ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

VIDEO | Introducing a Creative Collaboration Between The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation and Globally Renowned Environmental Photographer Andrew Mann

Mar 13, 2018 9:15 AM ET

A new conservation docuseries commissioned by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation will go live on World Water Day, March 22. The docuseries captures the haunting beauty of America’s most fragile watersheds, under stress from harmful algal blooms, and highlights the bold steps we are taking to solve this crisis.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

2018 King Khalid Responsible Competitiveness Award Applications Now Open

Mar 13, 2018 9:10 AM ET

The King Khalid Foundation has opened the application process for the tenth annual Responsible Competitiveness (RC) Award, which honors and recognizes leading sustainability and corporate responsibility business practices in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The application can be access through the KKF website (http://www.kkf.org.sa/ar/Pages/default.aspx) and will remain open until May 10th, 2018.

Responsible Production & Consumption

SCS Certifies Manuelita, First Producer of Biodiesel Palm in Latin America to ISCC

Mar 13, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Investing for Good: Embracing the Long Journey

Mar 13, 2018 8:55 AM ET

It’s not every day that a CEO and CFO talk about investing millions of dollars into a part of the business that doesn’tgenerate direct profits. But that’s exactly what we did when we took advantage of the recent U.S. tax reform to make a focused investment – half a billion dollars – into our Center for Inclusive Growth.

Environment

UK Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Environment to Deliver Keynote at RBS EU 2018

Mar 13, 2018 7:00 AM ET

Thérèse Coffey MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Environment for the UK government has been confirmed to speak on the Government Keynote at Ethical Corporation’s upcoming Responsible Business Summit Europe.

Research, Reports & Publications

CLP Tightens Emissions Cut Targets Towards 2050 to Fight Climate Change

Mar 12, 2018 10:00 PM ET

The CLP Group has tightened the carbon intensity reduction target of its Asia-Pacific power business for 2050, the company unveiled in its latest Sustainability Report and Annual Report. Over a decade ago, CLP voluntarily introduced the Climate Vision 2050, where it committed to lower the carbon intensity of its generating portfolio by approximately 75% of its 2007 position by 2050. After a review of the energy transition underway in each of the key markets the Group operates, the company has set an even more ambitious target of reducing the carbon intensity by 82% by 2050, while increasing the share of renewable energy capacity to 30% and non-carbon emitting generating capacity to 40% by 2030.

Education

University and College Students Across Central Canada Help Young People Reach Their Infinite Potential

Mar 12, 2018 5:25 PM ET

Diversity & Inclusion

The Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index: Transparency for a New Norm

Mar 12, 2018 5:25 PM ET

Anyone who watched this year’s Academy Awards knows that the real leading lady of the evening was gender equality. There were a lot of strong statements on Sunday, but one that has stuck with me was Jane Fonda’s confident declaration that “what was once considered groundbreaking is now the norm.” She’s right. There is a new norm for gender equality and it’s based on transparency.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

El World Environment Center (WEC) lanza “El Poder de Crecer: Concurso Impulsado por La Red de Innovación e Impacto”, una iniciativa del Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos para apoyar microemprendimientos en Centroamérica.

Mar 12, 2018 5:00 PM ET

El Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos, el World Environment Center (WEC), Le Groupe-conseil baastel Itée (Baastel), y RioSlum Studio están orgullosos en anunciar el lanzamiento de “El Poder de Crecer: Concurso Impulsado por La Red de Innovación e Impacto” (El Poder de Crecer). El Poder de Crecer busca identificar y premiar a organizaciones que están empoderando a microemprendimientos en Centroamérica.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

World Environment Center Launches “Power to Grow: The Innovation Challenge Fueled by La Red de Innovación e Impacto,” a U.S. Department of State Program to Support Micro-Enterprises in Central America

Mar 12, 2018 5:00 PM ET

The U.S. Department of State, World Environment Center (WEC), Le Groupe-conseil baastel Itée (Baastel), and RioSlum Studio are proud to announce the opening of applications for “Power to Grow: The Innovation Challenge Fueled by La Red de Innovación e Impacto” (Power to Grow). Power to Grow is a search to discover and reward organizations that are empowering micro-enterprises in Central America.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

GRI Standards Report Registration System Now Available

Mar 12, 2018 4:00 PM ET

Launching the online GRI Standards Report Registration System: It allows users to notify GRI of the use of the GRI Standards, fulfilling the requirement to inform about reports that are prepared in accordance with, or referencing, the GRI Standards.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

CBRE and Rebuilding Together Work to Renovate Ada S. McKinley Program in Chicago, IL

Mar 12, 2018 3:15 PM ET

CBRE, through its corporate philanthropy program, CBRE Cares, will partner with national community revitalization nonprofit organization Rebuilding Together to renovate one of Ada S. McKinley’s program locations in Chicago, Illinois, during its CBRE Women’s Networking Forum.

On Wednesday, March 14, 2018, more than 200 CBRE Women’s Network members and Chicago-area CBRE employees will work alongside the local Rebuilding Together affiliate, Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago, to provide important upgrades to Ada S. McKinley’s South Side location at 1112 E. 87th Street where people with developmental and intellectual disabilities are provided with job readiness and community day services.

Sustainable Development Goals

Caterpillar Foundation Launches Value of Water Campaign to Help Its Partners Address Poverty

Mar 12, 2018 2:05 PM ET

To raise awareness of the value of water and the impact of the global water crisis on community health, education and economics, the Caterpillar Foundation, together with its global partners, today launched the Value of Water campaign.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Smithfield Foods Donates 42,000 Pounds of Protein in New Orleans, Releases New “Helping Hungry Homes” Video

Mar 12, 2018 2:05 PM ET

In celebration of Smithfield Foods’ 10-year anniversary of its Helping Hungry Homes hunger-relief initiative focused on alleviating hunger and helping Americans become more food secure, the company released a new video that explains the impact of the program on communities across the country and also outlines the 2018 Helping Hungry Homes tour stops.

