ESG News from Leading Brands

Research, Reports & Publications

Report Highlights Local Spending in Milestone Year in Namibia

May 9, 2017 7:00 AM ET

De Beers Group gave the Namibian economy a major financial injection in 2016 and invested heavily in local communities, according to the company’s latest Report to Society.

Research, Reports & Publications

LafargeHolcim Publishes Its Sustainability Report 2016

May 9, 2017 5:00 AM ET

LafargeHolcim has released its Sustainability Report 2016, which highlights its performance in the first full year of operation and the progress made against its main sustainability targets. Sustainability is one of LafargeHolcim’s core values and a key element of its strategy.

Events, Media & Communications

Sustainable Brands and Detroit Public Television (DPTV) Announce Media Partnership

May 8, 2017 5:00 PM ET

Sustainable Brands® recently announced a media partnership with Detroit Public Television (DPTV), a viewer-supported PBS member station that serves the nation’s 11th largest television market. DPTV will work with Sustainable Brands to produce the livestream at the upcoming Sustainable Brands ‘17 Detroit conference, May 22-25 at the Cobo Center in Detroit, Michigan.

Events, Media & Communications

Trane Educates EE Global Attendees on How Connected Building Technology is Evolving Conventional Energy Management Techniques

May 8, 2017 5:00 PM ET

Trane, a leading global provider of indoor comfort systems and services and a brand of Ingersoll Rand, will participate in a panel discussion at the 2017 EE Global Forum in Washington D.C., on May 8 at 1:15pm ET.

Titled “No More Status Quo: Are Technologies Disrupting Conventional Models,” Brad Trevillian, director of energy services at Trane, will discuss how connected building technology drives efficiency of commercial buildings and how the transition to an integrated systems and services model is transforming the industry.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The War Against London's Killer Pollution Can Be Won

May 8, 2017 3:40 PM ET

Today, few city dwellers around the world consider air pollution a laughing matter, and they are rightly demanding that their governments take action to reduce it. The UK, where nitrogen oxide and soot-like particulate matter have reached emergency levels, has a chance to become a global leader on the issue.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Amway’s Nurtilite Power of 5K Virtual Race on Facebook LIVE Wednesday, May 10

May 8, 2017 3:35 PM ET

Join Amway this Wednesday, May 10, on Facebook LIVE from Vancouver B.C. @ 10:45am EST to see the innovative new way the Nutrilite Power of 5 Campaign is addressing the critical issue of global childhood malnutrition.

Diversity & Inclusion

Northern Trust Disability Business Resource Council Welcomed Heidi Naranjo, Arizona Director of Autism Speaks

May 8, 2017 3:05 PM ET

Our Disability Business Resource Council in Tempe welcomed Heidi Naranjo, Arizona Director of Autism Speaks, for an informational session regarding the Autism Speaks advocacy organization.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Connecting Homeless Artists to the Global Marketplace

May 8, 2017 1:30 PM ET

Liz Powers, FedEx Small Business Grant Contest Winner, explains connecting homeless artists to the global marketplace.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Final Days to Nominate Environmental Volunteers for California’s Cox Conserves Heroes Program

May 8, 2017 1:30 PM ET

Cox Communications, in partnership with The Trust for Public Land, is seeking nominations for environmental volunteers in Cox’s service areas in Orange County, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Palos Verdes. Nominations are being accepted at CoxConservesHeroes.com through 5 p.m. PT on May 12.

Health & Healthcare

Empowering Others to Understand Addiction

May 8, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Goldcorp has a strong culture of mentoring employees and leading by example, and provides time, resources and tools to set others up for success. Empowering Others is one of our core values. So when we see an opportunity in our local community to help others empower themselves – or to help people acquire the skills to help others – it’s a natural fit for our company. It’s especially poignant when those we aim to empower are held back by mental health issues or substance abuse.

Education

Students Realize Dreams Through Edison Scholars Program

May 8, 2017 12:05 PM ET

Hanford High School senior Keslee Green still can’t believe she’s a 2017 Edison Scholar and the recipient of a $40,000 scholarship.
“I kind of laughed in disbelief. I was like, wait a second, is this right?” she said of opening the Edison International congratulatory letter she received in the mail. “My parents were screaming.”

Environment

Meter Recycling Helps People & the Environment

May 8, 2017 12:00 PM ET

New smart meters are being installed throughout the Duke Energy service territories. These new meters can collect the same data as the old ones, but unlike the old meters that were read once a month, smart meters relay data hourly, giving customers more insight into their energy usage than ever before.

