Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

General Mills Partners with World Food Program USA to Strengthen World’s Largest School Meals Program

May 3, 2017 2:35 PM ET

The grant from General Mills will support the World Food Programme (WFP)’s work with local partners in the eastern Indian state of Odisha, where a large proportion of youth exhibit symptoms from malnourishment, including anemia, wasting and stunting. The pilot will enable school meal fortification through multi-micronutrients like iron, zinc and vitamin A to approximately 137,031 schoolchildren across the state via the primary mid-day school meal. Two different methods of delivery will be tested against one another to determine which is the most effective: Half of the schools will receive fortified rice cooked onsite, the other half will receive micronutrient powder added to curry dishes served in the schools.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Empowering the Aging Population to Thrive: A Conversation with Dr. John Feather of Grantmakers in Aging

May 3, 2017 2:35 PM ET

In this episode of the Champions for Social Good Podcast, Jamie Serino speaks with Dr. John Feather, Chief Executive Officer of Grantmakers in Aging.

Sustainable Development Goals

Eco-Offsetting at Éléonore

May 3, 2017 2:00 PM ET

Éléonore’s CSR, Human Resources and Communications departments partnered with FaunENord, a regional Not-For Profit Organization and expert in environmental education and reclamation, to set about devising an eco-offsetting plan for each of the community events to be held at the mine. The ultimate goal was to ensure waste products from planned community events were separated to be recycled and composted where possible, calculate each event’s greenhouse gas emissions effect, and convert the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions into the quantities of trees and vegetation to be planted in the local community.

Sustainable Development Goals

Day 200 of Amway’s 1000-Day Initiative to Reach 500K Malnourished by End of 2019

May 3, 2017 1:25 PM ET

We’re 200 days into the Nutrilite Power of 5 Campaign’s goal to reach 500,000 malnourished by the end of 2019. Click here to see the faces of children around the globe that have been impacted by the Power of 5 Campaign.

Sustainable Development Goals

Reporting on the SDGs Action Platform Launched: A Global Mechanism for Measuring Business Contribution to the Global Goals

May 3, 2017 1:15 PM ET

GRI, the world’s leading organization for sustainability reporting, and the UN Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, have formed a ground-breaking action platform to establish best practices in reporting on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Watch the video to find out more about the partnership, its members and what the world will look like in 2030 if the SDGs are achieved.

Health & Healthcare

How Smart Partnerships Can Help Us Fight Chronic Diseases in Africa

May 3, 2017 1:15 PM ET

WEF Africa is kicking off today under the theme of “Leadership in an Era of Disruption.” Harald Nusser, Head of Novartis Social Business, emphasizes how novel solutions between the public and the private sector are needed to effectively fight the rising epidemic of chronic diseases in Africa.

Social Impact & Volunteering

PayPal’s Usman Ahmed on the Power of Small Business

May 3, 2017 1:05 PM ET

Innovation & Technology

Maven Gig Accelerates the Freelance Mobility Economy

May 3, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Maven is expanding its flexible mobility platform to accelerate the gig economy. Maven Gig drivers are provided access to vehicles they can use for independent gigs that they choose, such as package delivery, food or grocery delivery, and ridesharing. The program is live in San Diego and will launch in San Francisco and Los Angeles later this year. Initial partners include GrubHub, Instacart, Roadie and ridesharing services.

Energy

Barclays Infographic: Water and Oil and Gas

May 3, 2017 12:30 PM ET

Barclays Infographic: Water and Oil and Gas. Finding the right mix.

Events, Media & Communications

15 Finalists Announced for Hawaii Startup Pitch Competition

May 3, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Fifteen clean-economy startups have been selected to advance to the final round of the VERGE Hawaii Accelerate fastpitch showcase.

Diversity & Inclusion

Sanofi - Good Morning Sanofi - Meet Jaqueline

May 3, 2017 11:40 AM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

How to Plant 500,000 Trees: One at a Time

May 3, 2017 11:10 AM ET

Charlotte, N.C., likes to be known as the City of Trees, but keeping that name requires a lot of work because development and aging trees are threats to the city's tree canopy. So the city decided in 2011 to cover half of Charlotte with trees by 2050. Doing that requires planting 500,000 trees.

