ESG News from Leading Brands

Health & Healthcare

Employers Pledge to Take “Time to Change” Mental Health in the Workplace

Feb 8, 2016 10:25 AM ET

Unilever, Rolls Royce, Standard Life, HSBC and Network Rail are just a handful of the more than 350 businesses in the U.K. that have signed the Time to Change pledge. The pledge, part of the Time to Change movement led by mental health nonprofits Mindand Rethink Mental Illness, seeks to get the entire nation talking about mental health with an ultimate goal of ending mental health discrimination.

Research, Reports & Publications

Going Integrated for the 12th Time: Novo Nordisk Publishes 2015 Integrated Annual Report

Feb 8, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Today Novo Nordisk published its 2015 Annual Report detailing the company’s year-end performance. The report highlights the company’s progression towards long-term targets taking an integrated approach that accounts for financial, social and environmental performance. This is the company’s 12th integrated report.

Education

Benefits of a Biodynamic Education

Feb 8, 2016 9:05 AM ET

Abbot Hill in Wilton, New Hampshire, is home to High Mowing School, a Waldorf boarding high school, and Temple-Wilton Community Farm, one of the first biodynamic community supported agriculture (CSA) programs in the U.S.
Brad Miller, a biodynamic farmer turned teacher at High Mowing, developed an innovative horticulture program that engages students in the many facets of stewarding land while learning life lessons from it.

Events, Media & Communications

U.S. Chamber Foundation and Partners to Convene Leaders in Mexico City for Women’s Economic Empowerment Event

Feb 8, 2016 9:00 AM ET

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF), in conjunction with the American Chamber of Commerce in Mexico and WEConnect International, will host a two-day event to explore how the private sector can empower women through initiatives to promote entrepreneurship, supply chain diversity, and workforce development. Promoting Women’s Economic Empowerment in Mexico: Exploring Opportunities for Private Sector Engagement and Impact is supported by Walmart, EY, Dell, Reserveage Organics, Accenture, and McLarty Associates.

Environment

VIDEO | NYC Tech Takeback Makes Recycling Electronics Easier For Urbanites

Feb 8, 2016 8:00 AM ET

Environment

Boeing Supports ICAO Aircraft CO2 Emissions Standard

Feb 8, 2016 12:10 AM ET

"Boeing commends the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Committee on Aviation Environmental Protection (CAEP) for reaching agreement on the first global standard for aircraft carbon-dioxide emissions. This standard represents more than six years of work by a group of international experts from ICAO member states, industry and non-governmental organizations.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Preparing Seniors for El Niño

Feb 5, 2016 7:10 PM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

#GoingToBat Community Spotlight: Justin Turner

Feb 5, 2016 6:30 PM ET

Responsible Production & Consumption

Modern Day Slavery: Is Your Company Doing Enough?

Feb 5, 2016 5:45 PM ET

Forced labor, Code of Conduct, Anti-Corruption. These are all terms that all companies must address as they develop their commitments to ethical sourcing. This is easier said than done. Complex supply chains, undocumented labor practices, and bribery hidden deep below the surface make it very hard to identify problems within a company's labor force and supply chain.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

The Politics of Imagery 2016

Feb 5, 2016 5:15 PM ET

The outcome of the Iowa caucus has set the stage for what may be the most structurally definitive American presidential election since Franklin D. Roosevelt defeated Herbert Hoover in 1932. Is the 2016 presidential election going to be based upon real issues and structural political, economic, and social imperatives, or will it be as in the past built on sheer political imagery?

Events, Media & Communications

4 Ways to Share Your Brand’s Philanthropic Story

Feb 5, 2016 5:00 PM ET

Making your CSR story readily accessible online is an effective way to engage consumers, attract more eyeballs, and enhance your overall brand image.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Timberland Hosts Third Round of Presidential Town Halls for Employees

Feb 5, 2016 4:45 PM ET

This week, Timberland continued its tradition of hosting current presidential candidates during the lead-up to presidential elections, as part of its commitment to community engagement.

