Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Innovation & Technology

Sustainable Innovation Drives New Businesses in Sweden

Aug 5, 2016 9:00 AM ET

In the last few years, a number of countries have taken steps to increase their reliance on non-fossil fuel energy sources. Sweden has chosen to lead from the front to create a green economy. It aims to become of the one world’s first nations to end its dependence on fossil fuels.

Social Impact & Volunteering

BCBS Programs Aim to Make Health Fun

Aug 5, 2016 9:00 AM ET

With distractions like Snapchat®, Xbox®, and Netflix® at kids’ fingertips, it can be difficult to get them off the couch and out participating in healthy activities. It can be even more challenging to get kids engaged in learning about their health and why it’s important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. But making health fun can make a big difference in engaging young people and encouraging them to embrace the power of prevention.

Health & Healthcare

#WeAreNotWaiting

Aug 5, 2016 9:00 AM ET

In the pharmaceutical industry, working with the end customer is easier said than done. Nevertheless, Research and Development (R&D) teams across Novo Nordisk have now started partnering with patient leaders through a specialised unit within Novo Nordisk R&D.

Events, Media & Communications

Young Storytellers to Pitch Their TV Ideas to 'Empire' Creator Lee Daniels Through The Roster's 'Pitch, Please!' Contest

Aug 4, 2016 9:00 PM ET

"Pitch, Please!" is a new contest from The Roster, Ghetto Film School's professional network for diverse young professionals in New York's media and entertainment sectors, and is accepting one-minute video pitches for scripted television series until Tuesday, September 6. Five semifinalists will then pitch their ideas in person to an esteemed panel of television experts, including Empire creator and award-winning filmmaker Lee Daniels, during IFP Film Week from September 17-22. 21CF is a longtime supporter of Ghetto Film School, serving as founding sponsor of GFS Los Angeles and continuing to arrange exclusive behind-the-scenes access and executive masterclasses for the students.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Astellas USA Foundation Presented with Wesbury Leadership Award from the American Red Cross

Aug 4, 2016 8:55 PM ET

Today Astellas USA Foundation was honored to receive the Wesbury Leadership Award from the American Red Cross.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Mayor Turner Announces ServiceWorks Skill-Building Bootcamp for Hire Houston Youth in Partnership with Volunteer Houston, Points of Light, Houston Independent School District, and the White House Summer Opportunity Project

Aug 4, 2016 6:45 PM ET

To celebrate the completion of young people’s summer employment through Houston Hire Youth and the local launch of the ServiceWorks program, Volunteer Houston, Points of Light, the City of Houston and the Houston Independent School District are pleased to announce a ServiceWorks Skill-Building Bootcamp on August 6, 2016 from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm at Carnegie Vanguard High School.

This high-energy, immersive experience for 150+ Houston-area young adults between the ages of 16 – 24, will give participants an introduction to how service can be a next step on their pathway to college and career, while inspiring young people to become agents for change in their own communities.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sodexo Receives Outstanding Corporate Group Award from the United Way

Aug 4, 2016 4:30 PM ET

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life Services, has been recognized by the United Way with the 2016 Community Volunteer Excellence Award, Outstanding Corporate Group Category for the company’s work impacting the community. The Christian Service Center for Central Florida (CSC) nominated Sodexo for the award, highlighting the commitment from the company’s volunteers to not only support CSC programs, but for continually seeking opportunities to leverage and contribute their expertise in other areas.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

From “Nice to Have” to Business Critical

Aug 4, 2016 4:30 PM ET

We use only the minimum amount of packaging to ship our products, making sure we’re not sacrificing customer service or product protection (Don’t you hate when you order a sweater and it comes engulfed in plastic inside a box big enough for child to play in?). We work with UPS to figure out the best package size for each of our bags. We’ve also worked with their logistics folks on ways to lower our carbon footprint. In the process, we were introduced to two UPS sustainability programs – UPS Carbon Neutral Shipping and Certified Green Packaging – that are helping us ship more responsibly.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Sustainable Raw Materials: Is Rubber Finally Catching Up?

Aug 4, 2016 4:00 PM ET

Education

Meet Mariada Muciaccia from Italy

Aug 4, 2016 3:40 PM ET

Mariada has taught chemistry, biology and earth science since 1981, and currently works in Rome – where she also participated in an intensive Amgen Teach workshop earlier this year. Her objective was to learn how best to apply inquiry-based techniques to students between 16 and 18. "Amgen Teach enhanced my confidence and ability to use inquiry-based teaching," she shared.

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar's Digital Technology & Customer Sustainability

Aug 4, 2016 3:00 PM ET

Health & Healthcare

Biomimicry is a Promising Approach for Driving Innovation, Study Finds

Aug 4, 2016 2:15 PM ET

Innovation & Technology

Announcing the Winners of the Living Progress Challenge

Aug 4, 2016 2:05 PM ET

On August 3, I was honored to watch as the 10 finalists of the Living Progress Challenge gathered on stage at the New Lab venue in New York, and pitched their prototypes for digital solutions to accelerate social good.

