Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Education

Washington, D.C., students learn in a floating classroom

Jun 6, 2018 5:00 PM ET

It’s not often that teenagers are able to spend a school day on a boat instead of in a classroom, but students from The School Without Walls High School in Washington, D.C., had that opportunity recently. As the high school students traveled along the Potomac and Anacostia rivers, they tested water quality, identified fish, examined maps, and surveyed bird diversity.

Diversity & Inclusion

Northern Trust Celebrates Pride Month this Month and Every Month

Jun 6, 2018 4:35 PM ET

This #PrideMonth, and every month, we're proud to recognize the diversity of our partners! We are committed to fostering diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Environment

How China’s Ban on ‘Foreign Trash’ Will Impact U.S. Recycling

Jun 6, 2018 3:25 PM ET

Are you a conscientious recycler, someone who scrubs their aluminum cans and glass containers before tossing them in the bin? Do you know the plastic recycling number codes by heart? Well, now a new rule by China might make some of these efforts moot.

Diversity & Inclusion

What’s in a Name?

Jun 6, 2018 2:10 PM ET

As a child on the playground, did you ever experience a bully relentlessly calling you a “tomboy” (if you are a female) or a “sissy” (if you are a male)? That’s how many transgender people feel, even as adults, every time they have to present their identification with their birth name and assigned gender – that information does not represent who they are, and the exercise is dehumanizing and demoralizing.

Research, Reports & Publications

Sands ECO360 Launches 2017 Environmental Progress Report with Focus on Sustainable Dining

Jun 6, 2018 1:35 PM ET

Las Vegas Sands is the leader in sustainability within the hospitality industry. Through Sands ECO360, its global sustainability program, the company implements strategic initiatives that minimize its environmental footprint on the planet. Since setting the five-year goals in 2015, the program has made outstanding progress detailed in its 2017 Environmental Progress Report.

Environment

Partnering to Build up Pollinator Populations

Jun 6, 2018 12:30 PM ET

When rival automakers come together it’s usually to brag about their latest engineering accomplishment or to re-imagine the future of mobility, but sometimes they garden. Yes, garden. Through our membership with the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC), FCA US is now tracking and promoting healthy biodiversity at 12 facilities across North America.

Research, Reports & Publications

Updated Report: Automakers Reduce Risk, Enhance Competitiveness With Strong MPG/Emission Standards

Jun 6, 2018 12:00 PM ET

In the wake of reports that the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may propose rollbacks to vehicle efficiency and emission standards, Ceres has released an updated analysis and fact sheetpointing to the economic benefits of strong national standards.

Major investors and companies are voicing concerns that the administration’s potential move could blunt a key driver of the U.S. economy, hurt the global competitiveness of the U.S. auto industry, and create significant regulatory uncertainty for the auto industry.

Events, Media & Communications

Dispatches from the Sustainable Brands Conference – Vancouver 2018

Jun 6, 2018 11:00 AM ET

At Sustainable Brands 2018 in Vancouver, Buy Social Canada led attendees on a social enterprise walking tour across the city, highlighting a long list of social enterprises and the innovative work they’re doing to better their community. Buy Social Canada brings together socially driven purchasers and social enterprise suppliers, working with community organizations, the private sector and government.

Environment

Merck INFOGRAPHIC | Finding New Ways to Reduce Our Environmental Impact and Promote Sustainability

Jun 6, 2018 10:15 AM ET

The world’s resources are finite. Over the next few decades the demand for energy, clean water and natural resources will increase substantially due to population growth and economic development. As a result, there will be fewer resources available to support the world’s growin

Responsible Production & Consumption

Looks Great, Tastes Fresh: Meet Our New Tomatoes

Jun 6, 2018 10:05 AM ET

By the end of 2018, all of Wendy's tomatoes will be vine-ripened from greenhouse farms. The goal: tomatoes that taste like you grew them yourself. And did we mention that greenhouse farms bring benefits to the environment as well?

Events, Media & Communications

MUST SEE: Ethical Corp’s Revolutionised Supply Chain Conference

Jun 6, 2018 10:05 AM ET

For over a decade this event has delivered an unmatched, holistic view of supply chain challenges and solutions. 2018’s iteration is the strongest, most value packed we’ve ever produced with a laser-like focus on the emerging technologies, innovations and collaborations critical to sustainable, cost-effective supply chain strategies.

Education

High School Students Use Star Banks Adventure® App to “Game Their Way to Success”

Jun 6, 2018 10:00 AM ET

“Dear Ms. Christoff,” the email began, “My name is Olivia Perini, and I am a 9th grade student at Harrison High School in New York. For our high school DECA club project, my two partners and I were assigned the task of coming up with a financial literacy promotion. We chose to use the T. Rowe Price Star Banks Adventure app to promote financial literacy in the school.”

Research, Reports & Publications

New Article From John Kania, Mark Kramer, and Peter Senge Provides an Actionable Framework for Catalyzing Systems Change

Jun 6, 2018 9:00 AM ET

A new article, The Water of Systems Change, published by FSG, provides an actionable model for funders and other social sector institutions interested in creating systems change. Many funders and grantees today find the concept of systems change and its implications difficult to grasp and apply, despite decades of academic research and activist leadership. The Water of Systems Change aims to clarify what it means to shift the conditions holding a social or environmental problem in place.

