Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

World’s Leading Companies Agree: Clean Power Plan Is Necessary Part of U.S. National Climate Plan

Apr 4, 2016 4:30 PM ET

The biggest players in technology and some of the largest consumer brands recently submitted separate friend-of-the-court briefs providing resounding support for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean Power Plan. BSR's Edward Cameron and CERES' Anne Kelly explain.

Events, Media & Communications

Early Bird Registration and Call for Abstracts Open for Renewable Energy Markets 2016

Apr 4, 2016 4:00 PM ET

We are pleased to announce that Early Bird Registration is open for Renewable Energy Markets 2016, taking place October 16–18 in San Francisco, CA. Act fast and save $400 (nearly 30%) off the week-of rate. You can also book your room at the special REM 2016 rate of $279 per night.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Six Reasons CEOs are Rallying for Sustainability

Apr 4, 2016 4:00 PM ET

Advanced smart technology doesn't just make your building run better. When embraced at the C-suite level, it makes the entire organization smarter, too. And from what I've been hearing in recent conversations, CEOs—including JLL’s Colin Dyer speaking at the recent GreenBiz 16 conference—are increasingly seeing broad organizational value in placing sustainability front and center in corporate strategy.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

It Takes A Village | Fight Hunger. Spark Change

Apr 4, 2016 3:15 PM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

CSX One of America's Best Employers, According to Forbes

Apr 4, 2016 2:55 PM ET

Innovation & Technology

"Super Plants" Could Lead to Biofuel Breakthrough

Apr 4, 2016 2:55 PM ET

Boeing and its partners in the project - Etihad Airways, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology and UAE jet fuel company Takreer - launched a new research facility in Masdar City, near Abu Dhabi International Airport to cultivate plants that will eventually produce renewable jet fuel.

Environment

Dealerships Share their Environmental Best Practices

Apr 4, 2016 2:35 PM ET

More than 400 Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac dealers have signed up to participate in GM’s Green Dealer program. These dealers, who come from 47 states across the U.S., are implementing energy reduction, renewable energy, water conservation, waste-to-landfill reduction and community outreach practices that deliver cost savings and help differentiate them from their competition.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Learn from Leaders Making a Difference on SDG 4 – Education

Apr 4, 2016 2:05 PM ET

This week, Global Sourcing Council's 17 Weeks for 17 SDGs Intiative explores Goal 4 with examples of action from organizations and businesses to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Environment

General Motors Corporate Responsibility Newsletter - April 2016

Apr 4, 2016 2:05 PM ET

General Motors earned its fifth U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year award for leadership in protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency. The company continues to find ways to cut energy each year and reduced energy by 5.6 percent per vehicle in 2015 at its U.S. manufacturing plants.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Fundraising Tips from Team I Hate Cancer

Apr 4, 2016 1:50 PM ET

Although spring has recently sprung here in Philadelphia, we look forward to seeing many of you at the Austin Challenge this fall, whether on a road bike or a beach cruiser. We consider summer to be Team I Hate Cancer’s fundraising season and write to share some our successful fundraising strategies as we plan for our 11th year supporting the Foundation.

Diversity & Inclusion

How I became a techie: Roberto Padovani

Apr 4, 2016 1:00 PM ET

My interest in technology started in high school as a love for mathematics. Its elegance and the fact that it came quite easy to me helped the “love story.” - Roberto Padovani

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

LG Electronics Honored By U.S. EPA as 2016 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year, Earns 2016 Climate Communicator Award

Apr 4, 2016 12:50 PM ET

LG Electronics has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the 2016 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year–Sustained Excellence Award for continued leadership in protecting the environment through energy efficient consumer electronics and home appliance products.

Research, Reports & Publications

Newmont Publishes 2015 Sustainability Report

Apr 4, 2016 12:00 PM ET

Newmont Mining Corporation (NYSE: NEM) (Newmont or the Company) today published its 2015 sustainability report, Beyond the Mine, detailing the Company’s safety, economic, environmental and social performance. Last year, Newmont was named the mining industry’s overall leader in sustainability by the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Cox and The Trust for Public Land Launch Arizona’s 5th Annual Cox Conserves Heroes Awards Program

Apr 4, 2016 12:00 PM ET

Cox Communications, in partnership with The Trust for Public Land, is seeking nominations for Arizona’s 5th annual Cox Conserves Heroes awards program. A total of $20,000 will be donated to local environmental nonprofits on behalf of the winner and finalists.

