Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

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Media & Communications

Question: Can a Country Provide a Quality of Life Existence and Be Sustainable for the Long-Term? Perhaps – None Do so Today

This week’s top story choice for you is quite fascinating. How can a country provide a quality way of life for its citizens and also strive to be more sustainable over the long-term? Researchers at two universities collaborated to see what countries are doing / and need to do / to provide quality of life for their citizens and to be sustainable (at the same time) to protect the planet. The researchers explain where we are and where we need to go to achieve both (in balance).

Education

Cisco VIDEO | Empowering New Orleans’ Youth with Digital Skills

As Deputy Director of the Cisco Foundation, I am fortunate to be at the center of investing our technology, expertise, and cash grants to empower global problem solvers that make a positive impact on our world. Last year alone, our investments in innovative digital solutions positively impacted 154 million people in some of the most economically underserved parts of the world. We are committed to positively impacting 1 billion people by 2025 and have reached 232 million people to date.

Environment

EPA Policy Update: Reclassification of Major Sources As Area Sources

Antea Group blogs about the EPA’s withdrawal of the “once in always in” policy for the classification of major sources of hazardous air pollutants.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Teaching Trust, the Hardest Part of Foster Care Adoption

Did you know that some children in foster care have been adopted, only to be returned to foster care? It’s what social workers call a disrupted adoption. It’s more than a disruption to the child though. It’s heartbreaking, heart wrenching and they are often left feeling alone, rejected and like they had done something wrong or didn’t deserve a family.

Environment

GM Expands Composting Program at Its Global Headquarters

General Motors is taking its composting program – one of its most successful examples of circular economy – to a whole new level at its global headquarters located in the Renaissance Center (GMRENCEN) in Detroit.

Health & Healthcare

WELL Tip: Navigating Preconditions for the Nourishment Concept

Have you ever considered a WELL precondition and wondered where to begin? Not to fret! We’ve launched a Navigating preconditions series to help project teams get started incorporating a number of preconditions from different WELL concepts into their project’s design and policies.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

iCause to Increase Nonprofit Engagement

iCause seeks to simplify volunteerism and community involvement by bridging the gap between nonprofits and individuals, to make their engagement more sustainable.

Social Impact & Volunteering

2018 Sands Cares Heroes of the Year Announced

On January 26, Team Members around the world were congratulated after learning they had been selected as Sands Cares Heroes of the Year, as well as finalists for The Sheldon G. and Dr. Miriam Adelson Citizenship Award presented by Sands Cares. Sands Cares is the corporate giving program of Las Vegas Sands, where we make our communities better places to live through philanthropic giving, volunteerism and other in-kind support to local organizations.

Sustainable Development Goals

Tetra Tech Conducts Hawaiʻi State Sea Level Rise Vulnerability Assessment

According to a new report released by the State of Hawai‘i, the impact of sea level rise poses an imminent danger to the islands of Hawai‘i, with the potential to cause the loss of roads, utilities, and structures across the state. Tetra Tech developed the “Sea Level Rise Vulnerability & Adaptation Report”—the first statewide assessment of its kind—in conjunction with the State of Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands. The accompanying, interactive Hawai‘i Sea Level Rise Viewer illustrates projected impacts to coastal areas.

Diversity & Inclusion

Great Place to Work® and Fortune Name American Express One of the 2018 FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For®

American Express Company is one of the 2018 FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For, according to global research and consulting firm Great Place to Work and Fortune.

Education

Ioannis Koulas From Greece Shares His #AmgenScholars Journey

My research project in a pharmaceutical immunology lab at ETH Zürich was about the unknown effects of PD-L1/PD-1 interaction on T regulatory cells inside lymphatic capillaries. It was a unique opportunity for me to learn how to test a hypothesis using state-of-the art laboratory equipment and to carefully assess the results of the experiments. I hope that in the future I will be able to expand my knowledge on immunoregulation and contribute to the development of new treatments against autoimmune diseases.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Smithfield Foods Donates More Than 165,000 Pounds of Protein to Local Food Banks

Smithfield Foods, Inc. joined forces with Winn-Dixie, B&R Stores, and Fareway to donate more than 165,000 pounds of protein. Smithfield’s contribution was part of the company’s 2018 Helping Hungry Homes® donation tour. Now in the program’s 10th year, Helping Hungry Homes® is Smithfield’s signature hunger-relief initiative focused on alleviating hunger and helping Americans become more food secure. The donations, equivalent to more than 664,000 servings, will help families fight hunger across northeast Florida, Nebraska, and Western Iowa.

Innovation & Technology

Bechtel Partners with Station Houston to Support Next Generation of Innovators

Bechtel, a global leader in engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC), and Station Houston, Houston’s hub for technology and innovation, announced today the launch of a corporate partnership to connect local startups with industry experts. The partnership will focus on enhancing opportunities for local entrepreneurs through mentoring and engagement in solving EPC industry challenges.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Cisco Executive Platform Blog | Adaptive. Reliable. Secure. Even During a Crisis

On September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico with sustained winds of 155 miles per hour. In its wake was widespread destruction that left island residents without basic human necessities. Responding to this disaster, Cisco teamed with NetHope to support recovery.

Events, Media & Communications

Purpose Takes Center Stage at Holmes In2 Innovation Summit

This week, agencies and major brands convened in New York City for the Holmes In2 Innovation Summit – exploring the innovation and disruption that continues to redefine influence and engagement. As the day continued, a common thread began to emerge. Although session themes varied from subculture marketing to the speed of change, all conversations inevitably turned to Purpose – and how brands are communicating their authentic roles in society in a rapidly evolving landscape of social issues and calls of injustice.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Proyecto Mirador: Transforming Poor Communities Through Innovative Funding

In the highlands of Honduras, where tourism and coffee production drive the country’s economic engine, a social revolution is taking place.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Powering the Circular Economy

“Circular design gives us the opportunity to rethink the whole paradigm instead of operating under current restraints.”

