Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Research, Reports & Publications

Water Meets "New Energy": Surging Renewables Have Utilities Eyeing Alternative Power Sources

Jun 14, 2019 12:30 PM ET

Water and energy systems long have been intrinsically intertwined, given electricity's entrenchment as one of a water or wastewater utility's biggest expenditures. But as water suppliers and wastewater service providers grapple with ways to reduce power costs, advance toward "green" energy and participate in the electric industry evolution, there's talk of "ner energy."

Environment

Painting A Blue Sky

Jun 14, 2019 12:10 PM ET

Shipping containers play a major role in global trade, helping companies around the world to move goods securely from A to B. However, until recently, containers manufactured in China were painted using solvent-heavy coatings. This endangered the health of local communities due to the release of high concentrations of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) into the atmosphere.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Different From Business As Usual: Unique Talent Management Principles in Inclusive Business

Jun 14, 2019 12:00 PM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

Public Consultation Period on the Latest AA1000 Assurance Standard Opened

Jun 14, 2019 11:45 AM ET

The latest revision of the AA1000 Assurance Standard, the AA1000AS (2019), has been initiated by AccountAbility for public consultation via a globally accessible web platform today. The AA1000AS (2019) is an internationally accepted, freely available standard that provides the requirements for AccountAbility licensed assurance providers to conduct good-quality sustainability assurance on sustainability disclosures by reporting organisations.

Research, Reports & Publications

Mike Bloomberg Introduces the 2019 Bloomberg Philanthropies Annual Report

Jun 14, 2019 11:05 AM ET

Mike Bloomberg issued his new letter on philanthropy today as part of the release of Bloomberg Philanthropies' 2019 annual report.

His lifetime giving now totals more than $8 billion.

He writes: “In the year ahead, as political candidates debate what to do in the future, we will work to improve the present by expanding our efforts."

Education

The Possibilities Lie Within Us

Jun 14, 2019 11:00 AM ET

Can you imagine the implications to the country and society if we were better able to harness and unleash the talent all around us? What if opportunity and culture unlocked the ambition and dreams of more people – young and old – to achieve their potential? We’re barely scratching the surface.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Being in the Zone: When Work Just Goes So Right

Jun 14, 2019 10:10 AM ET

I recently had the fortune to visit one of our customers, and this visit was unlike any other I’ve ever had. To understand how we got to this day in March, let me give you some flavor of how these experiences usually go for context.

There’s route one: Our sales team emails or calls and says, “Hey, our customer is asking what we do for sustainability.” Typically this happens in April — Earth Month, of course — and other times during quarterly customer reviews. They ask for a few slides or send a questionnaire. This is my most loathed format because, from my end, I don’t see much done with the data and these requests take time. The sales rep is concerned because the request is steep and the details are tough, especially for those who aren’t subject matter experts. They also want to make su

Events, Media & Communications

SC Johnson Brings Acclaimed “Love Sonia” Anti-Human Trafficking Film to Racine, Wisconsin

Jun 14, 2019 10:00 AM ET

SC Johnson hosted a screening of the acclaimed film “Love Sonia,” the story of a young girl’s journey to rescue her sister from the dangerous world of human trafficking after their debt-ridden father sells her into prostitution. Inspired by real-life events, the film is the directorial debut from “Slumdog Millionaire” producer Tabrez Noorani and exposes the disturbing issue of international human trafficking. The film was shown to an audience of law enforcement professionals, educators, medical professionals, community leaders and the general public at the company’s Golden Rondelle Theater in Racine, Wisconsin on Thursday, June 13.

Diversity & Inclusion

Paper Science Students Explore Personal Care Career Opportunities

Jun 14, 2019 9:45 AM ET

Paper science and engineering students from North Carolina State University saw more than just pulp and paper mills on this year’s Paper International Experience (PIE) trip to Domtar’s Personal Care operations in Toledo, Spain.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Rainbow Railroad

Jun 14, 2019 9:30 AM ET

More people today are living as refugees or displaced persons than at any time since the end of World War II1 and many of those seeking asylum are from the LGBTQ2+ community. In more than 70 countries around the world LGBTQ2+ people are facing extreme violence and persecution.2 They are looking for hope and a safe place to call home.

Research, Reports & Publications

Letter from Don Hall, CEO, Hallmark

Jun 14, 2019 9:10 AM ET

J. C. Hall once said, “If a man goes into business only with the idea of making a lot of money, chances are he won’t. But if he puts service and quality first, the money will take care of itself.”

Diversity & Inclusion

"Everyone Deserves to Feel Safe": Meet a Johnson & Johnson Leader Who's Proud to Be an Ally for the LGBTQ+ Community

Jun 14, 2019 9:05 AM ET

For Pride Month, Johnson & Johnson Executive Vice President Ashley McEvoy shares how the company stands behind its LGBTQ+ employees—and why a strong culture of diversity and inclusion is crucial to successfully finding solutions for the world's greatest healthcare problems.

Environment

NRPA and The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Launch Nationwide Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz as Part of Gro More Good Initiative

Jun 14, 2019 9:00 AM ET

The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation will launch Parks for Pollinators BioBlitz, a program inspiring local parks to host a pollinator BioBlitz event during June in celebration of pollinator month to raise awareness and community involvement in the pollinator crisis.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Tetra Tech is #1 in Water for 16 Years

Jun 14, 2019 9:00 AM ET

Tetra Tech is Leading with Science® to deliver innovative solutions for its clients’ most challenging water problems around the world.

