ESG News from Leading Brands

Health & Healthcare

Novartis Joins the Global Chagas Disease Coalition and Also Announces First Multinational, Prospective, Randomized Study in People With Chronic Chagas Cardiomyopathy

Mar 14, 2019 1:45 PM ET

At the Annual Meeting of the Global Chagas Disease Coalition in Barcelona, Spain, Novartis announced that it is joining the Coalition as a member contributor. In addition, the company announced its commitment to launch a multinational, prospective, randomized study with heart failure drug, Entresto® (sacubitril / valsartan), in people with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy, one form of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. This is the first definitive morbidity and mortality study to assess a potential therapy for cardiac disease in this underserved patient population.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Xylem Signs First-of-its-Kind Revolving Credit Facility in U.S. to Couple Interest Rates with Sustainability Performance

Mar 14, 2019 12:30 PM ET

Xylem Inc. has announced execution of its new $800 million Senior Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility. With this transaction, Xylem has replaced its five-year $600 million revolving credit facility, while adding a sustainability-linked pricing mechanism to the new facility. The deal is one of the first sustainable improvement loans in the U.S. and the first in the General Industrial Sector. The interest rate is index-linked to Xylem’s overall sustainability performance as rated by Sustainalytics, a leading independent global provider of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) ratings. Improvements in Xylem’s sustainability performance will reduce interest rates under the facility.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

CECP's Global Exchange at the CRO Global Summit in Shanghai

Mar 14, 2019 12:25 PM ET

Three years ago, CECP came together with its partner organizations around the world and established the Global Exchange as an opportunity to expand corporate impact and develop a shared voice on how companies are a force for good around the world. The spark for these partnerships came about because of Giving Around the Globe research.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Inogen Member Spotlight--Andrew Young, ESC

Mar 14, 2019 11:40 AM ET

Read about EHS trends in southeast Asia in Antea Group’s blog on Andrew Young, who lives in Singapore and is a member of global EHS&S network, Inogen.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Growing a Transparent and Authentic Social Purpose With ScottsMiracle‑Gro

Mar 14, 2019 11:00 AM ET

Gardening is not about immediate success or instant gratification. The same can be said about social purpose.

As a company for gardeners, ScottsMiracle‑Gro has a succinct purpose: “helping people express themselves on their own piece of the Earth.” Cultivating a thriving garden takes care, commitment, and flexibility to adapt as conditions change. With that, creativity – and expression – can blossom.

Innovation & Technology

Cisco GPS Challenge Highlights | Social Entrepreneur OmniVis Uses IoT to Improve Cholera Detection

Mar 14, 2019 10:35 AM ET

OmniVis is developing a handheld device that works with smartphones to detect cholera in water samples. With the help of IoT technology, it can analyze and identify the bacteria within 30 minutes of collection.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Make Every Dollar Count: Is Your Cash Sleeping with the Right Partners?

Mar 14, 2019 10:35 AM ET

Impact investing has emerged as a major force in philanthropy. Last year GIIN conducted a survey showing that the estimated value of the impact investing sector doubled between 2017 and 2018, increasing from $114B to $228B. There’s a growing demand for investments that actively produce measurable positive social and environmental outcomes.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

2018 Subaru Share the Love® Event Totals $27.5 Million in Charitable Donations

Mar 14, 2019 10:00 AM ET

Subaru of America, Inc. today announced its donation of nearly $24 million to national and local charities as part of the 2018 Subaru Share the Love Event, bringing the total donated throughout the life of the program to $145.7 million. Held from mid-November to the end of the calendar year since 2008, the Subaru Share the Love Event donates $250 to the purchaser’s choice of charities for every new Subaru vehicle sold or leased at 631 participating Subaru retailers nationwide.

Research, Reports & Publications

EHS&S Leaders Increasingly Seek Software Integration, Real-time Data Tracking

Mar 14, 2019 10:00 AM ET

Those returning to the market for new EHS&S software seek better integration with other business IT systems as well as the ability to track data in real time, according to a new report published today by the National Association for Environmental, Health, Safety and Sustainability (EHS&S) Management (NAEM).

