ESG News from Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Partnership Focuses on Waste Reduction and Overcrowding at National Parks

Jan 7, 2019 8:35 AM ET

Responsible Production & Consumption

The Unholy Marriage Between Crony Capitalism and Sustainability

Jan 7, 2019 8:15 AM ET

In a marketplace littered with crony capitalism is this what passes as corporate sustainability these days?

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

A Decade of Impact in Africa

Jan 7, 2019 8:00 AM ET

This is a true story about 1,500 African food companies in nine African countries, and 1,500 volunteers from six food companies that worked together to improve food security across Africa.

Sustainable Development Goals

Expert Interview With Hope Herron, Resilient Infrastructure Expert

Jan 7, 2019 8:00 AM ET

Hope Herron has been an environmental specialist and climate resilience expert with Tetra Tech for more than 10 years. She develops strategic, sustainable, resilient, and socio-economic solutions to global development challenges. Hope uses her knowledge to improve livelihoods, mitigate climate change impacts, and increase transparency for sustainable supply chains—from creating climate change assessment tools in the Caribbean to incorporating environmental considerations into road and bridge design in South Sudan.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

A Message From the Arbor Day Foundation Chair of the Board of Trustees

Jan 7, 2019 8:00 AM ET

I feel very fortunate to have served on the Arbor Day Foundation’s board of trustees for nine years now. Stepping into my new role as board chair has given me the opportunity to reflect on the last decade and the great change I have witnessed at the Foundation through the years.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Jim Knutzon Takes the Reins of SCS Global Services’ Food and Agriculture Division

Jan 7, 2019 8:00 AM ET

Sustainable agriculture veteran Jim Knutzon has assumed oversight of SCS Global Services’ industry-leading food and agriculture services division. This division provides a wide array of third-party certification, standards development and consulting services, addressing the food safety, sustainability, and quality needs of the entire value chain, including food and fiber producers, manufacturers, handlers, retailers and consumers around the world.

Events, Media & Communications

CEO, Interface to Join Assistant Secretary-General, UN Environment at Responsible Business Summit

Jan 7, 2019 8:00 AM ET

I’m excited to share with you that Jay Gould, CEO, Interface will join Satya Tripathi, Assistant Secretary-General of the UN Environment on stage. Both will be sharing their vision on climate action and achieving net positive impact at Ethical Corporation’s 2019 Responsible Business Summit New York (March 18-19).

Education

Wells Fargo, Scholarship America Invite Veterans to Apply for Scholarships, Emergency Grants

Jan 7, 2019 8:00 AM ET

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) and Scholarship America announced they are accepting applications for the 2019 Wells Fargo Veterans Scholarship and Wells Fargo Veterans Emergency Grant Programs. In 2016, Wells Fargo committed $2 million over a four-year period to fund the programs and assist veterans and spouses of veterans with disabilities succeed in getting the education they need for careers they choose.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

How Share the Warmth Helped Avert Crisis

Jan 4, 2019 3:10 PM ET

She didn’t want to ask for help. All her life, Melissa Agnew promised herself if she ever had kids, she would give them a better childhood than the one she had, that they wouldn’t know poverty like she did, that they wouldn’t have to wonder, like she did, whether their father had spent the rent money on addiction.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

3 Ways Bloomberg Philanthropy and Engagement Changed the World in 2018

Jan 4, 2019 2:35 PM ET

Our philanthropic programs at Bloomberg allow employees to develop their skills and expertise by applying them to help local nonprofits, small businesses, and students around the world. Together, we invested our time, resources and skills to connect our business with the local communities where we live and work, to create a sustainable impact that we can continue to grow throughout the year.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Lockheed Martin Top CSR & Sustainability Moments of 2018

Jan 4, 2019 2:00 PM ET

2018 was a big year for our customers and employees. As it comes to an end, we reflect on the missions, milestones and achievements.

Energy

A Clean Energy Revolution Is Rising in the Midwest, With Utilities in the Vanguard

Jan 4, 2019 1:15 PM ET

Even with all the evidence that renewable energy has become less expensive than fossil fuels, it doesn't seem real until utilities start to stake their futures on it. For some Midwestern utilities, 2018 is the year that happened.

Xcel Energy of Minnesota in early December said it would go to zero carbon emissions throughout its eight-state territory by 2050, the first major utility to do so. That followed some big steps by Consumers Energy in Michigan and NIPSCO in Indiana, which issued plans to shut down coal-fired power plants sooner than previously planned while also accelerating development of wind and solar power.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The Nonprofits Behind the Profits

Jan 4, 2019 12:00 PM ET

Arrow Electronics is one such organization. Rather than running a traditional foundation out of the human resources department, Arrow’s philanthropy stems from brand and marketing.

