Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Research, Reports & Publications

Barclays Releases 2017 ESG Report: Positioned for Growth, Sharing and Success

Mar 2, 2018 9:15 AM ET

We continue to enhance non-financial reporting across our disclosures, with increased information on material topics, non-financial performance measures and both regulatory and voluntary disclosures on gender pay, modern slavery and climate change.

Green Infrastructure

Consumers Energy Presents Energy Efficiency Incentive Check to Gerald R. Ford International Airport

Mar 2, 2018 8:35 AM ET

The Gerald R. Ford International Airport is being recognized for having one of the best and most energy-efficient airports in the region. Consumers Energy presented a rebate check for $151,631 to the Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GFIA) today, as part of the company’s energy efficiency program which is saving the airport energy and money.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Retired NBA Player, Anthony Avent, Joins iCause Advisory Board

Mar 2, 2018 8:30 AM ET

“Professional athletes have a major impact on our youth today and Anthony’s passion to empower the younger generation to make wiser choices is infectious. We are excited to work with Anthony on sports-related initiatives in the iCause community, bridging the gap between individuals, nonprofits, and causes. ” CEO Kevin McAhren stated.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

How My Passions Come to Life at Cisco

Mar 2, 2018 8:25 AM ET

My Cisco family – and it truly is a family – encourages me to give back, to do my best, and treats me like a valued member of our community. Never was this more true than in my recent trip across the world to help children in need.

Diversity & Inclusion

Why Gender Equity Builds Better Leadership and a Better World

Mar 2, 2018 8:15 AM ET

Environment

Expert Interview With Leslie Turner, Drinking Water Expert

Mar 2, 2018 8:00 AM ET

Leslie Turner has more than 20 years of experience in planning, permitting, design, project management, and construction management for water programs throughout the Southeastern United States. She has served in a senior management role for numerous engineering programs including water treatment and distribution, wastewater collection and treatment, reclaimed water, and aquifer storage and recovery. She has extensive experience assisting clients with utility master planning and developing funding and capital improvement programs.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Xylem Employees Honored for Volunteer Efforts

Mar 2, 2018 8:00 AM ET

Two Xylem employees were honored by the Forest Reserve District of Will County with the Appreciation of Partners Award for the volunteer contributions of employees from Xylem's Mokena office on behalf of Xylem Watermark in 2017. Volunteer activities included clean-up efforts at the Forest Preserve’s Monee Reservoir and Rock Run Rookery Preserve in Will County, Illinois.

Research, Reports & Publications

Observations for a Better World – Valuable Impacts for Customers and Societies

Mar 2, 2018 8:00 AM ET

Vaisala, a global leader in environmental and industrial measurement, published today its renewed annual report. The report is its first to integrate strategy, value creation, financial statements, governance, and sustainability information all into one coherent report.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Scully Effect: Celebrating the X-Files’ Enduring Character Dana Scully and the Scientific Phenomenon She Inspired

Mar 1, 2018 7:30 PM ET

One of the longest-running science fiction series in network TV history, FOX’s The X-Files follows FBI special agents Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) as they investigate unexplained cases set aside by the government. A medical doctor and realist, Agent Scully is the foil to Agent Mulder’s conspiracy theorist character, and served as an early example of a strong female TV protagonist who inspired a generation of women to pursue careers in the sciences and law enforcement.

Education

Minecraft Hour of Code Introduces 85M+ to Computer Science

Mar 1, 2018 5:10 PM ET

“It’s about time!” Maine elementary school teacher and Code.org facilitator Mike Harvey laughs, recalling his reaction when Code.org partnered with Microsoft to launch the first Minecraft activity for the Hour of Code in 2015. An early adopter of Minecraft in the classroom, Mike thinks that it was a natural and logical outcome of what he called the “symbiotic relationship” between Code.org and Microsoft.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Republic Services and Habitat for Humanity of Denver Dedicate Affordable Homes to Local Families

Mar 1, 2018 4:00 PM ET

Republic Services partnered with Habitat for Humanity last year to help build and revitalize neighborhoods in communities across the country, one of those communities being Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver’s Sheridan Square. The local partnership includes a powerful combination of volunteer hours and financial support to help build a total of 16 new homes and to develop a community park.

Diversity & Inclusion

“A Victory for Common Sense” – Second Circuit Upholds LGBT Employee Rights

Mar 1, 2018 3:00 PM ET

In a victory for equality in the workplace, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit this morning held that the Civil Rights Act prohibits sexual orientation in employment. This ruling legally affirms the sentiment behind a petition that Viacom and 49 other major companies signed last summer.

