ESG News from Leading Brands

Research, Reports & Publications

Metlife Releases Annual Corporate Responsibility Report

Jun 21, 2017 12:40 PM ET

MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) today announced the release of the company’s annual corporate responsibility report, which highlights how it manages Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues and makes a positive impact on society and the economy.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Ecolab Helped Businesses Conserve 161 Billion Gallons of Water in 2016

Jun 21, 2017 12:30 PM ET

In 2016, Ecolab Inc., the global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services, helped customers save 161 billion gallons of water at more than one million locations around the world. These savings, equivalent to the annual drinking water needs of more than 558 million people, are highlighted in the company’s 2016 Corporate Sustainability Report, available at www.ecolab.com.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Congratulations to Claire Meier of Northern Trust London Named a Top 100 Rising Star in Investment Management

Jun 21, 2017 12:25 PM ET

Claire Meier is a Senior Analyst in Fixed Income at Northern Trust Asset Management, responsible for global sovereign and agency research. She also plays a key role in asset allocation decisions working closely with the chief strategist and chief economist.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Working on Wellness: Simple Steps to Healthier, Happier Office Environments

Jun 21, 2017 12:15 PM ET

Want to perk up your work life? Buy some plants. It sounds simple, but a recent report by the University of Twente, VU Amsterdam and CBRE suggest it’s true.

Environment

Duke Energy Invites Students to Learn About Falcons at Indiana Facility

Jun 21, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Peregrine falcons may not be on the endangered species list any more, but they’ve got special friends in Indiana. After three falcon chicks were born on a perch at Duke Energy’s Gallagher Station smoke stack B recently, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) retrieved them for banding and a naming ceremony.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Where Art and Activism Meet: Zach Ingrasci Seeks to Create a More Equitable World Through Documentary Film

Jun 21, 2017 12:00 PM ET

A filmmaker and a humanitarian, Zach Ingrasci is dedicated to using his talents to help empower disenfranchised communities around the world. From living in a tent in a Syrian refugee camp to working as radish farmers and surviving on $1 a day in Guatemala, Zach and his co-director Chris Temple have cultivated an innovative style of documentary filmmaking that sits at the intersection of storytelling and social justice.

Diversity & Inclusion

Yum! Brands Celebrates Culture of Diversity & Inclusion with Pride

Jun 21, 2017 11:45 AM ET

As a global restaurant company, we understand that diversity and inclusion are critical to the long-term success of our business – it’s part of the fabric of who we are as a company. We believe that the more our workforce reflects the global marketplace in which we operate, the more we will be able to satisfy our customers.

Environment

Ted Nordhaus: U.S. Leaves Paris

Jun 21, 2017 11:30 AM ET

Ted Nordhaus is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Breakthrough Institute, an Oakland-based think tank which focuses on energy issues. We discuss Nordhaus's recent piece in Foreign Policy magazine, assess the damage that climate change denialism in the US has wrought on the planet, and examine the methods used by both pro-environment and anti-environment activists.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

First 100 GRI Standards Reports Published

Jun 21, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Created exclusively for the GOLD Community members, the Standards Pioneers Program has kicked off with an impressive participation rate. The 153 Pioneer organizations come from 44 different countries and multiple sectors. More than half of the Pioneers have already started preparing their sustainability report based on the GRI Standards, and the majority of them will publish their report by the end of the year.

Diversity & Inclusion

Arrow Electronics Sponsors 2017 Colorado Women in Technology Conference; Meg Whitman as Featured Speaker

Jun 21, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Arrow Electronics was again presenting sponsor of the annual Colorado Women in Technology Conference, a full-day retreat celebrating women across Colorado’s growing tech community. The featured keynote speaker was Meg Whitman, CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, who was introduced by Arrow CEO Mike Long.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

AT&T Recognized as No. 1 Community-Minded Communications Company by Civic 50

Jun 21, 2017 10:45 AM ET

For the third time in 5 years, AT&T has been ranked the top community-minded communications company by The Civic 50. The company has been on the list each year since Civic 50’s inception in 2012. This recognition is a testament to the culture of service at AT&T and the commitment from employees to give their time, talent and money in support of the greater good.

