ESG News from Leading Brands

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Fortune Names Las Vegas Sands to “World’s Most Admired Companies” List for the Second Consecutive Year

Feb 5, 2018 8:30 AM ET

Repeating last year’s appearance on the preeminent list of global corporate leaders, Las Vegas Sands has been named one of the “World’s Most Admired Companies” in Fortune’s annual roundup of the world’s most respected and reputable businesses, as judged by industry peers, analysts and leaders on criteria including innovation, people management and social responsibility.

Research, Reports & Publications

WBCSD Takes a Closer Look at the Corporate Reporting Landscape in the United States and Canada

Feb 5, 2018 8:05 AM ET

Today, at GreenBiz18 in Phoenix, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) released a new report, compiling data from the Reporting Exchange that offers a closer look into the reporting landscape of the United States and Canada.

Innovation & Technology

Alliance Data VIDEO | How Better Data Is Tackling Hunger, One Byte at a Time

Feb 5, 2018 8:05 AM ET

Epsilon, an Alliance Data company and next generation marketing agency, made an investment in the SF-Marin Food Bank's client data tracking tool two years ago. A tool that, much in the same way we leverage data to help give our clients deeper insights into their customers, allows the Food Bank to better understand the clients they serve, how to effectually manage and distribute resources and measure their success - allowing them to operate more effectively and efficiently.

Sustainable Development Goals

Food or Inedible Part? Changing Norms in Waste Characterization Studies to Measure Food Waste

Feb 5, 2018 8:00 AM ET

Belinda Li, project engineer in Tetra Tech’s Solid Waste Management Practice in Canada, discusses how waste characterization studies are evolving to collect better data on food waste. Belinda led a comprehensive food waste characterization study across three American cities for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). All opinions expressed in this post are the author’s own.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

CITGO and Habitat for Humanity Rebuild and Restore Homes Following Hurricane Harvey

Feb 3, 2018 5:40 PM ET

CITGO Petroleum Corporation is donating up to $1.4 million to Habitat for Humanity with the immediate goal of rebuilding approximately 22 homes in the Rockport, Texas community. The partnership is part of the CITGO Fueling Good. Rebuilding Lives. initiative, a larger effort dedicated to community recovery in the wake of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria.

Events, Media & Communications

LBG Canada & The Works Design Communications Present: The Top Ten Tips for Effective Reporting

Feb 2, 2018 6:00 PM ET

London Benchmarking Group (LBG) Canada and The Works Design Communications partner to bring you The Top Ten Tips for Effective Community Investment Reporting. On Thursday, February 15th, 2018 community investment professionals interested in enhancing their external corporate reporting with data are encouraged to attend this web-based discussion. The webinar will include key reporting trends with examples of 'best-in-class' reports backed by the use of salient data.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Girl on the Balcony

Feb 2, 2018 4:00 PM ET

Millions have seen the image. Moments after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was fatally shot on April 4, 1968, photographer Joseph Louw captured the moment when those with Dr. King on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel all pointed to an area across the street.

Green Infrastructure

Super Bowl LII Catalyzes Zero-Waste Legacy

Feb 2, 2018 3:30 PM ET

This weekend, the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis will attract over 66,000 people for the Super Bowl – not to mention the 100 million viewers who will be watching across the country. While much of the day’s focus will be on the players and the ads, this year’s organizers are also spotlighting another, greener aspect of the game: engaging fans throughout the evening to create the first ever zero-waste Super Bowl.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Pro Football Hall of Famer and Cancer Survivor Jim Kelly Joins Merck to Challenge America to Raise Funds for the Cancer Community

Feb 2, 2018 3:25 PM ET

With an estimated 1.6 million Americans diagnosed in 2017 alone, cancer not only impacts those diagnosed but their friends and family as well. In recognition of World Cancer Day on Sunday, Feb. 4, Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, along with Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Kelly is asking all Americans to join the Your Cancer Game Plan Challenge, a social awareness effort to help raise funds to support cancer patient organizations.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Empowering Entrepreneurs: Interview With Gayle Grindley, Investing in Future Generations

Feb 2, 2018 3:05 PM ET

Gayle Grindley, Natural Channel Sales Director for Unilever, has travelled with Whole Planet Foundation and met microcredit clients in Austin, San Diego, Phoenix, in Guatemala in Central America (pictured), in Paraguay, South America and in Togo, West Africa.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sodexo Earns Highest Marks in RobecoSAM’s “Sustainability Yearbook” for Eleventh Straight Year

Feb 2, 2018 2:45 PM ET

Award recognizes companies that through their Corporate Responsibility efforts are acting to “help realize the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030”

Environment

New Regulations in California Brought More Haulers into the Food Recovery World

Feb 2, 2018 2:00 PM ET

Innovation & Technology

FCA US LLC Set to Deliver Thousands of Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Minivans to Waymo's Self-Driving Service

Feb 2, 2018 1:45 PM ET

FCA US LLC announced an agreement to supply thousands of Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivans to Waymo to support the launch of the world’s first driverless ride-hailing service. Vehicle delivery begins in late 2018 with Pacifica Hybrid minivans to be deployed across multiple U.S. cities.

