Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Dear Financial Services CEO: Where are the Women?

Apr 12, 2017 10:05 AM ET

For an industry that prides itself on mastering risk management, finding value and uncovering arbitrage opportunities, I think the financial services sector is falling flat. Why? Because most firms are overlooking one of the biggest investment opportunities ever: women.
An overwhelming body of research supports the business case for gender equality. Companies with more women in leadership have higher returns on capital, greater innovation, increased productivity, and higher employee retention and satisfaction.

Innovation & Technology

Avnet Success Story Video | The Story of Ubicquia

Apr 12, 2017 9:45 AM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

$110K Donation from Reliant Supports Solar Installation for No-Kill Animal Shelter in Houston

Apr 12, 2017 9:45 AM ET

Green Infrastructure

City Evolution | Creating Smarter Cities

Apr 12, 2017 9:10 AM ET

As millions of people move into cities every week, this puts a huge strain on space, city resources, energy requirements, and infrastructure cost. Cities are being forced to evolve to meet this increased demand, or collapse under the pressure. This is leading to an increase in the number of Smart City projects — smart grids, networked LED street lights, public Wi-Fi, water management, etc. — that are being implemented around the world, with the number of initiatives nearly doubling over the past few years.

Social Impact & Volunteering

We Give Back As A Team: Cards For Hope By The Marina Bay Sands Sales Team

Apr 12, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Executive Director of Sales, Ailynn Seah, participated in a corporate social responsibility (CSR) recycling project organized by SCRAP at a Green Meeting Industry Council event two years ago in San Francisco.

Health & Healthcare

Xylem Watermark Disaster Risk Reduction

Apr 12, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Green Infrastructure

How Do You Design a Building for the Future?

Apr 12, 2017 9:00 AM ET

As the building industry changes, architects, engineers, and developers must look forward and plan for the impact of workplace trends and disruptive technology on the commercial real estate industry. So how do you design a building for the future? Our advice: integrate IT services and connectivity infrastructure in the planning process for all commercial developments and redevelopments.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

De Beers’ New Diamond Mine Picks up its Third Award

Apr 12, 2017 9:00 AM ET

De Beers’ Gahcho Kué mine, which has just begun full commercial production, has won its third major award.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

MetLife Foundation's Multipliers of Prosperity is Spurring Small Businesses in Bangladesh

Apr 12, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Events, Media & Communications

How to Unlock Your Employees’ Leadership Potential with Your Volunteer Program

Apr 12, 2017 7:00 AM ET

Giving people opportunities to pursue their interests is key to driving employee engagement. According to Gallup, engaged organizations see a 3.9x earnings per share (EPS) growth rate compared to organizations with lower engagement in the same industry.

Research, Reports & Publications

FedEx Announces the Launch of the 2017 Global Citizenship Report

Apr 12, 2017 5:00 AM ET

The 2017 Global Citizenship Report (GCR) is now available at csr.fedex.com. The report showcases how FedEx connects people, businesses and communities in ways that advance social and economic progress and environmental sustainability.

Education

STEM Students Compete to Join Philippe Cousteau Jr. On an Underwater Expedition As Part of Xploration Station’s First Ever #StudentExplorer Contest

Apr 11, 2017 8:15 PM ET

Xploration Station, Fox TV Stations’ three-hour block of STEM programming for teens and their families, has announced its first #StudentExplorer Contest, giving high school and college students across the U.S. the chance to explore the world with Philippe Cousteau Jr., grandson of legendary explorer Jacques Cousteau and host of the Xploration Station series Xploration Awesome Planet. The contest winner will accompany Cousteau on an underwater voyage to locate and study whale sharks off the coast of Mexico. Students can apply by posting video entries to the Xploration Station Facebook page, which will accept submissions until Sunday, April 23.

Education

Energy Storage & Schools Case Study: How San Diego's Poway USD Will Save $1.6M

Apr 11, 2017 5:50 PM ET

San Diego's Poway Unified School District - $1.6 million in energy savings creates leverage for educational excellence.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Investing in People is Good for Them — and for Nestlé

Apr 11, 2017 4:45 PM ET

It’s easy today to be wowed by technology. Whether marveling at the vast amount of data I can store in my smartphone, or witnessing the high-tech wizardry at one of Nestlé’s factories, the potential of technology seems, at times, nearly limitless.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Anti-Defamation League Honors AEG’s Martha Saucedo, Executive Vice President, External Affairs

Apr 11, 2017 3:45 PM ET

Martha Saucedo, AEG’s Executive Vice President of External Affairs, was honored by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) at the 22nd Annual Deborah Awards in Los Angeles.

