Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Research, Reports & Publications

New Report from The Boston Consulting Group and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development Details Business Benefits and Best Practices from Circular Economy Leaders

Jun 19, 2018 9:00 AM ET

In a world of finite resources and growing population, the traditional “take-make-dispose” economic model is increasingly unsustainable. As a consequence, companies are feeling pressure from customers, NGOs, regulators, and investors to rethink wasteful linear value chains. The “circular economy” envisions a more regenerative alternative focused on a “refurbish-repair-reuse-recycle” model that has the potential to sustain global growth in the face of increasing resource scarcity.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sodexo’s Sustainability Efforts at Loyola Marymount University Recognized by the Green Restaurant Association

Jun 19, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Sodexo, a food and facilities management company committed to delivering Quality of Life services, announced today that its Lair Marketplace at Loyola Marymount University earned over 400 GreenPoints™ on the Green Restaurant Association (GRA) certification scale, making it the first University dining facility to achieve this honor.

Environment

Sustainable Farming: The Best Is yet to Come

Jun 19, 2018 8:55 AM ET

Farming, like all investments, carries some degree of risk. How SFP mitigates these risks is unique and key to the opportunity. Market demand for organic food is the fastest growing section in the grocery store isles. Geographically, SFP’s established farm operating network is spread out to minimize the impact of local weather events. Our distributed farm network is focused on areas with the best available soil. Linking our farming network provides the opportunity to negotiate better offtake agreements and to negotiate greater discounts on inputs. And in the event of any crop damage due to a weather event that diminishes our yields, we have crop insurance covering up to 85 percent of our crop loss paid at our higher organic prices.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

A Recipe for Effective Hashtag Activism: A Conversation with Susan McPherson, Founder & CEO of McPherson Strategies

Jun 19, 2018 8:00 AM ET

In this episode of the Champions for Social Good podcast, Rachel Hutchisson, vice president of Corporate Citizenship and Philanthropy at Blackbaud, speaks with Susan McPherson, founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies, about how organizations can effectively leverage social media activism to advance a cause.

Susan explains the best uses for hashtag campaigns and why social media activism sometimes doesn’t work, and details the steps to creating successful and sustainable social campaigns. Susan also talks about why hashtag activism has been a powerful tool for empowering women and girls. Finally, Susan and Rachel discuss some successful hashtag campaigns led by nonprofits and companies and what made them work so well, and what organizations need to do to successfully engage Gen Z.

Media & Communications

Noah Ullman Named Chief Marketing Officer of Keep America Beautiful

Jun 18, 2018 6:30 PM ET

Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s leading nonprofit that envisions a country in which every community is a clean, green and beautiful place to live, today announced that Noah Ullman has been named the organization’s new Chief Marketing Officer and Digital Transformation Lead.

Events, Media & Communications

Webinar: Purpose-Driven Corporate Social Responsibility is Not a Myth (+ Proof!)

Jun 18, 2018 5:45 PM ET

How do you balance purpose and corporate responsibility? And how do directives from leadership fit into your employee volunteer program goals? Last (but certainly not least), how do you create a program that’s inclusive of employee wants? If this feels like a lot to juggle, you’re not alone.

Sustainable Development Goals

The Bellona Foundation and Carnival Corporation & plc Sign Agreement to Continue Improving Sustainable Cruise Tourism

Jun 18, 2018 4:30 PM ET

The Bellona Foundation and Carnival Corporation & plc, the world’s largest cruise company with nine global cruise line brands, have signed an agreement of cooperation where the parties agree to work together to continue improving environmental and sustainability impact. The newly formed cooperation is based on the two parties’ shared vision of an even more sustainable cruise industry in a future zero emission society.

Diversity & Inclusion

PNC Financial Services Named Among Fatherly’s 50 Best Places to Work for New Dad

Jun 18, 2018 4:05 PM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Timberland Earns Gold Halo Award for Efforts to Reintroduce Organic Cotton Farming to Haiti

Jun 18, 2018 3:15 PM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Q&A With Canary Wharf: Reporting Helps to Inform, Inspire and Influence Responsible Business

Jun 18, 2018 3:00 PM ET

Property developer Canary Wharf has been a sustainability reporter since 1987. We spoke to Martin Gettings, Group Head of Sustainability at Canary Wharf, who told GRI that they use sustainability reporting to prioritize and focus on both reporting and action, and to "inspire our people, peers and partners to come together to make sustainability real."

Diversity & Inclusion

Women Can Soar When the Mentored Become Mentors

Jun 18, 2018 2:55 PM ET

Though they far outnumber men studying on college campuses, research shows that women are less likely than men to get meaningful advice and mentoring over the course of their school and professional careers.

Environment

Innovators Tackling Humanity's Biggest Problems Seek Solutions by Studying Nature

Jun 18, 2018 2:30 PM ET

Alessandro Bianciardi wanted to help get fresh water to communities that needed it the most -- rural farmers in areas that were hardest hit by climate change-induced drought. So when he and his team of engineers and designers at the company Planet set out to create a more affordable, scalable and radically sustainable solar still, they went right to the source of the most effective R&D process they knew of -- nature itself.

