ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

Brightening Our Corner Newsletter - November 2018

Nov 16, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Check out the Ray C. Anderson Foundation's November Newsletter.

Education

CITGO Celebrates Second Annual National STEM Day Event With Workshops, Demos, and More

Nov 16, 2018 10:00 AM ET

CITGO celebrated its second annual National STEM Day event on Nov. 8, 2018 by honoring the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) community and observing the progress made in the advancement of STEM education in Houston and Corpus Christi, Texas, Lake Charles, La, and Lemont, Ill.

Innovation & Technology

How the Push to Make Data Privacy a Human Right Will Impact Businesses

Nov 16, 2018 10:00 AM ET

The international nonprofit Access Now calls privacy a “cornerstone of human rights in the digital age.” In fact, more and more technologists, advocacy groups, and consumers are calling for stronger laws and regulations on data privacy as a fundamental human or civil right. As companies collect and use an increasingly staggering amount of personal information, there is greater attention on what their responsibility is—both ethically and legally—in handling all of this data.

Environment

Q&A: Why a Healthy Planet Means Healthy People

Nov 16, 2018 9:45 AM ET

According to the World Health Organization, nearly 1 in 4 of total deaths worldwide are caused by environmental risk factors. Air, water, and soil pollution; improper waste management; and ecosystem degradation all negatively impact human health.

Energy

Hallmark Is Converting Gift Wrap Into Energy

Nov 16, 2018 9:45 AM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Consumers Energy Works with Michigan-Based Business to Help Students in 29 Counties Stay Warm This Winter

Nov 16, 2018 9:35 AM ET

Helping to keep schoolchildren safe and warm this winter, Consumers Energy is working with a Michigan-based business to provide products to over 900 West and Northern Michigan schools that quickly dry cold and wet gloves and mittens.

This week, TheGreenGloveDryer® School Project is delivering 3,140 EcoDryers to classrooms in nearly 60 public, private and charter schools in the Traverse Bay area. Consumers Energy is funding the school outreach to help students just in time for another cold Michigan winter.

Environment

Aligning Reporting on Water: New Linkage Document for CDP and GRI

Nov 16, 2018 9:35 AM ET

GRI and CDP have released a linkage document between the updated GRI Water and Effluents standard and the CDP Water Questionnaire that helps companies report on their water related impacts.

Sustainable Development Goals

Why Soil Health Matters for Food and Beverage Businesses

Nov 16, 2018 8:35 AM ET

General Mills’ chief sustainability officer gives insight into how the company is reaping the benefits of its $3.25 million investment into healthy soil.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Finance Sector Discovers Social Purpose

Nov 16, 2018 8:35 AM ET

Once again, it’s BlackRock CEO Larry Fink who has appeared as the socially responsible investment oracle. Almost a year after his “paradigm shifting” letter--a call for social purpose in the 4,000+ companies in which the $6.3 trillion fund invests--Fink has issued a definitive follow-up statement on the subject.

Environment

Nurturing Our Habitats: Conserving More Than 5,000 Acres of Wildlife Habitats in 16 Countries

Nov 16, 2018 8:30 AM ET

General Motors’ biodiversity efforts focus on reducing environmental footprint, driving business value and savings, maximizing benefits for communities and supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal to halt biodiversity loss.

Diversity & Inclusion

Domtar Leaders Participate in 2020 Women on Boards Diversity Panel

Nov 16, 2018 8:15 AM ET

Mary Winston, a member of Domtar’s Board of Directors, and Domtar President and CEO John D. Williams bring their corporate experience and board perspectives to the 2020 Women on Boards national conversation on board diversity. This important diversity panel takes place in Charlotte, North Carolina, this month.

Green Infrastructure

Sustainable Design: Strengthening Urban Environments After Superstorm Sandy

Nov 16, 2018 8:00 AM ET

Increased climate variability and surging population growth are placing greater demands on limited resources such as water, energy, and physical space. Our teams are considering how buildings and infrastructure can be designed to more effectively cope with these stresses and perform well into the future. Facilities need to be built not only to operate in greater harmony with nature but also to withstand the forces it may unleash.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

IBM Wins "Best Commitment to Education Program" Award from U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation

Nov 16, 2018 8:00 AM ET

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation recognized IBM with its “Best Commitment to Education Program” award at the 19th Annual Corporate Citizenship Awards. The Chamber Foundation’s “Best Commitment to Education Program” award recognizes IBM’s P-TECH model as a strategic initiative focused on improving educational outcomes for students with demonstrated measurable results.

Health & Healthcare

Gildan Facilities Awash in Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness and Prevention

Nov 16, 2018 8:00 AM ET

Gildan’s annual “Pink Tour” in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness held during the month of October is an initiative aimed at raising awareness of breast cancer at Gildan’s facilities in Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean Basin.

