Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: A Fish Tale

Jul 24, 2018 5:15 PM ET

Projections have our oceans containing more plastic than fish, by weight, by the year 2050. A ridiculous amount of the plastic pollution I wrote about last week ends up in our oceans, where it gets caught up in massive swirling ocean currents called gyres.

Sustainable Development Goals

Economic Responsibility at Sappi Has Been a Transformative Journey

Jul 24, 2018 5:05 PM ET

Sustainable development is core to our business strategy. We balance a daily operational focus of sourcing wood, identifying productivity improvements and fulfilling customer orders, with a longterm view for growth in core markets and expansion through investment in new markets, innovative equipment and groundbreaking technology.

Events, Media & Communications

How Are You Rising to Sustainability Challenges? | Sustainability Twitter Chat Q&A with Erb Institute

Jul 24, 2018 4:10 PM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Black & Veatch Among Top 10 U.S. Solar Contractors

Jul 24, 2018 12:30 PM ET

Black & Veatch has been recognized by Solar Power World magazine for its achievements within the solar industry, earning the No. 9 spot as an overall Top Solar Contractor on the magazine's 2018 Top Solar Contractors list.

Research, Reports & Publications

Physical Risk: Second Part of Guidance for Banking Industry to Implement TCFD Recommendations Now Available

Jul 24, 2018 11:45 AM ET

UNEP FI's newly released report "Navigating a New Climate" outlines findings from 16 banks piloting the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) and the estimated impact of climate change on their corporate lending portfolios. The report prominently features the use of MAPS as a geospatial mapping tool for physical risk assessment.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Three Keys to Intel's Global Water Stewardship Program

Jul 24, 2018 11:45 AM ET

Next week I will be joining my peers at NAEM’s 2018 Sustainability Management Conference to share Intel’s story on a topic that I am really excited about – water stewardship. You may be asking why a technology company would be excited to talk about water. As we all know, water is critical to life on this planet, but you may not know that water is critical to the technology industry – from semiconductor manufacturing to data center cooling as well as office buildings (e.g., cooling towers, landscaping, restrooms, cafés, etc.). The technology that is part of nearly every aspect of our lives also depends on water.

Environment

How Global RegSupport Help Desk Answers EHS Regulatory Questions Anywhere in the World

Jul 24, 2018 11:25 AM ET

Need answers to big EHS regulatory questions? Learn about our solution for environmental health and safety managers around the globe.

Sustainable Development Goals

Working Together Towards Sustainable Healthy Diets

Jul 24, 2018 10:45 AM ET

SDG 12 is crucial because there is an urgent need to transform the way we use food and land. As the world’s largest food and beverage company, Nestlé is contributing our expertise and experience to help achieve sustainable, healthy diets for a growing global population. This is an integral part of our business.

We believe that to be successful in the long term, we have to create value for both our shareholders and society. ´Creating Shared Value’ is the way we do business and live up to our purpose – ‘Enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future’.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Viacom Interns Paint and Pack Meals for First-Ever Intern Viacommunity Day

Jul 24, 2018 10:15 AM ET

The White Box event space at Viacom’s Times Square headquarters was getting loud and rowdy in the late afternoon on Tuesday, July 16 as 95 interns from three New York City offices sang along to music, socialized and volunteered to help others in need. Meanwhile, similar events ramped up at the Los Angeles and Nashville offices, as approximately 160 interns in all three cities got to work for two incredible non-profit organizations, Rise Against Hunger and Free Arts NYC.

The coordinated cross-country sessions were part of Viacom’s first-ever Intern Viacommunity Day, a scaled-down version of Viacom’s annual global Viacommunity Day, which places thousands of volunteers to help out in local communities, typically in the spring.

Research, Reports & Publications

HPE | Sustainability and Shareholder Value

Jul 24, 2018 10:05 AM ET

We have long known that our Living Progress plan is the right thing for a responsible company to do. But we now have increasing evidence that our sustainability credentials contribute to our business objectives and deliver value to our shareholders. This trend is reflected in the burgeoning growth of the sustainability investment sector.

Innovation & Technology

Connecting Entrepreneurs with Industry Leaders

Jul 24, 2018 10:05 AM ET

Station Houston, Houston’s hub for technology and innovation, has partnered with Bechtel, one of the world’s most respected engineering, construction, and project management companies. The partnership focuses on enhancing opportunities by mentoring and engaging with local entrepreneurs regarding EPC industry challenges.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Learn More About MetLife's Impact Investments

Jul 24, 2018 10:05 AM ET

MetLife Investment Management, MetLife’s institutional asset management platform, manages $587.3 billion for MetLife’s general account and institutional investors, such as pension plans and insurance companies. We define impact investments as those that generate social or environmental benefits while also providing financial returns.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Former Gap Inc. Executive Bobbi Silten to Lead Global Initiative That Is Unlocking Business’ Power to Catalyze Social Change at Scale

Jul 24, 2018 10:00 AM ET

FSG and the Shared Value Initiative are pleased to announce that former Gap Inc. executive Bobbi Silten will lead the Initiative as Managing Director, effective July 30, 2018.

