Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Are the Keys to Supply Chain Transformation Closer Than They Appear?

Jun 24, 2019 12:10 PM ET

For sustainability initiatives in food retail, do the largest hurdles lie in the supply chain, or within the walls of corporate headquarters? As sustainability becomes a bigger priority for food producers and retailers, more and more companies are forming sustainability teams to push toward a new food economy through supply chain transformation. After a summer working on case studies with Environmental Defense Fund’s corporate partners, I discovered that the keys to success for sustainability initiatives were not necessarily costly technologies, but rather rethinking internal strategy and organizational design.

Events, Media & Communications

Change-Makers from Across the Country Attend America's Charities Inaugural Collective Impact Conference in Washington, D.C. to Tackle Real-World Challenges via Employee Giving and Engagement

Jun 24, 2019 12:05 PM ET

More than 100 change-makers from across the country came together in Washington, D.C. this month, for America’s Charities inaugural Collective Impact Conference, hosted by Hogan Lovells US LLP.

Environment

Bechtel-led Team Begins Destruction of Final U.S. Stockpile of Chemical Weapons

Jun 24, 2019 12:00 PM ET

With the destruction, in a sealed chamber, of one World War II-era projectile loaded with mustard agent, a Bechtel-led team in Kentucky has begun eliminating the final stockpile of U.S. chemical munitions, bringing the nation closer to its goal of permanently eradicating the weapons.

Innovation & Technology

New Discovery Education Experience—Delivering Personalized Curated Digital Curriculum Resources, Research-Based Instructional Strategies, and Collaboration Tools—Available for Preview July 1

Jun 24, 2019 11:50 AM ET

Beginning July 1, users of Discovery Education Streaming will have the opportunity to preview the new Discovery Education Experience, which becomes available to schools and educators nationwide at the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year.

Health & Healthcare

Merck for Mothers Launches New All for Mothers Report: The Mom Effect

Jun 24, 2019 11:30 AM ET

When we invest in maternal health, we ensure that hundreds of thousands of women survive pregnancy and childbirth. When that happens, newborns are more likely to survive, children are more likely to stay in school, women are able to make invaluable contributions to their communities and the workforce, health systems are stronger, and nations’ economies grow.

Diversity & Inclusion

Viacom Shares New Data on the Power of LGBT Representation

Jun 24, 2019 11:30 AM ET

In recent years, characters on television and film have become more diverse, pushing the historically limited boundaries for race and sexual orientation. It’s a notable shift. It means that the world shown on-screen is starting to get closer to reflecting the realities of the world off-screen. And, according to new data from Viacom’s Global Consumer Insights, it plays an important role in shifting public perception of the LGBT community.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

DSM CEO Feike Sijbesma Named to Advisory Committee at Tsinghua University Institute for Sustainable Development Goals

Jun 24, 2019 11:25 AM ET

In recognizing our CEO Feike Sijbesma’s commitment to addressing sustainability and making it also a core part of DSM’s evolution journey in driving people, planet and profit; Tsinghua University in China appointed him to be part of the international advisory committee of the Institute for Sustainable Development Goals, Tsinghua University.

Diversity & Inclusion

Joni Davis' Focus at Duke Energy: Build a Diverse and Inclusive Workforce

Jun 24, 2019 11:10 AM ET

Duke Energy recently accelerated its targets for more diverse representation, and new Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Joni Davis is leading the effort. Davis started her job six months ago, with a goal to not only increase diversity at the company but to strengthen a culture that supports it.

Diversity & Inclusion

How Schneider Electric Empowered Me to Be My Authentic Self Professionally and Personally

Jun 24, 2019 10:50 AM ET

Almost immediately after joining Schneider, I was confronted with a huge cultural shift compared to where I had just come from. The company culture was much more open and inviting to those who were different. For the first time in my life I felt like I was in a safe place where I could truly be my authentic self

Energy

Best Buy’s New Science-Based Target Helps Customers Reduce Energy Use in Their Homes

Jun 24, 2019 10:35 AM ET

Earlier this week, Best Buy announced a Science-Based Target (SBT) to help consumers reduce their carbon emissions by 20 percent and save $5 billion on utility costs. In its own operations, Best Buy will reduce carbon emissions by 75 percent.