Environment

Cerro Verde, a Freeport-McMoRan Company, Plants Trees for Afforestation Project

Nov 16, 2018 7:45 AM ET

Minera Sociedad Cerro Verde distributed 3,000 trees in the Uchumayo District of Peru between 2017 and 2018 as part of its afforestation project.

Trees are important, as they absorb carbon dioxide, generate oxygen, and improve the quality of the air along with preventing erosion and degradation of the soil. Trees reduce noise pollution by absorbing the sounds of traffic, sirens and construction – their foliage acts as acoustic insulators.

Sustainable Development Goals

Water-Smart Farming: How Innovative Technologies Are Improving the Lives of Smallholder Farmers Across Asia, Latin America and Africa

Nov 16, 2018 7:35 AM ET

aQysta, a “clean-tech” start-up, injects its entrepreneurial energy into the Business Call to Action (BCtA) platform with a pledge to bring its affordable, clean-energy water pump to 10,000 smallholder farmers globally to save 300 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, while improving crop yields and incomes, by 2021.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

PNC: Four Things to Know Ahead of the Holiday Giving Season

Nov 15, 2018 10:05 PM ET

The end of the year is typically when most people think about giving back to their communities.

“The holiday spirit usually inspires people to turn their attention toward their community and charitable causes that are near and dear to their hearts,” said Vivian Loy, senior wealth strategist at PNC Wealth Management.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Second Annual Stephen R. Kellert Biophilic Design Award Winners Announced

Nov 15, 2018 7:00 PM ET

The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) honored the late scholar and Yale University social ecologist Stephen R. Kellert’s legacy with the second annual Biophilic Design Award last night at a special award ceremony hosted by Interface, Inc., at the 2018 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo. This year the award was presented to two outstanding projects: The VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre, and the Dixon Water Foundation Betty and Clint Josey Pavilion.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Nestlé Achieves Top Spot in First U.S. Access to Nutrition Index

Nov 15, 2018 4:30 PM ET

Nestlé is ranked highest in the first-ever U.S.-focused Access to Nutrition Index (ATNI), which evaluates the policies, practices and product portfolios of ten food and beverage companies. This follows the release of the global index earlier this year, in which Nestlé also placed first.

Nestlé’s performance in the global and U.S. indices confirms its leadership and its contribution to tackling the pressing challenges of obesity and undernutrition globally and in the U.S.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Sappi Increases Employee Engagement Efforts

Nov 15, 2018 4:00 PM ET

Our people are critical to our operations. A key component to any successful employee engagement program is communication. At Sappi North America, we prioritize our communication efforts to ensure that all of our associates are informed of, and feel connected to, the organization’s business, mission, strategy and values. To this end, we utilize a number of resources, including email, social media, newsletters, events, video and printed collateral, to maintain organizational alignment and morale.

Diversity & Inclusion

Q&A on The Diversity Project

Nov 15, 2018 3:45 PM ET

Dan Houlihan is the head of asset servicing for Americas at Northern Trust and also serves as the chairman of NICSA, an asset management industry group. In that role, he’s helped launch the US brand of The Diversity Project, an industry initiative to improve representation. We sat down with Dan to talk diversity, communications in the financial industry.

Sustainable Development Goals

Video: The Erb Institute Talks Business Sustainability at the Global Climate Action Summit

Nov 15, 2018 3:15 PM ET

This September, a delegation from the University of Michigan’s Erb Institute traveled to San Francisco to attend the Global Climate Action Summit. The Erb Institute also hosted an Affiliate event: Developing Climate-Business Strategies: Partnering with Universities for Science-Based Impact.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Video: Hallmark Time-Lapse Creation of Elementary School Mural

Nov 15, 2018 1:35 PM ET

As part of Hallmark’s #my5days program, Hallmark artists completed a mural at Longfellow Elementary school in Kansas City, Mo. The #my5days program allows Hallmark’s creative community five work days throughout the year to gain creative renewal and inspiration to gain new perspectives and find new ways to connect with their consumers and the marketplace. Summer 2018 marked the first time multiple artists used their talents and #my5days to benefit local community partners.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Poland Spring and Sea Bags Collaborate to Celebrate America Recycles Day

Nov 15, 2018 1:30 PM ET

Poland Spring® 100% Natural Spring Water and Maine retailer, Sea Bags, are collaborating to raise awareness about recycling, and help prevent recyclable materials from being discarded in landfills. In celebration of America Recycles Day, Poland Spring and Sea Bags have collaborated to create 100 limited-edition, premium tote bags utilizing sail cloth made from recycled water bottles.

Education

D.C. Area Educators Attend Day of Discovery, Activities and Understanding With Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Discovery Education

Nov 15, 2018 1:15 PM ET

Educators across D.C., Maryland and Virginia celebrated STEM on Wednesday, November 14 through a day of free professional development thanks to Discovery Education and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). The ‘Day of Discovery’ event, part of Discovery Education and TCS’ Ignite My Future in School initiative, promotes computational thinking through a variety of educational resources and interactive activities, giving teachers unique insight and strategies to effectively teach students 21st century skills.