Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Loan Broadens Access to Certified Biodynamic Compost

Jan 27, 2016 2:15 PM ET

“There was a total absence of any high-quality soil product,” says Ritchie. “That’s when we decided to enter a market that’s never been there before—biodynamic compost. It’s real. It’s truly organic. It’s living soil.”

On July 8, 2009, the duo founded Malibu Compost, and became the first-ever local producer and distributor of certified biodynamic compost. After years of demonstrating the strength of their business model, the company received a Program Related Investment (PRI) loan from RSF to help it expand.

Environment

Antea Group Case Study: Supporting Best in Class EHS Performance at a Precious Metal Refinery

Jan 27, 2016 2:05 PM ET

A precious metals refiner retained Antea Group to evaluate and improve their EHS programs with the end goal of achieving best in class EHS performance among the industry as a way to differentiate itself and create additional business opportunity. Their New Jersey industrial facility had deteriorating infrastructure and was recognized as a significant source of the client’s marginal EHS performance, and Antea Group was enlisted to assist with the relocation of manufacturing operations and manage the EHS aspects of its’ startup.

Research, Reports & Publications

Novartis Releases 2015 Corporate Responsibility Performance Report

Jan 27, 2016 2:00 PM ET

Novartis has published its 2015 Corporate Responsibility (CR) Performance Report. The report is based on the Global Reporting Initiative G4 guidelines, with disclosure at “comprehensive” level, making it the first comprehensive level-report in the healthcare industry.

Education

Education Partnership for Mexican Engineers

Jan 27, 2016 1:30 PM ET

The Mexican government has been working to change the paradigm of its energy sector, opening up opportunities for private companies to contribute to the development of the oil and gas industry in the country. This historic step is the cornerstone of ensuring Mexico’s competitiveness in the coming years.

Education

850 Kids Participate in T. Rowe Price Sponsored Money Confident Kids Contest

Jan 27, 2016 1:15 PM ET

T. Rowe Price sponsored a Money Confident Kids essay contest with Scholastic, in which kids grades five through eight were challenged to interview a parent or guardian.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Together We’re a Powerful Match

Jan 27, 2016 12:35 PM ET

What do you get when you merge AT&T and DIRECTV, two of the nation’s most community-minded companies? An even greater impact on the communities where we live and work – not to mention a union that will redefine our industry.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Matching CSR Programmes with Business Goals

Jan 27, 2016 11:35 AM ET

Headquartered in the U.S., Booz Allen Hamilton provides strategy and technology consulting services to leading Fortune 500 corporations, governments, and not-for-profits employing more than 22,500 people across the globe.

Events, Media & Communications

3BL Media and G&A Institute Join Forces To Improve Distribution and Competitive Benchmarking of Sustainability Reports

Jan 27, 2016 11:10 AM ET

We have exciting news for you this week about an important collaboration, just announced by G&A Institute and 3BL Media.

Environment

500 Global Investors Managing Trillions Mobilize Action in Wake of Paris Climate Agreement

Jan 27, 2016 10:30 AM ET

On the heels of the historic international climate agreement in Paris, more than 500 global investors gathered today at the United Nations to begin mobilizing the trillions of dollars needed to catalyze the global clean energy transition.

Social Impact & Volunteering

About NetSuite.org: Helping Nonprofits Focus on their Social Missions

Jan 27, 2016 10:25 AM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

AIDA New Year’s Raffle: 100,000 Euros for SOS Children’s Village

Jan 27, 2016 10:20 AM ET

AIDA Cruises is supporting the children’s aid organization “SOS-Kinderdorf e.V.” with a donation of 100,000 euros. This sum was raised by the New Year’s Raffle that is traditionally held on board the ships of the AIDA fleet on December 31. This year the donation will again benefit the SOS Children’s Village in Iloilo in the Philippines and SOS projects in Germany. AIDA Cruises gave away a total of 20 cruises and numerous high quality non-cash prizes to the raffle winners.

Innovation & Technology

The Green Light for a Green City

Jan 27, 2016 10:05 AM ET

Responsible Production & Consumption

BJ’s Wholesale Club Pledges Support to Help End Forced Labor in Uzbekistan

Jan 27, 2016 10:00 AM ET

BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc., continues its opposition on the use of forced labor by joining over 200 other brands and companies in signing the Cotton Pledge, managed by the Responsible Sourcing Network (RSN).

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Uptake CEO Brad Keywell: “We are Disrupting the Blind Spots”

Jan 27, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Brad Keywell, co-founder and CEO of Uptake Technologies and, perhaps most notably, the co-founder and director of Groupon, joined Businessweek’s Tom Giles for the second installment of the Cornell Tech @ Bloomberg speaker series Wednesday, January 13.