Sustainable Development Goals

UN Global Compact Announces New Business Action Platform for the Ocean

Feb 2, 2018 1:05 PM ET

Today, the United Nations Global Compact announced the formation of a Business Action Platform for the Ocean — a three-year global programme bringing together business, civil society, the UN and Governments to advance the ocean economy and sustainable development. The programme is part of a broader portfolio of Action Platforms introduced by the UN Global Compact to facilitate the achievement of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Global Goals.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Michigan 2-1-1: State-of-the-Art Planning Keeps Residents Warm

Feb 2, 2018 12:15 PM ET

Last month, when sub-zero temperatures swept through Midwestern and Northeastern states, one centralized agency in Michigan was already marshalling resources to help those in need. Michigan 2-1-1, a state-supported consortium of nonprofits, businesses, governments and private citizens were on staff to help Michigan residents cope with record-setting temperature lows.

Events, Media & Communications

Call-to-Action on Long-Term Plan Communications to Investors

Feb 2, 2018 12:00 PM ET

To meet the growing need of leading institutional investors for a longer-term view, the investors in CECP’s Strategic Investor Initiative’s (SII) Advisory Board released a letter—signed by Bill McNabb, Chairman, Vanguard and 9 other leading investors--with a call-to-action to reframe communications between CEOs, companies, and investors to focus on long-term value creation.

Events, Media & Communications

Institute for Corporate Social Responsibility Welcomes 2018 Faculty

Feb 2, 2018 11:30 AM ET

The Institute for CSR, now in its fifth year, was designed by and for the CSR field as a practical, interactive, and affordable professional development opportunity. Over the course of four, two-day sessions, participants learn from some of the field’s most innovative thinkers, authors, and practitioners and expand their professional networks learning alongside CSR peers from across the country.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Forbes Ranks Consumers Energy As the Best Employer for Diversity in Michigan

Feb 2, 2018 11:30 AM ET

Consumers Energy is ranked by Forbes magazine as the best employer for diversity in Michigan. The energy provider placed 13th overall in Forbes’s list of America’s best employers for diversity from all industries across the nation, and is the only company in the “utilities” category in the top 100 of the listing.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Summit Draws Major Investors With $30 Trillion in AUM to Map Out Next Steps on Tackling Climate Risk and Seizing Low-carbon Opportunities

Feb 2, 2018 11:20 AM ET

More than 450 investor, company and capital market leaders convened at the Investor Summit on Climate Risk today to map out the next steps for increased action on climate change. The strong showing of leaders, who ranged from institutional investors to state and city pension fund fiduciaries to corporate executives, demonstrated the growing mainstream attention to the greatest threat of our generation.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Arrow Electronics Again Named to FORTUNE’s Most Admired Companies List

Feb 2, 2018 11:20 AM ET

FORTUNE named global technology-solutions provider Arrow Electronics, Inc. (NYSE: ARW) to its “World’s Most Admired Companies” list for the 18th time. For the fifth consecutive year, Arrow placed first in the “Wholesalers: Electronics and Office Equipment” category based on input from industry executives, directors and analysts.

Environment

Duke Energy Renewables Protects Eagles with IdentiFlight System

Feb 2, 2018 11:10 AM ET

Duke Energy Renewables has announced it has ordered 24 IdentiFlight® units to be installed at its Top of the World Windpower Project in Wyoming as part of its comprehensive avian protection program.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Marina Bay Sands Team Members Share: What Volunteerism Means to Me

Feb 2, 2018 10:05 AM ET

When Mount Pinatubo erupted on the Luzon Island of the Philippines in 1991, hundreds of people lost their lives while thousands were displaced. It was the second largest eruption recorded in recent history. Marina Bay Sands’ Operational Evaluation and Analysis Manager, Charlene Ong, who was 10 years old at the time, followed her parents as they set up a donation drive to collect necessities for the victims in Manila and also volunteered at the medical and dental missions to help victims in remote villages in the Philippines. Through this experience, Ong realized she could positively impact the lives of others in her community and make a difference to those in need. With her parents as a source of inspiration, she embarked on her own volunteerism journey and has not looked back since.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Morgan Stanley Announces Creation of Innovative Play Spaces for Children in 14 Cities With KaBOOM!

Feb 2, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) today announced the creation of 14 new play spaces for children through a Morgan Stanley Foundation grant to KaBOOM! and the hands-on efforts of hundreds of its employees throughout the U.S. this year. With our partners and volunteers we will be building two physical playgrounds in Boston and Atlanta and providing creative play grants in 12 cities to provide local nonprofits an Imagination Playground or Rigamjig, which allow for year-round actvitiy in areas with limited space or inclement weather.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Race Weekend: Bank Awards Top Finishers Of Student Run/Relay

Feb 2, 2018 10:00 AM ET

SCOTIABANK awarded the top finishers of the Student Run Relay segment of the Annual Sunshine Insurance Race Weekend. The top finishers, in the straight and mixed divisions, were presented with trophies and giftbags during a special ceremony hosted by Scotiabank.

Diversity & Inclusion

Deaf Kids Code & Show How Digital Is Great Equalizer

Feb 2, 2018 9:55 AM ET

Shireen Hafeez is the founder of Deaf Kids Code, a nonprofit working to bridge the economic and social gaps among deaf children and adults. She has been an advocate and lobbyist for deaf kids because her own son is deaf – and she believes that computer science, technology, and design thinking skills can break down the barriers that have prevented deaf people in the past from getting jobs and fully participating in society.