ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

We are Already Facing Consequences of Rapid Climate Change

May 26, 2016 1:30 PM ET

An unfortunate and dangerous commonality persists among conversations concerning human-driven climate change. Often, the consequences of climate change are spoken of as something that will take place in the future, something that is decades from now. Naively, many even talk as if it is something that is still preventable if only we could convince people to take on a "green" lifestyle, industry to clean up its act, and policy makers to face overwhelming evidence. While those are worthy pursuits, that naiveté is dangerous.

Research, Reports & Publications

Pfizer's Progress on 2020 Waste Reduction Goals

May 26, 2016 1:25 PM ET

Building on the successful achievements of Pfizer’s carbon emission reduction and green chemistry programs, we are working to contribute meaningfully to global efforts to reduce human impact on the environment.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

The Andrew Goodman Foundation Wins 8th Annual Morgan Stanley U.S. Strategy Challenge

May 26, 2016 1:00 PM ET

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) today announced the completion of its annual U.S. Strategy Challenge, a program which to date has created actionable strategic plans for 104 non-profit organizations globally.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

World’s First Living Products Achieve Certification

May 26, 2016 12:40 PM ET

Imagine a product that functions as elegantly and efficiently as anything found in the natural world. Now imagine that product is manufactured for use in buildings, which are responsible for a majority of greenhouse gas emissions, and you begin to see how a truly sustainable product, used to build a Living Building, might significantly impact climate change. That’s the idea behind the Living Product Challenge, launched by the International Living Future Institute in 2015; a challenge that was met by two forward thinking companies just one year later: Owens Corning and SIREWALL, who have received certification for the world’s first Living Products.

Environment

CSRHub Partner The Analyst Desk Issued its Semi-annual Changes to the Nasdaq CRD Global Sustainability Index

May 26, 2016 12:10 PM ET

CSRHub’s newest business partner, The Analyst Desk announced the results of the semi-annual re-ranking of the Nasdaq CRD Global Sustainability Index (Nasdaq: QCRD), which became effective Monday, May 23, 2016.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Astellas Earns CEO Cancer Gold Standard Re-Accreditation

May 26, 2016 11:50 AM ET

Astellas has earned CEO Cancer Gold Standard re-accreditation for maintaining a strong commitment to the health of its employees and satisfying the latest, comprehensive requirements of the Gold Standard.

Innovation & Technology

Paving the Road for the Future of Transportation

May 26, 2016 11:45 AM ET

Mark Frohnmayer had a pretty specific checklist when he was looking to buy an electric car a decade ago. He wanted a vehicle that suited his travel needs, boasted a premium build quality and helped move the needle in terms of climate change.

Events, Media & Communications

Hawaii Conference to Build 100% Renewable Microgrid

May 26, 2016 11:30 AM ET

VERGE Hawaii: Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit, taking place in Honolulu June 21-23, will utilize a 100% renewable energy microgrid—modeling resilience, interoperability, radical efficiency and other key VERGE themes.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

The World Can Cut Food Waste and Loss by Half. So Why Haven't We?

May 26, 2016 11:00 AM ET

This year at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, The Rockefeller Foundation launched YieldWise, a $130 million initiative to demonstrate how the world can cut food waste and loss in half by 2030. The initiative represents the next chapter in our work to effectively address agriculture and food insecurity, which has spanned more than a century and several continents—from seeding the Green Revolution that fed a billion people across Asia and South America in the 1950s and 1960s, to the work of the Alliance for a Green Revolution for Africa (AGRA) (in partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation), over the last decade.

Events, Media & Communications

How Government Engages the Private Sector in the Fight Against Global Poverty

May 26, 2016 10:50 AM ET

At the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Conference hosted last fall by Georgetown University’s Master of Science in Foreign Service program, former Administrator of USAID, Rajiv Shah, highlighted the changing landscape of foreign aid. In particular, he noted the game-changing emergence of the private sector. “This is the first time in history we are actually succeeding at reducing extreme poverty, and we have the ability to end it altogether,” Shah observed. “At the same time, the development sector has widened, and private companies are responsible for much of what has brought people out of poverty.” The lesson for the development community, he said, is to welcome in the private sector and operationalize PPPs to solve future problems.A Brief History of Partnership.

Environment

Antea Group Case Study: Major Accident Investigation for Insurance Broker Involving a Transportation Organization in Texas

May 26, 2016 10:30 AM ET

Antea Group was contracted by the insurance broker for a regional trucking organization to provide an independent investigation of a major accident involving an employee of their client.