Events, Media & Communications

Keep America Beautiful Hosts 2016 National Conference in Orlando; Launches Call-to-Action to “Imagine. Inspire. Transform.”

Jan 27, 2016 9:45 AM ET

Renowned Australian psychologists Rob Curnow and Karen Spehr, who have been working for more than 20 years on changing people’s behaviors in relation to the environment, will serve as keynote speakers at the 2016 Keep America Beautiful National Conference, which takes place Feb. 1-3 at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista in Orlando, Florida.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Walmart, Coca-Cola, Nestlé and PepsiCo Come Together to Provide Flint, Mich., Public Schools with Water for Students Through the End of the Year

Jan 27, 2016 9:30 AM ET

Walmart today announced support for the Flint, Mich., community through donations, education and online services. Walmart, Coca-Cola, Nestlé and PepsiCo will collectively donate water to meet the daily needs of over 10,000 school children for the balance of the calendar year.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Should S&P’s Newest Index Be Associated With Corporate Sustainability?

Jan 27, 2016 9:20 AM ET

It seems that “sustainability” was a core topic at this year’s World Economic Forum (WEF) conference at Davos. Many talks centered around the idea of a “fourth industrial revolution” and all of the changes in corporate behavior that would result.

Environment

Fighting the Flood: Students in Brazil are Using Mobile Bathrooms to Counter Climate Change

Jan 27, 2016 9:00 AM ET

São Paulo, the largest city in the Southern Hemisphere with a population of nearly 12 million, has been rattled with one extreme weather event after another for the past several years: major flooding in early 2015 occurred in the middle of a severe drought.

Research, Reports & Publications

Unique Reporting Challenges for Corporate Grant Programs (And How to Solve Them)

Jan 27, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Time, energy, and effectiveness. These are three vital resources for nonprofit organizations. The challenge of reporting compliance consumes all three and distracts them from their purpose. Is there a way to keep them from drowning in that sea of paperwork?

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Republic Services Driver Saves A Life

Jan 27, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Republic Services recognized one of our Phoenix-area drivers for helping to save someone's life.

Innovation & Technology

KeyBank Offers Free Tax Return Prep in Nine Metro Areas on February 6

Jan 27, 2016 8:30 AM ET

On February 6, 2016, KeyBank will partner with nonprofit organizations in nine metropolitan areas across the United States to host its eleventh annual Super Refund Saturday—a one-day event during which KeyBank employees provide free, individual federal income tax preparation sessions to local low- and moderate-income wage earners, helping them determine their eligibility and apply for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

Responsible Production & Consumption

eZOO: The Animal Friendly Vision of Animals

Jan 27, 2016 8:00 AM ET

The use of animals in entertainment is going out of fashion for ethical reasons and ​its ​decreasing popularity.

Environment

Video: Nat Geo's Year of Global Exploration and Cutting-Edge Storytelling in 2-Mintues

Jan 27, 2016 7:00 AM ET

From discovering a new human ancestor deep in a South African cave to protecting more than one million square miles of ocean through its Pristine Seas initiative, National Geographic made its mark on 2015 through science, exploration, and storytelling. In the video above, Nat Geo reflects on its many achievements over the past year, including new discoveries and expeditions across the globe. 21st Century Fox expanded its partnership with the National Geographic Society in 2015 to create National Geographic Partners, bringing together all of National Geographic's media assets, including magazines, book and map publishing, National Geographic Studios, and more. The deal increased the Society's endowment to more than $1 billion.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Albertsons Companies Builds on Commitment to Source Sustainable Palm Oil

Jan 27, 2016 7:00 AM ET

Palm oil is one of the most widely used vegetable oils, accounting for ~65% of all vegetable oil traded internationally. It can be found in thousands of products, from food items like baked goods and ice cream to personal care products such as cosmetics, shampoos and detergents. Palm oil is derived from the fruit of oil palm trees which are found in tropical regions such as Indonesia and Malaysia. However, oil palm plantations can also have adverse environmental impact such as destruction of tropical forests to plant oil palm trees, and social impacts that affect the health and well-being of the local people if not properly managed. This is why Albertsons Companies has made it a priority to source from suppliers that use certified sustainably sourced palm oil for its Own Brand products.

Events, Media & Communications

Conflict Minerals Compliance in 2016: How to Approach Reporting Year Three

Jan 26, 2016 7:05 PM ET

Whether you are just getting started or would like to make improvements to your existing conflict minerals program, this webinar will provide guidance for year three of conflict minerals compliance and reporting.