ESG News from Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Survey of Adoption Attitudes Reveals Surprising Trend

Sep 27, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Every five years the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption measures the attitudes of Americans and their feelings and thoughts about foster care adoption. This year the survey was completed by Nielson on behalf of the Foundation and there were some surprising trends.

Responsible Production & Consumption

A Nutritious Start for Youngsters, Myanmar

Sep 27, 2017 11:00 AM ET

The challenge: According to UN World Food Programme, one in three children in Myanmar is chronically malnourished.

The initiative: The Myanmar School Milk Programme was launched in 2013 by the government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, with technical support from Tetra Laval Food for Development.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

A Baker's Dozen: Duke Energy Economic Development Honored by Site Selection Magazine

Sep 27, 2017 11:00 AM ET

For the 13th consecutive year, Duke Energy has been named to Site Selection magazine's annual list of "Top Utilities in Economic Development." In the magazine's September edition, it credits Duke Energy's economic development team and its successful collaboration with state and local partners for delivering more than $4 billion in capital investments and more than 14,000 new jobs in 2016. Duke Energy has been featured on the list every year since 2005.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

GRI Impact Story Fuji Xerox: Excellence in Leadership and Stakeholder Engagement

Sep 27, 2017 11:00 AM ET

GRI Impact Stories are short interviews with representatives from companies that are using the GRI reporting framework to create tangible benefits for their business and stakeholders. We spoke to Fuji Xerox Asia Pacific to find out how the company uses the practice of sustainability reporting, to achieve excellence in leadership and stakeholder engagement.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Holland America Line’s ms Eurodam Continues to Set Records With 12th Consecutive Score of 100 on U.S. Public Health Inspection

Sep 27, 2017 10:45 AM ET

Holland America Line’s ms Eurodam made it an even dozen by earning its 12th consecutive perfect score of 100 on a routine United States Public Health (USPH) inspection conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The six-year run of perfect scores continues to set records in both the cruise industry and company history.

Research, Reports & Publications

WEBINAR | 2017 Cone Gen Z Study: How to Speak Z

Sep 27, 2017 10:30 AM ET

Join Cone Communications to learn about the findings and insights from the newly released 2017 Cone Gen Z CSR Study: How to Speak Z. This first of its kind study examines not only Gen Z’s attitudes and perceptions around CSR, but also how they’re willing to get involved for positive change.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Ecocentricity Blog: Native American Wisdom

Sep 27, 2017 10:30 AM ET

Seventh Generation is a reference to a phrase from the Constitution of the Iroquois Nation, which stresses the need to consider impacts of actions on the seventh generation to come. In many respects, it’s the same message as Tomorrow’s Child.

Social Impact & Volunteering

The Long-Term Impact of Skills-Based Volunteering on the Social Sector

Sep 27, 2017 10:15 AM ET

New research demonstrates the long-term impact of skills-based volunteering (SBV) on the social sector. As highlighted in our article, The Promise of Skills-Based Volunteering featured in Stanford Social Innovation Review's Fall 2017 issue, Common Impact embarked on a study to quantify the longitudinal impact of SBV on the social sector and heard first-hand about the transformational impact from our nonprofit partners. We reached out to over 400 nonprofits across 21 cities and across various mission areas who have participated in one or more projects with Common Impact. The results represent two decades of data that demonstrates the immediate, positive outcomes of these engagements on the social sector.

Research, Reports & Publications

Digitally Savvy Consumers

Sep 27, 2017 10:00 AM ET

The 10th edition of the Tetra Pak Index, published in collaboration with General Assembly, focuses on the fast-moving, information-saturated world of the connected consumer.

This in-depth free global study explores how food and beverage brands can leverage social media and digital channels to cultivate engaging content, that will to initiate and deepen consumer relationships; and harness the power of advocates to amplify positive messages.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

LG Home Appliances Rated Highest Again in American Customer Satisfaction

Sep 27, 2017 10:00 AM ET

LG Electronics once again beat out all home appliance competitors in customer satisfaction, achieving the number one spot in the coveted 2017 American Customer Satisfaction Index® (ACSI).* Marking the third consecutive year that American consumers rated LG highest, the findings come from ACSI’s 2017 surveys of randomly chosen consumers asked to evaluate their experiences with recently purchased household appliances.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Points of Light Civic Accelerator Launches Fall 2017 Class

Sep 27, 2017 10:00 AM ET

The Points of Light Civic Accelerator – the first national accelerator dedicated to investing in civic ventures – announced today the 12 ventures selected to participate in its fall 2017 program. The ventures come from across the United States a

Education

Announcing Twitter Chat: “the Skills Mismatch: Approaching a Collective Strategy” With the Dow Chemical Company, Sap, Dreamoval Foundation, and Making Cents International

Sep 27, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Following on the heels of the Global Engagement Forum: Live (GEF: Live)—a convening that focused on cross-sector collaboration for solvable problems—join the Dow Chemical Company, SAP, DreamOval Foundation from Ghana, and Making Cents International for a LIVE PYXERA Global-hosted Twitter Chat on Wed, Oct 4 at 11 AM, ET at #GEFlive and on the PYXERA Global website.

