Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Environment

IDEA Public Schools “Flips the Switch” to Go Solar With Green Mountain Energy Sun Club

Nov 27, 2018 3:00 PM ET

IDEA Public Schools’ headquarters in Weslaco is one step closer to becoming the first self-sustaining building in South Texas, thanks in part to a $100,000 donation from the Green Mountain Energy Sun Club.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The Power of Giving at Duke Energy

Nov 27, 2018 2:20 PM ET

Environment

How Do You Restore Land in a Small Country?

Nov 27, 2018 2:15 PM ET

The Government of Rwanda is setting out to increase national tree cover by 30% and to restore 2 million hectares of degraded land to fulfil its commitments to the national Vision 2020, Bonn Challenge and African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative. Owing to the country’s limited land area, 85% of this restored tree cover will be through integration of more trees into farming systems, that is, agroforestry. This commitment, along with other land restoration and conservation initiatives already underway, will help Rwanda reach its ambitious targets, supported by a new project.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Giving Back to the Causes We’re Passionate About

Nov 27, 2018 1:55 PM ET

As the largest food processing company in the U.S., Tyson Foods supports hunger relief in a big way. In 2015, we put a stake in the ground when we pledged $50 million in cash and in-kind donations over a five-year period to fight hunger. That pledge is known as the “50-in-5” commitment.

Three years after we made the commitment, we are less than $5 million away from reaching our goal. As of the end of our 2018 fiscal year, Tyson has donated more than $45,875,000 toward hunger relief in the form of product donations and charitable grants.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Shire’s Fourth Annual Global Days of Service Delivers Impact Around the Globe

Nov 27, 2018 1:35 PM ET

Shire’s 4th annual Global Days of Service, held around the globe throughout September and October to give back to local communities, surpassed previous employee volunteer participation rates. Shire had more than 7,600 employees participate - about 1/3 of the company, who volunteered more than 41,000 hours at more than 240 volunteer sites worldwide.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Nutopia Matrix: Mohawk Group's Latest Carpet Tile Influenced by Biophilia in City Centers

Nov 27, 2018 1:35 PM ET

The Living Product Challenge Petal certified system is manufactured with a mix of heathered and solid Duracolor solution-dyed nylon yarns to emphasize depth of pattern. Carbon-neutral Nutopia Matrix features Mohawk Group’s newest generation of Red List-free carpet tile backing. Using advanced materials and patent-pending engineering, EcoFlex™ Matrix lowers environmental impact without sacrificing performance. The sustainable backing is dematerialized to use fewer raw materials and energy. It also simplifies floor preparation and installation, greatly reduces sub-floor moisture concerns, and is easier to ship and handle.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Bacardi Honored with DRiNK Magazine's First-Ever Sustainability Award

Nov 27, 2018 1:15 PM ET

Bacardi sustainability efforts continue to draw attention, this time in China. DRiNK Magazine, Asia’s leading bar industry website, awarded the campaign the first ever Sustainability Award presented at The DRiNK Magazine Bar Awards (DMBA). A panel of 160 judges selected Bacardi as a leader in adopting a sustainable culture as part of day-to-day operations. Earlier this year, Bacardi launched its global movement, in collaboration with Lonely Whale, to eliminate single-use plastic straws in Shanghai with a media event co-hosted with Cachet Hospitably Group. The global campaign asks bars, restaurants and consumers to join a pledge to ensure The Future Doesn’t Suck with the goal to eliminate one billion plastic straws by 2020.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Giving Tuesday: Give the Gift of Safety

Nov 27, 2018 1:10 PM ET

With the holidays underway, many homes are at increased risk of fire caused by candles and decorative lights. Many of our neighbors who are unable to heat their home will be using their oven to stay warm, which can be extremely dangerous! Rebuilding Together’s work saves lives, and so can you!

Events, Media & Communications

Sustainable Brands Reveals Initial Conference Details for Annual Flagship Conference

Nov 27, 2018 1:00 PM ET

Sustainable Brands® recently released the event brochure for its annual flagship conference: SB’19 Detroit. More than 3,000 business leaders are expected to gather June 3-6, 2019 at the Cobo Center in Detroit, Michigan to learn how brands can stay relevant by delivering the Good Life consumers seek today, marked by balanced simplicity and connections to family, community and the environment.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Join OneWest Bank to Fight Hunger Across Southern California This Giving Tuesday

Nov 27, 2018 1:00 PM ET

OneWest Bank today announced a new campaign in partnership with Feeding America® inviting customers to help people in need this holiday season.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Surprise! JetBlue Reveals the Location of ‘Destination Good’ and Takes Its Mission of Inspiring Humanity® to New Heights

Nov 27, 2018 12:15 PM ET

Today in celebration of #GivingTuesday and JetBlue’s commitment to volunteerism and community service, the airline flew a plane full of do-gooders to “Destination Good,” the Dominican Republic. Winners of JetBlue’s #CheckInForGood contest were so committed to good, they agreed to join JetBlue on a volunteer trip during JetBlue For Good Month without knowing the destination. Volunteers arrived at New York’s JFK International Airport and were surprised with the reveal of the location just moments before boarding JetBlue’s newest special livery – JetBlue For Good.

Education

Domtar Learning Lounge Opens in Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania

Nov 27, 2018 12:05 PM ET

In today’s technology-driven world, we remain committed to the printed page. We also believe in promoting literacy among children. Most recently, our Johnsonburg Mill in Pennsylvania sponsored a new reading room, the Domtar Learning Lounge, to support literacy and learning at the Johnsonburg Area High School. Troy Wilson, the mill’s paper machine manager, approached the school about how the mill could support school programs. On the school’s project wish list was a reading room at the high school level.