Diversity & Inclusion

Black Enterprise Names Aflac to Prestigious Diversity List

Jan 4, 2019 11:00 AM ET

Aflac, the leader in voluntary insurance sales at U.S. worksites, is once again listed on Black Enterprise’s 2018 prestigious list of the 50 Best Companies for Diversity. This marks the 12th time that Aflac has appeared on this annual list.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

A Journey to Pine Ridge

Jan 4, 2019 10:30 AM ET

Team members from Hormel Foods and Justin’s recently took a break from their day jobs to give back to a community in South Dakota and to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Justin’s partnership with Conscious Alliance, a nonprofit organization committed to supporting communities in crisis through hunger relief and youth empowerment. A group of 16 – including representatives from Convoy of Hope, another community service partner of Hormel Foods –traveled to the Pine Ridge reservation to assemble 400 meal bags, stock food-pantry shelves and spend time with the Oglala Lakota people.

Energy

Schneider Announces Venture Capital for Energy Sustainability

Jan 4, 2019 10:20 AM ET

The firm has committed to invest between 300 and 500 million euros in incubation projects, partnerships with entrepreneurs, and specialised funds in the coming years.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Aide and Laura’s #GardenStory: Garden Transforms Sisters Into Nature-Loving Teenagers

Jan 4, 2019 10:05 AM ET

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation is cultivating the health and well-being of the next-generation from the ground up. We’re supporting garden programs, like the one at La Bajada Youth Farm in Dallas, Texas, to connect more children to the life-enhancing benefits of gardens.
Starting January 2, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation will support schools and nonprofit organizations across the country in bringing a garden to their community through our Grassroots Grants with KidsGardening.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Never Too Old for Family

Jan 4, 2019 10:00 AM ET

In a recent article for Adoptive Families magazine, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption President & CEO, Rita Soronen, shares common myths and realities about adopting teens and older children.

Diversity & Inclusion

Greater Cast Diversity Appearing in Hallmark Movies

Jan 4, 2019 9:30 AM ET

This year, Hallmark chose a movie with a largely African-American cast, Christmas Everlasting, for its coveted Thanksgiving weekend premiere.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

New GRI Draft Standard on Tax and Payments to Governments Now Open for Public Comment

Jan 4, 2019 9:05 AM ET

The Global Reporting Initiative's draft Standard on corporate tax makes a pioneering stride in tax transparency by combining management approach disclosures on tax strategy, with country-by-country reporting of an organization’s business activities and taxes paid.

Environment

CLP Pushes Low Carbon Technology Use in a New Global Business Drive

Jan 4, 2019 9:00 AM ET

The CLP Group has joined a new business drive in scaling up climate action and impact to help keep the climate innovation and collaboration momentum going beyond the recent United Nations climate change summit concluded in Poland.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

P&G Ranks Among Nation’s Most Effectively Managed Firms

Jan 4, 2019 8:55 AM ET

The Cincinnati-based consumer goods manufacturer (NYSE: PG) tied with Microsoft Corp. at No. 6 among Fortune 500, S&P 500 and other large-cap companies on a new list created by the Drucker Institute designed to evaluate overall corporate effectiveness.

Sustainable Development Goals

Tetra Tech Joins USAID to Celebrate Sustainable Water Treatment Plant in Liberia

Jan 4, 2019 8:00 AM ET

On November 28, 2018, community officials, the Liberian government, and officials from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) celebrated the dedication of the Sanniquellie City water treatment plant. As part of the USAID Liberia Municipal Water Project (LMWP), Tetra Tech designed a solar-powered water treatment plant and public distribution system, placing kiosks within 500 meters of homes to reduce the time families spend collecting water to under 30 minutes. This is one of the largest solar-powered treatment plants in Liberia and West Africa.

Media & Communications

World Environment Center Elects New Board Officers

Jan 3, 2019 5:00 PM ET

The World Environment Center’s (WEC) Board of Directors has elected the following individuals as its Officers.

WEC’s outgoing Chair, Francisco Suárez Hernández, Director, New Business Initiatives, Coca-Cola FEMSA, commented that “he has been honored to lead the organization for the last three years and is confident in the future of our programs and governance given the strength and leadership profile of the new officers.”

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Erb Institute Partners With The Centre for Responsible Business (CRB) in India

Jan 3, 2019 4:00 PM ET

Erb Faculty Director Joe Árvai and I took Erb on the road in November—to India! India is one of the institute’s priority emerging markets for sustainability impact, and we’ve been working with the India Centre for Responsible Business (CRB) to develop a partnership for research, teaching and business-engagement opportunities. Erb sponsored CRB’s annual “India and Sustainability Standards” conference this year, and Joe and I were asked to speak at the November 14-16 event in Delhi.