Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Education

STEMpact Invests in Developing STEM-Capable Teachers

Aug 9, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Each summer, St. Louis area companies, in collaboration with Washington University, invite approximately 200 teachers to the campus of Washington University in St.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

How to Roll Out a Powerful Global Employee Engagement Program

Aug 9, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Equinix is a US-based company that connects the world’s leading businesses to their customers, employees and partners inside the world’s most connected data centers in 44 markets across five continents. They launched an international giving and volunteering program with Benevity in 2016, and the results have been impressive. Their 2016 one-month annual Impact Month campaign saw donations jump by 50%, while participation grew by 62%, and volunteer hours increased by 72% year-over-year versus 2015 (before they rolled out their international program).

We spoke with Equinix's Director of Corporate Citizenship, Sujata Narayan, about the business and social drivers behind their program, how they made it work, its impact and the value of local champions to an international Goodness program.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Subaru Supports Non-Profit Farm

Aug 9, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Volunteers from Subaru of America Inc., the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardeners and Lambs Farm spent the day recently building garden beds, transporting soil, planting and topping the gardens with straw to create Lambs Farm's first sustainable garden.

Research, Reports & Publications

Business Momentum a Boost for Cargill’s Positive Impact with Customers and Communities

Aug 9, 2017 8:45 AM ET

Building on strong earnings in fiscal 2017, Cargill is working to continue growing its business and corporate responsibility impact. The company’s 2017 annual report, launched today, outlines its business growth and community impact.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Amgen Staff Volunteer at an Animal Shelter

Aug 9, 2017 8:40 AM ET

Amgen recognizes the importance of giving back to our local communities. Each year, thousands of Amgen staff generously devote their personal time, energy, talents and funds to a variety of charitable organizations across the globe.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Backing Britain with ‘Crucial Boost’ to Agriculture

Aug 9, 2017 8:40 AM ET

In the year since the UK’s referendum on EU membership, Barclays has prioritised helping UK customers and clients through this period of uncertainty, but also one of potential opportunity.

Energy

NRG Energy | Sustainable Business Solutions

Aug 9, 2017 8:15 AM ET

Our team makes sustainability a reality for organizations by developing customized energy solutions based on their needs. These solutions include demand response, renewables, thermal, commodity sales, energy efficiency and energy management services. Responding to the business goals of ROI- driven companies, our projects span multiple industries and range from 100 MW utility-scale renewable solutions to o -grid power solutions that employ small wind turbines and battery storage.

Sustainable Development Goals

Becoming Water-Smart: Newly Released Report Delves into Scalable Water and Agriculture Solutions in India

Aug 9, 2017 7:50 AM ET

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s (WBCSD) newest report, Co-optimizing solutions in water and agriculture: Lessons from India on water security, identifies key enablers for scaling up solutions to water-scarcity in India. The information is designed to be useful for companies worldwide.

Responsible Production & Consumption

SCS Global Services Recognized by Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative as Approved Audit Firm for Conflict-Free Smelter Program

Aug 9, 2017 7:00 AM ET

Leading third-party certifier SCS Global Services (SCS) announced today that it has been formally approved as a Conflict-Free Smelter Program (CFSP) audit firm by the Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative (CFSI).

Social Impact & Volunteering

Keeping the Community Clean in Suriname

Aug 8, 2017 8:35 PM ET

Recently, Newmont employees and members of the local Pamaka government worked together to clean up debris and litter along the shore of the Marowijne River in Langa Tabiki village.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Comcast NBCUniversal Interns Make Change Happen at Food Share Program

Aug 8, 2017 5:50 PM ET

Comcast Cares Day takes place every April, but summer interns wanted to make change happen, too. Many of the nearly 140 interns and co-ops working in Comcast’s Philadelphia headquarters spent a recent afternoon volunteering at Share Food Program, a Philadelphia nonprofit with a mission of providing fresh produce to communities in need.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Innovators Crisscross the U.S. in Eight Week Sprint

Aug 8, 2017 5:35 PM ET

Innovation & Technology

The LAA, LULAC and Cox Enterprises Partner to Bridge the Digital Divide with Unveiling of EHAT Technology Center in Atlanta

Aug 8, 2017 5:30 PM ET

Education

“The Kids Love It:” Fun, Interactive Science Laboratory on Wheels Is Touring Milwaukee

Aug 8, 2017 5:30 PM ET

It's a fun and interactive laboratory on wheels that inspires kids to learn about science. Best of all, it's currently touring Milwaukee. The Curiosity Cube is a mobile science lab made out of an old shipping container.

