Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Celebrate America's Independence…and Our Beautiful Places

Jun 30, 2017 3:00 PM ET

Everybody loves celebrating America’s birthday on the Fourth of July! We believe everyone has a right to live (and celebrate!) in a clean, green and beautiful community, and shares a responsibility to contribute to that vision.

Whether you’re having a picnic in a park, heading to the beach for fireworks, or hanging out in your own backyard, it’s a great time to remember the importance of living by the”Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.” mantra to preserve and protect America’s beautiful places.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

GRI Supports Recommendations by the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures

Jun 30, 2017 2:30 PM ET

GRI strongly supports the work of the Financial Stability Board’s Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). The TCFD recommendations take an important step towards integrating sustainability information into financial disclosures. Investors and other stakeholders will be better informed by the TCFD disclosures on climate-related financial risks and opportunities. Another important breakthrough is the recommendation for scenario planning. Only by forecasting impacts can companies truly prepare and thrive as the climate changes.

Energy

BNEF Released its Latest New Energy Outlook (NEO)

Jun 30, 2017 2:00 PM ET

What sets NEO apart is that our assessment is focused on the parts of the system that are driving rapid change in markets, grid systems and business models. This includes the cost of wind and solar technology, battery storage, electricity demand and the uptake of EVs among others.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Voya Financial Announces Second-Quarter 2017 Grant Recipients

Jun 30, 2017 1:05 PM ET

Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), today announced the nonprofit organizations that received grants in the second quarter of 2017 through Voya Foundation, the company's charitable giving arm. Voya Foundation invests in programming to help foster healthy, sustainable communities and supports local and national nonprofits with missions that advance children’s education and financial resilience.

Research, Reports & Publications

Connecting People to Opportunities

Jun 30, 2017 12:55 PM ET

"Since our start, AT&T has been about one thing: harnessing the power of our network to change lives and improve the world. And just as our network technology has gotten better over the years, so has our ability to address some of society’s toughest challenges....None of this would be possible without our employees, who are as dedicated to their communities as they are to their jobs." - Randall Stephenson, AT&T Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

With I Am Waters, One Woman Brings Hope and Hydration to the Homeless

Jun 30, 2017 12:05 PM ET

Seven years ago, Elena Davis was sitting at an intersection when a homeless woman approached her car. She immediately began to rummage around for spare change. But, when she rolled down the window to hand over the coins, Elena was surprised to be met with a different request.

Environment

Why It’s Time to Rebuild America’s Water Infrastructure

Jun 30, 2017 11:55 AM ET

If America’s water infrastructure was a carton of milk in your fridge, you would have thrown it away a long time ago. If it was a student, it would be getting barely passing grades. So what’s gone wrong? Impeller spoke with Joe Vesey, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer at Xylem, to learn about the problem and how it can be fixed.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

United Way of Metro Chicago Honors Frederick H. Waddell – Chairman and CEO, Northern Trust with a Lifetime Leadership Award

Jun 30, 2017 11:20 AM ET

Congratulations to our CEO Rick Waddell on receiving the United Way of Metro Chicago 2017 LifeTime Leadership Award! United Way of Metro Chicago recognized corporate and community champions who exemplify what is means to Live United.

Environment

That is the Last Straw – Why Giving Up the Use of Straws is Good for You – and the Planet

Jun 30, 2017 11:15 AM ET

You may have seen a few campaigns on social media recently about major corporations like Bacardi pledging to eliminate straws from all company functions. Why? It’s bad. Bad for the environment, but even worse for you.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

LG Washing Machines Lead the Industry With 10 New Models Awarded ‘ENERGY STAR® Most Efficient 2017’ Distinction

Jun 30, 2017 11:00 AM ET

LG washers now lead the industry with 10 new models awarded the coveted “ENERGY STAR® Most Efficient 2017” distinction (for clothes washers larger than 2.5 cubic feet) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Including among the list are two LG large-capacity models, which stand alone as the only top-load models to achieve this recognition, along with eight super-efficient front-load models.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Pizza Hut Surpasses 100 Million Pounds of Food Donated Through Harvest Program

Jun 30, 2017 10:30 AM ET

Pizza Hut and community-based hunger relief organizations are celebrating a major milestone: surpassing 100 million pounds of food donated by Pizza Hut to feed those in need locally and across the country. Since 1992, Pizza Hut restaurants have donated food to hunger relief organizations nationwide through its Harvest Program, a program originated by the company 25 years ago in partnership with Food Donation Connection (FDC).

