Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Sustainable Development Goals

COP23 is Here: What is Schneider Electric Doing to Tackle Climate Change?

Nov 9, 2017 11:55 PM ET

Schneider Electric, which has been at the forefront of sustainability efforts for more than a decade, has made significant progress on its 10 Commitments for Sustainability since 2015. Schneider Electric uses 16 indicators from the Planet & Society Barometer to measure its commitment to sustainable development. In October 2017, Schneider Electric announced that it exceeded its barometer target for 2017; a quarter ahead of schedule.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Power 100 Q&A: Erika Irish Brown

Nov 9, 2017 11:45 PM ET

Worth spoke with Bloomberg’s Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion, Erika Irish Brown, the 98th most powerful person in finance.

The industry has changed a lot in terms of cultural norms and what is acceptable in the workplace. But when you think about who the individuals are in senior leadership and the overall diversity of the workforce, that has not changed as much as I personally would have liked.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

MLBPA Award Winners to Direct $260,000 in Players Trust Grants to Support Variety of Causes

Nov 9, 2017 6:30 PM ET

Anthony Rizzo of the Chicago Cubs, a cancer survivor himself, knew right away he would steer the $50,000 grant he won as the 2017 Marvin Miller Man of the Year to one of the beneficiaries of the charity he founded five years ago to help kids with cancer and their families. “On the field you want to do things the right way, play the game the right way and off the field I really try to use the platform we’ve been provided to go out and help,” the ever-friendly first baseman said after winning the prestigious honor during the 26th Players Choice Awards.

Innovation & Technology

Owens Corning Insulation Products Are First to Be Certified as Made With 100% Wind-Powered Electricity and Reduced Embodied Carbon

Nov 9, 2017 6:00 PM ET

Owens Corning announced three types of commercial and residential insulation, independently certified as made with renewable energy, are available for specification and purchase. These products represent the first ever to have met the requirements of SCS Global Services’ certification protocol to validate electricity used to make them is 100% wind powered, which, in turn, reduces their carbon footprint.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

How Goodwill Helped Samuel Transition From Military to Civilian Life

Nov 9, 2017 5:40 PM ET

After successfully serving in the U.S. Army for 21 years, I retired and was ready for a second career. I had experience in Medical Supply Logistics; however, I found myself leaving the military without a degree or certification, and wondering if I would be able to find a job.

Education

LA Kings Team Up with Blue Shield of California to Launch G.O.A.L.S. Program for Children in Los Angeles

Nov 9, 2017 4:45 PM ET

AEG’s LA Kings and Blue Shield of California teamed up with Grades of Green to celebrate the official launch of G.O.A.L.S, a digital platform that helps equip children in Los Angeles with resources to be eco-friendly, inclusive, healthy, socially responsible and knowledgeable, yesterday at St. Anthony Parish School in Long Beach, Calif.

Students at St. Anthony spent the morning reviewing how to properly sort waste before getting first access to the LA Kings and Blue Shield of California G.O.A.L.S platform and playing trash sorting hockey games with LA Kings forward Kyle Clifford as well as Bailey, the club’s mascot, and members of the LA Kings Ice Crew.

Events, Media & Communications

Ingersoll Rand Joins International Community at COP 23

Nov 9, 2017 4:30 PM ET

Ingersoll Rand (NYSE: IR), a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments, joins representatives from hundreds of countries at the 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 23) to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on Nov. 6-17 to support continued actions that address climate change.

Diversity & Inclusion

FCA Foundation Helps Veterans Deploy on New Missions in Their Communities and the Workplace

Nov 9, 2017 3:00 PM ET

The FCA Foundation, the charitable arm of North American automaker FCA US LLC, today awarded $250,000 to The Mission Continues and $50,000 to Forgotten Harvest. The grants will support community impact and workplace development initiatives for veterans who are adjusting to life at home.

Research, Reports & Publications

Slag Recycling Reduces Landfill Waste at Caterpillar Mapleton Foundry

Nov 9, 2017 3:00 PM ET

The Mapleton Foundry generates anywhere from 2,000 to 4,000 tons of slag annually – a by-product from the iron melting process.

Learn more about how Mapleton has developed a cost-effective slag recycling process with the assistance of Veolia Environmental Services.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Advancing Diversity & Inclusion at Mars, Incorporated: For Second Year in a Row, Mars Earns 90 Percent Score in 2018 Corporate Equality Index

Nov 9, 2017 2:20 PM ET

Mars, Incorporated received a score of 90 percent for a second year on the 2018 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), after jumping from 60% in 2015. The national benchmarking survey reports on corporate policies and practices relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Mars’ score reflects its commitment to LGBTQ workplace equality, with respect to tangible policies, benefits, and practices.

Research, Reports & Publications

Andy Hoffman, Faculty Member at the Erb Institute | Business for Sustainability, Co-Authors Report on Hybrid Organizations and Corporate Sustainability

Nov 9, 2017 2:15 PM ET

Is there an opportunity for hybrid organizations to improve corporate sustainability?

