Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Reporting on the SDGs Action Platform

Mar 16, 2017 2:30 PM ET

Transparency is fast becoming the new paradigm for conducting business. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have ushered in a new era of global development objectives to tackle the world’s most pressing problems, and the active participation of business is a principle driver in achieving these goals. GRI and the UN Global Compact have initiated a ground-breaking initiative, ‘Reporting on the SDGs, to enable businesses to incorporate SDG reporting into their existing processes and promote their contribution to the Global Goals.

Diversity & Inclusion

Meet Joie McCutchen, Arborist

Mar 16, 2017 2:00 PM ET

We’re celebrating Women’s History Month this March by introducing you to 10 women who help power your life at Duke Energy and Piedmont Natural Gas. They advance our company with their vision, talent, hard work and creativity. These trailblazing women – including a nuclear engineer, astrophysicist and lineman – reveal inspiring stories of persistence, pluck and achievement in largely male-dominated fields. A diverse workplace isn’t just a nice idea, it’s a competitive necessity. Today, meet Joie McCutchen, an associate vegetation management specialist, Florence, S.C.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Why Your Company Needs to Address Human Trafficking in Your Supply Chain

Mar 16, 2017 2:00 PM ET

It’s likely that modern day slavery is in your supply chain; the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that close to $150 billion in annual company profits are tied to forced labor, and approximately 21 million people worldwide are victims of modern day slavery. But, is this an issue your company needs to address?

Research, Reports & Publications

New Sustainability Report Shows How British American Tobacco is Responding to a Changing World

Mar 16, 2017 1:05 PM ET

The report outlines the work of the Group across three strategic focus areas of harm reduction, sustainable agriculture and farmer livelihoods, and corporate behaviour.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Arrow Electronics Shares DigiTruck Success at Posner Center Leadership Event

Mar 16, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Corporate Reputation Drives Both Kinds of CCO

Mar 16, 2017 12:50 PM ET

All CCOs are not created equally. But they’re getting closer.

After decades working alongside chief communications officers, I figured other corporate professional masquerading under the CCO acronym had little in common with the wordsmiths who manage corporate messaging.

That myth was exploded when I attended a gathering of the other CCO-- chief compliance officers – and realized their concerns about corporate reputation were completely aligned with the ink-stained wretches who manage comms.

Environment

Congress Should Reject Short-Sighted EPA Budget Cuts

Mar 16, 2017 12:20 PM ET

The Trump Administration announcement of proposed massive budget cuts for programs vital to addressing climate change and broader environmental protections at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is “deeply concerning and flies in the face of what the American people and U.S. investor and businesses communities alike are seeking,” said Ceres President Mindy Lubber.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Paper to Pro Bono: Connecting your Strategic Goals to Pro Bono

Mar 16, 2017 11:45 AM ET

Mission-driven organizations face significant pressure to funnel resources directly into their client-serving programs, at the expense of investing internally to strengthen their organization’s potential for long-term impact. With uncertainty looming over public funds for social programs, increased demand for services will intensify that pressure, leaving even fewer resources available to build nonprofit infrastructure. This makes the case for engaging in pro-bono ever-more compelling: resource-strapped nonprofits can tap into the well of skills and energy that exists in the corporate sector to fuel much-needed investment in organizational capacity.

Environment

Eco-Design: A 20-Year Forecast

Mar 16, 2017 10:40 AM ET

You may have planned tonight’s dinner, and perhaps even have reservations for this summer’s vacation. But have you mapped out how your company’s products will succeed in the economic and natural environments 20 years from now? The International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative has forecast critical technological and sustainability trends for the electronics industry. iNEMI’s 2017 Roadmap will be available to the public in early April you can begin gleaning insights for eco-design today at the anteagroup website.

Environment

HP Inc. Challenges Tech Industry to Come Clean About Electronics Recycling

Mar 16, 2017 10:30 AM ET

According to environmental non-profit Basel Action Network (BAN), electronics recycling may not be quite as straightforward as consumers believe. While some electronics are safely dismantled and have their components scrapped or re-used, the recycling process consists of a complex, multi-step supply chain that ends in the developing world, where e-waste is often exported for treatment and oversight is minimal.

Diversity & Inclusion

#WomensHistoryMonth at Cox Enterprises: Get to Know Emily Chambers

Mar 16, 2017 10:15 AM ET

In celebration of Women's History Month, female leaders from across Cox Enterprises are sharing insights from their experience throughout the month of March. Emily Chambers is Cox Media Group’s group vice president of human resources.

Innovation & Technology

Ask, Spark, Crowdsource

Mar 16, 2017 10:10 AM ET

As dad to three daughters and Acting Special Representative to the Secretary’s Office of Global Partnerships at the U.S. Department of State, I often find there are themes that are consistent throughout my day, no matter the setting. One of these themes centers on encouraging a crowd-sourcing mentality to find potential solutions for emerging questions or challenges. Whether I am at home with the kids on a Saturday afternoon or surrounded by colleagues on a Thursday morning in the office, I’m constantly learning from those around me and ever-cognizant and humbled that I may not have the perfect recommendation to my daughter’s hypothetical question on what she should add to her reading list (though like any good dad, I would, of course, have some recommendations ready to offer).

