Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

This Woman Turned Her Passion for Food into a Thriving Business in Tunisia

Nov 22, 2017 9:05 AM ET

The Mashrou3i program, organized by UNIDO in partnership with USAID, the Italian Cooperation, and the HP Foundation, is designed to foster a spirit of entrepreneurship and offer tools that support fledgling business owners. Its mission is to create some 6,000 jobs and reach more than 25,000 aspiring and existing entrepreneurs in Tunisia over the next five years. In addition to mentoring and technical skills training, participants have access to HP LIFE, a free, online program of the HP Foundation, which features 27 interactive modules covering business and IT skills training in seven languages.

Research, Reports & Publications

Economics Remain Driving Force for Downstream Sector Trends

Nov 22, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Lower gas prices are driving investment across the sector as the industry hedges its bets on market recovery. Continuing flat demand has caused a stalemate across the industry, and most natural gas utilities remain in waiting mode. Nevertheless, the industry is looking ahead. It is expecting demand to shift and prices to eventually rise, and utilities are working to keep their assets running and maintain the systems currently in place.

Events, Media & Communications

BSR’s Early Leaders Discuss Its Origin and History

Nov 22, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Early founders of BSR Bobb Dunn (Former President and CEO of Synergos Institute) and Mats Lederhausen (Founder of BE-CAUSE) discuss the origin and history of the organization at the BSR Conference 2017.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Becoming an Employer of Choice

Nov 22, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Whether it’s providing training, the right tools and resources for the job, growth and development opportunities or celebrating achievements, at Republic Services, we believe in making our people feel welcomed and valued. We believe this brings out the very best in our people and it attracts the best possible outside talent. It is why we have become an employer of choice.

Education

Employer Engagement and Work Experience Are Critical to Achieving Top Grades at Secondary School, Say Teachers

Nov 22, 2017 8:25 AM ET

Secondary school teachers overwhelmingly believe that employer engagement, careers advice and work experience have a direct impact on improving exam results, research published today has found.

Environment

Tetra Tech Helps with Landmark Study on Food Waste in the United States

Nov 22, 2017 8:00 AM ET

Tetra Tech collected and analyzed data for a recent Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) report analyzing food waste trends in urban areas of the United States to identify ways to reduce the amount of food that ends up in landfills.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Chance the Rapper Surprises CPS Students as Jewel Announces $1M Donation

Nov 22, 2017 7:55 AM ET

Chance, fresh off his stint hosting “Saturday Night Live” over the weekend, was at Michele Clark Magnet High School with President of Jewel-Osco Doug Cygan, who presented Chance’s Social Works organization with a $1 million check to benefit CPS.

Events, Media & Communications

Raising the Bar for Corporate Sustainability Leadership: Join Tom Murray, EDF+Business, and Stewart Leeth, Smithfield Foods

Nov 22, 2017 7:05 AM ET

Join Tom Murray, Vice President, EDF+Business, and Stewart Leeth, VP of Regulatory Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer, Smithfield Foods, for a timely discussion on corporate sustainability leadership and why businesses should stay the course on sustainability regardless of federal and state policy developments. Learn how setting aggressive goals, such as Smithfield's plan to reduce emissions in its U.S. supply chain at least 25 percent by 2025, is driving business efficiencies and scaling environmental gains.

Media & Communications

Shorty Social Good Awards Recognize 21CF and National Geographic for Social Media Campaigns That Make a Difference

Nov 21, 2017 7:15 PM ET

21st Century Fox and National Geographic took home top honors at the second annual Shorty Social Good Awards on November 15 for developing social media campaigns that engage audiences on important social issues and empower them to take action. The winning campaigns included 21CF’s contest to award free screenings of Hidden Figures to communities across America, as well as initiatives from Nat Geo to encourage women in STEM, expand access to clean water, and inspire the genius in each of us. The Shorty Social Good Awards launched in 2016 to celebrate the power of digital storytelling tools to raise awareness and make change.

Health & Healthcare

Partnerships and the Private Sector: New Innovations in Global Health

Nov 21, 2017 6:25 PM ET

Environment

Kansas City Chiefs “Go Nuts” Over a Compostable Peanut Bag

Nov 21, 2017 4:05 PM ET

Football season is in full swing and the Kansas City Chiefs are going the extra yard by scoring a major victory for the environment. Thanks to a collaboration between BASF, Aramark and Hampton Farms, Arrowhead Stadium will become the first-ever professional sports venue to sell a pre-packed compostable peanut bag.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

With Growing Community Garden Initiative, Teen Tackles Hunger and Obesity in Missouri

Nov 21, 2017 4:00 PM ET

Sophie Bernstein always wanted to grow her own garden. At 12 years old, she was looking for a meaningful project to complete for her bat mitzvah – something that would serve a larger purpose and help the community. Sophie realized she had the perfect opportunity to start her garden, while also benefitting others by donating the crops that her garden produced to the local food bank. She had no idea where that project would take her.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Scotiabank’s Donates $500,000 for the New Supportive Care Program at The Ottawa Hospital

Nov 21, 2017 3:35 PM ET

In celebration of World Prematurity Day on November 17, Scotiabank announced a donation of $500,000 in support of The Ottawa Hospital’s new “Scotiabank Supportive Care Program” for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Carole Chapdelaine, Frank Bilodeau were on-hand to mark the occasion.

