Research, Reports & Publications

Flash Report: 85% of S&P 500 Index® Companies Publish Sustainability Reports in 2017

Mar 20, 2018 11:00 AM ET

G&A Institute has analyzed index companies’ sustainability reporting activities since 2011. Our research over the past seven years shows that corporate reporting on sustainability -- including environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance and achievements -- continues to be a consistent, reliable standard for the largest and most influential companies in the US capital markets. “Sustainability reporting” rose dramatically from 2011, when roughly 20% of companies published reports, to 72% just three years later in 2013. From 2013 to 2017, the frequency of reporting has increased each year, now up to 85% of companies reporting in 2017.

Environment

Recycling Gives Beverage Cartons a New Life

Mar 20, 2018 11:00 AM ET

The layers that make up an aseptic carton – paper fibres, polymers and aluminium – can all be recycled using relatively simple techniques, and turned into new products, cutting the amount of waste sent to landfill and reducing demand for resources. We divide recycling solutions into three categories, depending on the materials to be recycled:

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Mars Named One of the World’s Most Reputable Companies by Forbes

Mar 20, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Mars isn’t big on tooting our own horn. We don’t like to boast and that’s the way it’s been for more than a century. All along, we’ve been pleased to let our brands – from M&M’S®, Snickers® and Extra®, to Pedigree® Royal Canin®, Banfield Pet Hospital® and Uncle Ben’s®-- speak for themselves. But after much discussion and even some disagreement, we made a conscious decision to start sharing our story.

Sustainable Development Goals

Cities Look to 'Zero Waste' Plans, Material Bans to Reach Sustainability Goals

Mar 20, 2018 10:15 AM ET

A recent report from NRG Energy found that tackling energy sustainability is a significant challenge, though cities of all sizes can do it by first assessing their unique resources and strengths. Energy is far from the only factor cities consider when addressing sustainability, though. Cities' waste streams, and whether or not to ban controversial items like foam and single-use plastic bags, are another.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Announces Final GRO1000 Community Garden Grant Recipients

Mar 20, 2018 10:10 AM ET

To celebrate the first day of spring and the start of the community gardening season, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation today announced it final list of GRO1000 Grassroots Grant recipients, including thirty-four nonprofit organizations nationwide. The organizations awarded will use the funding to improve their neighborhoods through the development or enhancement of community gardens and greenspaces.

Environment

5 Ways 'Play' Can Help Engage People in Parks

Mar 20, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Ralph Waldo Emerson got it right when he said: “It’s a happy talent to know how to play.” This year’s Park Summit presenters have this talent nailed down. Each has a unique ability to cultivate playfulness among targeted audiences to reach particular goals.

Health & Healthcare

Thousands of Residents of Puerto Rico Vaccinated Against Influenza Thanks in Part to Donation From Sanofi Cares North America

Mar 20, 2018 9:45 AM ET

Thousands of residents of Puerto Rico were vaccinated against influenza on Saturday, March 10, in the largest single-day mass immunization campaign in the island's history. The territory-wide campaign was organized by VOCES (Coalición de Vacunación de Puerto Rico), in collaboration with the Puerto Rico Department of Health; Direct Relief, a medical relief nonprofit; and other health entities. Sanofi Cares North America (formerly Sanofi Foundation for North America) donated the vaccines.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

10 Cities Awarded TD Green Streets Grants for Innovative Urban Forestry Initiatives in Low- to Moderate-Income Neighborhoods

Mar 20, 2018 9:30 AM ET

TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank®, and the Arbor Day Foundation today announced the 10 cities that will each receive grants of up to $20,000 from TD Green Streets for innovative urban greening and tree-planting projects in low- to moderate-income areas.

Innovation & Technology

The Future of Forestry: Domtar’s Use of Drones

Mar 20, 2018 9:30 AM ET

Domtar’s Ashdown, Arkansas mill has used drone technology since 2016 to save time, improve efficiencies and help keep its foresters safe.

Energy

Schneider Electric VIDEO | Helping Locals in Myanmar With 24/7 Access to Sustainable Energy and Contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goal #7

Mar 20, 2018 9:25 AM ET

Education

Winning the STEM Battle with … CodeWars

Mar 20, 2018 9:20 AM ET

CodeWars is a magical experience … and not just because some of the high schoolers in attendance were dressed as modern-day Merlins.

Environment

A Bill of Rights for Clean Water by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Mar 20, 2018 9:05 AM ET

Motivated by that stunning display of grassroots power of 20 milllon Americans on the first Earth Day, Republicans and Democrats working together created the Environmental Protection Agency and passed 28 major laws over the next decade to protect our air, water, endangered species, wetlands, food and public lands. Those statutes included the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act and the Endangered Species Act, which were all designed to reassert the ancient public trust rights that had eroded since the industrial revolution.

Research, Reports & Publications

GSK Publishes Annual Report and Responsible Business Supplement 2017

Mar 20, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Our company has an important purpose, to help people do more, feel better, live longer. We have a long history in tackling some of the world’s biggest health challenges. I know this is important to employees, and it was certainly important for me when I joined the company. Our commitment to improving global health and being a responsible business will continue under my leadership.

