Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Safeway Store in Aberdeen Donates “Near Date” Items to Food Banks

Dec 4, 2017 7:55 AM ET

The Ocean Shores Food Bank is one of four groups on Grays Harbor County that have started receiving help from the Aberdeen Safeway store with ongoing efforts to feed hungry Harborites through a program administered by Seattle-based nonprofit Food Lifeline.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Barclays & Unreasonable Group | Jobs of Tomorrow, Solutions for the Planet

Dec 4, 2017 7:35 AM ET

Unreasonable Impact, created by Barclays and Unreasonable Group, is a programme centered around scaling growth-stage ventures across the globe that are well positioned to create thousands of jobs while solving our toughest societal and environmental challenges.

Green Infrastructure

IWBI, USGBC & GIGA Announce Collaboration to Integrate with Material Databases to Help Project Teams and Product Manufacturers

Dec 4, 2017 7:15 AM ET

The International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™), the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), and GIGA have announced a strategic partnership to usher in a new era of materials focus, enabling and supporting the further development of performance-driven, healthy, green buildings.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Gifts That Do Good: Your Fair Trade Holiday Gift Guide

Dec 2, 2017 9:00 AM ET

The Fair Trade Holiday Gift Guide is here! By choosing Fair Trade you'll be doing more than just spreading holiday cheer to your family and friends, you'll also be creating a positive and lasting difference in the lives of farmers and workers around the world.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Major League Baseball Players Swing Hammers for Habitat for Humanity

Dec 1, 2017 6:30 PM ET

When disasters strike, Major League baseball players strike back. That's why Major Leaguers from across the United States and Latin America traveled to Texas recently to trade in their bats and gloves for hammers and hard hats. The Players Trust relief efforts in Dallas this week were a reminder from Major League Baseball players that they haven’t forgotten victims of the natural disasters that befell southern Texas, Florida, Northern California, Mexico and Puerto Rico earlier this year.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Dollars and Scents

Dec 1, 2017 5:45 PM ET

There’s a popular phrase in Haitian creole, “tèt kolé,” which roughly translates to “heads together.” It’s an expression of unity, of working communally to get things done. In the same spirit, International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF) approached Heifer International with an idea. One of IFF’s business endeavors is buying vetiver oil from distilleries in Haiti, then either selling it directly or using it to help develop scents for the fragrance industry.

Health & Healthcare

The Dapivirine Ring: The Next Frontier in HIV Prevention

Dec 1, 2017 5:00 PM ET

While we have made tremendous strides against HIV over the past several decades, one challenge has remained persistently unaddressed—the ability of women to protect themselves, and others, against HIV.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Lowe’s Heroes Help Keep Dallas Beautiful Create Outdoor Living Spaces for Local Firefighters

Dec 1, 2017 4:00 PM ET

With funding and supplies through a Keep America Beautiful/Lowe’s Community Partners Grant, Keep Dallas Beautiful (KDB), through its "Adopt A Station" program, created outdoor living spaces at 23 fire stations in underserved Dallas neighborhoods in the fall of 2017.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Brands Build Momentum for #GivingTuesday

Dec 1, 2017 3:45 PM ET

Since it launched in 2012, #GivingTuesday has grown to become a recognized day of giving back in the U.S. and around the world. Last year, charities raised $180 million —an increase of 44% over the previous year. Now, what started out as a day focused on nonprofits has garnered the attention of companies as well. This year we saw companies create fun and unique ways to invite consumers to purchase while giving back on one of the biggest giving days of the year. Here are a few campaigns that caught our eye:

Media & Communications

Dryver Partners With Korbel California Champagne to Provide 2,018 Free Designated Drivers During the Holiday Season

Dec 1, 2017 3:00 PM ET

Dryver, the nation’s largest personal driver service for both individuals and businesses, today announced its partnership with Korbel California Champagne to help everyone have a safe holiday season by offering 2,018 free designated drivers during the month of December.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The CFE Fund: Helping Cities Help Their Residents Find Financial Stability

Dec 1, 2017 2:30 PM ET

Working in communities across the country, the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund is implementing programs and training leaders to help expand access to financial services and education for unbanked and underbanked individuals.

Research, Reports & Publications

Comunitas Releases 10-Year Retrospective of Corporate Social Activities in Brazil

Dec 1, 2017 2:20 PM ET

Today, Comunitas, a civil society organization based in São Paulo, Brazil, published the 10th edition of The Corporate Social Investment Benchmarking (or BISC, Benchmarking do Investimento Social Corporativo in Portuguese), a comprehensive overview of the achievements in this space over the last ten years.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Albertsons, Customers Donate 2,616 Full Turkey Dinners to Idahoans in Need

Dec 1, 2017 2:00 PM ET

Albertsons employees and customers worked together to raise funds this month to help solve hunger in Idaho, and on Thursday, Albertsons came to The Idaho Foodbank with a truck filled with 2,616 full turkey dinners for the families who need them most.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Scotiabank Donates One Million Dollars to the Rick Hansen Foundation School Program Empowering a New Generation of Accessibility Champions

