ESG News from Leading Brands

Events, Media & Communications

CSR Expert Whitney Dailey Joins Plenary Panel at COMMIT!Forum

Sep 28, 2017 4:00 PM ET

Whitney Dailey, Director of Marketing/Research & Insights at Cone Communications will join corporate social responsibility (CSR) experts as a speaker at COMMIT!Forum on October 11-12. The two-day event will explore the role of the corporate social responsibility practitioner as companies make their voices heard.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Fighting Hunger With Pro Bono, Part 3

Sep 28, 2017 3:15 PM ET

September is Hunger Action Month. A month to take action, spread the word, and dedicate ourselves to ending hunger. In honor of this month, and as part of our hunger initiative--Accelerate Change--Taproot is releasing inspiring stories of pro bono making an impact. Thanks to support from Alliance to End Hunger, we're showcasing how three organizations are taking advantage of expertise to do everything from effectively providing healthy meals and expanding access to fresh food, to increasing the promotion of regional food distribution, education, and advocacy to those who need it.

Energy

National Grid’s Service Territory Tops Energy Efficiency Ranking

Sep 28, 2017 3:00 PM ET

Once again, the three states across National Grid’s service area — Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York — are all ranked among the top ten for energy efficiency. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) today released its 2017 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard:

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

LA Galaxy to Celebrate Pediatric Cancer Awareness Night After Month-Long Support of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Sep 28, 2017 2:00 PM ET

AEG’s LA Galaxy will celebrate Pediatric Cancer Awareness Night Saturday, Sept. 30 at StubHub Center when the team hosts Real Salt Lake (7:30 p.m. PT; Spectrum SportsNet, Spectrum Deportes), honoring the Make-A-Wish® Greater Los Angeles as the official Community Partner of the Match. The match, presented by Dannon, during Pediatric Cancer Awareness Night will culminate a month of support from the LA Galaxy, in conjunction with MLS WORKS, of the 4th annual Kick Childhood Cancer Campaign, which encourages fans to “Go Gold” to raise awareness and funds during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Scotiabank Again Recognized as Leader in Aboriginal Relations

Sep 28, 2017 1:30 PM ET

Scotiabank has once again been recognized by the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business (CCAB) for its positive relationship with Canada's Aboriginal community.

Health & Healthcare

When It Comes to Food Safety, It’s All About Education

Sep 28, 2017 1:15 PM ET

For those of us in food service, safety is the number one priority. Yes, we also love to serve healthy, delicious and creative cuisine. But when it comes right down to it: we have to start with safety.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Boeing Donates Additional $1 Million to Assist Hurricane Recovery and Relief Efforts

Sep 28, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Boeing [NYSE: BA] and The Boeing Charitable Trust are committing an additional $1 million to assist with hurricane disaster relief in areas affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, the company announced today.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Team Barclays | A Day for Superheroes

Sep 28, 2017 11:35 AM ET

Team Barclays had a grand day out at this year’s Superhero Tri. We talk to partially sighted cyclist Laura Turner and Tracy Cox-Smyth, who volunteers as a “buddy” for disabled athletes , about winning the competition to compete in the inclusive sporting event alongside Paralympian David Weir – and going on to win the race.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

JetBlue Launches 100x35JetBlue, an Immediate and Long-Term Commitment to Puerto Rico Hurricane Relief

Sep 28, 2017 11:05 AM ET

JetBlue, the largest airline in Puerto Rico, today announced a multifaceted program to support both short-term relief and long-term recovery efforts on the island following the destruction from Hurricane Maria. 100x35JetBlue outlines the airline’s commitment to launching 35 initiatives over the next 100 days – and beyond – to support the needs of crewmembers, customers, and communities in Puerto Rico.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

PANDORA’s LEED Gold Certified Facility

Sep 28, 2017 11:00 AM ET

The facility has been accredited with the Gold certification within Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED). LEED is a set of green building criteria established by the US Green Building Council (USGBC) as guidelines for environmentally friendly building design and construction.

Education

Millennial Uses Technology to Connect Students, Communities Across the Globe

Sep 28, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Picture a student in science class, seated at a desk, her computer on. The student isn’t writing a paper about her studies or reading class materials, according to Akash Patel. She is interacting with students halfway around the world in Australia, touring their classroom, hearing about what their science quiz will cover that week. The child, from her desk in America’s heartland, is experiencing a world she may never get to travel to – but because of the World Experiences Foundation, she’s learning from it.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Case Study: GRI & Switzerland Fostering Responsible Growth in Emerging Markets

Sep 28, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Together with the Swiss Confederation, GRI helps small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets improve their sustainability performance through high-quality reporting. By showcasing responsible business practices through reporting, SMEs can gain access to international value chains, and contribute to economic development in their countries in a way that creates wealth and well-being across all segments of society.

