ESG News from Leading Brands

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Asahi Kasei: Investing in Inclusive Growth

May 24, 2016 9:35 AM ET

Asahi Kasei, one of Japan’s leading manufactures of fiber products and chemicals, has joined the Business Call to Action (BCtA), committing to enhance the skills and productivity of 5,240 employees in the cupro fiber industry, and develop the capacity of 700 young people – especially women – to lead the industry in the future. With its focus on sustainable livelihoods for women and youth, Asahi Kasei is dedicated to building an inclusive cupro-fiber value chain in India by 2020.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Human Rights Campaign Recognizes Ingersoll Rand on Equality Index

May 24, 2016 9:30 AM ET

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index (CEI) is the nationally recognized benchmarking report for businesses to gauge their performance in adopting inclusive policies, practices and benefits for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees. Ingersoll Rand is one of the record 321 Fortune 500-sized businesses listed in 2015.

Education

Meet Nathalie Mattys from Belgium

May 24, 2016 9:20 AM ET

Health & Healthcare

Freeport-McMoRan Provides $130,000 Grant for Healthcare Services in the Santa Cruz Valley Area in Arizona

May 24, 2016 9:15 AM ET

Going Home with Care is a program developed by Valley Assistance Services for patients discharged from the Green Valley Hospital. The program provides follow-up care including driving services and in-home nursing care. The program serves residents who live in Sahuarita, Green Valley, Amado, Arivaca, Tubac and Tumacacori.

Research, Reports & Publications

AEP Releases 2016 Corporate Accountability Report

May 24, 2016 9:00 AM ET

American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) has released its 2016 Corporate Accountability Report, an overview of the company’s strategy, governance and financial performance.

Research, Reports & Publications

1st Global Sustainability Report Details Progress of Ambitious Corporate Initiative

May 24, 2016 5:00 AM ET

C&A announces the publication of its first Global Sustainability Report. The launch of the Report details C&A’s 2015 progress toward the 2020 goals, launched last year. The 2020 goals marked an ambitious new global sustainability commitment and strategic framework for C&A.

Innovation & Technology

Bringing Careers into Classrooms Through Technology

May 23, 2016 8:35 PM ET

A recent Gallup poll of 1 million students in the U.S. found that only half report feeling engaged in school and one-fifth are actively disengaged. The poll showed engagement levels decline significantly as students get older, bottoming out in 11th grade.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Action Team Provides Ideal Outlet for This Youth Volunteer

May 23, 2016 6:10 PM ET

During my sophomore year of high school I spent a week at a work camp in the rural mountains of western Virginia where we repaired houses for low-income families who had fallen into hard times.

Energy

Black & Veatch Partners with FirstElement Fuel as EPC Contractor for the First Hydrogen Fueling Station Network in U.S. History

May 23, 2016 5:00 PM ET

Black & Veatch and FirstElement Fuel Inc. are working to rapidly bring hydrogen fueling stations to consumers in California who want a zero emission option for their cars. FirstElement Fuel selected Black & Veatch to engineer, permit and construct 19 hydrogen refueling stations across California.

Responsible Production & Consumption

EU Conflict Minerals - What Have We Learned?

May 23, 2016 4:00 PM ET

While the three parties continued to negotiate over mandatory vs. voluntary reporting, the Dutch presidency highlighted their proposed system for a dynamic reporting scheme as a resolution to this disagreement.

Innovation & Technology

Cindy Ortega: The Ranch's Influence in Her Journey to Sustainability

May 23, 2016 3:30 PM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

Snapshot of the Emerging Trends in Corporate Sustainability Management

May 23, 2016 3:00 PM ET

NAEM’s 2016 Planning for a Sustainable Future benchmarks progress on the new initiatives that are on the minds of, if not yet in the budgets of those directing sustainability at leadership companies.

Environment

A Step-By-Step Guide to Making Your Company Landfill-Free

May 23, 2016 2:15 PM ET

Follow these nine suggestions to transform your business into a zero waste facility. They’ll help the environment – and make your employees happier.

