ESG News from Leading Brands

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Lifting Entrepreneurs Out of Poverty with Matter to a Million

Jun 30, 2017 9:50 AM ET

Thousands of HPE employees like me are huge believers in Kiva and the Matter to a Million program as a simple, inspiring way to provide financial access to the underserved. In fact, more than 52% of employees have participated since the program first launched in 2014.

Sustainable Development Goals

Joining Forces to Build the Market for Sustainable Aviation Fuels

Jun 30, 2017 9:50 AM ET

When SkyNRG was founded in 2009, sustainable aviation fuel was not yet allowed for use in commercial aircraft operations. This shift in recent years, where corporate sustainability has become business as usual, means more companies are interested in flying sustainably with SkyNRG’s biofuel.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Arrow Electronics Names Winner of 2017 Cherry Creek Arts Festival “Five Years Out” Art Challenge

Jun 30, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Arrow Electronics selected Peter Clouse’s “Not Ashamed” (shown above) as the winner of this year’s Cherry Creek Arts Festival’s Five Years Out Art Challenge.

Diversity & Inclusion

Sands Academy Introduces Elevate Series for Managers and Supervisors

Jun 30, 2017 9:15 AM ET

In conjunction with the Learning and Development courses offered to all Team Members, Sands Academy has established the Elevate Series. The series focuses on providing the tools for leaders to set the example for their Team Members and building relationships to ensure success within their teams. The Elevate Series offers four classes that are mandatory for all Supervisors and Managers with one that is mandatory for all Directors to offer support in various areas.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Potential of Gender Equity for Business and Society

Jun 30, 2017 9:15 AM ET

We believe that corporations have an important role to play in achieving gender equity.

Research, Reports & Publications

Gildan Releases Its 2016 CSR Report

Jun 30, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Gildan Activewear Inc. (GIL; TSX and NYSE) has released its 2016 corporate, social and environmental responsibility (CSR) report on the Company’s dedicated CSR website genuinegildan.com.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Consumers Energy Foundation Provides Grant to Help Fund Art for Pedestrian Tunnel

Jun 30, 2017 9:05 AM ET

The Consumers Energy Foundation has donated $10,000 to the city of Walker to help with the maintenance and addition of art work to the pedestrian tunnel under Lake Michigan Drive.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Local Dog Park, Pet Shelters and Social Service Agencies Benefit from Purina's Annual Employee Volunteer Day

Jun 30, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Demonstrating an ongoing commitment to enriching the lives of pets and people, 1,400 Purina employees blanketed the greater St. Louis area last month during "PetCare Pride Day," the company's annual volunteer day. In its 16th year, PetCare Pride Day reached more than 20 non-profit organizations in Missouri and Illinois.

Energy

Unreasonable Impact | Clean, Safe, Unlimited Energy for Everyone: Q&A with General Fusion

Jun 30, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Well Dressed

Jun 30, 2017 9:05 AM ET

There are 80 billion pieces of clothing purchased worldwide each year but rarely do consumers consider the true cost of this. From negative environmental impacts to poor factory labor practices in the developing world and growing landfills containing discarded textiles, the fast fashion industry is in need of a serious makeover.

Responsible Production & Consumption

SCS Global Services to Evaluate Only Squid Fishery Currently in the MSC Scheme

Jun 30, 2017 9:00 AM ET

SCS Global Services announced today, via the public Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) website, that the U.S. Northeast longfin inshore squid fishery has entered a sustainability assessment for MSC certification. It is the first squid fishery in the world to undergo MSC certification.

Research, Reports & Publications

Daimler Sustainability Strategy Takes the Expectations of Stakeholders into Account

Jun 30, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Specifying fields of action - We evaluate a variety of sources in order to obtain as precise a picture of our stakeholders’ concerns as possible. This involves evaluating readers’ feedback regarding this report; surveys of customers, employees, and interest groups; workshops in the specialist units; dialogs with individual stakeholder groups; and events such as the “Daimler Sustainability Dialogue.”

