Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Responsible Production & Consumption

Kroger, Walmart, Albertsons Among Top Grocers Supporting Ethical Charter for Produce Industry

Jul 17, 2018 12:35 PM ET

A new framework for responsible practices in fresh produce and floral supply chains has been unveiled in a joint partnership between the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) and United Fresh Produce Association, and several of the industry's top grocers have voiced their support for the undertaking.

Green Infrastructure

Meet Georgia's Solar Road

Jul 17, 2018 12:30 PM ET

People usually think of highways as polluted eyesores, but an 18-mile stretch of road in rural Georgia is working to change that perception.

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: Life in Plastic

Jul 17, 2018 11:30 AM ET

So what is the balance point between the good that plastic does and the bad? Honestly, I don’t know. But the more educated we can be about plastics, the better. #plasticpollution #Ecocentricity

Environment

Creating Business Value With Supply Chain Sustainability: What You Need to Know and Where You Need to Focus

Jul 17, 2018 11:20 AM ET

Antea Group blogs about the 3 stages by which you can create value in your supply chain to bring increasing value to your organization.

Environment

Mongabay | Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration: The Fastest Way to Restore Trees to Degraded Landscapes?

Jul 17, 2018 11:05 AM ET

Farmer-managed natural regeneration (FMNR) of trees made headlines several years ago when 5 million hectares of Niger were found to have re-greened via the practice. FMNR is the encouragement of regeneration (and then management) of trees and shrubs that sprout from stumps, roots, and seeds found in degraded soils, such as those currently under agricultural production.

Sustainable Development Goals

Plant Breeders Turn to The Seed Library for Genetic Resources

Jul 17, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Plant varieties come from a diverse set of seeds. When plant breeders need genetic resources, where do they go? The Seed Library!

Media & Communications

“Total Impact Valuation” – Monetizing the Enterprise’s “Cost-Benefit Analysis” of Impact on Society? This is for CEOs –Advice From The Conference Board

Jul 17, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Today’s question for corporate CEO’s: Have you examined your company’s “Total Impact Valuation,” a new approach being advanced by The Conference Board, wherein the enterprises’ impact on society is monetized (cost/benefit evaluated and value attached)?

A small group of companies is doing these exercises. Think of their efforts to date as expanding the usual reporting of “Input/Output” to seriously consider (1) Outcomes, (2) Impacts, (3) Cost and Benefit to Society (and to the company).

This appears to us to have the potential to take corporate sustainability reporting to expanded (new) levels for at least the publicly-traded large caps - that is, if enough investors jump aboard the concept and ask for the information.

Sustainable Development Goals

5 Steps You Can Take Today to Start Measuring Your Business Impact

Jul 17, 2018 10:40 AM ET

Impact measurement can be challenging if you have never done it before and don’t know where to start. Even the savviest professionals sometimes find it hard to choose between various tools, methodologies and frameworks available. Truth is, knowing what impact you’re making doesn’t have to be complicated. We have identified a few simple things anyone can do to kickstart impact measurement.

Research, Reports & Publications

Simplifying the Switch to Green Chemistry

Jul 17, 2018 10:30 AM ET

Global industries are redefining their core business strategies by adopting greener chemistry practices that are reinventing supply-chain ecosystems to design models that create value for all stakeholders – including the planet. By simply adopting greener chemistry practices, whole industries have seen positive benefits ranging from novel innovations, reduced operational waste and costs, to increased market presence by differentiating themselves amongst their competitors.

Education

VIDEO | Global Transformation by Investing in Youth Education

Jul 17, 2018 10:25 AM ET

According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for skilled workers continues to rise and is becoming employers’ favorable choice to replace traditional long-term workers. However, there is a mismatch between the skills that workers can offer and what employers are demanding. This gap impacts not only economies but also hampers the transition to equitable and inclusive societies. Therefore, developing skills among the youth is becoming crucial to ensure the overall improvement of business and society.

Events, Media & Communications

Impact That Resonates Everywhere You Work

Jul 17, 2018 10:05 AM ET

CR Experts Weigh in on the Trends Shaping Their Regions – And the World

Environment

Novelis and Discovery Education Awarded for Global Sustainability Leadership

Jul 17, 2018 10:05 AM ET

The Business Intelligence Group today named Novelis and Discovery Education’s Life of a Can initiative Sustainability Service of the Year in the 2018 Sustainability Awards program. The Sustainability Awards honor people, teams and organizations who have made sustainability an integral part of their business practice or overall mission.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Join Us to Empower 1.6 Million Women Workers through HERproject by 2022

Jul 17, 2018 10:00 AM ET

BSR is proud to launch a new and more ambitious strategy for HERproject, a collaborative initiative that strives to empower low-income women working in global supply chains.

