ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

Cerro Verde, a Freeport-McMoRan Company, Plants Trees for Afforestation Project

Nov 16, 2018 7:45 AM ET

Minera Sociedad Cerro Verde distributed 3,000 trees in the Uchumayo District of Peru between 2017 and 2018 as part of its afforestation project.

Trees are important, as they absorb carbon dioxide, generate oxygen, and improve the quality of the air along with preventing erosion and degradation of the soil. Trees reduce noise pollution by absorbing the sounds of traffic, sirens and construction – their foliage acts as acoustic insulators.

Sustainable Development Goals

Water-Smart Farming: How Innovative Technologies Are Improving the Lives of Smallholder Farmers Across Asia, Latin America and Africa

Nov 16, 2018 7:35 AM ET

aQysta, a “clean-tech” start-up, injects its entrepreneurial energy into the Business Call to Action (BCtA) platform with a pledge to bring its affordable, clean-energy water pump to 10,000 smallholder farmers globally to save 300 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, while improving crop yields and incomes, by 2021.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

PNC: Four Things to Know Ahead of the Holiday Giving Season

Nov 15, 2018 10:05 PM ET

The end of the year is typically when most people think about giving back to their communities.

“The holiday spirit usually inspires people to turn their attention toward their community and charitable causes that are near and dear to their hearts,” said Vivian Loy, senior wealth strategist at PNC Wealth Management.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Second Annual Stephen R. Kellert Biophilic Design Award Winners Announced

Nov 15, 2018 7:00 PM ET

The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) honored the late scholar and Yale University social ecologist Stephen R. Kellert’s legacy with the second annual Biophilic Design Award last night at a special award ceremony hosted by Interface, Inc., at the 2018 Greenbuild International Conference and Expo. This year the award was presented to two outstanding projects: The VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre, and the Dixon Water Foundation Betty and Clint Josey Pavilion.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Nestlé Achieves Top Spot in First U.S. Access to Nutrition Index

Nov 15, 2018 4:30 PM ET

Nestlé is ranked highest in the first-ever U.S.-focused Access to Nutrition Index (ATNI), which evaluates the policies, practices and product portfolios of ten food and beverage companies. This follows the release of the global index earlier this year, in which Nestlé also placed first.

Nestlé’s performance in the global and U.S. indices confirms its leadership and its contribution to tackling the pressing challenges of obesity and undernutrition globally and in the U.S.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Sappi Increases Employee Engagement Efforts

Nov 15, 2018 4:00 PM ET

Our people are critical to our operations. A key component to any successful employee engagement program is communication. At Sappi North America, we prioritize our communication efforts to ensure that all of our associates are informed of, and feel connected to, the organization’s business, mission, strategy and values. To this end, we utilize a number of resources, including email, social media, newsletters, events, video and printed collateral, to maintain organizational alignment and morale.

Diversity & Inclusion

Q&A on The Diversity Project

Nov 15, 2018 3:45 PM ET

Dan Houlihan is the head of asset servicing for Americas at Northern Trust and also serves as the chairman of NICSA, an asset management industry group. In that role, he’s helped launch the US brand of The Diversity Project, an industry initiative to improve representation. We sat down with Dan to talk diversity, communications in the financial industry.

Sustainable Development Goals

Video: The Erb Institute Talks Business Sustainability at the Global Climate Action Summit

Nov 15, 2018 3:15 PM ET

This September, a delegation from the University of Michigan’s Erb Institute traveled to San Francisco to attend the Global Climate Action Summit. The Erb Institute also hosted an Affiliate event: Developing Climate-Business Strategies: Partnering with Universities for Science-Based Impact.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Video: Hallmark Time-Lapse Creation of Elementary School Mural

Nov 15, 2018 1:35 PM ET

As part of Hallmark’s #my5days program, Hallmark artists completed a mural at Longfellow Elementary school in Kansas City, Mo. The #my5days program allows Hallmark’s creative community five work days throughout the year to gain creative renewal and inspiration to gain new perspectives and find new ways to connect with their consumers and the marketplace. Summer 2018 marked the first time multiple artists used their talents and #my5days to benefit local community partners.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Poland Spring and Sea Bags Collaborate to Celebrate America Recycles Day

Nov 15, 2018 1:30 PM ET

Poland Spring® 100% Natural Spring Water and Maine retailer, Sea Bags, are collaborating to raise awareness about recycling, and help prevent recyclable materials from being discarded in landfills. In celebration of America Recycles Day, Poland Spring and Sea Bags have collaborated to create 100 limited-edition, premium tote bags utilizing sail cloth made from recycled water bottles.

Education

D.C. Area Educators Attend Day of Discovery, Activities and Understanding With Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Discovery Education

Nov 15, 2018 1:15 PM ET

Educators across D.C., Maryland and Virginia celebrated STEM on Wednesday, November 14 through a day of free professional development thanks to Discovery Education and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS). The ‘Day of Discovery’ event, part of Discovery Education and TCS’ Ignite My Future in School initiative, promotes computational thinking through a variety of educational resources and interactive activities, giving teachers unique insight and strategies to effectively teach students 21st century skills.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Alicia Daniels Uhlig Receives a Women in Sustainability Leadership Award From Green Building & Design Magazine

Nov 15, 2018 12:45 PM ET

Alicia Daniels Uhlig Receives a Women in Sustainability Leadership Award from Green Building & Design Magazine. International Living Future Institute community and policy leader recognized for important contributions to a more sustainable world

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Influential Forest Stewards Honored at Greenbuild

Nov 15, 2018 12:00 PM ET

SCS Global Services (SCS) extends congratulations to the 16 individuals and organizations honored by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC) during the 2018 FSC Leadership Awards ceremony in Chicago. Among the recipients were three of SCS’ longstanding certification clients:

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

More Than $3.5 Million Raised During the 2018 Allstate Foundation Purple Purse Challenge to Benefit Domestic Violence Survivors

Nov 15, 2018 12:00 PM ET

On a single day in 2017, more than 11,000 calls for help from victims went unanswered due to the lack of resources and staff at domestic violence nonprofits. To address these immense funding gaps, The Allstate Foundation rallied nearly 300 domestic violence nonprofits across the country to participate in its fifth annual Purple Purse® Challenge during National Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October.

