Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Environment

Olay To Become the First Mass Retail Skincare Brand to Test Refillable Packaging

Jun 6, 2019 2:10 PM ET

Announced by Marc Pritchard, Chief Brand Officer of P&G, and Virginie Helias, Chief Sustainability Officer of P&G, at the 2019 Sustainable Brands Conference on June 5 in Detroit, Olay will pilot a new way of shopping for skincare that could dramatically reduce the amount of plastic used in the beauty category.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

CECP Identifies Three Vital Audiences Companies Must Engage to Drive Long-Term Growth

Jun 6, 2019 1:30 PM ET

CEOs from institutional investor firms BlackRock and State Street released their annual guidance to companies on practices they “believe will drive sustainable, long-term growth, and profitability.” These letters were issued amidst widespread cynicism, both socially and economically, while anxious chatter continues about the role of business, capitalism, and strategic time horizons.

Environment

BIER Member Spotlight: Jamal Booker

Jun 6, 2019 1:00 PM ET

The Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER) highlights their members' beverage industry sustainability insights and ideas in their BIER Member Spotlight series on a monthly basis. These spotlights include their answers to questions about their company's sustainability achievements and strategy, practical insights from BIER, interesting facts, and more.

Research, Reports & Publications

2019 TCFD Status Report: Key Takeaways

Jun 6, 2019 1:00 PM ET

To better understand current climate-related financial disclosure practices and how they have evolved, the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD or Task Force) reviewed—using artificial intelligence technology—reports for over 1,000 large companies in multiple sectors and regions over a three-year period. In addition, the Task Force conducted a survey on companies’ efforts to implement the TCFD recommendations as well as users’ views on the usefulness of climate-related financial disclosures for decision-making.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

PT Freeport Indonesia, a Freeport-McMoRan Company, provides Flood Relief Rescue and Medical Services

Jun 6, 2019 12:50 PM ET

When a flash-flood hit Sentani, Indonesia, on March 16, 2019, PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI) was ready to help.

Within 24 hours, PTFI had mobilized resources to provide food, water, and critically needed rescue and medical services. Within 48 hours, the company had sent five emergency preparedness teams and two medical personnel to Sentani.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Flint Hills Resources’ Support for Ducks Unlimited Surpasses $1M Contributed, 250,000 Acres Conserved

Jun 6, 2019 12:00 PM ET

After more than 30 years of collaboration, Flint Hills Resources was recently recognized for reaching a significant milestone in its relationship with nonprofit Ducks Unlimited, surpassing $1 million in contributions to support habitat conservation initiatives for waterfowl and other wildlife. A significant amount of support has gone toward helping the Living Lakes Initiative in Minnesota and Iowa to enhance and preserve more than 1,900 acres of shallow lakes habitat, 800 acres of wetland and upland habitat, and acquire and restore an additional 700 acres of land for public use.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

ESPN Announces the 2019 Sports Humanitarian Award Nominees and Stuart Scott ENSPIRE Award Honorees

Jun 6, 2019 11:50 AM ET

The fifth annual Sports Humanitarian Awards presented by ESPN and sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb Company will be held on Tuesday, July 9, at L.A. LIVE’s The Novo and will be hosted — for the first time — by Grammy Award winner, singer and songwriter Ciara. The Sports Humanitarian Awards are a celebration of the impact made by athletes, teams and sports industry professionals who use the power of sports to make a difference throughout the world. The evening will feature a special performance by acclaimed multi-platinum pop singer and songwriter Andy Grammer. Highlights of the evening will be showcased during a one-hour program on ESPN, July 18, at 7 p.m. ET.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

People, Planet, Prosper

Jun 6, 2019 11:30 AM ET

Joseph Stiglitz, the renowned Nobel laureate economist, had a column in the New York Times recently titled, “Progressive Capitalism is Not an Oxymoron,” summing up his new book, “People, Power and Profits: Progressive Capitalism for an Age of Discontent.”

Diversity & Inclusion

FCA US and FIAT Brand Lead the Motor City Pride Parade

Jun 6, 2019 11:20 AM ET

Detroit will again show off the colors of the rainbow this weekend (June 8-9), celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) culture at Motor City Pride, an annual two-day festival and parade that is the largest LGBTQ gathering in Michigan.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

MilliporeSigma Expects Extra Cost of Sustainability to 'Wash out Over Time'

Jun 6, 2019 11:00 AM ET

Business-to-business (B2B) companies should be considering the sustainability of their packaging as much as consumer goods companies, according to pharma firm Merck, KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.

Media & Communications

NASDAQ Exchange Publishes the “ESG Reporting Guide” for Corporate Managements and Boards

Jun 6, 2019 11:00 AM ET

There is encouraging news for sustainability professionals coming from the world of stock exchanges this month. The NASDAQ Exchange just published its guide for listed companies – as well for privately-owned firms as perhaps future IPOs for NASDAQ listing – for companies’ public ESG reporting. This is the “ESG Reporting Guide – A Voluntary Support Program for Companies”.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Wells Fargo Donates $235,000 to Mississippi Nonprofits for Community Revitalization Efforts

Jun 6, 2019 11:00 AM ET

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) today announced $235,000 in donations to four local nonprofits that will help revitalize Mississippi neighborhoods through the Wells Fargo NeighborhoodLIFT® program.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

SC Johnson Europe Earns Best Multinational Workplace Honor

Jun 6, 2019 11:00 AM ET

SC Johnson today announces its recognition as a Best Multinational Workplace in Europe by Great Place to Work®. SC Johnson Europe ranked No. 15 on the 2019 list of top places to work in the region. This is the 14th time the company’s Europe region has been recognized as a Best Workplace, and the third consecutive year.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

