ESG News from Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Rescuing One Billion Pounds of Food

Oct 16, 2018 12:30 PM ET

One billion of anything is a lot.

One billion pounds of perfectly good food given to hungry people instead of landfills is life changing for those who face hunger. And according to Feeding America, that’s one in eight people in America.

With wasted food in landfills being one of the largest sources of greenhouse gas going into the atmosphere, every pound of food we can use to feed hungry people – rather than send to a landfill – really helps the environment.

Social Impact & Volunteering

JetBlue’s Newest Destination is... Good!

Oct 16, 2018 12:05 PM ET

JetBlue today announced that it is putting good on the map. Literally. To celebrate the airline’s nonstop commitment to giving back and good deeds, JetBlue is adding a new destination to its network this November — Destination Good. As part of JetBlue For Good Month, JetBlue is flying a plane full of winning do-gooders to Destination Good for a volunteer experience departing on Giving Tuesday, November 27. The twist? The actual location won’t be revealed until the morning the contest winners depart from New York’s JFK International Airport.

Responsible Production & Consumption

A Holistic Approach to Sustainability Through Handprinting

Oct 16, 2018 12:00 PM ET

When the commercial division of the world’s largest flooring manufacturer switches its focus from “footprinting” to “handprinting” — or leaving the world in better shape than when we found it — it is not a small endeavor or one taken lightly.

We at Mohawk Group quickly realized that if we truly intended to pursue sustainability, it would require a sea change in our way of doing business, our manufacturing processes, our attitude from plant floor to boardroom, and our products. It would require committed leadership and putting to work all the innovation we had come to be so well known for. And it would mean every day, in every Mohawk facility around the globe, reinvigorating our promise to Believe in Better.

Health & Healthcare

Thousands of Louisville Residents Take Suicide Prevention Training

Oct 16, 2018 12:00 PM ET

During National Suicide Prevention Week (September 9-15), more than 2,200 Louisville residents were trained in Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR), a nationally known suicide prevention technique.

Similar to CPR, QPR is designed to support an emergency response to someone in crisis and to save lives.

Innovation & Technology

How Emerging Technologies are Driving Circularity, Electric Transportation and More

Oct 16, 2018 11:50 AM ET

When I was a kid, my dad told me that his favorite technological advancements were the automatic garage door and the automatic ice maker. I didn’t fully understand why at the time. But I get it now.

Environment

Resilience in the Face of Global Warming

Oct 16, 2018 11:30 AM ET

Education

In Depth With a Program Powerhouse: 12 Years of Amgen Scholars With Patty Phelps

Oct 16, 2018 11:20 AM ET

Over the past 12 years, Patty Phelps has mentored more than 250 students in her role as faculty advisor for the Amgen Scholars Program at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Among those students is: a young woman who came from the University of Washington in bioengineering and is now pursuing a Ph.D. at the University of California, San Diego; a hard-working young man who returned to UCLA for graduate school in neuroscience; and the wonderful UCLA students who each year welcomed those from out-of-town and developed long-term friendships.

Environment

Report: While Health & Safety Leaders Say Top Execs Support Efforts, They May Not Fully Understand the Value

Oct 16, 2018 11:10 AM ET

Antea Group’s blog discusses the importance of leadership engagement in a company’s health and safety efforts and ways to emphasize their value.

Events, Media & Communications

Pro Bono Perspectives Podcast: Episode 5 - Harriet Harral, Leadership Fort Worth

Oct 16, 2018 11:05 AM ET

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Harriet Harral the Executive Director of Leadership Fort Worth (LFW) to Pro Bono Perspectives! LFW is a Texas-based nonprofit that is among the oldest community leadership-development programs in the nation. Harriet has acquired expertise in organizational effectiveness and leadership development through her experience working in not only the non-profit sector but also the public and corporate sectors. Talk about a cross-sector leader!

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Bloomberg and CSRHub Webinar – Solving the ESG Data Challenge

Oct 16, 2018 10:45 AM ET

With the increased demand for ESG (environment, social, governance) data and conflicting opinions on company performance by different data providers, investors are searching for ways to measure ESG, variance among different ESG ratings and correlations between leading datasets.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Ebook | The Biggest Threats to Your Corporate Philanthropy Initiatives

Oct 16, 2018 10:35 AM ET

How can bad things happen to programs that are all about doing good? It’s an unfortunate fact of doing CSR work in a changing and volatile world. It takes a nimble, agile approach to stay ahead of them.

Health & Healthcare

New Insight Research Study with Results on Hand Hygiene

Oct 16, 2018 10:30 AM ET

Clean hands can increase well-being of people around you. 8 in 10 say knowing that people around them wash their hands properly would have a positive impact on their state of mind.

Media & Communications

UN IPCC Warns Us: The Time to Act Is Now – The Window For Action on Global Warming is Fast Closing

Oct 16, 2018 10:15 AM ET

The buzz for the past few days has been about the report of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that urged governments everywhere to “take rapid and far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society” to avoid catastrophic events and conditions brought on by climate change.

