Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Diversity & Inclusion

Viacom Women On Tech Leadership at Any Level

Feb 27, 2018 3:30 PM ET

With hackathons, futuristic workspaces and mentorship programs, Viacom is a veritable technology trailblazer in the media industry. One of the reasons why the company is excelling? Female leadership.

This was evident at Being a Tech Leader at Any Level, a joint webinar hosted by Viacom and PowerToFly, a gender diversity-and-inclusion-focused recruiting agency that connects Fortune 500 companies and startups with women looking to work as engineers.

Watching the webinar, I saw a diverse group of women engineers and developers, some at entry-level positions and others in management, discuss how they work to overcome adversity and close the gender gap in a male-dominated industry.

Environment

Tomorrow Never Knows: Daniel Kirk-Davidoff

Feb 27, 2018 3:20 PM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

CIT Commits $375,000 To Jumpstart Templo Calvario CDC's New Southern California Financial Empowerment Center

Feb 27, 2018 1:05 PM ET

Sustainable Development Goals

Moving Beyond the Role of Token Women

Feb 27, 2018 1:00 PM ET

Leading up to International Women’s Day, the Brookings Institution partnered with the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security and the U.S.-Afghan Women’s Council to host a panel on “The New Generation of Afghan Women Leaders,” featuring several members of a delegation from the Afghan government.

Energy

Discovery Green® Celebrates 10-Year Anniversary, 20 Years of Clean Energy With Green Mountain Energy

Feb 27, 2018 1:00 PM ET

Discovery Green is celebrating its first double-digit birthday with a giant green gift for its guests – two decades of pollution-free programming with 100 percent clean energy.

The park, which opened April 2008, is renewing its agreement with Green Mountain Energy Company, in continued collaboration with Infinity Power Partners, through 2028 to provide electricity for all of the facilities’ needs from concerts and movies to installations like the seasonal ice-skating rink, marking a total of 20 years of commitment to renewable energy for the 12-acre park in the heart of downtown Houston.

Diversity & Inclusion

Helping Transgender People Lead Authentic Lives

Feb 27, 2018 12:30 PM ET

From education to employment, healthcare to housing, transgender Americans fight daily for rights many take for granted. “Authentic Lives,” a new documentary from WQED, Pittsburgh’s PBS affiliate, highlights PNC as a company working toward equity and inclusion for the LGBTQ population.

Innovation & Technology

Advancing Sustainable Development Through Disruptive IoT Technologies

Feb 27, 2018 12:20 PM ET

It is evident that the emergence of technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) has disrupted – or will soon disrupt – every sector and every business across the world. We’re seeing a digital transformation that is reshaping markets and transforming how people live and work. Although IoT technology is relatively young, there are countless deployments underway globally that are accelerating the path to economic growth and improved living conditions for millions.

Environment

Carnival Corporation Orders Third New Ship for AIDA Cruises

Feb 27, 2018 12:00 PM ET

Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK), the world's largest leisure travel company, today announced it has signed a shipbuilding contract for a third next-generation cruise ship for its rapidly growing AIDA Cruises brand, the leading cruise line in Germany, which is the largest and fastest-growing cruise market in Europe.

Diversity & Inclusion

Unsung Hero

Feb 27, 2018 11:55 AM ET

Recently I watched the movie “Hidden Figures” for the second time, and was again impressed by the achievements of the extraordinary African- American women featured in the film. Through a combination of brilliance and determination, these women overcame seemingly insurmountable odds and enabled the success of the NASA space program. Being reminded about the contributions of these women, I wondered about the many other unrecognized men and women who might have also faced difficult circumstances and yet forged ahead, making lasting contributions in different spheres of life.

Events, Media & Communications

Academia's Crisis of Relevance - Erb Institute Faculty Member, Andy Hoffman Leads Seminar at Amherst

Feb 27, 2018 10:15 AM ET

In December, the University of Michigan's Andy Hoffman led a panel at Amherst’s Institute for Social Science Research, promising to be “provocative in order to push scientists outside of their comfort zones, and scientific institutions into faster change.” Hoffman, who earned his BA in chemical engineering from UMass Amherst and his PhD in management/civil & environmental engineering from MIT, quickly delivered on that promise, with a review of studies on the “abysmal state” of public perceptions of science.

Research, Reports & Publications

PANDORA | An Ethical Brand with a Big Heart

Feb 27, 2018 10:10 AM ET

PANDORA releases the annual Ethics Report for 2017/18 showcasing the company’s aspirations, efforts and great results that have been achieved as part of PANDORA’s commitment to being an ethical brand with a big heart.

Green Infrastructure

Streets of the Future Could Take Automatic Tire Readings

Feb 27, 2018 9:30 AM ET

Just imagine not having to rely on pre- or post-trip inspections for the condition of your tire tread or tire pressure.

Energy

BECHTEL CASE STUDY: Balancing Economic Growth with Low Carbon Energy Solutions

Feb 27, 2018 9:10 AM ET

As part of Bechtel’s commitment to contribute 100 ideas to support the United Nation’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this case study examines the challenge for emerging economies to find the right balance between pro-growth economic policies and programs, reducing greenhouse gases, and transitioning to a low-carbon, reliable and affordable energy program. Our premise is that every country has a unique energy mix that can be optimized to support societal needs and national ambitions.

