Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Innovation & Technology

Hacking to Save Endangered Species: The London Zoohackathon

Dec 11, 2017 10:15 AM ET

The lives and work of software engineers and conservationists might seem worlds apart. However, last month the two came together at the Zoohackathon, hosted by ZSL London Zoo, in collaboration with Bloomberg and the U.S. Embassy London, to develop technological tools to protect endangered species around the world.

Sustainable Development Goals

De-risking Mechanisms Can Increase Private Capital to Achieve the SDGs.

Dec 11, 2017 10:15 AM ET

The SDGs represent an unprecedented global consensus to align our efforts for the next 13 years on a comprehensive and ambitious development agenda for people and the planet. This level of ambition now needs to be matched with the necessary resources, innovation capacity and partnerships to drive implementation.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Sunday Conversation with Teryn Buster

Dec 11, 2017 10:05 AM ET

For Teryn Buster, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade started well before the holiday. In early November, Columbus-based insurer Aflac flew the 10-year-old, her mom and grandmother to New York City for a behind-the-scenes tour of the Macy’s Parade Studio and VIP access to “Balloonfest” to see up close the newest balloonicles (self-powered balloon vehicles).

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Duke Energy Provides $700,000 in Winter Assistance Funds in Indiana

Dec 11, 2017 10:05 AM ET

Environment

Carbon Reduction Challenge Is Changing Students Lives at Georgia Tech

Dec 11, 2017 10:00 AM ET

The Carbon Reduction Challenge at Georgia Tech allows students from all disciiplines to work together on climate reduction initiatives for real clients, that deliver measurable results.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Viacom’s Partnership with Franktown Makes Dreams a Possibility

Dec 11, 2017 9:45 AM ET

Viacom’s OneCommunity, an impact team initiated by the Global Business Services Department, is making strides to improve the community within and around them. One example of the impactful work done comes from the team in Cool Springs, Tennessee, that has a long-standing partnership with Franktown Open Hearts to provide children with knowledge and experiences they may not have received otherwise in hope to provide greater opportunities and paths for the immediate and foreseeable future.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

General Mills Foundation & Second Harvest Heartland

Dec 11, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Quick delivery of excess fresh produce to people in need is crucial. The General Mills Foundation and Second Harvest are making healthy happen for nearly 1,000 food shelves, pantries and other partner programs.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Keeping the Magic Alive for Children Living With Life-Threatening Illnesses

Dec 11, 2017 9:25 AM ET

Each year 27,000 children in the United States are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. For these children, simple surprises and joys of life are eclipsed by doctors’ visits, hospital stays, medical tests and treatments. The lives of their family members shift to a place of fear and stress. These are the families that Give Kids The World Village welcomes to a place where time slows down.

Sustainable Development Goals

Schneider Electric VIDEO | Nurturing Sustainability from Our Core to Our Customers

Dec 11, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Sustainability is in Schneider Electric’s DNA. It is rooted in everything we do. Our mission is to help our customers meet their sustainability goals while continuing to grow their business.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Hams For Hunger - East Texas Food Bank

Dec 11, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Hormel Foods Corporation and Brookshire Grocery Co. donated 1,080 Hormel® Cure 81® half hams to the East Texas Food Bank to help feed those in need this holiday season. In total, the two companies are donating over $100,000 in hams to dozens of food banks and food kitchens in communities where Brookshire’s, Super 1 Foods and Spring Market stores operate.

Diversity & Inclusion

De Beers Group's Esther Oberbeck Is a Woman to Watch

Dec 11, 2017 8:30 AM ET

Esther, Head of Strategy for De Beers Group and an Executive Director of De Beers UK, is featured in the 100 Women to Watch 2017 list prepared by the Cranfield School of Management.

Environment

Eco Logical Australia, A Tetra Tech Company, Supports Aboriginal Trainees

Dec 11, 2017 8:00 AM ET

In this video, Vanessa Cavanagh, principal Aboriginal engagement consultant, discusses the results of the project and the importance of Aboriginal leadership in providing an example for and mentoring young, Aboriginal Australians. Vanessa is a First Nations Australian who has more than 15 years of experience in Aboriginal community engagement and both theoretical and practical experience in environmental and heritage conservation and research.

Environment

Xylem Volunteers Turn Flood First Responder Training into Walk for Water in Letchworth

Dec 11, 2017 8:00 AM ET

On September 12, the Sales team at Xylem Analytics UK in Letchworth turned their swiftwater and flood first responder training into a Walk for Water. As the participants walked to the training locations carrying the Watermark banner, they engaged local community members, increasing local awareness of the global water crisis.