Research, Reports & Publications

Indonesia in Transition: Minemouth Coal and Hybrid Renewable Solutions

Sep 27, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Indonesia boasts vast untapped resources and mining will continue to play a significant role in the country’s development. The provision of a secure, reliable power supply is critical for mining operations, and Indonesia is chasing full electrification and grid stability.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Collaboration is Key to Success, Says Carlsberg Group During Climate Week NYC

Sep 27, 2017 9:40 AM ET

Demonstrating clear corporate leadership during Climate Week NYC 2017, RE100 member Carlsberg Group has highlighted the importance of working in partnership with others to reduce emissions and address climate change.

Sustainable Development Goals

How Dell Is Considering the Use of the UN Sustainable Development Goals Framework to Move Business Forward

Sep 27, 2017 9:30 AM ET

One of the perks of working in corporate responsibility is getting to think about how really big problems that seem far out on the horizon can be impacted by businesses today. As exciting as it can be to think about our role, it can also seem quite daunting.

Health & Healthcare

Merck for Mothers Blog | A Conversation with Lynsey Addario

Sep 27, 2017 9:25 AM ET

An important part of our mission at Merck for Mothers is to draw attention to the urgent issues affecting maternal health for women; to help raise awareness and to deepen our own understanding of what women need not just to survive pregnancy and childbirth, but to thrive. Our partnership with TIME magazine is part of that. We are proud to be a sponsor of TIME's ongoing series, Finding Home, an indepth look at what the journey to motherhood looks like for a refugee, featuring the work of award-winning photojournalist Lynsey Addario. Our Executive Director Mary-Ann Etiebet recently caught up with Lynsey to hear more about what she learned covering this story. The following are excerpts from that conversation.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Conducting Business 'The Aflac Way'

Sep 27, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Environment

Scaling-Up Investment into Land Restoration

Sep 27, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Heightening CSR Impact through a Culture of Purpose

Sep 27, 2017 9:05 AM ET

At BNY Mellon, our purpose is “Improving Lives through Investing.” It is the vision that our leaders have set for the company, and one that all employees know and live out.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Celebrate National Coffee Day with O Organics® Fair Trade Certified™ Coffee

Sep 27, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Coffee is enjoyed every day, but it’s especially celebrated on National Coffee Day (September 29)! According to the National Coffee Association, the average American drinks 3.1 cups of coffee a day— that’s nearly 80 gallons of coffee per year!

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Microfinance in the Face of Adversity: Emergency Loans in Cameroon

Sep 27, 2017 9:00 AM ET

During annual field visits to our microfinance partners, we often see them searching for better ways to help their clients. Unexpected household shocks can seriously jeopardize the livelihoods of the poorest entrepreneurs and their families. The microfinance sector may be in its infancy in successfully providing access to financial products to buffer the effects of devastating health emergencies, floods, droughts, fires and other disasters, but we have seen innovative approaches from partners all over the world designed to mitigate these unexpected events.

Diversity & Inclusion

Women Need to Be Confident in Their Ability, Says De Beers' Esther Oberbeck

Sep 27, 2017 9:00 AM ET

There’s never been a better time to be a woman at De Beers Group, says Head of Strategy Esther Oberbeck, but don’t shy away from making your ambitions clear.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Subaru Partners with Klean Kanteen to Promote Sustainability

Sep 27, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Subaru continues to showcase its nature loving image by partnering with Klean Kanteen to launch a multi-year partnership that focuses on sustainability. Klean Kanteen is the first stainless steel reusable water bottle manufacturer, while Subaru is known for being America’s first zero-landfill automaker.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Genuine Responsibility (TM) at Gildan

Sep 27, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Over the last 30 years, Gildan has grown into a very different apparel company, with close to 90% of its revenues being generated from products manufactured in its company-owned and operated factories.

Environment

NeighborWoods® Month Survey Reveals That Trees Grow Happier and Healthier Communities

Sep 27, 2017 7:00 AM ET

Alliance for Community Trees, a program of the Arbor Day Foundation encompassing a collective of local tree planting nonprofits, kicks off NeighborWoods Month — the annual celebration of trees and green communities.