Events, Media & Communications

Join 3BL Media for Business Aligns with SDGs: Good Health and Well-Being with Pfizer

Jul 17, 2018 9:45 AM ET

Pfizer Inc. will talk about its support of the SDGs in the second of 3BL Media’s new webcast series, “Aligning Business With the Global Goals,” July 26 at 2 p.m. ET. Attendance is free and open to corporate responsibility and sustainability professionals.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Dell and IMPACT Announce Collaboration to Support Women’s Empowerment in Democratic Republic of Congo

Jul 17, 2018 9:40 AM ET

Dell is teaming with the Canadian-based non-profit IMPACT to provide women in the Democratic Republic of Congo with business education focused on investing their savings into new entrepreneurship opportunities in their communities.

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 11 CASE STUDY | Controlling Flooding with Permeable Concrete

Jul 17, 2018 9:35 AM ET

As part of Bechtel’s commitment to contribute 100 ideas to support the United Nation’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we examine the opportunity of utilizing permeable concrete and other associated materials to help control flooding in developed cities.

Diversity & Inclusion

Which Side of History Is Your Brand On? P&G’s Marc Pritchard Says Now’s the Time to Make It Clear

Jul 17, 2018 9:30 AM ET

“The images portrayed in advertising matter,” added Marc Pritchard, P&G’s chief brand officer. “They unconsciously embed bias. I think the days of general audience and general marketing are gone—and I think that’s a good thing. What people want is to see themselves.”

Energy

NRG | Transforming the Future of Solar with a Solar Electricity Plan That’s Clean, Green, and Accessible

Jul 17, 2018 9:30 AM ET

The driving force behind NRG's new solar energy plan for businesses was – businesses. That revolutionary idea led to the development of something equally innovative – a solar energy plan made easy, simple and instantly capable of being added to any Texas company's energy approach.

Responsible Production & Consumption

SC Johnson amplia la divulgazione degli ingredienti delle proprie fragranze e continua a essere leader nel settore per la trasparenza sugli ingredienti

Jul 17, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Oggi SC Johnson ha annunciato di essere la prima grande azienda di beni di largo consumo a divulgare gli ingredienti delle proprie fragranze fino a quelli che costituiscono lo 0,01% della formula dei prodotti, in tutto il mondo e per l’intero portfolio di marchi. Questa scelta, che va al di là delle imposizioni di legge, porta avanti il percorso decennale con cui SC Johnson sta trasformando il settore relativamente alla trasparenza sugli ingredienti.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

No Barriers Warriors, Wells Fargo Announce the ‘2018 Warrior Strong: The Journey Continues’ Team

Jul 17, 2018 9:00 AM ET

No Barriers Warriors and Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) today announced the team of 12 veterans with disabilities selected to participate in the 2018 Warrior Strong: The Journey Continues expedition. This year’s expedition to Mount Whitney in California’s Inyo National Park is scheduled for Sept. 5–13 with a summit attempt scheduled for Sept.11.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Sustainable Development Goals in Corporate Reporting: What Matters to Investors?

Jul 17, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Investors care about how companies are advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, but businesses don't always report the right information. GA new publication by the Global Reporting Initiative, Principles of Responsible Investment and the UN Global Compact issues 10 recommendations for businesses to meet investor needs in reporting on their SDG progress.

Responsible Production & Consumption

SC Johnson étend la divulgation des ingrédients contenus dans ses parfums et continue de diriger l'industrie en matière de transparence des ingrédients

Jul 17, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

Teva Highlights Key Milestones Achieved in the 2017 Social Impact Report

Jul 17, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Teva has a rich history of providing innovative, high-quality generic and specialty drugs and health solutions to patients around the world every day. Since joining the company late last year, I’ve been motivated by the opportunity to advance this legacy of promoting health.

Environment

Forest Carbon Offsets are Helping to Change the GHG Landscape

Jul 17, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Stepped up efforts by environmental non-governmental organizations, private project developers, and municipalities to maintain and enhance healthy forests are delivering direct climate benefits, and in many cases, financial returns as well. Projects have been implemented to reduce deforestation and forest degradation (REDD), improve forest management, and reforest degraded lands. These projects are generating documentable greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions that can be sold as carbon offset credits. This blog explores some of the factors that can contribute to the success or failure of carbon offset validation and verifications.

Responsible Production & Consumption

SC Johnson Expands Fragrance Ingredient Disclosure, Continues to Lead Industry in Ingredient Transparency

Jul 17, 2018 9:00 AM ET

SC Johnson today announced that it is the first major consumer packaged goods (CPG) company to globally disclose fragrance ingredients down to .01 percent of the product formula across its portfolio of brands. This action, which goes beyond what is required, continues the company’s decade-long journey to transform industry efforts when it comes to ingredient transparency.