Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Environment

Harvesting the Best Farm Bill Possible (Part 1)

Sep 5, 2018 5:30 PM ET

As the House and Senate debate a final, compromise farm bill, they should consider the long term sustainability of our food supply, the global competitiveness of our major food companies, and the success of farmers adopting new conservation practices.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Merck Ranked No. 2 in Fortune Magazine’s 2018 “Change the World” List

Sep 5, 2018 4:40 PM ET

Fortune magazine has released its latest "Change the World" list, a ranking of 57​ companies that are doing well by doing good. Merck ranked second on the list for our leadership role in the fight against Ebola, including our experimental Ebola vaccine and our support for humanitarian organizations involved in Ebola relief and recovery efforts.

Research, Reports & Publications

Hormel Foods Shares Food Journey Progress in 12th Annual Corporate Responsibility Report

Sep 5, 2018 4:35 PM ET

Hormel Foods Corporation today announced the launch of its 12th annual corporate responsibility (CR) report.

The report is available online at https://csr.hormelfoods.com/ and includes information about the company’s CR progress in fiscal 2017.

“We are proud of the progress we have made as a leading corporate citizen in our industry,” said Jim Snee, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Hormel Foods, in his letter in the report. “At Hormel Foods, we know that building social value and creating economic value are not competing goals, and we are inspired to do our part in making the world a better place."

Social Impact & Volunteering

Keep America Beautiful’s National Planting Day Kicks off Sept. 8

Sep 5, 2018 4:30 PM ET

Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, is mobilizing Americans to bolster their local ecosystems by planting native species of trees, shrubs and plants for its seventh annual National Planting Day.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

MilliporeSigma Recognized for Efforts to Fight Hunger Worldwide

Sep 5, 2018 4:15 PM ET

During a weeklong meal packing program, MilliporeSigma employees at sites in Milwaukee, St. Louis, Missouri and Temecula, California, prepared 65,000 meals to be distributed to communities worldwide. Additionally, 100 employees — including the Life Science Executive Team (LSET) — packed approximately 22,000 meals in Germany earlier this year. The Rise Against Hunger organization estimates that MilliporeSigma’s contributions have impacted the lives of more than 4,500 individuals in 11 countries.

Environment

Graham Sinclair on Sustainable Financial Markets

Sep 5, 2018 4:10 PM ET

There is a nearly constant scroll of bad news passing before our eyes, from rampant income inequality and raging wildfires to climate devastation and white nationalists in the Oval Office. Somehow, though, the stock market just keeps chugging along. Corporate profits are up, so in the eyes of the average news consumer, the economy is “strong.” But what factors are we missing in this declaration of strength?

Environment

How Innovations can Help Your Company Meet Scope 3 Emission Targets

Sep 5, 2018 4:10 PM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Dave Thomas Foundation Partners with Adoption Exchange Association to Inspire Future Adoption Professionals

Sep 5, 2018 4:00 PM ET

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is proud to work with the Adoption Exchange Association on I-CARE, the Initiative to Create Adoption Ready Employees. Thanks to The Chronicle of Social Change for shedding light on this exciting and critical program.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

JetBlue Accepting Applications for BlueBud Business Mentoring Program to Help Burgeoning Brands Take Flight

Sep 5, 2018 3:00 PM ET

JetBlue today announced the opening of the application period for the next round of its BlueBud business mentoring program. BlueBud offers innovative environmentally and socially responsible companies a unique opportunity for business mentorship and access to JetBlue’s senior leaders and unique product development culture. Applications are currently being accepted here through September 30, 2018.

As New York’s Hometown Airline®, JetBlue’s BlueBud program has historically focused on sustainable and pioneering food brands based in New York. However, as the largest carrier in Boston, JetBlue is extending the opportunity to small businesses in the greater Boston area for the program’s fourth year. JetBlue is also extending the focus beyond just budding food and beverage brands.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Duke Energy Adding $600,000 to Program That Will Help Additional South Carolina Families Pay High Seasonal Energy Bills

Sep 5, 2018 1:35 PM ET

For 33 years, Duke Energy has partnered with employees and customers to lend a hand to those struggling to pay their energy bills. The company is reinforcing that commitment with an additional $600,000 contribution to its Share the Warmth program to help South Carolina customers pay their high seasonal energy bills.

Events, Media & Communications

Brands Taking Stands™ | It’s a Movement, Not a Trend

Sep 5, 2018 1:25 PM ET

I have been asked more than once if I thought the topic of brands taking stands on the big issues of the day is a trend that will eventually run out of gas. My answer is always the same: Get used to it. This is a movement, not just a meme of the current overheated political moment.

Innovation & Technology

3 Reasons to Attend RBSWEST

Sep 5, 2018 1:25 PM ET

The 2nd Responsible Business Summit West (San Diego, Nov 13-14) will bring together 300 senior global businesses to tackle the three core pillars of digitally-driven business. Leaders from Microsoft, Experian, TransWestern, Macquarie Investments, HP, Domtar, Greenpeace USA will discuss and share their insights on climate action, social impact and data privacy & trust.

