Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Research, Reports & Publications

Sustainable Brands: Americans Want Brands to Help Them Live The Good Life

Dec 12, 2017 4:00 PM ET

Sustainable Brands®, in conjunction with Harris Poll and Carol Cone On Purpose and supported by Ketchum, recently released a comprehensive new report, Enabling the Good Life. According to a survey representing the general US adult population, consumers are shifting their focus away from status, money and personal achievement to value a life that is simpler, more balanced, and filled with meaningful connections to people, community and the environment.

Research, Reports & Publications

CAT 6020B Hydraulic Mining Shovel Fuel Efficiency

Dec 12, 2017 4:00 PM ET

Fuel economy contributes up to 50 percent of the total cost of owning a hydraulic mining shovel.

Sustainable Development Goals

Sappi North America's Key Performance Indicators: Water

Dec 12, 2017 3:30 PM ET

All pulp and paper mills in North America use and treat water in accordance with comprehensive environmental permits. Overall, Sappi North America’s 2016 water use, total suspended solids and biological oxygen demand intensity metrics were in line with our 2015 performance.

Environment

Dell Inc. and Lonely Whale Convene Cross-Industry Group to Address Marine Litter

Dec 12, 2017 2:45 PM ET

Dell Inc. and Lonely Whale will form of a collaborative and open-source initiative called NextWave, convening General Motors, Trek Bicycle, Interface, Van de Sant, Humanscale, Bureo and Herman Miller. NextWave convenes leading technology and consumer-focused companies to develop the first-ever commercial-scale ocean-bound plastics supply chain. Additional supporting members of the group include UN Environment, 5Gyres Institute, Zoological Society of London and New Materials Institute.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

LeaderStories: Ty Jones, Changing the Face of Theater in Harlem

Dec 12, 2017 2:30 PM ET

Ty Jones, Producing Artistic Director of the Classical Theater of Harlem, is building bridges between young actors of color and local audiences.

Energy

Duke Energy Florida Expands Solar in the Sunshine State with Completion of Suwannee Facility

Dec 12, 2017 2:20 PM ET

Duke Energy Florida customers are now benefiting from an additional 8.8 megawatts (MW) of solar, a carbon-free renewable resource in the Sunshine State.

Sustainable Development Goals

Automotive Industry Updates Its Guiding Principles to Enhance Sustainability in the Supply Chain

Dec 12, 2017 2:00 PM ET

The Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG) and Drive Sustainability today announced an updated version of the “Automotive Industry Guiding Principles to Enhance Sustainability Performance in the Supply Chain.” This collaboration between AIAG, Drive Sustainability and key automotive organizations provides guidance to our valued supplier partners concerning the latest industry expectations. Additionally, a supplementary reference document was created to provide further explanation and examples for the updated principles.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

LA Kings Team up With Child Abuse Prevention Center to “Adopt” More Than 20 Families

Dec 12, 2017 2:00 PM ET

AEG’s LA Kings adopted more than 20 families in need for the holidays through the Child Abuse Prevention Center’s Adopt-A-Family program on Dec. 9, 2017.

Events, Media & Communications

Mike Bloomberg and FSB Chair Mark Carney Announce Growing Support for the TCFD on the Two-Year Anniversary of the Paris Agreement

Dec 12, 2017 1:40 PM ET

Two hundred thirty-seven companies with a combined market capitalization of over $6.3 trillion have publicly committed to support the Task Force on Climaterelated Financial Disclosures (TCFD). This includes over 150 financial firms, responsible for assets of over $81.7 trillion. The TCFD announced the growing support at the One Planet Summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron celebrating the two year anniversary of the Paris Agreement.

Environment

Cleaner Air Is on the Horizon As the Bay Area Passes New Regulation

Dec 12, 2017 1:30 PM ET

Antea Group tells you about Regulation 11, Rule 18, a new program in the Bay Area aimed at reducing health risks from toxic emissions from facilities

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Forbes And JUST Capital Release JUST 100 Ranking Of America's Most Just Companies

Dec 12, 2017 1:15 PM ET

Forbes, in partnership with JUST Capital, released today the JUST 100 list, a ranking of the largest publicly traded U.S. corporations on worker pay and treatment, customer respect, product quality, environmental impact and other priorities of the American public. The rankings provide a comprehensive measurement of how U.S. companies perform on the issues Americans care about most.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Your Gift Makes "Unadoptable" Unacceptable

Dec 12, 2017 1:00 PM ET

To meet CJ today, you’d never know there was a time when he didn’t speak, that he feared his food would be taken away or that he would use negative behaviors to protect himself. Today, when you meet CJ he will tell you he likes to eat dinner with his family and that he loves his dog.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Global Health Corporate Champions Announce Their Team for Rwanda Cohort

Dec 12, 2017 1:00 PM ET

All-star team will partner with NGOs in and around the capital city of Kigali, Rwanda addressing various aspects regarding community health including clean water and sanitation, food and nutrition security, health system strengthening, and gender inclusion and empowerment. As a result of the GHCCs assistance, local organizations improve their capability without taking resources away from their everyday operations.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Ecocentricity Blog: Into the Garbage Shoot, Fly Boy

Dec 12, 2017 12:15 PM ET

Earlier this year, China decided to ban foreign imports of different types of solid wastes, effective January 1, 2018. As a result, Chinese recycling companies won’t be buying American recyclables, which will crater the global demand for those materials.

