ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: Climate Action Ninjas

Feb 13, 2019 9:45 AM ET

For nearly 30 years, Ceres has been working with businesses and investors to advance the shift toward a sustainable economy. That’s exactly what they did in this case, just with a heavy dosage of ninja stealth.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The Corporate Champions for Education

Feb 13, 2019 9:10 AM ET

Accelerating global leadership development, building the capacity of nonprofit organizations to better meet their missions, gaining insight into rapidly growing markets, engaging employees, and developing authentic reputations for Corporate Social Responsibility—all of these are reasons for companies to engage in international skills-based volunteering, otherwise known as Global Pro Bono.

With backing from SAP, PYXERA Global has immediate openings for participants in the Global Pro Bono program Corporate Champions for Education, a multi-company collaborative approach.

Diversity & Inclusion

Black History Month Highlights the Power of Employee Resource Groups

Feb 13, 2019 9:00 AM ET

Employee resource groups are at their best when they shine a light on a company’s strengths and opportunities. Kimberly-Clark’s employee-led African-American Employee Network (AAEN) is using this year’s Black History Month as an opportunity to do both - to celebrate employees who lead across Kimberly-Clark’s brands and business functions as mentors, innovators and thought leaders, and recruit more leaders across the company to do the same.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Timberland Earthkeepers Spotlight: Joyce Chan

Feb 13, 2019 9:00 AM ET

Joyce Chan is someone that lives as an Earthkeeper in her personal and professional life every day. Joyce is our Regional Merchandising Manager in Hong Kong. The support she gives to her community and the inspirational work she does is why we have nominated her as our Earthkeeper Spotlight this month. Let’s find out more about Joyce…

Energy

LEDs in Action: General Motors Is Saving With Tomorrow in Mind

Feb 13, 2019 9:00 AM ET

When General Motors wanted to reduce energy consumption across its portfolio, it tapped into Current, powered by GE, to outfit its facilities with new LED fixtures that will cut lighting-related energy use by more than 60 percent. After starting installations in 2017, the automaker is well on its way with more than 50,000 LED fixtures installed. At the same time, GM is incorporating sensors and controls into the new light fixtures to create a future-proof digital ceiling that can provide even greater savings and become part of a more robust intelligent infrastructure.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Xylem Employees Build 275 Filters for Families Lacking Access to Clean Water in Partnership with Wine To Water

Feb 13, 2019 9:00 AM ET

Xylem employees from the America’s Commercial Team assembled and sponsored 275 water filters in partnership with Wine To Water at their annual sales meeting. Each filter provides one household, or 6-10 people, clean water for 10 years, so this initiative will help 275 families gain access to clean water.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Moody's Mentors Making a Difference

Feb 13, 2019 8:25 AM ET

Green Infrastructure

Tetra Tech Designs Innovative, High Performance Buildings

Feb 13, 2019 8:00 AM ET

Tetra Tech works around the world with its clients to bring their ideas and projects to life. Our High Performance Buildings Group collectively delivers more than 170 years of experience to create sustainable, resilient structures that minimize energy and water use from Los Angeles to London and New York to Sydney.

Diversity & Inclusion

Discovery Education and USC Shoah Foundation Present Stronger Than Hate

Feb 13, 2019 8:00 AM ET

Discovery Education and USC Shoah Foundation have released a digital curriculum against intolerance.

Diversity & Inclusion

Spotify, eBay Set Standard for Fertility Benefits, Study Finds

Feb 13, 2019 8:00 AM ET

The technology sector awards women and same-sex couples the most comprehensive fertility benefit packages, according to a survey by FertilityIQ, an online platform for fertility patients to review doctors and research treatments.

Green Infrastructure

The Journey to Recovery in the Wake of Hurricane Michael

Feb 13, 2019 8:00 AM ET

In 2017, the United States experienced unprecedented devastation from three major hurricanes that struck weeks apart from each other. The following year, we endured this devastation once again when Hurricanes Florence and Michael started their paths of destruction in North Carolina and Florida, respectively.

Research, Reports & Publications

Quantifying Impact - White Paper

Feb 13, 2019 5:00 AM ET

In today’s digital world transparency is a given, but evidence is now critical. The TCFD recommendations and the SDGs will change sustainability reporting adding further pressure on companies to disclose validated data, quantify impact and showcase future resilience.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Workplace Giving and Payroll Deduction: One of the Best-kept Secrets to Creating Social Impact

Feb 12, 2019 4:15 PM ET

With numerous donation methods, including check, credit card, and PayPal, and the emergence of new fundraising platforms like Facebook, GoFundMe, and Text2Give over the past decade, there’s no shortage of options for employers and their employees to support the communities in which they live and work. However, so many options can be overwhelming and confusing – to donors as well as the leaders tasked with coordinating their company’s employee giving and corporate philanthropy initiatives. How can a business, of any size, and its employees most effectively raise money for causes they care about, create social change and improve the world around us?

