Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Smithfield Foods Donates $25,000 to the Luter Family YMCA to Support Youth Development Outreach Programs

May 30, 2018 10:45 AM ET

The Smithfield Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Smithfield Foods, Inc., is pleased to announce a $25,000 donation to the Luter Family YMCA to support community programs that provide children, families, and individuals the support and resources needed to be healthier, more confident, connected, and secure.

Education

Addressing the Challenges Facing Our City’s Public Schools with ‘Principal for A Day’ – Connecting Students to Success!

May 30, 2018 10:35 AM ET

On Tuesday, May 8th, PENCIL, an organization devoted to ensuring the advancement of New York City students, made it possible for business professionals and school leaders to participate in a variety of activities that connected students to successful and caring adults.

Viacom’s very own Khadijah Sharif-Drinkard, Vice President, Associate General Counsel of BALA, participated in the day’s festivities by volunteering at the same high school she attended, A. Philip Randolph High School in Harlem. Khadijah understands the value of a strong education and participated in the event with the goal of sharing her knowledge and expertise with those who could greatly benefit.

Energy

Beat the Heat: Summer Energy-Saving Tips

May 30, 2018 10:35 AM ET

Aside from hitting the beach and soaking up the sun, summer is the time to start preparing your facility for the heat.

Innovation & Technology

Three Ways IBM Is Using Technology to Serve the Public Good

May 30, 2018 10:15 AM ET

Technologies like AI, blockchain, and cloud are enabling us to make significant progress on many thorny social challenges. But without thoughtful stewardship about how these powerful new technologies are designed, developed and brought into the world, they can also be disruptive in a negative way. Companies that are leading the way in developing new technologies must also lead the way in ensuring they are secure, trustworthy, fair, and benefit all people.

Diversity & Inclusion

How Supporting Diverse Suppliers Supports Local Economies and More

May 30, 2018 10:05 AM ET

For entrepreneurs, having a great product or service is only the first step toward success. The next steps include finding capital, connections, contracts and customers. For many woman-owned and minority-owned firms, gaining access to these vital resources can be a challenge.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The Pfizer Foundation Announces $5 Million Grant to Support Women and Families

May 30, 2018 10:00 AM ET

The Pfizer Foundation* recently announced a $5 million grant recommitment to initiatives that provide family planning access and education for women and men at the same time children are routinely vaccinated.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Small Change, Big Impact: Using Crowdfunding to Invest in Neighborhoods

May 30, 2018 9:40 AM ET

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Mohawk’s Commitment to Sustainability: Circular Economy

May 30, 2018 9:25 AM ET

Why waste it when we can use it? The world’s leading flooring company views waste as an opportunity to create beautiful floor coverings

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Tetra Tech Wins Léonard Award at “Grands Prix du génie-conseil” in Quebec

May 30, 2018 9:00 AM ET

The “Association des firmes de génie-conseil-Québec”(AFG-Québec, Association of Consulting Engineering Firms-Quebec) held the 16th annual “Grands Prix du génie-conseil” event honoring Quebec’s consulting and engineering experts and the industry’s best projects. Tetra Tech was nominated in 4 out of 11 categories, including Industry, Urban Infrastructures, Environment, and Consulting Engineering Mentor of the Year.

Research, Reports & Publications

A Commitment That Begins With Patients: Amgen 2017 Responsibility Highlights Report

May 30, 2018 9:00 AM ET

As one of the world’s leading biotechnology companies, Amgen’s greatest contribution to society comes from discovering and developing innovative medicines to treat patients suffering from serious illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. In undertaking this important work, Amgen makes a positive contribution in numerous other areas—which we share in our 2017 Responsibility Highlights Report.

Sustainable Development Goals

Cerro Verde, a Freeport-McMoRan Company, Supports Early Childhood Education in Arequipa

May 30, 2018 8:45 AM ET

Cerro Verde, a Freeport-McMoRan company, is constructing a new school building for early childhood education. Children who live in the neighborhood of Congata, in the Uchumayo district of Arequipa, Peru, will attend the new school buildings in the fall of 2018. The new building complex for the school will include classrooms for three-year-olds, as well as a multipurpose lounge, administrative offices and a cafeteria.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Ready for Summer: SC Johnson Community Aquatic Center Opens

May 30, 2018 8:00 AM ET

Just in time for summer, a celebration will be held today to commemorate the grand opening of the SC Johnson Community Aquatic Center, the first aquatic center to be developed in Racine County, located in Racine’s Pritchard Park. The Aquatic Center is funded by a $6.5 million donation from SC Johnson, and will open to the public June 2.

Research, Reports & Publications

Coca-Cola European Partners Releases 2017 Stakeholder Progress Report

May 30, 2018 5:00 AM ET

Coca‑Cola European Partners (ticker symbol: CCE) today launched its latest Stakeholder Progress Report, outlining key achievements in the company’s sustainability journey in 2017. The report comes six months following the launch of This is Forward, Coca‑Cola European Partners’ (CCEP) joint sustainability action plan with The Coca‑Cola Company in Western Europe that sets out commitments across six areas including drinks, packaging, and society – to be met by 2025.

