Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

2017 Buick Envision AWD Earns 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score for Safety Rating by NHTSA

Dec 8, 2016 3:35 PM ET

The 2017 Buick Envision AWD compact SUV has earned a five-star overall vehicle score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — an accolade achieved by every Buick model rated for two consecutive model years.

Events, Media & Communications

International Volunteer Day Sends a Reminder on the Power of Volunteerism to Drive Sustainable Development

Dec 8, 2016 3:00 PM ET

Celebrating the power of volunteering, leaders from the private, public and social sectors convened at the International Volunteer Day Forum and Awards Celebration on December 5, in Washington D.C. Organizations such as Volunteers for Economic Growth Alliance (VEGA), Building Bridges Coalition (BBC), PYXERA Global, Partners of the Americas, International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE), Service Year, and Impact 2030 represented the myriad ways that the power of volunteering can be brought to bear to meet this century’s global development and security challenges. The Forum encouraged the new Congress and incoming Presidential administration to prioritize effective volunteer programs and policies.

Events, Media & Communications

NH Liquor Commission & Jack Daniel’s Share How to Celebrate Responsibly This Holiday Season

Dec 8, 2016 2:45 PM ET

The New Hampshire Liquor Commission (NHLC) and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey are offering tips and techniques to emphasize safe and responsible alcohol consumption specifically for the 2016 holiday season. The award-winning Live Free & Host Responsibly campaign offers holiday-themed food and drink recipes, along with responsible entertaining techniques and videos that can be found at www.LiquorandWineOutlets.com/responsibility.

Health & Healthcare

Michael Bloomberg Continues His Life-Saving Leadership in Global Fight Against Tobacco

Dec 8, 2016 2:35 PM ET

Former New York City Mayor and philanthropist Michael R. Bloomberg announced today that he is committing an additional $360 million to the global fight against tobacco use, bringing his total commitment to nearly $1 billion.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative (CFSI) Releases Latest Reporting Conflict Minerals Reporting Template

Dec 8, 2016 12:00 PM ET

One of the most important efforts to trace whether conflict minerals are entering global supply chains is the Conflict Minerals Reporting Template (CMRT) developed by the Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative (CFSI). The template is periodically updated to reflect new smelters, changes in regulations and other changes in the global supply chain network. CFSI has now released the CMRT version 4.20, which is now integrated into Source Intelligence’s robust SaaS platform to provide customers the most efficient and comprehensive data collection, validation and reporting system.

Education

'He Named Me Malala:' 21CF's Yearlong Campaign to Support Girls' Education

Dec 8, 2016 12:00 PM ET

In June 2015, Fox Searchlight and National Geographic announced the release of the documentary He Named Me Malala, sparking nearly a year's worth of efforts on the part of 21st Century Fox to make a difference in the global issue of girls' access to education. The film, directed by Academy Award winner Davis Guggenheim, follows the life of Pakistani education activist and Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai who survived an assassination attempt in 2012 for her outspoken advocacy.

Environment

Whirlpool Corporation Breaks Ground on Latest Ohio Wind Power Generation Project at its Marion Manufacturing Facility

Dec 8, 2016 11:45 AM ET

Whirlpool Corporation is breaking ground today on a project to build three wind turbines to help power its Marion, Ohio manufacturing facility. The three turbines will deliver wind generated power directly to the plant and when fully completed, are expected to provide approximately 19% of the total power consumption of the facility.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Allegion Americas supports Habitat for Humanity with dedication of nine new homes in Mexico

Dec 8, 2016 11:45 AM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

Using Employees’ Skills, Toyota Financial Services and UnitedHealth Group Build Stronger Communities

Dec 8, 2016 11:15 AM ET

Giving back: it’s an action that can be carried out in countless ways. For some, giving back means volunteering in their community. For others, it means donating money or goods to those who need it most. For Civic 50 sector leaders Toyota Financial Services and UnitedHealth Group, employees give back by exercising their corporate know-how and investing their time and talent in communities to provide the biggest impact.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Futuregrowth: Allocating Capital to Renewable Energy Investments

Dec 8, 2016 11:05 AM ET

While the debate over the use of nuclear power continues, the renewable energy sector is quietly forging ahead and independent power producers are adding much-needed capacity to the grid. Since the Department of Energy (DoE) embarked on its alternative energy drive in 2012, capital investments in renewables have totalled almost R200 billion.

South Africa has some of the best natural resources available for solar and wind power. This, together with a reputationally strong and well-run independent power procurement programme, has created opportunities for institutional investors like Futuregrowth − who is now a leading funder of the programme.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Guest Blog: A Forever Family Unlocks the “Warm Fuzzies”

Dec 8, 2016 11:00 AM ET

Family. Love. Comfort. Connection. HOME. Each of these words fill our hearts with warm fuzzies, but what about those who don’t have any positive lasting experiences with any of those same words?