Environment

The Changing Landscape of Sustainability Transparency & Disclosure

Nov 15, 2018 12:00 PM ET

When it comes to reporting and disclosure, sustainability leaders at beverage companies are feeling mounting pressure to meet changing reporting requirements and intensifying stakeholder expectations.

Recently, several Transparency & Disclosure Working Group members of the Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER) came together to discuss emerging trends, metrics that matter, and what companies should do now to prepare for the next reporting evolution. Those members include: Laura Nelson of Antea Group, Jamal Booker of The Coca-Cola Company, Julie Lejard of Pernod Ricard, and Suzette Carty of Brown-Forman. To learn more about the insights they shared regarding this important topic, check out BIER's latest blog post: http://bit.ly/FutureofTransparency

Education

U.S. Department Of Labor Approves Lockheed Martin National Standards Of Apprenticeship

Nov 15, 2018 11:45 AM ET

Lockheed Martin today announced that the U.S. Department of Labor (DoL) has approved its proposed National Standards of Apprenticeship, establishing a common framework for the company to develop and expand registered apprenticeship programs across its U.S. facilities. These programs will include on-the-job training and classroom instruction for highly-skilled roles.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Rebuild a house. Create a home.

Nov 15, 2018 11:45 AM ET

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Nestlé Waters North America Signs Agreement With Recycled PET Supplier CarbonLITE as They Build New Facility in Lehigh Valley

Nov 15, 2018 11:35 AM ET

Nestlé Waters North America announced today that it has signed a significant agreement with recycled PET plastic (rPET) supplier CarbonLITE, and that CarbonLITE will expand its U.S. operations by building a third facility in the Lehigh Valley area of Pennsylvania.

Environment

It’s America Recycles Day: Let’s Engineer Out Waste

Nov 15, 2018 11:15 AM ET

I’ve always been drawn to examining how design affects us; the reason you like your favorite mug, the smartphone that easily guides how you swipe and click, why you like the layout of your go-to grocery store. I’m an engineer in the Experience Design Group at Dell. My team designs products and services with a focus on the quality of the user experience.

Sometimes design is done well, but frequently it’s not, and that can have significant implications for sustainability.

Diversity & Inclusion

Developing a Diverse Pipeline of Nonprofit Leaders With Pro Bono

Nov 15, 2018 11:05 AM ET

Bridgespan has estimated that by 2023 nonprofit leadership will have turned over 100%. The turnover is not due to a mass retirement of Baby Boomers as initially projected. Instead, it is driven by a combination of factors including staff movement to another nonprofit, termination, and a decision to switch sectors.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Duke Energy Foundation Awards Florida Nonprofits More Than $343,000 in Grants to Protect and Restore Wildlife and Natural Resources

Nov 15, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Duke Energy Florida is granting more than $343,000 to 10 nonprofit organizations throughout the state to restore and protect the natural environment for future generations to enjoy.

Events, Media & Communications

The Bridge Between Hope and Possibility

Nov 15, 2018 10:05 AM ET

Cisco was founded on the possibilities of a single connection between two people. Over thirty years later, that one connection has multiplied to billions, two founders have grown to 75,000 employees, and the world is filled with an unprecedented complexity and opportunity. What remains unchanged is our belief in the power of connections to achieve what’s possible – for our customers, partners, employees, and the world.

With a single connection Cisco changed the world – and we continue to do so today. This is why I couldn’t be more excited to introduce our new Cisco campaign, The Bridge to Possible.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Las Vegas Sands Brings Their Community Together for a Global Hygiene Kit Build & Blood Drive

Nov 15, 2018 10:05 AM ET

More than 500 volunteers in Las Vegas joined Las Vegas Sands and social enterprises Clean the World and the American Red Cross to build 35,000 hygiene and comfort kits to support populations in need. The large community volunteer effort was in part with the company’s global annual kit build and its active approach on community preparedness.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

PayPal & Facebook Partner to Match Donations on Giving Tuesday

Nov 15, 2018 10:05 AM ET

At PayPal, we’re committed to harnessing the power of our technology, partnerships and scale to make giving part of everyday life, and enable unprecedented levels of support for charitable organizations around the world. That’s especially true during the holidays, as our customers turn to our platform to connect with, and give to the causes they care most about.

Diversity & Inclusion

From the Marines to Merck: Pursuing Missions That Matter

Nov 15, 2018 10:05 AM ET

When I decided to pursue a career in the military, I wasn’t sure whether it would be for 5 years or 20 years. I was passionate about serving our country and drawn to the Marine Corps’ camaraderie and values of “Honor, Courage, and Commitment”. I’ll be forever grateful for the experiences the Marine Corps provided me and, most importantly, the Marines with whom I served.