Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Research, Reports & Publications

GRI Standards: Have Your Say!

Jul 6, 2016 12:00 PM ET

The Global Sustainability Standards Board (GSSB) is transitioning the G4 Guidelines into GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards (GRI Standards). In line with GRI's longstanding multi-stakeholder approach and Due Process Protocol for standards development, the exposure drafts of GRI Standards are open for review and comment until 17 July 2016. Check out what others are saying about the new standards.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Safety and Education Top Priorities for Sappi and Its People

Jul 6, 2016 11:30 AM ET

Since 2008, Sappi North America has established regional long-term goals to focus our collective efforts on areas that are critical to our business.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Whalesafe: Presentation of the Sperm Whale Protection Protocol of Conduct

Jul 6, 2016 11:30 AM ET

Monday morning the Aquarium of Genoa played host to the presentation of the sperm whale protection protocol of conduct developed by the partners of the Whalesafe conservation project and co-financed by the European Union through the Life+ program, including the University of Genoa (Department of Physics and the Department of Earth Sciences, Environment and Life), Costa Edutainment, the Maritime Administration of Genoa, the Harbourmaster's Office of Savona and Softeco Sismat.

Health & Healthcare

Strengthening Health System through Tri-Sector Collaboration in Ghana

Jul 6, 2016 11:00 AM ET

“Utilizing this unique multi-company cohort to support evidenced-based health interventions builds capacity among this coalition,” said Sharon Rudy, Director, GHFP-II. “This collaboration is made possible by USAID, who provides the underlying support through the Global Health Fellows Program II, while the corporate partners provide the generous pro bono support.”

Energy

Ecocentricity Blog: Grid Parity and Other Solar Thoughts

Jul 6, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Grid parity is when new solar and wind farms cost less than new natural gas power plants, even without subsidies. And we might already be there.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Toyota Serves as a National Host Sponsor of the Largest Annual Wheelchair Multi-Sport Event in the World

Jul 6, 2016 9:00 AM ET

National Veterans Wheelchair Games (NVWG) co-hosts, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Paralyzed Veterans of America (Paralyzed Veterans), are proud to recognize Toyota as a National Host sponsor of the 36th National Veterans Wheelchair Games.

Education

Middle and High School Students Embark on Global Journeys Through National Geographic Student Expeditions Program

Jul 6, 2016 8:00 AM ET

National Geographic's Student Expeditions program offers educational travel experiences for students all over the world, providing unique learning opportunities at more than 40 locations for budding photographers, writers and scientists. National Geographic also provides scholarship assistance for students in need, awarding nearly two dozen free expeditions this summer to students completing 6th through 12th grades. 21st Century Fox expanded its partnership with the National Geographic Society last fall, with 27% of all current proceeds going toward the society's grant-making pursuits.

Innovation & Technology

Why Data Analytics Must Be Part of Your Next Infrastructure Project

Jul 5, 2016 6:00 PM ET

It used to be that the quality of infrastructure was measured by its lifespan. Water systems might last a century, and power plants at least half that. Those were measurements of solid assets, well worth the investment. But today, dependable infrastructure is just not enough. While it must be resilient and have an extended life cycle, now it must also be intelligent and communicate with other systems in ways that were unknown only a few years ago.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Summer Lunch Program for At-Risk Children Addresses Nutritional Needs

Jul 5, 2016 6:00 PM ET

Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation’s Feeding Our Future initiative, which is expected to serve 135,000 free lunches to at risk children this summer, is launching today in nine cities across Canada. The long-term project is Canada’s largest summer lunch program and has delivered well over one million lunches since its inception in 2001.

Health & Healthcare

Sodexo and Chef Jesse Cool Elevate Nutrition Standards, Waste Reduction Volumes, and Patient Satisfaction Score for Food at Stanford Health Care

Jul 5, 2016 4:45 PM ET

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life Services, today announced the release of the Stanford Health Care Food Transformation Journey. The recently published case study outlines how Sodexo and local Chef Jesse Cool set out to better align food concepts with the outstanding level of health care for which the renowned institution is known. The results exceeded expectations, achieving a Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Score for food that increased by 140 percent.

Research, Reports & Publications

Pfizer Highlights Role of Health in Achieving the UN’s Global Goals for Sustainable Development

Jul 5, 2016 4:00 PM ET

In light of the recent United Nations Global Compact Leaders Summit in New York City, Pfizer reflects on the impact of health on progress toward each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Environment

Join FREE Webinar on How to Optimize Circular Economy Through Natural Capital

Jul 5, 2016 3:30 PM ET

Events, Media & Communications

Freeport-McMoRan releases 2015 Working Toward Sustainable Development Report “Proving our Mettle”

Jul 5, 2016 3:00 PM ET

The Freeport-McMoRan 2015 Working Toward Sustainable Development report is meant to provide stakeholders with summary information on their sustainability programs, including policies, management systems and performance data.

