ESG News from Leading Brands

Diversity & Inclusion

VIDEO: Innovation, Education and Bringing a New Experience to the Blind

Aug 17, 2017 1:50 PM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Measuring What Matters: The Power of KPIs to Advance Sustainability

Aug 17, 2017 12:55 PM ET

When it comes to the disclosure of non-financial information, it’s understandable that many businesses come begrudgingly to table. But when sustainability reporting is focused on a few, truly relevant issues, it creates vital data that can help companies contribute to sustainable development and be more profitable in the process.

Education

Equip Students with Tools for Success Through a Gift for Teaching's Back-to-School Drive

Aug 17, 2017 12:35 PM ET

While Central Florida has seen a 1% decrease in its overall student population and number of homeless students in the area, the number of children in the free-and-reduced lunch program has risen by 2%. More children than ever need essential tools (like No. 2 pencils, loose-leaf paper, and crayons) to succeed in school. A Gift For Teaching is committed to providing these students with a head start for achievement by equipping them with school supplies.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Scotiabank New CSR Perspectives Series: Supporting Gender Equality through the HeForShe movement

Aug 17, 2017 12:30 PM ET

Gender equality remains a global issue and achieving equality requires an inclusive approach. Scotiabank is supporting the UN Women Solidarity Movement, HeForShe, with their efforts towards gender equality as one way for employees to advocate inclusion.

Green Infrastructure

Save Money and Improve Your Energy Experience with Smart Meters

Aug 17, 2017 12:05 PM ET

What's the difference between a smart meter and a regular digital meter? With a smart meter, you have two-way communication with your energy provider. Smart meters allow you to see how much energy you use, when you use it, and its cost. You can use this information to monitor and reduce energy use to save money.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Timberland Puts Samples to Good Use

Aug 17, 2017 12:00 PM ET

The sample sale typically raises at least $10,000, but this year we raised a remarkable $29,345 to benefit Lucy’s Love Bus—a Boston-based non-profit that provides funding for integrative therapies to children with cancer. Employees and their guests came out in record numbers with over 300 in attendance. The funds raised for Lucy’s Love Bus will allow the organization to add four new Healing Rooms at children’s hospitals across New England.

Health & Healthcare

The Care Van Program: A Small Program with a Huge Impact on Healthcare

Aug 17, 2017 11:25 AM ET

Media & Communications

Expanding Career Horizons at Marina Bay Sands

Aug 17, 2017 11:05 AM ET

With his natural affinity for interacting with people and an interest in the casino industry, James Chong was drawn to a position in Player Development after hearing of various job opportunities at Marina Bay Sands. Initially a Supervisor in the Public Area Department (PAD), he decided to apply for a transfer.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Statement by Habitat CEO Jonathan Reckford on the Violence in Charlottesville, Virginia

Aug 17, 2017 11:05 AM ET

We don’t have answers as to why the kinds of evil and hatred experienced in Charlottesville this week exist in the world, but we do know these three things: People who are swinging a hammer are not swinging a stick or a flag pole. When we are given the opportunity to work side by side with someone from a different background, we inevitably replace fear with a shared sense of purpose and humanity. And when we commit to listening without judgment, we all inspire people to be guided by their better angels.

Education

Belle Heth Builds New Thinkabit Inspired Lab

Aug 17, 2017 11:00 AM ET

The school has been implementing new technology such as Chromebooks for each student and new robotics. One of the new additions to the elementary is the Qualcomm inspired Thinkabit Lab. There are only two Thinkabit labs in the entire country and the school is working over the summer to have their inspired lab ready for the school year.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Turning Passion into Action, Skilled Cook Empowers Young People to Make Healthy Food Choices

Aug 17, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Kim Doyle Wille, a Colorado native, has been passionate about cooking since she was a young girl creating meals in her childhood home. Creating a nonprofit focused on healthy food options for the students and families in Garfield County was a natural way to turn that passion into action.

Environment

Powerful Pages Puts Books in the Hands of Children

Aug 17, 2017 10:15 AM ET

Books hold a special place in our hearts, in our business and, we believe, in children’s hands. That is why Domtar created its Powerful Pages program—to promote literacy by providing books to children who may not otherwise have access to a rich library of stories.

Events, Media & Communications

Sustainable Brands Reveals SB’17 Copenhagen Program

Aug 17, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Sustainable Brands® recently announced program details for the upcoming conference, SB’17 Copenhagen, running October 30th - November 1st at the Radisson Blu Scandinavia Hotel in Copenhagen, Denmark. Over 450 brand and sustainability leaders are expected to gather and collaborate on how redefined societal aspirations are transforming the ways brands deliver value for their customers.

