Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Responsible Production & Consumption

Making a Difference on Child Labour in Cocoa

Oct 5, 2017 9:00 AM ET

At Nestlé we use cocoa for many of our global brands. Addressing child labour in the cocoa sector is closely linked to our values as a company and our business success.

To tackle this issue, since 2012 we’ve used a pioneering system to identify and help thousands of children working in the cocoa sector. Our results show that this approach can reduce child labour by 50%. Many of the children we’ve reached now go to school full time.

Our progress is detailed in a report produced and published today by the International Cocoa Initiative and Nestlé. It provides the first comprehensive assessment to date of the successes and the challenges remaining in ending child labour in cocoa.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Timberland Creates New Corporate Hiring Initiative to Recruit National Service Alumni

Oct 5, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Today, outdoor lifestyle brand Timberland announced a new commitment to further the brand’s longstanding history and dedication to service. Starting in October, any verified alumni of AmeriCorps or Peace Corps who apply for corporate job opportunities at Timberland will be guaranteed consideration.

Green Infrastructure

Tetra Tech Broadens High-End Sustainable Infrastructure Design Capabilities With the Acquisition of Glumac

Oct 5, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Tetra Tech, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTEK) announced today that it has acquired Glumac, a leader in sustainable infrastructure design. The company has more than 300 employees and incorporates innovative sustainable technologies and solutions into each of its designs, including the design and engineering of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standard and Net-Zero infrastructure.

Energy

National Grid Thanks Customers, Communities, and Employees for Commitment to Energy Efficiency

Oct 5, 2017 8:30 AM ET

National Grid is here to help make your home or business better. Every year, we work with homeowners, renters, and businesses
of all sizes to find energy saving solutions for houses, apartments, and offices. Learn what programs are available to you.

Environment

Topher White: Connecting the Rainforest

Oct 4, 2017 7:40 PM ET

Do you have a drawer somewhere filled with old cellphones collecting dust? Wouldn’t it be great if there were a way to put those phones to good use? This week’s guest on Sea Change Radio, Topher White, is making a difference using those dormant phones. His organization, Rainforest Connection up-cycles defunct phones with solar charging technology and then places them strategically in rainforests all over the world to monitor human activity like poaching and deforestation.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Costa Cruises and Shakira's Foundation Pies Descalzos to Build School in Colombia

Oct 4, 2017 5:30 PM ET

Costa Cruises and Shakira's Foundation Pies Descalzos partner on a new campaign called “Building Happiness” for the construction of a school in Colombia. It will help over 1300 families and children in Colombia by providing access to quality education.

Innovation & Technology

GM Zeros in on an All-Electric Future

Oct 4, 2017 5:00 PM ET

GM summarizes its vision in six words: zero crashes, zero emissions, zero congestion. In a recent LinkedIn post, Mary Barra states, “our generation has the ambition, the talent and the technology to realize the safer, better and more sustainable world we want.”

GM backed up its zero-emissions commitment by announcing it will introduce two electric vehicles in the next 18 months – the first of at least 20 new EVs by 2023.

Events, Media & Communications

Join Canadian and International Peers in Toronto at Inside Out: A Transformative Approach to Community Investment, November 2-3, 2017

Oct 4, 2017 5:00 PM ET

Join Canadian and International peers in Toronto, Canada at Inside Out: A Transformative Approach to Community Investment. Inside Out is a future-looking conference designed to advance the practice of how companies invest in community.

Health & Healthcare

Patients are the Purpose: Bristol-Myers Squibb's Global Patient Week

Oct 4, 2017 4:40 PM ET

Whether they work in scientific research, marketing, human resources, information technology or accounting, all employees of Bristol-Myers Squibb play a role in helping the company work to create and deliver life-changing medicines.

Events, Media & Communications

More Than 2,000 Next Generation Leaders to Descend on Atlanta at the 2017 Net Impact Conference in Atlanta October 26-28

Oct 4, 2017 3:20 PM ET

Net Impact, the leading global nonprofit that mobilizes the next generation to use their skills and careers to make a positive impact on the world, is pleased to announce more than 2,000 emerging young impact leaders will be attending the 2017 Net Impact Annual Conference in Atlanta, October 26-28.

Research, Reports & Publications

New Health Case Study Report Released!

Oct 4, 2017 3:15 PM ET

Discover how the private sector is leveraging their talent, vision, and influence to help reverse challenging health trends and create a culture of health in America and around the globe. Access the latest case study report to learn more.

Social Impact & Volunteering

GSK Releases Impact Report, Highlighting the Triple Bottom-Line Impact of Volunteering

Oct 4, 2017 3:10 PM ET

To mark the beginning of our Global Month of Volunteering in October, GSK released our PULSE and Global Volunteering Annual Impact Report, which showcases stories and data on the triple bottom-line of volunteering: impact on communities, employees, and the business.

Events, Media & Communications

Save $250 on Executive Education Courses With the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship

Oct 4, 2017 3:00 PM ET

Enroll now and save big on CSR courses with Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship! Courses are designed for all levels to enhance or refresh your management skills, subject matter expertise, and mastery and knowledge of key research, leading practices, and tools.