Social Impact & Volunteering

‘The Great Goya Family’

Feb 27, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Whether as a small store in lower Manhattan or as an international company with more than 4,000 employees, Goya Foods has always kept family values at heart. In fact, the Unanue family refers to their employees, surrounding communities, customers, suppliers, and business partners as “la gran familia Goya,” or “the great Goya family,” said Bob Unanue, the company’s president and CEO.

Health & Healthcare

Merck for Mothers Blog | A Note from Dr. Etiebet: Reflections from WEF 2018

Feb 27, 2018 8:45 AM ET

The MSD for Mothers team recently returned from the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, where we joined leaders from business, government, civil society and academia in discussions around the theme, “Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World.” In keeping with the focus on the global economy, MSD for Mothers and our partners made the business case for investing in maternal health, argued for greater private sector involvement in innovative financing for development, and advocated for more research on the experiences of women and girls to guide more equitable decisions about allocating resources.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Feature: Diversifying the Supply Chain

Feb 27, 2018 8:15 AM ET

HP states that diversity is imperative for good business. “We invest in improving representation by minorities and women within our supply chain and encourage diversity in suppliers’ own workforces,” it said. “Just like our employees, diverse suppliers bring unique experiences and perspectives that strengthen our business, support innovation in our supply chain, and enhance local economies.”

Environment

When It Comes to Fighting Ocean-Bound Waste, Collaboration Is Key

Feb 27, 2018 8:05 AM ET

In the UK right now, there is a huge spotlight on the crisis being created in our seas by plastic waste. The reality of the situation is scary – and hard to ignore. Every single year, 8 million metric tons of plastic enter our seas, endangering marine life and polluting our waters. And it’s not just marine life being affected.

Research, Reports & Publications

RBS: We Are Building a More Sustainable Bank

Feb 27, 2018 8:00 AM ET

“We are building a more sustainable bank; a more responsible company, doing business in a more sustainable way. We consider the long-term impacts of our actions in our decision making, and we are proud that our enterprise and financial education programmes show the difference we’re making for our customers and communities. Continuing to live by our values and providing, simple and fair banking will help us to build trust for the long term.”

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Benevity Acquires TrustCSR, UK-Based Corporate Social Responsibility Consultancy

Feb 27, 2018 7:30 AM ET

Benevity acquires TrustCSR, a UK-based corporate social responsibility consultancy that serves enterprise clients, including Amazon, British Telecom, DHL, EE, Avanade, National Grid and Experian. This acquisition is the latest step in Benevity adding scale and geographic scope to its operations to maximize efficiencies, service its global client base, and reach new markets.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Gildan Launches Speaker Series on Women’s Leadership With Sylvia Montero

Feb 27, 2018 7:00 AM ET

Starting in the fall of 2017, Gildan launched a women’s leadership series featuring inspirational and empowering stories shared by successful women. These sessions were designed to foster the development of Gildan’s employees, but even more importantly to emphasize women’s unique and important place in society.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Bon Air Elementary Crowned First Repeat Recycle-Bowl Champion

Feb 26, 2018 4:30 PM ET

Bon Air Elementary, in Kokomo, Indiana, was crowned today as the first repeat national champion of Keep America Beautiful’s Recycle-Bowl, the national recycling competition for elementary-, middle- and high-school students, teachers and school communities.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

NAACP: Fighting to End Racism and Economic Inequality

Feb 26, 2018 3:30 PM ET

This Black History Month, the NAACP celebrates 109 years of working to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination

Innovation & Technology

Schneider Electric: A Veteran Company at Technology's Cutting Edge

Feb 26, 2018 3:05 PM ET

Some think of the technology as disruptive, but at its current level of maturity, AI is really more of a “foundational technology,” says Brian Tessier, vice president of global supply chain innovation at Schneider Electric. You could place it on the maturity curve near blockchain, he says.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Smithfield Foods Shares Insights About Hunger in America

Feb 26, 2018 2:40 PM ET

Over the weekend, I had the honor of speaking on behalf of Smithfield Foods alongside our respected allies in the fight against hunger, Feeding America and the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC). What a great opportunity to join together with likeminded organizations who share my company’s passion to eliminate hunger.

My talk centered on Smithfield’s ongoing commitment and greatest responsibility as a food company – to feed people, it’s what we do. We’re working toward fulfilling the company’s social purpose to improve food security and end hunger for the more than 42 million individuals facing hunger each day. And more specifically, I honed in on how we can all work together to serve populations that are disproportionately impacted by hunger.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Carolinas' Waterways to Benefit from More than $900,000 in Grants from Duke Energy

Feb 26, 2018 2:00 PM ET

Thirteen organizations spanning 42 counties in North Carolina and South Carolina will receive more than $900,000 in new grants from Duke Energy's Water Resources Fund to support environmental and wildlife programs.