ESG News from Leading Brands

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Caterpillar Again Named to Dow Jones Sustainability Indices

Sep 8, 2017 10:05 AM ET

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) has been named to the 2017 Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI), including both the World and North America indices. This marks the 18th time Caterpillar has been included in the DJSI.

Green Infrastructure

The Transport Revolution: When Sci-fi Becomes Business Reality

Sep 8, 2017 10:05 AM ET

The world is changing. Technological developments and the advance of the digital age fundamentally have shifted the way we experience day-to-day life. These new developments offer innovative ways to build sustainability into the world around us.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

GRESB Results Show New Trends in Global ESG

Sep 8, 2017 10:00 AM ET

The GRESB survey is the leading means by which funds investing in Real Estate can be benchmarked for their Environment Social and Governance (ESG) performance. The 2017 assessment covered 77,000 assets across 62 countries on 6 continents, equating to $3.7 trillion GAV. This represents a 12% increase in overall participation and reflects the growing appetite from investors to understand the ESG impacts of their portfolios.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

McDonald’s USA Named National Sponsor of Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup

Sep 8, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, today announced McDonald’s has become a National Sponsor of Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup (GAC), the largest year-round community improvement program in the country. Efforts will get underway on Sept. 9, 2017 with National Planting Day, a fall initiative of the GAC. McDonald’s is the exclusive Presenting Sponsor of National Planting Day.

Health & Healthcare

Merck for Mothers Blog | Inside the Life of a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner

Sep 8, 2017 9:35 AM ET

Barb Dehn is a practicing Women's Health Nurse Practitioner and a television health expert, who is known as Nurse Barb. She is a guest lecturer at Stanford University, provides OB/GYN health care for women in Silicon Valley and is an award-winning author. Barb actively provides health care information on her social media platforms and contributes content to many online sources including her blog, Nurse Barb's Daily Dose, HealthyWomen.org and The Huffington Post. Barb is certified by the North American Menopause Society and is a Fellow in the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Innovation & Technology

Arrow Electronics Showcases SAM Car Tech at the 2017 Paralyzed Veterans of America Summit

Sep 8, 2017 9:25 AM ET

Arrow Electronics demonstrated its semi-autonomous motorcar (SAM Car) recently at the annual Paralyzed Veterans of America Summit + Expo outside of Washington, D.C. Arrow created the SAM Car project for former racecar driver Sam Schmidt who was paralyzed from the chest down during a racing accident in 2000.

Environment

Making Our Mark on the Global Water Crisis

Sep 8, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Water covers 70% of our planet, and it is easy to think that it will always be plentiful. However, as the world’s population continues to soar, so does the need for fresh water that makes up only 2.5% of the world’s water supply. The reality today is that the need for clean, safe water for drinking and sanitation far exceeds the readily available amount.

The need is severe. That’s why Xylem Watermark, Xylem’s corporate citizenship program, provides and protects safe water resources for many of the world’s most vulnerable communities and educates individuals around the globe about water issues.

Innovation & Technology

Freeport-McMoRan Awards Grant for Tech Park in Sahuarita, Arizona

Sep 8, 2017 8:35 AM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

LA Galaxy Foundation Celebrates Women’s Equality Day with SoulCycle Fundraiser to Benefit LA Galaxy Girls’ Academy

Sep 7, 2017 9:00 PM ET

In celebration of Women’s Equality Day and the launch of AEG’s LA Galaxy Girls’ Academy, the LA Galaxy Foundation teamed up with LA Galaxy player Sebastian Lletget and international recording artist Becky G to host a SoulCycle Charity Ride on Aug. 25 in Manhattan Beach, Calif.

Diversity & Inclusion

‘Hidden Figures’ Has Inspired A U.S. State Department Program For Women In STEM

Sep 7, 2017 8:45 PM ET

“Hidden Figures” made history when it became one of the highest grossing films of 2016 putting it ahead of blockbuster films including “La La Land,” “Star Trek Beyond,” and “X-Men: Apocalypse.” Now, in addition to its box office wins and awards season accolades, the film is continuing to make history by inspiring a new educational exchange program for women in STEM.

Education

School’s in Session & Hundreds of High School Action Team Captains Are Set to Embark on Another Year of Helping Their Neighbors in Need

Sep 7, 2017 8:30 PM ET

Now that Labor Day has come and gone, hundreds of Action Teams of student volunteers from high schools across the country are gearing up for another year of teaming with Major League baseball players and Volunteers of America to help train and inspire the next generation of volunteers.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Two Dow Jones Indices List GM for Sustainability Leadership

Sep 7, 2017 7:50 PM ET

The Dow Jones Sustainability Indices include General Motors (NYSE: GM), citing its corporate sustainability leadership in the automotive industry. The company debuted on the World Index and remains the only automaker on the North American Index for three years running.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Why Upskilling Our Employees is Essential For Our Business (and All Big Businesses)

