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GRI Newsletter: New Tools to Improve Reporting

The August issue of the GRI newsletter is full of practical examples and tools that can help you as the new reporting cycle begins for many report preparers.

EPEAT: Dell EMC PowerEdge Servers Further Validated as the Responsible Choice

Environment

Those who know the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) registry know it is one of the best indicators of sustainably produced electronics. The Green Electronics Council is expanding their registry to include a new server category, and customers can find multiple Dell EMC PowerEdge servers from the start.

Sustainability and Industry Are No Longer Mutually Exclusive – Part 1

Energy

World energy use has increased by 50% over the last 25 years, and yet two million people on our planet still lack access to reliable electricity. Add to that the forecast that energy demand will increase by almost another 50% by 2050. In addition, we know that 85% of CO2 emissions are linked to energy use and that industries use one third of worldwide energy. And we know that there will be a gap of 40% between the supply of, and the demand for, clean water by 2030.

The result is that we must cut emissions in half to avoid significant and irreversible damage to our planet.

There is no doubt that the easiest, cheapest, fastest, and most profitable way to embrace green energy is to save energy and to consume it smarter.

Food and Agriculture Companies: A Challenge From a Millennial Mom

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

As a working mother, I often have to multi-task. Recently, as I watched my toddler push his food around his plate, I caught up on last week’s news that Fortune had released its annual “Change the World” list of top companies using the profit motive to help the planet and tackle social problems.

Sysco's Commitment to a Responsible Supply Chain

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Sysco is committed to supplying products responsibly by improving animal welfare in the foodservice industry; minimizing negative environmental, social or ethical impacts when sourcing products; and ensuring that human rights are respected in the company’s operations, as well as the global supply chain.

Windsor Mill’s Circular Economy Reduces Waste

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

You’ve heard about ecosystems: the way all living things in a given area interact with each other and their environment. There’s a similar concept in sustainability called “industrial ecology,” which is the notion that industrial processes benefit from mimicking the closed-loop efficiency, or circular economy, of a natural ecosystem

3 Top Women in Grocery Share Insights on Success, Mentoring, #MeToo and More

Diversity & Inclusion

I believe that success in the workplace is when a workforce is engaged and feels “connected” to their organization. Connected employees care about their company’s success, and they truly believe their company cares about them.

Success in the workplace is where diverse groups of people are always challenged yet choose to step up and work together to find great solutions. It is where every employee sees a path for themselves to learn and grow, is motivated to contribute at a high level, feels valued and appreciated as well as feel they are part of something bigger than themselves.

Where Life-Changing Technology Meets Sustainability

Research, Reports & Publications

At Abbott, our goal is not just to help people live their best lives through life-changing technology – it's also to make this important work sustainable for the future.

For us, sustainability is about applying the power of our business to drive positive economic, social and environmental impact – making sure that the work we do helps people live healthier and better, both today and for generations to come.

Closing the STEM Gap Through Skilled Volunteerism

Social Impact & Volunteering

Around the world, employers are seeking to enlist workers with relevant skills for existing and emerging roles in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, also known as STEM. According to the CECP 2017 Giving in Numbers report, workforce development and education, particularly as related to STEM, are two of the largest focal areas for corporate and foundation giving. These are also two of the largest mission focus areas for nonprofits. In spite of such determined investment and effort, gaps persist, leaving employers and students without the critical thinking and applied skills needed to propel our evolving global economy.

Brightening Our Corner Newsletter - August 2018

Environment

This is the quarterly newsletter for the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, a private family foundation that seeks to promote a sustainable society by supporting and funding educational and project-based initiatives that advance knowledge and innovation in sustainability.

Tyson Foods Grant to Help Serve Hungry Neighbors

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

As part of Tyson Foods’ commitment to support the communities it serves, the company announced today a $125,000 grant to Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee. The investment will bolster the food bank’s ability to supply its agency partners and pantries with a variety of food through two projects.

In the Not So Distant Future, Comics Won’t be About Superheroes — They’ll be About You

Diversity & Inclusion

Deirdre Hollman always read the funny pages in the newspaper growing up, but didn’t really get into comics until she had a child of her own. She saw that her son liked DC and Marvel comics like Nightwing and Batman, and Hollman wanted to diversify his reading material. She headed to Harlem to pick up a few comic books featuring black characters so her son could see some heroes who looked like him.

Subaru Offers Americans Tips on How to Keep National Parks Clean Leading Into Labor Day Weekend

Environment

Last year, more than 330 million people visited the national parks and with Labor Day weekend around the corner, parks across the country are likely to see a surge of visitor traffic. While everyone is encouraged to visit a national park in their area, with more visitors comes more waste that the National Park Service (NPS) must manage. Each year, NPS manages nearly 100 million pounds of visitor waste nationally, much of which is brought in from outside the parks.

