Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Green Infrastructure

Kia Motors Makes Second Annual Co-Sponsorship Contribution to The Ray on Giving Tuesday

Nov 28, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) delivered a significant financial contribution to The Ray, Georgia’s living laboratory for transportation technology on Interstate 85, on Giving Tuesday. The $26,000 gift is the second installment of a three-year commitment for the WheelRight® tire safety station, installed in December of 2016 at the Georgia Visitor Information Center on The Ray at mile marker one.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Giving Tuesday: Dell Team Members Make a Difference in Puerto Rico

Nov 28, 2017 12:15 PM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

ASPCA Hosts Its First Giving Hope Facebook Live-a-Thon on Giving Tuesday to Raise Critical Funds for Animals in Need

Nov 28, 2017 11:45 AM ET

On Giving Tuesday, November 28, beginning at 9 a.m., the ASPCA is hosting its first-ever ASPCA Giving Hope Facebook Live-a-thon on the ASPCA’s Facebook page. Special guests include actress Edie Falco, Mother of Dogs founder Allie Rizzo, as well as Travis Brorsen, host of Animal Planet’s My Big Fat Pet Makeover, Dan Schachner, America's favorite Animal Planet Puppy Bowl "Rufferee," and Jill Rappaport, an award-winning animal advocate and host of Animal Planet’s first-ever, Puppy Bowl Presents: The Dog Bowl. Influencers and senior pet advocates Chloe Kardoggian and Mervin the Chihuahua will also join the event.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Gifts of Energy an Ideal Way to Help Others on Giving Tuesday

Nov 28, 2017 11:30 AM ET

Gifts of Energy from Consumers Energy offer a convenient solution for those who want to help others this Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday (#GivingTuesday) is a global day where people are encouraged to donate time, goods or their voice in order to assist those in need.

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: Pride vs. Guilt

Nov 28, 2017 11:30 AM ET

Perhaps you’ve started shopping at your local farmers market weekly. Maybe you’ve replaced your incandescent lightbulbs with LEDs. You might have started paying a bit extra for the organic strawberries instead of the regular ones. How should you feel?

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

It's Giving Tuesday! - Best Buy's Open Giving Format Encourages Employee Giving

Nov 28, 2017 11:25 AM ET

Best Buy’s 12,000 employees are enjoying the retailer’s new employee giving program that matches 40 per cent of their donations to registered Canadian charities. The retailer’s new open giving program, called ‘myGiving’ launched in June.

“We’ve had lots of really great feedback,” says Karen Arsenault, Manager, Community Relations at Best Buy Canada Ltd. “People are excited about the program because they often have personal connections to charities and want to give back, whether it’s in support of a family member that has gone through cancer or helping a friend participating in a run or a ride in support of a specific charity.”

The program uses a simple online tool that makes giving to charities that “are near and dear to our employees’ hearts” really easy.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

AIDA Sends SOS Children’s Village Charity Check on Its Travels

Nov 28, 2017 11:00 AM ET

For more than ten years AIDA Cruises has already been supporting the work of SOS Children’s Village (SOS-Kinderdorf) in worldwide projects for disadvantaged children. Revenue from the sales of the book “CREATIVE – Fold the most beautiful hand towel animals” in which the cruise provider has collected ideas for artfully folded zoo creatures, is also benefiting children and adolescents. On board AIDAprima, the crew under Director Hotel & Guest Services Marc Spingler have sent a charity check for the proud sum of 6,000 euros on its journey to the Iloilo SOS Children’s Village in the southeast of the Philippine island of Panay.

Responsible Production & Consumption

New Social and Labor Convergence Process Public Effort: Falling in Love With the Problem Could Bring Significant Change for Workers

Nov 28, 2017 11:00 AM ET

For decades, almost all major brands – and now, almost every brand -- have subscribed to one or another factory social/labor compliance monitoring program. Timberland, for example, first launched its Code of Conduct in 1994. At first glance, this is good news as brands increasingly recognize their role to ensure that their factory partners promote worker safety and treat all workers with dignity and respect. Yet after decades of having these programs in place we have not yet fully moved the needle to protect workers’ rights.

Media & Communications

Michael Bloomberg on the Timeliness of His Coal Industry Doc 'From the Ashes'

Nov 28, 2017 10:50 AM ET

President Trump ran on a campaign that promised to bring the coal industry back in America. But to billionaire mogul, former New York City mayor and philanthropist Michael Bloomberg, that’s an empty promise given that long before climate change activists began railing against it, the industry was on a downward trajectory because of technology and cheaper alternatives like natural gas. In 2015, the founder of the privately-held Bloomberg L.P. asked top lieutenant Katherine Oliver to back a film that could explain the issue from both sides — the workers displaced when coal plants close and the health costs of the polluting industry when they remain open. The result is Michael Bonfiglio’s From the Ashes, one of the environmental-themed contenders in this year’s Oscar documentary feature race.