Research, Reports & Publications

Barclays Sponsors Women's Business Council Report to Explore UK Skills Gap

Dec 11, 2017 7:25 AM ET

For a long time, organisations have focused on young generations as a way to bring in new talent. Recruitment trends emphasise the hiring and retention of millennials, despite the fact that our population is formed of multiple generations and that the workforce is ageing. We are also seeing changes in the needs of the workforce, with more workers needing time out of work for various reasons at different points in their career. How can we ensure we are not missing or excluding this talent?

Research, Reports & Publications

Community Investment Alignment With Canadian Innovation Objectives: New Report From LBG Canada and Imagine Canada

Dec 8, 2017 5:00 PM ET

Canada's leading corporations widely recognize the business opportunity in putting their brands and resources behind worthy causes, and many plan to increase their community investments, according to a new study issued by Imagine Canada and LBG (London Benchmarking Group) Canada.

Environment

Patagonia Takes on the President and Rallies Consumers in Support of Bears Ears

Dec 8, 2017 5:00 PM ET

Patagonia is no stranger to bold Purpose marketing campaigns. From “Don’t Buy this Jacket” to “100% for the Planet,” this is a brand that is not afraid to take a risk to stand up for what it believes in. This week, we saw the company take its boldest stance yet, not only directly calling out the President of the United States for “an illegal move” but also announcing it will sue the administration. Yet, for those who track the company, this endeavor should not come as a huge surprise – in fact, the latest announcement is just the next phase of a multi-year consumer engagement campaign, calling on its informed, loyal consumer base for support.

Events, Media & Communications

Introduction to the Green-e Renewable Energy Standard for Singapore Webinar

Dec 8, 2017 4:30 PM ET

Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) just released the Green-e Renewable Energy Standard for Singapore, which details the requirements and standards for Green-e certification of renewable electricity sales and consumption in Singapore.

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar Repowers for Rail

Dec 8, 2017 2:00 PM ET

Caterpillar’s rail subsidiary, Progress Rail, is one of the largest diversified providers of rolling stock and infrastructure solutions and technologies for global rail customers.

Environment

Statement from Keep America Beautiful on Public Lands

Dec 8, 2017 2:00 PM ET

Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, today issued the following statement which can be attributed to Helen Lowman, President and CEO:

Education

An Amgen Scholars Journey From Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México to the University of Tokyo

Dec 8, 2017 1:10 PM ET

When I was a high school student, I took a serious interest in biology and chemistry, and I always asked my teachers: "But how did they find that out?" This was my first approach to scientific discovery and, from there on, I made the decision to get a science-related degree. Upon my entry to university, I started to work on basic science research projects, however I realized that I wanted to do research that would have an actual impact in human health and disease.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Infographic: Smithfield Foods, Food Safety and Quality

Dec 8, 2017 1:05 PM ET

Producing safe, high-quality, and nourishing food is fundamental to our company’s very existence. Our customers and consumers put their trust in us every time they sit down to a meal of one of our many products. Food safety starts on the farm, where we have rigorous systems in place to raise healthy animals. It continues at the processing plants, where we follow meticulous and exacting procedures that allow us to produce the safest pork products.

Education

How Well Do You Know Your Incentive Programs?

Dec 8, 2017 1:00 PM ET

If your K-12 school district or community college could reduce energy costs and steer those savings to educational improvements, wouldn’t you jump at the chance? California’s Grossmont Union, Poway Unified, Mountain View Los Altos and Visalia Unified are just a few of the districts that have tapped into energy storage to shrink their electrical bills. They are now serving as beacons to others.

Events, Media & Communications

BACARDÍ® Rum to Host United for Puerto Rico Concert & Telethon

Dec 8, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Family-owned Bacardi is pleased to announce its BACARDÍ rum facility will play host to the United for Puerto Rico live concert and telethon on Sunday, December 10. All proceeds from the fundraising initiative will go directly to organizations benefiting Puerto Ricans impacted by the devastation caused by Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Education

TCS VIDEO | How Middle School Teachers in Texas Are Preparing Thousands of Students for the Future Through a Revolutionary Computational Thinking Approach

Dec 8, 2017 12:25 PM ET

Watch teachers and students at Ann Richards Middle School in Dallas, TX use Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Discovery Education’s computational thinking model, Ignite My Future in School.

Education

Closing the Tech Skills Gap for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Dec 8, 2017 12:15 PM ET

Looking for a job, learning how to type, using an ATM, creating a budget, or making social connections online – these are all skills many of us take for granted as technology is so ingrained in our everyday life.

However, for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), accessing these skills can be a challenge. That’s why The Arc has partnered with Comcast NBCUniversal to create Tech Coaching Centers across the country, including at The Arc Southern Maryland to put tech in the hands of people with I/DD, along with individualized instruction and support to help them pursue goals that are important to them.