Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Comcast NBCUniversal Contributes Nearly $1.5M in Cash and In-Kind Support for Northern California Wildfire Relief Efforts

Oct 23, 2017 5:15 PM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

LA Galaxy Foundation Teams Up with Playworks to Support “Real Players Don’t Bully” Campaign

Oct 23, 2017 5:00 PM ET

In celebration of National Bullying Prevention Month and through its partnership with Playworks, a nonprofit organization promoting the power of play for children before, during and after school, AEG’s LA Galaxy Foundation (LAGF) teamed up with the nonprofit for the launch of its “Real Players Don't Bully” online campaign. In an effort to highlight bullying prevention and “positive play,” LA Galaxy players posed in the campaign shirts for photos which were then shared to the team’s social media accounts, reaching more than 450K followers.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Carnival Cruise Line Hosts Build-A-Bear Day of Fun For 100 Kids from Boys & Girls Club Aboard Carnival Magic in Port Carnival

Oct 23, 2017 4:30 PM ET

Carnival Cruise Line hosted a Build-A-Bear Workshop event that provided more than 100 kids from Brevard, Fla.-area Boys & Girls Clubs with a day of fun aboard the Carnival Magic in Port Canaveral, Fla.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Food for Thought: JetBlue Partners With Innovative Food and Beverage Brands Merging Product With Purpose

Oct 23, 2017 4:30 PM ET

It is no secret that airlines haven’t traditionally been associated with fresh and responsible foods. That is one of the many reasons it’s such an appealing area to work on within the sustainability department of an airline. Food has become a way for people to express and act on their social engagement and personal lifestyle. As the customer, just because you bought an airplane ticket doesn’t mean you suddenly want junk food or have stopped caring about your food preferences.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

100 Advocates Join The Poverty Is Unnecessary Project

Oct 23, 2017 4:15 PM ET

The Poverty Is Unnecessary Project includes Poverty Is Unnecessary Fund members donating $325,000 to alleviate global poverty and the Poverty Is Unnecessary Benefit & Live Auction to celebrate the impact of this work by Whole Planet Foundation and its supporters.

Environment

Stewart Leeth Of Smithfield Foods Joins GHI Board

Oct 23, 2017 3:35 PM ET

Global Harvest Initiative welcomes new member company, Smithfield Foods, Inc., and Stewart Leeth, Smithfield Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer, to board membership. In this interview for the Harvest 2050 blog, Stewart describes how he became involved in agriculture, as well as Smithfield’s commitments to sustainability and reducing hunger.

Health & Healthcare

What Every Chef Knows & Every Business Needs to Learn

Oct 23, 2017 3:30 PM ET

Each year a third of the world’s food is wasted, along with the resources used to produce and transport it, according to the United Nations. Considering our already overburdened environment, reduction is an obvious and immediate priority.

Our individual actions can make a dent in the problem, no doubt. Consumers are responsible for 43% of food loss and waste along the food supply chain. Meal planning, freezing leftovers and other simple steps to reduce waste are good, cost-saving habits for us all.

The business community, however, can make a bigger dent more quickly by embracing its own new habits and influencing consumer behavior.

Events, Media & Communications

Last Chance to Register! Snapshot 2017 Webinar is Oct. 24th at 2pm EST

Oct 23, 2017 3:20 PM ET

Join America's Charities during our free webinar on October 24th at 2 PM EST, when we will share findings from our new research, Snapshot 2017: What Employees Think about Workplace Giving, Volunteering, and CSR.

The researchers and writers behind Snapshot will discuss key findings from Snapshot 2017 and share exclusive insights you won't find in the report.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Kohler Mexico Comes Together to Support Earthquake Victims

Oct 23, 2017 3:00 PM ET

A 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck Mexico City on Sept. 19, killing 369 people, collapsing 38 structures and leaving nearly 200 buildings severely damaged—but through the chaos, goodwill is prevailing

Environment

Nature-Inspired Water Collection System Wins $100,000 Ray of Hope Prize®

Oct 23, 2017 2:00 PM ET

Grand prize for biomimicry acceleration goes to Team NexLoop for AquaWeb, an innovative water capture system designed for use in urban food systems.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Arrow Electronics’ Chief Strategy Officer Cathy Morris Honored with Colorado State University Alumni Award

Oct 23, 2017 1:30 PM ET

Arrow Electronics’ Chief Strategy Officer Cathy Morris was honored with a distinguished alumni award earlier this month from the Colorado State University Alumni Association. Morris, who graduated from CSU in 1980 with a B.S. in finance and real estate, received the “College of Business Honor Alumna” award for her work guiding innovation forward at Colorado’s largest company by revenue, Arrow Electronics (NYSE:ARW).

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

We Prioritize Safety Above All Else

Oct 23, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Due to the nature of our industry, we prioritize safety above all else. An exemplary safety track record helps ensure that every employee returns home at the end of the day. It also helps us attract the best drivers and improves relationships with the communities we serve, while reducing costs.

Republic’s safety performance is 41% better than the industry average based on OSHA data.