Green Infrastructure

Ecocentricity Blog: Front Five - Resource Efficient Transportation

Jun 21, 2017 10:30 AM ET

At speeds of 30 kilometers per hour, velomobiles require 3.5 times less energy than bicycles. Compared to electric vehicles, velomobiles are about 20 times more efficient. They are arguably the most efficient form of transportation on the planet.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

SOIL – Slow Opportunities for Investing Locally

Jun 21, 2017 10:15 AM ET

There are many social and environmental reasons why we are doing this. Climate Change. Nutrition. Community. There are also financial reasons. If we are going to do what needs to be done in the soil, then we are going to need to put aside some of our money in new ways.

Media & Communications

Corinne Bailey Rae Strikes a Chord with Friends of Sands for Singapore

Jun 21, 2017 9:45 AM ET

Grammy Award-winning British singer-songwriter Corinne Bailey Rae shared insights into her musical journey with a group of young people at a special dialogue session organized by Marina Bay Sands and the Singapore International Jazz Festival on Friday. The session was part of Marina Bay Sands’ ongoing ArtScience On Screen: In Conversation With series, which features prominent speakers from creative industries spanning film, music and art. The event is one of the many ways that Marina Bay Sands gives back to the local community through its corporate giving program Sands for Singapore, a part of Las Vegas Sands’ Sands Cares.

Events, Media & Communications

De Beers Group Part-sponsors Diamond Empowerment Fund Gala to Honour Top Actor and First Lady

Jun 21, 2017 9:30 AM ET

The glittering awards gala, on 4 June, on the eve of the major JCK Las Vegas jewellery trade show (5-8 June), was set to raise more than US$1 million to help empower diamond mining communities around the world.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Consumers Energy is Providing a Solid Foundation for Stronger Communities

Jun 21, 2017 9:30 AM ET

As featured in the Consumers Energy 2017 Sustainability Report: Our Foundation has been working with nonprofits to create sustainable communities for decades.

Health & Healthcare

Aflac #Duckprints

Jun 21, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Daimler and Caritas Project Cooperation

Jun 21, 2017 9:15 AM ET

"Our goal is to improve life in these regions and open up new perspectives," says Ingmar Neumann, responsible for corporate cooperative ventures at Caritas International. He was on the ground in India with a 25-member project team. The selected project sites of "Water for Life" are the Jhabua district in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, the drought region in northeastern Brazil, and the Tambara and Guro districts in the Manica Province of Mozambique.They all have one thing in common: they are semideserts.

Research, Reports & Publications

Exclusive Ethical Corporation Webinar: Impact Reporting

Jun 21, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Ethical Corporation's impact reporting webinar on June 27th 12pm GMT

Education

JetBlue Helps Viscardi Students Take Flight

Jun 21, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Last week, JetBlue welcomed aboard 12 students from the Viscardi Center a non-profit organization that educates and empowers children with disabilities. The students and their caretakers took flight on the airline’s Blue Bravest A320 aircraft from New York’s JFK Airport to Boston Logan Airport and back – some flying for the first time ever.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Leveraging Behavioral Economics to Drive Action

Jun 21, 2017 9:15 AM ET

As featured in the MetLife Annual Report 2016: These grants are leveraging the power of behavioral economics to drive change. Common Cents Lab at Duke University | Social scientists call the gap between what people know they should do and what they actually do the “intention-action” gap. Bridging that gap is important for financial health because financially self-defeating behaviors can have serious consequences. Common Cents Lab is a three-year initiative aimed at using behavioral economic insights to test innovations that can help low-income Americans make better financial decisions.

Social Impact & Volunteering

How Companies Can Solve Today’s Societal Challenges Through the Combined Power of Purpose, People and Technology

Jun 21, 2017 9:10 AM ET

Diversity & Inclusion

Walmart | Creating Economic Opportunity

Jun 21, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

First 100 Days in Office

Jun 21, 2017 9:05 AM ET

He’s the new chief executive and his 100-day anniversary was fast approaching. No, this is not a story about the occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Rather, the man experiencing a tumultuous honeymoon as CEO of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) is Tim Mohin.

Energy

Without Energy, the Internet is Just a Black Hole

Jun 21, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Nilmini Rubin, vice president for International Development at Tetra Tech, recently discussed the interdependence of internet access and affordable, reliable electricity on the Alliance for Affordable Internet (A4AI) blog.