Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Celebrating Shared Value (CSV)

Feb 23, 2018 2:30 PM ET

Since the first day that I started working in corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the late 1980’s – under the wise tutelage of Reynold Levy, then president of the AT&T Foundation – I both learned and asserted that the purpose of any good corporate philanthropy or CSR program was to find the intersection between societal needs and the business interests of the company and to create real impact for both -- paying attention to a company’s various stakeholders and conducting your business in a responsible manner with an eye on the long-term value for business and society.

Education

Innovate, Educate, and Build the Next Generation of Women in STEM

Feb 23, 2018 1:50 PM ET

For anyone interested in the professional development of women in Tech, you won’t want to miss two exciting events Cisco is hosting — just in time for International Women’s Day!

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

No Time to Waste Our Waste: What Does It Take to Create a Recycling Movement?

Feb 23, 2018 12:45 PM ET

Nowadays, “plastic” can sound to some like a four-letter word. That is not entirely without reason. Mismanaged waste, of all kinds, too often is ending up at the side of the road, in fields and meadows, meandering through our streams, choking our waterways and entering our oceans. We can all agree that this is simply unacceptable.

Education

STEM Program Helps African-American Males Excel, Go to College

Feb 23, 2018 12:05 PM ET

Life was all about sports for young Torieaun Hilbert — that is, until he met Doris Robinson. For Hilbert, a sophomore majoring in criminology and a football player at the University of La Verne, academics was not a priority when he started high school with a 2.2 GPA.

Diversity & Inclusion

CBRE Achieves National Equality Standard in Property Advisor First

Feb 23, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Following a robust assessment process, CBRE UK Ltd., the world's leading real estate advisor has been awarded the National Equality Standard (NES). CBRE is the first property services provider to achieve this accolade and the 22nd UK company overall.

The UK National Equality Standard was developed by business for business and sets clear equality, diversity and inclusion criteria against which companies are independently assessed. It is supported by EY, the Home Office and the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) was involved in its development and launch and the standard is now utilised globally.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Gordon Ramsay Shares Life Lessons to Youth at Marina Bay Sands

Feb 23, 2018 10:35 AM ET

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay held an intimate In Conversation With dialogue session at the ArtScience Museum at Marina Bay Sands for local youth and aspiring young chefs. More than 80 students attended the closed-door session where Ramsay shared personal stories of the challenges he faced as a young man and the lessons that shaped him into the culinary star he is today.

Research, Reports & Publications

These Brands Are Starting Movements (And Your Brand Can Too)

Feb 23, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Delivering on brand relevance also requires welcoming more and different voices to the table, using our collective wisdom to solve problems together and rallying consumers and employees to take action with us as brands. When net trust in global corporations is less than zero, it is understandable that brands may feel overwhelmed and afraid to go it alone. That is why thoughtful partnerships can empower brands to tackle meaningful issues without feeling like they are straining credibility or speaking out of turn.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

NAMI Recognizes Smithfield Foods' Facilities for Environmental and Safety Achievements

Feb 23, 2018 9:30 AM ET

Smithfield Foods, Inc. announced today that the North American Meat Institute (NAMI) recognized 43 of the company's U.S. facilities and hog operations for environmental achievements, as well as 24 company locations for workplace safety accomplishments. NAMI, the oldest and largest trade association representing meat packers and processors, presented the awards earlier this week at its Worker Safety and Environmental Recognition Awards program in Atlanta, Georgia.

"Environmental stewardship and workplace safety are core pillars of our industry-leading sustainability program," said Stewart Leeth, vice president of regulatory affairs and chief sustainability officer for Smithfield Foods.

Health & Healthcare

What Would a Pharmacy Look Like Without Clinical Trials? Here's a Hint - Empty.

Feb 23, 2018 9:15 AM ET

While there are thousands of experimental drugs currently in development, with the potential to ease symptoms or even cure various diseases, none of these treatments will become available to patients without clinical trials and clinical trial volunteers. In a global study conducted by The Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP) a non-profit-organization, in 2017, close to 70% of the public has never or rarely considered clinical trials as an option when discussing treatment options with their doctor or health provider. And only 6% of people who suffer from severe and chronic diseases participate in clinical trials each year. Low participation rates delay and limit the development of new medical therapies.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

KeyBank Provides $43 Million in Financing for Affordable Housing in Oregon

Feb 23, 2018 9:00 AM ET

KeyBank Community Development Lending & Investment (CDLI) has provided $43 million in construction financing to BRIDGE Housing Corporation (BRIDGE) for the development of 203 affordable housing units in the RiverPlace neighborhood of Portland, OR. The affordable housing project is the culmination of a competitive request for proposal process initiated jointly by the Portland Housing Bureau and Prosper Portland. National Equity Fund, Inc. is the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit limited partner of RiverPlace Housing 3 Limited Partnership (LP).

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

VIDEO: Companies That Are Leading the Way With Solutions for Transition to a Clean Energy Future

Feb 23, 2018 8:50 AM ET

Green Infrastructure

The Expanded Role of Sustainability in Healthcare Interiors

Feb 23, 2018 8:15 AM ET

Mohawk Group’s Cynthia Hubbell, VP of Healthcare & Senior Living, talks about sustainability in Healthcare Facilities today.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

New Program Supports U.S. Retailers Who Are 'Always Open on eBay'

Feb 23, 2018 8:15 AM ET

eBay partners with sellers to help connect their online and offline efforts.