Environment

Shouldn't We Treat Farmers More Like Ministers?

May 26, 2016 10:30 AM ET

Is there another profession in our society that is, or perhaps should be, treated with the same respect and appreciation that we usually afford our religious ministers? I say yes, and it is another ancient profession: the farmer.

Environment

Atlas Copco and TigerPress: Partners in Sustainability

May 26, 2016 10:05 AM ET

Atlas Copco’s mission is to deliver sustainable growth. We do everything we can to ensure reliable, enduring results through responsible use of our resources; human, natural and capital. Sustainability lies at the heart of our innovative products and is driven by our committed employees, but it goes even farther than that. We view sustainability as an opportunity. We use it to drive product innovation, reduce costs, reduce risks and create business opportunities. Therefore, it’s important to us we choose business partners that share similar values.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Norfolk Southern: Safe Tracks, Safe Towns

May 26, 2016 10:05 AM ET

Norfolk Southern trains transport the nation’s goods to businesses and communities across our 20,000-mile rail network…passing through small towns, big cities, and everywhere in-between.

Diversity & Inclusion

JetBlue Crewmembers Care: on the Ground, in the Air

May 26, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Passionate and engaged crewmembers are essential to the success of JetBlue. Just as crewmembers care for our customers, we also care for each other. From providing education and growth opportunities to supporting crewmember diversity groups, we strive to live our values of Safety, Caring, Integrity, Passion and Fun every day. This starts internally, and carries through to our customers.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Employee Gives Back in a Big Way

May 26, 2016 9:30 AM ET

Education

Meet Harald von Beringe from Austria

May 26, 2016 8:35 AM ET

"I joined the Amgen Teach Program because I like opportunities to get for networking with other teachers and I like the hands-on approach.

Health & Healthcare

FOX Sports Hosts Delegation of Women from Afghanistan to Discuss Creating a Culture of Health and Fitness

May 26, 2016 8:00 AM ET

Five of Afghanistan's leading female coaches, nonprofit directors and sports professionals visited the FOX Sports headquarters in Los Angeles on May 12 to discuss how best to encourage young women in their home country to participate in sports. The International Visitors Council of Los Angeles (IVCLA) arranged the trip as part of the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Leadership Program for professional and cultural exchanges. The visit featured a tour of the FOX Sports studios and a roundtable discussion with top executives on how to organize programs, drive participation, and establish a culture of health, activity, and fitness.

Events, Media & Communications

Strategic Approaches to Global Supplier Engagement

May 25, 2016 7:55 PM ET

The demand for supply chain transparency is ever-increasing. Both consumers and supply chain regulations are putting pressure on global brands to disclose how their products are made and where their products originate. Now, more than ever before, brands need to know what is happening deep in their supply chain by engaging with their suppliers.

Responsible Production & Consumption

More Big Retailers Say ‘No’ to GMO Salmon

May 25, 2016 7:30 PM ET

On the heels of Canada’s approval of GMO salmon, Friends of the Earth U.S. and a coalition of more than 30 consumer, health, food safety and fishing groups released updated numbers Wednesday showing that nearly 80 major food retailers have committed to not sell genetically engineered salmon, despite FDA’s approval last November.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

JetBlue and British Metropolitan Police Department Host Seventh Annual Plane Pull at JFK Airport to Raise Awareness for the ‘Joining Against Cancer in Kids’ (J-A-C-K) Foundation

May 25, 2016 6:15 PM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Video: What's Next for Shared Value?

May 25, 2016 5:00 PM ET

Watch the top moments of inspiration, reflection, and learning from the Shared Value Summit.

Environment

Global Food and Beverage Companies Call On House Lawmakers For Urgent Action On Climate Change

May 25, 2016 4:30 PM ET

In the wake of the Earth Day signing of the historic global climate agreement, more than a half-dozen leading food and beverage companies converged on Capitol Hill to press U.S. House lawmakers for federal action on climate change.

Research, Reports & Publications

Operating in a Carbon-Constrained World

May 25, 2016 4:00 PM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Sustainable Economic Opportunities That Empower Women & Benefit Business Needs

May 25, 2016 3:10 PM ET

In 2010, The Coca-Cola Company launched the 5by20 initiative which aims to economically empower 5 million women entrepreneurs across the company’s global supply chain by 2020. To achieve these ambitious goals, Coca-Cola worked with TechnoServe, an international development nonprofit, to identify the number of smallholder women farmers in its juice supply chains, assess farmer needs and develop innovative programs to boost women smallholder incomes in a way that supports both Coca-Cola’s business objectives and the economic empowerment of women.