Sustainable Development Goals

Why We Won’t Make It to 2030 Without Buy-In From Business

Nov 21, 2017 3:30 PM ET

If you were to audit a business class at a university 20 years ago, you would likely hear the recurring theme that the purpose of business is profit; to maximize shareholder value. Since that time, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have entered the picture. The SDGs are a United Nations ordained framework created to help guide government, the private sector and civil society agendas over the next 15 years.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Celebrate the National Dog Show Presented by Purina® and Help Raise Funds for Hurricane Relief by Sharing What Makes Your Pet the Best

Nov 21, 2017 2:30 PM ET

Millions of people and pets were affected by hurricanes which struck Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico earlier this year. To help raise funds to support hurricane victims and their pets, and to help celebrate the National Dog Show Presented by Purina® and the Thanksgiving holiday, Purina invites pet lovers across the United States to share what makes their pet the best through its annual #DogThanking initiative.

Environment

Highlights of BIER 2017 Fall Meeting

Nov 21, 2017 2:00 PM ET

Global beverage industry leaders convened October 17-19, 2017 in Guadalajara, Mexico for the Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER) semi-annual meeting. Hosted by Brown-Forman, this three-day meeting’s agenda tackled pressing environmental sustainability issues such as performance in watershed context, energy and climate change, regenerative agriculture, and transparency and disclosure.

Energy

ON DEMAND WEBINAR: How to Accelerate and Scale Your Renewable Energy Plan

Nov 21, 2017 2:00 PM ET

General Motors’ global manager of renewable energy, Rob Threlkeld, and Lily Donge, principal of the Rocky Mountain Institute’s Business Renewable Center, led a GreenBiz webinar on the economic opportunity in addressing climate change. Together they shared best practices to help organizations of all sizes achieve quick wins toward their renewable energy goals and scale efforts across their enterprise.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Why Fairfax County Needs a Food Bank

Nov 21, 2017 1:00 PM ET

People ask us all the time why Fairfax County needs a food bank. Just do the math. In 2015, Fairfax County had a median family income of $129,538 a year. The average housing rental cost was $1687 a month. The poverty level for a family of four is now $24,600 a year. And, of course, the national minimum wage is still $7.25 an hour.

Innovation & Technology

A Rising Tide To Raise All Boats: How Tech Can Benefit Everyone on the Planet

Nov 21, 2017 12:15 PM ET

Recently, I had the pleasure of participating in a debate at Web Summit on an increasingly important topic: “Future of Tech: Will Everyone Benefit?” It’s a question we should all contemplate and analyze. As tech breaks out and reshapes so many aspects of humanity, will all of this stunning innovation create a rising tide that lifts all boats, regardless of geography, background, or culture? Or will the advantages of tech innovation be limited to only the fortunate few?

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: a Thank You Letter

Nov 21, 2017 12:15 PM ET

I know, I know. I haven’t written to you in a while. And I’m so sorry I’m writing to you this week, when everyone is saying “thanks.” I shouldn’t need Thanksgiving to remind me to be grateful to you, someone who has given and taught me so much! I hope you’ll forgive me, and that these words will still earn a smile or two.

Energy

New Electric Utility Pricing Tool From Black & Veatch Offers Significant Advancement in Distributed Generation Analytics

Nov 21, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Black & Veatch, a market leader in the analysis and design of distributed generation systems, today announced a patent-pending analytics tool that accurately evaluates the utility ratemaking impacts of adding distributed power generation to the grid.

Education

Arrow Electronics Supports Innovative Sewable Tech Course

Nov 21, 2017 11:45 AM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

CreateNYC: A Look at How NYC’s Cultural Roadmap Makes a Case for the Social Value of the Arts

Nov 21, 2017 11:40 AM ET

In July, the City of New York released CreateNYC: A Cultural Plan for All New Yorkers, a first-of-its-kind comprehensive plan to establish New York City’s cultural roadmap for the next decade. The plan sets forth objectives and strategies for achieving a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient cultural ecosystem. It examines a number of issue areas including diversity, equity and inclusion, education, affordability, and health of the cultural sector that are essential to a vibrant, creative city.

Diversity & Inclusion

Diversity and Teamwork Drive Innovation

Nov 21, 2017 11:25 AM ET

Back in August this year I attended the opening of our Innovation and Knowledge Center in Pune, India - an expansion of our facilities to celebrate our 20 year anniversary in the country. The center is one of 7 global Innovation and Knowledge centers, each of which represent the specific needs of their region as well as having unique perspectives and specialist material science expertise.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sappi North America Awarded Johnson & Johnson Rising Star Award for Sustainability

Nov 21, 2017 11:20 AM ET

Sappi North America was a proud recipient of the Johnson & Johnson 2015 Rising Star Sustainability Award. The award comes after Sappi helped the company create and implement Johnson & Johnson’s US Commercial Paper Program.