Corporate Social Responsibility

Today marks one year since Merck CEO Ken Frazier announced his resignation from the President's American Manufacturing Council in response to what he and his company felt was a failure to appropriately denounce "expressions of hatred, bigotry and group supremacy" on the part of the federal government. In the days that followed, nearly all CEOs followed suit and resigned from the group, marking a new era in brands and CEOs taking stands in support of social issues of critical importance to their stakeholders.

Approximately two-thirds of India’s 1.3 billion people live in rural areas, according to the World Health Organization. Imagine the challenge of delivering preventive healthcare to over 800 million remote villagers and tracking patient records without the use of technology.

Associates at the ScottsMiracle-Gro headquarters in Marysville, Ohio, gather each year to plant row upon row of raised-bed gardens on company grounds. Then, from spring through fall, they volunteer to nurture the gardens, watering, weeding and harvesting them weekly with an eye toward serving the greater good. The produce is delivered to the Marysville Food Pantry to help feed about 75 families and more than 1,200 people weekly.

I was excited to attend and present at Sustainable Brands 2018. My research focuses on how organizations are engaging with sustainability challenges, and my work’s motivation stems from my deep-seated hope that business will transform how we address the many societal challenges that we face today. I believe that business is uniquely situated to help solve challenges like climate change and poverty. It was inspiring to hear from hundreds of companies at Sustainable Brands that are working to redefine how they do business—to do well by doing good.

Stellar Girls™, an after-school science program offered to more than 600 girls from 25 Chicago-area schools, was the recipient of an $8,570 check raised from voluntary contributions by employees of Astellas Medical Affairs, Americas (MAA) with a match from the Astellas Matching Gifts program. The donation, earmarked for program supply kits, augments funding provided by the Astellas USA Foundation and the One Astellas Spirit Run fundraiser sponsored by the Womens Employee Resource Group (Stellar Women) during the US National Sales Forum.

Sysco Corporation, the leading global foodservice distribution company, announced today its 2025 Responsibility Goals, building on the company’s long-standing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. These newly defined goals set a clear path for the future and demonstrate the company’s continued commitment to care for people, supply products responsibly and protect the planet.

Today, American Express and Pharrell Williams announced an expanded partnership and joint commitment to raise awareness and support to bring more arts education to schools nationwide. As part of the collaboration, American Express Platinum and Pharrell will host a fundraising event, called the Yellow Ball, with an all-star lineup of collaborators on September 10, at the Brooklyn Museum to benefit Young Audiences Arts for Learning. American Express will also gift $1 Million to Young Audiences, the nation's largest arts-in-education network whose work strives to inspire young people and expand their learning through the arts.

LIXIL, the pioneering manufacturer of such brands as American Standard and GROHE, and the Piping Industry Progress & Education Trust Fund (P.I.P.E.) have generously extended support, both financial and products/materials, to the International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (IWSH) Foundation’s 2018 International Community Plumbing Challenge (CPC) in Northwestern New Mexico from Oct. 22-26.

As Gold Level sponsors, LIXIL and P.I.P.E. become invaluable partners with IWSH and DigDeep’s Navajo Water Project as the CPC team provides households in the Baca-Prewitt area of the Navajo reservation with access to water and improved sanitation.

On Monday, August 6, Together for Safer Roads (TSR) had the honor of ringing the Nasdaq closing bell alongside many of its member companies, including Republic Services. TSR is a coalition of global private sector companies working to improve worldwide road safety through initiatives, ideas and innovation.

The increasing push towards the UN Global Goals and 2-degree target requires businesses to integrate the SDGs into all business operations. Supply chain, sustainability and responsible procurement are critical components to ensuring the Global Goals are met. But how do you successfully integrate the SDGs into your operations?