Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Timberland Is Helping Rebuild Haiti’s Cotton Industry

Feb 13, 2018 12:15 PM ET

Haiti hasn’t grown cotton in decades. Its once-abundant industry collapsed in the 1970s due to government corruption, economic mismanagement, and U.S. embargoes. But now, thanks to a project involving thousands of smallholder farmers, apparel brands like Timberland, and a blockchain network, it could be set for a comeback. Within a few years, if all goes to plan, the island will be supplying millions of pounds of organic cotton for shoes, shirts, and other clothing sold in U.S. stores.

Education

A Diagnosis That Led to Life’s Mission: Working to Reverse Alopecia Areata at Columbia

Feb 13, 2018 12:15 PM ET

Most Amgen Scholars only begin to learn about their summer research topic in their college years. For Trévon C. Gordon, his research topic began in high school, when he began to suffer from a condition called alopecia areata, which prevents him from growing hair. Since then, understanding the autoimmune disease has become his mission, and he spent his Amgen Scholars summer researching ways to treat it with a cutting-edge researcher who herself has alopecia areata.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Foster Care Adoption: When Things Don't Go as Planned

Feb 13, 2018 12:00 PM ET

More and more the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption learns that the families who choose foster care adoption are families who already have children in the home or whose children have already grown.

Green Infrastructure

Don’t Curb Your Enthusiasm

Feb 13, 2018 11:15 AM ET

We often overlook one of a city's most valuable assets: the curbside. Learn about how we can use curbsides to cut congestion and pollution in growing urban centers.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Wells Fargo Donates $250,000 for Nashville-Area Revitalization Efforts

Feb 13, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) today announced a total of $250,000 in donations for two local nonprofits to help revitalize Nashville neighborhoods through the Wells Fargo NeighborhoodLIFT® program.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Republic Services Named One of the 2018 World’s Most Ethical Companies® by the Ethisphere Institute

Feb 13, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG) is pleased to announce that the Company has been named one of the 2018 World’s Most Ethical Companies® by the Ethisphere Institute, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices. Republic is the sole recycling and solid waste services provider to be listed under the Environmental Services category this year.

Media & Communications

Porter Novelli Launches New Purpose Practice

Feb 13, 2018 10:15 AM ET

Global public relations leader Porter Novelli (PN) announced the launch of its global Purpose Practice, specializing in purpose-driven brand strategy, corporate social responsibility (CSR), social marketing, social impact and brand communications. The launch follows Porter Novelli’s merger with Cone, a leading CSR firm, in February 2017.

Events, Media & Communications

Tips for a Greener Valentine’s Day

Feb 13, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Did you know almost 1 billion Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year globally, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas? We’ve compiled a handful of tips to help you and your Valentine make this year’s celebration a bit greener!

Environment

CSR -- What's Driving Company Interfuse, and What's Hindering It?

Feb 13, 2018 9:45 AM ET

Cynthia Figge is a forerunner and thought leader in the corporate sustainability movement. Figge is CEO and Cofounder of CSRHub, the world's largest database on ESG (environmental, social and governance) performance of 17,500+ companies that provides sustainability ratings and business intelligence to professionals, academics and API partners. In 1996 she co-founded EKOS International, one of the first consultancies integrating sustainability and corporate strategy. Figge has worked with major organizations, including Boeing, BNSF, Coca-Cola and REI, to help craft sustainability strategy integrated with business.

Innovation & Technology

An Experience of a Lifetime at Super Bowl LII

Feb 13, 2018 9:30 AM ET

Teaching digital skills to young people is at the core of our partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. One Club member, Anaa Jibicho, had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see those skills in action at Super Bowl LII, and to shadow members of the NBC Sports team as they used leading-edge technology to deliver the biggest game of the year.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

ROI That Matters – Return On Integrity

Feb 13, 2018 9:30 AM ET

Environment

Consumers Energy Ensures Historic Weadock Plant Site is Safe for Reuse

Feb 13, 2018 9:25 AM ET

Consumers Energy is keeping its promise to “leave it better” in Hampton Township, a community near Bay City, Michigan, where it closed the historic J.C. Weadock power plant. The energy provider is following through to ensure that the site is returned to “brownfield” status, making it available for potential reuse.

Education

Arrow Electronics and Colorado State University Team on New Sustainable E-Waste Management Course

Feb 13, 2018 9:15 AM ET

Colorado-based global technology solutions provider Arrow Electronics teamed with Colorado State University (CSU) this semester to provide professional expertise and real-world learning opportunities to students enrolled in a new course, “Sustainable Strategies for E-Waste Management.”

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

AIM2Flourish: business Education Meets Business for Good

Feb 13, 2018 9:05 AM ET

A new generation of business students is becoming aware of the opportunity to do good and still be profitable in their current and future careers. Overwhelmingly, millennials say that they are looking for careers that provide good work-life balance and give them a sense of purpose over simply making money.

Research, Reports & Publications

Define Your North Star: Brand Purpose Beyond Products

Feb 13, 2018 9:00 AM ET

The new opportunity for brands is not only marketing incremental product benefits, but embodying a higher purpose that serves your consumers’ aspirations for a good life by directly addressing the barriers to it.

