Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Three Top Trends to Leverage This Charitable Season

Sep 17, 2018 4:45 PM ET

Today’s leading CSR programs are shifting their approach to doing good by putting their people at the center—and they’re driving more employee engagement and social impact as a result. How are they doing it? Join our webinar on Thursday, September 20 at 10 a.m. PDT / 1 p.m. EDT.

Environment

New Legislation Is a Critical Step to Advance Climate Risk Disclosure

Sep 17, 2018 4:00 PM ET

Ceres applauds Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s, D-Mass, efforts to advance legislation that directs the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to issue rules requiring companies to disclose critical information about their exposure to risks posed by climate change.

Energy

Consumers Energy Kicks Off Battery Storage Era At Western Michigan University

Sep 17, 2018 3:30 PM ET

Consumers Energy today ushered in a new technology on the campus of Western Michigan University, starting operation of a new large-scale battery that should store enough energy to power 1,000 homes at any time.

Media & Communications

Economic Growth, Protecting & Preserving Our Ecological Systems – Are These Conflicted, or Complementary as We Strive for Greater Global Sustainability?

Sep 17, 2018 3:00 PM ET

The continued drive toward greater societal sustainability is very encouraging. The public sector, multilateral organizations, companies, investors, NGOs, and other stakeholders are adopting new strategies and embracing new approaches and best practices. Picture the installation of the vast array of a desert solar generating “farm” – that’s progress to cheer.

Innovation & Technology

Arrow Electronics and IBM Team Up to Support Call for Code to Promote Technological Solutions for Natural Disasters

Sep 17, 2018 2:45 PM ET

Arrow Electronics today announced that it is joining the Call for Code initiative with Founding Partner IBM, an effort designed to inspire new technology to address pressing social challenges. IBM’s five-year, $30 million USD commitment to the initiative is focusing its efforts this year on encouraging software developers around the world to create applications for natural disaster preparedness and relief.

Diversity & Inclusion

Omar Ishrak Joins Catalyst CEO Champions for Change Initiative

Sep 17, 2018 2:25 PM ET

Since being named chairman and CEO in 2011, Omar Ishrak has made diversity and inclusion a priority at Medtronic. In particular, when speaking with employees, shareholders and customers, he frequently emphasizes the need for more women in senior leadership roles.

Environment

How Formerly Incarcerated People Are Tackling the World’s Fastest-Growing Waste Problem

Sep 17, 2018 2:10 PM ET

Securing a job as a formerly incarcerated person can be challenging. Job applications frequently ask prospective employees to disclose their criminal history, and when former prisoners do, their applications are often denied. Formerly incarcerated people face several systemic barriers when it comes to reintegrating into society and finding a job that can make it difficult for them to support themselves and transition back into civilian life.

Diversity & Inclusion

Aligning CSR Spending to Improve Workforce Diversity

Sep 17, 2018 2:00 PM ET

Today, women hold only 19% of computing degrees with women of color holding just 4%. Symantec has joined the Reboot Representation Tech Coalition to align existing philanthropic donations with peers and build a more inclusive workforce. Together, we plan to double the number of women of color graduating with computing degrees by 2025.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Timberland Global Leadership Team Cooks and Serves Meals to Support Local Homeless Organization

Sep 17, 2018 1:50 PM ET

Timberland’s Global Leadership Team recently cooked and served dinner to 75 residents of Cross Roads House, non-profit organization that supports community members who are experiencing – or have recently experienced -- homelessness. The team, which had convened at the outdoor lifestyle brand’s global headquarters in Stratham NH for a strategy meeting, dedicated the afternoon to serve the local community together.

Diversity & Inclusion

FCA US Hosted Networking Event for More Than 100 Female Entrepreneurs and Leaders

Sep 17, 2018 1:05 PM ET

More than 100 female entrepreneurs and industry leaders attended a new networking event hosted by FCA US LLC, designed to link women business owners with the automaker’s top female leadership.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Wells Fargo Mobilizes to Support Customers and Communities Impacted by Hurricane Florence

Sep 17, 2018 1:00 PM ET

Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC) today announced $1 million in donations to support communities impacted by Hurricane Florence and the activation of special disaster assistance for customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia.

Environment

Bloomberg Joins 20 Other Leading Companies to Announce Launch of Step Up Declaration

Sep 17, 2018 1:00 PM ET

At the Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS) in San Francisco, California, Bloomberg joined 20 other leading companies to announce the launch of the Step Up Declaration. This new alliance is dedicated to harnessing the power of emerging technologies to help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across all economic sectors and ensure a climate turning point by 2020.