Education

University Leaders Explore New Ways to Foster a Sense of Community Among Students and Faculty with Innovative Campus Design

Apr 11, 2017 2:20 PM ET

In the latest chapter of the President to President series, Dr. Santa J. Ono, Ph.D., president of the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada, explains how the university restructured campus housing to accommodate UBC’s increasing enrollment.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Redefining the Workplace Experience

Apr 11, 2017 2:00 PM ET

In the past, workplaces were designed with the employer in mind. The goal was to get the most productivity out of each employee—often without taking into account the quality of those employees lives.

Innovation & Technology

Semios and Arrow Team on Sustainable, Data-Driven Farming Solutions

Apr 11, 2017 1:45 PM ET

Semios and Arrow Electronics have collaborated on an innovative and sustainable crop management solution that helps growers of tree fruits and tree nuts reduce their use of harmful agricultural pesticide practices.

Innovation & Technology

Emissions Reduction from Virtualisation Products: An Interview with Mornay Van Der Walt and Nicola Acutt of VMware

Apr 11, 2017 12:05 PM ET

An IDC report, sponsored by VMware, shows how virtualisation products, namely VMware’s products, reduce carbon emissions. The report also evaluated the CO2 emissions that were avoided because of server virtualisation as well as consolidation.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Employees Lend Skills to Help Nonprofits

Apr 11, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Last June, the nonprofit I help lead, Per Scholas, was invited by NBCUniversal to visit their headquarters at 30 Rockefeller Center and participate in the business equivalent of speed dating – namely, speed consulting. The program was called "HR for Good" and the approach appealed to my organization since we had grown rapidly in a short amount of time, expanding from one location in New York City to six sites across the country, and from 50 to 80 employees.

Environment

Republic Services Celebrates Earth Day with #1MorePledge

Apr 11, 2017 12:00 PM ET

In celebration of Earth Day on April 22, Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG) encourages customers, employees and the communities they serve across the country to take the #1MorePledge, and commit to #1More act of environmental stewardship or community service that helps to preserve our Blue Planet™

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Consumers Energy Presents Check to Michigan's Military & Space Heroes Museum

Apr 11, 2017 11:30 AM ET

On April 6, 1917, a special session of congress declared war on the German Empire, officially signaling America's commitment to fight in World War I. A hundred years later, a local utility is observing the centennial.

Media & Communications

The SDGS - Are You Tuned In, Aligning Your Company's Strategies, Operations, Performance, Actions? 2030 is Just Around the Corner!

Apr 11, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Gaining momentum in the global corporate sector, among sovereign governments and institutional investors -- the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals ("SDGs"). After reaching agreement in September 2015, the countries of the world adopted goals to end poverty, protect our planet and ensure prosperity for a greater number of the world's population through a universal agenda for action (with 169 specific targets under the wonderfully-aspirational broad goals).

Sustainable Development Goals

Staying the Course: Business Bolsters Sustainability Through Innovation

Apr 11, 2017 10:25 AM ET

There is no doubt that last week’s Executive Order to repeal the Clean Power Plan sent many in the sustainability community reeling. In the midst of this chaos, companies are now either re-evaluating their strategy or re-committing to current plans. Many leaders have already voiced their opinions, from Jeff Immelt at GE to Lynn Good of Duke Energy, calling business into action and encouraging companies to assume a greater role in the fight to preserve climate change policies. In the face of a reality where government regulations have been, and will continue to be rolled back, business is increasingly filling the void and, I hope, will emerge as stewards of sustainability and climate action.

Research, Reports & Publications

General Mills Reports Progress on Global Responsibility

Apr 11, 2017 10:15 AM ET

General Mills released its 2017 Global Responsibility Report, outlining the company’s approach to creating environmental, social and economic value in the countries where it operates. General Mills continues to make significant progress toward nutrition improvements and sustainable sourcing of their food, as well as climate and pollinator protection – all key highlights of this year’s report.