Research, Reports & Publications

Fifteen Luxury Companies Collaborate to Develop New Roadmap for Resilient Luxury Sector

Jul 24, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Fifteen leading luxury companies today launched a new report outlining opportunities and recommendations for the luxury sector to address the global challenges posed by climate change and biodiversity loss, new technologies and automation, and rising economic inequality.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Barclays Employee Takes Banking Skills Into Volunteer Mountain Rescue

Jul 24, 2018 9:45 AM ET

Lee Faulkner works in risk management for Barclays and volunteers with the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team, a voluntary organisation in South Wales. Lee talks us through his typical week – from searching for a missing person on the Brecon Beacons to helping rescue injured walkers – and how it feels for the team to have been recognised by Prince William.

Environment

P&G Is Working to Help Halt the Flow of Plastic into the World’s Oceans

Jul 24, 2018 9:20 AM ET

P&G is proud to be a founding partner of Circulate Capital a new venture to invest in solutions to ocean plastic. This new investment firm will help create the infrastructure to help prevent ocean plastic and will concentrate efforts in South and Southeast Asia

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

50 Farms and No Regrets

Jul 24, 2018 9:15 AM ET

Iroquois Valley Farms has reached a milestone: This spring we added the 50th farm to our portfolio. Our farmland REIT — honored as a “Best for the World” company from B Labs — provides secure land tenure for 35 farm families working nearly 9,000 acres of farmland. More families will be joining the Iroquois Valley Farms fold soon.

Diversity & Inclusion

Walmart Supports Future Leaders Through $2 Million in Funding to the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute

Jul 24, 2018 9:05 AM ET

Today, Walmart announced $2 million in grants to organizations working to expand internship opportunities for diverse youth populations, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Inc. (CBCF) and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI). The grants build on previous Walmart funding to the two nonprofits, bringing the company’s total investment to more than $6 million over the last several years. The funding will help provide career pathways on Capitol Hill for students and young professionals through education and hands-on experience in the nation’s capital.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

CSD Learns, Wells Fargo Launch Financial Education Series for the Deaf Community

Jul 24, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Communication Services for the Deaf (CSD) Learns and Wells Fargo & Company announced the launch of an online financial education series for the deaf community. The first two courses, “Dealing with Debt” and “Getting Started with Investing,” are available free of charge at CSDLearns.com to all deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind individuals in the U.S. as well as their teachers and service providers.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Abbott Named Corporate Citizen of the Year

Jul 23, 2018 8:30 PM ET

Abbott is honored to be named the Executives’ Club of Chicago’s 2018 Corporate Citizen of the Year. This award reflects Abbott’s commitment to building stronger communities around the world, and recognizes the significant impact Abbott employees have made through hands-on volunteering and employee giving.

Education

Peñasquito’s Education Strategy Builds Capacity and Competence in Communities

Jul 23, 2018 5:00 PM ET

Responsible Production & Consumption

How This Sustainable Yarn System Is Changing the Flooring Industry

Jul 23, 2018 4:05 PM ET

We are proud to introduce everyone to Heathered Hues, our new sustainable high-performance color yarn system developed to give our soft surface products a more natural and variegated, wool-like effect.

Research, Reports & Publications

America’s Pledge Outlines Bottom-Up Opportunity Agenda for U.S. State, City and Business Action on Climate

Jul 23, 2018 4:00 PM ET

The America’s Pledge report provides a ten-part opportunity agenda for bottom-up climate policies and programs to help deliver America’s Pledge under the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Health & Healthcare

Aflac Partners with National Dance Marathon Leadership Conference for Corporate Social Responsibility Education

Jul 23, 2018 2:50 PM ET

In 2018, Aflac joined the Miracle Network Dance Marathon movement as partners for the annual Dance Marathon Leadership Conference (DMLC). DMLC fosters collaboration by sharing resources, best practices, and trends in peer-to-peer fundraising for participants involved with Dance Marathon programs at over 300 colleges and universities throughout North America.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Let Local Partners Lead

Jul 23, 2018 2:05 PM ET

On June 11, Paraguay became the first country to be certified malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO) in more than 40 years. This is the latest in a series of triumphs for global efforts to combat infectious diseases. In December, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative reported a 99 percent reduction in annual polio cases since 1988. Between 2000 and 2016, the WHO estimates that new HIV infections fell 39 percent and, although still a leading cause of death worldwide, tuberculosis claimed 53 million fewer lives due to better diagnosis and treatment.