Education

Felipa Benitez

Aug 8, 2017 4:25 PM ET

Innovation & Technology

Lockheed Martin Will Build New Space Instrument Focused on Vegetation Health and Carbon Monitoring

Aug 8, 2017 2:40 PM ET

Scientists will get a better understanding of our planet’s carbon cycle and vegetation health through a first-of-a-kind NASA instrument built by Lockheed Martin. The Geostationary Carbon Cycle Observatory (GeoCARB) mission will use an advanced infrared spectrograph hosted on a commercial geosynchronous satellite. The project is led by Principal Investigator Dr. Berrien Moore at the University of Oklahoma.

Health & Healthcare

Harnessing Entrepreneurship to Promote Sustainable Health Solutions

Aug 8, 2017 2:10 PM ET

Pfizer believes a collaborative relationship between the public and private sectors is critical in generating sustainable solutions for global health challenges. To underscore that belief, we are proud that through the Pfizer Foundation we provide catalytic grants to social entrepreneurs and organizations, with the goal of improving access to affordable, quality healthcare care for those in need. We achieve this by providing funding and technical assistance to help scale potential high-impact innovations that aim to improve health systems and infrastructure in low-resource settings.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

National Diversity Council is Proud to Announce the 2017 Top 50 Multicultural Lawyers in Dallas

Aug 8, 2017 2:00 PM ET

The National Diversity Council is proud to announce the 2017 Top 50 Multicultural Lawyers in Dallas, a definitive list of executives, influencers and achievers impacting the legal industry

Education

Yum! Recognizes Andy Pearson Scholarship Recipients

Aug 8, 2017 1:45 PM ET

At Yum!, we are focused on supporting continued education and providing development opportunities for all employees, from restaurant general managers and restaurant team members to employees at our restaurant support centers. These educational investments are positioned to grow our people, personally and professionally, in order to improve quality of life and add value to working across any of our brands.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

System Change Opportunity in the Corporate Sector

Aug 8, 2017 1:30 PM ET

System change is by far the most important sustainability issue in the corporate sector. Climate change and virtually every other major environmental and social issue only can be resolved through systemic changes at the sector and overarching system levels.

Education

Ashridge Executive Education: 'Action Research' Method Trains Business Leaders to Make Impact

Aug 8, 2017 1:00 PM ET

The challenges facing us – population growth, migration, globalisation, shifting centres of economic power, increasing inequality of life and the deterioration of the environment – are pressing. Now, many advocates for change have realised that change and innovation is predominantly a socio-technological phenomenon and that the standard approaches no longer work.

Innovation & Technology

3 Reasons Why You Should Invest In Smart Cities Now

Aug 8, 2017 12:45 PM ET

Now is the time that we should be investing and exploring what can be done with smart cities - and here's why, according to President and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Common Impact and S&P Global Launch Skills-Based Day of Service Program

Aug 8, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Common Impact, a nonprofit that pioneered corporate skills-based volunteering, partnered with S&P Global on its first ever skills-based Day of Service program designed to build the infrastructure and know-how of local STEM-focused nonprofits. Employees from S&P Global supported data visualization initiatives for three nonprofits in Charlottesville, Denver and Houston.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

ABLE Accounts Allow People with Disabilities to Save Without Losing Benefits

Aug 8, 2017 11:55 AM ET

On August 3, Keystone Human Services hosted a roundtable discussion with PA Treasurer Joe Torsella, individuals with disabilities, and their families to discuss the PA ABLE Savings Program and how it gives people with disabilities the opportunity to save for their future.

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: Role-Reversal

Aug 8, 2017 11:20 AM ET

Each submission I reviewed involved an immense amount of work from these teams, and I’m grateful to them for the time and effort they put toward the challenge. While as judges we couldn’t advance every team to the Accelerator Phase, I was impressed by every entry I saw.