Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Environment

America’s Great Plains Lost More Habitat in 2014 than the Brazilian Amazon: WWF Report

Nov 16, 2016 10:05 AM ET

In 2014 the Great Plains lost more acres of grasslands than the Brazilian Amazon lost to deforestation, according to a new report from World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Fifty-three million acres of America’s Great Plains have been lost since 2009, threatening important and iconic species like grasslands songbirds, the monarch butterfly, and native bumble bees.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

American Cancer Society and CVS Health Foundation Award Grants to Help 20 Colleges and Universities Go Tobacco-Free in Largest Initiative of Its Kind

Nov 16, 2016 10:00 AM ET

The American Cancer Society and the CVS Health Foundation today awarded grants to 20 U.S. colleges and universities as part of their Tobacco-Free Generation Campus Initiative (TFGCI), a $3.6 million multi-year program intended to accelerate and expand the adoption and implementation of 100 percent smoke- and tobacco-free campus policies. The announcement coincides this week with the American Cancer Society Great American Smokeout.

Health & Healthcare

Prosthesis Instead of Pumps - Fashion for People with Disabilities

Nov 16, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Since 2010, Begraniz has been designing fashion for people with amputations, down syndrome, cerebral palsy and wheel chair users under the name of "Bezgraniz Couture".

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Access to Energy: Our Ambition for Tomorrow

Nov 16, 2016 9:50 AM ET

At Schneider Electric, we consider access to energy as a basic human right. And, as proof of our commitment, we are running programs around the globe to help get electricity to the people who need it.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

CITGO Employees Raise 15 Percent of the United Way SWLA $4 Million Regional Goal

Nov 16, 2016 9:30 AM ET

CITGO Lake Charles Refinery employees recently raised 15 percent of the United Way SWLA regional goal of $4 million for the organization to provide essential programs and services to the Southwest Louisiana community. The funds were raised by CITGO employees during the refinery’s annual CITGO United Way campaign. The 2016 Give Today Change Tomorrow campaign took place on-site during September and October and raised a grand total of $621,266.32.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Environmental Liability Transfer for a Global Oil and Gas Company

Nov 16, 2016 9:00 AM ET

As a solution to an integrated oil client’s liability reduction goals, Antea Group executed a liability transfer contract for the known and unknown pre-existing environmental liability for a portfolio of 146 active retail fuel outlets in the Mid-Atlantic. Of the 146 facilities, 38 had active incidents being managed by others at the time of the liability transfer.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Kate Poole and the Healing Power of Regenerative Investing

Nov 16, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Kate Poole shares her talents as a comic artist to illustrate this story about the evolution of her personal investing philosophy, as she works to channel her inherited wealth to fund innovative projects and enterprises led by communities that have been the victim of an extractive economy. Kate Poole, 29, traces her inherited wealth back to her Jewish forebears on her maternal side.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sustainable Brands Announces Newest Members to its Advisory Board

Nov 16, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Sustainable Brands® announces 5 newest members to its global Advisory Board. In total, 43 sustainability and brand leaders from diverse industry sectors represent the Sustainable Brands Advisory Board.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Ch. 2 WSB-TV Names Linda Cotten Taylor as Atlanta’s 2016 Cox Conserves Hero

Nov 16, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Ch. 2 WSB-TV and The Trust for Public Land announced Linda Cotten Taylor as Atlanta’s 2016 Cox Conserves Hero. The program honors volunteers who are creating, preserving or enhancing outdoor spaces.

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: Credit Where Credit is Due

Nov 16, 2016 9:00 AM ET

No, we don’t get the credit. The Ray does. They have done the work (amazing work), and all the Foundation does is write the check.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Human Wellbeing an Increasing Priority for Business with Launch of ISO Standard

Nov 16, 2016 8:35 AM ET

ISO standards have been steadily increasing in popularity amongst landlords and occupiers over the past two decades, and the most recent addition to this suite of best practice management systems is the British and International Standard BS/ISO 27500.

Health & Healthcare

Amway Vietnam Celebrates First Anniversary of Nutrilite™ Power of 5 Campaign

Nov 16, 2016 8:30 AM ET

Environment

On America Recycles Day, Las Vegas Sands Continues to do its Part to Minimize Waste

Nov 16, 2016 8:30 AM ET

At Las Vegas Sands (LVS), we care deeply about the environment and have worked tirelessly over the years to incorporate sustainable practices into our regional operations. One such practice we are very proud of is waste management – the collection, transportation, and disposal of garbage and other waste products.

