ESG News from Leading Brands

Innovation & Technology

First Study in Scotland Throws Light on Responsible Businesses Practices

Jan 28, 2016 8:00 AM ET

The face of business in Scotland is changing, as companies recognise that the traditional idea that business is simply about making money no longer holds true.

Events, Media & Communications

GLAAD Recognizes Fox Series for Outstanding Portrayals of LGBT Characters

Jan 28, 2016 7:00 AM ET

The LGBT advocacy organization GLAAD has announced the nominees for the 27th Annual GLAAD Media Awards, honoring media projects for their fair, accurate, and inclusive representation of the LGBT community and the issues that affect their lives. Empire, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Modern Family, all from 21st Century Fox businesses, were among the nominees. The GLAAD Media Awards will be held on April 2, 2016 in Los Angeles and May 14, 2016 in New York.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Canadian Company Leads Aquaculture Industry with Tech Advancements

Jan 28, 2016 6:00 AM ET

Canadian-based AgriMarine Technologies Inc. (ATI) is testing and developing new clean technologies that are shaping the future of the aquaculture industry. Centering its efforts at AgriMarine’s flagship farm, West Coast Fishculture (Lois Lake) Ltd. located near Powell River British Columbia, the company is creating technologies designed to lower the environmental impact and economic cost of running a fish farm.

Education

Apply to be an Amgen Scholar at the University of Cambridge

Jan 28, 2016 6:00 AM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

Novartis Releases 2015 Corporate Responsibility Performance Report

Jan 28, 2016 2:00 AM ET

Novartis 2015 CR highlights: Launched Novartis Access, a portfolio of 15 medicines to treat the main noncommunicable diseases in lower-income countries at a cost of USD 1 per treatment per month; Provided medicine to 66 million patients through access programs; Reached 7.6 million people through social business initiatives in India, Kenya, Vietnam and Indonesia.


•Launched a new Group-wide program to ensure our ethical standards are firmly embedded in our business practices

Social Impact & Volunteering

Turn Your Employee Engagement Failures into 2016 Success Stories!

Jan 27, 2016 4:00 PM ET

Have you worked on a project or program that simply did not turn out the way you planned? The New Year signifies new beginnings. This can mean a new beginning to old methods, a new perspective, even a new way of thinking. One program that many employers have adopted in 2016, or should consider adopting, is a strategically focused and effective employee engagement program.

Education

2016 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Prizes Honor Science Books About Animals: In the Field, in Your Backyard, or Back From Extinction

Jan 27, 2016 3:15 PM ET

Octopus researchers, the science of de-extinction, and chickens are the subjects of the winners of 2016 American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)/Subaru Science Books & Film Prizes for Excellence in Science Books.

Environment

Roy Scranton’s Arctic Cruise

Jan 27, 2016 2:15 PM ET

When we try to visualize the Arctic, we usually think of ice as far as the eye can see. But, unfortunately, that’s changing.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Loan Broadens Access to Certified Biodynamic Compost

Jan 27, 2016 2:15 PM ET

“There was a total absence of any high-quality soil product,” says Ritchie. “That’s when we decided to enter a market that’s never been there before—biodynamic compost. It’s real. It’s truly organic. It’s living soil.”

On July 8, 2009, the duo founded Malibu Compost, and became the first-ever local producer and distributor of certified biodynamic compost. After years of demonstrating the strength of their business model, the company received a Program Related Investment (PRI) loan from RSF to help it expand.

Environment

Antea Group Case Study: Supporting Best in Class EHS Performance at a Precious Metal Refinery

Jan 27, 2016 2:05 PM ET

A precious metals refiner retained Antea Group to evaluate and improve their EHS programs with the end goal of achieving best in class EHS performance among the industry as a way to differentiate itself and create additional business opportunity. Their New Jersey industrial facility had deteriorating infrastructure and was recognized as a significant source of the client’s marginal EHS performance, and Antea Group was enlisted to assist with the relocation of manufacturing operations and manage the EHS aspects of its’ startup.

Research, Reports & Publications

Novartis Releases 2015 Corporate Responsibility Performance Report

Jan 27, 2016 2:00 PM ET

Novartis has published its 2015 Corporate Responsibility (CR) Performance Report. The report is based on the Global Reporting Initiative G4 guidelines, with disclosure at “comprehensive” level, making it the first comprehensive level-report in the healthcare industry.