Environment

Richard Crowther Appointed Food & Beverage Segment Leader

Jun 18, 2018 2:20 PM ET

Antea Group announces that Richard Crowther, Senior Consultant based in Atlanta, has been appointed to lead the company’s Food & Beverage segment.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

PNC Foundation Supports Cool Globes Exhibit in Pittsburgh

Jun 18, 2018 1:30 PM ET

Today, Mayor William Peduto is excited to announce the grand opening of Cool Globes in Pittsburgh. The nearly 30 large globe sculptures - described as “public art with a purpose”- will be on display in Market Square, PPG Plaza and Gateway Center through early October. Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet aims to raise awareness of and inspire viewers to take actions on climate change.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Hormel Foods, Albertsons, Vons Donate SKIPPY® Peanut Butter to Thousands of Children in Need This Summer

Jun 18, 2018 1:05 PM ET

Hormel Foods Corporation, in partnership with Albertsons and Vons stores, donated 24,840 units of SKIPPY® peanut butter to the Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank to support its School’s Out, Hunger’s Not Summer Food Drive.

The Schools’ Out, Hunger’s Not Summer Food Drive targets children living in poverty that stop receiving free meals at school when school is out for summer and often face hunger at home. In many cases, families are forced to rely on the food bank to feed their children over the summer months.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Shire Employees Show How They Are Taking Responsibility for the Environment on World Environment Day

Jun 18, 2018 1:00 PM ET

Shire employees around the world held events during the first week of June to bring awareness and action for the environment in honor of World Environment Day on June 5.

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: The Placebo Effect

Jun 18, 2018 12:45 PM ET

A placebo is contributing to the critical endangerment of an animal that has roamed the planet for tens of millions of years – the rhinoceros.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Bring Back the Native Bees

Jun 18, 2018 12:30 PM ET

A 2007 study examined agriculture data from 200 countries and found that fruit, vegetable, or seed production from 87 of the leading global food crops is dependent upon animal pollination—more than 75 percent.

When the scientists looked at global food production from these crops, they found that 35 percent of the world’s food production comes from crops that depend on pollinators.

Energy

Clean and Efficient Power Plant Supports Community

Jun 18, 2018 12:00 PM ET

Rising 18 stories above the fields in rural Indiana, Duke Energy’s Edwardsport power plant is a technological marvel and among the cleanest coal-fired power plants in the world.

Diversity & Inclusion

USC Shoah Foundation and Discovery Education Announce 2018 IWitness Video Challenge Winners

Jun 18, 2018 11:55 AM ET

In an effort to spark a social movement against hatred in all forms, USC Shoah Foundation – The Institute for Visual History and Education, and Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, today announced the winners of the 2018 IWitness Video Challenge.

Media & Communications

Yes, It’s Hot in Saudi Arabia – Where Air Conditioning Is a Must-Have – How Can A/C Be Made More Sustainable to Meet Future Power Challenges?

Jun 18, 2018 11:40 AM ET

Many people are fascinated with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with its wondrous 21st Century blend of modern and medieval elements – and the country appears to moving along with rapid and dramatic changes under new royal family leadership (Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman).

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Blockchain-ing Our Way to a Stronger Supply Chain

Jun 18, 2018 11:35 AM ET

Food safety has always been important at Tyson and our team members are some of the finest in the world at ensuring the security and safety of the food we produce. Some of the documentation around those controls are still done in analog format (Excel spreadsheets, for example). But last week we announced an initiative that will lay the foundation for a digital transformation of our supplier management system. This initiative - through a partnership with FoodLogiQ, a Durham, NC-based software developer focused on food traceability - will test the applicability of blockchain within our supply chain.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

First of Its Kind Loan: Barclays’ Borrower Pays Less if Sustainability Targets Are Met

Jun 18, 2018 11:20 AM ET

In a first in the US, a company has entered into a syndicated sustainability-linked revolving loan. CMS Energy and its subsidiary, Consumers Energy, have entered into $1.4 billion revolving credit facilities from Barclays, the sole Sustainability Structuring Agent on the loan. This means that CMS can reduce its interest rate on the new credit by meeting targets related to environmental responsibility, CMS says. Sustainability-linked loans are products that allow issuers to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability, according to Barclays.

Research, Reports & Publications

Noteworthy News in Skills-Based Volunteerism

Jun 18, 2018 11:15 AM ET

Summer is finally here and the team at Common Impact is excited to start your beach reading list with the latest and greatest in research, reports, and reflections on skills-based volunteerism.

Education

Taco Bell Foundation Awards $3 Million in Live Más Scholarships

Jun 18, 2018 11:05 AM ET

This year, the Taco Bell Foundation awarded $3 million in Live Más Scholarships to 300 employees and youth across the country. Designed to help students pursue their unique passions that may not necessarily fit into the traditional “academic” or “athletic” categories, this year’s scholarship application drew nearly 8,000 submissions.