Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Research, Reports & Publications

General Mills’ 2019 Global Responsibility Highlights

Apr 22, 2019 3:20 PM ET

General Mills’ 2019 Global Responsibility Report outlines our approach to creating environmental, social and economic value in the countries where we operate. The report highlights our work and where we made the most impact across four key areas: our food, our planet, our workplace and our community.

Environment

AEG Adopts New Greenhouse Gas Goal in Accordance with UN IPCC’S 1.5˚ Celsius Target

Apr 22, 2019 3:10 PM ET

AEG, the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company, announced today on Earth Day 2019, that the company has adopted a new greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, based on the 2018 Global Warming of 1.5˚ C report from the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

Research, Reports & Publications

National Bank of Kuwait Takes Extensive Steps Towards Becoming a Middle East Corporate Sustainability Leader

Apr 22, 2019 3:00 PM ET

National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) launched its third annual Sustainability Report today, in alignment with the guidelines from the Kuwait National Development Plan (KNDP), the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG), the Boursa Kuwait voluntary sustainability disclosure guide and the Equator Principles.

Being in alignment with these five major sets of standards – the de facto international standard for corporate social responsibility reporting – reflects the seriousness of NBK’s commitment to pursuing sustainability at the highest levels of practice in the world. The Boursa Kuwait guide is also aligned with the recommendations of the Sustainable Stock Exchanges Initiative (SSEI) and the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE).

Environment

OneWest Bank Celebrates Earth Day with Turn Paper into Trees Campaign

Apr 22, 2019 3:00 PM ET

OneWest Bank, CIT’s Southern California retail bank division, today announced the Turn Paper into Trees campaign in celebration of Earth Day. Between now and May 31, OneWest will plant a tree in California each time a customer signs up for eStatements, Online Banking, Bill Pay or Direct Deposit.[1]

Environment

35 Strong Moody's Employees Braved Wet Weather to Pick Up Litter

Apr 22, 2019 2:55 PM ET

Responsible Production & Consumption

How Much Do You Know About Recycling? Take Domtar's Recycling Quiz

Apr 22, 2019 2:55 PM ET

Are you the king or queen of recycling knowledge? Take our recycling quiz to find out if you know your stuff when it comes to keeping paper out of landfills — or if you need to brush up on your knowledge.

Environment

Powering Sustainable Cities: Key Trends and Pathways to Success for City Leaders

Apr 22, 2019 2:45 PM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Earth Day: What Makes Cisco a Sustainability Leader?

Apr 22, 2019 2:20 PM ET

Nearly 50 years ago, US Senator Gaylord Nelson spearheaded the first Earth Day, sparked by the devastating 1969 oil spill off the Southern California coast. The inaugural celebration in 1970 saw 20 million Americans showing their support, followed by the passing of the Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Acts by year’s end.

Environment

P&G Celebrates Earth Week and Progress Towards Their Ambition 2030 Goals

Apr 22, 2019 2:05 PM ET

It’s Earth Week and we’re very excited for the progress we’re making toward our Ambition 2030 goals. Enabling and inspiring positive impact while creating value for the 5 billion people we touch every day.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Albertsons Companies Unveils New Pledge to Reduce Plastic Use in Packaging

Apr 22, 2019 2:05 PM ET

Albertsons Companies today announced a broad plastic waste reduction pledge to advance sustainability throughout the company, starting with its extensive Own Brands portfolio.

The new commitment furthers the circular economy for packaging at the company’s 2,300 Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Tom Thumb, Shaw’s, Star Market, ACME Markets, Randalls, Haggen, and other banner stores.

Environment

Michael Bloomberg Contributes Additional $5.5 Million to United Nations Climate Change Secretariat to Again Fill United States Federal Funding Gap

Apr 22, 2019 2:00 PM ET

Today, Michael R. Bloomberg, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Climate Action, announced that for the second year in a row he will make up the funding gap left by the United States federal government and provide $5.5 million to the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat to ensure it can continue its critical work empowering countries to meet the goals outlined in the Paris Agreement. Today’s announcement, along with the $4.5 million he contributed last year for the same purpose, brings his support for the United Nations Climate Change Secretariat to a total of $10 million in the past two years.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Dell | Achievements in Circular Design and Sustainability

Apr 22, 2019 2:00 PM ET

Monday is Earth Day, a day I typically take on the role of Chief Electric Bicyclist, generating power for our Earth Day celebrations at the Dell Technologies headquarters.

But beyond getting exercise, it’s also a day that we mark at Dell Technologies by teaming up to clean up our local environments. We have a record 60 events happening around the globe this year!

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Forbes Names CBRE One of America's Best Employers

Apr 22, 2019 1:05 PM ET

CBRE is among America's Best Large Employers according to Forbes magazine. America’s Best Employers were selected based on an independent survey of over 50,000 employees working for companies with at least 1,000 people employed in their U.S. locations. Employees were asked to evaluate their own employers as well as other companies in their industries.

