ESG News from Leading Brands

Innovation & Technology

eBay StartUp Cup Challenge Pairs Mentors with Early Stage Entrepreneurs

Jul 6, 2017 9:40 AM ET

What’s your big idea? That’s one question that more than 200 businesses have been answering as part of the eBay StartUp Cup Challenge, a global series of business model competitions currently underway in four cities. The competitions were made possible through an eBay Foundation grant to GriffinWorx, a nonprofit organization that helps early stage entrepreneurs with any type of business idea to design, test and build a viable company.

Environment

Connecting Cities to be Cleaner, Safer and Stronger

Jul 6, 2017 9:30 AM ET

AT&T is teaming up with companies to deploy innovative solutions throughout cities, making them “smarter.” We’re also developing connected solutions to help cities improve the way they use resources and take care of their citizens. But what if we could use the efficiencies created by this technological revolution to understand a city’s environmental impact — and improve it?

Research, Reports & Publications

It’s Clear, Social Investment Drives Business Value

Jul 6, 2017 9:20 AM ET

A myth has long lingered in the private sector- the bottom line can only be driven by company-centered investments and business strategy. Today, however, the conversation has shifted from company-centered to stakeholder-centered, from bottom-line to triple-bottom line. And as CSR becomes more deeply integrated into core business strategy, a clear fact is emerging: Profit and Purpose should NOT be divorced. In fact, the opposite is true: These two make a power couple for companies seeking to be industry leaders.

Environment

VIDEO | How One Company Is Giving Old Computers New Life in Amsterdam Schools

Jul 6, 2017 9:10 AM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

A Heartwarming Story About Community, Wendy’s Style

Jul 6, 2017 9:05 AM ET

When Ryan, who is autistic, first came to Wendy’s, he kept to himself. But he soon took notice of Becky, who quickly memorized his favorite meal, a 10 piece chicken nugget, size large, with ranch. Ryan began studying Becky’s nametag and stealing glances at her smile. He started saying Becky’s name first to himself, then to Becky. These days, he gives a booming greeting, and his once shy mannerisms have given way to high-fives and hugs.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Planting Seeds for the Future of Food

Jul 6, 2017 9:05 AM ET

The Food System is facing unprecedented challenges. It needs to meet the nutritional needs of a growing population and grow our food in a manner that does not exceed societal and planetary boundaries. This is against a backdrop of climate change that will strain productivity in many parts of the world and put more pressure on water and land use.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

NFCC Receives $1 Million Commitment of Support for Programs Benefiting Military Service Members and Veterans

Jul 6, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Wells Fargo & Company announced a $1 million commitment to the National Foundation for Credit Counseling® (NFCC®) in support of the Sharpen Your Financial Focus® (Sharpen) initiative. The Sharpen program helps consumers address their primary financial challenges through targeted education and counseling.

Research, Reports & Publications

Sanofi Publishes Its First Integrated Report

Jul 6, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Sanofi, a global healthcare leader, just released its very first Integrated Report. This evolution in Sanofi’s reporting is designed to provide a holistic view of the company’s strategic roadmap and its sustainable value creation, performance, and governance, with information covering year 2016.

Environment

Calcasieu Ship Channel (CSC) Salinity Control Measures Project | Reducing the Rate of Wetland Loss in Louisiana

Jul 6, 2017 9:00 AM ET

The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) selected Tetra Tech to complete a feasibility study and preliminary engineering and design for the Calcasieu Ship Channel (CSC) Salinity Control Measures Project to develop and evaluate alternatives to reduce wetland loss rates.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Amway Charity Foundation Showcases “Mompreneur” Program at St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in Russia

Jul 6, 2017 8:55 AM ET

Russia’s Amway Charity Foundation recently presented the results of its highly popular “Mompreneur” program at the prestigious 2017 St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

Education

Hidden Figures: The Untold Story of Female African American Mathematicians in the 1960s Space Race Continues to Inspire Girls and Women Around the World Today

Jul 6, 2017 8:30 AM ET

To celebrate and build upon the groundswell of enthusiasm around the film, 21CF businesses developed engagement efforts to bring the film to audiences that might not otherwise have been able to see it, and to empower girls and young women to believe in their own abilities and pursue STEM fields.

Sustainable Development Goals

Goldcorp Reports 2016 Sustainability Performance

Jul 6, 2017 8:05 AM ET

Goldcorp has published its 11th annual Sustainability Report, which provides detailed insights into our economic, environmental, and social performance.

