ESG News from Leading Brands

Events, Media & Communications

Pro Bono Perspectives Podcast: Episode 6 - Rachel Hutchisson, Blackbaud

Oct 23, 2018 11:05 AM ET

We are thrilled to welcome Rachel Hutchisson, Vice President of Corporate Citizenship and Philanthropy at Blackbaud to Pro Bono Perspectives. In her day to day role, Rachel is responsible for global corporate social responsibility, leading the company’s 3,300 associates in efforts to serve and give professionally and personally. She is committed to the core philosophy that “good is for everyone,” championing positive change and inspiring individuals to integrate service into their development.

Environment

The Potential of Agroforestry to Enhance Land Degradation Neutrality: Case Study From Tanzania

Oct 23, 2018 11:05 AM ET

Judith Nzyoka of the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and colleagues explain in a chapter of a new book — A better world: actions and commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals: life on land — how agroforestry can support countries achieve LDN using a case study from Tanzania.

Sustainable Development Goals

Verizon Innovative Learning School Named One of America’s Best Urban Schools

Oct 23, 2018 11:00 AM ET

School is a lot different today than it was two years ago at P.S. 171, Patrick Henry Preparatory Academy in Harlem, NY. In 2016, when teachers wanted students to use computers in class, they rolled in the computer cart. Students lined up, took the laptops from the cart and brought them back to their seats. At the end of class, students lined up again to put the laptops back in the cart so they could be rolled over to the next classroom.

Research, Reports & Publications

New Resource: Pro Bono As a People Strategy

Oct 23, 2018 10:45 AM ET

Taproot has long made the case that a strong corporate pro bono program is a triple win—nonprofits receive the support they need, companies build deeper relationships with their communities, and employees have the opportunity to apply their skills in new and meaningful ways. While a good deal of evidence supports pro bono as a powerful social impact strategy, practitioners often struggle to articulate the business case for pro bono.

Innovation & Technology

Students Invited to Take a Peek into the Future of Mobility

Oct 23, 2018 10:45 AM ET

Rather than take a bus on a field trip, this October, Toyota and Discovery Education will bring the latest in automotive technology to students in their classrooms.

Energy

NRG's 2017 Carbon Emissions Performance

Oct 23, 2018 10:40 AM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

P&G Wins Top Honor for Innovation

Oct 23, 2018 10:40 AM ET

“We are incredibly honored to have our packaging recognized this way,” said Kathy Fish, P&G’s chief research, development and innovation officer. “I am so proud of our organization for their passion and commitment to not only creating superior packaging experiences that make a difference for our consumers, but for embracing and developing sustainable packaging solutions.”

Environment

How Future Tech is Helping Elephants

Oct 23, 2018 10:35 AM ET

There’s no arguing with the majesty of elephants. These intelligent, complex and emotional beasts have come to symbolize wildlife conservation efforts around the globe. Across the African continent, they are under threat from encroaching human settlements and continued poaching — in the summer of 2018, an aerial survey in Botswana found 87 elephants had been killed and their tusks cut off for their ivory, the biggest slaughter in recent years. But elephants are part of a complex ecosystem and scientists and conservationists know protecting them isn’t just crucial to the species itself, but for other African animals, birds and plants.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Pulse Centers: Powering Her Potential with Whole Planet Foundation

Oct 23, 2018 10:20 AM ET

Whole Planet Foundation is proud to partner with Pulse Centers, the Gold Sponsor of its Annual Benefit & Auction taking place on October 25, 2018. This party with a purpose celebrates the foundation’s global impact in 74 countries and aims to motivate more advocates to join its mission.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Harvard Business Review Best-Performing CEOs Ranking With CSRHub ESG Metrics

Oct 23, 2018 10:05 AM ET

Harvard Business Review (HBR) has published its annual global ranking of the 100 best-performing CEOs, with Pablo Isla of the Spanish fashion retail giant Inditex topping the list for the second year in a row. Following behind Isla in the #2 and #3 spots are Jensen Huang of NVIDIA and Bernard Arnault of LVMH. They’re joined by newcomers to the top 5 this year, François-Henri Pinault of Kering (#4) and Elmar Degenhart of the German automaker Continental (#5). Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff has climbed to the #6 spot, up from #12 in 2017.

Environment

La Red de Innovación e Impacto celebrará su nueva clase de miembros en El Evento Anual en Antigua, del 29 al 30 de octubre

Oct 23, 2018 9:45 AM ET

El Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos, el World Environment Center (WEC), Le Groupe-conseil baastel Itée (Baastel) y RioSlum Studio se enorgullecen en anunciar a los nuevos miembros de La Red de Innovación e Impacto (La Red), una red internacional de organizaciones innovadoras que apoyan micro, pequeñas y medianas empresas (MiPyMEs) con el fin de fomentar el crecimiento económico sostenible y la prosperidad en América Latina. Estos nuevos miembros fueron seleccionados a través del concurso internacional: El Poder de Crecer.

