Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Environment

‘Eco’ Locomotives, ‘Sleeper’ Plug-In Heaters, and ‘Slugs’ Add Up to Lower Emissions for Norfolk Southern

Aug 24, 2016 7:30 AM ET

Norfolk Southern considers it a corporate responsibility to mitigate the environmental impacts of rail operations. Because the consumption of locomotive diesel fuel makes up about 90 percent of the company’s carbon emissions, NS has adopted strategic initiatives to reduce fuel use, which lower business costs and environmental impacts.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Get to Know Humana, Finalist for 2016 Employee Volunteer Program of the Year

Aug 23, 2016 6:10 PM ET

In this Q&A series, get to know the finalists for VolunteerMatch’s 2016 Employee Volunteer Program of the Year Award. Winners will be revealed on October 25, 2016 at VM Summit 16. Get your VM Summit 16 ticket today. Today’s featured volunteer program: Humana.

Research, Reports & Publications

Kinross Gold Releases Corporate Responsibility Report

Aug 23, 2016 3:00 PM ET

Kinross Gold Corporation released its Corporate Responsibility Report, a comprehensive account of the Company’s commitment to sustainable mining and transparency in 2014 and 2015.

Environment

GM Facilities Across the Globe Take Action on World Environment Day

Aug 23, 2016 2:25 PM ET

General Motors’ commitment to sustainability is shared by its facilities around the world. To celebrate this collective mission to protect the earth and serve communities, GM rallied employees to take action to support World Environment Day, a global movement organized by the United Nations. Sixty-two GM manufacturing and non-manufacturing facilities organized environmental outreach activities.

Diversity & Inclusion

Stress in the Workplace is Relative, Suggests Deloitte Study

Aug 23, 2016 2:05 PM ET

Health & Healthcare

Kenya Red Cross Society and Novartis Join Forces

Aug 23, 2016 2:05 PM ET

The Kenya Red Cross Society (KRCS) has announced a partnership with Novartis to improve access to prevention, treatment, and care of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Kenya. As part of the new partnership with Novartis, KRCS will train health workers, community volunteers and scale up screening at community and facility level for NCDs over the next three years.

Social Impact & Volunteering

For Astellas USA Foundation, Giving Back Means Living Smart™ Together, with Our Communities

Aug 23, 2016 2:00 PM ET

t’s hard to encapsulate “giving back” in a single definition. That’s why my colleagues at Astellas USA Foundation and I like to refer to giving back as Living Smart. Living SmartTM means preparing communities today for what can happen tomorrow. Astellas USA Foundation and Astellas Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) align on this mission and collaborate to create positive impact to society. Our goal is to help the communities where we live and work access the resources they need to flourish and face the future with confidence.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Republic Services Southern Nevada Recycling Center Earns Top Industry Award for Recycling Systems Excellence

Aug 23, 2016 2:00 PM ET

Republic Services (NYSE: RSG) is pleased to announce that the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) has named Republic’s Southern Nevada Recycling Center winner of the Gold Excellence Award in the Recycling Systems category. The award was presented at SWANA’s annual conference, WASTECON®, on Tuesday, August 23, 2016, in Indianapolis, Ind.

Innovation & Technology

10 Million Pledges and Why It Matters

Aug 23, 2016 1:20 PM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

New Tools to Chart the Course toward the Climate North Star

Aug 23, 2016 1:00 PM ET

The science-based goals set forth in the Paris Agreement can help companies make decisions on climate action. Here's how we navigate to those goals.

Research, Reports & Publications

T. Rowe Price Releases Video Summary of 2015 Corporate Social Responsibility Update

Aug 23, 2016 12:45 PM ET

T. Rowe Price has released its 2015 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Summary, which updates the results of the firm’s efforts to promote financial education, reduce its environmental footprint, and empower associates to have an impact in their communities.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Henkel and BASF’s Industry Partnership with Solidaridad Demonstrate Manufacturer Commitment to Sustainable Palm Oil

Aug 23, 2016 12:30 PM ET

Palm oil has become a high profile material as the ethical and environmental consequences of palm oil production have become clear. Widespread and rapid deforestation for palm oil plantations has destroyed endangered species habitat and spurred human rights abuses and social conflict.

