Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Social Impact & Volunteering

Webinar // Taproot+ Live: Craft a Project Ask to Find the Right Skilled Volunteer

Oct 11, 2017 1:10 PM ET

If you work at a nonprofit, you probably find yourself putting off projects and plans due to shortages in budget or in-house expertise. With the support of volunteers with professional-level skills­­­—you can make those plans happen. Join Taproot’s upcoming webinar and learn everything you need to get started on Taproot+, the cost-free online platform that connects nonprofits with skilled volunteers for short-term pro bono projects.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

VIDEO | Mohawk Cushions the Fight Against Breast Cancer in 2017

Oct 11, 2017 12:55 PM ET

To help in the fight against breast cancer, Mohawk is once again partnering with Susan G. Komen® by sponsoring all seven of the organization’s 3-Day events, providing 8,000 pieces of durable, eco-friendly SmartCushionÔ to comfort walkers and crew members.

Diversity & Inclusion

5Capitals-G: Gender-Responsive Methodology for Value Chain Development

Oct 11, 2017 12:50 PM ET

Over the past decade value chain development has been widely promoted as a catalyst for rural economic growth. As smallholder farmers become increasingly integrated into value chains, how can scholars and development practitioners ensure that the benefits of participation accrue equitably to both women and men?

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Voya Financial Announces Third-Quarter 2017 Grant Recipients

Oct 11, 2017 12:45 PM ET

Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), today announced the nonprofit organizations that received grants in the third quarter of 2017 through Voya Foundation, the company’s charitable giving arm. Voya Foundation invests in programming to help foster healthy, sustainable communities and supports local and national nonprofits with missions that advance children’s education and financial resilience.

Research, Reports & Publications

INFOGRAPHIC | New Report from Delos: Health, Well-being, and the Evolution of ESG

Oct 11, 2017 12:30 PM ET

A growing number of studies show that office space design can significantly impact employee health, cognitive function and overall satisfaction. What does this mean for the investor?

Innovation & Technology

The Mind and The Machine: How Memory-Driven Computing is Contributing to the Cure for Alzheimer’s

Oct 11, 2017 12:15 PM ET

Health & Healthcare

Creating the Mentally Healthy Workplace

Oct 11, 2017 12:15 PM ET

For those of us working in the 21st century, we’ve experienced technologies, innovation and efficiencies in our personal lives and across the global marketplace that were unthinkable just a few decades ago. On World Mental Health Day, we’re focused on the solutions and so are many global employers.

Sustainable Development Goals

Pfizer’s Progress on 2020 Reduced Water Use Goals

Oct 11, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Pfizer believes in the importance of reducing human impact on the environment. As part of this, the company has pledged to reduce water use by five percent by 2020.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Help Puerto Rico and Hurricane Maria Relief Efforts

Oct 11, 2017 12:00 PM ET

The people affected by Hurricane Maria are in desperate need of aid. The Category 4 storm which struck Puerto Rico on September 20 has caused massive destruction and left 3.5 million people in crisis. A vast majority of the island is still without power. Food and fuel is scarce.
At PayPal, our thoughts go out to those who have been harmed by this terrible tragedy. We want to do all that we can, to help. We’ve launched a disaster relief campaign so that the PayPal community of customers and employees can respond, as you always do, in times of crisis. The campaign features charities that are working directly and through local partners to provide relief with emergency shelters, medical supplies, food and other forms of support. PayPal is covering all costs associated with these donations, en

Social Impact & Volunteering

Common Impact's Nonprofit Skills-Based Volunteering Toolkit

Oct 11, 2017 11:45 AM ET

We are excited to announce the launch of Common Impact’s Skills-Based Volunteering (SBV) Toolkit! Since 2000, Common Impact has supported nonprofits in effectively utilizing SBV to build internal capacity to better serve the community. Our decades of experience have proven that SBV holds great promise for both companies and nonprofits, and represents a sustainable resource for addressing social challenges, that complements traditional philanthropy and volunteerism.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Hormel Foods Announces Record Year of Giving

Oct 11, 2017 11:45 AM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Fighting the Cholera Epidemic in Yemen

Oct 11, 2017 11:20 AM ET

Since the beginning of the armed conflict in March 2015, the humanitarian situation has continued to deteriorate in Yemen. According to the UN, nearly 80% of the population needs humanitarian assistance, particularly regarding access to healthcare. The cholera epidemic is part of this very deteriorated health situation and the spread of the disease cannot be prevented without decisive action to end it quickly.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Duke Energy Work From Home Program Benefits Customers, Employees

Oct 11, 2017 11:20 AM ET

Mike Weatherspoon didn’t create his Duke Room for watching Duke University Blue Devils basketball. It’s for taking calls as a senior customer service virtual care specialist at Duke Energy.

