Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Social Impact & Volunteering

Cross-Sector Skill Sharing in Action

Aug 24, 2018 10:30 AM ET

Common Impact defines skill sharing as a two-way talent exchange where both pro bono professionals and their nonprofit partners are learning from each other. In my experience sourcing and supporting skilled service projects for our corporate and nonprofit clients, it is when our partners recognize the knowledge and expertise that they each bring to the table and seek to proactively learn from one another that real long-term change takes place. The change we see is not just for the communities we support, but also for the volunteers and nonprofit leaders participating in these skills-based volunteer projects.

Environment

Agroforestry Could Make Agriculture Emissions-Neutral by 2050

Aug 24, 2018 10:25 AM ET

Agroforestry is a major component of efforts to reduce the impact of climate change on farming. The practice of integrating trees into agriculture is a long tradition in most farming systems throughout the world. Agroforestry not only helps diversify farmers’ portfolios and spread risk but also provides environmental benefits that can only come from deep-rooted perennials, including sequestering carbon.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Cisco is #43 on Fortune's List of Businesses That Change the World

Aug 24, 2018 9:55 AM ET

Big enterprises are in the business of doing more for the world, and Cisco is leading the effort. Fortune's Change the World list features companies who are using their profit to change social problems. This year, Fortune ranked Cisco number 43 on the list, recognizing Cisco's Networking Academy as a change maker for more than a million students' lives.

Diversity & Inclusion

This Life With Gracie: Women Leaders Reignite Own Fire While Helping Girls Find Their Way

Aug 24, 2018 9:50 AM ET

Every Wednesday for eight weeks this summer, Ava Pittman rubbed elbows with some of the most successful and influential women Georgia has to offer. Cpl. Angela Florence at the Columbus Police Department. Kathy Bruer, owner of Belles & Beaus Etiquette & Manners and Aflac retiree. Teresa White, the first woman and African-American to hold the title of president at Aflac.

Events, Media & Communications

Cause-driven Changes in Taste and Attitudes are Disrupting the Food and Beverage Sector

Aug 24, 2018 9:45 AM ET

Consumers, especially millennials, are choosing smaller, newer food and drink brands marketed as more natural, healthier, and/or more local over traditional, bigger brands. These disruptor companies also tend to include eco-friendly factors— such as their environmental footprint and sustainable supply chains — in their practices and missions.

Events, Media & Communications

Dana Beckman, Director of Corporate Affairs at Alliance Data, Talks Women in Business

Aug 24, 2018 9:40 AM ET

Dana Beckman is the Director of Corporate Affairs for Alliance Data, a company that provides data-driven loyalty marketing solutions to FORTUNE 1,000 companies. Using her innate creativity and understanding of the company’s business goals, Dana has built a respected program at Alliance Data that is strategically aligned with the company’s mission and will invest $15 million in communities worldwide in 2018.

Sustainable Development Goals

Schneider Electric Joins Corporate Renewable Energy Buyers' Principles; Commits to Increasing Access to Renewable Energy

Aug 24, 2018 9:05 AM ET

Schneider Electric, the global specialist in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, announced it joined the Corporate Renewable Energy Buyers' Principles, an initiative made up of 76 companies seeking to spur progress on renewable energy and achieve their sustainable energy goals.

Environment

Sustainable Water Management: The Heart of Our Pulp and Paper Mills

Aug 24, 2018 9:05 AM ET

When people think of paper manufacturing, the first natural resource that comes to mind is probably trees. But water plays an equally important role in our industry. That’s why sustainable water management is one of our top priorities.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Xylem Partners with Manchester City Football Club

Aug 24, 2018 9:05 AM ET

Last month, Xylem partnered with Manchester City Football Team to work together in solving water. At one event, Xylem volunteers, along with coaches and players from Manchester City Football Club and the New York City Football Club, teamed up to support New York City’s city-wide efforts to promote youth soccer programs in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens. Almost 100 children between the ages of 7-13 enjoyed soccer training from professional coaches and participated in a water conservation program, which highlighted the importance of water conservation.

Sustainable Development Goals

USAID Awards Tetra Tech $650 Million Contract for Land Tenure and Natural Resource Management Services

Aug 24, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Tetra Tech, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTEK) announced today that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) awarded the Company a $650 million, multiple-award contract to develop innovative solutions to address land rights challenges around the world. Secure property rights provide a foundation for sustainable natural resource management, access to water resources, economic growth, and improved food security.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Member Weekend at Arbor Day Farm Reinvigorates the Arbor Day Foundation’s Mission

Aug 24, 2018 9:00 AM ET

This summer, the Arbor Day Foundation invited a select group of long-time Foundation members to enjoy a hosted stay at Lied Lodge & Conference Center at Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City, Nebraska. Member weekend was an opportunity for our members to learn more about our programs and see our work come to life.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Rewiring Employment Systems: FSG’s Innovation Labs Now Accepting Applications