Health & Healthcare

Launch of Third My Child Matters Nurses Award

Nov 9, 2017 2:05 PM ET

The Sanofi Espoir Foundation, in partnership with the SIOP (International Pediatric Oncology Society), has for the third year launched a call for projects for nurses in pediatric oncology in low- and medium-resource countries. The aim is to reward and stimulate nurses' initiatives for projects that help fight against childhood cancer in the three areas of education, improving professional practice, and research.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Whole Planet Foundation’s Poverty Is Unnecessary Project to Support Ten Thousand People

Nov 9, 2017 1:50 PM ET

Whole Planet Foundation’s annual Poverty Is Unnecessary Project provides opportunity for the world’s poorest people – mostly women – to take a microcredit loan and create or expand a home-based business for the opportunity to lift themselves and their family members out of poverty through their own hard work and creativity. Whole Planet Foundation supports impoverished entrepreneurs through microfinance partners in the United States and 69 other countries around the world.

Innovation & Technology

UPS And NYSERDA To Convert UPS Diesel Delivery Trucks In NYC To Electric

Nov 9, 2017 1:05 PM ET

UPS and the New York State Energy Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) today announced that new technology will be developed to convert UPS package delivery vehicles from diesel to electric. The project will support New York Governor Cuomo's aggressive goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40 percent by 2030.

Green Infrastructure

Whirlpool Corporation Increases Sustainability Efforts in India

Nov 9, 2017 1:05 PM ET

As part of Whirlpool Corporation's efforts to increase sustainability initiatives at its facilities around the world, Whirlpool India has taken steps to offset electricity needs and replace diesel fuel at plants throughout the country.

Diversity & Inclusion

Kimberly-Clark Earns Perfect Score on Human Rights Campaign’s 2018 Corporate Equality Index

Nov 9, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

CBRE Group, Inc. Earns Top Score on Corporate Equality Index for Fifth Consecutive Year

Nov 9, 2017 1:00 PM ET

CBRE Group, Inc. announced that it received a perfect score of 100 percent for the fifth straight year on the 2018 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to LGBT workplace equality. With its high score in the CEI, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, CBRE is recognized as a Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality.

Education

CITGO Celebrates National STEM Day to Inspire Students & Teachers

Nov 9, 2017 1:00 PM ET

CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery celebrated National STEM Day on Nov. 8, with an interactive event and STEM Teacher of the Year award, presented at the CITGO Skyline Venue inside the Texas State Aquarium. Students and educators who integrate Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) into classrooms at area schools joined CITGO STEM Talent Pipeline grant recipients from Del Mar College and Foy H. Moody High School at a celebration organized for their benefit. Guests were encouraged to apply their STEM skills at interactive stations set up throughout the event. Activities included molecule-building, slime-making and other science experiments.

Education

Labs Life: An Intern’s View of a Summer in HPE Research

Nov 9, 2017 12:30 PM ET

Summer just ended and along with it my wonderful experience interning at Hewlett Packard Labs in Palo Alto. But thankfully I have some great memories to remember it by, from working with some really talented teammates to helping get local kids interested in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

Being a Labs intern turned out to be much more fun than just sitting in a cube doing research. Our mentors and especially the intern coordinators arranged for us to have many opportunities for bonding with fellow interns and getting to know other researchers.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

SC Johnson Earns 13th Perfect Score on Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index

Nov 9, 2017 12:30 PM ET

Today, SC Johnson announced it has earned a perfect score of 100 percent on the 2018 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) survey and report. This honor marks the 13th time the company has earned a perfect score and its 16th year of recognition on the workplace equality list.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Help Survivors of Domestic Violence Find Hope at House of Ruth

Nov 9, 2017 12:30 PM ET

House of Ruth serves women, children and families struggling to overcome the negative impacts of trauma and homelessness. Each of the 84 families they serve in their residential programs have experienced homelessness, as have the more than 100 single women who live with them. Sometimes they’ve been on the streets, sleeping in parks, abandoned buildings or cars.

Energy

What Utilities Can Learn From Massachusetts’s Largest Energy Storage Project

Nov 9, 2017 12:30 PM ET

ENGIE North America and Holyoke Gas & Electric have just announced a contract for the largest utility-scale energy storage project in Massachusetts at the Mt. Tom Solar facility. What is the significance of this milestone?

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Congrats to the Best Corporate Steward – Large Business Finalists!

Nov 9, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Congratulations to the 2017 Best Corporate Steward – Large Business Finalists! The Best Corporate Steward – Large Business Corporate Citizenship Award recognizes businesses that encompass overall values, operational practices, and stakeholder strategies that exemplify shared value. Read on to learn more about the significant, positive impacts these businesses have had in communities, locally and globally.

Energy

LG Electronics Demonstrates Commitment to Sustainable Building Projects

Nov 9, 2017 12:00 PM ET

LG Electronics USA Air Conditioning Technologies is debuting a new case study in the LG Project Profile Series, the unique LEED-certified renovation of Co-lumbia Square, a mixed-use property in Hollywood, Calif. The project – spotlighted at the 2017 Greenbuild International Conference & Expo alongside other sustainable building renovations – showcases how LG’s unique heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) technologies can be installed in a variety of commercial and residential environments

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

LIXIL Americas CEO Steven Delarge Urges Support for Skilled Trade Careers at White House Meeting

Nov 9, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Calling for increased support for apprenticeship programs in the building and construction industry, LIXIL Americas President and CEO Steven Delarge met with key federal officials on September 14, 2017 at the White House.

Organized by the American Supply Association (ASA) and Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Contractors Association (PHCC), Delarge joined other industry leaders at this meeting attended by representatives from the Department of Education and the Department of Labor. LIXIL Americas, the global business unit under which plumbing brands American Standard, DXV and GROHE operate, was joined with representatives from other ASA-member and PHCC-member firms, including Win Supply.