ESG News from Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

A Record $84 Million Raised for Charities Through eBay in 2017

Jan 24, 2018 8:15 AM ET

“With $84 million through eBay for Charity in 2017, we are demonstrating our commitment to supporting the thousands of charities who use our platform to connect and raise funds every day,” said Brenda Halkias, General Manager of eBay for Charity. “This year, we will continue to focus on leveraging our platform for good and delivering new experiences on behalf of the eBay community. Together with our eBay buyers and sellers, we aim to raise $1 billion for charities by 2020."

Research, Reports & Publications

BCtA's Must-read Reports for 2018

Jan 24, 2018 8:05 AM ET

It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of reports, research, analysis and articles out there, because there just isn’t enough time in the day to read every hot new report. To make it easier for you, we have compiled a list of important BCtA reports and tools from the past two years that you should add to your early 2018 reading list.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Merck for Mothers Talks Innovative Financing at the World Economic Forum: Unlocking the Potential of Development Impact Bonds

Jan 24, 2018 8:05 AM ET

Achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 will require new tools, financing mechanisms and partnerships to fill the estimated $3 trillion investment gap. Development Impact Bonds (DIBs) are an emerging area of innovative financing to achieve social and development outcomes by bringing together private investors, implementers, governments and donors to pave the way for a more-results oriented and sustainable approach to supporting health and economic prosperity, especially in growing markets. The risk of failure is shifted to investors, allowing governments and other donors to spend resources more effectively.

Environment

ReFED Analysis Reveals Food Waste Represents $18.2 Billion Profit Opportunity for Grocery Retailers

Jan 24, 2018 7:55 AM ET

Today, ReFED, a multi-stakeholder nonprofit committed to reducing the $218 billion of food waste in the United States, launched the Retail Food Waste Action Guide, which finds that food waste represents an $18.2 billion opportunity for grocery retailers.

Diversity & Inclusion

10 Reasons Why Schneider Electric Integrates the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index

Jan 24, 2018 7:45 AM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

Rebuilding Together and Lowe’s to Restore Minneapolis Neighborhood During Super Bowl-Sanctioned Event

Jan 24, 2018 7:00 AM ET

Rebuilding Together will host the 23rd annual community revitalization project, Kickoff to Rebuild, on Friday, February 2 leading up to Super Bowl LII weekend. This Super Bowl-sanctioned event will take place in the Tilsenbilt neighborhood of Minneapolis; the first neighborhood in Minneapolis to end housing discrimination in the 1950s.

Environment

Integrating Ecosystem Impact Assessment into Life Cycle Assessment

Jan 24, 2018 6:00 AM ET

The world’s forests face multiple threats: climate change, agricultural conversion, urban encroachment, and intensifying wood harvesting used in construction and a variety of consumer products. Crucial to addressing this problem is understanding the causes of deforestation, and the severity of related ecosystem disturbance and threatened species losses. SCS' groundbreaking LCA study on behalf of Stella McCartney compared the environmental performance of ten different raw material sources of MMCF.

Environment

Kris De Decker: Enough Is Enough

Jan 23, 2018 6:20 PM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Women in Lodging & Tourism – Hawaii Chapter Honors AEG’s Hawaii Convention Center General Manager As Woman of the Year

Jan 23, 2018 5:50 PM ET

AEG’s Hawaii Convention Center General Manager Teri Orton has been named 2018 Woman of the Year, a top honor conferred by the Women in Lodging & Tourism – Hawaii Chapter, an affiliate of the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association (HLTA).

Diversity & Inclusion

Q&A With Global Diversity and Inclusion Leader Rohini Anand, PhD

Jan 23, 2018 5:00 PM ET

The role of anyone leading global diversity and inclusion (D&I) efforts and strategy is to impact culture change. My responsibility is to create a more inclusive culture at Sodexo and to position us as a good corporate citizen. As D&I change agents, we have to approach our work with a systems mindset, looking to address processes, policies and procedures, mindsets and behaviors, and, ultimately, the culture.

Events, Media & Communications

Five Reasons to Register for the 2018 International Women’s Day Forum Today

Jan 23, 2018 4:30 PM ET

On March 6—7, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and the U.S. Department of State will host the 2018 International Women’s Day Forum, Partner With Purpose: Business for Gender Equality, in Washington, DC. This event will convene the business community, civil society, and government representatives to discuss how to advance women’s empowerment around the globe.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

KeyBank Provides $10.4 Million in Total Financing for Affordable Housing in Upstate New York

Jan 23, 2018 4:00 PM ET

KeyBank Community Development Lending & Investment (CDLI) has provided a total of $10.4 million in financing to Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc., for the acquisition and rehabilitation of Ithaca City Apartments, a 98-unit complex located in Ithaca, NY.

