Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Responsible Production & Consumption

The Newest Food Trend Is in the Ground

May 31, 2019 1:00 PM ET

At General Mills, chief sustainability officer Jerry Lynch is working with organizations that have direct relationships with oat and wheat farmers in the northern Great Plains to help the company meet its goal of reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions 28% by 2025. Almost half of the company’s carbon footprint, and 99% of its water footprint, comes from agriculture, Lynch says.

Energy

Finding the Path to a Zero-Emissions Future

May 31, 2019 12:50 PM ET

It’s not a matter of if, but when zero-emissions technologies will become the new normal.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Schneider Electric ESS Receives Awards for Top Product and Top Project of 2019

May 31, 2019 12:35 PM ET

Schneider Electric’s Energy & Sustainability Services (ESS) has received a double honor from Business Sector Media, publisher of Environmental Leader and Energy Manager under the company’s 2019 awards program. The company announced this week that ESS has received both the Top Product of 2019 award for its renewable energy-focused NEO Network™ and Top Project of 2019 award for its Advanced Visualization Hack Challenge done in collaboration with client, Procter & Gamble.

Research, Reports & Publications

Pathways to a Lower-Carbon Future: C2ES Collaborates With Duke Energy and 20+ Companies on New Report

May 31, 2019 11:20 AM ET

The nonpartisan Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) issued a report this week exploring the various paths to achieve an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 2005 levels by 2050. Duke Energy joined more than 20 other companies representing many sectors that helped develop the scenarios evaluated in the report.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Tequila Neat, Hold the Waste: A Look at One Distiller’s Zero Waste Efforts

May 31, 2019 11:15 AM ET

Since its inception, Tequila Cazadores, which is known for using only blue agave, has always kept sustainability as a top priority. Today, the distillery houses a biomass boiler, making it 100 percent biomass fueled—60 percent of the biofuel is used to produce the tequila and comes from spent agave fibers, which equates to about 11,000 tons a year. The other 40 percent comprises roughly 8,000 tons of carbon-neutral, renewable fuel sources like clean waste wood, biomass briquettes, sawdust, coconut shells and tree cuttings.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist Joins DTE and Consumers Energy as Companies Announce $15 Billion Commitment to Grow Michigan Businesses

May 31, 2019 11:05 AM ET

Governor Gretchen Whitmer, DTE and Consumers Energy today announced a $15 billion commitment to spend with Michigan-based companies over the next five years through Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Pure Michigan Business Connect (PMBC) initiative.

Health & Healthcare

Labels are for Jars, Not for People

May 31, 2019 11:00 AM ET

At Symantec, employees are key players in the success and expansion of our Corporate Responsibility (CR) program. Employee activism, advocacy, and passion is what transforms our CR strategy into tangible results. We have a robust community relations program that is aligned to our business and we are committed to building a culture that enables employees to apply their time and talents to the issues they care most deeply about. Each quarter we celebrate outstanding volunteer efforts and provide a $1,000 grant to an organization chosen by our “Volunteer of the Quarter.” This quarter, meet Melissa Chouikrat-Marcinkowski, Sales Engineer Manager in Dublin, Ireland, and mental health champion.

Health & Healthcare

Why Always Wants to Teach Girls and Boys About Puberty

May 31, 2019 9:45 AM ET

Many people around the world miss out on school or work, and opt out of activities they enjoy, like sports or eating certain foods, every month — just because of their period. The reasons are endless — maybe they’ve been told they’re dirty because they have periods, they don’t have pads or tampons, or they don’t have access to clean water and toilets.

Research, Reports & Publications

Deloitte Study: Only 19 Percent of Business Leaders Say They Are Ready to Lead the Social Enterprise – Despite Increased Importance

May 31, 2019 9:45 AM ET

Amid rapid technological, economic and social change, it is important for organizations to move beyond mission statements and social impact programs to put humans at the center of their business strategies.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Practices that Drive Alliance Data’s Success

May 31, 2019 9:35 AM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

Affordable Housing for Everyone

May 31, 2019 9:30 AM ET

With the rapid development and change we are experiencing in cities and communities, the cost of living is increasing. This is leading to unaffordable and unstable housing situations, which can go hand-in-hand with financial instability, especially when a large chunk of your paycheque goes to housing.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Supply chain Transparency Is a Business Necessity

May 31, 2019 9:15 AM ET

Considerations about sustainability in the supply chain are no longer optional. In all regions of the world, these issues are front and center of both the business and political agenda.

