Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Keep America Beautiful Partners With Duracell to Donate Batteries

Oct 4, 2018 10:15 AM ET

Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, is partnering with Duracell to distribute 9V batteries, valued at more than $2 million, to 42 Keep America Beautiful community-based affiliates for the 2018 Duracell/Keep America Beautiful 9V Battery Grant Program. Duracell’s 9V Battery Grant Program is among the largest in-kind donations Keep America Beautiful has received in its 65-year history.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Symantec Makes Sustainable Food Choices

Oct 4, 2018 10:05 AM ET

At Symantec's cafe in Mountain View, California Executive Chef Robert Sapirman purchases cage-free eggs and sustainable seafood, sources locally, and supports the small farmers doing things right. This October, Symantec hosts its first Less Meet Monday to reduce GHG emissions and show diners how delicious plant-based proteins can be.

Health & Healthcare

Updated GRI OH&S Standard Calls for More Comprehensive, Worker-centric Reporting

Oct 4, 2018 10:05 AM ET

The benefits of improved occupational health and safety are far-reaching. The new reporting standard from the Global Reporting Initiative puts the worker in the center, and can help companies drive improvements in the lives of millions of workers worldwide.

Environment

VIDEO | Denali's Superintendents Celebrate the Zero-Landfill Initiative

Oct 4, 2018 10:05 AM ET

In this video, Denali National Park superintendents discuss ways you can help reduce, reuse, recycle, and support the park's Zero-Landfill Initiative.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sacramento Allstate Agency Owner Named 2018 Ray Lynch Award Winner for Community Service

Oct 4, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Sacramento Allstate agency owner Zachary Wandell was recently named as the recipient of the 2018 Ray Lynch Community Service Award, Allstate’s top national honor commending an agency owner or financial specialist for giving back and supporting people and organizations in their local community.

Diversity & Inclusion

21CF and AMC Theatres Team up to Offer Free Screenings of The Hate U Give to Communities Across the US

Oct 4, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Twentieth Century Fox Film and AMC Theatres are joining forces to provide underserved young people across the country access to the powerful new film The Hate U Give, as a tool for driving empowerment, empathy, and dialogue. The studio and theatre chain are hosting free screenings in nine metro areas during the film’s limited release at 11am local time, Saturday, October 6: Atlanta, GA, Baltimore, MD, Dallas, TX, Houston, TX, Los Angeles, CA, Miami, FL, New York, NY, Philadelphia, PA, and Washington, DC.

Sustainable Development Goals

Nestlé Waters Allentown Factories Achieve Globally Recognized Water Stewardship Certification

Oct 4, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Nestlé Waters North America announced today that its Allentown, Pennsylvania factories received certification under the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Standard. Created and supported by prominent environmental conservation groups, development organizations, and industry leaders, the AWS Standard is the first comprehensive global benchmark for responsible water stewardship across social, environmental, and economic criteria. This achievement was confirmed through audits conducted by SCS Global Services (SCS), a leading international third-party certification body, and sole certifier to the AWS standard in North America.

Events, Media & Communications

Get a Sneak Peak of BSR18: A New Blueprint for Business

Oct 4, 2018 10:00 AM ET

This November 6-8, BSR is bringing change-makers from around the world together in New York to redefine sustainable business. Here's a sneak peak.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

eBay Everyday Heroes - Turning Cards into Cures

Oct 4, 2018 9:50 AM ET

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

These 7 Top Coffee Trends Will Wake You Up

Oct 4, 2018 9:05 AM ET

“People want more than just a caffeine hit in their cup nowadays. Companies like Nestlé can do positive things as we ride this specialty coffee trend. Because they deal with farmers directly, they can drive social change in coffee-growing countries across the world.”

We recently launched Grown Respectfully to demonstrate how our global Nescafé Plan initiative works to help farmers across the world grow more and better coffee, and to do so sustainably, with benefits for the communities where they live.

Sustainable Development Goals

Power Africa Team Wins Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal

Oct 4, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Tetra Tech celebrates Andrew M. Herscowitz and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Power Africa team for winning a Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal (Sammies) for National Security and International Affairs.

The Sammies, considered the Oscars of government service, is the premier awards program recognizing innovation in the federal government, honoring outstanding civil servants who have made significant contributions to the health, safety, and prosperity of the American people.

Sustainable Development Goals

The Arbor Day Foundation’s Miami Community Tree Recovery Campaign Partners with Verizon, FedEx, Million Trees Miami and Miami-Dade County to Distribute Free Trees to Local Miami Residents Affected by Hurricane Irma

Oct 4, 2018 9:00 AM ET

The Arbor Day Foundation’s Miami Tree Recovery Campaign – a partnership between the Arbor Day Foundation and Verizon, FedEx, Million Trees Miami and Miami-Dade County will distribute 1,000 new trees this year to homeowners in Miami, Florida, on Saturday, October 6, 2018, from 9:00 a.m. until noon at Tropical Estates Park, 10201 SW 48 Street, Miami, FL 33165.

Energy

The Future of Energy Is Decentralized

Oct 4, 2018 8:00 AM ET

In every part of the world, from the industrialized to the emerging economies, energy systems are shifting from a highly centralized architecture (i.e., large generation plants, long transmission lines, and one-way flows of energy) to a decentralized, distributed network model. This model takes the form of microgrids (or “mini-grids” in Africa and Asia), small, integrated systems capable of autonomous operation; and as Distributed Energy Resource Management Systems and Virtual Power Plants, as ways of making the existing bulk power grid more flexible. Some compare this to the advent of “the internet of energy.”