Energy

All-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Delivers Efficiency, Versatility and Technology

Nov 16, 2016 8:15 AM ET

The all-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid electrifies the minivan segment, adding an innovative, advanced hybrid powertrain to the Pacifica’s no-compromises combination of functionality, versatility, technology and bold styling – all starting for less than $35,000 with the available federal tax credit.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Supply Chain Course: Manage and Communicate with Vendors and Suppliers

Nov 16, 2016 8:00 AM ET

This one-day course examines the environmental, social, and economic risks and opportunities present throughout a company's supply chain.

Energy

Off-grid Solar Sparks Energy Revolution in Africa

Nov 16, 2016 8:00 AM ET

Many parts of Africa that were never linked to an electric grid are skipping that bit and racing ahead with the solar revolution, thanks to off-grid solar. Several companies, including Off Grid Electric, Bboxx, Azuri Technologies and M-Kopa, have built a massive customer base that is bringing sustainable progress to that part of the world.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Challenges, Opportunities, the Road Ahead: Q&A with Norfolk Southern’s Corporate Sustainability Officer

Nov 16, 2016 6:30 AM ET

In this Q&A, Bruno Maestri, named CSO at Norfolk Southern in June 2015, talks about the sustainability opportunities and challenges facing the railroad, the role railroads play in reducing transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions, and the steps ahead on its social responsibility journey.

Innovation & Technology

Bloomberg Interns Decode an Out-of-this-World Challenge

Nov 16, 2016 5:15 AM ET

Picture this: What happens when you take Bloomberg global engineering interns and task them with fixing a broken rocket ship? Take a look here:

​The Engineering Intern Puzzle Challenge was an 18-hour overnight competition for Bloomberg interns in New York and London that unraveled an intricate space-themed story.

Environment

This America Recycles Day, HP & Staples Celebrated Their 10 Year Recycling Partnership.

Nov 16, 2016 2:30 AM ET

Diversity & Inclusion

Don't Miss this Free Webinar on the Role of Diversity in CSR!

Nov 15, 2016 6:35 PM ET

VolunteerMatch and Year Up have partnered to bring you a free webinar about the role of diversity in corporate social responsibility -- and the companies getting it right! It's happening this Thursday November 17, 2016. Learn more and reserve your spot.

Diversity & Inclusion

Open Source Needs to Deliver Diversity

Nov 15, 2016 5:20 PM ET

In this contributed post, Christine Flounders, regional manager for engineering at Bloomberg L.P. London explains the importance of diversity in open source.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Who Will Be This Year’s Most Community-Minded Companies?

Nov 15, 2016 4:30 PM ET

Washington (Nov. 15, 2016) – For Eli Lilly and Company, community change means ensuring every student in Indianapolis has access to STEM education. For FedEx, it means having FedEx team members help teach safe motorist behaviors to create safer, more walkable communities. For KeyBank, community change manifests itself in $25 million in funding and research efforts for affordable housing communities across the country. These are just three of the 50 companies Points of Light recognized as best practice corporate citizens in 2016. Who will be among the most community-minded companies in America in 2017?

Health & Healthcare

Dining Out For Life to Commemorate World AIDS Day With 360-Degree Video

Nov 15, 2016 4:15 PM ET

On World AIDS Day, December 1st, 2016, Project Runway All Stars winner and Dining Out For Life spokesperson Mondo Guerra will reveal a 360-degree video designed to emphasize the power of Pozitivity while fostering hope and inspiration for people infected or affected by HIV/AIDS.

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar Law and Public Policy Review

Nov 15, 2016 4:00 PM ET

Law and Public Policy includes the Legal Services Division and the Global Government & Corporate Affairs Division. Responsibilities include legal and compliance services; media relations; internal communications; government affairs advocacy; sustainability consulting; and global environmental, health and safety services. Support for the Caterpillar Foundation is also provided by our group, making sustainable progress possible around the world.

Research, Reports & Publications

Annual Corporate “Impact Investing” Market Estimated at $2.4 Billion; One-Third of Large Companies Actively Investing

Nov 15, 2016 3:00 PM ET

A new study released by CECP and supported by Prudential Financial, Inc. found that large corporations invest approximately US$2.4 billion each year in initiatives and ventures designed to achieve financial returns as well as a positive economic, social, or environmental impact – commonly referred to as “impact investing.” The groundbreaking pilot study, Investing with Purpose, is the first time that the corporate role in impact investing has been analyzed in depth.