Research, Reports & Publications

Edison International 2018 Sustainability Report: Leading the Transformation with Clean Energy

Jun 14, 2019 9:00 AM ET

Cleaning the Power System: SCE is a national leader in clean energy and delivers power with only half of the GHG emissions per unit of electricity compared to the estimated U.S. average. In 2018, 46% of electricity that SCE delivered to customers came from carbon-free resources,6 more than halfway to the 80% we estimate is needed by 2030 to meet California’s climate change goals.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Smithfield Foods Donates Nearly 40,000 Pounds of Protein to FeedMore WNY

Jun 13, 2019 5:30 PM ET

Today, Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Tops Friendly Markets joined forces to donate nearly 40,000 pounds of protein to FeedMore WNY. Smithfield’s contribution was part of the company’s 2019 Helping Hungry Homes® donation tour.

Diversity & Inclusion

It’s Time for the Equality Act

Jun 13, 2019 5:15 PM ET

The month of June is LGBTQ Pride Month in the United States. Each year, Pride events are held nationwide in cities large and small, and for some people, it is the only occasion where they can be out and proud in their community. Pride festivals and parades are a celebration of the progress the LGBTQ community has made, but also a time to recognize the distance we still have to go to achieve full equality. This June, we’re excited to feature a guest post from Human Rights Campaign’s Liz Cooper.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Sappi Limited's CEO Steve Binnie Reflects on North America's Year of Renewal

Jun 13, 2019 5:10 PM ET

I would like to congratulate the Sappi North America (SNA) team on another successful year, truly embodying this year’s theme of renewal. The business underwent a significant change with the conversion of Paper Machine 1 (PM1) at the Somerset Mill to be able to produce packaging and speciality paper grades. We also commenced a project to increase dissolving pulp capacity at Cloquet. These exciting changes are part of Sappi’s global strategy to boost capacity in higher growth and higher margin product segments. Despite the inevitable disruption which accompanies such significant capital projects, the business was able to offset cost pressure in the graphic paper business, nearly doubled packaging business volumes and improved overall profitability after the conversion of Somerset PM1. Impor

Green Infrastructure

Olympic House Becomes One of the Most Sustainable Buildings in the World

Jun 13, 2019 4:25 PM ET

In addition to receiving the LEED Platinum certification, Olympic House is the first international headquarters – and the second building overall – to obtain the highest (Platinum) level of the Swiss Sustainable Construction Standard (SNBS). It has also been awarded the Swiss standard for energy-efficient buildings, Minergie P. Olympic House is the first building to receive these three certifications, and the first in Switzerland to achieve LEED v4 Platinum.

Sustainable Development Goals

PNC Joins Ceres Company Network

Jun 13, 2019 4:20 PM ET

The sustainability nonprofit organization Ceres announced today that the PNC Financial Services Group (NYSE: PNC) has joined the Ceres Company Network.

Environment

Adam Sobel: Science In The Eye Of The Hurricane

Jun 13, 2019 4:10 PM ET

It’s summertime! That means county fairs, stone fruit, and hopefully a cool body of water in which to dip one’s toes. Of course, it also means record temperatures and the beginning of hurricane season. Today on Sea Change Radio we are talking weather with Adam Sobel, an atmospheric scientist at Columbia University. We discuss the difference between climate and weather, learn about the importance of accurate forecasts in the age of extreme weather, and dispel some preposterous myths about climate scientists.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Sabbatical Stories: Paying It Forward

Jun 13, 2019 3:40 PM ET

Volunteering has always played an important role in Paul Son’s life. In college, Paul volunteered as a tutor and science fair mentor at a school near the University of Washington. In 2011, Paul first experienced disaster response when he was deployed to Batrop, TX, where a fire had scorched 40,000 acres and destroyed over 1,000 homes. Together, these experiences inspired Paul to spend his sabbatical doing what he does best — give back to the community.

Events, Media & Communications

Webinar: Investor Driven ESG Disclosures – State Street, SASB, MSCI

Jun 13, 2019 3:00 PM ET

The interest from the investment community in ESG disclosures is growing at a rapid pace, with no sign of slowing down. The shift is requiring more parts of the organization to be involved, with levels of transparency being asked that simply wasn’t before. What do investors expect and how do all stakeholders push ESG disclosure forward?

Research, Reports & Publications

MetLife 2018 Global Impact Report: Protecting the Environment

Jun 13, 2019 3:00 PM ET

From energy efficiency and green buildings to volunteer projects and responsible investments that benefit the environment, we work to reduce our footprint and build resiliency in a changing world. Continuous improvement is a mantra at MetLife. This outlook guides our efforts to decrease our energy use and greenhouse gas emissions through carbon reduction and operational efficiency programs, water reduction strategies, recycling and reuse efforts, and more. To drive success, we set strong operational goals and collaborate with our employees and supply chain business partners.

Social Impact & Volunteering

The Co-op Community Spaces Program | LBG Canada Company Spotlight

Jun 13, 2019 1:50 PM ET

Community spaces are what bring people together. In trying and often dividing times, they can be a source of joy and connection. However, the level of capital funding required to bring these long term projects to life can be difficult to fundraise for.