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

PepsiCo is #FundingHerFuture through Whole Planet Foundation

Mar 14, 2019 10:00 AM ET

Naked, a PepsiCo. brand, has been proudly supporting Whole Planet Foundation since 2007, donating $800,000 to alleviate global poverty through microcredit.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Smithfield Foods Donates More Than 40,000 Pounds of Protein to Three Square Food Bank; Eckrich Brand Provides Funds to Local Schools

Mar 14, 2019 10:00 AM ET

Today, Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Albertsons joined forces to donate more than 40,000 pounds of protein to Three Square Food Bank. Smithfield’s contribution was part of the company’s 2019 Helping Hungry Homes® donation tour. Helping Hungry Homes® is Smithfield’s signature hunger-relief initiative focused on alleviating hunger and helping Americans become more food secure. The donation, equivalent to more than 169,000 servings, will help families fight hunger across Southern Nevada.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Ecolab Launches Smart Water Navigator to Help Companies Improve Water Management

Mar 14, 2019 10:00 AM ET

Ecolab Inc., the global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services, today launched the Ecolab Smart Water Navigator, a free online tool to help businesses throughout the world improve water management at their facilities in the face of growing global water scarcity.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Love Your Clothes Longer

Mar 14, 2019 9:00 AM ET

As a result of many factors, we are consuming more clothing than at any time in human history, over 100 billion garments annually. Compared to 15 years ago, consumers buy three times more garments every year and keep them half as long.

Energy

Video | Verizon is Helping Hawaii Power Smarter

Mar 14, 2019 9:00 AM ET

Verizon uses smart sensors on its network to collect near real-time data across Hawaii’s power grid. This allows them to zero in on the real demands for electricity and when to deliver it. To help Hawaiian Electric reach 100% renewable energy by 2045.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Common Impact, Sustainable Food Center and the Charles Schwab Pro Bono Challenge

Mar 14, 2019 8:00 AM ET

After one year implementing the strategies they learned at the 2017 Charles Schwab Pro Bono Challenge, the Sustainable Food Center is reporting some big impact. Its Farmers’ Market WIC program has grown three-fold. The organization has even brought on another staff member to manage the expanding program

Environment

Freeport-McMoRan’s Morenci Mine Receives Wildlife Habitat Council Mammals Award

Mar 14, 2019 6:45 AM ET

Freeport-McMoRan recently received the Wildlife Habitat Council Mammals Award for their Bighorn Sheep management program. The award recognizes excellence in corporate conservation in wildlife habitat enhancement and restoration, and conservation education.

Research, Reports & Publications

NN Group Annual Report: Shaping Our Tomorrow

Mar 14, 2019 5:00 AM ET

NN Group is pleased to announce the publication of our 2018 Annual Report. It consists of two components – the Annual Review and the Financial Report – providing an integrated overview of our strategy and performance.

Education

Making Food Safe and Available to School Children Around the World

Mar 14, 2019 5:00 AM ET

On International School Meals Day, learn how we work with customers, NGOs and governments to tackle nutrition challenges around the world. #ISMD2019

Sustainable Development Goals

CEOs Unite in Response to Backlash on Gender Equality

Mar 13, 2019 7:15 PM ET

Business leaders from more than 20 organizations will join a CEO Roundtable at the United Nations on 14 March to discuss strategies to advance gender equality in the face of backlash against global diversity and inclusion efforts.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Vetting and Managing the Charities in Your Employee Giving Campaign Requires More Than Great Technology

Mar 13, 2019 5:30 PM ET

“When my employees choose to donate to a charity, how do I know that charity is legitimate?”

“How do I know the funds actually get to my employees’ designated charities?”

Those are among the most popular questions we get from employers who approach us about partnering on their employee giving programs.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Merck Named to National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) Top Companies for Executive Women

Mar 13, 2019 4:30 PM ET

Health & Healthcare

Video | How Virtual Reality is Creating a New Frontier in Pain Management

Mar 13, 2019 3:00 PM ET

HP is partnering with Firsthand Technology, a VR healthcare company, to equip healthcare centers like Providence with new innovations for helping patients with pain management. Through the use of therapeutic games, VR is helping doctors and patients like Honjas think about and treat pain in new ways.

Diversity & Inclusion

A Breakthrough Moment for Women in Global Trade

Mar 13, 2019 3:00 PM ET

If we’re serious about inclusion, we must help more women take their business global says Kathleen Marran, UPS VP of marketing and diverse segments.

Innovation & Technology

Symantec and Identity Theft Resource Center Highlight Threats Faced by Foster Youth

Mar 13, 2019 3:00 PM ET

Symantec's FAST program helps foster youth restore their identities and curb the heightened risks of identity theft. Learn more about the impact of identity theft on foster youth in Symantec and Identity Theft Resource Center's recently released trend analysis.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Climate Change Matters to Investors and Leaders

Mar 13, 2019 2:30 PM ET

A rising number of portfolio managers is using environmental, social and governance (ESG) screens to select candidates for investment.