Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Research, Reports & Publications

Read Barclays’ 2018 Environmental Social Governance (ESG) Report

Feb 25, 2019 8:00 AM ET

“Our success has always been inextricably linked to the progress of the people, communities and businesses that we serve,” said Group CEO, Jes Staley. “By publishing the ESG Report alongside our Annual Report, we’re demonstrating the importance that Barclays places on delivering sustainable value both to society and to our shareholders.”

Innovation & Technology

Expert Interview With Bonnie Brandreth, Data Analytics Expert

Feb 25, 2019 8:00 AM ET

For the past 25 years, Bonnie Brandreth has helped federal and state agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and private companies collect, analyze, and use data to build organizational strategies, drive decision making, and optimize performance.

Environment

Go Behind the Scenes of the Upcoming Adventure Film “Call of the Wild” and Learn How Twentieth Century Fox Went Green on Set

Feb 25, 2019 7:00 AM ET

For more than 100 years, Jack London’s adventure novel Call of the Wild has been celebrated as a powerful testament to the beauty of nature. When Twentieth Century Fox set out to adapt the book as a film in 2018, the studio sought to honor this legacy by producing the film in the most environmentally responsible way possible. From the earliest days of production, the cast and crew dedicated themselves to reducing waste, recycling used materials, prioritizing responsible food service, and embracing renewable energy. These efforts helped the project divert more than 82% of its waste from landfill and generate significant cost and carbon savings in the process.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Boston Debate League Benefits From Skills for Cities

Feb 25, 2019 6:00 AM ET

Last year, Common Impact worked with IMPACT2030 and Social Venture Partners Boston to demonstrate the power of cross-sector collaboration and skilled volunteerism by piloting the first-ever Skills for Cities Boston, hosted at The Boston Fed. Skills for Cities, a one-day cross-company skilled volunteer event, included more than 80 volunteers from 14 corporate participants to support capacity-building projects at 15 Boston-based nonprofits to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Education

LA Kings Team Up With Future Goals and Blue Shield of California to Teach Students the Science of Hockey through LA Kings G.O.A.L.S. Program

Feb 23, 2019 11:00 AM ET

AEG’s LA Kings welcomed more than 60 students from Balboa Elementary School in Glendale, Calif. to Toyota Sports Center on February 19, 2019, to learn the science of hockey through the LA Kings G.O.A.L.S. Program in partnership with Blue Shield of California.

Diversity & Inclusion

Women in Science: Call for A Diverse and Inclusive Workforce

Feb 22, 2019 4:35 PM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Partnership Extends the Reach of Hunger Relief Programs

Feb 22, 2019 12:15 PM ET

​The extent of hunger in America is no surprise to Matt Knott, president of Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization. With its network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, it provides hunger relief to more than 46 million Americans.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Ecolab Contributes Nearly $17 Million to Communities in 2018

Feb 22, 2019 11:10 AM ET

Ecolab Inc. continued its long-standing commitment to supporting communities in 2018 through several initiatives, including corporate giving, grants to nonprofit organizations, in-kind product donations and employee volunteerism, with a total impact of nearly $17 million.

Health & Healthcare

Transforming Pediatric Cancer Care In Africa

Feb 22, 2019 11:00 AM ET

When Joseph Lubega, M.D., returned to Uganda in 2016 to care for children with cancer, the grim reality was that up to 90 percent of them would not survive. Inadequate health care and a severe lack of specialists meant that proper diagnosis, treatment and care were simply out of reach.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Intel Recognized as a World Leader for Supplier Engagement on Climate Change

Feb 22, 2019 10:30 AM ET

Intel Corporation was recently recognized by CDP as a global leader for its actions and strategies to manage carbon and climate change across its supply chain. Intel is among the 3% of organizations recognized for their actions to reduce emissions and lower climate-related risks in the supply chain.

Energy

Comcast Offsets More Than 95% of Energy Usage with New Solar Project

Feb 22, 2019 10:15 AM ET

Comcast recently announced the completion of a 1,170-panel carport solar installation that will help power its regional call center in Plymouth, Mass. The system will generate enough onsite clean energy — as much as 600,000 kilowatt hours of power annually — to offset more than 95% of the facility’s annual energy consumption.

Diversity & Inclusion

Facebook, eBay and 5 Other Tech Companies Partner With Firms for Diversity Pipeline Program

Feb 22, 2019 10:00 AM ET

Seven Silicon Valley companies and twelve firms are joining forces for a 2019 summer internship program for law students from underrepresented backgrounds. Students will split a 10-week internship between a legal department and a firm.

Health & Healthcare

Technology Advancements Boost Traceability in the Food Sector

Feb 22, 2019 10:00 AM ET

Beyond its critical role in food safety, traceability is also becoming increasingly important to meet consumer demand for more healthy food choices produced in ways less harmful to people and the environment. For consumers, traceability adds a layer of credibility to claims like non-GMO, organic, free range or “sustainably sourced.”