Energy

Dominion Energy and Smithfield Foods Partner to Transform the Future of Sustainable Energy

Nov 27, 2018 11:45 AM ET

Dominion Energy and Smithfield Foods, Inc. are joining forces in an historic initiative to transform the future of sustainable energy and agriculture, announcing their first projects in North Carolina, Virginia and Utah. The companies are forming a joint venture called Align Renewable Natural Gas (RNG)℠ that will capture methane emissions from hog farms and convert them into clean renewable energy for residential home heating and power for local businesses.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Give the Gift of Light This Giving Tuesday

Nov 27, 2018 11:10 AM ET

The lights donated by Symantec employees have helped numerous children and their families living in remote off-grid communities in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Only 10 percent of PNG residents are connected to the electricity grid, leaving 7 million people reliant on dangerous kerosene, campfires, and expensive battery operated torches. The donated lights have helped kids complete their homework after dark and enabled their parents to continue working on their small businesses. They’ve also contributed to keeping girls and women safe as they visit the communal latrine and navigate their way around the village after dark.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

eBay Foundation Shapes CircularFutures With Ashoka

Nov 27, 2018 11:05 AM ET

eBay’s Hanne Melin thinks a lot about the future of commerce. In her role as director, eBay Legal Counsel, and a member of eBay’s Public Policy Lab, Hanne focuses on researching, socializing and communicating policy innovations at the intersection of technology, commerce and entrepreneurship.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Join GRI's Live Stream on Meaningful Reporting at the UN Forum on Business & Human Rights

Nov 27, 2018 11:00 AM ET

GRI is hosting a session at the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights, focusing on meaningful reporting and the challenges associated with it.

Education

Discovery Education Joins Forces with ‘Spider-Man™: Into the Spider-Verse’ to Premiere First-Ever Movie Studio Inspired Virtual Field Trip Experience Launching Students Nationwide into an Immersive STEM and Literacy Journey

Nov 27, 2018 10:25 AM ET

Sony Pictures Entertainment and Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, today announced Discover the Spider-Verse – an action-packed, STEM and literacy Virtual Field Trip experience, created to offer middle and high school students nationwide a sneak peek of the science, technology, engineering and math found in the new Spider-Man™: Into the Spider-Verse movie.

Environment

New Report Highlights Air Pollution Hazards & Value of Dell’s Latest Packaging Innovation

Nov 27, 2018 10:05 AM ET

Air pollution in the Asia Pacific region is not only a major health risk, it also has damaging impacts on the environment and agricultural crop yields. A new report by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and United Nations Environment Programme – titled Air Pollution in Asia and the Pacific: Science-based solutions – discusses how these impacts have significant economic consequences, affecting economic growth as well as welfare.

This recent report also calls attention to the relevancy of the recent breakthroughs by a unique partnership between Dell and Chakr Innovation, an India based start-up founded by three young engineers who believed that our quality of life depended on the quality of air we breathe.

Environment

Member Spotlight: Sean Egan

Nov 27, 2018 10:00 AM ET

HPRC spotlights Sean Egan, Director for Global Marketing & Voice of Customer Development at Nelipak Healthcare Packaging, and his exciting work.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Whole Kids Foundation® Raises $3.9 Million for Children’s Nutrition

Nov 27, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Whole Kids Foundation announced today $3.9 million was raised through its annual Growing Healthy Kids campaign in all Whole Foods Market locations to fund K-12 school programs in the U.S., Canada and the U.K., geared towards improving children’s nutrition and wellness.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

VIDEO | Subaru of America Partners With Make-A-Wish to Create the “Becoming a Hero” Campaign for the 2018 Share the Love® Event

Nov 27, 2018 10:00 AM ET

When we grant wishes, we give hope. In this heartfelt commercial, we witness a little boy experience his wish of becoming a firefighter. As the firefighters arrive and pick him up over their shoulders, his parents soak in this moment of hope.

Media & Communications

The State of Sustainable / ESG Investment in 2018: The State of Corporate Sustainability Reporting & How We Got Here

Nov 27, 2018 10:00 AM ET

This issue we bring you two important Top Stories that capture the state of sustainable investing from varying points-of-view. We selected these for their value to both corporate managers and investment professionals.

Sustainable Development Goals

IBM Releases Report on the UN SDGs

Nov 27, 2018 10:00 AM ET

IBM is leveraging its technology, expertise and commitment to global service and sustainability to contribute to the achievement of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Bloomberg - Uncovering Value in the Evolving Sustainability Space: in Conversation With CSRHub

Nov 27, 2018 9:55 AM ET

When CSRHub was founded ten years ago, sustainability wasn’t considered a key part of corporate or investment strategy. However, the company’s core team believed that corporate social responsibility (CSR) was a strong indicator of value and a tool for stakeholders to reliably measure it would soon become a necessity.

Diversity & Inclusion

Between None and Many, There’s a Bridge

Nov 27, 2018 9:35 AM ET

When we are surrounded by difference, we are better. We know diversity amongst board members, leaders, and teams has impact at scale. California recently became the first state to require public companies to have women on their board. At Cisco, we were co-founded by a woman and have had women on our board for more than 22 years. Currently, we have three women serving on our board. Today, these extraordinary women – Carol Bartz, Michele Burns and Kristina Johnson – were named to WomenInc.’s 2018 list of the Most Influential Corporate Directors. On behalf of all of us at Cisco, congratulations and thank you for your leadership!