After Date Nights in the Garden, a Farm Emerges

Environment

For some married couples, a date night might include dinner and a movie. For Rene and Monika Owczarski, most of their evenings together involve going out — to garden by moonlight.

“We get the kids to bed, go outside, and put on our head lamps to weed,” Monika Owczarski said. “Luckily, our baby monitor reaches that far.”

Mobile Science Lab Visits Milton, Sparks Curiosity

Education

The Curiosity Cube made a stop at the Milton Library Saturday. The Curiosity Cube was created with the goal to inspire children with hands-on science to children. MilliporeSigma, a life-science company with a facility in Oakville, created the cube by converting a 22x10-foot shipping container into a mobile science lab.

Aflac Diversity Council Hosts 2018 World Fair

Diversity & Inclusion

Aflac’s Diversity Council hosted a world fair to raise awareness of the importance of celebrating diversity and its role in the company’s success.

Five Things You Need to Know About Updated GRI Water Standard

Environment

The Global Reporting Initiative has released its first updated standard - Water and Effluents 2018 - which provides a holistic approach to reporting on water stewardship. Here's what you need to know about the standard.

Avery Dennison Continues to Pioneer Change by Launching Recycled PET Liners in Europe

Responsible Production & Consumption

Avery Dennison will be the first pressure sensitive labelling material supplier to introduce liner made from recycled PET (rPET) commercially in Europe. This move reflects the firm’s commitment to finding more sustainable solutions for the labelling industry.

An Introduction to SROI Training in Calgary and Toronto

Social Impact & Volunteering

SiMPACT builds capacity in social impact and valuation through a variety of courses. These include social return on investment (SROI) training, SROI Accreditation Training, and courses highlighting techniques to maximize impact. One-on-One SROI coaching and customized training courses are also our speciality.

Walmart's First Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Tennessee Installed at Ooltewah Store

Innovation & Technology

As Walmart continues to seek to provide convenient services for its customers and contribute to reducing emissions in the communities where it operates, the retailer announced on Wednesday the installation of eight Electrify America electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at its Ooltewah Supercenter at 5588 Little Debbie Parkway. The EV chargers are Walmart’s first in the state, and are operational and ready for customers to use.

A New Plan Will Bring Toilets to 250 Million People Who Need Them

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

A new partnership between UNICEF and LIXIL, one of the largest home and water product suppliers in the world, aims to jumpstart progress on one of the goals: SDG 6, which mandates improved access to clean water and sanitation for all. Around 2.3 billion people in the world currently don’t have access to a clean, safe toilet. By 2021, LIXIL and UNICEF want to help lower that number by 250 million to supplement progress on SDG 6. “There aren’t any impossibilities or any lack of technology posing a barrier to access,” says Jin Montesano, chief public affairs officer for LIXIL. “But it is a very complex issue that requires more focus on solutions and partners coming together to accelerate progress on the goal.”

Arrow Electronics Hosts 196 Interns Across the United States

Education

This summer, Arrow Electronics hosted 196 interns across the United States, giving them valuable experience in a corporate setting to kick-start their professional careers.

Most of the interns are completing the three-month program in the Denver headquarters, but others are spread throughout the country, spanning from Arrow locations in Nevada to Minnesota.

A Fresh Resource for ESG-Oriented Financial Advisors

Environment

One of the gurus of ESG investing has recently launched a new service for financial advisors (FAs) who want to integrate Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors into their investment process. He has created a site called “Sustainable Investing” and filled it with content about ESG investing. Those who subscribe (there is a three month free trial option) get a quarterly newsletter and access to some otherwise hidden research reports.

Building Capacity for STEM Nonprofits

Diversity & Inclusion

Around the world, employers are seeking highly-skilled workers to take on existing and emerging roles in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, also known as STEM. Workforce development and education, particularly as related to STEM, are two of the largest focus areas for corporate and foundation giving as well as two of the largest mission focuses for nonprofits, according to the CECP’s 2017 Giving in Numbers report. Yet, even given this great investment, gaps in STEM education still exist, leaving both employers and students without the critical thinking and analytical problem-solving skills sorely needed in our ever-changing global economy.

Reef Futures Looking Up! Large Scale Coral Reef Restoration is Possible

Environment

Needing to change our visual and professional perspective was the common theme behind several promising low-cost technical solutions reviewed at a recent Coral Reef Restoration Workshop. The workshop sponsored by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Mars, Inc. and Paul G. Allen Philanthropies, convened a unique multi-disciplinary coalition of scientists, NGOs, coral restoration practitioners, Government and business, in Bali, Indonesia. Its aim was to identify promising evidence-based standards to scale coral restoration efforts globally.