ESG News from Leading Brands

Responsible Production & Consumption

Healthy Food Choices Are Also Good for the Planet

Sep 27, 2018 11:20 AM ET

Our daily decisions about what we eat impact our environment, and food is one area where we each have the power to effect change. As Aramark Executive Chef in Symantec’s Mountain View café, it’s my job to feed roughly 1,000 people each day. At Aramark, we believe the consumer sets the table, so menus are developed using proprietary research and consumer insights. Our research shows people today are more knowledgeable than ever, in issues relating to health and wellness, and ethical wellbeing, and therefore more demanding of companies, to align with their concerns. This extends to the humane treatment of animals, local purchasing, and responsible sourcing.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

UN Global Compact Recognizes Most Engaged Companies at Leaders Summit 2018

Sep 27, 2018 11:15 AM ET

Today, the United Nations Global Compact is pleased to announce the businesses that have been recognized as Global Compact LEAD companies for demonstrating ongoing commitment to the UN Global Compact and its Ten Principles for responsible business.

Announced at UN Headquarters in New York during the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit 2018, these companies were identified as being among the most engaged participants of the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative. The 34 Global Compact LEAD companies recognized today represent every region of the world and 19 sectors.

Health & Healthcare

Wellness 2.0: How Albertsons, CVS And Eileen Fisher Are Ushering In The Next Phase Of Health-Focused Retailing

Sep 27, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Albertsons, which operates its namesake groceries and supermarkets under 20 banners such as Safeway and Vons, is steering the business so that its stores are an authentic extension of its pharmacy arm to become a “true health-and-wellness destination for the communities we serve,

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Allstate Foundation Nonprofit Leadership Center Offers Free Leadership Development Education to Nonprofit Employees

Sep 27, 2018 11:00 AM ET

The Allstate Foundation announced today the expansion of The Allstate Foundation Nonprofit Leadership Center, an online and in-person nonprofit leadership development program offering free curriculum for all nonprofit professionals. The curriculum, developed by the Kellogg School Center for Nonprofit Management at Northwestern University, covers topics including leadership, management and stakeholder engagement.

Green Infrastructure

How NextGen Agriculture Can Feed a Growing World

Sep 27, 2018 11:00 AM ET

One in every nine people in the world – or roughly 815 million people – are undernourished, according to the United Nations. This sobering statistic has prompted the UN to launch its Zero Hunger initiative, which aims to end hunger through indoor farming solutions, a now viable means for achieving sustainable food production.

The goal is simple: Ensure everyone has access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food by 2030.

Sustainable Development Goals

Cleaning Up After the Cold War

Sep 27, 2018 10:35 AM ET

Bechtel has a long history of making the world a safer and cleaner place by helping clean up after the Cold War. We have nearly 40 years of experience in environmental cleanup and management at more than 500 contaminated sites across the world.

One of Bechtel’s historically significant contributions is our service to the national program to clean up waste left over from the production of U.S. nuclear weapons. Our contributions include removing and remediating contaminated soil and groundwater, demolishing decommissioned nuclear reactors and processing facilities, and treating tens of millions of gallons of liquid radioactive waste stored in underground tanks.

Innovation & Technology

PNC: Do you Know the Most Common Types of Cybercrime?

Sep 27, 2018 10:30 AM ET

Environment

New Studies Show Progress Against Ivory Trade, Thanks to China Ban

Sep 27, 2018 10:30 AM ET

New statistics released today by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and TRAFFIC revealed that China’s ivory trade ban has had positive effects since coming into force at the beginning of 2018, but further action is needed to influence key segments of society.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Hungry for Solutions: HPE and the World Economic Forum Tackle Today’s — and Tomorrow’s — Food Challenges

Sep 27, 2018 10:25 AM ET

An African proverb states: If you want to go fast; go alone. If you want to go far; go together. But to help solve the most critical challenges facing mankind today, fast and far are both required. One of those challenges is ensuring a sustainable global food supply.

Environment

Taking Ambition on Climate Change to the Next Level

Sep 27, 2018 10:25 AM ET

I had the opportunity to join some of the most passionate and committed advocates for environmental sustainability – primatologist and anthropologist Jane Goodall; government leaders representing countries, states, and cities around the globe; business leaders from top companies including Apple, Bank of America, L’Oreal, Nike, Starbucks, and Salesforce; as well as representatives from the entertainment industry such as Harrison Ford and Alec Baldwin.

Research, Reports & Publications

The TCFD Publishes Its First Status Report

Sep 27, 2018 10:15 AM ET

The Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, chaired by Mike Bloomberg, published its first Status Report providing an overview of current disclosure practices and their alignment with the core elements of the TCFD recommendations.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

CSRHub Launches Its ESGHubTM App on the Bloomberg App Portal

Sep 27, 2018 10:05 AM ET

CSRHub, a provider of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability rankings, today announced the launch of its ESGHubTM app on the Bloomberg App Portal at {APPS <GO>}. Bloomberg Terminal subscribers can now access the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosure and ratings performance of companies in portfolios, indexes or other financial instruments.