Environment

What To Do with Those Old, So-Last-Season Gadgets?

Jan 23, 2018 2:00 PM ET

The holidays have come and gone. The lights and decorations are packed away in storage bins ready for next year. With the holiday clutter put away, you may just now be setting up your new television, tablet, computer or other electronic gadget that was on your wish list.

But what do you do with your old devices? They take up a lot of room, yes. But more importantly, they contain sensitive information and harmful materials like arsenic, lead and mercury. To secure you and your family from data theft and to ensure the hazardous material doesn’t harm our environment; electronics need to be disposed of differently than other waste.

Events, Media & Communications

Keep America Beautiful Announces Winners of “How Will You…End Littering?” Video Contest

Jan 23, 2018 2:00 PM ET

Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, announced the national Grand Prize Winners of its “How Will You … End Littering?” Video Contest, which was open to high school students from grades 9-12.

Green Infrastructure

Ray C. Anderson Foundation Commits Additional $2 Million to The Ray

Jan 23, 2018 1:30 PM ET

The Trustees of the Ray C. Anderson Foundation have granted an additional $2 million to The Ray over the next two years, to fund important research, pilot projects and emerging technologies with the potential to shape the transportation infrastructure of the future.

Research, Reports & Publications

Business Sustainability Impact Through Executive Education – An Interview with Erica Ocampo, Sustainability Strategy Manager, Dow

Jan 23, 2018 1:20 PM ET

Dow recognized that it is often challenging for employees to see the impact that their day to day job has on the overall sustainability performance of the company. As such, Dow needed to find a way to bridge this gap and mobilize employees at the individual level as part of redefining the role of business in society at a corporate level. Erica Ocampo, Sustainability Strategy Manager (Consumer Solutions), worked with the Erb Institute | Business for Sustainability to develop an interactive and personalized executive education program.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The Final Delivery

Jan 23, 2018 1:20 PM ET

The World Food Program faces many challenges in logistics challenges in their quest to bring aid across the globe - see how they overcame them to make deliveries in Mozambique.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Cisco Named One of the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations by Corporate Knights

Jan 23, 2018 12:45 PM ET

Many exciting announcements were shared today at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and one that we are very honored to be a part of is being ranked on the 2018 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World index.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Governor Brown Honors the Los Angeles Convention Center with Environmental and Economic Leadership Award for Sustainability Program

Jan 23, 2018 12:30 PM ET

The Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC), owned by the City of Los Angeles and managed by AEG Facilities, recently received California’s highest environmental honor, the Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA), for its waste reduction efforts in a ceremony at the California Environmental Protection Agency.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Duke Energy Named One of Fortune's "World's Most Admired Companies"

Jan 23, 2018 12:15 PM ET

Duke Energy has been named to Fortune magazine's 2018 list of the World's Most Admired Companies. Duke Energy was ranked 5th among gas and electric utilities, up from 9th last year.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

How Small Companies Can Compete on the World Stage

Jan 23, 2018 12:10 PM ET

Small businesses play a critical role in the global economy, contributing to economic opportunity, diversity and the overall health of our communities. If current trends continue, however, we may soon wake up in a world where many of these businesses have closed and only a few of the very largest players remain open.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

VMware Recognized as an Innovative Global Leader in China

Jan 23, 2018 12:05 PM ET

VMware’s comprehensive and industry-leading services and solutions made a big impact in China in 2017, earning 12 social honors from commercial, IT, consumer media, and local authorities. While cloud technology is empowering enterprises to achieve business success in today’s multi-cloud era, VMware's sustainability initiatives and new experience center will continue to encourage the company’s brand growth and enhanced reputation in China.

Diversity & Inclusion

America's Best Employers For Diversity

Jan 23, 2018 12:00 PM ET

Northern Trust, an investment management firm with 17,800 employees, takes the top spot. The 128-year-old, Chicago-based company continuously delivers “widespread Diversity at Work training,” according to its website. Among Northern Trust’s top executives, women make up 38%, a level significantly higher than the 27% observed among S&P 500 companies. African-Americans make up 23% of the board. “We seek an inclusive environment where our unique mix of attributes and diversity of perspectives can serve as catalysts for innovation,” says Northern Trust CEO Michael O’Grady.

Research, Reports & Publications

Updates on GRI Standard 303: Water

Jan 23, 2018 11:00 AM ET

GRI is updating its reporting standard for Water, and is calling out for comments for the revised draft. Have your say, today, and help further improve the common global language for reporting on water impacts.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Our Progress to Sustainably Source Wheat

Jan 23, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Wheat is an important ingredient for General Mills. We use it in everything from cereal to pizza crust, cake mixes, cinnamon rolls and more. Making sure that the wheat we source is grown sustainably is a priority for us.