Corporate Responsibility

Last week, Barclays and the Unreasonable Group hosted the first Unreasonable Impact World Forum, bringing together 27 innovative companies from Asia, the US and Europe working to solve some of the world’s most pressing problems. In the first of three profiles of those taking part, we hear from Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech, about thinking the impossible, carbon-monoxide eating bugs – and doing what you think is right.

For those of us in food service, safety is the number one priority. Yes, we also love to serve healthy, delicious and creative cuisine. But when it comes right down to it: we have to start with safety.

Up & Go, a new online platform supported by Barclays and the anti-poverty foundation Robin Hood, allows New Yorkers to book cleaning services from worker-owned cooperatives. We hear from the women earning a decent wage and growing their businesses through the app, which puts earning power directly in their hands.

Team Barclays had a grand day out at this year’s Superhero Tri. We talk to partially sighted cyclist Laura Turner and Tracy Cox-Smyth, who volunteers as a “buddy” for disabled athletes , about winning the competition to compete in the inclusive sporting event alongside Paralympian David Weir – and going on to win the race.

For the 15th straight year, UPS employees are participating in Global Volunteer Month across five continents. UPS estimates employees will donate 335,000 volunteer hours in October to 240 community service events taking place across North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia Pacific and Indian subcontinent, Middle East and Africa (ISMEA). The Global Volunteer Month volunteer hours will help UPS reach 2.15 million volunteer hours in 2017. At the end of Global Volunteer Month each year, UPS awards $10,000 grants to 14 non-profit organizations UPS employees volunteer at in each U.S. region, international region and business unit.

When most people talk about energy strategies, they’re actually not talking about strategy at all. Oftentimes, narratives are about what companies and policy makers could or should be doing when it comes to energy transitions are framed as “strategy”. For example, I’ve heard people say that putting a price on carbon, or the need to transition to an electrified economy that does not depend upon fossil fuels, is an “energy strategy.”

The Sustainable Coffee Challenge today welcomed Nestlé Nespresso SA (Nespresso) among its 83 partners who are seeking to make coffee the world's first sustainably grown commodity.

Nespresso has announced the inclusion of the Rainforest Alliance Certified™ seal on all Nespresso permanent Grand Crus coffee sleeves to help build awareness of the AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) has been named to the prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America for the third consecutive year. The 2017 North America Index is an independent validation of the important work the company is carrying out in the area of corporate responsibility and Bristol-Myers Squibb is one of three pharmaceutical, biotechnology and life sciences companies to earn a spot. Recognizing public companies for outstanding performance across economic, environmental and social factors, the Index serves as a benchmark for investors who integrate sustainability considerations into their portfolios.

Benevity, Inc., the global leader in workplace giving, volunteering and community investment software, announces the completion of two independent audit reports demonstrating full compliance with SSAE 18, an authoritative reporting standard for service organizations in the U.S.

"Meeting these robust standards allows us to provide assurance of second-to-none processes and controls to the world’s most iconic companies, in a technological climate where vigilance is vital,” says Bryan de Lottinville, Founder and CEO of Benevity.

Receipt of these independent reports demonstrate the maturity of Benevity’s financial processes and controls, and positions the company as one of the only solutions of its kind that can offer enterprise clients world-class operational and governance practices.