Health & Healthcare

Novartis Access and Government of Uganda Sign Memorandum of Understanding

Jul 6, 2017 7:15 AM ET

Novartis and the Ministry of Health of Uganda have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to implement Novartis Access in Uganda. Uganda becomes the fifth country to launch the Novartis Access program. Novartis Access medicines will be made available to patients in public health facilities through the National Medical Stores and through faith-based health services. The program will also cover capacity-building activities, including NCD prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Sustainable Development Goals

Sappi North America's 2016 Sustainability Goals: Preserving our Planet

Jul 5, 2017 6:00 PM ET

At Sappi North America, we are committed to operating our businesses in a sustainable manner. Together with the 2020Vision, Sappi’s global growth strategy, we use our sustainability goals program to set targets, initiate improvement actions and monitor progress.

Social Impact & Volunteering

With the MoonCatcher Project, This Woman Supplies Reusable Menstrual Pads to African Girls to Help Them Stay in School

Jul 5, 2017 5:40 PM ET

At least once a month, Ellie von Wellsheim presides over sewing bees where she guides the hands of volunteers as they sew pieces of brightly colored fabric into reusable menstrual pads. The pads are destined for girls in Uganda, Malawi, and a host of other developing countries that lack the money and access to purchase feminine hygiene products.

Environment

IFF Achieves Pioneering First with Zero-Waste-to-Landfill Certification

Jul 5, 2017 5:20 PM ET

International Flavors & Fragrances’ facility in the New Jersey township of South Brunswick was officially certified as a GreenCircle Certified LLC, Zero Waste to Landfill facility, making it the only facility of its kind in the flavor and fragrance industry to achieve GreenCircle's zero waste status.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

BSR Conference 2017 Best Rates Extended to July 14

Jul 5, 2017 4:00 PM ET

The early rates deadline for the BSR Conference 2017 has been extended to July 14.

Education

Exploring our Talent Pipeline

Jul 5, 2017 3:55 PM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

US Water Alliance Awards Kohler Prestigious Water Prize

Jul 5, 2017 3:40 PM ET

Kohler Co. was awarded the US Water Prize for its water conservation efforts by the US Water Alliance yesterday during its One Water Summit in New Orleans.

Health & Healthcare

New Quality Facility in Swiftwater to Further Advance Sanofi Pasteur’s Vaccine Legacy

Jul 5, 2017 3:40 PM ET

For each of us, the real reason we get up every day and come to work is to help protect public health. That’s what our vaccines do, and our Industrial Operations team within Sanofi Pasteur takes our responsibility very seriously to make sure the public gets vaccinated.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

A New Era of Culture as Everything

Jul 5, 2017 2:30 PM ET

The old adage that it takes a long time to build a great brand and only seconds to damage it has been recently evidenced by one of the world’s most powerful brands, this time Uber. As one of the most highly valued tech startups in the U.S., Uber has been dominating business news over the last few months for what has been described as their “aggressive, unrestrained workplace culture.”

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar | Sustaining Longer Life Cycles

Jul 5, 2017 2:00 PM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Cox and The Trust for Public Land Announce Barbara Duerk as Virginia’s 2017 Cox Conserves Hero

Jul 5, 2017 2:00 PM ET

Duerk has long been a visionary force in the Roanoke Valley, known for her tireless pursuit of building a better community and equal opportunity for all residents. Her efforts toward civic endeavors include activities such as preparing and serving food for the homeless, advocating for cycling as a form of transportation and recreation, helping young girls gain confidence and leadership skills through outdoor activities and supporting the preservation of the Appalachian Trail Club and the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Timberland Shares Its Approach to Building Strong Communities at Points of Light Conference in Seattle

Jul 5, 2017 2:00 PM ET

Global outdoor lifestyle brand Timberland recently joined other community-minded companies at the National Conference on Service and Volunteering in Seattle. The annual conference, organized by Points of Light, is the largest service-focused gathering of non-profit, government, business and civic leaders in the world.

Innovation & Technology

Seven Ways to Introduce Innovation Into Your Company

Jul 5, 2017 1:30 PM ET

The reason innovations fail is not because of technology. It’s never about the technology. Innovations fail because of people. The people who might employ a new technology may not be sold on it. Or they might be afraid of it. Or they might feel threatened by. Welcome to the dark side of innovation.