Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Environment

LIXIL’s SATO to Bring Safer Sanitation to 15 Million More People with Support of New Funding

Oct 10, 2017 12:35 PM ET

LIXIL Corporation – a global leader in the housing and buildings industry – today announced that its breakthrough SATO business will be funded under the “Urban Sanitation Challenge,” a newly launched program of the Water Innovation Engine. LIXIL’s SATO is one of the first five projects ever to be funded through the Urban Sanitation Challenge. The new program, led by Grand Challenges Canada, was launched on September 21 at the UN General Assembly meetings in New York City.

Diversity & Inclusion

Banking Needs More Women in Tech — Here’s How One Financial Institution Is Driving Change

Oct 10, 2017 12:05 PM ET

As the banking industry goes through a digital transformation, there’s a “war for talent,” says Kyle McNamara, Executive Vice President, Global Retail Banking Technology at Scotiabank. And if companies want the best and the brightest in their ranks, women need to be on the frontlines.

Diversity & Inclusion

She Wanted a Successful Career - and Didn't Let Blindness Hold Her Back

Oct 10, 2017 12:05 PM ET

Follow Kathy Martinez, SVP of Disability Segment Market Brand and Strategy at Wells Fargo, throughout her day and learn about her experiences being visually impaired in school and in the workplace. (video - 5.50 min)

Social Impact & Volunteering

Community Commitment at a Whole New Level

Oct 10, 2017 11:35 AM ET

Listen to Laura Kohler's insights on the culture of Kohler Co. in NEWaukee's latest podcast.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

JetBlue and Atlas Air Send More Than 110 Tons of Supplies to Assist in Recovery Efforts in Puerto Rico

Oct 10, 2017 11:15 AM ET

JetBlue, New York’s Hometown Airline® and the largest airline in Puerto Rico, in partnership with Atlas Air Worldwide, today transported more than 110 tons of much needed supplies to Puerto Rico to aid in relief and recovery efforts. JetBlue previously outlined its 100x35JetBlue commitment to launch 35 initiatives over 100 days - and beyond to support the immediate needs of crewmembers, customers, and communities in Puerto Rico. As part of this initiative, JetBlue has collected generous donations from a variety of like-minded organizations including Food Bank For New York City, American Red Cross and the Afya Foundation. Atlas Air graciously donated and operated a 747 cargo aircraft to get supplies from New York to San Juan.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

American Express, NYU, Comcast, Hilton Top Industry Leaders List for Adoption Benefits

Oct 10, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Each year the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption ranks the nation’s employers with the best adoption benefits. The Top 100 Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace List is based first on financial reimbursement for adoption costs and second on paid time off given to families who adopt.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

GRI Podcasts Back on Air: October Edition Now Available!

Oct 10, 2017 11:00 AM ET

GRI's podcasts are back! The October edition features GRI Chief Executive Tim Mohin dispelling the myth of competition among reporting frameworks; Alyson Genovese live from the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit discussing the Sustainable Development Goals; and a round-up of the key sustainability news from the last month.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Meet the Speakers Series Part 2: Demystifying the CSA & DJSI

Oct 10, 2017 10:55 AM ET

The aim of this workshop is to increase the participants’ knowledge about the methodology behind the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) and the RobecoSAM Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA). In this session, special focus will be on on selected criteria including Human Rights, Supply Chain, and Human Capital. Come join experts from CSA-responding corporations that achieve high scorers in the respective CSA criterion as they their perspectives and experience in crafting responses to the CSA.

Environment

Ecocentricity Guest Blog: Go Big or Go Home

Oct 10, 2017 10:30 AM ET

This guest blog is from Will Courrèges-Clercq, who is studying Business Adminstration at the Scheller College of Business. Will has taken classes from the sustainability curriculum at the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainability, and he and his teammates recently won the Georgia Tech Carbon Reduction Challenge.

Innovation & Technology

HP School Cloud Brings Digital Learning Resources to Schools Without Internet

Oct 10, 2017 10:20 AM ET

Sustainable Development Goals

Barclays and Robin Hood Foundation Platform "Up & Go" Helps Low-Income Workers Compete for Jobs

Oct 10, 2017 10:15 AM ET

Up & Go, a new online platform supported by Barclays and the anti-poverty foundation Robin Hood, allows New Yorkers to book cleaning services from worker-owned cooperatives. We hear from the women earning a decent wage and growing their businesses through the app, which puts earning power directly in their hands.

Environment

Domtar Sustainability: Creating Value for Our Communities

Oct 10, 2017 10:15 AM ET

Domtar has been a centerpiece in some of our communities for more than a century. We depend on them, and they depend on us. For every 100 jobs in our facilities, an additional 325 jobs are created.* We have focused on repurposing our assets and executing our growth strategy to keep our facilities viable for the long term.

