Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Environment

Forests and Fungi: Mekong Communities Reap the Rewards of a 500 Million-year-old Partnership

Sep 5, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Most people would agree that forests are a vital part of a healthy planet: around 1.6 billion people directly depend on forests for their livelihoods, and forest trees help provide us with healthy soils, clean water and even breathable air. The role of fungi is less well known. Yet without fungi, forests would not exist.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

PANDORA | Crafting our Products with Integrity

Sep 5, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Any PANDORA product starts its journey with our in-house Design team. As a new piece evolves, our designers will make choices on which materials to use. Whenever new materials or suppliers are introduced, our Ethics teams are consulted in order to discuss potential environmental or social impacts. Such early interaction helps to ensure that PANDORA refrains from using potentially problematic materials – and it provides Group Ethics and other departments with valuable knowledge, enabling them to act in due time.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Charter Communications Commits $1.35 Million to Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts

Sep 5, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Charter Communications, Inc. today announced a $350,000 contribution to Rebuilding Together to support relief efforts and specifically assist with home repairs and renovations needed in areas impacted by Hurricane Harvey.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Striving for Flawless Execution

Sep 5, 2017 9:00 AM ET

We strive for flawless execution. We aim to deliver maximum value to our customers and achieve the highest levels of safety and service quality. In 2016, we received four API Q2 certifications – the highest international standard for quality management systems.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Hunger Is Spotlight Island Innovation: School Breakfast Participation in Hawaii

Sep 5, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Innovation & Technology

Barclays | Venture Debt: A Platform for Growth

Sep 5, 2017 8:05 AM ET

Some 50 fintech entrepreneurs gathered for breakfast at the Shoreditch headquarters of Rise, Europe’s largest fintech workspace, to hear how the bank’s funding platforms can help their companies make the move from start-up to tech star.

Education

Students Benefit From a Better Learning Environment

Sep 5, 2017 8:05 AM ET

Back to school time for many students often means new clothes and supplies. For the students and staff of the Monessen School District – a small, urban public school district south of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – returning to school also means upgraded classrooms and facilities with new desks, chairs and bookcases.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Revealed: Billboard's 2017 Digital Power Players, Guiding the Future in Music and Tech

Sep 5, 2017 8:00 AM ET

AEG Presents' chief digital officer, Brooke Kain was recognized for leading the way in music and tech as one of Billboard’s 2017 Digital Power Players. Since joining AEG Presents in September 2016, Kain’s directed her efforts to use consumer and artist data to increase the efficiency of the company's promoters and talent buyers.

Research, Reports & Publications

Telstra Releases Bigger Picture 2017 Sustainability Report

Sep 5, 2017 5:00 AM ET

Telstra’s Bigger Picture 2017 Sustainability Report details the evolution of its sustainability strategy, and highlights a series of ‘firsts’ for Australia’s leading telecommunications and technology company.

Social Impact & Volunteering

PHOTOS/VIDEO: Habitat for Humanity Begins Harvey Clean-up

Sep 2, 2017 11:00 PM ET

Habitat for Humanity has begun the post-flooding clean-up as part of its “Habitat Hammers Back” response to Hurricane Harvey.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Procter & Gamble Brings Relief to Residents Affected by Hurricane Harvey with P&G Product Kits and Tide Loads of Hope Laundry Services

Sep 2, 2017 10:45 AM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

Major Leaguers Go to Bat for Hurricane Harvey Relief

Sep 1, 2017 7:35 PM ET

For perhaps as long as the game has been played, Major League baseball players have cared deeply about the places where they play and live, and that passion and compassion came to the forefront this week when baseball took a backseat to many players’ concerns for the people in communities devastated by Tropical Storm Harvey.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Finalists Named for Seattle’s Cox Conserves Heroes Program, Public Asked to Vote

Sep 1, 2017 5:30 PM ET

KIRO 7, in partnership with The Trust for Public Land, is recognizing volunteers who are creating, preserving or enhancing shared outdoor spaces. Finalists for Seattle’s Cox Conserves Heroes program were announced today, and the public is being asked to vote for the winner now through Oct. 2.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Volunteers Clean up, Have Fun at the Great Bud Light River Run

Sep 1, 2017 5:05 PM ET

The Great Bud Light River Run came to the Seattle and Portland areas in late August with local volunteers removing litter and, after their respective cleanup events, enjoying the outdoors of the Great Northwest.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Hurricane Harvey: Unique Ways Companies Are Stepping Up

