Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Energy

Construction Begins on Microgrid at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

Sep 29, 2017 5:45 PM ET

U.S. Marine Corps and Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southwest leadership hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Sept. 28 celebrating the start of construction for an energy security microgrid at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Miramar, in San Diego, California. Black & Veatch and Schneider Electric, in a joint venture, are providing design and construction support on the project.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

CSX Supports National Rail Safety Week, Partners With Baltimore Youth to Improve Rail Safety

Sep 29, 2017 5:35 PM ET

Communicating the critical importance of exercising caution around railroad tracks isn’t always an easy task – especially when you’re trying to reach teens and young adults. Beginning in 2014, CSX railroad decided to pursue an innovative, new approach to reach this target audience: communicating directly through their peers. CSX partnered with Wide Angle Youth Media, a Baltimore-based non-profit organization providing local youth with media education and mentorship, to help young adults develop media campaigns that communicate rail safety messaging to their peers: urban youth between the ages of 16 and 25.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

"The Kids Keep Blount Beautiful" Community Edible Garden in Tennessee

Sep 29, 2017 5:15 PM ET

Keep America Beautiful Affiliate Keep Blount Beautiful (KBB) received a $5,000 Community Partners Grant from Lowe’s and Keep America Beautiful to plant community edible gardens at two Blount County, Tennessee, schools.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Duke Energy Foundation Increases Hurricane Irma Relief Contributions to $1 Million

Sep 29, 2017 4:55 PM ET

To assist its communities, customers and neighbors devastated by Hurricane Irma, Duke Energy today increased its contribution to relief agencies to $1 million.

The company announced a donation of $750,000 to assist organizations and agencies that provide services during disaster relief; adding to its $250,000 donation on Sept. 11 to the Volunteer Florida Foundation – Florida Disaster Fund, the state's official private fund established to assist Florida communities with response and recovery activities.

Innovation & Technology

Bloomberg, BrightHive and Data for Democracy Launch Initiative to Develop Data Science Code of Ethics

Sep 29, 2017 4:20 PM ET

At Bloomberg’s 2017 Data for Good Exchange, the fourth annual conference exploring how data science can help solve problems for social good, a partnership was announced between Bloomberg, BrightHive and Data for Democracy to develop a code of ethics for data scientists from the ground up. Called the “Community Principles on Ethical Data Sharing (CPEDS),” this code of ethics will provide a set of guidelines about responsible data sharing and collaboration.

Media & Communications

L.L.Bean Puts Modern Twist on Newspaper Ad

Sep 29, 2017 4:10 PM ET

At a time when most marketers are turning to digital in increasing numbers, creating fun and interactive ads to engage consumers and drive sales, one company chose to go back to basics. Recently, one outdoor brand took to an age-old marketing channel with a disruptive approach – garnering attention while driving behavior change.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Green Champions Counter the Pessimists of the World

Sep 29, 2017 4:00 PM ET

The Eeyores of the world would have us believe that “sustainable business” is an oxymoron. Worse, some cynically give a public face to “being green” with no real intent or interest in changing their non-green ways.

Diversity & Inclusion

AEG’s STAPLES Center to Offer Sensory Safety Kits

Sep 29, 2017 3:30 PM ET

AEG’s STAPLES Center in downtown Los Angeles has teamed up with Life is Washable, Inc. to provide “Sensory Safety Kits” for the arena’s events to give guests with Autism, Dementia or a Traumatic Brain Injury the best fan experience in Los Angeles.

Loud noises and bright lights can make it difficult or confusing for an individual with Autism, Dementia or a Traumatic Brain Injury to enjoy an event. The friendly @ccess kits are designed to support individuals of all ages and their families, with a variety of sensory needs, at all STAPLES Center sporting events and concerts.

Environment

Webinar: Using ESG Ratings and Disclosure to Your Advantage

Sep 29, 2017 2:25 PM ET

During this lively and informative session, we will discuss Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors that are recognized as relevant for assessing corporate performance, risk, and value, in addition to the societal and environmental impacts themselves. Yet, investor relations and corporate responsibility practitioners often have a love/hate relationship with the corporate responsibility (CR) and ESG or sustainable and responsible investments (SRI) raters and frameworks that have helped identify and shape these metrics. This webinar helps untangle the what, the why, and the “how-tos” of tackling ratings and disclosure.

Energy

MilliporeSigma Centers Work Toward a Smaller Carbon Footprint in India

Sep 29, 2017 2:00 PM ET

India is the third-largest emitter of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the world, accounting for 6.8 percent of global CO2 emissions. At the 2015 United Nations Convention on Climate Change, India signed the Paris Agreement and committed to reducing CO2 emissions 35 percent by 2030 compared to 2005 emission levels. Since then, the Indian government has introduced emissions control measures for power plants and tighter vehicular emission standards, while calling on businesses to reduce emissions.

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar | Improving Safety Through Culture

Sep 29, 2017 2:00 PM ET

With over 1,000 employees across three shifts, injuries have been significantly reduced at Solar Turbines’ Turbomachinery Operations in Southern California.

Diversity & Inclusion

Innovators @ Qualcomm: Serafin Diaz

Sep 29, 2017 2:00 PM ET

Today, we’re profiling Serafin Diaz, vice president of engineering at Qualcomm Technologies. Diaz grew up in La Paz, Baja, Mexico where he developed an early fascination of electronics and how things work. He’s put that inquisitive nature to good use in his almost-20 years with the company, working on a variety of projects, from designing and executing test cases for cellular systems to field testing EV-DO to starting and leading R&D in augmented reality (AR) and computer vision.