Sep 7, 2017 6:35 PM ET

Silicon Valley and Washington, D.C. think tanks are not the only ones mulling over the future of our workforce. By 2020, the U.S. will have 85 million medium- and high-skilled job vacancies with not enough people qualified to fill them, according to McKinsey. And while solutions to this skills problem are coming from the startup world and the policy sphere, the country’s largest corporations also are playing a significant role in developing solutions.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Gildan Activewear Added to Dow Jones Sustainability Index 2017

Sep 7, 2017 6:00 PM ET

Gildan announced today that the Company has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World Index) for the fifth consecutive year and the DJSI North American Index for the second consecutive year. Gildan remains the only North American company in the Textiles, Apparel and Luxury Goods industry group listed in the DJSI World Index.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Viacom President and CEO Bob Bakish Signs Open Letter From Leaders of American Industry Defending Dreamers

Sep 7, 2017 6:00 PM ET

On August 31, Viacom President and CEO Bob Bakish joined President Barack Obama, dozens of university presidents, and a multitude of CEOs from major American tech and media companies in signing an open letter to the government leaders expressing their concerns about the devastating effects changing the immigration policy would have on the Dreamers living productive and happy lives in America, as well as the severe consequences it would have for the economy.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Duke Energy Named to Top Sustainability Index for 12th Straight Year

Sep 7, 2017 5:15 PM ET

Continuing to build on a smarter and more sustainable energy future, Duke Energy today was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for North America for the 12th consecutive year.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Abbott Only U.S.-based Company Recognized for Leading Its Industry in Sustainability

Sep 7, 2017 5:15 PM ET

For the fifth consecutive year, Abbott has been named the leading company in its industry by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), one of the most prestigious global benchmarks for corporate sustainability and responsibility. As the Industry Group Leader in Health Care Equipment & Services, Abbott is the only U.S.-based company of the 24 recognized by DJSI for leading their respective global industry groups.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

TD Only Canadian Bank listed on the DJSI World Index

Sep 7, 2017 4:45 PM ET

For the fourth consecutive year, TD Bank Group was listed in the DJSI World Index. From a global pool of 212 banks, TD was the only Canadian bank to be included in the short list of 28 banks. The DJSI benchmarks the sustainability performance of leading companies based on environmental, social and economic performance.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Microwaves Are Latest Whirlpool Corporation Appliances to Meet AHAM Sustainability Standards

Sep 7, 2017 4:20 PM ET

Whirlpool Corporation announced that three Whirlpool brand microwaves now meet AHAM Sustainability Standards. The microwaves are the latest in the company's line of appliances that have received AHAM certification.

Events, Media & Communications

Sustainable Brands Releases Program Details for New Metrics ‘17 Conference

Sep 7, 2017 4:00 PM ET

Sustainable Brands® recently unveiled program details and speaker lineup for New Metrics '17, scheduled for November 13 -15 in Philadelphia, PA. Gathering together over 350 business executives, sustainability strategists and financial leaders from across the globe, New Metrics focuses on cutting-edge ideas and tools for quantifying previously-ignored risks, costs and revenue potential associated with sustainability impacts.

Health & Healthcare

The UPS Foundation, American Red Cross and Cyphy Works Launch Disaster Relief Drone Pilot Program

Sep 7, 2017 3:15 PM ET

The UPS Foundation, the American Red Cross and drone manufacturer CyPhy Works, Inc., today announced a partnership to launch a drone pilot program, marking the first time the American Red Cross will test using a tethered drone to assess damage after a major natural disaster in the United States.

Education

Back to School: The ABC’s of Changes to School Meals

Sep 7, 2017 3:15 PM ET

With over 30 million students eating at least one meal at school each day, schools not only offer an opportunity for children to enjoy nourishing food but also a chance to learn healthy eating habits and important social skills. Meals served through the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program are required to be healthy and nutritious, and they got even healthier in 2012 when new guidelines were implemented as part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, requiring cafeterias limit calories, sodium and unhealthy fats, and offer more whole grains, fruits and vegetables in every meal.

Social Impact & Volunteering

SCE Volunteers Cook Up Electric Bucket Truck Made of Food Cans

Sep 7, 2017 2:20 PM ET

When Southern California Edison engineer Martin Barriga heard the company was seeking volunteers to design and build an entry for this year’s Canstruction charity event in Orange County, he was one of the first with his hand up.

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar Takes Pride in Its Governance & Ethics

Sep 7, 2017 2:00 PM ET

Caterpillar’s Code of Conduct – Our Values in Action – defines what Caterpillar stands for and what we believe in, documenting uncompromisingly high ethical standards for our company.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Three Awards for AIDA - The Deutscher Kreuzfahrtpreis (German Cruise Line Award) 2018 for Environmental Commitment, Favorite Ship, and the Atlantic Alliance Award

Sep 7, 2017 2:00 PM ET

On September 5, 2017, AIDA Cruises received the “German Cruise Line Award” three times at Seatrade Europe in Hamburg, the leading exhibition for the cruise industry. AIDA won in the categories Environmental Commitment and Favorite Ship. The award presented by the port association Atlantic Alliance also went to AIDA Cruises for its year-round operation of AIDAprima in the Atlantic west-coast region.