Sustainable Development Goals

Bechtel Build 100 Blog | Edmonton Light Rail Transit: Building More Than Rail

Oct 10, 2017 10:05 AM ET

Bechtel is building Edmonton’s Valley Line light-rail transit extension, the largest infrastructure project undertaken by Alberta’s capital city in Canada. It will expand the commuter-rail system by eight miles (13 kilometers), linking the urban center to distant suburbs across the Saskatchewan River. Edmonton has committed to reducing its carbon footprint by 111,000 tons per year by purchasing renewable energy, which will provide electricity from cleaner sources to power the trains.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Boeing Donates $5 Million to USO Pathfinder

Oct 10, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Boeing [NYSE: BA] today announced a $5 million, multi-year donation to help expand United Service Organizations (USO) Pathfinder transition services—a comprehensive global program for transitioning service members.

Social Impact & Volunteering

MyViacommunity Stories: Opening Doors for Others

Oct 10, 2017 9:45 AM ET

We sat down with Jason Williams, vice president of Global Consumer Products at Nickelodeon, to discuss Viacom’s UP Mentoring, the program he started through Viacommunity.

Innovation & Technology

It’s a Wrap! The End of the 42BELOW® Lemon Soap Science Series

Oct 10, 2017 9:45 AM ET

42BELOW Recycled Cocktail Lemons Eco Soap – what a mouthful… that’s a wrap! Thanks for watching. Check out best bits here.

Sustainable Development Goals

Sappi North America Continues to Lower Emissions

Oct 10, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Our pulp and paper products are derived from renewable resources, made with high levels of renewable energy, and are designed to be reused or recycled. While it is difficult to identify a more sustainable industry than forest products, not all companies perform equally when it comes to operating safely and sustainably. We track our progress annually and offer an updated view of our performance in important areas of environmental and social responsibility.

Environment

Cargill Updates Sustainable Cocoa Plan with Zero Deforestation Aim

Oct 10, 2017 9:25 AM ET

Cargill has published an update to its sustainable cocoa sourcing strategy to align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and include efforts to eliminate deforestation by 2030.

Social Impact & Volunteering

100x35JetBlue: Join Us in Caring for Puerto Rico and the Caribbean

Oct 10, 2017 9:00 AM ET

The stories of devastation and desperate need coming out of Puerto Rico are heartbreaking. With a massive emergency response urgently needed and recovery efforts expected to take months (if not years), JetBlue has established a new program to help our crewmembers, customers and neighbors in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean: 100x35JetBlue.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Impact of Volunteering: Beyond the Traditional Charity-Corporate Partnership

Oct 10, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Since PULSE was created in 2009, GSK has sent over 100 employees to work with Save the Children in more than 35 offices across the world. GSK embarked on an ambitious global partnership with Save the Children to help save one million children’s lives. Since then, the collaboration has been voted the most admired partnership for two consecutive years by the C&E Corporate-NGO Partnerships Barometer.

Research, Reports & Publications

ACHIEVE GREATER | Northern Trust Releases 2016 Corporate Social Responsibility Report

Oct 10, 2017 8:30 AM ET

“At Northern Trust, we believe organizations with a demonstrated commitment to corporate social responsibility create greater value for shareholders and key stakeholders.” -

Green Infrastructure

Landsec Leads the Way with Science-Based Targets

Oct 10, 2017 6:00 AM ET

The low-carbon fuel cell installed at 20 Fenchurch Street – London’s ‘Walkie Talkie’ building – cost £4 million, but contributes 7% of the entire building’s electricity needs. Landsec are also committed to improving the amount of onsite renewable technology with a new target to achieve 3 MW capacity by 2030. Current capacity has doubled to 1.4 MW this summer with their largest installation to date, a 785 kWp solar PV system at White Rose Shopping Centre in Leeds. The system provides 20% of all landlord power, reducing costs for customers and increasing the asset’s resilience, and has become the largest of its kind in the UK.

Research, Reports & Publications

The Reporting Exchange | What Are the Experts Saying About This New Global Resource for Corporate Sustainability Reporting?

Oct 10, 2017 6:00 AM ET

World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) recently launched the Reporting Exchange - the single most up-to-date and comprehensive source of information on sustainability reporting requirements and resources currently available. RNFOead on to see what the experts are saying about this new resource.

Events, Media & Communications

Qualcomm Spotlights Exciting Tech Advances at Grace Hopper Event

Oct 9, 2017 5:40 PM ET

Our largest contingent to date descended on the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing, the world’s largest gathering of women technologists. This year, over 180 Qualcomm employees, across all levels, joined more than 20,000 attendees at the conference in Orlando, Florida. We raised awareness about our technologies, showcased our inventors working on those technologies, and the great opportunities available at Qualcomm.

Environment

Top 5 Evergreens Sold Through the Arbor Day Tree Nursery

Oct 9, 2017 4:00 PM ET

Evergreen trees offer numerous benefits when strategically planted around your home. They provide year-round color in the winter when other trees are bare. Additionally, evergreens can be used as a living snow fence, keeping cold winds out which results in lower energy costs.