Innovation & Technology

Wearable Robotic Fashion: Tentacles, Fabric & DragonBoard 410c

May 8, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Ever since high school, I’ve had a wild fashion dream: to design a robot dress. Not just any robot dress, mind you, but an elegant gown that can do things like hug people and move with me as I wear it. Never did I imagine that by revealing this fantasy during an interview, I’d have the opportunity to inspire so many people.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Empathy in Motion: Live!

May 8, 2017 12:00 PM ET

The RW Institute’s online course Empathy in Motion: The Power of Employee Volunteering, hosted by openSAP, was completed last month by its first cohort with rave reviews. The positive response to Changing Hearts and Minds (pt. 1), and Leading the Change (pt. 2) was unprecedented and overwhelming. The teams at SAP, Realized Worth, and openSAP would like to extend our gratitude to everyone involved in this powerful initiative.

Environment

Ingersoll Rand Reports Improvement on Climate Commitment at Energy Efficiency Global Forum in Washington

May 8, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR), a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments, today shared progress toward its global Climate Commitment, a pledge to reduce environmental impacts from its operations and product portfolio, at the tenth annual Energy Efficiency Global Forum in Washington.

Events, Media & Communications

Live from Shared Value Summit: Business Leaders on Social Change

May 8, 2017 11:30 AM ET

This week, FSG's Shared Value Initiative will be streaming the entire plenary program of the 2017 Shared Value Leadership Summit.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

PYXERA Global Chief Program Officer Amanda MacArthur to Speak Alongside The Rockefeller Foundation at Responsible Business Summit Europe

May 8, 2017 11:05 AM ET

Over 80 CEOs, governmental, and business leaders will join the debate at Ethical Corporation’s flagship event to push the agenda on how big brands can quantify social impact.

Health & Healthcare

Sodexo Operations Keep Calm and Maintain Continuity throughout the Storm

May 8, 2017 10:35 AM ET

With less than a month to go before the official start of the 2017 hurricane season, one organization’s employees offers a great example on how to keep customers calm and business running through the worst of storms. Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life services, recently recognized its employees in the northeast who went above and beyond to keep senior-center residents safe and healthy during the March blizzard. As the storm that crippled several cities across New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont, Sodexo’s employees in those areas put seniors first, working long hours and even sleeping at work to make sure their residents received the care they needed.

Health & Healthcare

GOJO Blog: Go Out and Play

May 8, 2017 10:05 AM ET

Spring has finally - fingers crossed - sprung! And with the warmer temperatures, many of us are jumping at the chance to get outside to play. Spring is a time for hands-on fun from picnics to going to the playground to bike rides.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Foster Care Adoption Grows Family by Five

May 8, 2017 10:00 AM ET

The Hemmelgarn family has adopted two sibling groups (five children!) from foster care. They finalized the adoption of their youngest son on April 27. We love when siblings find their forever home together.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Sharing Economy Thrives in Toronto, Reflects Success of Library of Things Movement

May 8, 2017 10:00 AM ET

With four locations and a variety of workshops and community events, the Toronto Tool Library is a pioneer of the lending and sharing movement. In April 2016, the Toronto Tool Library team raised the bar again when they launched the Sharing Depot, Canada’s first Library of Things, where members can borrow sporting goods, board games, camping equipment, children’s toys and party supplies for $50-$100 per year.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

KeyBank Finances Metro West Solutions Affordable Housing/Adaptive Reuse Project in Lakewood, CO

May 8, 2017 10:00 AM ET

KeyBank provides a full financing package for Metro West Solutions Affordable Housing and Adaptive Reuse Project in Lakewood, CO

Sustainable Development Goals

Bechtel's 2017 Sustainability Commitment

May 8, 2017 9:55 AM ET

Bechtel Highlights Commitment to Sustainability in 2017 Top CEOs Association Report. The Business Roundtable (BRT) is an association of chief executive officers of leading U.S. companies working to promote sound public policy and a thriving U.S. economy.

Education

Brett Wigdortz, CEO of Teach First Speaks to Barclays about his Career Path

May 8, 2017 9:45 AM ET

Brett Wigdortz originally planned to take only six months out from his job as a management consultant to draw up the business plan for Teach First, the charity that strives for better education for pupils from low-income backgrounds.

Energy

Offers and Business Models Improving Life in Off-Grid Households

May 8, 2017 9:35 AM ET