Aug 24, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Everyone’s talking about workforce, but do you have the tools and knowledge to access and support new sources of talent? Over the last year, FSG has been working to advance employer practice change through their Talent Rewire Innovation Lab program, which supports a wide range of employers to better recruit, retain, and support historically overlooked talent pools with an aim of improving the bottom line.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

21st Century Fox Invests in Disaster Preparedness and Awareness With $1MM to the American Red Cross and Center for Disaster Philanthropy

Aug 23, 2018 8:55 PM ET

In response to 2017’s series of devastating and unprecedented natural disasters, including hurricanes that affected over 25 million people, 21st Century Fox is preparing for forthcoming natural disasters this year by donating $1 million to the American Red Crossand the Center for Disaster Philanthropy. The contribution will support the two organizations’ capacity-building, preparedness, relief, and recovery efforts for 2018, as deadly wildfires continue tearing through California and coastal regions begin fortifying themselves ahead of hurricane season.

Environment

Ian Power: Rocking Climate Change

Aug 23, 2018 8:00 PM ET

There is no silver bullet to solve the intractable problem of global warming. Nevertheless, there is a lot of vital and hopeful work being done to chip away at the mountain of problems human beings have wreaked on this planet. This week on Sea Change Radio, we look at two innovative ideas that are moving us in a hopeful direction.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Whirlpool Corporation to Support Habitat for Humanity’s 2018 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project in Indiana

Aug 23, 2018 7:30 PM ET

Whirlpool Corporation will be on the front lines of home-building projects in the Midwest, as part of Habitat for Humanity’s 35th Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project.

Research, Reports & Publications

Force for Good: VMware Releases 2017 Global Impact Report

Aug 23, 2018 5:35 PM ET

Innovation & Technology

How New Tech Startup Pinkaloo Is Using Its Platform to Personalize Charitable Giving at Work

Aug 23, 2018 5:25 PM ET

Just outside of Baltimore, MD, a new technology startup company, called Pinkaloo, is helping set the stage for a more modern way for employees to give through the workplace.

Environment

National Grid Statement on Clean Power Plan

Aug 23, 2018 5:15 PM ET

“National Grid believes significant and urgent action is needed to combat climate change and has long supported reasonable decarbonization policies and strategies – including the Clean Power Plan and the Paris Climate Accord,” said Dean Seavers, president of National Grid, US. “Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while maintaining affordability and resiliency, is paramount for National Grid.”

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar Inc. | Innovating Efficient Technologies

Aug 23, 2018 5:00 PM ET

Innovation & Technology

From Data to Discovery, Faster: Next Generation Sequencing

Aug 23, 2018 3:30 PM ET

The Technical University of Denmark conducts research in bioinformatics and systems biology—fields that employ powerful computers to explore biological data.

Responsible Production & Consumption

VIDEO | Mohawk’s Nutopia Looks at Urban Connectivity and Biophilia

Aug 23, 2018 3:20 PM ET

Design Milk talked to Royce Epstein, A&D Design Director, Mohawk Group and George Bandy Jr., VP of Sustainability and Marketing, Mohawk Group about their new collection and its sustainable materials.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Hallmark Donated $10.7 Million and 53K Volunteer Hours in 2017

Aug 23, 2018 3:15 PM ET

In 2017, Hallmark and its businesses contributed nearly $11 million in product and financial contributions to non- profit
organizations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Asia-Pacific and Europe. At the same time, employees at all levels of the organization volunteered their time and talents to provide more than 53,000 hours of volunteer service — nearly two hours for every one of its world- wide employees.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Joint Training Strengthens Disaster Response

Aug 23, 2018 3:00 PM ET

In 2015, when the call came in of an oil spill off of Refugio State Beach in Santa Barbara County, emergency officials immediately leaped into action. Santa Barbara County’s Office of Emergency Management, Plains All American Pipeline, Southern California Edison, the U.S. Coast Guard, California Department of Fish & Wildlife and a host of local, state and federal agencies responded. They organized under the Incident Command System, an organizational structure used across the country to respond to wildfires, floods, earthquakes and other disasters.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Benevity Expands Global Corporate Giving and Employee Engagement Solution

Aug 23, 2018 2:35 PM ET

The latest expansion to Benevity's market-leading international CSR offering enables companies in Germany to engage people in local volunteering and tax-receiptable giving to German charities as a way to build a more purpose-driven and socially responsible corporate culture.

Energy

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at How the Makers of M&M’s Source Renewable Energy

Aug 23, 2018 2:30 PM ET

We recently heard from Mars, Incorporated’s chief procurement and sustainability officer, Barry Parkin, about the company’s plan to tackle its ambitious climate goals in an EDF+Business “Business of Sustainability” podcast. Their Sustainable in a Generation plan details Mars’ commitment to procure 100 percent renewable energy. Mars is plowing full speed ahead toward these goals and recently, Mars Australia signed 20-year power purchase agreements (PPA) to generate the equivalent of 100 percent of Mars’ electricity from renewable energy by 2020.