Why? The planet temperature could reach the critical point – keep 1.5 degrees Celsius / 2.7 F above pre-industrial levels in mind. We must get measures in place to address the threats of floods, rising seas, food shortages, shrinking arable land, wildfires, rising seas…and more.

Education

Hallmark Enables Arts Education in the UK

Oct 16, 2018 9:40 AM ET

Hallmark Greetings’ United Kingdom (UK) business partnered with local colleges and universities to open the door for students toward a career in the arts, working with six di erent groups in the past year.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Clean Energy Investing: Changing Lives, Changing the World

Oct 16, 2018 9:35 AM ET

Renewable Energy was the most-added source of new power generation in 2017. In an increasing number of regions, clean energy is the cheapest source of new electricity. Confidence in the clean energy sector can be seen in the large commitments made by major banking institutions. The public and our investors are grasping the reality of a renewable energy future. Rooftop solar panels are commonplace and are required on new homes in some cities in California. Solar photovoltaic installers and wind turbine service technicians have become the nation’s two fastest-growing occupations.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

When a Financial Institution Takes a Stand on Corporate Citizenship

Oct 16, 2018 9:10 AM ET

TD Bank says it has taken changing consumer expectations to heart and is addressing them through Ready Commitment, an initiative designed to support a more inclusive tomorrow.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sodexo Named 2018 Business Partner of the Year by the National Association of College Auxiliary Services

Oct 16, 2018 9:05 AM ET

Sodexo, a food and facilities management company committed to improving Quality of Life, announced today it was named 2018 Business Partner of the Year by The National Association of College Auxiliary Services (NACAS).

Innovation & Technology

Air-Bending at Borden: Ventilation on Demand

Oct 16, 2018 7:30 AM ET

Worker health and safety is of the utmost importance at Goldcorp and air quality is a high priority in underground operations. Ventilation fans, air ducts, and infrastructure such as fresh air intake raises, are necessary to distribute fresh air, and as a result are indispensable to ensure the health, safety and comfort of anyone working underground. However, as mine development progresses deeper, costs rise as it takes more effort to deliver quality air.

To conserve energy and save money without compromising safety and air quality, Borden has implemented a Ventilation on Demand (VoD) system.

Health & Healthcare

Here’s Why Clean Hands Should be at the Heart of Your Business

Oct 15, 2018 4:30 PM ET

The link between hand hygiene and public health is undisputed, but what role do clean hands play in business? As a hygiene and health company dedicated to improving well-being, Essity set out to answer this question by surveying thousands of consumers and professionals from different countries and industries.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

eBay Everyday Heroes | Second Chances

Oct 15, 2018 4:30 PM ET

Environment

Project Gigaton Q&A: The Role of Agriculture in a Company’s Carbon Footprint

Oct 15, 2018 4:00 PM ET

Most greenhouse gases from the production of meat, dairy or eggs are emitted before the products leave the farm gate. Emissions are released by beef and dairy cows when they digest feed. Growing feed crops for animals also contributes to the GHG footprint, of which the majority comes from the production and application of fertilizer as well as the plowing of land for crop production. Lastly, manure from these animals releases significant amounts of GHG emissions.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Mars Inc. Ranks Number 3 in World's Best Workplaces List

Oct 15, 2018 3:30 PM ET

Education

‘Much More Than a Scholarship’

Oct 15, 2018 3:00 PM ET

When Vanessa Velasquez was in high school, she knew she wanted to go to college, but she wasn’t sure where to start. As the daughter of a single mother and the first in her family to go to college, she didn’t know how the college admissions process worked or how to find financial aid. Fortunately, her mother’s friend who had taught her mother English referred Velasquez to the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships and support services to as many Hispanic American students as possible.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

LIXIL Wins Coveted ‘Innovation of the Year’ at Ethical Corporation Responsible Business Awards

Oct 15, 2018 2:25 PM ET

The Ethical Corporation’s Responsible Business Awards have recognized LIXIL, maker of pioneering water and housing products, for its innovative SATO line of toilet and sanitation products. The range, which offers safe and affordable sanitation for those who lack access, won the prestigious ‘Innovation of the Year’ award.

The internationally-renowned Responsible Business Awards recognize innovative and meaningful approaches to making responsible business a reality. Commenting on the selection of SATO, the Ethical Corporation Responsible Business Awards said, "LIXIL has launched an excellent series of products and innovations that help tackle the global sanitation crisis and positively impact the lives of millions of people."

Health & Healthcare

Essity- Global Handwashing Day Power of Hands Video

Oct 15, 2018 2:15 PM ET

We are supporting the Global Handwashing Partnership on their activation to promote hand hygiene globally under their theme: ‘Clean Hands – a recipe for health on Global Handwashing Day, October 15, 2018. Essity, the maker of the Tork brand, is a partner and we actively contribute with education, insights and innovations for better hand hygiene. Learn more on globalhandwashing.org