ESG News from Leading Brands

Innovation & Technology

Package Station on Four Wheels

Dec 12, 2016 8:30 AM ET

A click suffices, and the object of our desire lands in the virtual shopping basket: a pair of new shoes, the new printer, the new wide-angle lens for the camera. Online shopping is very fast nowadays, and in many cases the entire ordering and payment process is completed in a few seconds. But directly after the immediately appearing, onscreen order confirmation, the waiting starts for the customer – waiting for the parcel delivery.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

#GRIStandards Twitter Chat Recap: GRI and Northern Trust Discussed the Recently Launched Reporting Standards

Dec 12, 2016 8:25 AM ET

On November 16th, leaders from GRI and Northern Trust joined us to talk about the new GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards. As the chat got started, our panelists and audience dove right into the conversation – sharing data, facts and figures.

Diversity & Inclusion

Ryan Murphy Talks Diversity in Hollywood, Hiring 50% Female Directors during Equity in Entertainment Award Speech

Dec 12, 2016 7:00 AM ET

At The Hollywood Reporter's 25th annual Women in Entertainment breakfast on December 7, veteran writer and showrunner Ryan Murphy received the magazine's inaugural Equity in Entertainment award for his work with Half, a foundation he launched in February with an aim to hire 50% female directors to work on all his television shows. Murphy, who has created series across 21CF businesses such as Glee, American Horror Story, Scream Queens, and American Crime Story, addressed the ways the entertainment industry has excluded minority voices for so long and what steps he has actively taken to make change.

Innovation & Technology

Novartis Launches SMS for Life 2.0 in Nigeria to Help Improve Access to Essential Medicines

Dec 12, 2016 1:15 AM ET

Novartis announced today the launch of an innovative technology-based healthcare program called SMS for Life 2.0 in Kaduna State, Nigeria. The program aims to increase the availability of essential medicines and improve care for patients across the region by using simple, available, and affordable technology. SMS for Life 2.0 is a joint public-private partnership led by Novartis and supported by its partners, the Kaduna State Ministry of Health and Vodacom.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

HRC: Making a More Inclusive and Accepting World for Everyone

Dec 9, 2016 5:10 PM ET

Each day, while elected officials debate political and legislative solutions, HRC Foundation’s incredible staff educates the public and provides training and model policies that alter the fundamental nature of the institutions that govern our everyday lives. From policy that guides a hospital’s treatment of LGBT patients, to the moral truths that shape how a pastor interacts with a congregation or a community — HRC approaches LGBT life holistically, looking for ways that their work can make a more inclusive and accepting world for everyone, in every part of their life.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Comcast NBCUniversal Recognized as Top 10 Military Friendly Employer

Dec 9, 2016 4:35 PM ET

Today, Comcast NBCUniversal was ranked number four on GI Jobs® Magazine’s 2017 Military Friendly Employer list. This represents a major jump from 74th last year and is a testament to the progress the entire company has made in 2016 on our military-focused programs.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Keep Riverside Clean & Beautiful Conducts Major Fall Cleanup Events

Dec 9, 2016 3:15 PM ET

Over 300 Keep Riverside Clean & Beautiful (KRCB) volunteers participated in the City of Riverside, California’s Festival of Lights on Nov. 25. The volunteers passed out programs, picked up litter, monitored the event barricades, and worked as a team to make the festival a clean and green event.

Innovation & Technology

Breakthrough Prize Awards $25 Million to Leading Scientists in Live Special on National Geographic, Re-airing Dec. 18 on FOX

Dec 9, 2016 3:00 PM ET

For the second year in a row, National Geographic aired a global live broadcast of the Breakthrough Prize ceremony, an annual awards show that aims to give scientists and mathematicians the same celebrity treatment as actors and musicians. Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman hosted the December 4 ceremony, which also included appearances by Jeremy Irons, astronaut Scott Kelly, Sienna Miller, Bryce Dallas Howard, Vin Diesel, Kevin Durant, Dev Patel, Alex Rodriguez, and Will.i.am, as well as a musical performance by Alicia Keys. The event, which distributed $25 million in awards supporting the work of top scientists and students, will re-air as a one-hour special on the FOX network on Sunday, December 18 at 7PM.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Service Dogs in Training Visit Harrisburg International Airport

Dec 9, 2016 2:55 PM ET

Fifty of our service dogs in training now know how to fly on a plane!

On December 3, we took our puppies in training to Harrisburg International Airport for a training outing. After parking in long-term parking, the dogs and their raisers took the shuttle to the terminal. Once in the terminal, the dogs practiced loose leash walking around the other travelers, as well as taking elevators and stairs.