Environment

Reducing Environmental Impact From our Operations

Sep 5, 2018 12:40 PM ET

Northern Trust’s Corporate Services Group, charged with management of our real estate portfolio, procurement and facilities services, executes Northern Trust’s objective of reducing or eliminating negative environmental impacts from our supply chain. We detail our environmental expectations of vendors by providing them our Supplier Code of Conduct. Vendors’ sustainable practices are factored into our selection process, and we regularly review suppliers’ adherence to the Supplier Code of Conduct and pursue corrective measures when necessary, as noted in our Global Procurement Policy.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Allstate Foundation Awards $1.25 Million to Programs to Empower Domestic Violence and Financial Abuse Victims

Sep 5, 2018 12:30 PM ET

The Allstate Foundation announced today it is awarding $1.25 million in Moving Ahead grants to state domestic violence coalitions under its Purple Purse® initiative. The grants will enable the coalitions to provide financial empowerment resources for nearly 500,000 domestic violence survivors to help them break free from abuse.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Expanding Access to Insurance

Sep 5, 2018 12:05 PM ET

We seek to make insurance simple and accessible by offering useful products and services through convenient channels. We are achieving this objective by broadening access to affordable products and services, offering insurance to middle-class and disadvantaged populations and establishing a presence in countries where protection products are difficult to obtain.

Environment

Insights Into FB Heron’s ESG Investment Process: A Case Study

Sep 5, 2018 11:20 AM ET

Our friends at FB Heron recently published a summary of how they arrived at their current ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) investment process. It should be interesting for anyone who is trying to bring ESG factors into their own framework.

Education

Turning Data into Stories: S&P Global Volunteers & SARA Share Community Impact

Sep 5, 2018 11:15 AM ET

In June, Common Impact worked with our corporate partner S&P Global to deploy a team of skilled volunteers in Charlottesville, VA. The volunteer team was eager to share their expertise in data management with a nonprofit partner seeking to better communicate their stories of impact through data. SARA or the Sexual Assault Recovery Agency was excited to work with S&P experts to help organize their existing metrics and identify key data to highlight the effectiveness and importance of their prevention and response activities.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Ecocentricity Blog: Hey, Can I Borrow That?

Sep 5, 2018 11:15 AM ET

As an environmentalist, I am pulling for the growth of this movement. For every person who chooses to borrow or rent a tool, that’s one fewer tool that has to be built. For every person who chooses to buy clothing on the second-hand market, that’s one fewer garment that has to be created.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

KeyBank Provides $30.9 Million in Total Financing for Two Affordable Housing Projects in Seattle

Sep 5, 2018 11:00 AM ET

KeyBank Community Development Lending & Investment (CDLI) has provided $30.9 million in total financing to Community House Mental Health Agency for two tax credit affordable housing properties located at the corner of 23rd and Jackson streets in Seattle, WA.

Sustainable Development Goals

Bacardi Limited Aligns Corporate Responsibility Strategy to Include UN Sustainable Development Goals

Sep 5, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, today announced the compilation of results of its environmental sustainability goals made in 2014 and expanded its “Good Spirited: Building a Sustainable Future” environmental initiative to now encompass the company’s entire Corporate Responsibility (CR) platform.

With the expansion, the Good Spirited platform now comprises Marketplace, which includes responsible marketing and responsible drinking, Philanthropy & Community Investment, People, as well as the initial focus areas of Responsible Sourcing and Environment. This commitment aligns family-owned Bacardi’s CR platform with most of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Media & Communications

Sustainability Over the Next Two Decades – Forward? Backward? Something We Just Take For Granted in Running a Company or Investing In One?

Sep 5, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Predicting the way forward (that is, defining the future) is always challenging but pundits do try anyway. One of the most often quoted of such predictions is the 1944 forecast for the computer and copier markets with CEO Thomas Watson of IBM projecting…a market of perhaps five computers and as many as 5,000 copying machines!

Events, Media & Communications

Erb Institute to Hold Affiliate Event at Global Climate Action Summit

Sep 5, 2018 11:00 AM ET

The Erb Institute is joining the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco, CA on September 12, 2018, to host a roundtable “Developing Climate-Business Strategies: Partnering with Universities for Science-Based Impact.” This invitation-only affiliate event will bring together senior-level business, academic and non-profit executives and thought leaders and will focus on how to build and leverage partnerships with universities—like the University of Michigan’s Erb Institute—to:...

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Smithfield Foods Donates $100,000 to the Wilmington Branch of the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina

Sep 5, 2018 10:40 AM ET

The Smithfield Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Smithfield Foods, Inc., is pleased to announce a significant donation to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina to support its Wilmington Branch Location, serving Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, and Pender counties in southeastern North Carolina. The company presented a $100,000 donation while Smithfield employees volunteered, helping to pack meals for those served by the food bank in the Wilmington community.

Environment

GRI Podcast September Edition: Focus on Water

Sep 5, 2018 10:35 AM ET

GRI’s latest podcast episode focuses on water stewardship and how reporting can help companies manage their impacts better. Interviews with GRI's Chief of Standards Bastian Buck, Paul Reig from the World Resources Institute, and GRI Standards Manager Anna Krotova, explaining what exactly has changed in GRI's newly launched Water and Effluents reporting standard.

Energy

High-End Woodworking Company Improves Energy Efficiency and Performance with New Vacuum Pumps

Sep 5, 2018 10:35 AM ET