Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Environment

National Grid Responds to U.S. Withdrawal from Paris Agreement

Jun 2, 2017 12:15 PM ET

In recent weeks, National Grid joined several of the largest companies in the United States to urge President Trump to keep the U.S. in the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Environment

AkzoNobel Partners With the Ocean Cleanup for Largest Clean-up in History

Jun 2, 2017 11:30 AM ET

The complete removal of plastic from the world's oceans has moved a step closer after AkzoNobel joined forces with The Ocean Cleanup to help turn the tide on marine pollution. The partnership involves AkzoNobel providing advanced, biocide-free coatings technology for all the devices and equipment used by The Ocean Cleanup for the next five years.

Environment

Xylem Affirms Its Strong Support for the Paris Climate Agreement

Jun 2, 2017 11:15 AM ET

Following yesterday's announcement that the United States will withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, Xylem, a leading global water technology company, issued a statement affirming its support for the agreement.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Morgan Stanley Employees Build New Playground in New Orleans as Part of Healthy Cities Program

Jun 2, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) today announced that over 200 Morgan Stanley and community volunteers will build a playground at Dunbar Elementary as part of the Morgan Stanley’s Healthy Cities initiative. Joining forces with Choice Foundation and KaBOOM!, volunteers will give area kids the play space they deserve.

Education

Qualcomm’s Susie Armstrong Talks Thinkabit Labs, STEM, and Inspiring the Next Generation

Jun 2, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Since it began, Qualcomm® Thinkabit Lab™ has exposed more than 12,000 students, teachers and parents to hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) activities and career exploration discussions that will prepare them for 21st-century jobs.

Research, Reports & Publications

Bloomberg's Path to 100% Renewable Energy

Jun 2, 2017 10:15 AM ET

In 2016, Bloomberg joined RE100, a global initiative by influential businesses committed to 100% renewable electricity. We have pledged to obtain 100% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2025. Our initial target continues to be 35% electricity from renewables by 2020. To date, our completed solar projects have generated more than 15,000 megawatt hours and saved Bloomberg more than $1 million.

Education

Meet Some of the Speakers Lined Up for Intro to ESG, Sustainable & Impact Investment Training

Jun 2, 2017 10:00 AM ET

For professionals in the capital markets, and in the corporate sector, G&A Institute and Global Change Associates are teamed to present a one-day professional training program, hosted by Zicklin School of Business at Baruch College/CUNY, in midtown Manhattan. This is an excellent introduction to the application of ESG factors to investment making decisions and corporate valuations.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Coca-Cola, Walmart, AkzoNobel, Sustainable Apparel Coalition, M&S and Covestro Gather for Europe’s Leading Responsible Supply Chain Event

Jun 2, 2017 9:30 AM ET

The 12th annual Sustainable Supply Chain Summit will take place on 17-18 October in London - bringing together 150+ global organisations to debate how business can deliver positive impacts through their supply chains

Energy

Consumers Energy Offers New Rooftop Solar Pilot Program for Michigan Households

Jun 2, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Consumers Energy announced that it has started a new solar energy pilot program, giving Michigan residents another option to help build a clean future for our state. Consumers Energy’s new Solar Distributed Generation (DG) Pilot program allows customers to put solar panels on the rooftops of their homes, working with industry-leading solar provider SunPower to offer Michigan customers a full-service home solar solution.

Responsible Production & Consumption

How Basil is Helping a Community Get Back to Work, Grow Local, and Save Water

Jun 2, 2017 9:05 AM ET

You probably cook with basil in your kitchen — for most of us it’s a staple herb, and not something we give much thought to as we chop it up and sprinkle it into our food. For a community in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, basil is more than just a flavor enhancer: it’s a way to reintegrate back into the community, to grow food sustainably, and sell that food locally to chefs at organizations like Nestlé Professional.