Events, Media & Communications

Wang Yang: Sino-US Cooperation is the Only Right Choice (Translated)

Dec 9, 2016 2:30 PM ET

November 22, the US Chamber of Commerce and the US National Governors Association in Washington, DC co-hosted a luncheon, welcomed the United States to participate in the 27th session of the China-US Joint Commission on Commerce Vice Prime Minister Wang Yang. US Commerce Secretary Plyzik, US Trade Representative Frohman and more than 500 guests attended. Bloomberg founder, philanthropist, three times as mayor of New York Michael Bloomberg was invited to attend and address. Co-founder and Chairman and Chairman of the Blackstone Group, Mr. Su Shimin, the former US Secretary of Commerce, former Ambassador to China Locke, and Ambassador Baucus of the US Embassy in China have also delivered speeches.

Diversity & Inclusion

Why Some People Are Great at School, But Only So-So at Life

Dec 9, 2016 1:15 PM ET

Years ago, I had the experience of meeting Donald Trump. I worked in city government in New York and he wanted to buy a building from the city.

Innovation & Technology

Chocolate Maker Theo & Philo Sweetens Its Business with NetSuite.org

Dec 9, 2016 1:00 PM ET

As one of the world’s tropical equatorial nations that produce the raw material for chocolate, the Philippines is experiencing growth as an exporter of chocolate. Not coincidentally, Theo & Philo is growing in the Philippines as well.

Environment

The ReNEWW House, a Sustainable Living Laboratory

Dec 9, 2016 12:45 PM ET

There has long been an argument that homes and buildings are reliant on 19th-century technologies. The result is that while home climate-control systems and features such has windows have improved over the years, homes and buildings are still inefficient.

Environment

National Grid Applauds City of Boston on Climate Ready Boston Report

Dec 9, 2016 11:00 AM ET

National Grid applauds the recommendations of Mayor Marty Walsh and the Green Ribbon Commission for their meaningful and detailed report that addresses climate change for the City of Boston.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Whirlpool Corporation Receives Perfect Score on 2017 Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index

Dec 9, 2016 11:00 AM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

CareFirst Earns Top Rating For Workplace Equality From Human Rights Campaign

Dec 9, 2016 11:00 AM ET

Responsible Production & Consumption

How Caterers can Help Reduce Food Waste

Dec 9, 2016 10:30 AM ET

This is the third in a series about food waste and the social license. You might recall from our first post that the concept of social license is about asking our customers to accept practices in the food experience that reduce waste. So far, we’ve discussed how the concept of the social license can reduce food waste in restaurants. Today we are going to tackle catering – a very complicated and difficult beast.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Lumber Mill Reimagined as Artist Studios in Kentucky

Dec 9, 2016 10:10 AM ET

Few places in Covington, Ky., illustrate this city’s proud past, recent struggles and current renewal more eloquently than the Hellmann Lumber building.

Education

Holidays, Money, and Family—Check Out These Interesting Holiday Spending Stats

Dec 9, 2016 10:00 AM ET

T. Rowe Price recently released the survey – Parents, Kids, & Money, which surveyed more than 1,000 parents as well as their children between the ages of 8 to 14. This survey revealed that most parents actually want to overextend their money and spending in order to get their children what they want for gifts and holiday presents.

Environment

Xylem Bypass Pumping Solution Helps Protect the Mojave Desert

Dec 9, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Diversity & Inclusion

Introducing the Antea Group Philadelphia Office!

Dec 9, 2016 9:55 AM ET

The Philadelphia office is staffed by practitioners with expertise in all of our Antea Group practice areas. We have particular experience with the chemical, oil & gas, railroad, and food & beverage industries. Project capabilities range from small-scale industrial hygiene monitoring for healthcare clients to extensive remediation projects for chemical companies. We're only a short drive to Delaware, New Jersey, and Maryland and are able to support projects across the region.

Education

Ten to Watch: Trisha Stan, Ph.D.

Dec 9, 2016 9:45 AM ET

“We do science for the betterment of society, but too many misunderstandings exist between scientists and the populations we strive to serve. I hope to build bridges of communication and understanding between scientists and the public.”

Events, Media & Communications

How Should Hotels Market Green Initiatives?

Dec 9, 2016 9:30 AM ET

“Going Green” has become standard practice in a high percentage of hotels and other hospitality facilities. It’s the right thing to do. But it can also create the positive public relations and opinion of your brand that you are looking for. It’s a win-win.

Green Infrastructure

Green Infrastructure Approaches Help Mimic Natural Water Cycles

Dec 9, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Green infrastructure incorporates natural systems into engineered systems to provide clean water, conserve ecosystem values and functions, and offer a wide array of ancillary benefits to people and wildlife.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Timberland's Victory Garden Cultivates Community Impact

Dec 9, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Outdoor lifestyle brand Timberland recently celebrated the close of the ninth consecutive harvest season of its Victory Garden, a plot of fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers outside the company’s Stratham, New Hampshire headquarters. Each year, a dedicated group of Timberland employee volunteers manage and cultivate the 1,000 square foot area of raised garden beds.