Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Energy

Southern California Cities Plug Into Charge Ready EV Program

Apr 6, 2017 1:15 PM ET

Southern California Edison has launched its Charge Ready program to expand access to electric vehicle charging in its service territory, beginning with construction of the first charging stations in the cities of Lynwood and Ontario.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

VMware Ranked #42 on People Magazine's 50 Companies that Care 2017 List

Apr 6, 2017 1:00 PM ET

VMware has once again been recognized for our unique culture and commitment to our global community. In partnership with the Great Place to Work Institute, People magazine released their inaugural “50 Companies that Care.”

Innovation & Technology

Working Toward a Circular Economy Through Disruptive Technology

Apr 6, 2017 12:30 PM ET

Most often, when people think of disruptive technology their eyes turn to the sky and thoughts of high tech “rocket science.” Today, instead of looking up, lower your gaze down and follow your feet.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Consumers Energy Receives U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Recognition as ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year

Apr 6, 2017 12:30 PM ET

Consumers Energy this morning was again honored nationally for its excellence and commitment to energy efficiency with the ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Birmingham, Jefferson County Homeownership Gets Boost with Wells Fargo NeighborhoodLIFT Program

Apr 6, 2017 12:05 PM ET

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC), NeighborWorks® America, and Neighborhood Housing Services of Birmingham today announced the NeighborhoodLIFT® program for Birmingham and Jefferson County with a $2.55 million investment by Wells Fargo to boost local homeownership.

Environment

OSRPs in Washington State: Three Lessons Learned to Help Inform Other State Implementations

Apr 6, 2017 12:05 PM ET

Antea Group recently developed oil spill response plans for several railroads in Washington State looking to maintain compliance with Chapter 173-186 of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC). Read about the lessons we learned that other rail lines could apply as they plan for the implementation of similar regulations.

Health & Healthcare

SCA Brings Hand Hygiene Awareness to Valley Forge Elementary First Graders

Apr 6, 2017 12:05 PM ET

In 2013, SCA discovered that 82% of American parents with children aged 2-6 believed that better hand hygiene at their child’s pre-school, elementary school or day-care could reduce the occurrence of family sick days. Four years later, we are still committed to creating hand washing awareness throughout America, one student at a time.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

How to Improve Your CSR Score – New e-Book Series

Apr 6, 2017 11:50 AM ET

As the world’s largest sustainability business intelligence database, CSRHub is in a unique position to understand corporate social responsibility (CSR) ratings. We have studied each of our 525 data sources’ metrics, and our system automatically identifies which sustainability reporting investments add the most value, pinpoints areas of lagging or leading performance, and produces benchmarks against other companies. In How to Improve Your CSR Score, CSRHub will try to share some of the “secret sauce” its co-founders, Cynthia Figge and Bahar Gidwani, have developed through their combined 30+ years of experience with sustainability metrics.

Media & Communications

In the Dark Days of White House / EPA Action on Climate Change, Here are 7 Encouraging Trends for You from Amy Augustine at Ceres

Apr 6, 2017 11:30 AM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Carnival Foundation Awards Four-Year College Scholarships to 17 South Florida High School Students

Apr 6, 2017 11:30 AM ET

The students currently participate in the Carnival Scholarship & Mentoring Program, an innovative workplace program sponsored by Carnival and the Miami HEAT, in partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Miami that pairs a student with an employee mentor from Carnival. Prior to entering high school and participating in the Carnival Scholarship & Mentoring Program, the students attended the HEAT Academy, an after-school enrichment program for at-risk youth.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Pentair Earns 2017 Energy Star® Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award

Apr 6, 2017 11:30 AM ET

Pentair has been named a 2017 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award winner for continued leadership in protecting our environment through superior energy efficiency achievements.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Whirlpool Corporation Receives 2017 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year Award from EPA

Apr 6, 2017 11:05 AM ET

Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized Whirlpool Corporation with the 2017 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year Award for Sustained Excellence. Whirlpool Corporation received the award for manufacturing energy-efficient kitchen and laundry appliances that make outstanding contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Merck Receives 2017 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award from U. S. Environmental Protection Agency

Apr 6, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Environment

Unreasonable Impact: Recycling Carbon From a Liability to an Opportunity: Q&A With LanzaTech

Apr 6, 2017 11:00 AM ET

According to NASA, current carbon dioxide levels in the air are at their highest in the past 650,000 years. With a growing demand for energy coupled with unprecedented emissions of this greenhouse gas, we’re trending toward a precarious future.