Education

How Barclays is Supporting the Inventors of Tomorrow

Jun 2, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Since its launch in 2014, MakerClub has established eight after-school clubs that introduce young people to coding, creative thinking and emerging technologies. Here, director Declan Cassidy reveals his aim to grow that number to 50 across the UK in 2017 – and tells how Barclays is supporting his team’s ambitious plans to develop the ‘inventors of tomorrow’.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

AmeriCorps Members Lend Their Hands During Habitat for Humanity Build-a-Thon

Jun 2, 2017 9:05 AM ET

As part of Habitat for Humanity’s annual AmeriCorps Build-a-Thon event, more than 350 Habitat AmeriCorps members and alumni will travel to select cities in May and June, to build, repair and landscape 22 homes.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Xylem Honored for Engaging Colleagues in Service Around the Globe

Jun 2, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Xylem Inc., a leading global water technology company dedicated to solving the world’s most challenging water issues, announced today it has been honored by Engage for Good (formerly the Cause Marketing Forum) with the Gold Halo Award in the Employee Engagement category.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Why Weatherford Rides

Jun 2, 2017 9:00 AM ET

The Weatherford team joined thousands of cyclists and volunteers for the BP MS 150, a two-day fundraising bike ride benefiting the National MS Society.

Research, Reports & Publications

Vodafone Group Plc Sustainable Business Report 2017

Jun 2, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Vodafone Group Plc has published its Sustainable Business Report 2017, the second report under its sustainable business strategy that was launched in 2016. The strategy sets out to ensure an even closer alignment between Vodafone’s core commercial goals and the maximum possible social and economic benefit achievable as a consequence of those goals.

Research, Reports & Publications

Daimler Sustainability Report 2016 Key Figures

Jun 2, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Tetra Tech is #1 in Water for 14 Years

Jun 2, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Media & Communications

TriplePundit — On Growing Up

Jun 2, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Avid readers will have read the news. This week, TriplePundit was acquired by 3BL Media, the leading provider of distribution services for corporate social responsibility and sustainability news and content. As we whispered a sneak preview to friends and colleagues in person at the Sustainable Brands conference in Detroit last week, our team got the same response again and again – “Congratulations…. Right?”

Go ahead and pop the champagne bottles – this is tremendous news for our organization and the sustainability movement as a whole.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sodexo-Managed Dining Services at Chapman University Wins NACUFS 2017 Loyal E. Horton Dining Award

Jun 1, 2017 10:50 PM ET

Chapman University has been recognized by the National Association of College and University Food Services (NACUFS) with a Loyal E. Horton Dining Award.

Sustainable Development Goals

HP Response to Paris Climate Agreement Decision

Jun 1, 2017 8:05 PM ET

At HP, we see this not only as our responsibility, but vital to the longevity of our business. We support the Paris Climate Agreement and the global efforts to address climate change. HP is working to ensure our business is resilient, innovating to mitigate the effects of climate change and adapting to an evolving global business and regulatory environment that supports our customers, partners and employees.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Employees Donate Personal Time to Land Rehabilitation in Nevada

Jun 1, 2017 7:20 PM ET

Last month, members of our team in Nevada took part in the Elko District Bureau of Land Management (BLM) sagebrush seedling-planting project. Newmont, the National Department of Wildlife, Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW), the Nevada Muleys and Barrick Gold sponsored the event.

Diversity & Inclusion

AEG Launches #BetterAsOne Campaign To Support Pride Month

Jun 1, 2017 6:00 PM ET

In support of LGBT Pride Month, AEG, the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company, is creating awareness around diversity and inclusion with the launch of “Better As One,” a social media campaign that underscores the organization’s belief in unity and diversity.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

The International Living Future Institute is Now Accepting Applications for the Stephen R. Kellert Biophilic Design Award

Jun 1, 2017 5:30 PM ET

The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) is now accepting submissions for the Stephen R. Kellert Biophilic Design Award that acknowledges Stephen Kellert's legacy as a pioneer in articulating and applying Biophilic Design principles to the built environment.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Pentair and Urban Organics Open Second Commercial-Scale, Indoor Aquaponics Farm in St. Paul, Minn.

Jun 1, 2017 5:05 PM ET

Pentair, a global leader in sustainable water solutions, and aquaponics farming innovator Urban Organics, are opening a new, 87,000-square-foot indoor aquaponics farm in St. Paul, Minn.

Environment

Statement from Keep America Beautiful Concerning Decision by United States to Withdraw from Paris Climate Agreement

Jun 1, 2017 5:00 PM ET

Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, believes that meaningful, lasting change is best achieved when NGOs and social service organizations, businesses, government, academia and individuals — reflecting the strength and diversity of our nation and the world — join together to take responsibility with collective action.

Today’s decision to withdraw the United States from the historic Paris Climate Agreement adds an even greater sense of urgency to our work to help create a country where every community is a clean, green and beautiful place to live, work and play.