Research, Reports & Publications

RB Introduces New Integrated Approach to Sustainability and Corporate Reporting and Raises Key Sustainability Targets Following Early Successes

Apr 4, 2016 11:45 AM ET

RB, the global leader in consumer health and hygiene, today launched its 2015 Sustainability Report alongside its 2015 Annual Report and Financial Statements.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Helping the Hidden Children

Apr 4, 2016 11:30 AM ET

When Emmanuel Otoo visits organizations for the Global Fund for Children (GFC), a Washington, D.C.– based nonprofit, he often expects a rough road. Literally. Many of the groups GFC funds are small but innovative organizations that work on significant local problems. Sometimes, however, just getting there is a challenge. For example, a recent short trip to a Kenyan site involved a two-hour taxi ride to a market town, followed by a bouncy jaunt on the back of a motorcycle, then a long walk across a wet field.

Research, Reports & Publications

Implementing SASB - A Role for Regulators and Industry Associations

Apr 4, 2016 11:20 AM ET

In order to conform to the guidance set out in SASB’s standards, the Metals & Mining (M&M) and Apparel, Accessories, & Footwear (AA&F) will need to collect large quantities of new data or reshape existing data streams.

Diversity & Inclusion

Global Human Capital Trends 2016: New Report From Deloitte

Apr 4, 2016 11:15 AM ET

Sweeping global forces are reshaping the workplace, the workforce, and work itself. To help organizations and their leaders understand these changes, Deloitte presents the 2016Global Human Capital Trends report, based on more than 7,000 responses to our survey in over 130 countries around the world.

Environment

Awareness and Importance of Circular Economy is Growing, UPS/GreenBiz Study Finds

Apr 4, 2016 11:15 AM ET

Last week, UPS and GreenBiz launched a 2016 study titled The Growth of the Circular Economy, which captures insights from sustainability executives about perceptions of the circular economy, including key business drivers, barriers and opportunities. Here are five major takeaways from the study.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Cox Automotive Presents Barbara Cox Automotive Woman of the Year Award

Apr 4, 2016 11:00 AM ET

Cox Automotive™ presented the 11th annual Barbara Cox Automotive Woman of the Year Award to Jenell Ross, president of Bob Ross Auto Group located in Centerville, Ohio. The Bob Ross Auto Group has the distinction of being the only Buick-GMC, Mercedes-Benz, Alfa Romeo and Fiat dealerships owned by an African-American woman.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Is the New Plastic Economy a Blueprint to Design a Circular Future?

Apr 4, 2016 10:55 AM ET

The Ellen MacArthur Foundation thinks so. In a new report issued entitled The New Plastics Economy: Rethinking the Future of Plastics, the Foundation looks at the plastics lifecycle through the lens of the circular economy and examines concrete steps that can be taken towards system-wide change.

Health & Healthcare

Understand the Past to Create a Positive Future for People with Disabilities

Apr 4, 2016 10:35 AM ET

What does the past mean for those of us trying to craft a positive future for people with disability? Understanding backwards, as Kierkegaard reminds us, creates the wisdom to move forward with a strong awareness of what we are moving away from, what we are moving towards, and what we are learning from the journey.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Rebuilding Together to Repair More Than 700 Homes During National Rebuilding Month

Apr 4, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Rebuilding Together, a leading national nonprofit in safe and healthy housing that provides low-income homeowners with critical home repairs, will mark its annual National Rebuilding Month this April. Nearly 20,000 volunteers will serve in more than 700 affiliate-led rebuild projects during National Rebuilding Month.

During National Rebuilding Month, Rebuilding Together will launch a pledge drive, encouraging people across the country to support safe and healthy homes. The drive will provide safety tips that can be implemented at home and a call-to-action to provide assistance to low income homeowners.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Gary, the "Resourceful Recycler"

Apr 4, 2016 10:00 AM ET

GSK is targeting a carbon neutral value chain by 2050 and has ambitious goals to reduce carbon, water and waste in the meantime. We’ve made significant progress in the last five years. In fact, we turned a corner in 2014 and by the end of 2015, 60% of GSK sites globally sent no waste to landfill. To better understand what zero waste to landfill means in the US, I spoke with Gary, GSK Shipping Coordinator at our Marietta, PA vaccine manufacturing and packaging site. Gary has worked with GSK for nearly ten years and has led the Waste Management Committee for this site to achieve this remarkable environmental milestone. Below is a summary of our recent conversation.

Energy

Whirlpool Corporation Celebrates Its Commitment to Sustainability

Apr 4, 2016 9:00 AM ET

The majority of the environmental impact created by an appliance occurs during it's in-home use and is generally 10 to 20 times higher than the impacts created during it's production, distribution or disposal life cycle phases.