Energy

Green Mountain Energy Customers Avoid 9.9 Billion Pounds of Carbon Dioxide in 2018

Apr 22, 2019 1:00 PM ET

In celebration of Earth Month, today Green Mountain Energy announced its customers prevented more than 9.9 billion pounds of carbon dioxide in 2018 by choosing cleaner electricity and carbon offset products – 1.3 billion more pounds than in 2017. For perspective, that’s like removing nearly one million cars from roadways or turning lights off in 10.5 million households for a year.

Sustainable Development Goals

DSM Sets Science-based Reduction Targets for Emissions

Apr 22, 2019 1:00 PM ET

DSM has committed to reducing 30% of its greenhouse gas emissions from direct production and purchased energy in absolute terms by 2030 compared to 2016. DSM will decouple emissions from its growth through energy efficiency measures and sourcing more renewable electricity. As a complementary target, DSM will be purchasing 75% of electricity from renewable sources by 2030, with 41% already being renewable in 2018. On top of this, DSM applies an internal carbon price of €50 per ton of CO2 to further guide its investments and operational decisions towards low carbon operations.

Environment

Endanger This Species: Single-Use Plastics

Apr 22, 2019 1:00 PM ET

Earth Day is upon us, and it’s time to end plastic pollution. All living things have an intrinsic value, and each plays a role in the complex web of life. Disposable items used and forgotten force many animals to the edge of survival.

Environment

Earth Day 2019: We’ve Come So Far, We’ve So Far to Go, Come With Us

Apr 22, 2019 12:45 PM ET

When I was thinking about what to write about for Earth Day, my mind was flooded with so many topics. I thought about how sustainability is becoming more and more mainstream, but at the same time the focus is being diverted to so many marginal issues.

Environment

Alliance Data Is Making a Difference in Our Environment. Join us in Celebrating Earth Day.

Apr 22, 2019 12:40 PM ET

Alliance Data recognizes that our natural environment is under increasing strain. Climate change and threatened ecosystems and wildlife are creating growing uncertainty for not only businesses, but also society and economies.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Consumers Energy Foundation Provides $500,000 to Three Projects Protecting Michigan’s Natural Resources, with Planet Awards

Apr 22, 2019 12:30 PM ET

The Consumers Energy Foundation celebrated Earth Day today by providing $500,000 for three projects that will make a significant impact on Michigan’s environment – protecting habitat for Michigan’s wildlife, planting 100,000 trees and preserving freshwater resources.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Bayer and Fair Planet Renew Commitment to Improve Access to Seeds in Ethiopia

Apr 22, 2019 12:30 PM ET

Bayer has renewed its commitment to the “Bridging the Seed Gap” project for five years. The project, developed by the non-profit organization Fair Planet, facilitates smallholder farmers’ access to seeds of high-quality vegetable varieties suited to local growing conditions.

Environment

Sands ECO360 Emphasizes Importance of Team Member Engagement While Reducing Environmental Impact

Apr 22, 2019 12:15 PM ET

Las Vegas Sands, through its award-winning sustainability program Sands ECO360, continuously focuses on reducing environmental impact while engaging Team Members and partners to unite around the protection of our planet. Engaging Team Members with various activities and initiatives around the world allows its over 46,000 Team Members to understand the efforts that the company makes to reduce its footprint, while also learning how to reduce their own impact in their daily lives, at work and at home.

Green Infrastructure

Hallmark is Maximizing Efficiency by Designing Office Spaces With the Environment in Mind

Apr 22, 2019 12:15 PM ET

In 2017, Hallmark and its businesses made several moves that met its goals of creating work spaces that foster employee productivity while being as energy-efficient and environmentally friendly as possible.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Living Our Mission to Drive Zero Waste

Apr 22, 2019 12:15 PM ET

As the world celebrates Earth Day 2019, we reflect on Pentair’s mission to deliver smart, sustainable solutions that empower our customers to make the most of life’s essential resource. As a large manufacturing company, we take seriously our obligation to deliver these solutions through responsible business practices that help reduce our environmental impact.

Environment

Embrace Our Beautiful Planet and Our Shared Responsibility to Protect it

Apr 22, 2019 12:15 PM ET

50 years ago, the EPA did not exist, which meant there was no Clean Air Act, no Clean Water Act, and no legal regulatory mechanism to protect our environment. This all changed in April 1970 when Senator Gaylord Nelson created Earth Day as a way to force this issue onto the national agenda. Twenty million Americans demonstrated in different U.S. cities, and it worked! In December 1970, Congress authorized the creation of a new federal agency to tackle environmental issues, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Now, each year on April 22, people all around the world come together on Earth Day to celebrate the planet's environment and raise public awareness about pollution.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Merck Named a "Top 50 STEM Workplace" for Native Americans by AISES

Apr 22, 2019 12:05 PM ET

Merck has been recognized by the American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) for its commitment to diversity and inclusion. AISES released its listing of the 50 Top STEM Workplaces for Indigenous STEM Professionals in the Spring 2019 issue of Winds of Change, AISES’ national magazine which focuses on career and educational advancement for Native people in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).