Innovation & Technology

Black & Veatch, ReThink Advisors Partner to Improve City Prosperity, Security and Sustainability

Oct 23, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Black & Veatch, a smart cities market leader, and strategic planning consultancy ReThink Advisors today announced a partnership to improve community well-being with a data-driven tool for city planning and performance.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Center for Resource Solutions Announces 2017 Green Power Leadership Award Winners

Oct 23, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Today Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) presented the 17th annual Green Power Leadership Awards to organizations and individuals for their roles in promoting and expanding the use of clean, renewable energy over the past year. The awards were presented at the Renewable Energy Markets 2017 conference in New York, NY.

Research, Reports & Publications

5 Keys to Attracting — and Keeping — Socially Minded Employees

Oct 23, 2017 12:05 PM ET

A competitive salary, great benefits and the opportunity to advance are crucial factors for employees when they are choosing where to work. But companies that want an extra edge in landing and keeping top talent might want to consider another key factor: a top-flight workplace giving and volunteering program.

Energy

National Grid and NYSERDA Announce Clean Heating and Cooling Demonstration Projects for Long Island Residents

Oct 23, 2017 11:35 AM ET

National Grid and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today announced two demonstration projects that will provide clean heating and cooling systems (geothermal) to Long Island residents.

Sustainable Development Goals

Survey: Business Water Management Efforts Are Still a Drop in the Bucket

Oct 23, 2017 11:15 AM ET

To encourage better water management practices, Nalco Water, Ecolab’s global water management business, has created Water University, a hands-on training facility for Nalco Water clients and associates. The new Water University will be officially dedicated on Oct. 23 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nalco Water’s Naperville campus. Lieutenant Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti, former U.S. Secretary of Defense William S. Cohen, State Senator Michael Connelly and Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico, as well as leaders from industry and non-governmental organizations and other local representatives, will be part of the opening ceremonies.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Pro Bono Challenge Spotlights: OCJ Kids

Oct 23, 2017 11:15 AM ET

In 2016, 59 nonprofit organizations participated in the Charles Schwab Pro Bono Challenge—a skills-based flash consulting event where Schwab employees utilize their talents and expertise to support local nonprofit organizations in building capacity to serve the community. The projects spanned across 8 regions, engaged 318 employee volunteers and generated almost half a million dollars in social return on investment to the nonprofit participants. Talk about impact!

Diversity & Inclusion

Black, Female Insurance Exec on Quest to Mentor Teen Girls

Oct 23, 2017 11:15 AM ET

Teresa White, the first woman and African-American president of Georgia-based insurance giant Aflac U.S., has the knack to inspire. So says Seychelle Hercules, a formerly bashful girl who went on to win Georgia’s Miss Columbus pageant after hearing the trailblazing Black executive speak.

Green Infrastructure

HP Inc.’s Boise Idaho Campus Awarded SITES Gold for Achievement in Landscape Sustainability

Oct 23, 2017 10:50 AM ET

Today, HP Inc. announced its Boise Idaho Campus was awarded Gold under the Sustainable SITES Initiative (SITES) rating system. Owned and administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), SITES is the most comprehensive program for designing, developing and maintaining sustainable landscapes.

Diversity & Inclusion

Female SMB Owners Are Leading the Way in Sustainability

Oct 23, 2017 10:30 AM ET

Women continue to serve as pioneers in sustainability, leading the way through advocacy and implementation. The Cox Conserves Sustainability Survey (CCSS), which focused on small and medium-sized business owners (SMBs), found that 42 percent of female-run SMBs are committed to increasing sustainable business practices versus 35 percent of male-run SMBs. Women recognize sustainability as an important part of running a business.

Innovation & Technology

HPE Labs VIDEO | How a Ground-up Approach Can Keep Data Safe

Oct 23, 2017 10:15 AM ET

Labs researchers are developing ways to separate the part of a computer responsible for security from the main operating environment so it can monitor for signs of an intrusion. They’re also coming up with technologies for detecting anomalous behavior on the network, rapidly encrypting data even while it’s in use, and authenticating not just users and applications but also discrete processes.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Are You Part of the Pro Bono Movement?

Oct 23, 2017 10:05 AM ET

Pro bono service is a movement. It’s made up of people who see not just a challenge in their communities, but a solution. The movement is filled with nonprofit professionals who refuse to be held back by their lack of resources. They’re scrappy, determined, and bursting at the seams with ideas to make their communities a better place. And the movement is fueled by companies and corporate professionals who wake up with their hands raised, ready to work alongside their community partners to make those ideas a reality.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Actress Advocates for Diabetes Awareness, Health Care and Research

Oct 23, 2017 10:00 AM ET

At age 12, she was the voice of Nala in Disney’s “The Lion King” movie. Since then, she has appeared in TV shows, off-Broadway plays and commercials. But Niketa Calame-Harris found that developing a chronic illness – in her case, Type 1 diabetes – came without a script.

Media & Communications

14 Easy Ways You Can Fair Trade Your Daily Routine, From Start to Finish

Oct 23, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Every day, we make choices. We choose what to wear to work, what to eat for breakfast, and which blanket to curl up under at night. Each one of these decisions has the power to improve the world when you choose items with the Fair Trade Certified seal. That's because every time you do, it sends money directly back to the farmers, workers, or fishermen who produced that item for you, which they invest back into their own communities. This October, making the commitment to choosing Fair Trade products has never been easier.