Health & Healthcare

Huggies Created the "No Baby Unhugged" Program to Ensure that all Babies Receive a Huggies Hug

Dec 8, 2016 10:35 AM ET

We created the No Baby Unhugged program to ensure that all babies receive a Huggies hug.
Watch why we believe in hugs and why all babies deserve a hug inspired by yours.

Education

Scotiabank Encourages Changemakers at Ryerson University

Dec 8, 2016 9:05 AM ET

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Coming Together To Monetize Sustainability

Dec 8, 2016 9:05 AM ET

Leaders often struggle to understand which choices are best when it comes to making investments in sustainability. One way to ease this struggle is to enable a stronger business case development and associated analyses of both tangible and intangible benefits connected to these investments. In response to this challenge, FEMSA Foundation and Antea Group founded the Monetization Working Group (MWG) in March 2014.

Education

Karren Brady: LifeSkills Powered by Barclays and Inspiring Young People

Dec 8, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Baroness Karren Brady is passionate about helping young people reach their potential. As Ambassador for the LifeSkills programme and chair of the LifeSkills Advisory Council, she has met thousands of young people taking their first steps into the world of work – and says she’s inspired by their determination.

Environment

Sappi’s Key Performance Indicators: Lowering Emissions to Lessen Carbon Footprint

Dec 8, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Next up in our series about key performance indicators: emissions.

Environment

HPE Sets Science-Based Target to Reduce Operational Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Dec 8, 2016 8:50 AM ET

Reducing our climate impact is not only the right thing to do for the planet, it’s quite simply good business. I witness this every day across HPE’s global operations, where initiatives like renewable energy purchasing, building optimization and data center consolidation, all help our business run smarter, at less cost, and attract the favor of customers, investors, and employees.

Diversity & Inclusion

DuPont People Spotlight: Celebrating Our Working Mothers

Dec 8, 2016 8:15 AM ET

Growing up on a thousand-acre family farm in rural Michigan, Wendy Srnic loved “getting her hands dirty” gardening and raising livestock — in the case of her family — cattle. Today, she is the research director of Integrated Product Characterization & Development at DuPont Pioneer and is the leader of a team of 350 employees spanning four countries that is responsible for a key step in the DuPont Pioneer pipeline for getting new hybrids and varieties of corn, soybeans and other crops to market. She also was selected as the DuPont U.S. Working Mother of the Year for 2016 and was honored with other women from the Working Mother 100 Best Companies list at a dinner in October.

Diversity & Inclusion

Starting a New Conversation for Women

Dec 8, 2016 8:05 AM ET

I’ve been fortunate in life to benefit from family, educators, work colleagues and a set of mentors and sponsors, all of whom did not hesitate to offer and support me with every opportunity to achieve what I set out to do. Far too many today are not so fortunate.

Innovation & Technology

How to Find Volunteer Opportunities Through Your Current CSR Platform

Dec 8, 2016 8:05 AM ET

Looking for volunteer opportunities that engage employees and impact communities? You may not need to look any further than your current corporate giving platform. In 2016, VolunteerMatch partnered with five platforms to bring our massive network of volunteer opportunities to an increasing number of employee volunteer programs.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

SCS’ Sustainably Grown is First US-Based Sustainable Agriculture Certification to Complete GSCP Equivalence Process

Dec 8, 2016 8:00 AM ET

SCS Global Services announced today that it has completed the Global Social Compliance Programme (GSCP) Equivalence Process for its Sustainably Grown certification program.

Green Infrastructure

Q&A: Mohawk Group’s Michel Vermette Shares a Vision for Better

Dec 8, 2016 7:40 AM ET

Mohawk Group launched a brand-new campaign, “Believe in Better,” at this year’s GreenBuild. Michel Vermette, President of Mohawk Group, discusses the revamped philosophy, how the brand will strive for consistent improvement across five distinct pillars, and what to expect from Mohawk in the future.

Social Impact & Volunteering

New Handbook Helps Texas Homeless Youth Understand Legal Rights

Dec 8, 2016 7:00 AM ET

In a joint pro bono effort, Weatherford, Texas Appleseed and Baker & McKenzie partnered to create The Texas Homeless Youth Handbook, a guide to help homeless youth better understand their legal rights, responsibilities and resources. Texas will be the fourth state in the U.S. to have this particular resource, found at www.homelessyouth.org.

Diversity & Inclusion

MGM National Harbor Champions Diversity and Community Commitment as a Leading New Employer in the Capital Region

Dec 7, 2016 6:15 PM ET

MGM National Harbor announces that it has met and exceeded all of its commitments to Prince George’s County, Md. under the Community Benefits Agreement.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Decorating Safely for the Holidays

Dec 7, 2016 3:30 PM ET

Nobody wants to spend the holidays in the ER. Last year, more than 90,000 people are treated in the ER for ladder-related injuries and nearly 4,000 injuries associated with extension cords.