ESG News from Leading Brands

Innovation & Technology

Technology Can Help Counter the Forces of Economic Concentration

Aug 30, 2018 8:55 AM ET

While the U.S. economy continues to grow, there is widespread concern that too many communities are being left behind. However, global ecommerce platforms like eBay connect small businesses to millions of buyers around the world, providing a boost to Main Street small businesses, whether they are thriving in a growth hub or faced with a deeply challenged local economy.

Education

Amgen Biotech Experience in Netherlands

Aug 30, 2018 8:10 AM ET

The Amgen Biotech Experience and DNA Labs On the Road have partnered to bring students in the Netherlands a real-world biotechnology lab experience in the classroom, helping them better understand what science is and how it influences their daily lives.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Sappi Invests in the Future of Graphics Papers at Cloquet Mill

Aug 29, 2018 5:00 PM ET

Significant upgrades were recently made to the headbox on the No. 12 Paper Machine at the Cloquet Mill, including improved dilution control.

The modifications will result in improved sheet flatness and roll quality. The previous headbox controlled basis weight through slice lip profi ling, where the shape of the discharge nozzle is defl ected slightly to spread the fiber evenly across the machine.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Sysco Improves Sustainability in Seafood Supply Chain

Aug 29, 2018 4:45 PM ET

Sysco is committed to working with suppliers to improve sustainability in our seafood supply chain through fishery improvement programs (FIPS). In partnership with World Wildlife Fund, we are working with fishermen to improve record-keeping and traceability, reduce bycatch and better manage fish stocks, helping increase the supply of sustainable seafood for current and future generations.

Green Infrastructure

Nation’s 1st Pollinator-Friendly Right-of-Way Solar Project Moves Forward in Georgia

Aug 29, 2018 4:30 PM ET

The Georgia Public Service Commission (Georgia PSC) has authorized funding for Georgia Power to construct, own and operate a one-megawatt solar array on Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) property at Exit 14 off Interstate 85, which is known as “The Ray.” Georgia will be the third state in the nation to utilize the grassy shoulder of an interstate highway, called the “right-of-way” (ROW), to generate solar energy. This unique project will pilot the use of native flowering plants as ground cover in test plots within the solar array, making Georgia the first in the nation to pilot pollinator-friendly, right-of-way solar.

Education

Mohawk Helps Revitalize Georgia Schools in Partnership With Community-focused School Crashers Program

Aug 29, 2018 4:30 PM ET

This year many Georgia schoolchildren will work and play in classrooms and media spaces with a fresh look and energy due in part to Mohawk Industries and the Georgia United Credit Union School Crashers℠ program.

Since the program’s inception five years ago, Mohawk has partnered with the Georgia-based credit union to “crash” select community schools and give them much-needed renovations. Each year hundreds of schools apply for facility makeovers, providing a list of their needs, and School Crashers chooses the lucky winners.

Education

Sodexo Revolutionizes High School Cafeteria Experience with Launch of Innovative Taste4 Dining Concept

Aug 29, 2018 4:00 PM ET

Sodexo, a food services and facilities management company that provides student nutrition to nearly 400 school districts throughout the U.S., has launched Taste4, a new meal concept that revamps the classics - salads and wraps, deli sandwiches, pasta, grilled favorites, pizza – and elevates school lunch for today’s sophisticated palettes.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Sustainable Investing at Northern Trust

Aug 29, 2018 3:10 PM ET

The foundation of Northern Trust's responsible investment principles is that we act in a manner to protect our clients’ financial well-being.

Sustainable Development Goals

To Reduce Post-Harvest Loss, Start With a Sustaining End in Mind 

Aug 29, 2018 3:05 PM ET

What does success look like? For farmers, a successful season should look like a bountiful harvest translated into a bountiful profit.

Education

Keep America Beautiful Kicks Off Eighth Annual Recycle-Bowl

Aug 29, 2018 2:35 PM ET

Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, announces the launch of the eighth annual Recycle-Bowl youth recycling competition. Registration for this incentive-based recycling competition is open to all public and private schools in the United States.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Verdani Partners Becomes a Fitwel Champion, Pursues Groundbreaking Fitwel Certifications in Collaboration With Clarion Partners, LLC for Largest Impact From One Company

Aug 29, 2018 1:15 PM ET

Six Properties in New York Metro Area, Managed by Clarion Partners and Submitted by Verdani Partners, To Be Recognized by Fitwel as the Largest-Scale Contribution By One Company to Resident Health and Well-being to Date. Verdani Partners is a third-party consultancy wholly owned by Clarion Partners, LLC, a Legg Mason company.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Impact at Work: Mission Economic Development Agency Project Spotlight

Aug 29, 2018 11:15 AM ET

In June 2017, Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) reached out to Common Impact to engage the support of a skilled volunteer team in achieving an important but challenging organizational goal – one that many nonprofit organizations are similarly striving to attain. MEDA's mission is to strengthen low- and moderate-income Latino families by promoting economic equity and social justice through asset building and community development. To ensure their work would be truly impactful and align with core themes in racial justice, MEDA’s leadership aimed to create a workplace that was reflective of the community it served.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

JetBlue Partners with VH1 Save the Music Foundation to Bring the Beat Back to Filer Middle School in Miami

Aug 29, 2018 11:05 AM ET

JetBlue today announced a special partnership with the VH1 Save The Music Foundation to reintroduce music to students at Henry H. Filer Middle School in South Florida. This school has been without a music program for more than 9 years. On August 28, 2018, JetBlue and VH1 Save The Music joined forces to donate musical instruments so the school can add music back to its curriculum. As a special surprise, singer/songwriter Emily Estefan performed a pop-up acoustic set at a special school assembly.

