ESG News from Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund Announces New Grant Winning Institutions

Nov 14, 2018 3:30 PM ET

The U.S. Department of State, U.S. Embassies, Partners of the Americas, and NAFSA: Association of International Educators announce new grant recipients in the latest 100,000 Strong in the Americas Innovation Fund Competition.

Events, Media & Communications

CSR Technology and Employee Engagement

Nov 14, 2018 2:45 PM ET

On November 20 Chris Jarvis, Co-Founder of Realized Worth and Lesa George, Director of Digital Business Development, United Way of Calgary and Area will share insights into the customer experience and how technology can enable companies to meet impact and engagement objectives.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Everyday Heroes: A Snack with Purpose

Nov 14, 2018 2:40 PM ET

Sustainable Development Goals

Mohawk at Greenbuild 2018: Believe in Sustainable Flooring Solutions

Nov 14, 2018 2:30 PM ET

For the second year at Greenbuild, Mohawk Industries will showcase from both residential and commercial divisions sustainable flooring solutions designed to minimize impact on the planet. The world’s largest conference and expo dedicated to green building, Greenbuild takes place Nov. 14–16, 2018, in Chicago at McCormick Place, with Mohawk brands exhibiting in booth space 1503. This year’s theme is “Human by Nature” and focuses on the intersection of humanity and the built environment.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

JetBlue Celebrated World Kindness Day by Awarding Grants to Three Nonprofits

Nov 14, 2018 2:00 PM ET

Yesterday in celebration of World Kindness Day and as part of JetBlue For Good Month, JetBlue announced the winners of the JetBlue For Good Grants contest – Behind the Book in New York City, the Detroit Public Safety Foundation for the Detroit Police Department’s Sisterhood: No Boundaries Youth Program and Heal The Planet in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Selected from thousands of entries from community members, each of these nonprofit organizations received a $25,000 grant from JetBlue to continue their work helping others within their local communities. The designated charities each represent one of JetBlue For Good’s three pillars: youth and education, the community, and the environment.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Orlando Homeownership to Get $6.3 Million Boost

Nov 14, 2018 12:30 PM ET

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC), NeighborWorks® America, Orlando Neighborhood Improvement Corporation (ONIC), and Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida (NHSSF) today announced the NeighborhoodLIFT® program will launch for Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties with a $6.3 million commitment by Wells Fargo to boost local homeownership.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Brands Taking Stands | Sustainable Investing Moves the Mainstream Market with Big Numbers

Nov 14, 2018 12:20 PM ET

We may be heading into the cold, dark days of winter, but my inbox has been glowing red-hot with a blast of news about sustainable finance. Updates are coming from every area of the category, from giant global entities to funds offering niche investment products, and services aimed at millennials and women.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Duke Energy Helps Protect and Restore North Carolina's Wildlife and Natural Resources With $1.1 Million Contribution

Nov 14, 2018 12:00 PM ET

Duke Energy is providing more than $1.1 million to support 11 North Carolina environmental nonprofit organizations to preserve, protect and enhance natural heritage across the state.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Responsible Forestry Trailblazer, Collins, Celebrates 25 Years of Certification

Nov 14, 2018 12:00 PM ET

Collins, a forest management and wood products company operating in California, Oregon and Pennsylvania, is pleased to celebrate 25 years of responsible forest management recognition, including independent certification under the internationally recognized Forest Stewardship Council (FSC®) program. Third-party certifier SCS Global Services (SCS) and FSC paid tribute to Collins’ precedent-setting efforts at Greenbuild 2018, the U.S.’ largest green building event of the year.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Bacardi Celebrates Art, Fashion and 25 Years of Dress for Success Miami

Nov 14, 2018 11:15 AM ET

The Bacardi Women in Leadership initiative brought fashion to life during a cocktail event for a great cause. The team hosted an “Evening of Art & Fashion” to serve as the official kick-off celebration for the 25th anniversary of Dress for Success Miami, which provides a network of support, professional attire and development tools, to help women thrive in work and in life.

Health & Healthcare

Healthy Families, Healthy Futures

Nov 14, 2018 11:15 AM ET

Access to safe, voluntary family planning can empower women and helps support optimal health decision-making for themselves and their families.

Environment

Timberland, Journeys, and the Student Conservation Association Leave Green Footprint in Chicago

Nov 14, 2018 11:10 AM ET

Timberland recently convened a team of volunteers in Chicago to take another step toward fulfilling the brand’s five-year, five-city commitment to double its footprint with urban green spaces by 2021. More than 65 volunteers from Timberland, Journeys, the Student Conservation Association and the local community gathered in the Blue Island neighborhood of Chicago to transform an overgrown triangular lot into a community park and restore a growing garden for residents of a nearby senior center. Chicago was the first of three cities the brand greened this year followed by events in New York City and Los Angeles.