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Tony Mitchell Named as 2019 Black Engineer of the Year, 3rd Booz Allen Executive to Win Prestigious Award

Feb 12, 2019 4:05 PM ET

US Black Engineer and Information Technology magazine has named Booz Allen Executive Vice President Anthony “Tony” Mitchell the 2019 Black Engineer of the Year (BEYA). Since the BEYA award was established in 1986, more than 10,000 engineers have been nominated but only 33 have won the honor of the title.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Duke Energy Once Again Named to Forbes’ Best Employers for Diversity

Feb 12, 2019 3:00 PM ET

Duke Energy is proud to once again be named to Forbes’ Best Employers for Diversity. We serve increasingly diverse communities in an increasingly complex world. That is why diversity and inclusion are central to both our work today and our vision for the future.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Arbor Day Foundation Names National Grid as Leader in Tree Trimming Practices for 20th Consecutive Year

Feb 12, 2019 2:30 PM ET

The Arbor Day Foundation has named National Grid a Tree Line USA recipient for the 20th consecutive year in honor of the company’s commitment to proper tree pruning, planting and care across its U.S. service area.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Thousands of Coats and Books Given to Children in Need Thanks to Operation Warm's Warm Welcome to the Library Program

Feb 12, 2019 2:05 PM ET

This season, America's Charities' member, Operation Warm, proudly introduced a new signature program: A Warm Welcome to the Library!

Environment

Brightening Our Corner Newsletter - February 2019

Feb 12, 2019 1:30 PM ET

The Ray Anderson Foundation quarterly newsletter is out. Check it out for the latest updates on the #Biomimicry Global Design Challenge, The Ray, the Ray C. Anderson Center for #Sustainable Business, Interface and more. #Ecocentricity #RideTheRay #RayDay2019

Responsible Production & Consumption

Albertsons Companies Pharmacies Adopt TemperPack's ClimaCell™ Packaging

Feb 12, 2019 1:00 PM ET

TemperPack, a leader in sustainable packaging, and Albertsons Companies are teaming up to divert tens of thousands of pounds of waste from the landfill every year.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

CEO & Executive Director, UN Global Compact Joins Ethical Corporation’s Responsible Business Summit New York 2019

Feb 12, 2019 12:00 PM ET

Lise Kingo joins CEOs and business leaders from North America’s most innovative, responsible brands to discuss how to lead the change to a sustainable future through investments, collaboration and innovation at Ethical Corporation’s Responsible Business Summit New York, March 18-19.

Energy

Sustainability Defined Podcast

Feb 12, 2019 12:00 PM ET

What is energy efficiency and why is it even important? What are some examples of energy efficient best practices?

Diversity & Inclusion

Aflac's Teresa White and Audrey Boone Tillman Honored Among 2019 Most Powerful Women in Corporate America

Feb 12, 2019 11:30 AM ET

As advocates of diversity and inclusivity, we are excited to celebrate the achievements of Aflac U.S. President Teresa White and General Counsel Audrey Boone Tillman, honorees on Black Enterprise’s 2019 Most Powerful Women in Corporate America list. We are continuously inspired by their strong leadership and commitment to making a positive influence on future generations.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Better Business for All: Six Ways Companies Can Integrate Human Rights

Feb 12, 2019 11:10 AM ET

Over the past decade, we have seen a remarkable rise in the value placed on human rights in the private sector – from a scenario where the ambitions of the business community and human rights advocates seemed irreconcilable, to one in which stakeholders have begun to approach a shared understanding of the risks, challenges, and opportunities involved.

Innovation & Technology

How Data Visualization Can Accelerate Environmental Progress

Feb 12, 2019 10:50 AM ET

The first time I spoke at a conference about air pollution, the venue was right beside a daycare—a well-regarded chain, no doubt with significant waiting lists. But on the outside, the facility was steps from onramps to a bridge and a major highway, where horns blared and buses and trucks idled at the lights.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Green for Growth: Why Green Manufacturing is Crucial for a Low-Carbon Future

Feb 12, 2019 10:35 AM ET

Climate change is indisputable, as well as its impact on our planet’s invaluable but finite resources. Indeed, this is one of the most pressing paradoxes of our time: How do we strive for industrial growth while also being mindful of the traditional environmental impact of productivity?

We must find the right balance. Everyone feels this urgency. The world is on a fast track to consume four Earths’ worth of resources by 2050. A recent United Nations report also warned that CO2 emissions must be cut nearly in half by 2030 to safeguard the planet from additional threats of climate change. Take note: that is just 10 brief years.

Without a doubt, the time for change is now.