Education

Education Partnership for Mexican Engineers

Jan 27, 2016 1:30 PM ET

The Mexican government has been working to change the paradigm of its energy sector, opening up opportunities for private companies to contribute to the development of the oil and gas industry in the country. This historic step is the cornerstone of ensuring Mexico’s competitiveness in the coming years.

Education

850 Kids Participate in T. Rowe Price Sponsored Money Confident Kids Contest

Jan 27, 2016 1:15 PM ET

T. Rowe Price sponsored a Money Confident Kids essay contest with Scholastic, in which kids grades five through eight were challenged to interview a parent or guardian.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Together We’re a Powerful Match

Jan 27, 2016 12:35 PM ET

What do you get when you merge AT&T and DIRECTV, two of the nation’s most community-minded companies? An even greater impact on the communities where we live and work – not to mention a union that will redefine our industry.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Matching CSR Programmes with Business Goals

Jan 27, 2016 11:35 AM ET

Headquartered in the U.S., Booz Allen Hamilton provides strategy and technology consulting services to leading Fortune 500 corporations, governments, and not-for-profits employing more than 22,500 people across the globe.

Events, Media & Communications

3BL Media and G&A Institute Join Forces To Improve Distribution and Competitive Benchmarking of Sustainability Reports

Jan 27, 2016 11:10 AM ET

We have exciting news for you this week about an important collaboration, just announced by G&A Institute and 3BL Media.

Environment

500 Global Investors Managing Trillions Mobilize Action in Wake of Paris Climate Agreement

Jan 27, 2016 10:30 AM ET

On the heels of the historic international climate agreement in Paris, more than 500 global investors gathered today at the United Nations to begin mobilizing the trillions of dollars needed to catalyze the global clean energy transition.

Social Impact & Volunteering

About NetSuite.org: Helping Nonprofits Focus on their Social Missions

Jan 27, 2016 10:25 AM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

AIDA New Year’s Raffle: 100,000 Euros for SOS Children’s Village

Jan 27, 2016 10:20 AM ET

AIDA Cruises is supporting the children’s aid organization “SOS-Kinderdorf e.V.” with a donation of 100,000 euros. This sum was raised by the New Year’s Raffle that is traditionally held on board the ships of the AIDA fleet on December 31. This year the donation will again benefit the SOS Children’s Village in Iloilo in the Philippines and SOS projects in Germany. AIDA Cruises gave away a total of 20 cruises and numerous high quality non-cash prizes to the raffle winners.

Innovation & Technology

The Green Light for a Green City

Jan 27, 2016 10:05 AM ET

Responsible Production & Consumption

BJ’s Wholesale Club Pledges Support to Help End Forced Labor in Uzbekistan

Jan 27, 2016 10:00 AM ET

BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc., continues its opposition on the use of forced labor by joining over 200 other brands and companies in signing the Cotton Pledge, managed by the Responsible Sourcing Network (RSN).

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Uptake CEO Brad Keywell: “We are Disrupting the Blind Spots”

Jan 27, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Brad Keywell, co-founder and CEO of Uptake Technologies and, perhaps most notably, the co-founder and director of Groupon, joined Businessweek’s Tom Giles for the second installment of the Cornell Tech @ Bloomberg speaker series Wednesday, January 13.

Events, Media & Communications

Keep America Beautiful Hosts 2016 National Conference in Orlando; Launches Call-to-Action to “Imagine. Inspire. Transform.”

Jan 27, 2016 9:45 AM ET

Renowned Australian psychologists Rob Curnow and Karen Spehr, who have been working for more than 20 years on changing people’s behaviors in relation to the environment, will serve as keynote speakers at the 2016 Keep America Beautiful National Conference, which takes place Feb. 1-3 at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista in Orlando, Florida.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Walmart, Coca-Cola, Nestlé and PepsiCo Come Together to Provide Flint, Mich., Public Schools with Water for Students Through the End of the Year

Jan 27, 2016 9:30 AM ET

Walmart today announced support for the Flint, Mich., community through donations, education and online services. Walmart, Coca-Cola, Nestlé and PepsiCo will collectively donate water to meet the daily needs of over 10,000 school children for the balance of the calendar year.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Should S&P’s Newest Index Be Associated With Corporate Sustainability?

Jan 27, 2016 9:20 AM ET

It seems that “sustainability” was a core topic at this year’s World Economic Forum (WEF) conference at Davos. Many talks centered around the idea of a “fourth industrial revolution” and all of the changes in corporate behavior that would result.