Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar's Good Deed in the Badlands

Sep 6, 2016 12:00 PM ET

Chanku Waste Ranch is a reservation in South Dakota with roughly 60% of the homes either severely substandard or without a basic necessity. Thanks to contributions from Caterpillar’s Building Construction Products Division and Cat dealer Butler Equipment, the camp received a new backhoe loader to repair homes and train young people on how to utilize and care for heavy machinery.

Energy

Smart Growth: Kimberly-Clark’s Commitment To Increase Energy Efficiency

Sep 6, 2016 12:00 PM ET

At Kimberly-Clark, we can point to many innovations that have improved energy efficiency and introduced alternative, lower carbon solutions. But Stewart Van Horn, Global Director of Energy Solutions, points out that it wouldn’t be possible without our people.

Events, Media & Communications

Save 10% for Building a Best-in-Class CSR Department CSR Certificate Program This Fall (September 28-29)

Sep 6, 2016 11:50 AM ET

Governance & Accountability Institute and The Institute for Ethical Leadership at Rutgers Business School Newark are joining forces for the Fall two-day CSR Certificate program.

Education

Implementing Real-World STEM Curriculum in the Classroom Proves Vital to Students’ College and Career Success

Sep 6, 2016 11:45 AM ET

Baxter is committed to providing a hands-on approach to develop the next generation of scientists, engineers and healthcare professionals that will bring critical innovation to help advance patient care. The Baxter Center for Science Education, a collaborative partnership with Lindblom Math & Science Academy in Chicago, the Office of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Partnerships at Northwestern University and Baxter, connects students’ classroom studies to real-world experiences and trains teachers to implement life science programs in their schools to adapt learning to meet the needs of the current professional environment.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Sustainability in Action | LEED Certification

Sep 6, 2016 11:45 AM ET

Two LEED Gold Certified buildings at Ingersoll Rand’s North American headquarters in Davidson, North Carolina, demonstrate the value of sustainability in terms of saving resources as well as creating a better experience for people.

Health & Healthcare

Valued Social Roles: A Declaration of Identity

Sep 6, 2016 11:30 AM ET

A person's identity is closely tied to the social role they hold. Having valued social roles can have a great impact on a person's life. Too often, people with disabilities find themselves thrust into deeply devalued roles that continue to marginalize them.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Hooray Beer!

Sep 6, 2016 11:15 AM ET

For the most part, people buy beer based on two considerations. First, do they like it? Second, what does it cost? Increasingly though, other considerations are coming into play.

Events, Media & Communications

Ace Hardware Stores Get Hyper-Local with Orca-Friendly Labels

Sep 6, 2016 11:15 AM ET

Today, many consumers are looking to shop small, eat slow food and fundraise for people in their own neighborhood. And this focus on local also applies to where consumers think companies should address important issues, as 43 percent of Americans say they want companies to prioritize quality of life in their local communities (vs. 38% nationally or 20% globally). Now, one business is partnering with a nonprofit to bring a hyper-local label to a community, tackling a unique issue while empowering consumers to make educated purchasing decisions.

Environment

End of Summer Safety Tips to Secure Your Recycling and Waste Materials

Sep 6, 2016 11:05 AM ET

Today, it is more important than ever before to be environmentally conscious. Below are three fire safety tips that you might find helpful this fall. Together, we can protect the local environment while mitigating fire risks.

Energy

National Grid on the Future of Storm Resiliency

Sep 6, 2016 11:00 AM ET

The North Country of Upstate New York is home to some of the nation’s most severe storms. As global climate change continues to increase the frequency and intensity of these storms, we must improve crisis preparedness and response. We need to ensure that emergency services have the power they so critically need and that companies like us can focus on getting customers and businesses back up and running as quickly as possible.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Get HYPE Philly! Kids are Heading #BackToSchool

Sep 6, 2016 11:00 AM ET

From white bread to wheat bread – Get HYPE Philly! kids are heading #Back2School and making healthy choices fun! Funded by a $5M GSK IMPACT Grant, young people all over Philly are making their schools, homes, and communities healthier.

