Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

MetLife Earns Top Spot in Industry As Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace

Oct 5, 2018 10:35 AM ET

MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) today announced it has ranked 42 on the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption’s 2018 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplaces List. This is the eleventh year in a row that MetLife has been recognized and the fourth consecutive year ranked #1 in the Insurance Industry. MetLife has been recognized for its employee adoption benefits, parental leave policies and flexible work culture.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Infographic: 5 Things You Need to Know About the New GRI Occupational Health and Safety Standard

Oct 5, 2018 10:35 AM ET

Ensuring occupational health and safety is good for workers and businesses alike. Here's why your organization should report on it.

Health & Healthcare

Dad's Touching Dance With 2-Year-Old Daughter Battling Cancer Goes Viral

Oct 5, 2018 10:20 AM ET

In a now-viral video, Brett Thompson scoops up his 2-year-old daughter, Phoenix, and holds her in his arms while they dance together inside a room at the Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Health & Healthcare

Daily Audio Sessions Help Students Manage Stress, Improve Mental Health

Oct 5, 2018 10:10 AM ET

The program is free for two years through a sponsorship by LG Electronics USA.

It's part of a new company initiative called “Life’s Good: Experience Happiness."

Already, about 12,000 students in Roswell, Johns Creek and Griffin are taking part in the program to reduce stress and anxiety levels and create "sustainable feelings of happiness."

Health & Healthcare

Why Johnson & Johnson Is on a Mission to Make Treating Pediatric Patients Safer

Oct 5, 2018 10:05 AM ET

Ensuring the safety and well-being of children has been a cornerstone of Johnson & Johnson's work for over 100 years.

Today, the company helps provide treatments to millions of kids across the globe to address everything from tuberculosis to intestinal worm infections, so children can reach their full potential. It's just one facet of a larger commitment: help improve the health of future generations, or "GenH."

Sustainable Development Goals

Agriculture: The Missing Piece of the Climate Puzzle

Oct 5, 2018 10:05 AM ET

By 2050, countries around the world must find a way to produce more food than they have in the past 8,000 years to accommodate population growth—all while minimizing the agricultural sector’s contribution to climate change.

Environment

Lesson of Nature: Hurricane Harvey's Impact

Oct 5, 2018 10:05 AM ET

In 2017, it became painfully evident that climate change isn’t just coming, it’s already here. People and communities all over the world were reminded in the most brutal ways that the forces of nature, though necessary to life on Earth, can also be devastating. Multiple hurricanes of unprecedented power, earthquakes, fires and mudslides and other devastating events created chaos and crisis all over the world. However, times of crisis can be when the most inspiring human moments arise – when humanity shines brightest.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Building a Team That’s Proud to Work at Dell

Oct 5, 2018 10:05 AM ET

Our talented team members are the engine that drives Dell’s success. When our team members are engaged in their work, they’re more innovative, helping our customers transform their businesses and drive human progress. Research from the London Business School shows that employee satisfaction indeed drives good performance and that companies with high employee satisfaction outperform their peers by 2.3–3.8 percent per year in long-run stock returns.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

CFE Fund and Wells Fargo Double Size of “Bank On” Fellowship to Help More Americans Reach Financial Goals

Oct 5, 2018 10:00 AM ET

More than 65 million people are outside of the mainstream financial system in the U.S, which means they are relying on high-fee alternatives and are not able to access basic financial needs like savings accounts, credit cards, or even a credit score. The Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE Fund) announced today a $1 million grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation to double the size of its successful “Bank On” Fellowships, which funds a full-time Bank On coalition leader in a community for two years to focus solely on improving banking access for residents.

Events, Media & Communications

California Passes Laws on Board Diversity, Net Neutrality

Oct 5, 2018 9:45 AM ET

We are witnessing a new development in the Brands Taking Stands movement: States defining themselves as “brands” by adopting definitive positions on social and political issues that are intertwined with business.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Crayola's Young Professionals Employee Resource Group Help Provide a Safe Place for Families

Oct 5, 2018 9:10 AM ET

Volunteers from Crayola’s Young Professionals (CYP) employee resource group had a profound impact on more than 250 local residents served by the Third Street Alliance for Women & Children in Easton, Pennsylvania.

Innovation & Technology

EDF+Business Webinar: Setting Targets Based in Science, October 11th at 1pm ET

Oct 5, 2018 9:05 AM ET

Hundreds of cities, states and companies have committed to meet the climate targets outlined in the Paris agreement. But in order for these targets to be effective, they must be developed using standardized methods that are “science-based”.

Innovation & Technology

Innovative Biological Tracking Software to Optimize Animal Disease Research at Kruger National Park

Oct 5, 2018 3:00 AM ET

Black & Veatch has been tasked by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) to implement an electronic system that enables the inventory and management of biological materials at Kruger National Park in South Africa. In partnership with the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), Black & Veatch will support the Office of the State Veterinarian in preventing and controlling animal diseases.

Education

Preparing Students for Success

Oct 5, 2018 1:00 AM ET

Legg Mason and our affiliate colleagues in the US and UK are helping to ensure that students in our communities are starting the new school year off on the right foot – and have continued support throughout the academic year.