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

VIDEO | Aflac CSR Hero Diane Hintz Raises Over $83,000 for American Cancer Society

Oct 3, 2018 11:35 PM ET

For Diane Hintz, 2018 Aflac #CSRHero and an independent agent licensed to sell Aflac products, making a positive impact in her community is a year-round job. Inspired by her mother – a breast cancer survivor – Diane is committed to making a difference in her community wherever she can.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Sold Out: The Global Engagement Forum: Live Reaches Capacity

Oct 3, 2018 7:00 PM ET

The Global Engagement Forum: Live 2018 has reached full capacity. Hosted by PYXERA Global, the Forum will convene more than 300 leaders and innovators in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area October 10 & 11. Leaders and experts from business, government, and nonprofit organizations will come together for two days of collaboration around specific global challenges within the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Environment

Celebrating Ten Years of Sea Change Radio, Pt. 2

Oct 3, 2018 6:50 PM ET

This week on Sea Change Radio, the second half of our ten year anniversary celebration where we hear from some of the planet’s most important thinkers, leading green advocates, and sustainability innovators. Stay tuned to hear excerpts from interviews with thought leaders like George Monbiot, politicians like Gavin Newsom, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists like Robin McDowell, and scientists like Richard Lunt.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sysco Corporation Named 2018 Foodservice Distributor of the Year by Refrigerated & Frozen Foods Magazine

Oct 3, 2018 4:45 PM ET

Refrigerated & Frozen Foods Magazine has named Sysco its 2018 Distributor of the Year. Due to our continued efforts in fleet optimization, energy efficiency and sustainable distribution, Sysco has been recognized as the magazine’s first-ever Foodservice Distributor of the Year!

Health & Healthcare

Merck Announces “Safer Childbirth Cities” Initiative, Issues Call to Action to Reverse the Rise in U.S. Maternal Deaths

Oct 3, 2018 4:15 PM ET

Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, announced today a new effort to support cities across the country to help women have a healthy pregnancy and safe childbirth. The “Safer Childbirth Cities” initiative is intended to reduce the number of maternal deaths and life-threatening childbirth events and narrow disparities in maternal health outcomes in the U.S.

Diversity & Inclusion

Bloomberg Insists on More Women, Diverse Sourcing

Oct 3, 2018 4:00 PM ET

Look at almost any conventional media outlet, and you’ll see women underrepresented as sources. Focus just on business and finance stories, and they’re even less visible, an omission of perspective that Bloomberg’s news organization is not willing to tolerate. And so we have rolled out a global plan to boost the number of women and other diverse sources that we quote in stories, invite on Bloomberg TV and Bloomberg radio and feature in our events’ panels.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business Celebrates Fifth Anniversary

Oct 3, 2018 2:45 PM ET

This year, the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business at the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business celebrates its fifth anniversary. It launched in 2013 as the Center for Business Strategies for Sustainability with funding from the Ray C. Anderson Foundation and others, and in January 2015 the Ray C. Anderson Foundation made a $5 million commitment. It was then renamed for Ray C. Anderson.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Timberland Remembers and Serves at Its 18th Annual 9/11 Service Event in New York

Oct 3, 2018 2:15 PM ET

Over 50 Timberland employees and wholesale partner volunteers recently convened in New York for the brand’s 18th annual 9/11 service event. Volunteers from Timberland, Kicks USA, Macy’s, Zappos and more made physical improvements to the buildings and grounds of Greyston Foundation’s Center for Open Hiring in Yonkers, NY.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Harnessing Mobile Technology to Train Supply Chain Workers

Oct 3, 2018 2:15 PM ET

Dell has a large and dynamic supply chain, with supplier facilities located in many regions around the world and many suppliers involved at multiple tiers in the manufacturing process. We require all suppliers to comply with all applicable laws and recognized international standards, and also abide by the high social and environmental responsibility (SER) standards outlined in the Responsible Business Alliance Code of Conduct and Dell Supplier Principles.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

USGBC’s Second Annual Southern Hospitality Summit Coming to Charleston on Oct. 19, 2018

Oct 3, 2018 2:10 PM ET

The U.S. Green Building Council South Carolina (USGBC-SC) will hold its second annual Southern Hospitality Summit in Charleston, S.C., on Oct. 19, 2018. Sustainability experts, local leaders, builders, developers and professionals in the hospitality industry will convene to discuss how to infuse sustainability with luxury.

Environment

NFWF and Wells Fargo Announce $2 Million in Grants to Help Communities Better Prepare for and Respond to Natural Disasters

Oct 3, 2018 2:00 PM ET

Wells Fargo and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced $2 million in grants to eight nonprofit organizations to help communities become more resilient in the face of conditions associated with a changing climate, including rising sea levels, water quantity and quality issues, and extended hurricane and fire seasons.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Recycling Simplified

Oct 3, 2018 2:00 PM ET

In households across America, questions like these are heard several times a day: “Is this recyclable?” “It’s okay to put my recyclables in a bag, right?” “Do I need to do anything to this pizza box before I recycle it?”

Recycling started as a relatively easy concept — converting discarded resources into reusable material. But, over time, two things happened — the way manufacturers package their products changed and community recycling guidelines became disparate and confusing. Today, people are genuinely unsure about what to recycle, what not to recycle and how to recycle. The one constant in this equation — people want to recycle.