ET

The electrification of road transport will move into top gear in the second half of the 2020s, thanks to tumbling battery costs and larger-scale manufacturing, with sales of electric cars racing to 28%, and those of electric buses to 84%, of their respective global markets by 2030.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

FCA Foundation Receives the SAE Foundation’s Eighth Annual Gordon Millar Award

May 25, 2018 12:00 PM ET

The FCA Foundation, the charitable arm of North American automaker FCA US LLC, was recognized with the eighth annual SAE Foundation Gordon Millar Award at the SAE Foundation Annual Celebration in Detroit on May 24, 2018. The FCA Foundation provides philanthropic support to SAE’s A World In Motion (AWIM) STEM education program, which gives students from kindergarten through eighth grade the opportunity to develop critical thinking, communication and collaboration skills.

Education

Mobile Science Lab Visits EPiC Elementary School

May 25, 2018 11:10 AM ET

A mobile science lab, called the Curiosity Cube, stopped at EPiC Elementary School on Tuesday. Watch the video online at KMBC.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Activism: Help or Hindrance to Business?

May 25, 2018 11:00 AM ET

For many people, the combination of activists and industry brings to mind images of protestors chanting while marching with signs and banners in front of a company’s store, headquarters or production facility. For others, it suggests the maneuverings of shareholder activists—equity stakeholders using their investments to pressure a company’s management into some form of policy change. What it might not evoke is visions of support, cooperation or collaboration.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

GRI Podcast: Sustainability Ratings

May 25, 2018 10:30 AM ET

What do ratings agencies look at when evaluating companies’ sustainability performance? We asked this from Vigeo Eiris, who also told us about the common challenges businesses face with ESG reporting. Listen to the full interview, alongside the latest sustainability news, in GRI’s newest episode of Beyond Reports.