Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Health & Healthcare

Bali's Plant-Based Eco-Adventure

Dec 7, 2017 6:15 AM ET

Come with us as we visit the magical Island of Bali, Indonesia for a two week plant-based raw food immersion at the beautiful and mystical Svarga Loka Resort in Ubud. Led by world renown master raw chef and cookbook author Sayuri Tanaka, the course provides a powerful framework for the tools and techniques needed to raise your vibration through raw vegan cuisine – from sprouting, dehydrating and holistic nutrition to flavor balancing and plating.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

My 2018 Outlook by Amy Domini, Founder, Domini Impact Investments

Dec 7, 2017 6:05 AM ET

In the end, my belief is that we are still about half way through a secular bull market and that the 15 to 25 percent pullback that always happens during a secular bull market will be triggered by a rising Democratic party in the November 2018 elections

Sustainable Development Goals

Allstate Enhances Sustainability Reporting

Dec 7, 2017 5:05 AM ET

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) released an enhanced annual Sustainability Report to highlight its progress in fulfilling its role in society. This is the 15th consecutive annual report on the company’s philosophy and results on responsible business practices and social impact. In-depth information is provided on corporate governance, ethics, environmental practices, inclusive diversity and social impact in alignment with the Global Reporting Initiative framework and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Hormel Foods Recognized with the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Proclamation

Dec 6, 2017 3:45 PM ET

Hormel Foods announced today that it was recognized by the state of Minnesota with the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon proclamation. Minnesota Lt. Governor Tina Smith, Major General Jon Jensen, Adjutant General Minnesota National Guard, joined Jim Sheehan, senior vice president and chief financial officer at Hormel Foods, and hundreds of employees for the ceremony.

The Beyond the Yellow Ribbon network recognized Hormel Foods for its long tradition of supporting our troops, both in peacetime and war. This support continues today through the company’s products used to feed our active duty servicemen and women, but also providing career opportunities for veterans as they transition from active duty service to the next phase of their lives as civilians.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Shop Local? Why Healthy Soil Matters

Dec 6, 2017 2:45 PM ET

If you live in a large city, you likely have the luxury to head to the grocery store or farmer’s market of your choice to buy produce. Whether you need sweet potatoes for your holiday yams recipe or kale to prepare meals for the upcoming work week, you rely on the fact that the items that you want are there waiting. It can be easy to forget how robust the global agriculture industry is that grows the food that we’ve become accustomed to buying on demand. However, every year on December 5 we observe World Soil Day (WSD), a day meant to raise awareness about the importance of healthy soil as well as a day to advocate for the sustainable management of soil resources. At its essence, this day celebrates the life-giving power of food.

Green Infrastructure

Whirlpool Finishes Work on 1.5 MW Wind Turbine at Ottawa Plant

Dec 6, 2017 2:00 PM ET

Whirlpool Corporation has completed a wind turbine project at its Ottawa, OH plant. The $13.5 million project is expected to generate 1.5 megawatts of electricity and offset 34% of energy needs at the facility.

Innovation & Technology

Podcast | UPS Longitudes Radio: Moving Urban Logistics Forward (Part 1)

Dec 6, 2017 1:25 PM ET

UPS Longitudes is launching a three-part podcast series on how forward-looking businesses, academic institutions and sustainability leaders are reimagining the movement of goods in urban spaces. In the first episode, John Davies of GreenBiz breaks down the findings and the future of city planning, public-private partnerships and data-driven solutions disrupting international commerce.

Energy

Consumers Energy Delivers $2.6 Million Check to General Motors for Energy Efficiency Measures

Dec 6, 2017 1:05 PM ET

General Motors Flint Complex has received a $2.6 million incentive payment from Consumers Energy for energy efficiency upgrades, part of the energy provider’s commitment to helping businesses across Michigan lower their energy costs. Consumers Energy President and CEO Patti Poppe presented the incentive check to GM officials at the Flint Assembly plant today.

Environment

General Motors Sustainability Newsletter - December 2017

Dec 6, 2017 12:30 PM ET

It all started in 2004 with a nature habitat initiative at GM’s Lansing Delta Township site in Michigan. With help from numerous NGOs, community and supplier partners over the next couple of years, the LDT site established a wildlife habitat. The project included more than 20 acres of diverse woodlands, 40 acres of restored prairie, and 15 acres of wetlands. It was the first GM site to earn Wildlife Habitat Council certification in 2006.

Education

Policy Pursuits Take Two Amgen Scholars Beyond the Lab

Dec 6, 2017 12:00 PM ET

When Cameron Clarke was first assigned a policy brief as an Amgen Scholar at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2016, it was the start of something big: a career in public health policy. In the year that followed, he would use the policy brief writing skills again and again as an intern on Capitol Hill, and then with several local government organizations on issues ranging from opioid addiction and minority health inequities to environmental policy. Now a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, Clarke’s work focuses on systematically reviewing research to translate the results into policy recommendations.