Education

In Partnership With National Geographic, the Breakthrough Junior Challenge 2018 Is Now Open for Submissions!

May 29, 2018 7:45 PM ET

National Geographic has joined forces with the Breakthrough Junior Challenge, an annual global competition for students, designed to inspire creative thinking about science.

Events, Media & Communications

Rewiring Employment in a New Age

May 29, 2018 5:00 PM ET

Savvy business leaders everywhere are focused on talent, changing demographics, and the future of work—and what it all means for their company. On June 13th, FSG and the Shared Value Initiative are hosting REWIRE: Unlocking Talent Solutions for Today & Tomorrow at Gap Inc.’s headquarters in San Francisco to explore how companies can build their capacity to better recruit, retain, support, and advance historically overlooked talent pools with an aim of improving the bottom line. Join companies like Walmart, Tyson Foods, T-Mobile, McDonald's and others as they discuss the strategies they're using to REWIRE their HR practices.

Social Impact & Volunteering

GRO1000 Milestone Reached: Thousandth Garden to Connect Children With Benefits of Nature

May 29, 2018 4:05 PM ET

Eight years ago, we set a goal to help create 1,000 community gardens and greenspaces and connect more people to the life-enhancing benefits of gardens and greenspaces. This May, we’ll realize that goal with the dedication of the thousandth GRO1000 garden in Columbus, Ohio.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Fair Trade Seafood at Work: Cleaning up Mexico’s Altata Bay

May 29, 2018 4:00 PM ET

Within five years of hitting grocery stores, Fair Trade Certified™ seafood has generated almost $1 million in additional funds to fishermen and seafood workers in coastal communities. A look at those funds in action in Sinaloa, Mexico.

Diversity & Inclusion

Important Dialogue: Community Investment Has a Role to Play in a Diversity & Inclusion Strategy

May 29, 2018 3:10 PM ET

Join LBG Canada companies on June 5, 2018 in Calgary, as we discuss community investment's role in a diversity and inclusion strategy.

Panelists include leaders influencing corporate thinking on abilities, LGBTQ inclusion, Action 92 and Indigenous inclusion, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Thermo King “Moves Food” to Increase Food Security

May 29, 2018 3:00 PM ET

More than 40 million Americans struggle with hunger yet nearly $220 billion dollars of food is thrown away in the U.S. each year.

Thermo King, the leader in transport temperature control solutions for a variety of mobile applications and a brand of Ingersoll Rand, together with the Ingersoll Rand Foundation and Feeding America, recognize the imperative need to close this gap and are pleased to announce a breakthrough social initiative.

Research, Reports & Publications

GRI's 6 Steps to Produce a Sustainability Report Materiality Assessment

May 29, 2018 3:00 PM ET

As a standard setter in sustainability reporting, GRI has a responsibility to engage in sustainability reporting and exemplify best practice in doing so. GRI is sharing the process when writing their sustainability report, the problems that faced along the way, and the solutions found. And it all begins with the materiality assessment. ​

Energy

Optimizing Piping Configurations for Energy Efficiency

May 29, 2018 2:55 PM ET

What’s one of the smartest ways a manufacturing facility can save on energy costs over the long term? If you’re thinking along the lines of compressed air efficiency then you’re correct. The single biggest cost associated with producing compressed air is the energy required to power the compressor. To save money in the long run, it’s good practice to maximize compressed air energy efficiency.

Diversity & Inclusion

Minnesota Faces of Margraten: “The Biggest Gift”

May 29, 2018 2:45 PM ET

The call came from Minnesota Faces of Margraten, a joint project by Medtronic employees and retirees in the Netherlands and the United States, to locate photographs of all 234 Minnesota soldiers memorialized at the Netherlands American Cemetery near the village of Margraten. Thanks to Minnesota Faces of Margraten, Linda’s favorite picture of her father now stands beside his gravesite in the Netherlands.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Smithfield Foods and Victory Junction Unveil New Indoor Archery Facility

May 29, 2018 2:05 PM ET

Today, Victory Junction, a children’s camp committed to enriching the lives of children with chronic medical conditions or serious illnesses by providing life-changing camp experiences, unveiled the Smithfield Foods Archery Center. The camp’s new indoor facility is funded by a $500,000 gift from the Smithfield Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Smithfield Foods, Inc.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

The Hidden Story of Climate Proposals in the 2018 Proxy Season

May 29, 2018 2:00 PM ET

The 2017 proxy season offered some indelible headlines on climate-related shareholder action: majority votes at ExxonMobil, Occidental Petroleum and PPL Corporation; the first-ever votes in favor of climate shareholder proposals by major investors BlackRock and Vanguard; and the much-anticipated release of initial 2-degree scenario analyses from North American oil and gas and electric power companies. This year’s narrative is more subtle, but potentially more powerful.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Love, Security and a Second Chance

May 29, 2018 1:00 PM ET

This guest blog post is written by Chris Mace, an adoptive father of three. His two sons, Steven and Kota, were adopted through the Foundation’s Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program.