ESG News from Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Guinness World Record for Largest Serving of Pulled Pork Provides Protein for Area Individuals in Need

Sep 13, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Smithfield Foods, Inc. joined with Southern Event and Party, Pleasant’s BBQ, Wildes Tavern, and Overtime Sports earlier this year to break the current Guinness World Record for Largest Serving of Pulled Pork. The previous record was set by Sonny’s BBQ in 2016, weighing 2,012 pounds. In August, the Records Management Team from Guinness World Records officially recognized the attempt to top the previous record, weighing 2,390 pounds. The world’s largest serving of pulled pork, made from Smithfield Fresh Pork Boneless Loins, was then served to Shepherd of the Gulf, #DoMore Pantry, and local first responders providing more than 2,000 meals to community members in need.

Events, Media & Communications

Common Impact, Social Venture Partners Boston and Impact 2030 Announce First-of-its-Kind Skills-Based Day of Service for Boston

Sep 13, 2018 11:00 AM ET

BOSTON, MA September 13, 2018 — Common Impact, a nonprofit recognized as a national leader in skills-based volunteerism, Social Venture Partners Boston, an organization focused on engaged philanthropy, and Impact 2030, a collaborative initiative that seeks to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through corporate volunteerism are launching a new model for citywide impact through a day of skilled service.

Media & Communications

CMT Celebrates the Women of Country Music with First-Ever All-Female “Artists of the Year” Special Honoring Carrie Underwood, Miranda Lambert, Kelsea Ballerini, Maren Morris, Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman and Hillary Scott

Sep 13, 2018 10:30 AM ET

In recognition of the undeniable influence and impact of female artists in country music, CMT today announced that for the first-time ever the annual “CMT Artists of the Year” special is dedicated to the women of country music—past, present and future.

A staunch advocate for country music’s female artists, CMT launched its dedicated “Next Women of Country” campaign in 2013 as a way to give female artists voice and airplay across all CMT platforms. The franchise has received critical acclaim, and in five years since launch CMT has expanded to include tours, digital programming and more. Ballerini and Morris are both alumnae of the “Next Women” franchise.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The Four Ps of Leadership

Sep 13, 2018 10:30 AM ET

In today’s highly competitive and polarized environment, any movement or cause needs energetic and effective leaders. This is especially true in the social sector, which is chronically understaffed and undercapitalized. Therefore, truly successful and sustainable leaders need to combine the skills and attributes of both leadership and management. They require a vision as well as the ability to execute it.

Health & Healthcare

Delos Partners With Simonds to Bring Wellness Homes to Australia

Sep 13, 2018 10:25 AM ET

Global wellness real estate pioneer, Delos™, has partnered with Simonds Homes to launch DARWIN Home Wellness Intelligence, a world-first wellness platform that will revolutionise the healthy home movement in Australia.

Diversity & Inclusion

Returning to Work with Barclays’ Encore! Programme

Sep 13, 2018 10:10 AM ET

Before joining Barclays, Jo Aitken ran a sports organisation developing ambitious legacy initiatives in east London connected to the 2012 Olympics. In 2015, she took a year out to have a baby. One year turned into three, but Barclays’ Encore! programme – which helps people who have taken a career break to re-enter the workforce – allowed Jo to transition into a dynamic new role, as a Corporate Banking Relationship Director in Technology, Media and Telecoms. She tells us why the programme works.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

First-Ever Southern Nevada Plan to End Youth Homelessness to Be Unveiled at Summit 18: The Movement in Action

Sep 13, 2018 10:05 AM ET

Las Vegas Sands and Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY) today announced the second annual Southern Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit will be held Friday, Nov. 2 at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, culminating a year-long, community-wide effort to build the region’s first-ever Southern Nevada Plan to End Youth Homelessness, which will be unveiled at the summit.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

M&S & Interface on SDGs Integration – Webinar Recordings

Sep 13, 2018 10:05 AM ET

Recently Ethical Corporation conducted an in-depth 1-hour webinar with industry experts to understand how you successfully integrate the SDGs into your operations. Hear from Marks & Spencer, Interface, Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and SABMiller on:

Diversity & Inclusion

It’s Time to Close the Gap for Women of Color in Tech

Sep 13, 2018 9:55 AM ET

More than ever before, the tech industry is focusing on diversity. As sustainability and impact professionals, we continue to push our leaders to make racial and gender equity the business norm. Companies in our sector have changed recruiting policies, increased training budgets, hired new diversity team members, established goals, and released metrics on progress.

Diversity & Inclusion

Dell Joins Cross-Industry Coalition to Advance Women of Color in Tech

Sep 13, 2018 9:40 AM ET

Pivotal Ventures, an investment and incubation company created by Melinda Gates and McKinsey & Company released new research on closing the gender gap in tech.

Research, Reports & Publications

DXC Technology Embraces Sustainability Innovations in Its First Year

Sep 13, 2018 9:00 AM ET

In its first year of operation, DXC Technology has adopted sustainable, forward-thinking business practices to drive positive social, economic and environmental outcomes.

Green Infrastructure

Wilshire Grand Tower: Sustainable Design for the Tallest Building in the Western United States

Sep 13, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Tetra Tech helped create a sustainable design for the 73-story, LEED Gold-certified Wilshire Grand, the tallest building in the western United States.

