ESG News from Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Award-Winning Actress Viola Davis Continues To Join Forces With The Albertsons Companies Foundation And The Entertainment Industry Foundation To Provide Five Million More Breakfasts This Year To Children In Need

Sep 21, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Sustainable Development Goals

National Geographic Announces Winners of ‘Chasing Genius’, a Global Call for Transformational Ideas to Improve the Well-Being of Our People and Planet

Sep 21, 2017 8:35 AM ET

21st Century Fox’s National Geographic recently announced the winners of Chasing Genius, a digital community launched in June with GSK Consumer Healthcare. Nat Geo and GSK crowdsourced ideas from their audiences and chose three critical areas where transformational ideas could mobilize change and help advance the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals: making our planet more sustainable, improving global health, and kickstarting our ability to feed 9 billion people in the world. Nat Geo’s Emmy-nominated show, “Genius”, was a catalyst for the project’s creation—directed by Academy Award winners Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, the show chronicles Albert Einstein’s life through stories about his friends, lovers, enemies, and fellow scientific luminaries.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Gildan Partners With the Word on the Street Literary Festival

Sep 20, 2017 10:00 PM ET

For the sixth year, Gildan partners with The Word On The Street, Canada's largest open-air book and magazine festival, promoting Canadian literature and the fight against illiteracy. Gildan is pleased to be a sponsor of the festival, which will be held in Toronto on September 24.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Aflac Japan

Sep 20, 2017 9:05 PM ET

Environment

Biodiversity Conservation Demonstrating Gains in Ghana

Sep 20, 2017 8:25 PM ET

Newmont Ghana is working in collaboration with the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG) and the Wildlife Division of the Ghana Forestry Commission to ensure sustainable biodiversity conservation.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Princess Cruises Donates $25,000 to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center

Sep 20, 2017 7:30 PM ET

rincess Cruises presented its first donation from the Princess Animal Welfare Sponsor (PAWS) to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) in the amount of $25,000. PAWS was established by Princess Cruises to donate a portion of proceeds from the sales of Stanley the Bear, the cruise line's recently introduced plush bear, to local causes and charities that support nature, animals and wildlife.

Sustainable Development Goals

As the Clintons Step Back From Global Stage, Bloomberg Steps Up

Sep 20, 2017 5:10 PM ET

For more than a decade, the Clinton Global Initiative was the star-studded marquee attraction during the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, a place where heads of state, celebrities, billionaire philanthropists and business people mingled, made deals and gave away millions, sometimes billions, of dollars.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

CSX Named to Dow Jones Sustainability Index for North America for Seventh Consecutive Year

Sep 20, 2017 5:05 PM ET

CSX (Nasdaq: CSX) was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for North America for the seventh consecutive year, recognizing the company’s leadership in sustainable and responsible business practices. CSX was the only U.S.-based railroad and one of only three transportation companies included on the North American index in 2017.

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar's Community Impact

Sep 20, 2017 5:00 PM ET

Our success contributes to the social stability of regions around the world. Caterpillar and our employees focus on contributing time and resources to promoting the health and welfare of communities in which we work and live. We conduct our business in a manner that respects human rights individually.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Aramark Team Members Around the Globe Join Forces to Share Nutrition Knowledge, Inspire Families to Lead Healthy Lifestyles

Sep 20, 2017 4:15 PM ET

More than 10,000 Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) team members, including chefs, dietitians and human resources experts, will volunteer to support community centers and nonprofit organizations in the communities where they live and work, on Aramark Building Community Day (ABC Day).

Health & Healthcare

Connected Living Teams up With UsAgainstAlzheimer’s, Sodexo and Other Leading Organizations to Support Families for World Alzheimer’s Day

Sep 20, 2017 3:45 PM ET

In recognition of World Alzheimer’s Day, Connected Living, a provider of social networking services to families and senior citizens, announced today that it has pledged to donate 15 percent of all proceeds from their app services to UsAgainstAlzheimer’s (UsA2), an innovative nonprofit organization demanding – and delivering – a solution to Alzheimer’s.

Diversity & Inclusion

Turning Dreams Into Reality, One Small-Business Owner at a Time

Sep 20, 2017 3:00 PM ET

Small-business owners share how support from financial institutions — and Wells Fargo’s Diverse Community Capital program — changed their lives and helped them live out their dreams.