VIDEO | Worker Safety

Jun 6, 2019 11:00 AM ET

The health and safety of Smithfield Foods’ employees is a core value, and the company is constantly working to better its safety performance by engaging all employees in its safety management programs.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Las Vegas Sands Property Announces Further Commitment to Renewable Energy and to Sustainable Seafood

Jun 6, 2019 10:00 AM ET

The Venetian Resort today announced elevated support for the development of green power and sustainable seafood at the iconic Las Vegas hotel and convention center. The announcement coincides with United Nations-sponsored World Environment Day on June 5. Beginning in May, the company entered into a partnership with NV Energy to offset 100% of the annual electricity consumption at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas and Sands Expo & Convention Center through the purchase of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

World AIDS Day 2018: Together We Are Stronger

Jun 6, 2019 9:00 AM ET

World AIDS Day takes place on December 1 each year. The day was first recognized in 1988 to raise awareness of the AIDS pandemic, show support for people living with HIV and remember those who died of AIDS-related causes. Our commitment to fighting HIV and AIDS began in 1986 in the San Francisco Bay Area when we started to see HIV/AIDS affecting our employees and communities first hand. A few years later, our company recognized that some of our largest operations were in areas where the grip of AIDS was growing rapidly.

Environment

Texas Wind Farm Is Helping Ingersoll Rand Reduce Environmental Impact

Jun 6, 2019 8:00 AM ET

On June 1, 2019, the renewable energy generated by Seymour Hills Wind Farm in northwestern Texas started helping Ingersoll Rand reduce U.S. Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from electricity by about 30 percent through a virtual power purchase agreement.

This is equivalent to taking 15,000 cars off the road.

Research, Reports & Publications

Vodafone Group Plc Sustainable Business Report 2019

Jun 6, 2019 5:00 AM ET

Vodafone’s sustainable business strategy is embedded within and helps to drive its purpose – to connect for a better future – and is accompanied by a commitment to act responsibly and with integrity wherever it operates.

Through its business, Vodafone aims to help build a digital society that enhances socio-economic progress, embraces everyone and does not come at the cost of our planet. That is why it has committed to improve one billion lives and halve its environmental impact by 2025.

Media & Communications

World Environment Center Names Glenn Prickett as Interim President and CEO

Jun 5, 2019 6:30 PM ET

he World Environment Center (WEC) announced today that long-time sustainability expert Glenn Prickett has been named interim CEO of WEC on a part-time basis, following the departure of Lori Michelin. Prickett will oversee WEC’s world-recognized programs and strategic mission to advance sustainable development and corporate sustainability in partnership with governments, multilateral organizations, the private sector, and other stakeholders.

Environment

Sustainable Steps to #BeatAirPollution

Jun 5, 2019 5:30 PM ET

Chances are, right now, you or someone you love is breathing polluted air. Nine out of 10 people on Earth breathe polluted air, according to the World Health Organization. That’s why this year’s World Environment Day on June 5 encourages people everywhere to work together to #BeatAirPollution. Air pollution comes from many sources, and Schneider Electric focuses on combating two types through long-term sustainable action: Indoor (or household) air pollution – a reality for more than 4 billion people2, Outdoor pollution from transportation or energy production...

Events, Media & Communications

National Grid at Center for Climate and Energy Solutions Report Launch

Jun 5, 2019 4:00 PM ET

Patty DiOrio, VP of US Strategy, National Grid, appeared as a speaker on a panel hosted/moderated by the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) to briefly discuss Climate Innovation 2050 repository, which produced three alternative scenarios for achieving an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. Her participation mainly highlighted National Grid’s efforts to assess and advance long-term climate goals (Northeast 80x50 Pathway and internal GHG targets) for the power, transportation and heating sectors.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Arrow Electronics Employees Score Funds for Financial Education Through Junior Achievement Bowl-A-Thon

Jun 5, 2019 4:00 PM ET

More than 100 Arrow Electronics employees in the company’s Centennial, Colo. headquarters participated in the Junior Achievement Bowl-A-Thon to raise money for the nonprofit’s outreach to Colorado youth. The employees raised enough funds to sponsor educational programming for 250 students. Junior Achievement Rocky Mountain, Inc. will reach over 100,000 students this year, teaching them invaluable life lessons in financial literacy, career readiness and entrepreneurship at no cost thanks to corporate partners like Arrow.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

From the Street to the Street: The Circular Economy in Ghana

Jun 5, 2019 3:40 PM ET

The ASASE (‘Mother Earth’) Foundation has put the circular economy into practice through its CASH IT! social enterprise, aiming to establish a replicable, sustainable business model, formalizing employment, mobilizing volunteers, and creating a product desperately needed by the community from trash that formerly littered the streets. It’s sustainability in action. PYXERA Global Senior Fellow Laura Asiala caught up with Dana Mosora on a recent trip to Connecticut, where she squeezes in a visit to her granddaughter when she’s not generating value from the waste stream in Ghana or advising companies across Europe on sustainable packaging through her consulting company.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Building a Nation of Makers and Young Scientists in Thailand

Jun 5, 2019 3:00 PM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

Johnson & Johnson Releases 2018 Health for Humanity Report

Jun 5, 2019 3:00 PM ET

Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ), the world’s largest and most broadly-based healthcare company, today released its Health for Humanity Report detailing the Company’s annual progress in its environmental, social and governance (ESG) focus areas: advancing better health for all, investing in our people, maintaining responsible business practices, and safeguarding the environment.