Diversity & Inclusion

VIDEO | Whole Foods Market Surprises Downtown Shoppers on International Women's Day

Mar 12, 2018 2:05 PM ET

A Bollywood dance flash mob took over the Whole Foods Market in downtown Austin on Thursday in honor of International Women's Day.

Diversity & Inclusion

International Women’s Day – Supporting the Advancement of Women at Goldcorp

Mar 12, 2018 1:25 PM ET

Goldcorp has been a signatory to the United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles since 2015. There are seven Empowerment Principles, which are in alignment with our core values of being Safe, Productive and Responsible. Let’s explore what we are doing to support gender diversity under these seven Principles.

Environment

Have You ‘Herd’ About the Fortymile Caribou?

Mar 12, 2018 1:15 PM ET

A little-known fact about the Canadian 25 cent coin, is that the animal on the “tails” side is in fact not a moose, but a caribou! Caribou (also known as reindeer), are an integral part of Canadian indigenous heritage, as well as northern ecosystems. These members of the deer family were once one of Canada’s most widespread wildlife species. Today their numbers have significantly diminished, some herds by more than 90%. Climate change, increased habitat development, and poor land use planning have contributed greatly to the caribou’s steady decline. Most Arctic caribou are migratory, which poses challenges for habitat conservation when coupled with mining exploration and development.

Media & Communications

Building Success Into the Firm’s Sustainability Efforts – By Making Sustainability Everyone’s Responsibility

Mar 12, 2018 12:30 PM ET

Lately, we’ve been participating in conferences where CEOs and other senior managers have been on the lectern describing their companies’ sustainability journeys – the why, how, challenges and positive outcomes.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Carnival Corporation's AIDA Builds School in the Philippines With the Reiner Meutsch Foundation FLY & HELP

Mar 12, 2018 12:00 PM ET

AIDA Cruises is continuing its ongoing commitment to social, cultural and charitable projects. On March 9, 2018, at the ITB in Berlin, Hansjörg Kunze, vice president for communication and sustainability, presented a check for 42,265 euros to the Reiner Meutsch Foundation FLY & HELP for the reconstruction of an elementary school in Dinagat in the Philippines. The donation is part of the money raised from a charity raffle that AIDA traditionally holds aboard the AIDA fleet on New Year’s Eve. Severe floods destroyed many schools in the region in December.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

JetBlue For Good: Why This Airline Cares So Damn Much

Mar 12, 2018 11:30 AM ET

On Valentine’s Day, after a lone shooter entered Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, and took the lives of 17 people, Icema Gibbs knew it was time to get to work.

Gibbs isn’t a South Florida native or a school teacher, but rather, JetBlue’s director of corporate social responsibility. “Whenever there is a disaster—manmade or natural—if there is an opportunity for us to help, we do: specifically, if it’s a city that we serve or a city that really is near and dear to our crew members,” says Gibbs, who has been with the airline since its inception in 1999.

Social Impact & Volunteering

A Leadership Perspective from the Financial Services Sector

Mar 12, 2018 11:15 AM ET

A funny thing happened on the way to writing this piece. I am addicted to online solitaire applications, and one of my favorites offers new backgrounds for different holidays. I was delighted to see that International Women’s Day was among their choices, and used adjectives such as courageous, strong and independent with names including Betty Friedan, Sonia Sotomayor and Gloria Steinem. Women’s leadership comes in many shapes, cultures and ages. It is sometimes quite overt and others times very silent.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Explaining the Complex: Putting the Best Available Evidence Into the Hands of Decision Makers

Mar 12, 2018 11:15 AM ET

We all know the basic concept of supply and demand in economics, which makes sense in most settings: the more demand for something, the more supply is needed to meet it. Put the spotlight on scientific research and the relationship between supply and demand becomes a bit skewed. The suppliers (researchers and scientists) are often completely disconnected from the demand side, which can consist of anyone from policy makers to farmers. This means that some of the best available science and evidence often never reaches the people who demand it and, if it does, it’s commonly in a format that is too complex to understand and therefore also often not useful as input into decision-making processes.

Diversity & Inclusion

LA Kings Celebrate Pride Night

Mar 12, 2018 11:00 AM ET

AEG’s LA Kings welcomed LGBTQ fans, friends and allies to STAPLES Center on March 1 for the team’s annual Pride Night.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Cooking with Science

Mar 12, 2018 10:45 AM ET

Culinologist isn’t a job title that most people are familiar with. So Brian Andrews and Joel Reiman, two resident practitioners at Hormel Foods, often find themselves answering variations on the question “What is it you do, exactly?”

Andrews has a simple answer. “Culinology is a blending of the science and the art of cooking,” he said. This is true, but somewhat modest.

Reiman has a slightly different spin.

“What we do day in and day out often mirrors what humans have done for centuries,” he said. “We’ve always had a way of preserving the nutrition in food. The job of a culinologist is to understand those processes and find the science that allows us to use them most effectively.”

Responsible Production & Consumption

Fair Trade Products Supporting Women

Mar 12, 2018 10:30 AM ET

Every day, women throughout the world are denied fair wages, health care, child care, education, and leadership opportunities. They accept less because society tells them they have no other choice. Fair Trade challenges that, making it easy for you to support women and companies helping women succeed while you shop.