Research, Reports & Publications

Sustainability Reporting: 4 Things Companies Get Wrong

Nov 14, 2018 11:05 AM ET

From 100-page disclosures to a lack of standardisation in reports, here are four essential mistakes that companies make in their sustainability reports, according to Global Reporting Initiative chief Tim Mohin.

Education

Taco Bell Ups Live Más Scholarship Commitment to $21M

Nov 14, 2018 10:30 AM ET

Taco Bell is well ahead of its commitment to award $10 million in Live Más Scholarships by 2020. Three years to be exact. But instead of simply celebrating the fact, the Yum! Brands chain decided to more than double that commitment to $21 million by 2021.

Environment

Sustainability Reporting: Are You Disclosing What Really Matters to Your Investors?

Nov 14, 2018 10:25 AM ET

Antea Group blogs about corporate sustainability reporting and disclosure, and how your organisation can find its unique reporting path.

Research, Reports & Publications

Purpose Is a Key Driver of Overall Reputation, According to New Research by Porter Novelli and Cone

Nov 14, 2018 10:15 AM ET

Purpose is one of three critical dimensions of overall reputation, according to the 2018 Porter Novelli/Cone Purpose Premium Index: How Companies Can Unlock Reputational Gains by Leading with Purpose. The study, examining consumer perceptions of the top 200 companies in the U.S., also finds Purpose and Reputation are intrinsically linked.

Events, Media & Communications

Sysco Attends VERGE Conference to Talk Sustainability Initiatives

Nov 14, 2018 10:05 AM ET

Sysco took part in GreenBiz magazine’s VERGE 18 Conference, where more than 2,500 leaders gather to explore scalable solutions at the intersection of technology and sustainability. This year the focus areas included: clean energy, transportation and mobility and the circular economy.

Events, Media & Communications

Keep America Beautiful Celebrates America Recycles Day With “State of Recycling” Forum

Nov 14, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Keep America Beautiful, in celebration of America Recycles Day, is hosting the 2018 “State of Recycling” Forum in Washington, D.C., presented in partnership with Keurig Dr Pepper. This year’s topic is “Cleaning Up Recycling: Motivating Individuals to Recycle.” The Forum, which take place Nov. 15 starting at 9:15 a.m., will be streamed via Facebook Live on Keep America Beautiful’s Facebook page.

Research, Reports & Publications

Cat Electrified Equipment

Nov 14, 2018 10:00 AM ET

As the technology capability and the power density of power electronics, motors, generators and energy storage solutions have advanced, so, too, has the value proposition of electrification for Caterpillar’s customers.

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: There Is No "Away"

Nov 14, 2018 10:00 AM ET

John Lanier and his family have made great strides in reducing their waste stream at home. Organics go in the compost bin. Recyclables go in the blue bin, and other recyclables are regularly taken to Atlanta’s Center for Hard to Recycle Materials. Now they've discovered the TerraCycle Zero Waste Box.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Domtar Volunteers Make a Difference at Camp Blue Skies

Nov 14, 2018 9:05 AM ET

We proudly partnered with Camp Blue Skies again this year to help make camp a reality for adults with disabilities. Many Domtar volunteers worked with the camp several times over the past few months to help set up activities for campers, including zip lines, ropes courses, Frisbee games and post-lunch singalongs in the cafeteria.

Events, Media & Communications

Reflections from the BSR Conference 2018 (Plus Five Ways to Review Highlights)

Nov 14, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Here's how to re-live the BSR Conference 2018—or catch up on what you missed.

Research, Reports & Publications

Gaps Persist in Asset Management Planning, Funding, and Customer Education Effectiveness

Nov 14, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Stormwater management is gaining greater attention with climate change, infrastructure capacity challenges and financial pressures pushing systems to their limits. As utility managers and other decision makers take longer, more programmatic views of stormwater management and cost recovery, Black & Veatch today released the 2018 Stormwater Utility Survey to help utilities better understand program planning, best practices and regulatory requirements to meet these challenges.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Wells Fargo Launches Second Annual Food Bank Program to Fight HungerDuring the Holidays

Nov 14, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) today launched its second annual Holiday Food Bank program to help feed people and families in need this holiday season.

Research, Reports & Publications

Old Capital Allocation Strategies Require New Thinking

Nov 14, 2018 9:00 AM ET

The electric utility industry is in the middle of a transformation that has no precedent. Historically speaking, delivering electricity was relatively simple; utilities generated power and provided it to customers over a one-way delivery system. Companies requested, and utility regulators granted, periodic rate hikes to cover infrastructure upgrades while providing a reasonable rate of return on that investment.