Environment

Nespresso Joins Forces with Australia Post to Make Recycling More Accessible

Sep 6, 2016 10:30 AM ET

Nespresso has announced a collaboration with Australia Post that will significantly extend the reach of its recycling program, particularly for those living in rural areas. By using a special post satchel, consumers can now mail their used aluminium capsules back to Nespresso through the post back program.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Stop Spending Your Time on Administration and Start Spending It on Strategy Development

Sep 6, 2016 10:25 AM ET

Learn best practices that will allow you to stop spending so much time on routine administration of employee engagement programs, and start spending that time instead on developing and improving your strategy, and growing your programs.

Innovation & Technology

How Technology Helps Small Coffee Growers Build Their Own Brands

Sep 6, 2016 10:15 AM ET

Creating a brand to promote awareness of the conditions of impoverished small farmers is not a new idea. But the work of Mexico’s Ercus Foundation goes beyond fair payment for crops. It includes financial aid, economic education, the development of technologies and partnerships. Recently, the use of personalized digitally printed packaging for innovative, attention grabbing marketing has come into play as well.

Energy

When Wind Powers a Local Economy

Sep 6, 2016 10:10 AM ET

Local blades, made and deployed in the UK, will secure skilled British jobs for the long term. They'll ensure that future generations benefit from more secure and sustainable, low-carbon energy, cementing Britain’s position as the world leader in offshore wind. That’s Ingenuity for life.

Innovation & Technology

Techstars Atlanta: Get to Know Fitspot

Sep 6, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Techstars Atlanta, in partnership with Cox Enterprises, selected 10 companies to participate in the program's 2016 class. Applications for the 10 coveted spots came from around the globe, including 69 countries and six continents.

Fitspot is one of the 10 participants. Trying to cram a workout into your busy schedule? Fitspot lets you book one-on-one sessions with certified fitness trainers when and where you want. Plan ahead – or start in as little as 30 minutes.

Research, Reports & Publications

British American Tobacco Publishes Corporate Behaviour Focus Report

Sep 6, 2016 10:00 AM ET

British American Tobacco’s commitment to operating to the highest standards of corporate conduct is the focus of its latest report.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Find the Metrics for Success: How to Evaluate Your Employee Volunteer Program

Sep 6, 2016 9:45 AM ET

In honor of VM Summit 16, which is all about corporate/ nonprofit collaboration, this series of volunteerism-related blog posts will take one topic and explain how it’s relevant to both groups. Today’s topic? Metrics for success. Check out our other blog, Engaging Volunteers, for the same topic from the perspective of corporate volunteer program managers.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

GRI Podcasts: Beyond Reports - Episode 5, Elaine Cohen

Sep 6, 2016 9:30 AM ET

In this month's episode of Beyond Reports, listen to Elaine Cohen, founder of the social and environmental business consulting firm Beyond Business Ltd and member of GRI's GOLD Community. Elaine talks about the challenges facing businesses as they try to improve the quality of their sustainability reporting.

Innovation & Technology

Operation of Photovoltaic Facility Commences

Sep 6, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Innovation & Technology

Risky Business: Unfettered IT Purchasing and Lack of Accountability Put Brands in Jeopardy

Sep 6, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Environment

Plan Bee: Combating the Declining Bee Population

Sep 5, 2016 11:10 AM ET

For many years, a troubling trend has been preoccupying botanists and scientists. Honey bees are disappearing or dying — a phenomenon known as Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD). Last year alone, 44% of the bee colonies in the U.S. disappeared. While CCD is indeed bad for honey bees, a larger problem looms for humans. Approximately one in every three mouthfuls of food in our diet is either directly or indirectly impacted by honey bees.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

GRI and Switzerland Partner to Foster Job Opportunities in the Developing World

Sep 5, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Today, GRI and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) announced the start of the second phase of the Corporate Sustainability and Reporting for Competitive Business (CSRCB) program, which helps small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the developing world, use sustainability reporting to gain better access to global value chains. Entering global value chains will contribute to creating more job and income opportunities in the target countries.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

GRI Podcasts: Beyond Reports - Episode 7, Dr. Suman Majumdar

Sep 5, 2016 9:45 AM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Insurance, Social Impact, and Profit

Sep 5, 2016 9:00 AM ET

When you think about insurance companies, do you think about social impact? It’s likely not the first thing that comes to mind, but FSG client Skandia has realized the significant impact they can create by helping prevent risks rather than just insuring against them.