Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Innovation & Technology

48 African Countries Meet in Nairobi to Explore Climate Change Technologies

Apr 5, 2018 10:40 AM ET

Climate experts from Africa will meet next week in Kenya to discuss collaboration and technology transfer. Representatives from government, private sector, finance and research institutions will gather in Nairobi, Kenya, 9–10 April 2018.

Diversity & Inclusion

Subaru of America Returns As the Title Sponsor of the 2018 Cherry Blossom Festival in Philadelphia

Apr 5, 2018 10:25 AM ET

Subaru of America, Inc. today announced its continued title sponsorship of the annual Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival of Greater Philadelphia. The celebration, which is produced by the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia (JASGP), commemorates the beautiful blossoms and invites people of all cultural backgrounds to experience spring’s beauty and foster a better understanding of Japan’s rich cultural heritage.

Sustainable Development Goals

World Trade Organization Says eBay Champions Small Businesses

Apr 5, 2018 9:25 AM ET

What if we tried to facilitate international selling for entrepreneurs in underserved areas on our platform? What impact could we have on these communities? What new and unique inventory could we source? And what would it take? eBay partnered with the International Trade Center (ITC) in an attempt to answer these questions.

Sustainable Development Goals

Delivering Sustainability Through Relentless Innovation: Cuestamoras Joins WBCSD

Apr 5, 2018 9:15 AM ET

Multi-business Costa Rican company Cuestamoras today joined almost 200 forward-thinking companies as the newest member of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD).

Research, Reports & Publications

National Bank of Kuwait Takes Extensive Steps Towards Becoming a Middle East Corporate Sustainability Leader

Apr 5, 2018 9:00 AM ET

The National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) launched its second annual Sustainability Report today, the first ever to be in alignment with the guidelines from the Kuwait National Development Plan (KNDP), the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG), and the Boursa Kuwait voluntary sustainability disclosure guide.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Measuring Natural Capital

Apr 5, 2018 7:05 AM ET

Companies appreciate that natural capital greatly benefits business, but what is required is quantifying and demonstrating the business value of natural capital.

Media & Communications

VIDEO | A Unique Lens on Water Quality

Apr 4, 2018 5:50 PM ET

Over the last year The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation partnered with Andy Mann, a world-renowned National Geographic photographer and adventurer, to document the problem of nutrient pollution in America’s lakes and watersheds. In this video Andy reflects, “I’ve traveled the world sharing the heartbreaking stories of our planet’s water issues, and I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Innovation & Technology

Protecting Refugees Starts with the Individual

Apr 4, 2018 3:55 PM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sustainability Ratings Agency: "CSR Requires Commitment and Accountability"

Apr 4, 2018 2:30 PM ET

Collecting and analyzing information on companies’ ESG risks, opportunities, and performance are essential to ensure market efficiency, optimal allocation of capital and reduction of information asymmetry. We spoke to Vigeo Eiris, an independent ESG rating agency, about the trends driving investor interest in ESG, and the critical nature of transparency in building trust among investors. ​

Environment

Lisa Song: Mississippi Levee Wars

Apr 4, 2018 1:45 PM ET

Sometimes we lose sight of what Audrey Hepburn called “that old-fashioned idea that others come first and you come second.” This week on Sea Change Radio, we hear from ProPublica reporter Lisa Song who has done some recent reporting on a little known problem that could have very big effects: the impact of illegal overbuilding of levee systems in the Midwestern flood-prone regions of the Mississippi River.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Lessons Learned From My Trip to Africa

Apr 4, 2018 1:30 PM ET

Never did I imagine that a brief trip to Africa could have such a profound impact. In the course of just a few days, I learned how the work of Partners in Food Solutions (PFS) is improving the food value chain across Africa and how that work is also improving livelihoods in the most surprising ways. While my time in Africa opened my eyes to levels of material need I’d not seen before, it also filled my heart with awe at the power of human resilience.

Environment

I’m Suing Scott Pruitt’s Broken EPA - Here’s How to Fix It

Apr 4, 2018 1:00 PM ET

In 2017, just a few days after Donald Trump was sworn in as president, a freshman GOP lawmaker with only a few days on the job of his own, proposed House Resolution 861. Its language was ominous: “The Environmental Protection Agency shall terminate on December 31, 2018.”

Social Impact & Volunteering

Celebrating Our Employees Living a Life of Service

Apr 4, 2018 12:45 PM ET

During April, National Volunteer Month, we’re celebrating our employees who go above and beyond to make a positive impact on their community. Throughout the month, employees across the country will be participating in marquee volunteer events with City Year Care Force.

This year, we’re also celebrating 4,386 employees who have received the President’s Volunteer Service Award for volunteering more than 100 hours during 2017. The efforts of these incredible volunteers serve as an inspiration to us both in and outside of AT&T, and we’re proud to highlight a few of their amazing stories.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Scotiabank Announces Eighth Cohort of Scotia Vision Achiever Programme

Apr 4, 2018 12:35 PM ET

Scotiabank Jamaica announced the eighth cohort of small business owners in the 2018 edition of the Scotia Vision Achiever Programme last Wednesday. The intensive 17-week course led by renowned business coach Marcia Woon Choy begins in April...