Diversity & Inclusion

LA Galaxy Foundation Partners with Fox Searchlight Pictures to Conclude Four-Part Women’s Leadership Series at Regal L.A. LIVE: BARCO Innovation Center

Sep 20, 2017 2:30 PM ET

AEG’s LA Galaxy Foundation concluded its Women’s Leadership Series presented by Herbalife Nutrition with a panel discussion and complimentary advance screening of the film BATTLE OF THE SEXES on Thursday, Sept. 14 at Regal L.A. LIVE: BARCO Innovation Center.

Social Impact & Volunteering

9/11 Day of Service Through Pro Bono

Sep 20, 2017 2:05 PM ET

The Taproot Foundation gathered nonprofits and skilled volunteers across the country to celebrate 9/11 Day of Service through pro bono, supported by American Express. Organizations in New York City, Washington DC, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco brought their challenges to Taproot’s Speed Consulting workshop to garner insights from industry experts in such areas as marketing, HR, strategy, and finance.

Research, Reports & Publications

Case Study: RTC Fellow Brings HIV Learnings Full Circle

Sep 20, 2017 2:00 PM ET

Events, Media & Communications

BSR Announces Lead Role in Organizing Business Participation at the Global Climate Action Summit 2018

Sep 20, 2017 2:00 PM ET

A statement from BSR President and CEO Aron Cramer on the Global Climate Action Summit 2018, hosted by the State of California and Governor Jerry Brown.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Driving Social Sustainability Through Volunteerism

Sep 20, 2017 1:55 PM ET

Conducting operations while not depleting the resources these operations depend on is the pinnacle of any company pursuing sustainability. With countless factors to consider when tackling environmental or economically sustainable initiatives, many companies struggle to find a starting point. Some even quit before they begin.

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: Taking a Bite Out of Designed Obsolescence

Sep 20, 2017 1:30 PM ET

Apple is a massive company with global influence. If they set ambitious goals, and then achieve them, the impact will be immense and go beyond their own balance sheet and impact report.

Sustainable Development Goals

Morgan Stanley Announces New Goal of Carbon Neutrality for Global Operations by 2022

Sep 20, 2017 1:20 PM ET

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) today announced a new goal to achieve carbon neutrality for global operations by 2022. Underpinning this goal is a long-standing commitment to reducing energy consumption, improving energy efficiency and procuring renewable energy.

Education

PayPal Hosts Kids in Tech Coding Camp

Sep 20, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Every year, PayPal hosts a four-week long coding camp across five campuses in the U.S. that is open to kids of PayPal employees, introducing them to coding in fun and creative ways. This year, with nearly 90 employee volunteers and 190 kid participants across San Jose, Omaha, Scottsdale, Austin and Timonium, it resulted in our most successful program yet.

Environment

Our Disposable Society: From Plastics to Prisons

Sep 20, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Plastic and prisons: two of America’s most toxic habits. Happily there are people working to create alternatives. This week on Sea Change Radio we learn about a new type of flexible compostable packaging, developed by Israeli entrepreneur, Daphna Nissenbaum, who hopes this new polymer will take a bite out of the enormous problem of plastic waste. Next, we speak to Zoe Loftus-Farren about her Earth Island Journal piece that exposes the multitude of environmental hazards created by the prison industrial complex and America’s unhealthy addiction to locking people up.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Walmart and the Coalition for Veteran Owned Business Host VetSource Event to Boost Business Opportunities for Veteran Entrepreneurs

Sep 20, 2017 12:25 PM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Carnival Cruise Line Helping International Coastal Cleanup With Local Community at Lifou in New Caledonia

Sep 20, 2017 12:15 PM ET

Carnival Cruise Line’s Captain Vittorio Marchi and other volunteers from Carnival Spirit worked shoulder to shoulder with the local community at Lifou in New Caledonia playing their part in an international movement to clean up the world's coast lines.

Innovation & Technology

Searching for the Next Facebook or Google: Bloomberg Helps Launch Tech Incubator

Sep 20, 2017 11:55 AM ET

Michael Bloomberg likes to say that being fired from his high perch at Salomon Brothers in the summer of 1981 was one of the best things that happened to him. Freed from the golden shackles of one of Wall Street’s most iconic investment firms, the future mayor of New York City wasted little time.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Xylem Commits $1 Million in Expanded Support for Relief Efforts in Response to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, and Flooding in South Asia

Sep 20, 2017 11:45 AM ET

Xylem announced plans to expand its support to $1 million in contributions and volunteer time to the recovery and rebuild efforts underway in response to some of the most devastating weather events on record: Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, and the severe flooding in India, Nepal and Bangladesh. The Company’s actions include monetary contributions from the Company and its corporate citizenship initiative Xylem Watermark, employee plus matching gift donations and an expansion of its ongoing employee volunteer initiatives in the affected areas.