Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Environment

The Secret Word for Today Is…UN SDGs

Apr 26, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Some readers of this blog may remember how in Pee Wee Herman’s Playhouse, there was always a secret word. When someone said this word, everyone jumped up and down, screamed, and ran around. The same sort of thing sometimes happens in sustainability metrics. Words such as “stranded assets” and “integrated reporting” take on extra weight and meaning that can be surprising to those of us who track the field.

Education

TCS and Toronto District School Board Host 18 Schools in ‘goIT’ App Development Finale

Apr 26, 2017 9:35 AM ET

Events, Media & Communications

UN Global Compact Kicks Off Annual Conference in New Delhi with More than 300 Global Business and Civil Society Leaders

Apr 26, 2017 9:35 AM ET

UN Global Compact convenes two-day forum on business opportunities for sustainable development in India through the SDGs and launches Global Opportunity Explorer, the world’s largest digital platform that provides the global business community.

Events, Media & Communications

Ingersoll Rand to Discuss Embedding Sustainability in Operations at Building Energy Summit

Apr 26, 2017 9:30 AM ET

W. Scott Tew, executive director, Center for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability at Ingersoll Rand (NYSE: IR), a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments, will speak to building owners and operators on energy efficient technologies and solutions at the Building Energy Summit. The event is scheduled to take place April 27 in Washington.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

National Grid Honored with ENERGY STAR® Award

Apr 26, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will present National Grid with a 2017 ENERGY STAR Award in Excellence in ENERGY STAR Promotion at an event at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington D.C. at 5:15pm.

Green Infrastructure

Mohawk Group Video | Light Lab: Sustainable Design Through Collaboration

Apr 26, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Innovation & Technology

‘Life in Space’ Challenge Winners Aim to Improve Health Outcomes on the International Space Station

Apr 26, 2017 9:05 AM ET

When pondering the challenge of how to make astronauts’ lives better on the International Space Station, the winners of the “Life in Space” Challenge went back to basics. The winning team of five students from Carnegie Mellon University looked at how astronauts working on the International Space Station (ISS) spent their days.

Environment

Every Drop Counts: Five Water-Saving Strategies from the Carlsberg Group's Chinese Breweries

Apr 26, 2017 9:05 AM ET

In 2016, the amount of water used to brew one hectolitre (hl) of beer was reduced by more than 7% in our Chinese breweries. Around the country, 11 sites reduced their water use by more than 10%. Two stellar performers actually used less than 3 hl/hl: the Carlsberg Brewery Guangdong (Huizhou), and the Urumqi No. 2 Brewery.

Research, Reports & Publications

Bloomberg Publishes 2016 Impact Report

Apr 26, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Bloomberg published its eighth Impact Report, which highlights the integration of sustainability into our products, communities and operations, as well as the progress we’ve made towards our 2020 targets.

Energy

Happy Earth Month from Aflac

Apr 26, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Sustainable Development Goals

West Africa Biodiversity and Climate Change Project | Combatting Wildlife Trafficking, Increasing Coastal Resilience, and Reducing Biodiversity Loss

Apr 26, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Many of West Africa’s 340 million residents are facing serious risks due to a rapidly changing climate. A series of interconnected direct and indirect drivers of resource degradation—illegal and unsustainable logging, wildlife poaching and trafficking, poverty, population growth, and weak governance—threaten the sustainability of key transboundary resources; undermine the ability of the region’s human and natural systems to respond and adapt to anthropogenic shocks and stressors; and in turn, compromise sustained and broad-based economic growth.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

JPMorgan Chase Annual Corporate Responsibility Report Highlights Model for Impact

Apr 26, 2017 9:00 AM ET

JPMorgan Chase & Co. today released its annual Corporate Responsibility report, highlighting the firm’s model for impact, which combines business and philanthropic resources to drive inclusive economic growth. The report features JPMorgan Chase’s $100 million investment in Detroit’s economic recovery, the firm’s most comprehensive initiative to date, as a proof of concept for how the firm’s model can effectively make a meaningful impact in communities around the world.

Innovation & Technology

VIDEO | How HPE Living Progress Challenge Winner Protects Our Oceans

Apr 26, 2017 8:55 AM ET

With help from Hewlett Packard Enterprise, the World Wildlife Fund is building advanced technology to catch criminals taking more than third of the world’s fish harvest illegally. Detect IT: Fish is the WWF’s winning entry to the HPE Living Progress Challenge to create a more sustainable future.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Not Just For Foreign Foods: Fair-Trade Label Comes To U.S. Farms

Apr 26, 2017 8:15 AM ET

Wholesum Harvest is the first farm in the United States to receive certification from Fair Trade USA, which means it has demonstrated compliance with a checklist of more than 300 standards detailing working conditions and environmental protection.