Events, Media & Communications

Is Your Organization Ready to Transform? Reporting 3.0 Rolls Out Transformation Journey Program

Sep 27, 2018 10:00 AM ET

With increasing recognition of the imperative for companies and investors to transform their business models in order to generate sustainable returns while achieving the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals, there’s greater need for a “transformation blueprint.” Responding to this need, Reporting 3.0 is rolling out the Transformation Journey Program (TJP), based on our Transformation Journey Blueprint, in Workshop Series in Europe and North America. The Workshop Series, which focus on Sustainable Finance, will be hosted by ING in Amsterdam, John Hancock / Manulife in Boston, and McMaster University in Toronto between November 2018 and May 2019.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

GRO1000 Program Impact: Bringing Hope to 1,000 Communities

Sep 27, 2018 9:25 AM ET

Since 2011, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation has supported 1,000 community gardens in every state across the country.

Energy

NRG's Regulatory Roundup: All the Energy News Highlights from September

Sep 27, 2018 9:20 AM ET

Each month, we're pulling together a reading list of can't-miss regulatory updates in the U.S. energy market.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Four Ways to Make This #GivingTuesday Your Best Yet: Lessons From Nasdaq

Sep 27, 2018 9:00 AM ET

#GivingTuesday, the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, is globally known as the biggest day for giving. It is a day nonprofits and others begin preparing for months in advance, and for good reason.

Health & Healthcare

Calling on the Private Sector to Solve the Next Great Health Crisis of Our Time – Global Safe Surgery

Sep 27, 2018 9:00 AM ET

The global health world periodically has rude awakenings that expose vulnerabilities in countries’ preparedness to handle health crises. The outbreaks of Ebola and Zika in recent years are a glaring example of this weakness, exposing how poorly prepared areas like West Africa were for threats of that magnitude. Governments, civil society, and the private sector leapt into action with the resources to help, but their aid arrived late and was not completely organized, rendering their relationships and resources underutilized. The next global emergency is always lurking around the corner, making advance preparation of key resources all that much more important.

Health & Healthcare

GARDP and Novartis Announce Partnership to Reduce Child Deaths From Drug-resistant Infections

Sep 27, 2018 3:05 AM ET

The Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership (GARDP) and Novartis are joining forces to accelerate the development and availability of generic antibiotic treatments for children in low- and middle-income countries.

Diversity & Inclusion

Fox Partners With CineCares Foundation to Mentor Chicago Youth in Film and TV Production

Sep 26, 2018 9:30 PM ET

As production began on the upcoming fifth season of “Empire,” FOX’s Golden Globe-nominated drama series following the Lyon family’s exploits in the hip-hop industry, the show welcomed some new additions to its crew behind the scenes. A group of interns from the CineCares Foundation, a Chicago nonprofit providing education initiatives, joined colleagues in the Props, Wardrobe, Electric, Construction and other departments for the first 12 weeks of the shoot.

Education

Fox Teams up With Kennedy Center’s Turnaround Arts for #EmpireStarGivesBack Social Campaign

Sep 26, 2018 8:00 PM ET

In celebration of the fall returns of hit music dramas EMPIRE and STAR, Fox Broadcasting Company and parent company 21st Century Fox have teamed up with Turnaround Arts, a national program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, for a new social campaign. As one of the marquee national education initiatives of the Kennedy Center, Turnaround Arts empowers struggling schools with innovative arts programs and arts-based learning across subject areas as a strategy to help address broader school challenges and close the opportunity gap.

Research, Reports & Publications

Stockland Shows Global Leadership in Sustainability

Sep 26, 2018 7:00 PM ET

Stockland has released its FY18 Annual Review and Sustainability Reporting, showcasing the group’s achievements across its strategic, financial, social and environmental priorities and performance measures.

Sustainable Development Goals

Edison Shares Vision for Clean Energy Future at Global Summit

Sep 26, 2018 5:20 PM ET

Corporate and government leaders from across the globe gathered in San Francisco recently for the Global Climate Action Summit, an event to promote the sharing of ideas and strategies for curbing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.

For Edison International, the summit provided myriad opportunities to introduce an international audience to the company’s vision for a clean energy future and show how that vision can be realized.

Energy

How the Power Was Restored After Hurricane Florence

Sep 26, 2018 5:20 PM ET

Hurricane Florence battered eastern North Carolina Sept. 14-Sept. 15 and brought heavy rain inland, knocking out power for millions of people. Trees bashed power lines. Roads buckled. Flooding isolated towns and neighborhoods.

Environment

Striving for Zero: Nestlé Reinforces Efforts to Reduce Environmental Impact

Sep 26, 2018 5:05 PM ET

As global leaders from government, business, NGOs and the scientific community gather this week in New York to address the critical issue of climate change, Nestlé is reinforcing our ambition to strive for zero environmental impact in our operations while engaging in solution-driven dialogue.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

LG Energy Star Certified Home Appliances Rank #1 in Product and Service Quality

Sep 26, 2018 5:00 PM ET

ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year LG Electronics USA again leads the home appliance industry, earning #1 rankings in product quality and service quality in the just-released 2018 American Customer Satisfaction Index® (ACSI).

The majority of LG washing machines, dryers, refrigerators and dishwashers are ENERGY STAR certified, meaning they deliver energy efficiency without sacrificing performance or style. In fact, LG has the most washers in the industry designated as “ENERGY STAR Most Efficient 2018.”