Energy

Decades of Clean Energy Use Fuels GM’s RE100 Commitment

Sep 29, 2017 2:00 PM ET

All of GM’s Ohio and Indiana facilities – including the assembly plants that build the Chevrolet Cruze and Silverado and GMC Sierra light-duty pickup trucks – will meet 100 percent of their electricity needs through wind power. Once the turbines come online by the end of 2018, renewable energy will power 20 percent of GM’s global electricity use.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Wendy's Celebrates Adoption-Friendly Workplaces

Sep 29, 2017 1:35 PM ET

Media & Communications

Sustainability Pays, Says Wal-Mart & Some of Its Suppliers in PBS Newshour Interviews

Sep 29, 2017 1:35 PM ET

As part of the PBS series, "Peril and Promise: The Challenge of Climate Change," the network's NewsHour reported on how a few large U.S. companies are doing their part to meet climate change challenges...and prospering...even as the Trump White House continues to move toward withdrawal from the historic Paris Agreement (COP 21).

The efforts of the giant retailer Wal-Mart Stores are highlighted in the broadcast. Wal-Mart stresses that it is striving to be recognized as a corporate leader in the "fight against climate change."

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

How SASB Is Helping JetBlue, Investors Get on the Same Page About Materiality

Sep 29, 2017 1:30 PM ET

Earlier this year, JetBlue released its 2016 environmental and sustainability report, accompanied by a white paper produced according to the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) standard for the airline industry, which covers material environmental, social and governance (ESG) information of interest to investors.

With the release of the report and white paper, JetBlue became one of the first companies — and the first airline — to report according to SASB’s intensive standards.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Provides $1.7 Million Grant to UNC School of Medicine to Fund Program Streamlining Afib Care & Education for Underserved Populations

Sep 29, 2017 1:00 PM ET

UNC School of Medicine cardiologist Anil Gehi, MD, will use a $1.7 million grant from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation to further innovate a care model, launched in 2015, that reduced hospitalizations for patients with atrial fibrillation (Afib) presenting in the emergency room by more than 30 percentage points in its first year.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Abbott Expands Disaster Relief, Providing $4.25 Million to Help Families Affected by Hurricane Maria, Earthquakes in Mexico, Other Recent Hurricanes

Sep 29, 2017 12:45 PM ET

To help families affected by recent disasters, Abbott and its foundation the Abbott Fund are providing $4.25 million in donated products and grants to support hurricane and earthquake relief. Most recent efforts focus on Hurricane Maria and earthquakes in Mexico.

Education

Cargill’s Global Scholars: Getting Ready to Change the World

Sep 29, 2017 12:30 PM ET

For a week this summer, 67 bright young students from six countries around the world gathered at Cargill’s offices in Amsterdam for a leadership seminar that would prepare them to be future leaders and decision-makers in the world of food and agriculture.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Gildan Awarded FUNDAHRSE CSR Seal for 10th Consecutive Year

Sep 29, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Gildan received the CSR Seal awarded by the Foundation for Corporate Social Responsibility in Honduras (FUNDAHRSE) for the 10th consecutive year. This year, 65 companies received the award, with Gildan being the only apparel company to receive this distinction 10 years in a row.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

BNY Mellon Included on Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for Fourth Consecutive Year

Sep 29, 2017 11:40 AM ET

BNY Mellon has maintained its leadership status in corporate social responsibility (CSR), appearing as the only U.S. diversified financial company on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) for the fourth consecutive year. The Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) were the first global indices tracking the financial performance of leading sustainability-driven companies worldwide and provide an integrated assessment of economic, environmental and social criteria with a strong focus on long-term shareholder value.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Infographic: GRI – Small Non-Profit, Big Impact

Sep 29, 2017 11:00 AM ET

ver our 20-year journey, GRI has created an outsized impact on the global economy, environment and society. With currently fewer than 100 employees, GRI engages companies, financial institutions, governments, labor organizations, civil society and citizens from around the world in the mission to build an equitable, inclusive and sustainable future. Infographic presents the key figures on GRI's impact.

Environment

Addressing Climate: What's the Big Deal?

Sep 29, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Over the last two years, we’ve sharpened our pencils on the glide path to 2025. Let’s be honest: it isn’t easy or obvious. There are many business hurdles and operational challenges to realizing this goal. But our commitment to making progress has not changed. Why? Because long term, it makes sense for our business and it makes sense for the planet. We want to position our company to have access to quality ingredients at a cost that we can afford into the future. All of this depends on a healthy planet.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Habitat for Humanity and Bank of America Kick Off Fourth Global Build

Sep 29, 2017 10:35 AM ET

Habitat for Humanity and Bank of America are partnering for the fourth consecutive year on a Global Build that will engage bank employees and local Habitat organizations around the world.

Between Sept. 30 – Oct. 7, approximately 2,500 employee volunteers (#BofAVolunteers) will join their local Habitat organizations to help build, rehab or repair homes and revitalize neighborhoods in more than 90 communities in six countries, including the United States, Canada, Ireland, Australia, Hong Kong and Indonesia.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Maria Menounos Debuts “Maria's Greek Kitchen” at Fenway

Sep 29, 2017 10:20 AM ET

Aramark, Fenway Park’s food and beverage partner, and Emmy-winning Maria Menounos, have partnered and opened a new “pop-up” concessions concept at Fenway Park, featuring Menounos’ healthy and authentic Greek family recipes. The opening of “Maria’s Greek Kitchen” marks a return of sorts to Fenway for Menounos, who grew up in nearby Medford, MA, attended Emerson College in Boston, and sold sausages behind a cart outside Fenway Park, before and after Red Sox games.