Innovation & Technology

Cyber Infection Prevention: Five Helpful Hints from PNC for Students Heading off to College

Aug 17, 2017 10:00 AM ET

With cars overloaded with personal belongings and brains tangled up in a mix of excitement, anticipation and a little fear of the unknown, young adults across the country are heading off to college for the first time. Parents take comfort that they’ve spent 18 years preparing their child to survive on their own.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Nestlé’s Parent Support Spotlight on Kelly: Being There for the First Belly Laugh

Aug 17, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Things changed with Nestlé’s Parent Support Policy. Since I work in HR, I had a lot of knowledge on the before-and-after of the policy. We started hearing that a new parental leave policy was close to rolling out, but when my coworker and I saw the actual policy, we were blown away. It’s not a policy you often see in the U.S.

Research, Reports & Publications

CBRE: Shared Advantage

Aug 17, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Much has changed in the 10 years since CBRE began measuring and reporting on its corporate responsibility activities. Perhaps no single aspect of the knowledge gained is as crucial as this recognition:

All business activity has impacts, and the most responsible companies are those that closely align their corporate responsibility efforts with their specific business activities.

Environment

Water Reclamation Facility Upgrades Help Keep Chesapeake Bay Clean

Aug 17, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Anne Arundel County leadership in Maryland recently celebrated the successful completion of upgrades to the Cox Creek Water Reclamation Facility (WRF), designed to drastically reduce pollutants in local waterways.

Environment

Subaru Partners with Non-Profit Solution to Help National Parks Recycle Right

Aug 17, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Subaru of America and Recycle Across America today announce a donation of RAA’s standardized recycling label system to support the automaker’s zero landfill initiative currently being piloted at three national parks(Denali, Grand Teton and Yosemite). The donation aims to decrease landfill waste from parks by revitalizing recycling participation, replacing conflicting signs and messaging with the RAA system to help visitors recycle easily and effectively.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Why This Walmart Associate Wants You to Start With #HelloMyNameIs

Aug 17, 2017 9:00 AM ET

“Hello, my name is….” It’s a phrase made up of only four words. It takes very little time to say – it’s an easy way to begin a conversation. Yet, when people say these words, they can have such a big impact. My late wife, Kate, started the #HelloMyNameIs campaign in 2013 while living with terminal cancer. As a medic herself, she had become frustrated with nurses and doctors who never introduced themselves to her before providing medical care.

Health & Healthcare

National Sheriffs’ Association Provides Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Office With Life-Saving Opioid Overdose “Rescue Drug”

Aug 17, 2017 9:00 AM ET

ALEXANDRIA, Va., August 16, 2017 /3BL Media/ – National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) CEO and Executive Director Jonathan Thompson and Cuyahoga County Sheriff Clifford Pinkney announced today that the Sheriff’s Office will train deputies on how to use the “rescue drug” naloxone and provide overdose rescue kits to the deputies at no cost to taxpayers.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Aramark, American Heart Association: Improving America’s Health

Aug 17, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

How Financial Institutions and Fintechs Are Partnering for Inclusion

Aug 17, 2017 9:00 AM ET

This report—produced in partnership with the Center for Financial Inclusion at Accion (CFI)—examines how partnerships between mainstream financial institutions (e.g., banks, insurers, and payment companies) and fintechs are addressing financial inclusion challenges and expanding access to the formal financial economy for underserved segments of the global population, particularly in emerging markets.

Research, Reports & Publications

Commonwealth Bank of Australia Publishes Its 2017 Corporate Responsibility Report

Aug 17, 2017 5:00 AM ET

This week Commonwealth Bank of Australia released its 2017 Corporate Responsibility Report, which shows continuing progress across a range of initiatives focused on delivering the Group’s vision to excel at securing and enhancing the financial wellbeing of people, businesses and communities.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Fox and National Geographic Lead 27th Annual Environmental Media Association Awards Nominations

Aug 16, 2017 8:45 PM ET

21st Century Fox businesses have received a total of four nominations from the Environmental Media Association, whose awards honor film and television productions that increase public awareness of environmental issues and inspire personal action to correct them.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Workplace Giving Campaign Best Practices and Potential Pitfalls to Avoid

Aug 16, 2017 6:30 PM ET