ESG News from Leading Brands

Social Impact & Volunteering

Supporting Veterans Through Skilled Service

Nov 12, 2018 10:15 AM ET

This week we celebrate Veteran’s Day and as a tribute to the people who serve in our military, we are showcasing a skills-based volunteer project that supports veteran-owned small businesses. Based in Austin, TX, PeopleFund is an organization that creates economic opportunity and financial stability for underserved entrepreneurs in Texas. Their work touches women, minorities, ex-offenders, members of the LGBT community and veterans by providing access to capital, education and resources to build healthy small businesses and, in the process, improve economic mobility for their families and the community.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sweet Street Honored as Sysco’s Gold Heritage Winner at Recent Supplier Excellence Awards

Nov 12, 2018 9:30 AM ET

At our recent Supplier Excellence Awards, Sweet Street was named our Gold Heritage winner for meeting and exceeding Sysco’s expectations set forth for minority, women-owned and diverse supplier partners.

Events, Media & Communications

GreenBiz Group Announces Major New Conference on Circular Economy

Nov 12, 2018 9:05 AM ET

GreenBiz Group today announced the launch of a new event, Circularity, a three-day conference focusing on how to seize and accelerate the growing opportunities in the circular economy. The premiere event, Circularity 19, will be held June 18-20, 2019, in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Research, Reports & Publications

The First State is First Again: Delaware Seeks to Lead on Corporate Responsibility

Nov 12, 2018 9:05 AM ET

Delaware may only be 45th in population and 49th in size amongst U.S. states, but the First State is poised to become a global leader in sustainability.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Responsible Business Alliance Initiative Launched to Advance Worker Well-Being

Nov 12, 2018 9:00 AM ET

The Responsible Business Alliance (RBA), a nonprofit coalition of leading companies dedicated to improving social, environmental and ethical conditions in their global supply chains, announced a new initiative to advance work-life wellness in the manufacturing sector.

Health & Healthcare

'All in for Florida' Program Works to Intervene in Emergency Rooms in Opioid Overdose Cases

Nov 12, 2018 8:35 AM ET

This collaboration between the Aetna Foundation, FAADA and FHA is a peer-to-peer counseling program connecting individuals hospitalized for opioid overdoses with access to treatment services at that critical moment when intervention is possible.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Veterans Day Salute: FCA Foundation Awards $500,000 in Support of U.S. Veterans, Service Members and Their Families

Nov 12, 2018 8:30 AM ET

The FCA Foundation, the charitable arm of North American automaker FCA US LLC, has awarded $500,000 in grants to provide U.S. veterans, service members, and their families with support services and workforce development training.

Innovation & Technology

What New U.S. Data Privacy Laws Mean for Business

Nov 12, 2018 8:05 AM ET

Diversity & Inclusion

My Journey from Army Soldier to SAP Developer

Nov 12, 2018 8:05 AM ET

Aleathia Coles-Dixon’s resume highlights all the high bars she has already achieved: Military intelligence expert. Technology systems developer. Master’s degree candidate.

Health & Healthcare

Meet Susan, Empowered by Access to Family Planning

Nov 12, 2018 8:00 AM ET

At Pfizer, we believe that women should be empowered to make health decisions that are right for them and their families. We are honored to share the powerful story of one individual receiving family planning services through the Pfizer Foundation’s* partnership with World Vision: Susan, a wife and mother of five children in rural West Pokot, Kenya.

Health & Healthcare

Mohawk Group to Present Array of Nature-Inspired Flooring at Healthcare Design Expo 2018

Nov 10, 2018 10:00 AM ET

“At Mohawk, we believe that healing spaces should empower the mind, body and spirit, and that flooring solutions should help foster optimum health and wellness,” said Cynthia Hubbell, vice president of healthcare and senior living for Mohawk Group. “By leveraging our family of brands, we connect our clients with a single-source experience to help them create healthcare interiors that enable patients and care providers to thrive.”

Mohawk Group’s mission is to serve those who heal, live and work in the healthcare built environment by creating innovative flooring across multiple categories, including enhanced resilient tile, sheet vinyl, rubber, carpet tile and broadloom carpet. To learn more about Mohawk Group’s approach to designing healing spaces, visit MohawkGroup.com/segments/healthcare

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Duke Energy Utility Issues Historic $1 Billion Green Bond Offering

Nov 9, 2018 3:35 PM ET

Duke Energy Carolinas, a subsidiary of Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), has completed its inaugural issuance of $1 billion in green bonds that will finance eligible green energy projects – including zero-carbon solar and energy storage – in North and South Carolina. This represents one of the largest green bond transactions issued by a utility.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Girlstart Names MilliporeSigma 2018 STEM Champion

Nov 9, 2018 2:20 PM ET

Girlstart, a non-profit dedicated to increasing girls’ interest and engagement in STEM, recently held its 9th Annual Game Changers Luncheon.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

FCA US Achieves Gold Medallion Certification for Efforts to Recruit, Employ and Retain the Nation’s Veterans

Nov 9, 2018 1:40 PM ET

FCA US announced today that it has achieved gold medallion certification for its efforts to recruit, employ and retain the nation’s veterans.