Green Infrastructure

Managing Water Supplies Through Innovation in Southern California

Mar 20, 2018 9:00 AM ET

The City of Lakewood, California, hired Tetra Tech to design a new stormwater capture project that will improve water quality in the Los Cerritos Channel by removing pollutants conveyed within stormwater. The project consists of an air-inflated rubber dam diversion system to re-direct all runoff from the channel through a pre-treatment system to remove trash, debris, and sediment.

Environment

Xylem Watermark Sponsors AquaTower Builds for Planet Water Foundation’s Project 24

Mar 20, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Planet Water Foundation, a leading non-profit organization that addresses global water poverty by delivering clean water access and hygiene education programs, will deploy 24 community-based AquaTowers in 24 hours during Project 24 on March 22 — World Water Day. Now in its fourth year, Project 24 is recognized as an important event platform that raises awareness of the global water crisis by mobilizing leading companies and citizens to deliver clean, safe water and hygiene education programs in 24 communities. This year, the event takes place in communities within Cambodia, India, Indonesia, the Philippines and Puerto Rico.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

CVS Health Launches Year Three of Be the First, Its $50 Million Initiative to Help Deliver a Tobacco-Free Generation

Mar 20, 2018 9:00 AM ET

CVS Health (NYSE:CVS) today announced that it will award $10 million in 2018 to continue to support youth smoking prevention and education programs and strategies throughout the United States. The new commitments, funded through the company and the CVS Health Foundation, are part of Be The First, CVS Health’s five-year $50 million initiative to help deliver the nation’s first tobacco-free generation.

Events, Media & Communications

Just Announced - Hillary Rodham Clinton at #SVLeaders 2018!

Mar 19, 2018 6:30 PM ET

Join Hillary Rodham Clinton at the 2018 Shared Value Leadership Summit where she'll be engaging in dialogue on the role of business to drive scalable solutions to societal challenges, and on broader trends in the socio-political conditions that make now the time for business to innovate for shared value.

Media & Communications

Ceres on Corporate Sustainability: "Turning Point" Research Effort Results

Mar 19, 2018 5:15 PM ET

We can view this as very encouraging news: Ceres released a report – "Turning Point" -- that shows almost two-thirds of 600 companies examined intend to reduce GHG emission; half have water management policies; and just under half of the companies are formally committed to "workers' rights". The current research effort is the third assessment of corporate progress against key expectations of the framework, "The Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability," and is a follow up to Ceres' "Gaining Ground: Corporate Progress" report in 2014.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

At FCA, Learning About Sustainability Through a Virtual Community

Mar 19, 2018 4:30 PM ET

FCA recently launched a new approach to learning in a virtual “city” full of learning opportunities and digital materials available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Education

A $3.5 Million Commitment to Increase Financial Capability

Mar 19, 2018 4:00 PM ET

Wells Fargo’s new Financial Capability Grant program will help two nonprofits provide financial empowerment programs to the residents in several communities.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

LA Galaxy Visit Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Mar 19, 2018 3:30 PM ET

AEG’s LA Galaxy took time last week to visit Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) in continuation of the team’s longstanding relationship with CHLA and in support of Make March Matter.

On Thursday, March 15 nine players including Ashley Cole, Giovani dos Santos, Sebastian Lletget, Rolf Feltscher, Emmanuel Boateng, Jorgen Skjelvik, Daniel Steres, Chris Pontius, Brian Sylvestre and Tomas Hilliard-Arse spent the afternoon at CHLA, along with LA Galaxy Mascot, visiting outpatients and their families in their rooms.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Ecocentricity Blog: Who's Responsible for This?

Mar 19, 2018 2:45 PM ET

Most commonly, these regulations require businesses to share in the responsibility of properly disposing of their products at end-of-life. In other words, they can’t sell something and then say, “not my problem now!”

Education

The Connectory Adds Volunteerism to Its Platform; Boosts Engagement

Mar 19, 2018 2:30 PM ET

Parents and teachers looking for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) learning opportunities for their children can easily browse The Connectory to find what’s going on near them. Yet the online portal, launched in 2010 by Time Warner Cable and managed by the National Girls Collaborative (NGC), was missing something: volunteer opportunities!

Responsible Production & Consumption

The War on Straws Is Coming to a Bar Near You

Mar 19, 2018 1:30 PM ET

Bacardi Ltd. cited the 500 million estimate when it became one of the first spirits makers to take a stand against plastic straws and swizzle sticks, banning them two years ago from its events. A Bacardi spokeswoman says the initiative spares more than 1 million straws a year.

Events, Media & Communications

CBRE Hosts 2018 Women’s Networking Forum

Mar 19, 2018 1:15 PM ET

CBRE hosted its 2018 CBRE Women’s Networking Forum, the largest company gathering of women, March 14-16 in Chicago. The conference theme this year was “Impact,” recognizing the positive impact of women in the company and the commercial real estate industry.

“The Women’s Networking Forum has been an important business development opportunity for our members for 18 years,” said Lisa Konieczka, Women’s Network chairperson and executive vice president in the company’s Chicago office. “The environment is collaborative and focused on success. We meet, share best practices, explore new ideas, improve our business skills, and recognize and celebrate the positive impact of women to our organization and CBRE.”