Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Energy

Spokane’s Urbanova Set to Drive Innovation and Economic Development for Cities of the Future

Oct 3, 2016 12:00 PM ET

Recently, Avista along with partners Itron, Inc., City of Spokane, McKinstry, WSU Spokane and the University District Development Association, announced Urbanova.

Diversity & Inclusion

3 Lifehacks for New Moms in the Workplace

Oct 3, 2016 11:50 AM ET

One of the major demographics shifts over the last decades has been the rise of women in the workplace. With women making up nearly half the workforce, there are more working moms than ever before.

Diversity & Inclusion

For Wema Hoover, Diversity is a Business Imperative

Oct 3, 2016 11:45 AM ET

Earlier this month, we brought you the first of two interviews with Wema Hoover, the new Head of Diversity and Inclusion at Sanofi US who joined us in July. In this edition, Wema shares her thoughts on the importance of diversity, what it takes to create a diverse and inclusive workplace and the challenges and opportunities that diversity brings.

Education

7 Ways to Teach Your Kids About Money — Even If You’re Bad With It

Oct 3, 2016 11:35 AM ET

Talking to your kids about money can be overwhelming. After all, when you aren’t even that “good with money” yourself, you shouldn’t be teaching your children about it, right? Wrong.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Companies Step in to Help Refugee Crisis

Oct 3, 2016 11:15 AM ET

In the last 10 years, the number of forcibly displaced people in the world has increased by more than 30 percent -- from 21 million in 2005 to 65.3 million in 2015. In 2015 alone, an estimated 1.8 million individuals became refugees. As the crisis continues to expand, it's all hands on deck as government, coalitions and nonprofits work toward solutions. Recently, we've seen more companies step in to offer desperately needed products, aid and assistance. Here's a roundup of companies involved in the space.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Timberland Wins for Most Effective International Investment at Ethical Corporation Responsible Business Awards

Oct 3, 2016 11:00 AM ET

Energy

Offshore Wind Power, From Rhode Island to Copenhagen

Oct 3, 2016 10:55 AM ET

For the past couple of summers, our family has watched as construction workers ferried back and forth between Rhode Island’s Point Judith and a wind farm being built off nearby Block Island.

We knew the turbines would be spinning soon when the main highway traversing the peninsula was gouged to make way for a cable that would bring ashore any surplus electricity not consumed by Block Island residents and businesses.

Health & Healthcare

Part IV of the Exclusive Interview with Amway’s Jeff Terry with Ideagen’s George Sifakis

Oct 3, 2016 10:50 AM ET

Part IV of the Exclusive Ideagen Interview with Amway’s Jeff Terry with Ideagen’s George Sifakis

Environment

LIBBY’S® 2016 Harvest Forecast: Plentiful Pumpkin

Oct 3, 2016 10:05 AM ET

Pumpkin lovers can breathe a collective sigh of relief; reports from Morton, IL, the self-proclaimed pumpkin capital of the world, indicate there will be no shortage of pumpkin this year. The harvest forecast comes at a time when baking season is underway and canned pumpkin purchases increase. Fans of all things pumpkin will have an abundant supply to create their most flavorful seasonal recipes with LIBBY’S® 100% Pure Pumpkin during the autumn and winter months. The supply is projected to remain strong throughout 2017.

Events, Media & Communications

Mars at the 2016 Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting

Oct 3, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Every year, Mars joins in the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings to talk science and innovation with Nobel laureates and leading young scientists from around the world.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Bloomberg Philanthropies Produces Short Documentaries Highlighting Public Art Challenge Projects

Oct 3, 2016 9:30 AM ET

A short documentary series created by Bloomberg Philanthropies provide a behind- the-scenes look at how four cities are using temporary public art projects to bring together local government and artists to increase access to the arts, elevate critical issues, foster community engagement and highlight creativity across local industries through the Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge.

Social Impact & Volunteering

UPS To Hold More Than 300 Global Volunteer Events Worldwide

Oct 3, 2016 9:25 AM ET

During October, nearly 20,000 UPS (NYSE: UPS) employees on five continents around the world will participate in the company’s 14th annual Global Volunteer Month. Employees are expected to donate 325,000 volunteer hours to more than 300 community service events taking place across North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific and Indian subcontinent, Middle East and Africa (ISMEA).

Diversity & Inclusion

Celebrating the Accomplishments of Wendy’s Top General Managers

Oct 3, 2016 9:20 AM ET

In August, we held our first-ever Top General Manager (GM) conference at our Restaurant Support Center in Dublin, Ohio which (as the name suggests) served to honor our top 200 GMs from across company and franchisee restaurants. In the following guest blog, Chief People Officer Scott Weisberg reflects on the three-day celebration and shares a little insight into how much we value the role of the GM.