Sep 1, 2017 5:00 PM ET

Hurricane Harvey made landfall a week ago but the damage it leaves behind will not dissipate so quickly. The storm is a one-in-1,000 year rain event, dumping 24.5 trillion gallons of rain and displacing countless individuals in its wake. As relief workers begin to grapple with the scale of the disaster, the cry for help is urgent and widespread. This call extends to companies who are stepping up by providing money, in-kind donations and solutions. Although the list of companies providing support is extensive, with major companies like Walmart, Verizon and Amazon pledging large cash donations, here, we have highlighted a few unique activations.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Students from the United States Take Top Honor at Prestigious Stockholm Junior Water Prize

Sep 1, 2017 1:30 PM ET

Rachel Chang and Ryan Thorpe, both of Manhasset, N.Y., developed a project entitled, “A Novel Approach to Rapidly and Sensitively Detect and Purify Water Contaminated with Shigella, E. Coli, Salmonella and Cholera.” The system created by the students has applications in both developing and developed regions of the world.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Three Quality of Life Hacks to Recognize Employees for Labor Day

Sep 1, 2017 1:20 PM ET

The Labor Day holiday has come to represent many things beyond the original vision put forth by union leaders in the nineteenth century. For some, it represents one final dash to the beach for an end-of-summer celebration.

Research, Reports & Publications

Erb Institute | Business for Sustainability Post Doc Finds Positive Correlation Between Education and Polarized Opinions on Controversial Science Topics

Sep 1, 2017 1:05 PM ET

Public opinion toward some science and technology issues is polarized along religious and political lines. We investigate whether people with more education and greater science knowledge tend to express beliefs that are more (or less) polarized. Using data from the nationally representative General Social Survey, we find that more knowledgeable individuals are more likely to express beliefs consistent with their religious or political identities for issues that have become polarized along those lines (e.g., stem cell research, human evolution), but not for issues that are controversial on other grounds (e.g., genetically modified foods).

Diversity & Inclusion

Military Training Pays Off for Veterans at Whirlpool

Sep 1, 2017 1:00 PM ET

A U.S. Army veteran spoke with Diversity in Action magazine about how his training and experience in the military have helped him succeed in his career at Whirlpool Corporation.

Health & Healthcare

Shire: Innovative Therapies for Rare Diseases

Sep 1, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Shire is the global leader in serving patients with rare diseases. We strive to develop innovative therapies across a core of rare disease areas, supplemented by diversified capabilities in highly specialized conditions. We feel a strong sense of urgency to address the high unmet medical needs of these patient communities.

Environment

Hurricane Harvey Starkly Exposes the Financial Burden of Climate Change on Economy, Environment and Human Health

Sep 1, 2017 12:35 PM ET

Hurricane Harvey, potentially the costliest disaster in U.S. history, “starkly exposes the colossal financial burden of climate change and its impacts on the economy, the environment and human health,” Ceres said in a statement today.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

During Summer Break, Florida Teachers Trekked to the Rocky Mountains for Unique, Hands-On Professional Development

Sep 1, 2017 12:10 PM ET

Since 1976, Keystone Science School (KSS), nestled in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, has taught scientific principles and leadership skills to young people, teachers, and community members through engaging hands-on field experiences. Because today's youth are our future leaders, KSS developed interactive science education programs that help students become familiar with scientific and critical thinking skills and encourage them to be engaged citizens.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Consumers Energy Foundation Awards 2017 Apprentice Scholarships Honoring Fallen Employee

Sep 1, 2017 12:00 PM ET

The Consumers Energy Foundation is assisting two men training to become utility line workers as the second-year recipients of a scholarship honoring an employee killed on the job in 2012.

Innovation & Technology

#TechstarsATL: Get to know Vlipsy

Sep 1, 2017 11:40 AM ET

Techstars Atlanta is presented in partnership with Cox Enterprises and is part of a worldwide network that helps entrepreneurs succeed. Applications for the 2017 program’s 10 coveted spots came from 41 countries around the globe. 2ULaundry is one of the participants.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Habitat for Humanity Receives $300,000 Neighborhood Revitalization Grant from Wells Fargo

Sep 1, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Eleven local Habitats will receive a grant to implement revitalization projects, including neighborhood beautification and repairs to community common areas. These locations include San Francisco; Denver; Wilmington, Del.; Orlando and West Palm Beach, Fla; Macon, Ga.; Charlotte, N.C.; Harrisburg, Pa.; Rock Hill, S.C.; Houston; and Milwaukee.

The funding also will support two additional Habitat organizations in Santa Ana, Calif. and Savannah, Ga., in their efforts to develop formal plans for future neighborhood revitalization projects.