This is the potential for circular design, says Stephanie Johnston, Director of Sustainable Business at Heineken USA, speaking to a room of circular economy enthusiasts, experts and those curious to learn more about how closed-loop design is moving us toward a world without waste. On February 6, BBMG hosted the gathering, “Powering the Circular Economy,” as part of Circular Economy Mapping Week, a global event in partnership with the Circular Economy Club that had similar convenings happening in 67 cities, from Rio de Janeiro to Copenhagen to Aruba.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

What Can We Learn from MBA Students in China on Business Sustainability?

Dr. Thomas P. Lyon recently taught a short course at Shanghai Jiao Tong University on Corporate Environmentalism and Public Policy. Lyon holds the Dow Chair of Sustainable Science, Technology and Commerce, with appointments in both the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and School for Environment and Sustainability. He talked with the Erb Institute about his experience teaching on these topics in Shanghai.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Puerto Rico Journal: Restoring Power on the Island

A lineman’s job has always been part electrician and part good neighbor because the customers they restore power for are their own family and friends. And it’s really no different in Puerto Rico.

Responsible Production & Consumption

New Guide Addresses Food Waste Head On

Having donated over 100 million pounds of food, Pizza Hut is no stranger to reducing food waste. We’ve been in the game since 1992 when we launched our food donation program, Harvest.

In addition to running the Harvest program and participating in the Food Waste Reduction Alliance, we recently provided insight to ReFED, a multi-stakeholder nonprofit organization committed to reducing the $218 billion of food waste in the United States.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Marina Bay Sands Team Member Rieta Yap Shares: What Volunteerism Means to Me

At 60, Rieta Yap performs her duties as a Security Service Administrator at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) with a spring in her step. She is one of the most active contributors on the OneMBS Social Network, MBS’s internal Facebook group, and she eagerly looks forward to Sands for Singapore posts about volunteer opportunities.

Sustainable Development Goals

Nikki Reed Is Using Dell's Gold E-Waste Scraps To Make Incredible Jewelry

Actress Nikki Reed has announced her partnership with Dell through her company Bayou With Love. Together, they're recycling gold scraps from Dell's old motherboards and turning them into a new line of jewelry, Engadget reports. The line includes 14- and 18-carat gold rings, earrings, and cufflinks.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Green Glove Dryer Now in Every Elementary School Classroom in Jackson County

An innovative collaboration between Consumers Energy and a Michigan business is helping keep students in over 500 elementary classrooms warm this winter.

Diversity & Inclusion

Cracking the Ceiling: Female-led Startups Get Unique Opportunity

A dynamic new female-focused accelerator is launching in Toronto to help women founders break through barriers to better compete in the heavily male-dominated startup field. With only a small fraction of Canadian startups led by women, the program is designed to help promising female-led startups in their early stages. The four-month initiative is a partnership between the DMZ at Ryerson University, the leading university-based tech incubator in North America, Scotiabank and Tangerine.

Research, Reports & Publications

Innovative Implementation of EU Directive on Non-Financial Reporting

​It is a little over three years since the adoption of EU Directive 2014/95/EU on non-financial disclosure. By now, all EU Member States have transposed these rules into their relevant national legislation, and some innovative and progressive practices have emerged. This article highlights some of the best practices in the application of these state-specific requirements.

Latest Campaigns

  1. Communities and People
    Employees are our most valued resource and are at the center of everything we do. Their talent, diversity, and commitment are crucial to our...
  2. Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG)
    The business landscape is reorienting itself and you can almost hear priorities shifting toward change-readiness and the bigger picture. And in this...
  3. Sustainable Products and Innovation
    Ongoing research into innovative solutions enables CNH’s brands to manufacture products that respect the environment while satisfying customers’...
  4. KeyBank Foundation: Helping Communities Thrive through Education, Workforce Development, and Service
    KeyBank Foundation helps build thriving communities by supporting organizations and programs that foster thriving students and a thriving workforce...
  5. License to Operate
    Corporate governance, risk management, operational integrity, and regulatory compliance are demanding challenges that companies face in today’s ever...
  6. IWBI | WELL Building Standard
    Our built environment can shape our habits and choices, regulate our sleep-wake cycle, drive us toward healthy and unhealthy choices, and passively...
  7. Scotts Miracle-Gro | Environment Improvement
    Earth's beauty and resources should be appreciated now and preserved for generations to come. Discover the stewardship initiatives underway to protect...
  8. Opportunity for All
    At Trane Technologies, uplifting our communities and workforce is the key to our continued success. We focus on broadening access to education...
  9. Recognition of our Company
    As the leading sports and live music company in the world, we recognize our responsibility to provide industry leadership and to conduct our business...
  10. Investing in our Communities
    We invest in sustainable community outcomes that improve lives.
  11. Sustainable Products and Innovation
    Ongoing research into innovative solutions enables CNH’s brands to manufacture products that respect the environment while satisfying customers’...
  12. FedEx Cares | Overall
    FedEx Cares is our global community engagement program and one way that we live out our purpose of connecting people and possibilities. Our goal is to...
  13. Enriching Women's Lives
    60 years ago, Mary Kay Ash created an unparalleled opportunity for women to define their own successes and control their own futures. Her vision of...
  14. Coach Foundation | Dream It Real
    To help break cycles of inequality, we empower the next generation to reach their full potential through higher education.
  15. Accelerating access to healthcare technology
    We believe technology can help close the world’s health gaps. By putting people first, we find new ways to advance health while reducing costs. And...