Innovation & Technology

5 Tips for Building a Successful Startup

Dec 6, 2017 11:50 AM ET

I come from a family of educators, but I am not one myself.

When I started as the Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the AT&T Aspire Accelerator focused on ed-tech, I had a small case of imposter syndrome. Sure, I’d worked in technology for my entire career, but what about the “ed” part of ed-tech? What did I know about education? How could I be taken seriously?

Social Impact & Volunteering

'Holidays for Heroes'

Dec 6, 2017 11:45 AM ET

Whirlpool Corporation employees in Cleveland recently worked to spread holiday cheer to U.S. military personnel and veterans by participating in "Holidays for Heroes," an initiative of the American Red Cross.

Diversity & Inclusion

Ingersoll Rand Earns Perfect Score on Human Rights Campaign Foundation Corporate Equality Index for Second Year

Dec 6, 2017 11:30 AM ET

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC) awarded Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR), a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments, a perfect score of 100 percent in workplace equality on its 2018 Corporate Equality Index (CEI). This is the second consecutive year Ingersoll Rand has earned a perfect score on the index.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

How to Maximize Gifts to Charity

Dec 6, 2017 11:30 AM ET

Being a kind and generous person in today’s global society can sometimes prove to be a challenge. It seems every day we’re being asked to donate to organizations that support heart-wrenching causes, ranging from helping abused animals to sick children to wounded veterans and victims of natural disasters.

Environment

Science-based Climate Targets: Helping Business Leaders Fill the Climate Ambition Void

Dec 6, 2017 11:00 AM ET

History is spiked with aspirational moments that influence a turn, a new narrative, a change of course. It’s easy to look back and marvel at past historical moments.

Environment

Antea Group Partners With Engineers Without Borders USA, Bringing Clean Water & Opportunity to Ugandan Women

Dec 6, 2017 10:45 AM ET

Engineers Without Borders USA (EWB-USA), Antea Group, and the local community bring an end to the water hauling days of the people of Oloo, Uganda

Social Impact & Volunteering

Xylem Employees Volunteer to Improve Water Resources

Dec 6, 2017 10:00 AM ET

During Xylem’s Month of Service in October, employees volunteered for water-related activities in their communities, including cleaning up water sources and rebuilding homes in Houston. Xylem has set a goal for employees to volunteer 35,000 hours during 2017. We spoke with Michael Fields, Director of Xylem Watermark, to learn more.

Energy

Bloomberg New Energy Finance Releases Its Annual Climatescope Findings

Dec 6, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Bloomberg New Energy Finannce (BNEF) released its annual Climatescope findings, assessing 71 countries in emerging markets on their progress made toward the clean energy transition. Solar capacity jumped by more than half in developing nations.

Energy

Generating Energy Revenue

Dec 6, 2017 9:45 AM ET

Despite being fundamental to every industry, energy is often an afterthought in many operations. Relegating Energy Management to the edges of operational and cost efficiency considerations is leaving the opportunity to generate additional revenue and reduce spend, on the table.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Affordable v. Eco-Friendly: You Shouldn’t Have to Choose

Dec 6, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Last April, Walmart launched Project Gigaton, a project that invites our merchandise suppliers to join us in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the products they make and the way they make them, taking 1 gigaton (yes, that’s really a word - a billion metric tons) of emissions out of the atmosphere. That’s equal to all the emissions produced from all the homes in California over three years.

Environment

A Crusade for a Sustainable Tomorrow

Dec 6, 2017 9:30 AM ET

CLP Holdings Professor of Sustainability Charles Ng Wang Wai outlines his mission to make the world more sustainable for future generations.

Green Infrastructure

Vision for Healthy Communities Built Through Industry Partnership

Dec 6, 2017 9:25 AM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

WETA Engages People of All Ages in the Joy of Lifelong Learning

Dec 6, 2017 9:15 AM ET

For more than 50 years, WETA Television and Classical WETA 90.9 FM have been the Greater Washington community’s source for high-quality, educational public media. Combined Federal Campaign and workplace giving contributions from individual community members have provided vital support to help make WETA’s public service possible.

An independent, not-for-profit public broadcaster and producer, WETA’s mission is to share programs of intellectual integrity and cultural merit that pique the audience’s curiosity and interest in the world around them, providing opportunities for lifelong learning for all who seek enrichment, inspiration and information.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Head Start Boot Drive

Dec 6, 2017 9:10 AM ET

Boots On The Ground at Sanofi Pasteur – As the first of a two-part program focused on helping local Head Start families in need, hundreds of Sanofi Pasteur employees donated snow boots, hats, gloves, and other wintertime essentials to approximately 225 Monroe county Head Start children.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Alliance Data Does It Again: Company Named a 2017 Best Workplace for Diversity by FORTUNE

Dec 6, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Alliance Data ranks No. 57 on 100 Best Workplaces for Diversity