Diversity & Inclusion

How Our Veterans Energize National Grid

Nov 9, 2018 1:35 PM ET

Two years ago I sat down for a Veterans Day breakfast with about 100 National Grid employees who had served in the US Armed Forces.

Health & Healthcare

Medtronic Delivers Significant Progress on Global Corporate Citizenship Efforts

Nov 9, 2018 1:35 PM ET

Medtronic Citizenship 2018 Integrated Performance Report shows improvement on environmental stewardship and diversity aspirational goals

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Helping Veterans Rebuild Their Lives, One Home at a Time

Nov 9, 2018 1:15 PM ET

Lockheed Martin demonstrated its ongoing mission to serve our nation’s military veterans and their families by donating $97,000 last month to Homes for Our Troops, a nonprofit organization that builds specially adapted custom homes for severely injured post-9/11 veterans. Over the past six years, Lockheed Martin has committed more than $400,000 to the charitable organization.

Events, Media & Communications

Smithfield Foods Hosts Members of The Global Good Fund’s Veterans Leadership Program at Company Headquarters

Nov 9, 2018 12:45 PM ET

Smithfield Foods was pleased to host members of The Global Good Fund’s Veterans Leadership Program at the company’s corporate headquarters in Smithfield, Virginia for a three-day executive mentorship retreat. The veteran entrepreneurs spent time with executives, including Smithfield President and Chief Executive Officer Ken Sullivan, gaining valuable insights for their own businesses.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Supporting the Largest Habitat for Humanity Development in Colorado

Nov 9, 2018 12:40 PM ET

About two years ago, Wells Fargo team member Michael Dunn had an idea. While speaking to team members in Community Development in Denver, he asked if the company had ever sponsored an entire house with local affiliate Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver. Nothing came of the conversation at the time, but the Community Development team asked him about it last year. This time, the idea became reality.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Lessons in the Power of Data for Good and Pro Bono

Nov 9, 2018 12:40 PM ET

Andrea Bertels of Nielsen discusses why increasing charitable giving may not be the long-term answer to resolving complex social challenges. Instead, growth in skills-based volunteering and pro bono projects could be key to unlocking new solutions.

Health & Healthcare

VIDEO | Believe in a Cure with Mohawk Group's Specify for a Cure Program

Nov 9, 2018 12:35 PM ET

Mohawk Group and Durkan are committed to the fight against breast cancer and as a long-term partner of Susan G. Komen®, we are helping to make a difference through our corporate donation program, Specify for a Cure®. You can help too: When you specify eligible products within our program, we will make a donation on your behalf to Susan G. Komen.

Environment

SCS Celebrates #FSCFriday With Customers

Nov 9, 2018 12:00 PM ET

At SCS Global Services, we believe Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) certification demonstrates environmental leadership and provides a competitive business advantage through responsibly-sourced products, well-managed forests, and protection of the planet’s natural resources, local communities and wildlife.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

George Clooney, Paul Rudd, Ben Stiller and More Join Charity Auction to Benefit Veterans

Nov 9, 2018 10:45 AM ET

Kenny Chesney, Stephen Curry, Ellen DeGeneres, Owen Wilson and Jake Gyllenhaal are among the other stars to auction off prizes in support of Home for Our Troops.

Responsible Production & Consumption

‘A LINE IN THE SAND’ – Global Commitment to Eliminate Plastic Pollution at the Source

Nov 9, 2018 10:30 AM ET

A Global Commitment to eradicate plastic waste and pollution at the source has been signed by 250 organizations including many of the world’s largest packaging producers, brands, retailers and recyclers, as well as governments and NGOs. Signatories include companies representing 20% of all plastic packaging produced globally – they include well-known consumer businesses such as Danone; H&M group; L’Oréal; Mars, Incorporated; PepsiCo; The Coca- Cola Company; and Unilever; major packaging producers such as Amcor, plastics producers including Novamont and energy management specialist Schneider Electric.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Hallmark Shows Gratitude for Veterans

Nov 9, 2018 10:25 AM ET

In 2016, Kelly Brock, a reservation coordinator for Hallmark’s attractions, and member of Hallmark’s Military Interest Group (MIG), reached out to her father-in-law’s USS Hornet organization with an idea.