Environment

Light at the End of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline

Aug 23, 2016 12:25 PM ET

Writing recently for the Wall Street Journal, Thomas Barrett, President of Alyeska which owns and manages the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, bemoans the pipeline’s deterioration due to falling oil production and urges that oil drilling sites be opened in Alaskan seas to increase the oil load and save the pipeline.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Astellas and The Chris Klug Foundation Announce Winners of the 2016 Bounce Back Award

Aug 23, 2016 12:00 PM ET

The Chris Klug Foundation (CKF) is pleased to announce the winners of the third annual Bounce Back Award, presented by Astellas. The award goes to two transplant recipients who exhibit a great post-transplant quality of life. Winners were chosen by CKF staff and board members from more than 60 incredible nominations from 17 states.

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: What's a Nimby?

Aug 23, 2016 11:45 AM ET

When contemplating our environmental challenges, we can’t just say, “Not in my backyard.” Instead, I ask that we collectively declare, “Not in anyone’s backyard.”

Research, Reports & Publications

Lockheed Martin Refreshes Its Sustainability Management Plan to Guide Progress Through 2020

Aug 23, 2016 11:15 AM ET

After achieving 95 percent of its sustainability goals in 2015, Lockheed Martin is now raising the bar with a refreshed Sustainability Management Plan (SMP) to guide our progress through 2020.

Energy

States that are Leading the Clean Energy Economy & Creating Jobs

Aug 23, 2016 10:15 AM ET

At a time of notable acceleration in the nation’s transition to a clean energy economy, California leads all states in clean tech leadership for the seventh consecutive year, according to annual rankings released by Clean Edge, a leading clean tech research and advisory firm. Learn about all of this and more

Diversity & Inclusion

Darden for Life | Patricia Anderson of Olive Garden

Aug 23, 2016 10:10 AM ET

For some of our team members, creating great dining experiences for our guests is so fulfilling that it becomes their life’s work. Today we hear from one of our longtime team members whose years of achievement inspire us all. Host Patricia Anderson, a 34-year Darden team member in Tucson, AZ, says Olive Garden has been accommodating, allowing her to keep working despite health challenges.

Events, Media & Communications

Sustainable Brands to Host Breakthrough Research Shaping 21st Century Business Models

Aug 23, 2016 10:00 AM ET

A series of research studies and breakthrough innovations focused on the intersection of business and purpose will launch at SB’16 Copenhagen. The Sustainable Brands® community will gather in Northern Europe at the Radisson Blu Scandinavian Hotel in Copenhagen on September 26-28th to host these emerging insights and collaborate on how companies are developing real tools, techniques, methods and models for embedding purpose into the core of a brand and finding business success.

Environment

Arbor Day Foundation and Cabela's Outdoor Fund to Replant on Forests Devastated by Disaster

Aug 23, 2016 9:30 AM ET

The Arbor Day Foundation and Cabela's Outdoor Fund have partnered together to replant in forests devastated by natural disaster. The reforestation efforts, which include the planting of 200,000 trees, are critical to preserving wildlife habitat.

Health & Healthcare

VSP Global and USC Launching Major Wearables Study with Tech-infused Frames

Aug 23, 2016 7:05 AM ET

In partnership with University of Southern California (USC) Center for Body Computing (CBC), VSP Global® is launching a major academic study and consumer pilot test with the latest version of the company’s tech-embedded eyewear, Level™.

Innovation & Technology

Interns Code for a Cause

Aug 22, 2016 5:35 PM ET

This year I celebrate twenty years with AT&T. I’m a proud AT&T employee. But there are some experiences in particular that remind me why I’m so glad to be here.

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar's 40 Years of Building a Beautiful China

Aug 22, 2016 5:00 PM ET

Before China became the world’s second-largest economy, Caterpillar’s 40-year relationship with them began with the three words “send pipelayer experts.” Caterpillar is delighted to support all our Chinese partners, contribute to their communities and invest in our people there, both internal and external.

Health & Healthcare

21CF Donates $100,000 to Flood Relief Efforts in Louisiana, FOX Stars Rally Public Support

Aug 22, 2016 5:00 PM ET

Louisiana has been an important production hub for 21st Century Fox and the film and television industry as a whole, which is why the company saw an urgent need to respond to the damage and casualties caused by the unprecedented rains there last week. Today, 21CF is donating $100,000 to help the disaster relief efforts in the affected communities, where our production teams have lived and worked.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Across India: A National Geographic Student Expedition’s Journey

Aug 22, 2016 4:15 PM ET

This summer I spent 14 hours on a plane to New Delhi, India. Much like everyone else, I don’t enjoy long flights but I had been looking forward to this one for months and not even the cramped seats could keep my excitement down. As soon as we landed I was greeted by a mass of people, all beautifully dressed in colorful Saris and Dhotis. The streets were full of activity and I was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of traffic and cars, and the friendliness of everyone who waved as we passed by.