Delivering on brand relevance also requires welcoming more and different voices to the table, using our collective wisdom to solve problems together and rallying consumers and employees to take action with us as brands. When net trust in global corporations is less than zero, it is understandable that brands may feel overwhelmed and afraid to go it alone. That is why thoughtful partnerships can empower brands to tackle meaningful issues without feeling like they are straining credibility or speaking out of turn.

Smithfield Foods, Inc. announced today that the North American Meat Institute (NAMI) recognized 43 of the company's U.S. facilities and hog operations for environmental achievements, as well as 24 company locations for workplace safety accomplishments. NAMI, the oldest and largest trade association representing meat packers and processors, presented the awards earlier this week at its Worker Safety and Environmental Recognition Awards program in Atlanta, Georgia.

"Environmental stewardship and workplace safety are core pillars of our industry-leading sustainability program," said Stewart Leeth, vice president of regulatory affairs and chief sustainability officer for Smithfield Foods.

While there are thousands of experimental drugs currently in development, with the potential to ease symptoms or even cure various diseases, none of these treatments will become available to patients without clinical trials and clinical trial volunteers. In a global study conducted by The Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (CISCRP) a non-profit-organization, in 2017, close to 70% of the public has never or rarely considered clinical trials as an option when discussing treatment options with their doctor or health provider. And only 6% of people who suffer from severe and chronic diseases participate in clinical trials each year. Low participation rates delay and limit the development of new medical therapies.

KeyBank Community Development Lending & Investment (CDLI) has provided $43 million in construction financing to BRIDGE Housing Corporation (BRIDGE) for the development of 203 affordable housing units in the RiverPlace neighborhood of Portland, OR. The affordable housing project is the culmination of a competitive request for proposal process initiated jointly by the Portland Housing Bureau and Prosper Portland. National Equity Fund, Inc. is the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit limited partner of RiverPlace Housing 3 Limited Partnership (LP).

eBay partners with sellers to help connect their online and offline efforts.

Mohawk Group’s Cynthia Hubbell, VP of Healthcare & Senior Living, talks about sustainability in Healthcare Facilities today.

The ‘Circular Collection’ is a limited edition jewelry collection, part of the Bayou woith Love series, sourced from gold from Dell’s recycling programmes and includes 14-and 18-carat gold rings, earrings, and cufflinks.

For the second time in a row, SCS Global Services (SCS) has been recognized by Global Energy News under its Clean Energy Awards program. Last week, SCS was named Environmental Certification Specialist of the Year for 2018. As described by Global Energy News, based in the United Kingdom, the 2018 Clean Energy Awards “acknowledge the organizations, agencies and individuals who strive to provide the services and solutions which will allow us to live and work in a cleaner and safer environment whilst remaining economically viable.”

Terah DeJong, country director of the Tetra Tech-implemented U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Property Rights and Artisanal Diamond Development (PRADD II) Project, discusses the introduction of new technology in the diamond mining areas of Cote d’Ivoire, and how technology has increased the volume of stones that enter the legal chain of custody, leading to increased earnings and more sustainable livelihoods for miners. All opinions expressed in this post are the author’s own.