Downtown Los Angeles’ 73-story Wilshire Grand sits in the footprint of its famous predecessor, the Wilshire Grand Hotel, which hosted some of the 20th Century’s most famous international dignitaries.

Events, Media & Communications

Just Released Attendee List – 400+ CSR, Reporting, Supply Chain and Investors to Meet in London in October

Sep 13, 2018 5:05 AM ET

The co-located 13th Sustainable Supply Chain Summit and the 12th Sustainability Reporting & Communications Summit (10-11 October 2018) attendee list has just been released and can be accessed here. Over 400 senior executives will meet in London to discuss and find innovative solutions to the key supply chain, reporting and sustainability challenges impacting global businesses.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Dold Foods Donates $40,000 to the Kansas Food Bank Expansion Project

Sep 12, 2018 8:30 PM ET

Dold (Kan.) Foods, the local manufacturing facility owned by Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), announced today that it has donated $40,000 to the Kansas Food Bank’s capital campaign to help fund its expansion project.

Environment

Sammy Roth on Desert Water Tussles

Sep 12, 2018 6:05 PM ET

As more and more of the western United States suffers from warmer temperatures and in some places desertification, water has become perhaps the most hotly debated topic in environmental newsrooms throughout the region. It’s no surprise then that an environmental reporter from the Palm Springs-based Desert Sun would be covering a whole host of water-related stories. This week on Sea Change Radio, we take a deep dive into a pool of topics with Sammy Roth that hopefully won’t dampen your spirits.

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar Inc. | Sharing Generously Around the World

Sep 12, 2018 6:00 PM ET

Our success contributes to the social stability of regions around the world in many ways. Caterpillar’s products help build infrastructure for transportation, energy, telecommunications, waste and water.

Environment

5 Things You Shouldn't Recycle

Sep 12, 2018 5:15 PM ET

Events, Media & Communications

A Global SDG Competition to Inspire the Next Generation of Sustainability Leadership

Sep 12, 2018 5:00 PM ET

Sustainability has come a long way in the last 10 years. It's now common language in boardrooms across the world. Most companies have someone who has a title that includes the world Sustainability, CSR, Value Creation or Shared Value. This is a great achievement and we should all be thrilled with this cultural shift. But we're not there yet and lately inspiration has been lacking.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Groundbreaking Partnership for Environmentally Friendly Cruise Tourism in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Sep 12, 2018 4:30 PM ET

On September 11, 2018, around 280 executives of AIDA Cruises welcomed the prime minister of Mecklenburg- Western Pomerania, Manuela Schwesig at the AIDA Management Days in Rostock. The occasion was marked by the signing of a Declaration of Intend between AIDA Cruises, the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the Hanseatic and University City of Rostock and ROSTOCK PORT to jointly promote environmentally friendly and sustainable cruise shipping in Rostock,.

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: I'll Take Trademarks for $200, Alex

Sep 12, 2018 4:15 PM ET

So much of Yvon Chouinard's book's contents match perfectly with Ray Anderson’s own philosophies. For instance, on page 151 of Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman, Patagonia founder, Chouinard writes, “Our mission statement says nothing about making a profit. In fact, our family considers our bottom line to be the amount of good that the business has accomplished over the year."

Social Impact & Volunteering

Employers: How Much Volunteer Time Is the "Right" Amount During the Work Day?

Sep 12, 2018 4:15 PM ET

More time to volunteer doesn't always equal more participation. Participation increases when employees have 1-2 volunteer days.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Nestlé Waters North America Provides Free Warehouse Space for American Red Cross to Help With Continued Response to Wildfires and Aftermath in Northern California

Sep 12, 2018 3:45 PM ET

For the third time in four years, Nestlé Waters North America has turned over the keys to its former bottling facility in Calistoga, California to the American Red Cross to use as a staging area to help Northern California communities facing wildfires. “The American Red Cross has a critical need for temporary warehouse space to provide support for victims of the Northern California wildfires,” said Joe Lund, Director of Operations for American Red Cross in Northern California.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Abbott, C&A, Aviva Join Reporting Summit

Sep 12, 2018 3:35 PM ET

We are delighted to confirm that Abbott, C&A Global, Aviva and LEO Pharma are the latest companies to join the speaker faculty at the 12th Sustainability Reporting & Communications Summit [London, 10-11 October] – demonstrating resilience; through transparent, SDG-focused disclosure

Education

'Fly Like a Girl': Over 100 Girls Learn About STEM, Airline Careers

Sep 12, 2018 1:35 PM ET

Joanna Geraghty said being the highest-ranking woman in the airline industry is humbling, but also frustrating.

"It shouldn't be that way in 2018," said Geraghty, JetBlue's president and chief operating officer. "There should be many more in this space ranked even higher than me."

JetBlue teamed up with the Utah STEM Action Center and Atlantic Aviation Friday to teach girls about careers in flight, especially those relying on science, technology, engineering and math.

Education

Amgen Scholars Program in Singapore

Sep 12, 2018 1:25 PM ET

The Amgen Scholars Program provides young scientists across the globe access and opportunity through cutting-edge research experiences and exposure to biotechnology and drug discovery. In this video, Singapore Amgen Scholar, Su Chang Chloe shares her story about participating in the program at Kyoto University, Japan and the opportunities for independent research, networking, and communication skills.