Diversity & Inclusion

Empowering Women & Girls with Storytelling: A Conversation with Sharon D'Agostino, Founder of Say It Forward

Apr 6, 2017 10:45 AM ET

In this episode of the Champions for Social Good Podcast, Jamie Serino speaks with Sharon D’Agostino, Founder of Say It Forward, about how storytelling empowers women and girls.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

CITGO Lemont Refinery Holds Annual Campaign for the United Way of Will County

Apr 6, 2017 10:30 AM ET

Recently, the CITGO Lemont Refinery held their annual United Way campaign – raising $206,087 in support of the 46 partner agencies that receive funding and guidance from the United Way of Will County.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Employees Photograph Wildlife at General Motors Sites

Apr 6, 2017 10:15 AM ET

From a parts warehouse in Talegaon, India to an Ontario assembly plant, many animals make GM lands their home. Employees take notice, capturing images for the company’s annual wildlife habitat calendar and photo contest. Last year, nearly 350 photos were submitted from sites certified by the Wildlife Habitat Council. GM is committed to earning such certification at all of its manufacturing plants by 2020 as strengthening biodiversity helps reduce the company’s environmental impact.

Education

Cargill Builds 80th School in Vietnam

Apr 6, 2017 10:05 AM ET

Cargill is on track to build four more schools by the end of 2017 and meet commitment of building 100 schools in Vietnam by 2020

Social Impact & Volunteering

Net Impact Fellows are Implementing Action Projects Across the U.S.

Apr 6, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Last fall, Net Impact invited passionate students across the county to lead a real world action project with the Net Impact Fellowship program. “Net Impact is thrilled to offer the connections, skills, and experiences to support the next generation of change agents through our fellowship program,” says Liz Maw, CEO, Net Impact.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Facebook Joins Ranks of Adoption Friendly Workplaces

Apr 6, 2017 10:00 AM ET

For 11 years, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption has ranked the Top 100 Best Adoption Friendly Workplaces. Companies like Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Wendy’s, Snapchat, Zappos and others have made the list for financial reimbursement of adoption costs and time off for employees who adopt.

Sustainable Development Goals

DuPont People Spotlight: Dawn Rittenhouse Recognized with Sustainability Leading Women Award

Apr 6, 2017 9:30 AM ET

On March 8th, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) announced the first 10 recipients of the inaugural Leading Women Awards, developed to recognize outstanding female leaders within the WBCSD membership. The awards, which were announced on International Women’s Day, showcase the business leadership of women in WBCSD member companies who are working to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). WBCSD launched the Leading Women Awards as a contribution to the goals of SDG 5, which aims to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls by 2030.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

EPA Recognizes CBRE with 2017 Energy Star® Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award

Apr 6, 2017 9:05 AM ET

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBG) with a 2017 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year - Sustained Excellence Award for its continued leadership in protecting our environment through superior energy efficiency. This marks the tenth consecutive year that CBRE has been recognized for ENERGY STAR performance.

Events, Media & Communications

Announcing the Publication of 21st Century Corporate Citizenship, by Dave Stangis and Katherine Valvoda Smith

Apr 6, 2017 9:00 AM ET

This essential new book is a comprehensive blueprint for corporate citizenship professionals' success.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

WIFIA: Long-Term Low-Cost Loans for Water Infrastructure

Apr 6, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Helping to accelerate investments and bring the public and private sectors together to deliver critical water projects across the country

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Sands Academy takes Team Members on Sustainability Tour through The Venetian and The Palazzo

Apr 6, 2017 9:00 AM ET

In January, Sands Academy and Sands ECO360 Global Sustainability hosted a sustainability tour of The Venetian and The Palazzo, continuing Las Vegas Sands’ efforts in our commitment to providing Team Members with a wide range of educational partnerships. The tour emphasized the efforts that the sustainability department and the properties put into making sure the properties and its Team Members are efficient and always focused on sustainability efforts.