Innovation & Technology

Qualcomm Wireless Reach Announces Expansion of the 4G Mobile Learning Program across Tainan City, Taiwan

Oct 4, 2017 2:30 PM ET

On October 2, Qualcomm® Wireless Reach™, the Tainan City Government, Far EasTone Telecommunications Co., Ltd (FET), the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) and ASUS announced the expansion of Tainan’s “CloudPlay for Education” (CloudPlay) program to continue helping the government achieve its 4G Smart City objectives for mobile learning (mLearning) and outdoor education. The event took place at the local government city hall and was attended by approximately 150 guests, including officials from the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), the Tainan City Government, ITRI, FET, ASUS, university officials and professors, local school officials, teachers and students. 28 media attended the event, including Apple Daily, Commercial Times, Economic Daily News and Taipei Times.

Events, Media & Communications

Driving Sustainability: GM’s Collaboration to Use Natural Rubber Tires an Industry-First Topic at COMMIT!Forum

Oct 4, 2017 2:30 PM ET

A General Motors partnership with suppliers to use sustainably sourced natural rubber tires is transforming the landscape of the automotive industry in ways that will reduce deforestation and human and labor rights violations.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

JetBlue's Ninth Annual ‘Swing for Good' Golf Classic to Raise Funds for Three Youth-Focused Charitable Partners

Oct 4, 2017 2:00 PM ET

JetBlue, known for its mission of inspiring humanity, today launched its ninth annual Swing for Good Golf Classic fundraising campaign at Bethpage State Golf Course in Bethpage, N.Y. Since 2008, JetBlue's marquee fundraising initiative has raised more than $4.8 million for its charitable partners focused on youth and education. This year’s non-profit partners include KaBOOM!, Together We Rise and The JetBlue Foundation.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Cargill VIDEO | 5 Goals for Sustainable Cocoa

Oct 4, 2017 1:45 PM ET

In its new Cocoa Promise Report, Cargill is laying out a clear pathway to a sustainable cocoa supply chain. In the five years since the Cocoa Promise, the company’s overarching sustainability commitment for the sector, was launched, Cargill and its farmer partners have made significant progress.

Education

AT&T Helps Aspiring Young People Skill-Up for Career Opportunities in the Digital Age

Oct 4, 2017 1:35 PM ET

There’s a culture shift going on at AT&T as our business grows in technology, media, and telecommunications. It’s a culture of continuous learning to acquire new skills, so that we can create the talent needed to drive innovation across our company. We are investing in education and training to create a diverse and skilled workforce that will help power our company for the future.

Energy

ENGIE North America Announces Largest Utility-Scale Energy Storage Installation in Massachusetts

Oct 4, 2017 1:30 PM ET

ENGIE NA and Holyoke Gas & Electric (HG&E) today announced plans for the largest utility-scale energy storage installation in Massachusetts. Green Charge, an ENGIE NA subsidiary, will operate the three-megawatt energy storage system at Mt. Tom Solar, which began operation in January of this year adjacent to the former Mt. Tom Power Station. The system will be used to optimize intermittent solar energy and reduce utility capacity costs for HG&E, the system’s customer, while reducing stress on the HG&E distribution system. This project will contribute to rate stabilization for HG&E customers over the next 20 years.

Media & Communications

Erb Institute | Business for Sustainability Experts in the News - Can Hollywood Movies About Climate Change Make a Difference?

Oct 4, 2017 1:10 PM ET

Erb Professor and author of How Culture Shapes the Climate Change Debate, Andy Hoffman, was quoted today in a New York Times piece, “Can Hollywood Movies About Climate Change Make a Difference?” The piece discusses recent movies like Darren Aronofsky’s “Mother!,” that seek to affect climate change through depicting it on screen for mass audiences.

Green Infrastructure

Can One Highway Drive the Future?

Oct 4, 2017 12:30 PM ET

Harriet Langford, president of The Ray, and Allie Kelly, executive director of The Ray recently spoke at #VERGE17, a @GreenBiz Conference. They introduced The Ray in their VERGE Talk.

Education

Helping Campus Partners Demonstrate the Value of Exceptional College Experiences

Oct 4, 2017 12:30 PM ET

From the kitchen table to the political stage, the ever-increasing cost to attend college has become a hot topic of discussion. As costs have risen, students have taken on more and more student loan debt and other forms of financial liability to finance their education. Adding to the apprehension, many of these students face an uncertain job market after graduation, making it difficult to manage living expenses and student loan payments.

Energy

CMS Energy Announces Purchase of Lansing-Area Solar Project, Providing Clean Energy to Power 3,300 Homes

Oct 4, 2017 12:00 PM ET

CMS Energy announced today that its subsidiary, CMS Enterprises, is purchasing Delta Solar, a 24-megawatt, two-part solar power project under construction that will provide enough energy to the Lansing Board of Water & Light to power 3,300 homes through a power purchase agreement.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Duke Energy Customer Service Week: Sean Tucker Embraces Teamwork at Work and on the Court

Oct 4, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Q&A With GRI Chief Executive Tim Mohin

Oct 4, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Celebrating 20 years of founding and shaping sustainability reporting, GRI's Chief Executive Tim Mohin talks about GRI's accomplishments over two decades, and how GRI will continue pioneering in the future.