With a focus on STEAM (science, technology engineering, arts and math) education, JetBlue has been a proud partner of VH1 Save The Music for more than 10 years, raising more than $300,000 to boost the Foundation’s mission on a national level and save the music in public schools across the country.

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: Summertime and the Living's Easy

Aug 29, 2018 11:00 AM ET

I’ve fallen out of the habit of reading in the summer, but fortunately, I was able to restart the habit this year. It was a good summer with some great books, and I’ll share a few over the next several posts.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Is Enjoying What You Do Key to Unlocking Career Success?

Aug 29, 2018 10:15 AM ET

All resumes being roughly equal, someone who’s passionate about they do is going to stand out amongst the crowd. Does your passion come through on paper?

Environment

Craig Downs: Coral Reef Rescue

Aug 29, 2018 10:05 AM ET

Visitors to the Hawaiian island of Oahu marvel at the splendor of Hanauma Bay, a volcanic crater teeming with coral reefs, tropical fish, and the occasional sea turtle. But there’s something else that the snorkelers may notice as they enjoy the bright colors of a local rainbow-hued parrot fish.

Research, Reports & Publications

NRG Sustainability Report: Key Issues Assessment

Aug 29, 2018 10:05 AM ET

Our key issues matrix identifies sustainability issues that are relevant to NRG’s current business and operating environment. While creating this matrix, NRG personnel interviewed more than 100 internal and external stakeholders – the results were synthesized into an executive briefing document shared with NRG leadership.

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar Inc. | Extending Product Life

Aug 29, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Caterpillar strives to provide customers with quality equipment that delivers the best economic proposition for their business. Read more here about how we remanufacture (reman) and rebuild products and components that not only provides customers with immediate cost savings, but also help extend life cycles and use materials more efficiently.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Urban Tree Harvesting Requires Good Communication

Aug 29, 2018 9:50 AM ET

Energy

CLP’s Veltoor Plant in India Gains World’s First Solar Project Certification from DNV GL

Aug 29, 2018 9:30 AM ET

CLP Holdings Limited is pleased to announce Veltoor Solar Farm in India has received from DNV GL, a global quality assurance and risk management company, the world’s first project certificate for photovoltaic power plants in a recognition of its high standards for safety and technical compliance.

Events, Media & Communications

End of Summer Discount on 3BL Forum: Brands Taking Stands™

Aug 29, 2018 9:05 AM ET

3BL Forum is the pivotal event in fall 2018 to examine the Brands Taking Stands movement from the perspective of executives from CR, Sustainability, HR, Marketing, Communications, Human Resources, Foundation, Investor Relations and the C-suite.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

West Michigan Employers Named to 'Inclusion Index'

Aug 29, 2018 9:00 AM ET

A group of West Michigan employers have been cited in a list of organizations doing “high-quality diversity and inclusion work.”

Diversity Best Practices, a division of New York-based Working Mother Media, released its second-annual “Inclusion Index,” and three West Michigan-based employers made the list, as well as two other Michigan-based employers.

Research, Reports & Publications

The New Energy Economy

Aug 29, 2018 9:00 AM ET

The energy ecosystem is changing, driven by the advent of distributed clean energy, increased competition from new technologies and service providers, the evolving expectations of customers, and new opportunities for serving those customers. As the traditional business model changes, utilities are seeking new opportunities for revenue as they establish themselves as the “Preferred Energy Partner.” But getting there is another story, requiring a comprehensive category of innovative products and services that will define the future of revenue generation in the energy space.

Media & Communications

Gluten Intolerance Group Adds SCS Global Services as an Accredited Certifier for Gluten-Free Certification Organization

Aug 29, 2018 9:00 AM ET

The Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) has accredited SCS Global Services (SCS), an internationally recognized third-party certification body, to provide Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) services to food and beverage companies. GFCO, an industry program of GIG, helps manufacturers earn consumer confidence in their products and manufacturing facilities—keys to being successful in the expanding gluten-free market. The announcement highlights the global growth in the demand for certified gluten-free products, which is projected to reach $6.2 billion this year.

Environment

Cotton for Cattle: Recycling Organic Waste Into Feed Stock

Aug 29, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Gildan recycles almost all of the organic waste from its yarn spinning operations into bales or briquettes used as feedstock for local cattle. The cotton waste gets recycled into nutritious food for cows. Click here to learn more.