Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Research, Reports & Publications

Holistic Distribution Modernization Programs Require More Than Only Information Technology Upgrades

Apr 25, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Electric utilities are realizing that distribution modernization programs, also referred to as grid modernization, can no longer be put off. Overhauling the electric distribution system will require upgrades to OT, as well as to the networks that allow IT and OT components to communicate to improve reliability. The benefits are clear: Grid operators need advanced sensors, communications and automation so they can see what’s happening in real time, which will lessen disruption while enhancing efficiency, reliability, security and safety.

Diversity & Inclusion

Encouraging Women in STEM: PepsiCo and the Society of Women Engineers Kick-Off Annual Student Engineering Challenge

Apr 25, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Encouraging female students and professionals to pursue STEM education and opportunities is more important than ever. To help strengthen interest and participation in STEM fields, PepsiCo and the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) have proudly kicked off their annual PepsiCo/SWE Student Engineering Challenge.

Media & Communications

POST: It’s Annual ESG Survey & Query Time -– Public Companies Are in Response Mode…

Apr 25, 2018 10:00 AM ET

These are terms we hear all year ‘round and especially in the spring of the year as corporate managers describe for us what they often feel as the inevitable growing flow of third party ESG / Sustainability data sets, ratings, rankings, surveys, forms and various types information for review come pouring into their offices. It’s spring – survey time! Large-cap companies may receive 200 and more such queries during a year.

Education

Bridging Gaps in Biotechnology, From High School to College

Apr 25, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Three years after Enrique García-Rivera left his home school in Puerto Rico for an Amgen Scholars summer at the University of California, San Francisco, he found himself in an unexpected place: He was coaching a high school biotechnology club in Massachusetts, helping them with the Genes in Space challenge for NASA. He walked the teenagers through different types of DNA reactions that could theoretically be altered by zero-gravity.

Research, Reports & Publications

Citi Releases 2017 Global Citizenship Report

Apr 25, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Citi today released its 2017 Global Citizenship Report, highlighting efforts made in the last year to responsibly provide financial services that enable growth and progress. This report includes numerous examples of how, through our core business and with our philanthropic efforts, we are helping address complex and pressing issues such as global warming and social inequality.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Project HOPE Names Merck Corporate Volunteer of the Year

Apr 25, 2018 9:50 AM ET

Project HOPE honored Jahn Moeller, a registered nurse from Queensland, Australia, as Volunteer of the Year, and Merck, as Corporate Partner Volunteer of the Year, celebrating a six-decades long partnership that has built health capacity worldwide.

Sustainable Development Goals

CVS Health Releases 11th Annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report

Apr 25, 2018 9:15 AM ET

CVS Health today released its 11th annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report, detailing its latest efforts to shape the future of health care, reduce environmental impacts and exemplify corporate leadership in fulfilling the company’s purpose of helping people on their path to better health.

Environment

Biofuel-powered, Laser-loaded Boeing Plane of the Future Visits FedEx Hub

Apr 25, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Powered by 100 percent biofuel, FedEx's Boeing 777 ecoDemonstrator celebrated Earth Day with a stop at the shipping giant's Memphis hub.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sustainably Grown® Certification Earns More High Marks

Apr 25, 2018 9:00 AM ET

In its “ABC’s of Food Labels,” U.S. non-profit Green America has awarded SCS Global Services’ Sustainably Grown® certification program four and a half stars, among the highest rankings earned by any of the popular global sustainable agriculture ecolabels. This is just the latest recognition received by Sustainably Grown, which covers a comprehensive set of environmental, social, economic, safety and quality attributes related to the production of fresh fruits and vegetables, herbs, nuts, cut flowers, and ornamental plants. Additionally, Sustainably Grown certification is well aligned with consumer demand, according to a recent nationwide study of U.S. shoppers. The research was conducted by Category Partners, one of the leading third-party fresh produce analytics firms in the U.S.

Education

Tetra Tech Promotes STEM Around the World

Apr 25, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Tetra Tech’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Program aims to help students at all levels—from kindergarten to graduate school—develop an interest in these four technical fields. Tetra Tech employees around the world complete classroom visits, conduct science activities, provide mentorships, and participate in a multitude of programs, including activities that focus on water, science careers, and motivating girls and young women to pursue STEM careers.

Research, Reports & Publications

NRG Energy Demonstrates Leadership With 2017 Sustainability Results

Apr 25, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Today, NRG Energy, Inc. published its 2017 Sustainability Report. In this report, the company announces new sustainability achievements and milestones and provides, for the first time, the company’s principles on climate change.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Cacapon Institute Honored With Arbor Day Foundation’s Headwaters Award

Apr 25, 2018 9:00 AM ET

The Arbor Day Foundation has announced today that Cacapon Institute of West Virginia have been awarded the Foundation’s inaugural Headwaters Award which celebrates innovative programs — in rural or urban areas — that support the improvement of water quality and quantity through forestry activities.

Diversity & Inclusion

INTERVIEW: Valerie Maldonado Senior Engineer Process Developer for MARS

Apr 25, 2018 9:00 AM ET

A few weeks ago, MARS INC. contacted me, asking me to interview four of their Women in STEM.* Over the next few weeks, their interviews will be posting one by one. This interview is with Valerie Maldonado, Fruity Confections CBU Mars Wrigley Confectionery here in the US.