Diversity & Inclusion

Sanofi - Good Morning Sanofi - Meet Judy from the United States

May 23, 2016 2:15 PM ET

Meet Judy and discover the importance of knowing how to adapt and to listen in order to understand each patient.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Where the Rubber Meets the Road

May 23, 2016 1:05 PM ET

Where the rubber meets the road. A cliché for where the hard work takes place, but for Wendy’s franchisee Ed Anderson, it’s truly where he plans to raise $1 million for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sodexo Named Among Five PHA Partner of the Year Finalists at Building a Healthier Future Summit for Achievements in Fighting Childhood Obesity

May 23, 2016 1:00 PM ET

Innovation & Technology

Value Recovery | "There Are Two Kinds of People – There Are Good People"

May 23, 2016 1:00 PM ET

“And there are those who do not yet know that they are good.” This quote is from Mandar Apte, one of the panelists on my “Building Substantive and Collaborative Networks” panel at Sustainatopia in San Francisco earlier this month. In his years at Shell Oil at the intersection of Sustainability and Innovation, Mandar learned that you never know where solutions will come from, and you never know ahead of time who the person with the breakthrough idea will be. His advice: “Make a new friend every day.” And for those tackling climate change, make sure you’re addressing not just the external climate, but also “the climate within.” Your authenticity and your integrity are what make collaboration possible.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Clowning Around For A Critical Cause

May 23, 2016 12:00 PM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

Investing in R&D

May 23, 2016 12:00 PM ET

Events, Media & Communications

Investors Really Do Care About Sustainability – There’s a Gap Between Them and Corporate Executives

May 23, 2016 12:00 PM ET

Education

Art Therapy and Authentic Creative Expression Emphasized at TEDx NYU

May 23, 2016 12:00 PM ET

On April 15, 2016, Dr. Jordan Potash, ATR-BC, REAT, LCPAT, LCAT, represented the American Art Therapy Association at Color Party: TEDx NYU (New York University). As a student organization, TEDx NYU plans annual conferences and smaller community events that act as platforms to address pertinent topics. Along with fellow art therapists and digital arts developers, Dr. Potash discussed adult coloring books by comparing it to other leisure-based and success-oriented activities and contrasting it to art therapy, a regulated mental health profession.

Environment

Researchers Set to Start Work Onboard Costa's Ships

May 23, 2016 11:40 AM ET

A high degree of synergy between the partners – both actively engaged in the field of environmental sustainability, albeit in different ways and areas

Events, Media & Communications

Navigating the Opportunities and Risks of Partnering for Social Development

May 23, 2016 11:30 AM ET

Partnerships are intended to de-risk a project, but carry risks of their own,” Judy Brown, the Chief Advisor for External Affairs in the East Pacific and Latin America at Rio Tinto and a veteran of field-level sustainability work, advised a group of 15 students in the Georgetown Master of Science in Foreign Service program. For both the public and private sector, the advent of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) make partnerships that catalyze the development of local markets especially important. Brown had joined Whitney Shinkle, a senior advisor to Bancroft Global Development, and me to speak with my class on public-private partnerships about the ethics, risks, and benefits of partnering with local governments and NGOs, something large companies are increasingly being

Environment

Kashi Brings “Certified Transitional” Organic Products to Consumers

May 23, 2016 11:15 AM ET

Cereal brand Kashi has long been in the organic food space. In fact, it was the first to launch an organic cereal back in 2002, according to Take Part. Now, in an effort to keep up with demand, Kashi is offering a new way to encourage farms to transition to organic. This week the brand announced it will be introducing a "Certified Transitional" label on certain cereals.

Innovation & Technology

Causecast and Versaic Team Up to Deliver Breakthrough Volunteer and Giving Experience

May 23, 2016 11:00 AM ET

Causecast, the premiere global SaaS technology company helping organizations build irresistible giving and volunteering programs, and Versaic, the leading provider of corporate contribution, grants, and sponsorship program management solutions, have introduced an integrated software solution that combines best of breed tools for volunteering and giving, delivering greater insight, efficiency and impact to their clients. Companies will now be able to draw on Causecast and Versaic’s combined 20+ years of CSR, cause marketing and employee engagement expertise and benefit from complete, trusted, and scalable software to amplify their impact.