Green Infrastructure

Taipei 101: The ‘Greenest’ of Skyscrapers

Oct 3, 2016 9:15 AM ET

Events, Media & Communications

Highlights from Bloomberg's 2016 U.S.-Africa Business Forum

Oct 3, 2016 9:05 AM ET

On September 21, 2016, Bloomberg Philanthropies joined with the United States Department of Commerce to host the 2nd U.S.-Africa Business Forum.

Health & Healthcare

CITGO Tees Off at Driving for a Cure Golf Outing to Help End Muscular Dystrophy

Oct 3, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Employees from the CITGO Lemont Refinery, CITGO Petroleum Corporation and the Cicero Manufacturing Facility helped raise $500,000 for those battling neuromuscular diseases at the 20th annual Driving for a Cure Golf Outing benefiting the local Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) chapter. The proceeds from this event – the second-largest MDA golf outing in the country – will go towards clinical research and medical and rehabilitation costs for patients fighting muscular dystrophy.

Research, Reports & Publications

Tetra Pak Sustainability Update 2016

Oct 3, 2016 5:00 AM ET

“Sustainability goes hand in hand with the Tetra Pak brand promise – PROTECTS WHAT’S GOOD™ – and the three pillars on which it stands: food, people and futures. Our activities in all three areas over the past year show sustainability is ever more deeply embedded in our business, in our corporate culture and in the expectations of our customers and consumers,” advises Dennis Jönsson, CEO & President at Tetra Pak.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

BSR Partners with Leading Supply Chain Initiatives on Ambitious Three-Year Project to Advance Women’s Empowerment

Oct 3, 2016 4:00 AM ET

Today, BSR announced a new collaboration with leaders in supply chain networks to advance women’s empowerment in global supply chains. In partnership with six of the most influential supply chain networks around the world, Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI), Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC), The Floriculture Sustainability Initiative (FSI), International Council of Toy Industries CARE Foundation (ICTI CARE), The Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH), and Sedex, BSR will focus on making women’s empowerment central to the strategies, guidelines, and practices that provide a framework for supply chain management worldwide.

Environment

National Geographic Channel to Host 50 Voter Registration Events and Screenings of Leonardo Dicaprio's 'BEFORE THE FLOOD' Doc at U.S Colleges

Oct 2, 2016 9:00 PM ET

In a release tied to National Voter Registration Day on September 27, 21st Century Fox's National Geographic Channel has announced a dynamic new partnership with Rock the Vote and theSkimm to educate new voters about climate change ahead of this year's U.S. Presidential Election. At more than 50 college campuses nationwide, Nat Geo will host screenings of its new documentary Before the Flood, Leonardo DiCaprio's personal journey detailing the effects of climate change on the planet. The screenings will double as voter registration events, engaging Americans to exercise their right to vote. Before the Flood will also premiere on the National Geographic Channel on Sunday, October 30, in 171 countries and 45 languages.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Disneyland Resort, City of Anaheim and KABOOM! to Build Five New Anaheim Playgrounds in Three Years

Oct 1, 2016 10:05 AM ET

Today, residents of the city of Anaheim discovered that as a result of their votes, Anaheim will receive five new KaBOOM! playgrounds in the next three years.

Health & Healthcare

Rebuilding Together to Renovate Women’s Prison Association Residence

Oct 1, 2016 7:00 AM ET

Rebuilding Together will renovate the Sarah Powell Huntington House, a homeless shelter for formerly incarcerated women and their children managed by the Women's Prison Association.

Diversity & Inclusion

#InclusionWorks: National Disability Employment Awareness Month

Sep 30, 2016 5:35 PM ET

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Share the message that #InclusionWorks for people with disabilities and businesses.

Social Impact & Volunteering

BNSF Railway and Keep Chicago Beautiful Partner to Reopen Closed Playgrounds at Manuel Perez Jr. Elementary School, Benefiting Students and the Community

Sep 30, 2016 5:15 PM ET

Keep America Beautiful Great American Cleanup national sponsor BNSF Railway and Keep Chicago Beautiful joined with Chicago Public School District leaders, city and state elected officials, and local community organizations to dedicate two newly transformed playgrounds at Manuel Perez Jr. Elementary School in the heart of the Pilsen Historic District of the Lower West Side community of Chicago.

Innovation & Technology

Enjoying a Longer Life – Another Avenue to Asset Longevity

Sep 30, 2016 4:00 PM ET

Not all technology upgrades and replacements are voluntary. When organizations build entire systems around specific hardware – which is often the case – they create intrinsic risk. What if the systems they rely on break and the components needed to repair them no longer are available? It’s not so uncommon for well-designed applications to become integral to an organization’s functioning often decades past when the architects envisioned.

Innovation & Technology

Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines (SHIP) Leverages Software Donation to Thrive in the Cloud

Sep 30, 2016 3:00 PM ET

Nonprofit Sustained Health Initiatives of the Philippines (SHIP) Inc. was founded with a mission to improve quality and access to care for people living with HIV. Through a software donation and pro bono volunteer help, SHIP is working to improve their ability to track and report on expenses and spend more time working on achieving their mission.