Diversity & Inclusion

Symantec in Full Support of the White House’s Computer Science for All Initiative

Feb 5, 2016 4:10 PM ET

Computer Science (CS) education, particularly for underrepresented populations such as women and people of color, has been an area of focus for Symantec.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Atlas Copco to Enhance Support for North American Construction Market with New LEED-Certified Facility

Feb 5, 2016 4:05 PM ET

Environment

Republic Reminds Flint Residents of Recycling Resources and New Water Distribution Site

Feb 5, 2016 2:00 PM ET

Republic Services is teaming up with student athletes from Michigan State University, the Michigan Community Service Commission, and various community partners and volunteers, to assist with recycling resources and ongoing water distribution efforts on Friday, February 5.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

JetBlue Celebrates Black History Month – Passing the Torch to the Next Generation of Aviators

Feb 5, 2016 12:40 PM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

American Households Not Prepared For Disasters, Not Confident That Children’s Needs Will Be Met

Feb 5, 2016 11:45 AM ET

The United States is experiencing a number of extreme weather events. Ten years after Hurricane Katrina and three years after Superstorm Sandy, the vast majority of Americans remain unprepared for major disasters, according to results from a National Center for Disaster Preparedness (NCDP) research study. Many communities, systems and child-serving institutions are not sufficiently prepared to meet the needs of children when a crisis strikes. And many parents are not confident that their children will be protected and are not aware of what plans schools have made to be sure that children are safe in case of a catastrophic event in their community.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Holland America Line Marks $4.7 Million Donated for Cancer Support

Feb 5, 2016 10:20 AM ET

In honor of World Cancer Day tomorrow, Feb. 4, Holland America Line is proud to announce that to date cruise guests and employees of the company have raised more than $4.7 million for cancer support through “On Deck” programming. The current On Deck for a Cause program benefits six international cancer organizations located in the United States, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Antea Group Case Study: EHS Auditing for a Big-Box Retailer

Feb 5, 2016 10:05 AM ET

An international “big box” retailer lacked clarity of the environmental, health and safety risks in several of their non-retail business units. These businesses included a meat processing facility, a print shop, an optical manufacturing facility, and several distribution centers. These businesses presented unique risks that were unfamiliar to their safety team, whose expertise focused on minimizing retail risks. Their first priorities were to understand the risks that were present, baseline the level of compliance, and establish an audit protocol that could be used by an internal audit team in the future.

Innovation & Technology

An Advocate and App For Patients’ Direct Access to Lab Test Results

Feb 5, 2016 10:05 AM ET

We believe patient empowerment is key to better health, and our new app for mobile devices, MyQuestTM by Care360, makes it easier than ever for Americans nationwide to electronically access and manage their personal laboratory data.

Health & Healthcare

Surprising Super Bowl Health Risks and How to Avoid Them in Your Office

Feb 5, 2016 10:00 AM ET

This Sunday, countless Americans will attend Super Bowl parties — whether they’re football fans or not. Bowl parties are notoriously unhealthy because they feature high-fat, high-calorie foods. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) calls Super Bowl Sunday the second biggest food day in the U.S., behind Thanksgiving. But there are other health risks that come from Super Bowl parties, too.

Events, Media & Communications

Scaling PeaceTech Industry to Partner with Fortune 500s at PeaceTech Summit

Feb 5, 2016 9:30 AM ET

Amanda MacArthur, Vice President of Global Pro Bono and Engagement, PYXERA Global, spoke on the "Competitors or Contributors: How a Scaled-Up PeaceTech Industry Helps Fortune 500s” panel at PeaceTech Summit 2016 Thursday February 4.

“In any partnership the end goals do not need to be the same, but they cannot be mutually exclusive either,” said MacArthur. “Finding overlap in goals will uncover the mutual benefit, the motivation to partner, and the perspective to understand one another.”

Environment

Symbiosis: Reverse Logistics and Sustainability as They Should Be

Feb 5, 2016 9:15 AM ET

Reverse logistics done well will certainly keep much out of the landfill, but also represents the opportunity to recapture more value.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

High Street Banks Follow Barclays’ Lead in Supporting Armed Forces Community

Feb 5, 2016 9:05 AM ET

The Armed Forces Covenant roundtable meeting of banking chiefs and ministers at No.10 Downing Street secured commitments from the UK’s biggest high street banks. These commitments will allow armed forces personnel posted overseas to be able to rent out their homes without facing higher mortgage costs, or having to change their mortgage.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Global 100 Most Sustainable Companies in 2016

Feb 5, 2016 8:00 AM ET

A growing number of companies around the world are aiming to get the most out of their capital, maximize employee performance, and make a judicious use of resources to make the world a better place.