Events, Media & Communications

Bloomberg’s New European Headquarters Nears Completion

Jun 30, 2017 10:30 AM ET

Opening this autumn, Bloomberg’s new European headquarters in the heart of the City of London is the first wholly owned and designed Bloomberg building globally. Conceived in collaboration with Foster + Partners, it reflects founder Mike Bloomberg’s long-held belief that workspaces should foster collaboration, innovation and productivity.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Cargill Mexico, CIMMYT Reward Country’s Best Food Security and Sustainability Projects

Jun 30, 2017 10:25 AM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

Sustainability Reports Data Analyst Internship Available at Governance & Accountability Institute

Jun 30, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Founded in 2006, Governance & Accountability Institute is a New York City-based company that specializes in research, communications, strategies and other services focused on corporate sustainability and corporate ESG performance (“Environmental, Social, Governance”) issues. G&A is offering the opportunity for an internship for a qualified student interested in learning more about these topics.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Lifting Entrepreneurs Out of Poverty with Matter to a Million

Jun 30, 2017 9:50 AM ET

Thousands of HPE employees like me are huge believers in Kiva and the Matter to a Million program as a simple, inspiring way to provide financial access to the underserved. In fact, more than 52% of employees have participated since the program first launched in 2014.

Sustainable Development Goals

Joining Forces to Build the Market for Sustainable Aviation Fuels

Jun 30, 2017 9:50 AM ET

When SkyNRG was founded in 2009, sustainable aviation fuel was not yet allowed for use in commercial aircraft operations. This shift in recent years, where corporate sustainability has become business as usual, means more companies are interested in flying sustainably with SkyNRG’s biofuel.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Arrow Electronics Names Winner of 2017 Cherry Creek Arts Festival “Five Years Out” Art Challenge

Jun 30, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Arrow Electronics selected Peter Clouse’s “Not Ashamed” (shown above) as the winner of this year’s Cherry Creek Arts Festival’s Five Years Out Art Challenge.

Diversity & Inclusion

Sands Academy Introduces Elevate Series for Managers and Supervisors

Jun 30, 2017 9:15 AM ET

In conjunction with the Learning and Development courses offered to all Team Members, Sands Academy has established the Elevate Series. The series focuses on providing the tools for leaders to set the example for their Team Members and building relationships to ensure success within their teams. The Elevate Series offers four classes that are mandatory for all Supervisors and Managers with one that is mandatory for all Directors to offer support in various areas.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Potential of Gender Equity for Business and Society

Jun 30, 2017 9:15 AM ET

We believe that corporations have an important role to play in achieving gender equity.

Research, Reports & Publications

Gildan Releases Its 2016 CSR Report

Jun 30, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Gildan Activewear Inc. (GIL; TSX and NYSE) has released its 2016 corporate, social and environmental responsibility (CSR) report on the Company’s dedicated CSR website genuinegildan.com.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Consumers Energy Foundation Provides Grant to Help Fund Art for Pedestrian Tunnel

Jun 30, 2017 9:05 AM ET

The Consumers Energy Foundation has donated $10,000 to the city of Walker to help with the maintenance and addition of art work to the pedestrian tunnel under Lake Michigan Drive.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Local Dog Park, Pet Shelters and Social Service Agencies Benefit from Purina's Annual Employee Volunteer Day

Jun 30, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Demonstrating an ongoing commitment to enriching the lives of pets and people, 1,400 Purina employees blanketed the greater St. Louis area last month during "PetCare Pride Day," the company's annual volunteer day. In its 16th year, PetCare Pride Day reached more than 20 non-profit organizations in Missouri and Illinois.

Energy

Unreasonable Impact | Clean, Safe, Unlimited Energy for Everyone: Q&A with General Fusion

Jun 30, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Well Dressed

Jun 30, 2017 9:05 AM ET

There are 80 billion pieces of clothing purchased worldwide each year but rarely do consumers consider the true cost of this. From negative environmental impacts to poor factory labor practices in the developing world and growing landfills containing discarded textiles, the fast fashion industry is in need of a serious makeover.

Responsible Production & Consumption

SCS Global Services to Evaluate Only Squid Fishery Currently in the MSC Scheme

Jun 30, 2017 9:00 AM ET

SCS Global Services announced today, via the public Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) website, that the U.S. Northeast longfin inshore squid fishery has entered a sustainability assessment for MSC certification. It is the first squid fishery in the world to undergo MSC certification.