Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Innovation & Technology

Astellas Oncology Announces C3 Prize® Celebrity Partnership and Category Winners

Sep 21, 2018 3:50 PM ET

Energy

Ride-and-Drives Accelerate Switch to Electric Vehicles

Sep 21, 2018 3:00 PM ET

National Drive Electric Week aims to spread the word about the benefits of all-electric and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles — the lower overall costs of ownership compared to fossil-fueled vehicles, helping the environment and reducing the country’s dependence on foreign oil.

Energy

The Future of Household Energy in Emerging Markets Will Be Safe, Convenient and Online

Sep 21, 2018 2:25 PM ET

How did you cook your breakfast this morning? If you’re one of the roughly 3 billion people worldwide who live in energy poverty, it was over an open fire or a pile of lit charcoal inside a rudimentary stove. Cooking this way is inefficient, wasting up to 90% of the heat from combustion. It is also dangerous, affecting vision, causing heart and lung disease and ultimately shortened lives. Almost half the world’s population still cooks this way because they need to eat and don’t have other options, but thankfully progress is being made.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Smithfield Foods Supports Hurricane Florence Disaster-Relief Efforts in North Carolina

Sep 21, 2018 2:15 PM ET

Following historic flooding and devastation in North Carolina in the wake of Hurricane Florence, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is donating 480,000 servings of protein through its Helping Hungry Homes® initiative to two local food banks and has committed $100,000 to the American Red Cross to support ongoing disaster-relief and recovery efforts in the state.

Sustainable Development Goals

Fostering Student Interest and Inclusion to Close the STEM Gap

Sep 21, 2018 2:10 PM ET

For a country that has historically thrived on innovation, the United States may now be losing out on generations of innovators in science, mathematics, technology, and engineering. These innovators are essential to bridging the skills gap in STEM: an estimated 3 million STEM jobs in America are unfilled because there are not enough qualified workers to fill them.

Sustainable Development Goals

Who Are Your ‘Climate Heroes’? For Mars’ Ashley Allen, Climate & Land Sr. Manager, the Answer May Surprise You!

Sep 21, 2018 1:30 PM ET

At the Global Climate Action Summit, Ashley Allen, Climate & Land Sr. Manager spoke to Genevieve Maricle, Global Knowledge & Innovation Lead at WWF about the ‘climate heroes’ that inspired her.

Environment

The UPS Foundation to Award $2.6 Million in Environmental Grants

Sep 21, 2018 12:55 PM ET

The UPS Foundation, which leads global citizenship and philanthropy programs for UPS, announced it will award nearly $2.7 million in grants to preeminent environmental organizations worldwide. The missions of these organizations align with The UPS Foundation and the company’s environmental sustainability goals, which address creation of global standards and best practices as well as other issues such as renewable energy sources and reducing its absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from global ground operations.

Education

College Is the Goal. How Peninsula Bridge Empowers Kids to Get There.

Sep 21, 2018 12:05 PM ET

As a high school senior in California last year, Jose knew his Dad was excited about his college application process – even if he didn’t have much experience with how it all worked. Jose has been aiming for a degree in computer sciences—a big goal, since nobody in his family has ever graduated from college. But since he was young, Jose has had a unique support system through the California-based organization, and Dell Youth Learning partner, Peninsula Bridge.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

AEG Raises More Than $60,000 for Pediatric Cancer Research at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Through Company-Sponsored Nautica Malibu Triathlon Team

Sep 21, 2018 12:00 PM ET

In a combined effort to advance its employees’ health and well-being and continue its longstanding support of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), AEG – the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company – raised more than $60,000 for CHLA through its involvement with the Nautica Malibu Triathlon on Sunday, Sept. 16 in Malibu, Calif.

Environment

VIDEO | Join the Rainforest Alliance’s Follow the Frog Campaign

Sep 21, 2018 11:35 AM ET

The Rainforest Alliance’s annual Follow the Frog campaign is underway and runs through September 24. The campaign encourages consumers to purchase goods that have been responsibly produced, as indicated by the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Financial Times Names Champions of Women in Business

Sep 21, 2018 11:10 AM ET

Bloomberg LP Chairman Peter Grauer is ranked #2 in the FT's list of the top 50 male senior leaders in the global private sector who are making a significant contribution to gender diversity and the promotion of women to senior business roles.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Symantec Once Again Named a Sustainability Leader on Both the Dow Jones Sustainability (DJSI) World and DJSI North America Indices

Sep 21, 2018 11:05 AM ET

Symantec is once again named a Sustainability Leader on both the Dow Jones Sustainability (DJSI) World and DJSI North America indices along with just a handful of other software technology companies. This is our 12th consecutive year listed on the North America Index and our 11th consecutive year on the World Index.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The Walmart Foundation Announces New Round of Grants Available for Canadian Organizations Focused on Reducing Food Waste

Sep 21, 2018 11:05 AM ET

The Walmart Foundation today announced that it is making $1.5 million USD ($1.89 million CAD) available to fund proposals from eligible non-profit organizations working to reduce food waste in Canada. The Walmart Foundation is seeking proposals from qualified organizations that have experience in formulating, proposing, and implementing food waste reduction efforts. Requests between $300,000 and $1,000,000 (USD) will be considered.