Innovation & Technology

Hospitals Will Use Robot Ducks to Comfort Kids With Cancer

Sep 17, 2018 12:25 PM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

CBRE Group, Inc. Earns Place on Dow Jones Sustainability Index for Fifth Consecutive Year

Sep 17, 2018 12:10 PM ET

CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBRE) today announced that it has been included on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America for the fifth year in a row. This index recognizes corporations that demonstrate leadership in environmental, social and governance performance.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Supports Hurricane Florence Relief Efforts in the Southeast U.S.

Sep 17, 2018 11:50 AM ET

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation is supporting emergency relief effort in the southeastern United States following Hurricane Florence, which made landfall in North Carolina on September 14. The storm is slowly moving across the Carolinas, causing widespread flooding, destroying homes and forcing thousands of residents to flee.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

NRG Helps Customers Reach Sustainability Goals

Sep 17, 2018 10:45 AM ET

A key part of our business is to enable customers to achieve sustainable energy outcomes. In 2017, we provided energy consumers across two key segments - Residential and Small Business, and Commercial and Industrial - with access to cleaner, smarter energy choices.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

HPE Ranked Among the World's Most Sustainable Companies

Sep 17, 2018 10:40 AM ET

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) was listed in the 2018 Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) World for the seventh consecutive year[1], recognizing the company’s efforts to lead the industry in sustainable practices.

The indices are a family of best-in-class benchmarks for investors who have recognized that sustainable business practices are critical to generating long-term shareholder value and who wish to reflect their sustainability convictions in their investment portfolios.

Education

Introduction to the Amgen Biotech Experience

Sep 17, 2018 10:25 AM ET

n an era of unprecedented innovation, the Amgen Biotech Experience (ABE) brings hands-on biotech curricula into classrooms worldwide at no cost. In this rigorous lab-based program, students will learn to create recombinant plasmids. By inserting new genes into bacterial DNA, they will recreate the process that Amgen uses to manufacture human insulin and other life-saving medications. ABE is currently offered in 20 regions across Asia Pacific, Europe, and North America.

Environment

Global Climate Action Series: Cisco Announces Ambitious Product Power Efficiency Goal

Sep 17, 2018 10:10 AM ET

Cisco categorizes our GHG and energy initiatives into four areas: operations, extended operations (supply chain), products, and the solutions we sell to our customers. More than a decade ago, Cisco used the IPCC 4th Assessment to set our initial operations GHG reduction goal, and we continue to follow that roadmap.

Green Infrastructure

VIDEO | Mohawk Group: 2018 Chicago Showroom Tour

Sep 17, 2018 10:10 AM ET

Interior Design editor-in-chief Cindy Allen chats with Jackie Dettmar and George Bandy Jr. about Mohawk Group's new Living Product Challenge certified introductions, including the Nutopia carpet plank collection, which is inspired by the idea of “urban fabric.”

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Leveraging Behavioral Economics to Drive Positive Change

Sep 17, 2018 9:45 AM ET

To encourage healthier financial behavior among their customers, financial institutions must first understand why people make certain decisions. By applying behavioral economics insights to their product offerings and service approach, our partner organizations are more effectively helping clients spend less and save more.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Scotiabank Named to Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America

Sep 17, 2018 9:35 AM ET

Scotiabank was recognized for its success in environmental, social and governance initiatives by placing on the 2018 Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America (DJSI), in the top 20 per cent of companies globally, and as one of the largest year-over-year point gainers across the Index itself.

Events, Media & Communications

Town Hall Examines ‘Brands Taking Stands’ Phenomenon – A Movement or a Moment?

Sep 17, 2018 9:05 AM ET

National Basketball Players Association Foundation’s Sherrie Deans, NPR’s Louise Schiavone, Los Angeles Times’ Eli Stokols Join 3BL Forum Panel, Oct. 25.

Sustainable Development Goals

Tetra Tech Supports “The Journey of Gold” Virtual Reality Experience

Sep 17, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Tetra Tech partnered with the Responsible Artisanal Gold Solutions (RAGS) Forum—a multi-stakeholder coalition whose partners include the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Google—to support “The Journey of Gold,” a unique virtual reality (VR) experience.

Education

How to Budget for the School Year – All Year Long

Sep 17, 2018 8:15 AM ET

Once your kids start school, you have to deal with more than just getting them ready for September. Beyond getting them school supplies, you also need to budget for after-school activities, fundraisers, field trips, school lunches and all sorts of random or last-minute expenses throughout the year.