Dec 1, 2017 1:35 PM ET

Scotiabank celebrates International Day for Persons with Disabilities by announcing a one million dollar donation to the Rick Hansen Foundation School Program.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Making Apparel Better™ - Gildan Recognizes Young Athletes for Excellence in Sports, Academics and Community Leadership

Dec 1, 2017 12:00 PM ET

For the 12th year, Gildan is proud to be a partner of the Foundation for Athletes of Excellence in Québec (FAEQ) in recognizing outstanding student athletes that combine strong athletic performances with excellent academic results. For the past several years Gildan has sponsored the Leadership Category which adds an extra dimension for students that demonstrate leadership skills in creating community based programs that deliver a benefit to society.

Innovation & Technology

UPS Launches Sustainable Deliveries in Frankfurt

Dec 1, 2017 11:20 AM ET

UPS will implement a sustainable delivery concept in the inner city of Frankfurt. UPS employees will make deliveries with electrically assisted cargo bikes and on foot.

Health & Healthcare

Merck for Mothers Proudly Announces Partnership with USAID to Launch the World’s First Healthcare Development Impact Bond

Dec 1, 2017 11:10 AM ET

This partnership will reach up to 600,000 pregnant women with improved care during delivery and save as many as 10,000 lives over a five year period by improving the quality of private healthcare facilities that support a region of 75 million people. The State Ministry of Health in Rajasthan has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the partners to invest in and scale up the partnership should the pilot program be successful.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Republic Services Prepares 5 Tons of Food Bank Donations for Distribution in Phoenix

Dec 1, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

Teamwork: Medtronic Helps Villalba Restore Power

Dec 1, 2017 10:25 AM ET

City leaders had planned to use the nearby Toro Negro hydroelectric plant to power the town of Villalba in case Hurricane Maria knocked out the island’s electricity. Built in the 1920’s, the historic plant had once powered the town. But in recent decades it gave way to Puerto Rico’s power grid. It still produced some power, but not for Villalba. But in the aftermath of Maria, when it came time to power up, the plant did not work. Medtronic assisted with critical repairs to bring electricity back.

Sustainable Development Goals

Bringing You a Perfect – and Sustainable – Cup of Joe

Dec 1, 2017 10:25 AM ET

Having a good cup of coffee is a morning ritual for most of us. There’s nothing like the aroma of that first cup. At Walmart, we are working to provide a range of coffee product options that are affordable, high-quality and that build trust with our customers. One way we’re doing this is by sourcing third-party certified sustainably-grown coffee for products sold in our stores and clubs.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Once-Troubled Teen Blossoms with Knox County Adoptive Family

Dec 1, 2017 10:05 AM ET

If she were to wait for just the right place or occasion, Sariah Brady figures, she might never wear the cherry-red swing coat. So why not grab it for the short walk to the family auto shop? Sariah’s mom smiles as she and her 18-year-old daughter, an aspiring model, stride past modest houses and work trucks along Washington Street. With her dark curls and high heels and bright coat, Sariah is resplendent against the gray November sky.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Timberland Helps Gather Provide Thanksgiving Dinners

Dec 1, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Green Infrastructure

LIXIL and TEPCO Energy Partner Establish Joint Venture to Promote Eco-Friendly Net Zero Energy Houses (ZEH)

Dec 1, 2017 9:45 AM ET

While energy conservation efforts in Japan are progressing, household energy consumption continues to rise. The Japanese government has set a goal for more than half of all newly- constructed detached houses to be ZEH by 2020, and almost all newly-built houses by 2030. However, ZEH accounted for only about 4.3% of newly built detached houses in fiscal 2016, indicating a low rate of adoption.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth Hosts ‘Feel Good Fridays’

Dec 1, 2017 9:40 AM ET

On a weekly basis, Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY) visits at-risk communities to host a street outreach event called ‘Feel Good Fridays.’ During the event, volunteers give back to young people who are in need of a helping hand. Las Vegas Sands, through our commitment to being a good corporate citizen in the communities in which we operate, is one of NPHY’s biggest supporters in the community through its corporate giving program Sands Cares, and together they are combating youth homelessness.

Green Infrastructure

Waterworks: How Cities Around the World Protect and Maintain Their Water Supplies

Dec 1, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Turning on the faucet and expecting clean, purified water to flow through the tap is a modern-day luxury that many take for granted. In most industrialized cities around the world, drinking water is readily available and safe, but to maintain its sustainability, protecting its sources is vital.

Safeguarding ground water (aquifers), streams, rivers, reservoirs and lakes in the United States is crucial to the country’s ongoing economic and social development, and most importantly, it is key to maintaining a healthy, thriving civilization.

While some cities have extensive water systems in place for people to drink, bathe and cook, others are working to improve or overhaul their methods to ensure that they’re providing residents with high-quality H20.