Environment

Climate Change Facts & Resources for All

Nov 28, 2017 10:35 AM ET

Antea Group talks about what some businesses are doing and what resources are available for you in the combat against climate change. Climate change poses one of the greatest challenges to the continued prosperity of businesses, communities, and ecosystems around the world.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

On #GivingTuesday Give the Gift of Sight

Nov 28, 2017 10:30 AM ET

This #GivingTuesday Orbis encourages supporters to give the gift of sight by participating in our matching challenge. One of our generous donors has agreed to match all #GivingTuesday donations up to $25,000. Funds will support our vision restoring work in places like Bangladesh, where four-year-old Halima had two cataracts removed by an Orbis-trained surgeon.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

#GivingTuesday the JetBlue Way

Nov 28, 2017 10:15 AM ET

JetBlue is celebrating November (aka Philanthrophy Month) as JetBlue For Good Month. Service is part of our DNA at JetBlue. JetBlue For Good Month celebrates all the ways we give back year-round. Earlier this month, we asked our customers to "Check-In For Good." In honor of #GivingTuesday, the international day of giving kicking off the holiday season, we’re offering even more opportunities for customers and crewmembers to get on board to bring our mission of Inspiring Humanity® to life.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Impact at Work: Center for Transforming Lives

Nov 28, 2017 10:15 AM ET

On Giving Tuesday, we’re highlighting a project with a talented team from Fidelity Investments and its nonprofit partner, The Center for Transforming Lives (CTL). CTL has provided safe housing, early childhood education, and financial empowerment services for economically disadvantaged women and children in the Texas community for over 100 years. CTL impacted 3,814 women, children, and families in fiscal year 2016 alone; however, the organization’s previous website failed to lift up their vast impact. The site was static, outdated, and challenging for staff to maintain. To better showcase their impact on the community, CTL partnered with a team of technologists from Fidelity Investments to build a new, user-friendly website on the Wix platform.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Build a Team — Be a Hero. Support GKTW on #GivingTuesday

Nov 28, 2017 10:10 AM ET

#GivingTuesday is November 28th, and we have something super in store for 2017’s global day of giving. This year, we’ll harness the power of our GKTW Family and social media to make our greatest impact to date.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Aflac Employees Lay the Groundwork for a Better Tomorrow

Nov 28, 2017 10:05 AM ET

Since 2007, more than 2,100 members of Aflac’s Columbus, Georgia, team have strapped on hardhats and tool belts with Habitat for Humanity. The program is so popular that Aflac holds lotteries to determine which employees will get the chance to participate. This year, 175 employees built Aflac’s 11th Habitat house, to the great delight of resident Marion Dantzler. Meanwhile, 50 employees at Aflac’s Columbia, South Carolina, location worked alongside new Habitat for Humanity homeowners during a five-day renovation project, completing the team’s second home construction.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Carlsberg's Sustainability Director on the Three Skills All CSOs Need

Nov 28, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Simon Boas Hoffmeyer is sustainability director at Carlsberg. Earlier this year he launched, Together Towards Zero, a major new sustainability strategy that will see the brewer target zero carbon emissions at its breweries worldwide by 2030.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Global Ambition, Local Action: How 5 U.S. Communities are Raising the Bar

Nov 28, 2017 9:45 AM ET

From creating a safe haven for people and pets, to growing locally to provide work opportunities, to stewarding natural resources for future generations, we work around the clock to help our communities thrive.

Education

Curiosity Cubes Aims to Spark Kids’ Interest in Science (Video)

Nov 28, 2017 9:35 AM ET

There’s a mobile shipping container traveling around the country getting kids excited about science.

“This is Millipore Sigma’s Curiosity Cube,” Rebecca Dowd, curiosity cube coordinator, said. “It’s a retrofitted shipping container that’s been turned into a mobile science lab […] to do hands on science experiments with students.”

Environment

LIXIL Group’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Target Validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative

Nov 28, 2017 9:35 AM ET

LIXIL Group Corporation, a global leader in the housing and building industry, has received validation from the Science Based Targets (SBT) initiative for its greenhouse gas emissions target. LIXIL is the first company in the building products sector globally to have its targets approved by the SBT initiative.

The targets approved by the SBT initiative outline how LIXIL Group will reduce its environmental footprint in order to achieve its Environmental Vision, comprising a 30% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, and a 15% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2030 compared to fiscal 2015 levels. To achieve these targets, LIXIL Group is increasing energy efficiency in its operations, introducing renewable energy, and promoting energy efficient products and services.

Energy

“A Century of Power” Documentary Recounts Energy History in Hong Kong as Told by the Kadoorie Family

Nov 28, 2017 9:30 AM ET

"A Century of Power" chronicles CLP’s contribution to the economic and social development of this beautiful city we call home and the markets in Asia Pacific where CLP operates. Produced by acclaimed filmmaker Elaine Forsgate Marden, the documentary recounts the CLP story and its long-standing commitment to the communities it serves, through valuable archive materials and new footage captured in the past two years.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

NRG Launches ‘Choose to Give’ Plan Benefiting Boston Children’s Hospital

Nov 28, 2017 9:30 AM ET

NRG today formally unveiled a new partnership with Boston Children’s Hospital as part of its "Choose to Give" program, which allows NRG customers to support local nonprofits through their electricity plan.

Diversity & Inclusion

eBay Seller Portraits | Spice Kitchen UK

Nov 28, 2017 9:25 AM ET

With encouragement from her son, Shashi turned her passion for cooking into a successful blended spice business.

Environment

Domtar Sustainability: Managing Our Byproducts

Nov 28, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Our manufacturing processes generate byproducts that were historically viewed as “waste” and sent to landfills. We are increasingly monetizing the value in these byproducts and envision a future with virtually zero waste going to landfills. The benefits are both environmental and economic.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Ideas to Put More ESG Impact Into Your Portfolio

Nov 28, 2017 9:05 AM ET

For investors looking to take steps towards impactful investing, a good place to start is with the concept of doing no harm — a baseline for investors to look at their portfolio and remove any exposures that might have a negative ESG impact. With this approach, consider whether companies in which you invest are applying efforts to minimize negative externalities of their operations and ensure that, ultimately, the net impact of their operations is not negative.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Agxa Achieves FSC Chain of Custody Certification

Nov 28, 2017 9:00 AM ET

agxa, an AG International company, is an international trade and offshore business entity operating in Australia, Sri Lanka, India, and Singapore with principal networks in Asia, Europe and North America. It has now gained the most credible certification in the forest trade – Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody Certification through SCS Global Services.