Diversity & Inclusion

PepsiCo Seeking Senior Manager, Strategic Sustainability Communications

Aug 4, 2016 2:00 PM ET

Performance with Purpose (PwP) is PepsiCo's sustainability vision focused on transforming our product portfolio to include more nutritious food and beverage options; protecting our planet and improving the way food is made by conserving water, shrinking our environmental footprint and promoting sustainable agriculture; and enriching the lives of people around the world through investments in skills training, community development and other important social programs.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Here's How Volunteering Can Strengthen Your Company

Aug 4, 2016 1:30 PM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

GM Foundation Invests $100,000 to Evaluate STEM Gains

Aug 4, 2016 12:50 PM ET

The GM Foundation is supporting Earth Force, Inc. with a $100,000 investment to further advance the GM Global River Environmental Education Network (GM GREEN).

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Domtar Supports Summer Education with Project Exploration Station

Aug 4, 2016 12:05 PM ET

Domtar's Hawesville Mill and Owensboro Converting, in conjunction with Domtar's Sustainability Committee, made a financial donation to Project Exploration Station, a retired school bus that has been renovated into an educational center on wheels. The Foundation for Daviess County (Kentucky) Public Schools Board of Directors developed an exciting and unique educational platform for area students so that learning doesn't have to stop over the summer.

Education

Citi Foundation and America’s Promise Alliance Announce 2016 Youth Opportunity Fund Grant Recipients in 10 U.S. Cities

Aug 4, 2016 12:00 PM ET

The Citi Foundation and America’s Promise Alliance announced today the selection of 12 nonprofit organizations as 2016 Youth Opportunity Fund grant recipients. The Fund – now in its second year – awarded an additional $3 million in support of programs that connect youth to opportunities that increase their employability and prepare them to compete and thrive in a 21st century economy. To date, the Fund has provided $6 million to support 24 organizations, reaching more than 7,000 youth.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Wells Fargo Commits $5 million to Boost Austin-area Homeownership

Aug 4, 2016 12:00 PM ET

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC), NeighborWorks America® and its network member BCL of Texas, today announced the upcoming Austin, Texas-area NeighborhoodLIFT® program with a $5 million commitment by Wells Fargo to help boost local homeownership in Travis, Bastrop, and Hays counties.

Environment

Talk with Green Guy - Interview with Frank Fernandez, Arthur Blank Foundation

Aug 4, 2016 11:30 AM ET

Talk with Green Guy show host, Eric Moncrief interviews Frank Fernandez of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation

Education

T. Rowe Price Survey Finds that Kids Expect Parents to Cover the Cost of Whatever College They Want and Parents Are Unprepared

Aug 4, 2016 11:15 AM ET

T. Rowe Price’s 2016 Parents, Kids & Money Survey, which sampled 1,086 parents nationally and their 8 to 14 year old kids, found that many kids (62%) expect their parents to cover the cost of “whatever college I want to go to.” Yet most parents (65%) will only be able to contribute some to the cost of college. And the results suggest that student loans can lead to increased anxiety and financial stress. Parents with their own student loans are more likely to lose sleep over college costs (49% vs. 40%) and are significantly more likely to have credit card debt (67% vs. 54%) and payday loans (19% vs. 7%).

Environment

Mars' Principles in Action Report Shares Health and Sustainability Commitments

Aug 4, 2016 11:05 AM ET

Mars has caught the industry's attention more than once in recent memory with its commitments to issues ranging from environmental sustainability to women's empowerment and conscientious marketing.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Guest Blog: These Children are Our Responsibility

Aug 4, 2016 10:30 AM ET

Darcy Thachuk is a Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiter and works each day to find forever families for children in foster care at the Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society in Windsor, Ontario.

Research, Reports & Publications

Kimberly-Clark A&NZ Launches New Five Year Sustainability Strategy and Latest Sustainability Report

Aug 4, 2016 10:30 AM ET

Kimberly-Clark (K-C) Australia & New Zealand (A&NZ) released its new five-year sustainability strategy. Both globally and locally, K-C’s sustainability goals have transitioned from three pillars of sustainability (People, Planet and Product) to an evolution of five key priority areas - Social Impact, Forests and Fibre, Waste & Recycling, Energy & Climate, and Supply Chain.

Innovation & Technology

Thermal Hydrolysis Offers Multiple Benefits to Wastewater Treatment Facilities

Aug 4, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Thermal hydrolysis is an advanced wastewater solids conditioning process that boasts both financial and environmental advantages. With the process in wide usage across the UK, it is now starting to gain traction in the U.S., as wastewater utilities analyze whether their facilities would make a good candidate.