Research, Reports & Publications

John Lewis Partnership Corporate Responsibility Report 2017/18

Apr 25, 2018 5:00 AM ET

John Lewis Partnership has released its latest Corporate Responsibility Report which provides an update on activities and progress made over the last year in support of the Partnership’s three overarching aims; Source and sell with integrity, Deliver more with less and Unlock Partner potential.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Republic Services Drivers Honored with National Driver of the Year Awards

Apr 24, 2018 8:40 PM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Avery Dennison Makes CSR Investment in Southeast Asia

Apr 24, 2018 8:30 PM ET

With many of Avery Dennison’s solutions made from paper, maintaining a sustainable paper supply is vital to our business success and achieving our long-term sustainability goals. In fact, we’re aiming to use 100% FSC-Certified paper for all of our products by the year 2025.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Smithfield Foods’ Senior Director of Hunger Relief, Dennis Pittman, Honored with “Innovation in Action” Award

Apr 24, 2018 4:25 PM ET

Dennis Pittman, who serves as Smithfield Foods’ senior director of hunger relief, last week received the Frank Timberlake “Innovation in Action” Award from the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, a Feeding America Food Bank based in Charlotte, N.C.

Each year, the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina hosts an awards luncheon for partners in the community who have gone above and beyond to support their mission to end hunger in the 19 counties they serve throughout North Carolina and South Carolina. Dennis has been recognized for his leadership of Smithfield’s Helping Hungry Homes® initiative and his years of work to support the fight against hunger.

Environment

VIDEO | Alliance Data Reduces GHG Emissions by 21 Percent in Two Years

Apr 24, 2018 4:25 PM ET

Since 2015, Alliance Data reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 21 percent metric tons. Check out how we fared in this short video. Our 2017 Corporate Responsibility report, which will be out in the coming weeks, will detail more of our efforts to nurture and protect our environment.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Ninety Employees Clean Up 60 Acres in 30 Degree Temperatures

Apr 24, 2018 4:15 PM ET

Camp Westwood is a branch of the Pawtucket YMCA tucked away off the beaten path in Coventry, RI. The 60 acres of land is open from April to October each year for locals to camp, swim, kayak, or just enjoy the beautiful setting. And as our employees turned into the camp this Earth Day, we were greeted with a sign that read “Thank You National Grid Volunteers.” We hadn’t done anything to deserve the thanks yet, but we were about to earn it.

Events, Media & Communications

Final Days to Register for the 2018 Shared Value Leadership Summit

Apr 24, 2018 4:15 PM ET

Time is running out to join business leaders committed to providing scalable solutions to society's greatest challenges at the 2018 Shared Value Leadership Summit on May 1-2 at the Conrad New York.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Renay Loper of PYXERA Global Leads Workshop at Taproot Foundation’s U.S. Pro Bono Summit

Apr 24, 2018 3:30 PM ET

PYXERA Global is pleased to announce our participation in the Taproot 2018 U.S. Pro Bono Summit hosted by the Taproot Foundation and BMW Foundation on April 18–19 in San Francisco, CA. The Taproot Foundation’s annual event brought together leaders in the practice of Global Pro Bono to share knowledge, challenges, and experiences in an effort to better facilitate pro bono work that drives social change. PYXERA Global joined other leaders in the practice to discuss Global Pro Bono projects as they relate to technology, leadership, and food access.

Environment

Bloomberg Gives $4.5 Million to Help U.S. Keep Paris Climate Accord Commitment

Apr 24, 2018 3:30 PM ET

Former New York City Mayor and philanthropist Michael Bloomberg says he has a responsibility to help the environment as the Trump administration has backed down from its role in the Paris climate agreement. He said on "Face the Nation" he will write a check for $4.5 million this year to fund that mission.

Energy

Headlights vs. Highlights: Season Four of Better Buildings SWAP Showcases General Motors and L’Oréal USA

Apr 24, 2018 3:10 PM ET

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today unveiled the fourth installment of the “Better Buildings Challenge SWAP,” featuring General Motors and L’Oréal USA. In this online video series, the companies swap energy management teams to gain new insights, save money and improve the energy performance of their industrial facilities. The result is an informative, behind the scenes look at what it takes to improve manufacturing competitiveness through energy efficiency.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Will Implicit Bias Training Solve the Starbucks Problem?

Apr 24, 2018 3:00 PM ET

A barista calls the cops on two black men waiting for a friend and Starbucks responds with implicit bias training to help employees recognize subconscious racism. Is this response good enough? Information on its own does not change attitudes and behavior. So, what’s the answer?

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

The Hundred People Behind Your Favorite Pair of Jeans - Erb Institute | Business for Sustainability

Apr 24, 2018 1:30 PM ET

Have you ever stopped to think about how many people were involved in making the clothes you buy? Chances are you have heard about or read The Travels of a T-shirt in a Global Economy or listened to Planet Money’s piece on making a t-shirt. Both are incredibly interesting examinations of the effects of global trade on the fashion industry, developing countries and garment workers.