Environment

News Brief: EPA Update, Ozone Depleting Substances Regulation

May 3, 2017 11:10 AM ET

The EPA finalized updates to Section 608 of the Refrigerant Management Regulations, effective January 1, 2017. These changes affect professionals who interact with refrigerants as well as owners/operators of refrigerant containing equipment. Antea Group has a quick summary of these updates as well as links to various resources.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Utilities Need to Explore New Approaches in Attracting Next Generation of Workers

May 3, 2017 11:10 AM ET

Eighty-three percent of utility respondents to the 2017 Strategic Directions: Smart City/Smart Utility Report survey identified workforce management as a major challenge for their operations over the next 10 years. As the number of energy jobs continues to grow, utilities would be wise to address the workforce issue today in order to mitigate the widespread impact and fallout. But how should the industry approach staffing these utilities jobs? And how do they attract and retain new staff?

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: Buzzwords

May 3, 2017 10:30 AM ET

When it comes down to it, I fear that for many people “sustainable” has become synonymous with “less bad.” That’s not enough, friends.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

De Beers Backs Project to Help Fight Hunger

May 3, 2017 10:00 AM ET

De Beers has joined forces with one of its major contractors to help combat hunger in one of the host communities near its Venetia mine in South Africa.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

How Letting Go of Our “Perfect Kids” Led Us Right to Them

May 3, 2017 10:00 AM ET

In December 2016, as we gathered with family at a local restaurant to celebrate one of our son’s birthday, I realized something: exactly a year prior we had attended IMPACT training across the street. IMPACT is a program developed by the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Family and Children Services that works to prepare families for the joys and challenges of fostering and adopting.

While reflecting on IMPACT, a particular question stuck in mind: “What does your perfect child look like?” It was a question we thought about as we started this journey and it lead us down an unexpected path.

Diversity & Inclusion

Building Future Leaders

May 3, 2017 10:00 AM ET

“The best part of the Future Leaders Program is the focus on our development. Through on-the-job experiences, relationships, and formal training, the program is shaping us to become leaders at GSK. Through it all, the program not only reinforced my passion for developing my sales and marketing capabilities, but also revealed exciting career opportunities I didn’t know were there.” (Amber, Future Leaders Program Graduate)

Sustainable Development Goals

VIDEO | Cargill's Four Priorities for a Sustainable Future

May 3, 2017 9:25 AM ET

Cargill's purpose is to nourish the world in a safe, responsible, sustainable way. Learn more about our four key priorities for a sustainable future: addressing climate change, land use, water resources and farmer livelihoods. It's part of our commitment to nourish the world and protect the planet.

Environment

Unreasonable Impact: Real-Time, Local Air Quality Data At Your Fingertips: Q&A With BreezoMeter

May 3, 2017 9:20 AM ET

The average adult breathes 3,000 gallons of air every day. But in some areas of the world, this essential human function could prove to be lethal. According to the World Bank, air pollution now ranks as the deadliest form of pollution, and approximately 90 percent of the world lives in places that fall short of the World Health Organization’s air quality standards.

Green Infrastructure

Bechtel Innovation and Sustainability: Two Sides of the Same Coin

May 3, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Global stressors — from water scarcity to modern-day slavery — are reinventing traditional business models across heavy industries that support a more secure, sustainable future. As one of the largest engineering, procurement and construction companies in the world, Bechtel is uniquely positioned to be part of this transformation.

Environment

Big News From Walmart on Climate Action

May 3, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Walmart is not just a superstore, it’s the tenth largest economic entity in the world, slightly larger than the economy of Spain.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Weleda & Whole Foods Market Partner to Support School Gardens in NY, NJ & CT

May 3, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Weleda, Europe’s leading skincare brand and Whole Foods Market, America’s healthiest store, have aligned their values to offer a travel kit of skin and body care products worth $25 for only $5. All proceeds from the sale of the kits will benefit Whole Kids Foundation - specifically school gardens in the three participating states - NY, NJ, CT.

Environment

JetBlue Offsets 1.7 Billion Pounds of CO2e Since 2008

May 3, 2017 8:45 AM ET

Although we use new engine technology, smarter flying techniques, and renewable jet fuel, there are still some greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that we can’t reduce. For these, we offset.

Research, Reports & Publications

Wessanen Releases Sustainability Report 2016

May 3, 2017 5:00 AM ET

Every year Wessanen releases its integrated Annual Report including the latest Sustainability Report, highlighting the company’s approach to creating environmental and social impact.