Events, Media & Communications

NAEM’s Impact Conference to Focus on Tangible Sustainability Goals, Business Results

Jun 24, 2019 10:30 AM ET

The National Association for Environmental, Health and Safety and Sustainability Management (NAEM) this week unveiled the final agenda for its August 2019 Impact conference in Milwaukee, an event designed for companies who are committed to translating their sustainability aspirations into measurable business results.

Innovation & Technology

Creating Transformative Experiences: Innovative Branded Content

Jun 24, 2019 10:15 AM ET

As part of this year’s Cannes Lions, RYOT worked with the team at P&G to produce two VR projects that highlight the importance of diversity and inclusion within the creative industry.

Diversity & Inclusion

#HPEPRIDE Celebration 2019

Jun 24, 2019 10:00 AM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

General Mills Announces Food Recovery Champions Winners

Jun 24, 2019 10:00 AM ET

General Mills announces the 20 winners of its Food Recovery Champions program that awards grants to expand surplus food recovery in the U.S. and Canada for greater social and environmental impact.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Think Before You Throw: Help Put a Stop to Wishcycling

Jun 24, 2019 10:00 AM ET

Are you guilty of wishcycling? Also known as aspirational recycling, wishcycling happens when you put something into the recycling bin without checking whether it’s actually recyclable.

Diversity & Inclusion

A Lifeline for LGBTQ Youth in Crisis

Jun 24, 2019 10:00 AM ET

Our story began in 1998, when HBO aired the Academy Award-winning short film “Trevor.” Introduced by Ellen DeGeneres, the film was broadcast alongside the launch of TrevorLifeline, the world’s first 24/7 national lifeline supporting LGBTQ — lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning — young people in need of crisis intervention. The first calls were answered that night.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

4 Things to Look for When Picking an ESG Manager

Jun 24, 2019 9:05 AM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Shape the Future of the Sustainability Standards Global Leader

Jun 24, 2019 9:00 AM ET

A global search is underway to find new members for five bodies that carry out crucial decision making and advisory functions for GRI, provider of the world’s most widely used sustainability reporting framework.

Diversity & Inclusion

Interview With Laureen Abustan, Civil and Environmental Project Engineer

Jun 24, 2019 9:00 AM ET

Laureen Abustan is a water and wastewater project engineer. She joined Tetra Tech in March 2018 and applies her expertise in water, wastewater, environmental engineering, site development, and stormwater capture and reuse on projects in Los Angeles, California.

Research, Reports & Publications

MetLife 2018 Global Impact Report: MetLife Foundation

Jun 24, 2019 9:00 AM ET

MetLife Foundation enhances our company’s efforts to build for tomorrow and put people at the heart of our actions. In the belief that financial health belongs to everyone, the Foundation combines financial health expertise and grants to bring solutions to underserved people and communities. Globally, the Foundation partners with grantees and MetLife volunteers to drive impact. From 2013 to 2017, these efforts have reached more than six million lower-income individuals in 42 countries, meeting people where they are every step of the way.

Responsible Production & Consumption

HP is Reinventing Print Sustainability

Jun 24, 2019 5:45 AM ET

Our pledge is that printing will be forest positive, printers and their energy will be carbon neutral, and all printer materials will put
safety first and support a circular economy.

Sustainable Development Goals

World Refugee Day: Taking Steps for the Globally Displaced

Jun 21, 2019 3:15 PM ET

What if San Francisco was suddenly empty? Or New York City? Or both? Imagine over 9 million people fleeing their homes, families and friends, schools, and jobs—leaving two of the United States’ most populous cities nearly empty. Our world would look different—we would notice and want to know what’s going on. We would want to help.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Highlights From Corporate Day at the Global Pro Bono Summit

Jun 21, 2019 1:30 PM ET

Corporate Day at the Global Pro Bono Summit—hosted by Taproot Foundation—was built on connections, looking at pro bono as a piece of a company’s broader philanthropic puzzle.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Nestlé Volunteers Take Part in Lac Léman Clean-Up

Jun 21, 2019 12:50 PM ET

More than 600 Nestlé employees and their families are expected to join a clean-up initiative around Lac Léman, Switzerland on 22 June 2019. This initiative is part of Nestlé’s broader vision to achieve a waste-free future.

Diversity & Inclusion

Don't Hate me Because I'm #beautifuLGBTQ

Jun 21, 2019 12:45 PM ET

Don't hate me because I'm #beautifuLGBTQ. Happy Pride from Pantene