Energy

VIDEO | Discover How to Maximize Energy Efficiency and Get Results by Being Sustainable

Oct 11, 2017 11:20 AM ET

We help AEG increase overall efficiency and reduce total resource consumption. We partnered in developing sustainability objectives for 2020 and deployed the technology to monitor progress against goals.

Research, Reports & Publications

Corporate Sustainability Insights from Erb Institute | Business for Sustainability's Strategic Advisory Member, Neil Hawkins

Oct 11, 2017 11:15 AM ET

“It’s extremely important to have a few goals that will lead a company to have a truly positive impact, but also to stick to those goals and align everyone around them,” he says. “These are hugely important for culture, identity, recruiting and retention. They need to be simple and easy to understand, helping the company to stay focused… It’s about constancy of purpose; you want to instill this into the culture.” It starts on the inside, and without engrained commitment, alignment and clarity (Purpose), Performance and Participation will be lacking.

Green Infrastructure

Sands China Ltd. | Small Steps, Big Changes

Oct 11, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Given the limited land resources in Macao, waste management is a constant challenge. Yet even the biggest goals can be accomplished with small steps.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Congrats to the 2017 Best Disaster Response and Community Resilience Program Finalists!

Oct 11, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Congratulations to the Best Disaster Response and Community Resilience Finalists!

The Best Disaster Response and Community Resilience Corporate Citizenship Award recognizes businesses and chambers that help communities prepare for and recover from disasters. Read on to learn more about the significant, positive impacts these businesses have had in communities, locally and globally.

Research, Reports & Publications

Trust is Down, Expectations are Up as Brands Take Center Stage in Cultural Divides

Oct 11, 2017 10:30 AM ET

Trust is down. Expectations are up. And like never before, the world’s consumers are turning to brands to address the social and environmental challenges that affect their aspirations for a better life in divided times.

According to a new global study by BBMG and GlobeScan, Brand Purpose in Divided Times, net trust in global companies to act in the best interest of society is negative (-2). And for the first time since 2009, more consumers say they have punished companies for their behavior (28%) rather than rewarded them (26%), and the number of those who are punishing brands is up by 9 percentage points since 2013.

Environment

FSC-Certified Products Nudging Consumers Into Walking Their Sustainability Talk

Oct 11, 2017 10:15 AM ET

For companies such as Domtar and Kimberly-Clark, consumers are crucial to mainstreaming sustainable practices. That is the reason both corporations are working to give shoppers better options, including FSC-certified products. FSC certification helps ensure that forests used to source a host of products are managed in a way that takes into account environmental, social and economic concerns.

Green Infrastructure

Charging Gets a Boost From Ridesharing EVs

Oct 11, 2017 10:15 AM ET

It’s a classic chicken-and-egg scenario: buy an EV once there is a lot of charging infrastructure and build EV charging infrastructure once there are a lot of EVs. General Motors, a company who believes the future is electric, is helping to jumpstart the opportunity through its Maven brand.

Research, Reports & Publications

Prioritizing Cybersecurity Key to Ensure Safe, Secure Utilities

Oct 11, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Facing inevitable attacks to their networks by hackers, electric utilities are making progress in prioritizing cybersecurity to ensure that they can deliver and maintain safe, secure utilities for all. However, this year’s Strategic Directions: Electric Industry Report shows even as leaders work to ensure grid security, major gaps remain in the areas of asset security control and security risk awareness.

Diversity & Inclusion

How Grace Hopper Fueled My Passion for Women in Technology

Oct 11, 2017 9:55 AM ET

Diversity & Inclusion

Viacom Celebrates Coming Out Day on October 11 with First-Ever Global Cross Brand On-Air and Digital Campaign, “Out in 60”

Oct 11, 2017 9:45 AM ET

Raising awareness for LGBT challenges while promoting inclusion and acceptance around the world, Viacom International Media Networks today announced its celebration of the act of “coming out” with “Out in 60,” a global campaign timed to Coming Out Day, a worldwide, annual holiday observed on October 11. With more than 50 international stars participating – from musicians and comedians to athletes and influencers -- all sharing emotional and inspiring coming out stories, the campaign will feature 60-second spots airing on linear, digital and social around the world and across channels including MTV, VH1, Logo, BET, Channel 5, and Comedy Central.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Historic Merino Wool Farm Earns Recognition Under Responsible Wool Standard

Oct 11, 2017 9:30 AM ET

SCS Global Services (SCS) has certified Gostwyck Partners' sheep farm under the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS), verifying its sustainable sheep-raising and land stewardship practices in its historic farm in Gostwyck, NSW, Australia.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

eBay Teams Up With Yara Shahidi, PINTRILL and Bright Pink to Support Breast Cancer Awareness

Oct 11, 2017 9:15 AM ET

eBay for Charity has teamed up with fashion and accessory brand PINTRILL and “Black-ish” star Yara Shahidi for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.