Environment

La Red de Innovación e Impacto to Celebrate Its New Class of Members at Annual Summit in Antigua, October 29-30

Oct 23, 2018 9:45 AM ET

The U.S. Department of State, the World Environment Center (WEC), Le Groupe-conseil baastel Itée (Baastel), and RioSlum Studio are proud to announce the newest members of La Red de Innovación e Impacto (La Red), an international network of innovative organizations supporting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to drive sustainable economic growth and prosperity across Latin America. These new members were selected through the international Power to Grow Innovation Challenge.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

The Future of “Clean” Energy

Oct 23, 2018 9:35 AM ET

Bloomberg New Energy Finance predicts that two-thirds of the world’s power will be generated by renewable resources by 2050. This projection is based on the continuing growth of new renewable power generation projects, primarily wind and solar. Conditions have certainly changed since New Alternatives Fund entered the investment world in 1982. Our Fund’s approach has always been to consider the broad sector of energy and related environmental areas like clean water, clean air, and naturally grown and organic food. Energy is not just the production of electric power we also see conservation and efficiency playing major roles.

Health & Healthcare

VIDEO | Barclays Citizenship Awards: Annabel Jones, Ambassador for the Stroke Association

Oct 23, 2018 9:25 AM ET

Annabel Jones is an ambassador for the Stroke Association. Suffering from a stroke in 2011 at the age of just 22, Annabel uses her personal experience to support stoke sufferers, raise funds and generate awareness for stroke prevention.

Energy

Elevate Energy Puts Landmark Illinois Clean Energy Law to Work for Working Communities

Oct 23, 2018 9:15 AM ET

Through an ongoing collaboration with Mohawk Group, Groundswell recently worked with Chicago-based nonprofit Elevate Energy – a fellow Citi Foundation Progress Maker -- to install a SmartFlower solar system in a community garden in South Chicago’s Bronzeville neighborhood.

Research, Reports & Publications

INFOGRAPHIC | 10 Critical Ways CSR Impacts Your Entire Brand

Oct 23, 2018 9:15 AM ET

Making the world a better place goes way beyond “feel good.” New research definitively shows a direct correlation between your social activities and how your brand is perceived by your employees and your consumers. And significantly, how those activities directly influence buying decisions.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Places That Matter: Clyde, Ohio

Oct 23, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Clyde, Ohio has been home to a Whirlpool Corporation plant for more than 65 years. Multiple generations of employees have lived and worked there in that time. Learn about them in "Places that Matter," a photojournalism project chronicling the lives of Whirlpool employees.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

The Time to Plant Is Now: Help Us Restore Our Forests

Oct 23, 2018 9:00 AM ET

As we continue to experience record-setting fires each year, the Arbor Day Foundation knows that it will take a multi-faceted approach to restore the natural landscape that has been destroyed in communities and to build resiliency in forests near and far.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

KeyBank Provides $39.4 Million in Financing for the Redevelopment and Preservation of a Historic Cleveland Affordable Housing Property

Oct 22, 2018 7:30 PM ET

KeyBank Real Estate Capital and KeyBank Community Development Lending and Investment (CDLI) have provided a total of $39.4 million in financing for the redevelopment and preservation of Commodore Apartments in Cleveland, OH. Specifically, KeyBank provided a $16.6 million LIHTC equity investment, an $11.6 million construction loan and an $11.1 million non-recourse, FHA 221(d)(4) first mortgage loan.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Join Feed the Children's Fight to Defeat Hunger and Help Kids Be Kids

Oct 22, 2018 6:00 PM ET

Hunger. It has crept into our cities. It has found a way into our neighborhoods. It’s affecting the lives of millions of men, women and children domestically and internationally, cementing itself as a real threat to our well-being.

See, hunger isn’t prejudiced. It doesn’t care about gender, age or ethnicity. Hunger doesn’t know if you are homeless or a part of the working class. It only has one job, and it performs it very well.

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar Thiruvallur Energy Efficiency & Renewables

Oct 22, 2018 6:00 PM ET

The long-term strategy at Caterpillar India Private Limited in Thiruvallur, India, includes embedding sustainability in manufacturing through renewable energy and energy conservation.

Environment

Organics

Oct 22, 2018 5:35 PM ET

Environmentally conscientious communities across the country are seeking our help with sustainable solutions for their organics, which includes food and yard waste. The good news is that organics are highly biodegradable and can be recycled at our compost facilities — benefiting our planet and business.

Diversity & Inclusion

Nestlé Purina is Working to Build a More Disability-Friendly Workplace and Community

Oct 22, 2018 5:15 PM ET

The two years Sarah Schwegel, a lifelong advocate for people with disabilities, spent at Nestlé Purina were hugely beneficial for both Sarah and the company. Sarah, who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type II and uses a power wheelchair, worked in Purina’s human resources department, helping us to bring the best people to our company. She put forward suggestions detailing how Purina could better support employees with disabilities, and we acted on her ideas and saw what a difference they could make.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Duke Energy Foundation Awards Indiana Nonprofits $315,000 in Community Impact Grants

Oct 22, 2018 5:05 PM ET

Twenty-one Indiana nonprofit organizations are receiving $315,000 in Duke Energy Foundation grants to make a difference in their communities. Their projects range from a holiday food drive for the needy in Howard County to Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra concerts for elementary students from around the state.

Social Impact & Volunteering

The Knitting Factor: Tying It All Together in Celebration of Pro Bono Week

Oct 22, 2018 4:35 PM ET

Last year we debuted a concept called The Knitting Factor, which helps explain how skills-based volunteering knits together the expertise from the corporate and nonprofit sectors to create sustainable solutions that don’t come undone when partners part ways. We also introduced three key ingredients to the success of The Knitting Factor: Panoramic Perspectives, Skill Sharing and Sticky Relationships. In celebration of Pro Bono Week, we wanted to share a quick review of how the Knitting Factor has worked in practice over the past year.