Health & Healthcare

Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation and Project Echo Partner to Change Cancer Care in The United States and Africa

Mar 16, 2017 10:00 AM ET

he Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation has awarded a $10 million grant to Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center to greatly expand quality cancer care for rural and underserved populations in the U.S. and Africa.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

NRG’S GHG Reduction Goals Recognized by EPA

Mar 16, 2017 10:00 AM ET

On March 2, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in collaboration with the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) and The Climate Registry (TCR), recognized NRG with the Excellence in Greenhouse Gas Management Climate Leadership Award.

Education

Scotiabank Supports Student Success with $400,000 Gift

Mar 16, 2017 10:00 AM ET

A $400,000 donation from Scotiabank will benefit NAIT students and help the polytechnic continue to grow to meet the needs of Alberta. Announced today, the gift will be used to fund campus expansion, student scholarships and the NAIT International Student Centre.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Are Reporting Challenges Getting in the Way of Grantee Success?

Mar 16, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Complying with burdensome reporting requirements can sap nonprofits of time and energy, making them less effective. How can corporate grantmakers get the data they need and still help ease the burden?

Social Impact & Volunteering

Wendy's Honors 11 Employees for Exemplary Volunteer Efforts in Their Communities

Mar 16, 2017 9:50 AM ET

The Wendy's Company proudly supports employee volunteerism through the Community Ambassador Grant Program. Each year, Wendy's® employees are recognized for extraordinary community volunteerism and engagement with a $2,500 grant to the organization they support. The Community Ambassador of the Year is selected from this group and awarded an additional $10,000 for their organization. Matthew Esteves, a Wendy's Restaurant Manager in Swansea, MA, has been named Wendy's 2016 Community Ambassador of the Year for his leadership and long-term commitment to the Fall River National Little League in Fall River, MA.

Environment

WWF, Domtar: A History of Collaboration

Mar 16, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Check out the 20-year history of successful collaboration between Domtar and WWF to protect and conserve forests.

Health & Healthcare

CBRE Partners with Plan International on Ambitious Safer Cities Initiative

Mar 16, 2017 9:05 AM ET

To celebrate International Women’s Day, CBRE is proud to announce an extension to its partnership with children’s charity, Plan International, to bring the charity’s ‘Safer Cities’ programme to Nairobi in Kenya.

Environment

Orvis CEO Perkins Meets with FL Governor Scott

Mar 16, 2017 8:15 AM ET

The Orvis Company (Orvis) today released the following statement, attributable to its CEO Perk Perkins, regarding his meeting today with Governor Rick Scott to discuss efforts to save the Everglades.

“Our message is simple", said Perkins. "Florida must act now. We urge the Governor and the legislature to take advantage of the opportunity we have this session to save this unique and spectacular ecosystem that is a symbol of Florida and an engine of our state’s economy.”

Responsible Production & Consumption

Responsible Wool Standard Promotes Sustainable Land Stewardship and Humane Sheep Treatment

Mar 16, 2017 8:10 AM ET

Leading third-party certifier SCS Global Services (SCS) has been approved by Textile Exchange as a licensed certification body for the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS). In this role, SCS is now authorized to conduct independent certification assessments of wool production under the “Farm Scope” of the standard.

Research, Reports & Publications

NN Group Publishes Its 2016 Annual Report

Mar 16, 2017 5:00 AM ET

NN Group is pleased to announce the publication of its 2016 Annual Report. It consists of two distinct sections – Annual Review and Financial Report – providing an overview of our strategy and financial and non-financial performance.

Energy

How PNC Helps to Finance the Solar Power Revolution

Mar 15, 2017 5:30 PM ET

The U.S. hit 1 million solar installations at the end of February 2017, which amounts to about 27 gigawatts of solar power capacity, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. That’s enough power to supply roughly 6 million homes. Still, those 1 million installations deliver just 1 percent of the electricity produced in the United States.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Saluting K9 Veterans, The Forgotten Heroes

Mar 15, 2017 4:20 PM ET

Rick Jiran was 18 and fresh out of high school when he joined the Air Force in search of an adventure. What he didn’t count on was that adventure would be alongside man’s best friend.

Environment

Rollback of Clean Vehicle Standards Would Be Bad for Business, Consumers and the Economy

Mar 15, 2017 4:15 PM ET

Today’s announcement from President Trump and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt to re-open and potentially roll back the clean vehicle standards is a huge setback for business, consumers and the economy. The move opens the door to weakening the standards and rejects findings based on years of comprehensive and robust analysis informed by a wide range of stakeholders and technical experts.