“This ruling affirms the strong stand we have taken at Viacom – that there is no room in the workplace for discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation,” said Viacom Senior Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs Rick Baker. “This is a victory for equality, for the LGBT community, for businesses at large, and for common sense.”

Environment

Creative Cooperation: An In-Depth Look at the Innovative Dartmouth-Hitchcock Recycling Program

Mar 1, 2018 2:05 PM ET

HPRC’s latest blog describes how Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center forged a relationship with other entities to create a viable recycling program.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Ocado Repurposes Uniforms Through Unique Partnership

Mar 1, 2018 2:00 PM ET

More than a third of us wear a uniform at work. The problem with that is, as with most garments, when uniforms reach the end of their life they are merely tossed in the bin. In fact, a staggering 90% of the 33 million corporate garments given to staff every year end up in landfill. That adds up to 15,000 tonnes of clothing. The cost of waste disposal alone comes to £1.2m in Landfill Tax.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Natural Wonder: 2017 Nightingale Awards Best of Competition

Mar 1, 2018 1:45 PM ET

Lichen, a modular plank carpet system from Mohawk Group, was the Best of Competition winner in the 2017 Nightingale Awards. The collection blends concepts of sustainability and biophilic design.

Energy

Wells Fargo Joins Global Atlantic Financial and Origis Energy to Increase Clean Energy Supply for Southeast U.S.

Mar 1, 2018 1:30 PM ET

SAN FRANCISCO – Wells Fargo (NYSE: WFC) Renewable Energy and Environmental Finance today announced it has completed $49 million in tax-equity funding for the new 540-acre solar generation facility known as MS Solar 3 in Sumrall, Mississippi. One of the Southeast’s biggest solar projects, it will generate enough clean energy to power more than 11,400 homes.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

OneWest Bank Wins Recognition At The 12th Annual Stevie® Awards

Mar 1, 2018 1:25 PM ET

Education

Edison NJ Mayor Lankey Speaks to goIT Students About STEM at Woodrow Wilson Middle School

Mar 1, 2018 12:55 PM ET

Energy

Bringing Renewable Energy to the Grid in the Rapidly Developing World

Mar 1, 2018 12:45 PM ET

As the demand for computing power grows exponentially, there has been a push from both outside of, and within the IT sector to reduce the carbon emissions and energy consumption associated with the world’s rapidly expanding IT infrastructure, which consists largely of data center facilities. The reality is that efficiency improvements won’t be enough to meet the exploding demand for data, and the compute power necessary to provide it.

Education

Informing Citizens of Tomorrow: How Discovery Education Connects with Classrooms

Mar 1, 2018 12:35 PM ET

For Discovery Education, partnerships that drive social impact in classrooms are a key component of our mission to improve learning for K-12 students. Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-based digital content for K-12, and transforms teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content, professional development and the largest professional learning community of its kind.

Environment

How General Mills' Natural Brands Make Climate a Priority

Mar 1, 2018 12:30 PM ET

From investing in sustainability enhancing technology to supporting regenerative agriculture programs, General Mills is taking on one of today's most pressing environmental issues.

Research, Reports & Publications

New GRI Service to Improve CSR Report Quality

Mar 1, 2018 12:30 PM ET

GRI’s new Disclosure Review Service gives feedback on sustainability reports to help improve the quality of reporting. Apply now to get feedback on your company's ESG disclosures.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Kimberly-Clark Recognized for Energy and Climate Leadership

Mar 1, 2018 12:00 PM ET

Kimberly-Clark Corporation today announced it has won a 2018 Climate Leadership Award for Excellence in the Greenhouse Gas Management (Goal Setting) category, the company’s second Climate Leadership Award in two years.

Green Infrastructure

With Great Wolf Set to Open, Leaders Focus on Exit 13 Beautification

Mar 1, 2018 11:15 AM ET

The City of LaGrange, GA is looking to make a good first impression on the 500,000 plus visitors who are expected to drive through the city on The Ray starting this spring.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Timberland Victory Garden Funds New Home for Family in Haiti

Mar 1, 2018 11:00 AM ET

As an employee of Timberland, I am offered up to 40 paid community service hours each year through the company’s Path of Service™ program, now in its 26th year. One of the ways I use my hours is to manage the Timberland Victory Garden, a raised-bed vegetable garden located on the front lawn of our global headquarters in Stratham, New Hampshire.