Research, Reports & Publications

BAE Systems Publishes 2016 Annual Report and CR Summary

Apr 26, 2017 5:00 AM ET

At BAE Systems we are proud not just of what we do, but how we do it – from developing innovative products and services and investing in our people and future workforce, to giving our customers the best possible service. We take an integrated approach and report Corporate Responsibility (CR) performance in our Annual Report and a more detailed approach to CR in our CR Summary.

Events, Media & Communications

Athletes, Leaders Personify Fair Trade in Portrait Series

Apr 25, 2017 8:00 PM ET

Oakland’s Fair Trade USA and apparel partners Patagonia, Outerknown, Obey, Athleta and Prana have collaborated on a photo project featuring portraits of company leaders and athletes associated with the brands wearing their favorite Fair Trade Certified products for Fashion Revolution Day on Monday, April 24. Among the featured athletes are free diver Kimi Werner and surfer Dan Malloy for Patagonia and climber Chris Sharma and surfer Kelly Potts for Prana. The “We Wear Fair Trade” project officially debuts on Fashion Revolution Day.

Events, Media & Communications

Kelly Slater, Shepard Fairey Featured in Fair Trade USA’s ‘We Wear Fair Trade’ Campaign

Apr 25, 2017 7:00 PM ET

To mark the anniversary of the Rana Plaza Factory Collapse, Fair Trade USA will launch a digital photo campaign called “We Wear Fair Trade” with its apparel partners Patagonia, Outerknown, Obey, Athleta and Prana, on Fashion Revolution Day, April 24.

Events, Media & Communications

Patagonia, Outerknown, Prana, and More to Participate in New Fair Trade USA Campaign

Apr 25, 2017 6:30 PM ET

In an effort to mark the anniversary of the Rana Plaza Factory collapse, WWD reports that Fair Trade USA has gathered notable influencers and figures from the action sports and outdoor industries to participate in their new photo campaign, “We Wear Fair Trade.”

Energy

REPORT: Fortune 500 Companies Accelerating Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency Efforts

Apr 25, 2017 6:20 PM ET

Despite efforts from Washington to sideline action on climate change, a growing number of Fortune 500 companies are taking increasingly ambitious steps to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, procure more renewable energy and reduce their energy bills through energy efficiency, according to a new report released today from World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Ceres, Calvert Research and Management (Calvert) and CDP.

Environment

Minimizing Our Impact on the Planet

Apr 25, 2017 5:45 PM ET

We continually monitor the environmental effects of our business, not only by creating many new and innovative products that consume less water and energy, but also by improving our manufacturing processes. Our expanded use of clean, renewable wind energy in Ohio is one example of how we work to minimize our impact on the planet.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

PA House of Representatives Passes Budget with Increased Disability Services Funding

Apr 25, 2017 5:35 PM ET

Charles Hooker, President and CEO of Keystone Human Services, discusses the Pennsylvania budget and the need to advocate for increased funding for intellectual disability and autism services.

Events, Media & Communications

Must Read: Pharrell's Chanel Ad is Here, the Best Companies to Work for in Fashion

Apr 25, 2017 5:30 PM ET

These are the stories making headlines in fashion on Monday.

Education

Xploration Station Announces Launch of Third-Annual #StudentAstronaut Competition

Apr 25, 2017 5:30 PM ET

Xploration Station and its partners in this year’s contest are looking to award America’s most passionate aerospace student with the trip of a lifetime. The winner will be heading to Hawaii to embark on a three-pronged mission that will help them train like an astronaut bound for the red planet. Xploration Station is a three-hour block of STEM programming for teens and their families, airing weekend mornings on Fox TV Stations in more than 100 million homes nationwide.

Innovation & Technology

FIRST Robotics & NRG Energy: Inspiring Young Leaders

Apr 25, 2017 4:35 PM ET

NRG is proud to support the next generation of bright minds and the amazing things they will create. Learn more about our work with FIRST at nrg.com/first.

Environment

Bloomberg to World Leaders: Ignore Trump on Climate

Apr 25, 2017 4:15 PM ET

New York billionaire Michael Bloomberg urged world leaders not to follow President Donald Trump's lead on climate change and declared his intention to help save an international agreement to reduce carbon emissions.