As capitalism shifts to unite profits and purpose, most brands know how to design a great product or a reliable service. Yet many struggle when their company’s deeper mission has become muddy or even irrelevant. Brand purpose lives at the intersection of a company’s authentic reason for being and the unmet human needs that it can uniquely fulfill in the marketplace and the world. Revealing this harmonic is the key to defining your north star.

Energy

Here’s More Proof that at Nestlé #WeAreStillIn

Feb 13, 2018 8:30 AM ET

Last year, Nestlé joined state and local governments, universities, and other companies to say that #WeAreStillIn to fight climate change and support the Paris Agreement. We pledged to continue to take real steps to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and accelerate our transition to a clean energy economy, reaffirming our commitment to caring for the planet for future generations.

Though global efforts on climate change are often shaped in places like Paris, Bonn, and Toronto, much of the important work in this space is happening in places like Benton County, Indiana, and Allentown, Pennsylvania — two places Nestlé knows quite well and will know even better in the years ahead.

Research, Reports & Publications

Is China Stepping Up? Celebrate Chinese New Year by Diving Into the Country’s Sustainability Reporting Trends

Feb 13, 2018 8:25 AM ET

oday, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the Climate Disclosure Standards Board (CDSB) release the second case study in a series designed to provide insights into the sustainability reporting trends across various countries covered by the Reporting Exchange.

Sustainable Development Goals

Perspectives from World Economic Forum

Feb 13, 2018 8:15 AM ET

This year, I had the opportunity to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, which brought together over 3,000 leaders from business, government, international organizations, civil society, academia, media and the arts. I’ve attended the gathering in the past, and can say that this meeting was my favorite experience for a few reasons.

Innovation & Technology

Here’s How To Turn Your Passion For STEM Into An Exciting Career

Feb 13, 2018 8:00 AM ET

Leaving women out of the equation when it comes to science, math and innovation fields isn’t just unfair — it can deprive the economy of valuable insights, opinions and the potential for productivity growth. That’s why companies who cultivate an inclusive, female-empowered environment are vital to making STEM more accessible for women, thus creating a better, more productive world for everyone. One company that is stepping up to the plate in this department in a big way is Mars, Incorporated, a family-owned global pet care, confectionery and food business. Currently, women represent 42 percent of Mars’ talent pipeline globally, and their goal is to increase this by two percent each year.

Research, Reports & Publications

Ferrero Releases 8th Corporate Social Responsibility Report

Feb 13, 2018 8:00 AM ET

The Ferrero Group releases its 8th Corporate Social Responsibility Report, marking 70 years of glocal care for the People and the Planet that play a role in Ferrero’s every day activities.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Greater Supply Chain Transparency through Vertical Integration (Infographic)

Feb 13, 2018 7:00 AM ET

Follow the path from cotton to end consumer, to see how owning its supply chain helps Gildan take care of the employees who make its apparel, positively contribute to local communities and reduce its environmental footprint.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Veriflora® Sustainably Grown Flowers Protect People and the Planet This Valentine's Day

Feb 13, 2018 6:00 AM ET

Veriflora® Sustainably Grown flowers are the best way to celebrate Valentine’s day and every day.

Events, Media & Communications

CEO and Executive Director of UN Global Compact to Give the Opening Keynote at #RBSEU 2018

Feb 13, 2018 5:05 AM ET

The Responsible Business Summit Europe, taking place in London from the 13th-14th of June, will bring together 600+ CEOs and business leaders to discuss how businesses can respond and transform in line with increasing social, environmental and technological opportunities and pressures. Ethical Corporation is delighted to confirm that Lise Kingo, CEO and executive director of the United Nations Global Compact will be delivering the opening address for the Summit. As well, Kingo will be joined by Pedro Ortún, Active Senior Advisor CSR/SDGs at the European Commission in a later session to discuss the how businesses can use the Sustainable Development Goals as a core driver for future strategy and success.

Media & Communications

The Year 2018: Significant Developments Moving Sustainable Investment and Corporate Sustainability & Responsibility Forward – The Pace is Exciting!

Feb 12, 2018 4:00 PM ET

We are just past one month into the year 2018 and there have already been significant advances that directly affect the lives of professionals and organizations in the fields of corporate sustainability and sustainable investing – the two vital halves of the capital markets – and in related fields.

We’ve been bringing you the news and commentaries related to many of these advances in this, our weekly newsletter focused on many aspects of sustainability. We’ve been preparing in-depth management briefs as well for professionals and delivering these through our new web-based platform, “G&A Institute’s To the Point!”™

Here’s a quick look at some of these briefs – the in-depth background is available for you in the links provided here.

Innovation & Technology

Cisco and CARE Invest in Tomorrow’s Global Problem Solvers

Feb 12, 2018 3:35 PM ET

Innovative ideas are everywhere, from Silicon Valley’s corporate offices to dorm rooms across the United States. They can be small or large; local or global; old or new. Incubators, classrooms, and garages around the world house what could be the “next big thing.” But without an initial investment to fund the design — and the ability to scale — many of these products and solutions never become a reality.