Responsible Production & Consumption

Annie’s John Foraker Calls on Bezos to End Food Deserts by 2027

Jun 30, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Right before the U.S. equity markets opened on Friday, June 16th my phone erupted with texts from numerous industry friends on the announcement of the Amazon acquisition of Whole Foods. I have been in this industry for decades, and, for me, this was one of the most exciting and interesting days I can remember for the organic movement, certainly since the release of the USDA organic standards in 2002.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Scotiabank – Understanding Your Customers from the Inside Out

Jun 30, 2017 8:15 AM ET

Like other employers at the Syrian Refugees Jobs Agenda Roundtable, convened by Hire Immigrants, Scotiabank has a longstanding commitment to workforce diversity. According to Maureen Neglia, Vice President of Human Resources, Global Recruitment, it has always made strategic sense. Ensuring Scotiabank has a workforce that reflects the people and communities it does business with is a logical strategy.

Diversity & Inclusion

Voya Celebrates Pride Month at Their Minneapolis Office

Jun 30, 2017 8:05 AM ET

This weekend we lit our Minneapolis office in rainbow colors in honor of Pride Month.

Research, Reports & Publications

The Crown Announces Another Record Income Return of £328.8 Million to the Public Finances

Jun 30, 2017 5:00 AM ET

The Crown Estate’s annual report and accounts for 2016/17, the organisation’s fifth integrated report, continues to show innovation in reporting and tells a coherent, concise story about how it delivers value beyond the financial.

Green Infrastructure

SCE, Greenlining Institute Partner to Develop Community-Centric Solutions for Air Quality, Climate

Jun 30, 2017 12:35 AM ET

Southern California Edison, a leader in the transformation of the energy sector, today announced a partnership with The Greenlining Institute, a leading California policy and advocacy group working on environmental and social equity, to develop community-centric solutions for healthy air and a healthy climate.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Astellas USA Foundation Donates to GrowingGreat for Garden Education Programs

Jun 29, 2017 7:30 PM ET

As part of the Science WoRx program, Astellas USA Foundation provided funding to GrowingGreat to support their “From Bean Seeds to Frijoles: STEM Learning Begins” program and donated additional funds to support three garden education programs in the Los Angeles area, with locations at Gratts Primary Center and Para Los Niños Head Start preschools in the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Hollywood and Atwater Village. The goal of the learning gardens is to bring STEM exploration to life with hands-on activities, while teaching urban gardening skills to early learners.

Environment

Better Market Information Can Help Combat Climate Change

Jun 29, 2017 5:45 PM ET

Markets do more than help nations prosper. They can help solve our most pressing problems. Case in point: climate change. Financial markets have the potential to improve our prospects for tackling climate change, but only if we make climate risks and opportunities more transparent. Public policy, technology and consumer preferences are advancing, but this backdrop is complex and dynamic.

Research, Reports & Publications

New Circular Economy Case Study Report Released!

Jun 29, 2017 5:45 PM ET

Explore how companies are embracing the circular economy within our latest case study report, A Circular Vision for Sustainable Growth: How Companies are Building a New 21st Century Economy.

Energy

Massachusetts vs. New York and the Energy Storage Race

Jun 29, 2017 5:00 PM ET

How the competition will play out is still unclear. What is evident is that the state perceived as the winner in this race will likely become a regional hub for energy storage, attracting investment and jobs, while leaving the other state in its shadow. This puts policy makers in the hot seat.

Diversity & Inclusion

Addressing Barriers for Women Leaders: Reducing Gender Bias

Jun 29, 2017 5:00 PM ET

In 1948 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the landmark Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the first global recognition that there are basic inalienable rights and fundamental freedoms that apply to every human being. The Declaration made clear that men and women have the same rights to basic civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. In the 69 years since then, we’ve made more strides towards gender equality but there is much more work to do in eliminating barriers for women across all aspects of society, including the workplace.

Education

Voya Financial and The American College Announce Second Quarter Veteran Scholarship Recipient

Jun 29, 2017 4:30 PM ET

Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), announced today that it has awarded its second quarter scholarship to financial counselor Desiree Kaul, who is committed to advancing financial literacy in her community. Desiree is married to veteran Army Major Michael Kaul, who transitioned from active duty last year.

Responsible Production & Consumption

What Do Shipping Pallets Have to Do with Reducing Carbon Emissions?

Jun 29, 2017 4:30 PM ET

Yesterday, AT&T launched its 2016 Sustainability Report. This report captures progress toward several initiatives, including our goal to enable carbon reduction 10x the footprint of our operations by 2025.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Don’t Forget: Best Rates for the BSR Conference 2017 Expire June 30

Jun 29, 2017 4:00 PM ET

June 30 is the final day to save up to US$550 on the BSR Conference 2017: How Business Leads.