Innovation & Technology

Twitter Chat Recap: How to Leverage Free Technology to Further Your Nonprofit's Mission

Jul 5, 2016 3:00 PM ET

In this Twitter Chat, moderated by NetSuite.org in partnership with NTEN and TechSoup, nonprofit leaders discussed how to prepare to truly leverage free technology -- from where to access new technology and the resources to use it successfully, to who should be involved in choosing the technology and helping implement it, and more.

Innovation & Technology

Why Using Post-consumer Recycled Plastic in IT Devices Rocks

Jul 5, 2016 2:30 PM ET

When Dell captured the Green Electronics Council Catalyst award for 2015 last fall at the Emerging Green Conference, I felt they truly deserved it. The first Catalyst Award focused on electronics and related infrastructures’ positive impact on the circular economy, where circular economy is defined as “an economic system that is safe and restorative by intention and seeks to eradicate waste through the careful design, manufacture, use and handling of products and components.”

Responsible Production & Consumption

Thailand Is Relieved Of Its Human Trafficking Blacklist Status

Jul 5, 2016 2:25 PM ET

On Thursday, the US State Department removed Thailand from the human trafficking blacklist. Though Thailand has been a spotlight country when dealing with forced labor, the State Department made their decision based on the criteria outlined in the Human Trafficking Persons Report.

Energy

GM Battery Reuse Earns an Environmental Leader Top Project of the Year Award

Jul 5, 2016 1:15 PM ET

GM won an Environmental Leader Top Project of the Year Award for our Chevrolet Volt battery secondary reuse project that’s helping keep the lights on at our LEED-Gold Enterprise Data Center office in Milford, Michigan.

Health & Healthcare

Blue Marble Biomaterials Receives Safe Quality Food Level 2 Certification

Jul 5, 2016 1:00 PM ET

Blue Marble Biomaterials Receives Safe Quality Food Level 2 Certification - issued by SCS Global Services

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar Makes Innovation Simple – and Profitable with Job Site Solutions

Jul 5, 2016 1:00 PM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

Edmond de Rothschild Group Publishes Its 2015 Sustainability Report

Jul 5, 2016 1:00 PM ET

The Edmond de Rothschild Group has set out its 2020 sustainability objectives and made them public in its second Sustainability Report.

This 2015 report presents the five pillars of the Group's sustainability strategy and gives a complete overview of its performance and progress compared to the previous year and in the context of its new Sustainability objectives, across its Private Banking and Asset Management activities.

Diversity & Inclusion

YUM! University: Developing Our Talent

Jul 5, 2016 12:20 PM ET

As a global company with nearly 43,000 restaurants and 1.5 million employees worldwide, Yum! is dedicated to programs that not only grow our business, but also allow employees around the globe to tap into their talents in order to explore personal and professional growth.

Health & Healthcare

Creating a Pro Bono Dream Team

Jul 5, 2016 11:40 AM ET

Over the past eight years, global pro bono programs have become an effective way for companies to build global leaders while also working to address pressing problems faced by communities around the world. Lessons learned on-the-ground help leaders develop the ability to manage in highly complex, rapidly changing, resource constrained environments. Typically, companies send teams of 8 to 12 high-performing employees to partner with local organizations on assignments that aim to enhance local capacity in emerging and frontier markets.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Days of Service: Unlocking a Key to Employee Engagement

Jul 5, 2016 11:15 AM ET

Earlier this month, Cone hosted its own annual day of service, where our New York and Boston offices joined together at the Charles River Esplanade to beautify a stretch of land along the river in partnership with the Esplanade Association. When planning your organizations' day of service, keep in mind four lessons we learned at our own annual service event.

Energy

Black & Veatch and Schneider Electric to Design and Build Microgrid at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

Jul 5, 2016 11:00 AM ET

Black & Veatch and Schneider Electric USA have formed a joint venture to design and construct an energy security microgrid at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar, in San Diego, California. The microgrid solution will allow operations at mission-critical facilities to continue uninterrupted if the utility power grid is compromised or damaged.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Revitalizing Mexico's Energy

Jul 5, 2016 11:00 AM ET

TransCanada is emerging as the favourite foreign pipeline operator of the Mexican government and one of the biggest beneficiaries of the company’s energy reforms.