Sustainable Development Goals

The Role of Land Rights Documentation in Promoting Sustainable Land Use Practices

Jun 6, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Tetra Tech’s Dr. Matt Sommerville, senior associate with Tetra Tech International Development Services, participated in a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) LandLinks expert interview that highlights the innovative approaches used for customary land documentation in Zambia and ways the Tenure and Global Climate Change (TGCC) project institutionalized land reform at the local, regional, and national levels. All opinions expressed in this post are the author’s own.

Education

Duke Energy Connects Students and Educators with STEM, Literacy and Workforce Development Opportunities in North Carolina

Jun 5, 2018 3:15 PM ET

Duke Energy is empowering students, educators and the workforce of the future by investing $2.5 million in 67 education and training initiatives across North Carolina. The 2018 grants, from the Duke Energy Foundation, will enhance educational programs focused on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), K-3 early childhood literacy and workforce development.

Research, Reports & Publications

Barilla 2018 Sustainability Report "Good For You, Good For The Planet"

Jun 5, 2018 3:00 PM ET

The Barilla Group has released its new Sustainability Report.

Highlights include Barilla’s answer to the complex scenario set by the international community and challenges related to the sustainability of the food and agricultural industry.

Sustainable Development Goals

Monsanto and Iowa State Partner to Improve Water Quality

Jun 5, 2018 3:00 PM ET

Monsanto Company, along with its subsidiary, The Climate Corporation, today announced a partnership with the Iowa State University (ISU) Department of Agronomy to create an infrastructure project designed to monitor water quality and downstream nitrate loss. The project will provide researchers with valuable information on management practices that help keep nitrogen fertilizer from entering surrounding waterways.

Events, Media & Communications

We Are All ‘Still In’ This Together

Jun 5, 2018 3:00 PM ET

One year ago, leaders from all over the U.S. — representing businesses, investors, colleges, universities, towns, cities, and states throughout America — joined together to declare “We Are Still In” the global Paris Agreement, promising to world leaders that America will fulfill its global commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and curb the damaging effects of climate change.mNow, with nearly 2,800 signatories and growing, representing 160 million Americans and more than $6.2 trillion of the U.S. economy, this diverse cross section of the economy is helping to ensure the U.S. remains a global leader in climate change.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Team Viacom Marches to Stomp Out AIDS

Jun 5, 2018 2:45 PM ET

Here’s a shocking statistic: one in five new HIV infections is among people ages 13 to 24.

These are the same young people at the heart of so much of Viacom’s programming. On Sunday, May 20, Viacom showed that it is caring, giving, walking, and fighting to battle this epidemic by participating in AIDS Walk New York, the largest single-day AIDS fundraising event in the world.

The team, 50-strong and the driving force behind more than $10,000 in donations to AIDS Walk NY (proceeds will benefit GMHC and dozens of other local HIV/AIDS service organizations), rallied prior to the walk alongside other top corporate sponsors in the so-called “gold section,” a segment reserved for the top fundraising teams, which Viacom has been a part of for several years.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Watch: Measuring Beyond Money in NYC's Forgotten Shore Community

Jun 5, 2018 2:00 PM ET

How can America's forgotten communities overcome decades of extractive development? This NYC community's search for long-term economic vitality reveals the often overlooked qualities of building truly sustainable economic and social vitality.

Diversity & Inclusion

Arrow Electronics Engineer Highlighted in Minority Engineer Magazine

Jun 5, 2018 1:35 PM ET

Featuring several rising stars in the engineering and technology industry across the United States, Minority Engineer magazine has spotlighted Arrow Electronics’ Victoria Bohannon-Pea.

Responsible Production & Consumption

'Mountain Futures 2018' Launches Major New Centre for Mountain Research

Jun 5, 2018 12:35 PM ET

Researchers and representatives from governments, mountain communities and private sector companies from across the globe met on June 4th to launch a major new centre for mountain research. The four-day Mountain Futures 2018 conference, organized by the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and Kunming Institute of Botany (KIB), Chinese Academy of Sciences includes a visit to the new 200-hectare site in China’s Yunnan Province dedicated to developing innovative farming systems that tackle poverty and environmental degradation in the world’s mountain areas.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Timberland Employees Celebrate Their 20th Annual Earth Day Service Event

Jun 5, 2018 12:30 PM ET

Over 300 employees from Timberland’s global headquarters in Stratham, NH recently pulled on their boots for a day of volunteer service to celebrate Timberlands’ 20th annual Earth Day service event. The outdoor lifestyle brand closed its corporate office on May 10 to encourage employees to serve at one of six local projects designed to meet community needs while helping to green and grow the community.

Events, Media & Communications

Highlights of BIER 2018 Spring Meeting

Jun 5, 2018 12:30 PM ET

Global beverage industry leaders convened May 22-24, 2018 in Copenhagen, Denmark for the Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER) semi-annual meeting. Hosted by the Carlsberg Group, this three-day meeting’s agenda tackled environmental sustainability challenges and successes through best practice sharing on carbon emissions, water reuse and technology, energy and climate change, and transparency and disclosure. Additionally, we learned about the Carlsberg Group’s manufacturing operations and their journey toward zero emissions.

Environment

PNC's Environmental Performance Infographic

Jun 5, 2018 12:15 PM ET