Health & Healthcare

Living With Hypertension in Cameroon When You Live on Only a Few Dollars a Day

Sep 28, 2017 10:30 AM ET

This month like the previous ones, Alvine Nyintché is visiting the Etoug-Ebe Baptist Hospital in Yaounde. Aged 50, Alvine has been diagnosed with high blood pressure seven years ago.

Environment

CITGO Awards Grants for Restoration Programs in Celebration of National Estuaries Week

Sep 28, 2017 10:30 AM ET

For the third year in a row, CITGO Petroleum Corporation has awarded eight grants to local government agencies and nonprofits in celebration of National Estuaries Week, which took place Sept. 16-23. Through a partnership between CITGO and Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE), each grant will fund the organization’s restoration programs, environmental clean-ups, tree plantings and educational events.

Education

The Joys of Working in a Lab: Reflections on a Summer at the Kyoto University

Sep 28, 2017 10:30 AM ET

For me, the most valuable part of Amgen Scholars Program was working in a laboratory. I met great people who made me feel appreciated and loved.

In my host laboratory, I found the field that I am passionate about and where I really want to continue working in the future: microalgae research. I was surprised by the large number of species of microalgae in our lab and admired the research of other lab members. I also saw and used some technology for the first time such as the HPLC sequencing machine that my home university taught us about but did not have.

Environment

Domtar Sustainability: Bridging the Gap in Forest Certification

Sep 28, 2017 10:15 AM ET

What is the difference between certified wood fiber and fiber from sustainably-managed forests? It depends on your perspective.

Ask small landowners in the U.S. Southeast and most will probably say they are responsible forest stewards; many don’t immediately see the value or the need for certification by a third party.

Health & Healthcare

The Aflac Childhood Cancer Campaign

Sep 28, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Give the gift that gives back – because you shouldn’t have to choose between looking good and doing good.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

PNC Named to the 2017 Working Mother 100 Best Companies list for its Commitment to Work-Life Balance for Moms

Sep 28, 2017 9:35 AM ET

Education

De Beers Helps Fund a New Book to Tell Tłı̨chǫ Stories From Long Ago

Sep 28, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Tłı̨chǫ Whaèhdǫǫ̀ Godıı̀ (Tłı̨chǫ Storıes from Long Ago) and an accompanying Teachers’ Guide were launched at an event held in Behchokǫ̀.

Tammy Steinwand-Deschambeault, Culture and Language Coordinator for the Tłı̨cho Community Services Association (TCSA), said: “These are our stories from long ago that have been passed down to us. When young people are out on the land, the evidence is out there for them to see. Our history helps them know who they are as Tłı̨cho people.”

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

General Mills Foundation & No Kid Hungry

Sep 28, 2017 9:15 AM ET

School breakfasts are important for a child’s emotional, social and academic well-being. Fueling youngsters in the classroom is the goal of the General Mills Foundation and No Kid Hungry.

Environment

Tetra Tech is Using Innovative Technology to Recharge the Groundwater in Southern California

Sep 28, 2017 9:00 AM ET

The Water Replenishment District of Southern California (WRD), selected Tetra Tech to design the Ground Water Reliability Improvement Project (GRIP). Tetra Tech used multiple technologies to treat secondary effluent to a near distilled water quality and re-inject into the groundwater basin.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Hunger Is Spotlight: Los Angeles Regional Food Bank

Sep 28, 2017 9:00 AM ET

The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank (LARFB) serves more than 300,000 people each month through a variety of programs meant to “mobilize resources to fight hunger in the community.” In 2016, LARFB’s long-time supporter, Albertsons Companies Foundation, invited the food bank to appl

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Benevity Maintains Leadership in Data Accuracy and Security for its Employee Engagement Software

Sep 28, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Benevity, Inc., the global leader in workplace giving, volunteering and community investment software, announces the completion of two independent audit reports demonstrating full compliance with SSAE 18, an authoritative reporting standard for service organizations in the U.S.

"Meeting these robust standards allows us to provide assurance of second-to-none processes and controls to the world’s most iconic companies, in a technological climate where vigilance is vital,” says Bryan de Lottinville, Founder and CEO of Benevity.

Receipt of these independent reports demonstrate the maturity of Benevity’s financial processes and controls, and positions the company as one of the only solutions of its kind that can offer enterprise clients world-class operational and governance practices.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Whirlpool EMEA: First Community Day

Sep 28, 2017 8:55 AM ET

Whirlpool Corporation EMEA employees(Europe, Middle East and Africa) volunteered for non-profit organizations in their local communities as part of the company’s first-ever Community Day.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Bristol-Myers Squibb Named to 2017 Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America for Third Consecutive Year

Sep 28, 2017 7:00 AM ET

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) has been named to the prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America for the third consecutive year. The 2017 North America Index is an independent validation of the important work the company is carrying out in the area of corporate responsibility and Bristol-Myers Squibb is one of three pharmaceutical, biotechnology and life sciences companies to earn a spot. Recognizing public companies for outstanding performance across economic, environmental and social factors, the Index serves as a benchmark for investors who integrate sustainability considerations into their portfolios.