Environment

Dell and Nikki Reed Turn Gold from Computers into Jewelry

Feb 23, 2018 8:10 AM ET

The ‘Circular Collection’ is a limited edition jewelry collection, part of the Bayou woith Love series, sourced from gold from Dell’s recycling programmes and includes 14-and 18-carat gold rings, earrings, and cufflinks.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

SCS Named Environmental Certification Specialist of the Year

Feb 23, 2018 8:00 AM ET

For the second time in a row, SCS Global Services (SCS) has been recognized by Global Energy News under its Clean Energy Awards program. Last week, SCS was named Environmental Certification Specialist of the Year for 2018. As described by Global Energy News, based in the United Kingdom, the 2018 Clean Energy Awards “acknowledge the organizations, agencies and individuals who strive to provide the services and solutions which will allow us to live and work in a cleaner and safer environment whilst remaining economically viable.”

Sustainable Development Goals

New Technology is Shaking Up The Diamond Mining Industry in Côte d’Ivoire

Feb 23, 2018 8:00 AM ET

Terah DeJong, country director of the Tetra Tech-implemented U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Property Rights and Artisanal Diamond Development (PRADD II) Project, discusses the introduction of new technology in the diamond mining areas of Cote d’Ivoire, and how technology has increased the volume of stones that enter the legal chain of custody, leading to increased earnings and more sustainable livelihoods for miners. All opinions expressed in this post are the author’s own.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Xylem Volunteers Collaborate to Protect Water Environments of South Florida

Feb 23, 2018 8:00 AM ET

Last October, five Xylem volunteers from Chile, Germany, Sweden and the United States spent five days exploring the water environments of South Florida and collaborating with groups working to protect these unique environments. Activities were conducted in partnership with EarthEcho International, one of Xylems’ global nonprofit partners.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Cerro Verde, a Freeport-McMoRan Company, and Dreambuilder Program Featured in Mining With Principles Campaign Video

Feb 23, 2018 7:50 AM ET

América Cristina Paz Tito lives in Arequipa and is a small business owner. She has been taking monthly classes from the DreamBuilder program, a partnership between Freeport-McMoRan and its affiliate Sociedad Minera Cerro Verde, and Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Sustainable Development Goals

Motorbike Transport App Creating Jobs and Saving Lives in Rwanda

Feb 23, 2018 7:45 AM ET

SafeMotos is transforming public transport in Kigali by providing quality training and fair wages to drivers and safer rides for customers

Health & Healthcare

CISCRP’s New Clinical Research Awareness Initiative Uses Empty Pharmacy Shelves to Educate Public and Patients

Feb 22, 2018 5:15 PM ET

The Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation has released a new educational video. Sponsored by Sanofi US, the digital public service announcement is designed to increase awareness of the important role that clinical research participants and clinical trials play in advancing public health.

Health & Healthcare

Ferring Pharmaceuticals and Merck Announce Completion of Largest Clinical Trial Ever Conducted in Postpartum Hemorrhage

Feb 22, 2018 3:50 PM ET

Ferring Pharmaceuticals and Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, through its Merck for Mothers initiative, today announced the completion of CHAMPION (Carbetocin Haemorrhage Prevention), a global clinical trial conducted by the Human Reproduction Program (HRP) at the World Health Organization (WHO).

Education

Engineers Spark STEM Interest at Local Girl Scouts Electricity Workshop

Feb 22, 2018 3:15 PM ET

Engineer Lindsey Sayers remembers building a strobe light in her high school electronics class and watching the light flash on when she plugged it in. In awe that something she built worked, she knew then that she wanted to become an engineer.

Education

Real Life Research Experience: Meet Amgen Scholars Alumni Agata Misiaszek

Feb 22, 2018 2:55 PM ET

Ever since I can remember, I was curious about how the world works and the causes and implications of different processes. Life’s extremely complex network of molecules and reactions that made me want to contribute to its understanding, especially because it has a constant impact on us. I find the ability to understand and possibly modify the entire network by interacting with a single component on molecular level incredibly fascinating. The application of research in disease treatment and improvement of overall life quality makes me realize the importance of the area and drives me to invest even more into my studies.

Environment

Los Angeles Convention Center Installs Rooftop Garden

Feb 22, 2018 2:35 PM ET

The Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC), managed by AEG Facilities, recently revealed its new 9,500 square-foot rooftop garden. Located above the LACC’s South Hall lobby, the garden features various citrus trees and vegetables that will be used to provide produce for the LACC in-house caterer Levy Restaurants.

Environment

Environment Scores Big Win With Zero-Waste Legacy Project at Super Bowl LII

Feb 22, 2018 2:15 PM ET

The NFL, in partnership with PepsiCo, Aramark, U.S. Bank Stadium, SMG and the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, scored a zero-waste legacy project at Super Bowl LII, with 91 percent[1] of all trash generated on gameday from 67,612 fans responsibly recovered through composting, recycling and reuse. The landmark project marks the highest diversion rate achieved at U.S. Bank Stadium and at any previous Super Bowl, and aims to serve as the benchmark for future large-scale events.