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Whole Planet Foundation Launches Campaign to Alleviate Global Poverty

Feb 22, 2019 10:00 AM ET

Whole Planet Foundation partners and Whole Foods Market suppliers commit $1.05 million to support microfinance initiatives across the world.

Diversity & Inclusion

How Scotiabank Supported an Employee’s Gender Transition

Feb 22, 2019 10:00 AM ET

For Tamara Hansen, a delivery manager specialist at Scotiabank, coming out as transgender after more than three decades with her employer has been an emotional journey.

Diversity & Inclusion

Black Green History: Making History with Mohawk

Feb 22, 2019 9:45 AM ET

Recognizing the accomplishments of African Americans within the green space is important because sustainability of our planet requires inclusion. We need everyone—all their ideas, passion and commitment to move forward on this collective journey toward a better future. If we truly desire to have an impact on our sustainable future, we need all races and cultures to engage and align traditional values with innovation. Highlighting diverse accomplishments will empower others to join us on this journey.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Top Trends in Corporate Pro Bono | Taproot Foundation's Advisory Services Newsletter

Feb 22, 2019 9:15 AM ET

As we settle into the new year, we find ourselves reflecting on the state of corporate pro bono, the exciting ways in which the field has evolved over the last year, and what's ahead in 2019. Taproot's Advisory Services team recently conducted an inaugural study of companies doing pro bono as a way to understand industry-wide trends and share out key observations.

Responsible Production & Consumption

NextGen Cup Challenge: Nestlé Joins Initiative to Build a Fully Recyclable, Compostable To-Go Cup

Feb 22, 2019 9:00 AM ET

Nestlé announced today that it is joining forces with other industry partners to build a fully recyclable, compostable fiber cup as part of the NextGen Consortium and Cup Challenge.

This announcement follows a series of initiatives and concrete steps taken by Nestlé to accelerate action to tackle plastic waste, in line with its commitment to make 100% of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Groundbreaking Report by Equileap Ranks General Motors No. 2 U.S. Company on Gender Equality

Feb 22, 2019 9:00 AM ET

Equileap, a global organization seeking to accelerate gender equality in the workplace, has ranked the largest companies in the United States in terms of commitment to gender equality. General Motors ranked second in gender equality among companies in the S&P 100 Index and was the only leading U.S. company with no overall gender pay gap (less than 3 percent).

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Wells Fargo Donated $444 Million to 11,000 Nonprofits in 2018

Feb 22, 2019 9:00 AM ET

Wells Fargo increased its philanthropic impact in 2018 by donating $444 million to nearly 11,000 nonprofits to help communities and people in need. The company has been committed to local communities throughout its 167-year history and has increased its philanthropy 25 times over the past 28 years.

Sustainable Development Goals

GRI and the UN Global Compact Announce Continued Collaboration to Advance Business Reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals

Feb 22, 2019 8:45 AM ET

GRI and the United Nations Global Compact have announced their continued partnership to develop best practices for corporate reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), empowering businesses to prioritize SDG targets and measure and report on progress.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Tetra Tech Named as a Finalist for the 2019 INFORMS Franz Edelman Award

Feb 22, 2019 8:00 AM ET

Tetra Tech has been named as a finalist for the prestigious Franz Edelman Award, which recognizes the ways that operation research and analytics are improving how people live and work around the globe. This nomination recognizes Tetra Tech’s partnership with the Louisville Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) in Kentucky to implement real-time control (RTC) software to manage the city’s sewer network. The Edelman Award is the highest award in operation research and analytics. This year’s finalists include IBM; Microsoft; the Boston School Board; the Spanish National Aviation Authority; and Vattenfall, one of Europe’s largest producers of electricity.

Energy

VIDEO - Forest Carbon Offset Verification: What to Expect During a Field Visit

Feb 21, 2019 11:55 PM ET

At SCS Global Services, we take pride in conducting comprehensive assessments and offering best-in-class service. In this video, we follow SCS Forester Francis Eaton as he verifies a forest carbon offset project in Northern California.

Energy

SmartHub@CLP Gives a Futuristic Glimpse Into Tomorrow’s World

Feb 21, 2019 7:45 PM ET

Have you ever wondered what a smart city looks like? Well, you can have a glimpse into the future now by going to the second floor of CLP’s office in Sham Shui Po, one of Hong Kong’s oldest districts.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

IWBI Named to Fast Company’s Annual List of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2019

Feb 21, 2019 4:10 PM ET

The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) has been named to Fast Company’s World’s Most Innovative Companies roster, carrying last year’s momentum around WELL full force into 2019. The list honors businesses making the most profound impact on both industry and culture. IWBI leads the global movement to transform our buildings and communities to help deliver health and wellbeing for all.