When it comes to the supply chain, transparency is not the first instinct of business. A company’s sourcing practices can be one of the ways to stay ahead of the competition. But, when it comes to sustainability, it’s essential to track the origin of products and services for their environmental and human rights implications.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Tetra Tech Recognizes Safety Month 2019, Safe By Choice

May 31, 2019 9:00 AM ET

Safety is at the forefront of Tetra Tech’s daily operations. Each June, in partnership with the National Safety Council, we recognize Safety Month by renewing our commitment to safety and reinforcing the importance of safety awareness among our employees around the world. At Tetra Tech, we are Safe by Choice* at work, home, and on the road.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Timberland Army Deploys at Dondero, Betty’s Dream

May 31, 2019 9:00 AM ET

About 100 Timberland employees labored on the grounds of Dondero School Thursday, while dozens more painted and landscaped at Betty’s Dream, during the company’s bi-annual day of service. Most wearing “Timbs” work boots, employees for the Stratham-based shoe and clothing maker showed up early for the 27th year the company has paid its employees to volunteer in the community. Mike Gass works in footwear product development, lives in the Dondero neighborhood and his son Latham is a special needs student at the elementary school.

Media & Communications

The PR Week 5.24.2019 Catherine Hernandez-Blades, Aflac

May 31, 2019 9:00 AM ET

Catherine Hernandez-Blades, who serves as the chief ESG (environmental, social and governance) and communications officer at Aflac, chats about My Special Aflac Duck, which was the focus of the campaign that won Best in Corporate Branding at the 2019 PRWeek U.S. Awards.

Diversity & Inclusion

Chevron is Engineering Opportunities for Women

May 31, 2019 9:00 AM ET

Chevron was honored with the Catalyst Award for efforts related to attracting, retaining, developing and advancing women at Chevron. In this video, Chevron executives and employees share the company’s 20-year journey to increase diversity and inclusion in the workplace driven by The Chevron Way and senior-level management commitment.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

This Apparel Brand Transparently Shows You Who Made Your Clothes

May 31, 2019 9:00 AM ET

Throughout the month of April, millions of consumers took to social media to ask the question #whomademyclothes, helping ignite a global conversation about supply chain transparency.

Health & Healthcare

The Road to Safety

May 30, 2019 5:15 PM ET

Each year, 1.3 million people worldwide die of road traffic injuries. If we want safe, resilient cities, we have to make road safety a global priority. And we have to act now.

Media & Communications

Shifting Baselines: Good for You, Good for the Planet

May 30, 2019 4:30 PM ET

Shifting Baselines features the work of Sustainable Brands, a premiere global community of brand innovators driving global change for good, and the unique partnerships they have with some of the world's biggest companies. With culture as a driving force, our collective priorities are shifting — both in individuals and a nation as a whole — in order to ensure a more sustainable future. This series looks at the role consumers and corporations are playing in recalibrating the concept of the "American Dream".

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Catherine Hernandez-Blades and My Special Aflac Duck® Make their Yahoo! Finance Debut

May 30, 2019 4:10 PM ET

Aflac Chief ESG and Communications Officer Catherine Hernandez-Blades joined the Yahoo Finance team to discuss the My Special Aflac Duck® and how this companion comforts children battling cancer across the country.

Research, Reports & Publications

Metlife 2018 Global Impact Report: Investing in Society

May 30, 2019 3:00 PM ET

For more than 150 years, we have worked to build a more protected world by providing services and products that help our customers meet their financial needs and live fuller, more secure lives. Through other direct and indirect economic activities, including investments, job creation, benefit payouts and tax payments, MetLife also positively impacts millions of individuals and helps grow local economies.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Circular Economy Briefing – Complimentary

May 30, 2019 3:00 PM ET

Transitioning from a linear to a circular economy is one of the biggest challenges the industry faces, reducing waste is of paramount importance to ensuring the safety of the planet. It also presents an opportunity for business to drive change through innovation and collaboration.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Congratulations to CR Magazine's 100 Best Corporate Citizens

May 30, 2019 2:30 PM ET

Congratulations to all the companies that made the 100 Best Corporate Citizens ranking from CR Magazine. It is truly an accomplishment and making this list means that these companies are recognized for their outstanding environmental, social and governance transparency.

Diversity & Inclusion

Scotiabank Furthers Commitment to Human Rights as It Becomes the First Canadian Bank to Adopt the UN Global LGBTI Standards for Business, as Well as Signing onto the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles

May 30, 2019 2:00 PM ET

Scotiabank announced its signing of both the UN LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bi, trans and intersex) Standards for Business Conduct and the UN Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs), further demonstrating the Bank’s continued commitment to Diversity and Inclusion and the alignment to the Bank’s Sustainable Business strategy, launched in its 2018 Sustainable Business report. The signing of these two UN initiatives provides Scotiabank the opportunity to showcase the great work already underway in Diversity and Inclusion.

Innovation & Technology

Identity Theft Can Last a Lifetime

May 30, 2019 1:05 PM ET

Symantec’s FAST initiative will continue to provide cyber security education and trainings and access to Norton security products and LifeLock identity restoration services directly to foster youth. And, we know that we need to do even more to help keep this vulnerable population safe. We’re working to spread our impact by educating and empowering others who have existing relationships with foster youth and will continue to advocate for strong policies that help protect foster children.