Innovation & Technology

Discovering New Forms of Storytelling with Data

Sep 21, 2018 10:20 AM ET

Imagine if women could report their stories of harassment, assault, or violence in a way that did not re-traumatize them, but instead connected them to one another. Those stories could be used to collect data and help decision makers understand the problem.

Education

ArtPrize Facebook Voting Begins for High School Student Competition

Sep 21, 2018 10:20 AM ET

Facebook voting for a contest featuring the artwork of 10 Grand Rapids high school students is adding to the buzz surrounding the kickoff of ArtPrize 10 on Wednesday, Sept. 19.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

MetLife Named to the 2018 Dow Jones Sustainability Index

Sep 21, 2018 10:05 AM ET

MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) today announced that it has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), a widely-recognized standard for corporate responsibility that tracks leading sustainability-driven companies.

Energy

SCS Global Services Celebrates Zero Emissions Day With Real Climate Contributions Video

Sep 21, 2018 9:30 AM ET

SCS Global Services is proud to share the climate contributions our clients around the world are making through SCS-verified carbon offset projects.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Sustainable Investors Look to UN SDGs for Future Profits

Sep 21, 2018 9:05 AM ET

The socially responsible investment industry is exploding. By any measure, the growth is exponential, and increasing rapidly. The reasons are straightforward: Sustainable investing is increasingly seen as a superior methodology to manage risk and drive returns.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Xylem Volunteers Join iHeart Radio in a Water Donation Drive to Help Victims of Hurricane Florence

Sep 21, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Hurricane Florence is causing vast devastation in the U.S. South East and Mid-Atlantic regions of North and South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia and Maryland. Xylem joined forces with iHeart Radio to donate water to support disaster relief efforts. Nine employees in Atlanta, GA spent two days collecting, loading, and delivering cases of water to those affected by Florence. Xylem encouraged customers and channel partners to support the drive, by either donating items or volunteering, which spanned from Monday, September 17 to Tuesday, September 18. Xylem strives to serve as a lead corporation in disaster relief efforts, and is proud to see employees jumping up to serve those in need.

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar People

Sep 21, 2018 7:00 AM ET

Our employees are the backbone of Caterpillar’s success. They provide the innovative and diverse thinking we need to serve our customers.

Education

Developing Skills at Stope School

Sep 21, 2018 6:25 AM ET

As part of our commitment to workplace diversity, Red Lake Gold Mines implemented the Stope School Program in 2007.

The Stope School Program is a Common Core training program that trains both local and First Nations people who are interested in working in an underground mining environment. The program runs for three months and consists of Underground Hard Rock modules, as well as other specialty modules. The Stope School Program prepares the trainees to enter the workforce knowing the basics of mining with safety as a priority. Training consists of theory and practical activities consistent with the guidelines outlined by the Common Core Modules, a series of programs administered by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU).

Environment

Thermo King and Frigoblock Introduce Technologies for the “City of Tomorrow” at the IAA 2018 Show

Sep 20, 2018 6:45 PM ET

Thermo King and Frigoblock, transport solutions brands of Ingersoll Rand, a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments, introduced a series of truck and trailer innovations harnessing the power of electricity, data and clean technology at the IAA Commercial Vehicles Show on Sept. 20-27 in Hannover, Germany.

Energy

Solar Energy Powers Properties in Singapore and Las Vegas

Sep 20, 2018 4:40 PM ET

Through Sands ECO360, the company’s global sustainability program, Las Vegas Sands’ Integrated Resorts continuously seek opportunities to reduce its environmental footprint and create a greater impact in its local communities. In efforts to further improve energy efficiency, Marina Bay Sands and The Venetian, The Palazzo, and Sands Expo have turned to solar energy.

Green Infrastructure

Extreme Weather Like Hurricane Florence Shows We Need Clean, Stable Energy Infrastructure

Sep 20, 2018 3:05 PM ET

Let's suppose, for argument's sake, that you question whether climate change is real, or whether it will really affect you. You're not alone. More than a third of Americans say they don't worry much or at all about global warming and a third say it's exaggerated in the news. More than half say it won't pose a serious threat in their lifetimes, and 12 percent say it will never be a threat.

Innovation & Technology

Getting a Look at the Green Technologies of the Future

Sep 20, 2018 3:00 PM ET

Michael Burz admitted at the outset his is an uphill battle — making battery technology sexy.

“It’s a battery, not blockchain,” said Burz, referring to the popular technology used as the basis for BitCoin and other digital currency.

Still, the president and CEO of EnZinc Inc. thinks his Bay Area-based company could advance the development of advanced high performance green batteries that are based on zinc instead of the more common lithium ion or lead acid.