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Smithfield Foods and the Global Good Fund Announce Custom Leadership Development Program for Veteran Entrepreneurs

Apr 4, 2018 12:20 PM ET

The Smithfield Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Smithfield Foods, Inc., and The Global Good Fund, are pleased to announce their partnership to launch the Veterans Leadership Program. The Global Good Fund, a leadership development enterprise built by and for social entrepreneurs, will identify six veteran entrepreneurs to take part in an eight-month program focused on creating sustainable jobs and supporting job search and placement for underemployed and unemployed veterans.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Are You Uniquely Better?

Apr 4, 2018 12:00 PM ET

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of joining Stephanie Meeks, the president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, in a “fire side” chat at the Participate Social Capital 2018 Conference in Alexandria, Virginia. After our talk, which focused on the long-standing partnership between American Express and the National Trust, we listened to the Cause Keynote, which was delivered by Gary Haugen, the CEO and Founder of International Justice Mission, an organization focused on the eradication of modern day slavery.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Putting Shared Value Into Practice: A Conversation With Justin Bakule, Executive Director of Shared Value Initiative

Apr 4, 2018 12:00 PM ET

Rachel Hutchisson of Blackbaud talks with Justin Bakule of the Shared Value Initiative about how shared value strategies can create long term economic value for companies on this episode of the Champions for Social Good podcast.

Health & Healthcare

Investigating Groundbreaking Treatments for Rare Disease

Apr 4, 2018 12:00 PM ET

Gene therapy has the potential to transform how we manage rare genetic diseases like hemophilia, Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and others by addressing their root cause – genetic mutations.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Five-year-old Boy Spends More than Four Years in Foster Care Before Being Adopted

Apr 4, 2018 12:00 PM ET

At just five years old, Israel has spent more than four years in foster care. He was put into eight different foster homes, he was separated from his siblings and he was labeled difficult and “unadoptable.” At only three years old, the system gave up on him.

Events, Media & Communications

Health & Safety Conferences You Don't Want to Miss in 2018

Apr 4, 2018 11:55 AM ET

Antea Group has compiled a list of health & safety events coming up this year that can give health & safety professionals an edge in their work.

Education

Students Describe the Amgen Scholars Program as Inspiring and Unforgettable

Apr 4, 2018 11:30 AM ET

he Amgen Scholars Program provides young scientists across the globe access and opportunity through cutting-edge research experiences and exposure to biotechnology and drug discovery. In this video, participating students talk about the opportunities for independent research in top university labs, networking and communication skills.

Research, Reports & Publications

Electrified Fleet Vehicles and Mass Transit Gaining Momentum

Apr 4, 2018 11:10 AM ET

Transportation accounts for more than one-quarter of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In a country with more than 70,000 transit vehicles — and with buses averaging roughly 34,000 miles of travel each year — electrification of the U.S. fleet and mass transportation spheres is becoming a top priority for city officials and utilities as they reimagine how people and goods move sustainably across urban landscapes. Removing fossil fuels from mass transit will go far in reducing that carbon footprint.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

All Executives at Johnson & Johnson Are Annually Measured Against a 75-year-old Essay

Apr 4, 2018 10:30 AM ET

Johnson & Johnson CEO, Alex Gorsky spoke at the CECP's CEO Investor Forum in February, discussing the importance of creating long-term value. Gorsky cited J&J's 75-year-old "credo" as a major source of inspiration to the company, measuring senior leadership's performance in an annual survey against this credo. "Credo sessions" and work through case study scenarios determine how to maintain the link between performance and ideals.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Sands ECO360 Ambassadors: Eddy Kembaren and Eric Ho from Marina Bay Sands

Apr 4, 2018 10:15 AM ET

With a responsibility to our planet, Las Vegas Sands is a proud leader in sustainability in the hospitality industry through Sands ECO360, its global sustainability program. In 2017, Marina Bay Sands announced a partnership with World Wide Fund for Nature in Singapore (WWF)and their commitment to sustainable food and farming, the production of foods using farming techniques that protect the environment, public health, communities and animal welfare. Eddy Kembaren and Eric Ho are the senior managers in Procurement at Marina Bay Sands whose roles play an important part in ensuring sustainable food sourcing at the property.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

KeyBank Provides $38.5 Million in Total Financing for the Construction of Affordable Housing in New York

Apr 4, 2018 10:00 AM ET

KeyBank Community Development Lending and Investment (CDLI) has provided a total of $38.5 million to Ida Yarbrough Phase II LLC, an entity owned by Albany Housing Authority (AHA), for the new construction of Ida Yarbrough Homes. The 76-unit, affordable housing property is located in Albany, NY and will set aside 12 apartments for households at risk for homelessness.