These efforts are aligned with our primary charitable/philanthropic focus, which is education, particularly in the area of underserved youth.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Youth-Serving Organizations Can Apply to Receive Access to Free Screenings of ‘The Hate U Give’ Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox Film, Fox 2000 and AMC Theatres

Oct 4, 2018 8:00 PM ET

Twentieth Century Fox Film and AMC Theatres are joining forces to provide underserved and underrepresented young people across the country access to the powerful new film THE HATE U GIVE, as a tool for driving empowerment, empathy, and dialogue. The studio and theatre chain are hosting free screenings in nine metro areas during the film’s limited release – at 11am local time, Saturday, October 6: Atlanta, GA, Baltimore, MD, Dallas, TX, Houston, TX, Los Angeles, CA, Miami, FL, New York, NY, Philadelphia, PA, and Washington, DC.

Education

ACEI: Supporting Education Professionals Around the World on World Teachers' Day and Everyday

Oct 4, 2018 7:25 PM ET

Since 1994, World Teachers’ Day has been celebrated annually on October 5th. The day commemorates the anniversary of the signing of the 1966 UNESCO/ILO recommendation concerning the Status of Teachers, which is the main framework for addressing teachers’ rights and responsibilities on a global scale.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

LA Kings to Build Year-Round Public Ice Rink in Los Angeles

Oct 4, 2018 7:20 PM ET

AEG’s LA Kings announced a new partnership with the City of Los Angeles to build and manage a year-round public ice rink in Los Angeles earlier today. Councilmember Bob Blumenfield joined Los Angeles Kings President and Hockey Hall of Famer Luc Robitaille to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to solidify the partnership at Toyota Sports Center, the club’s practice facility, in El Segundo, Calif.

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar's Governance & Ethics

Oct 4, 2018 5:00 PM ET

Caterpillar’s Code of Conduct – Our Values in Action – defines what Caterpillar stands for and what we believe in, documenting uncompromisingly high ethical standards for our company. The Code of Conduct helps Caterpillar employees every day by providing detailed guidance on the behaviors that support Our Values in Action – Integrity, Excellence, Teamwork, Commitment and Sustainability.

Energy

NRG Chief Executive: We Need More Retail Electricity Competition

Oct 4, 2018 4:00 PM ET

Throughout our country and in nearly every industry, competition has driven innovation, pushed human ingenuity and unveiled a new dimension of value by empowering consumers with choice.

Health & Healthcare

Astellas Oncology Announces Grand Prize Winner of C3 Prize® at Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) World Cancer Congress

Oct 4, 2018 4:00 PM ET

NORTHBROOK, Ill., Oct. 4, 2018 /3BL Media/ -- Astellas Pharma US, Inc. today announced that Ebele Mbanugo of Lagos, Nigeria, Run For a Cure Africa Breast Cancer Foundation, has been chosen as the Grand Prize Winner of the third annual C3Prize, a global challenge that supports non-treatment innovations aimed at improving the cancer care experience for patients, caregivers and their loved ones. Mbanugo will receive a $50,000 grant and mentoring to help bring to life her winning idea to transform cancer care. The other two Category Winners receive $25,000 grants.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

American Standard Wins 2018 WaterSense Sustained Excellence Award

Oct 4, 2018 4:00 PM ET

American Standard, part of LIXIL, has received a 2018 WaterSense Sustained Excellence Award in recognition of the brand’s years of award-winning efforts to develop and promote WaterSense-labeled products and encourage water conservation across the country. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) previously named American Standard WaterSense Partner of the Year in 2017 and 2012, and also honored the brand with a WaterSense Excellence in Innovation and Research Award in 2016.

The WaterSense program, sponsored by the EPA, supports product certification and encourages consumers to reduce water usage through water-saving products, services and simple changes in behavior.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Duke Energy Economic Development Team Honored by Site Selection Magazine for 14 Years Straight

Oct 4, 2018 3:10 PM ET

For the 14th consecutive year, Duke Energy has been named to Site Selection magazine's annual list of "Top Utilities in Economic Development."

In the magazine's September edition, it credits Duke Energy's economic development team and its successful collaboration with state and local partners for delivering more than $5.9 billion in capital investments and more than 12,460 new jobs in 2017. Duke Energy has been featured on the list every year since 2005.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

To Make Sustainability Real, Make It Personal

Oct 4, 2018 3:00 PM ET

Events, Media & Communications

Webinar Series: Inclusive Business and Human Rights

Oct 4, 2018 2:50 PM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

We're Making Time to Vote

Oct 4, 2018 1:45 PM ET

In my 35-plus years with our great company, I’ve had the chance to spend time with many of our 122,000 team members, from our facility in Pasco, Washington to the one in Jacksonville, Florida. We come from different backgrounds, different cultures and even different countries. We’re hard-working, well-intentioned people, and we want what’s best for our friends, families and communities.

With my new role comes a new opportunity to empower our outstanding people – to make sure we have the tools to live our best lives and contribute to the broader world. As a company, we’ve already been expanding our workforce education program, Upward Academy. And this week, we’re kicking off our participation in the non-partisan TIME TO VOTE CAMPAIGN alongside other 140 companies.