Innovation & Technology

The Possibility Report: Healing Bodies and Environments with Technology

Dec 12, 2017 12:05 PM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

UPS Named One of America’s Most JUST Companies by Forbes and JUST Capital

Dec 12, 2017 12:05 PM ET

UPS is honored to be named one of America's Most JUST Companies by Forbes and Just Capital for the second consecutive year. The second annual JUST 100 ranks the largest publicly traded corporations in the United States on the issues Americans care about most, including leadership and ethics, worker well-being, job creation, supporting communities, supply chain impact, customer treatment, environmental impact, and more.

Responsible Production & Consumption

DC Hearing: Weakening National Vehicle Standards Would Hurt Auto Industry

Dec 12, 2017 10:40 AM ET

Today, a joint hearing by the Subcommittee on Environment and the Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection will discuss the economic impacts of vehicle fuel economy and emissions standards and how multiple agencies work together to develop and enforce these policies that provide fuel costs savings for businesses and consumers, regulatory certainty and increased sales for suppliers, and a kind of insurance policy for automakers in the event of a fuel price spike.

Environment

Consumers in China Widely Support Upcoming Ivory Ban, but Awareness Is Low, Largest-ever Ivory Consumer Survey Finds

Dec 12, 2017 10:30 AM ET

As a landmark ban on domestic elephant ivory trade comes into effect in China at the end of this month, TRAFFIC and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) surveys found that the ban has widespread support from a majority of consumers surveyed and that it is likely to substantially reduce ivory purchase. However, many citizens are unaware of the upcoming ban.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The World's Most Solvable Problem: Hunger

Dec 12, 2017 10:30 AM ET

KFC Canada's Harvest Program (a program that donates surplus chicken to local charities), recently celebrated the enrollment of their 100th KFC restaurant! Since rolling out the program earlier this year, KFC Canada has donated nearly 14,000 pounds of chicken to local charities across Canada.

Education

CITGO Lemont Recognizes National STEM Day With First Annual Celebration

Dec 12, 2017 10:30 AM ET

CITGO Lemont Refinery celebrated National STEM Day on Nov. 8 with more than 360 students, teachers and parents from Homer Glenn, Lemont, Lockport and Romeoville participating in 29 hands-on STEM activities and live demonstrations. The event is part of the CITGO STEM Talent Pipeline, a program that seeks to increase access to educational opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Innovation & Technology

VIDEO | eBay Everyday Heroes: Closing the Technology Gap

Dec 12, 2017 10:15 AM ET

According to Pew Research, 44% of Americans making less than $30,000 a year do not own a desktop or laptop computer. To bridge the digital divide, eBay seller ReviveIT refurbishes computers and provides this commercial-grade technology to small businesses and schools at a lower cost than new—making technology more accessible to these organizations. ReviveIT also donates technology to programs that aide low income families.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Listen Now: GRI Podcast December Edition

Dec 12, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Corporate social responsibility efforts in Asia Pacific are on the rise, driven by new regulatory regimes and investor demand for sustainability data. This, and a report from GRI's Regional Hub US and Canada, are two of the topics of the GRI podcast: Beyond reports in December.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Ceres Joins Forces With Investors and Partner Organizations Worldwide to Launch Climate Action 100+

Dec 12, 2017 9:50 AM ET

The sustainability nonprofit organization Ceres joined forces with investors and partner organizations worldwide today to help launch a new five-year global initiative led by investors to engage with the largest corporate greenhouse gas emitters in North America and around the world to act on climate change. The effort is backed by more than 225 global investors, including nearly 70 North American investors, with USD $26.3trillion in assets under management at the time of launch.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

How NAACP LDF Is Working to Secure Equal Justice for All

Dec 12, 2017 9:35 AM ET

We are facing increased attacks against civil rights. The current presidential administration has launched an “Election Integrity Commission” aimed at thwarting non-existent voter fraud that will lead to more voter suppression nationwide.

Education

Amgen Scholars Alumni Wants to Mentor Underrepresented Undergrads Interested in STEM

Dec 12, 2017 9:35 AM ET

"Ultimately, I aspire to become a principal investigator (PI) with my own lab crewed by brilliantly blossoming scientists. As of now, I am fascinated by neuroimmunology and the role of neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases."