ESG News from Leading Brands

Social Impact & Volunteering

12-Year-Old Cancer Patient Advocates for Hospitalized Kids

May 22, 2017 4:05 PM ET

"Kids need someone to represent them, someone who will share their voice, and I love being that person!" said Michaeyla Nadeau of Virginia Beach, Virginia, who volunteers as a patient advocate for children with cancer and other illnesses.

Environment

For Sustainable Business, Collaboration is the New Competition

May 22, 2017 3:50 PM ET

Consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies often find themselves boxed in by customer demand. On one hand, more shoppers say they want to purchase more sustainable products, but many are not willing to pay a premium. And although most consumers still base their purchases largely on price and performance, the trends are clear: Environmental sustainability is expected. This applies to not only products, but also packaging.

Research, Reports & Publications

Nestlé Purina PetCare Company Supports The Nature Conservancy's National Soil Health Initiative with $1 Million Commitment

May 22, 2017 3:35 PM ET

Today, Nestlé Purina PetCare Company announced its support for The Nature Conservancy's reThink Soil initiative, a national, collaborative effort to help farmers improve soil health on croplands across the United States, by committing $1 million over five years. Widespread adoption of soil health practices could provide unprecedented economic benefits for U.S. farmers and businesses, as well as significant conservation benefits for generations to come.

Environment

Whirlpool Corporation Showcases Product Innovations and Research for Sustainable Living at Sustainable Brands Conference 2017

May 22, 2017 3:30 PM ET

Starting today at the Sustainable Brands 2017 conference in Detroit, Whirlpool Corporation is celebrating its 47-year leadership in sustainability and product excellence. The company will be showcasing the waste-reducing benefits of the latest products from WLabs, the innovation incubator of Whirlpool Corporation, as well as providing a virtual look into its living research laboratory, ReNEWW House.

Sustainable Development Goals

Contact Your PA Senator to Support the Proposed Budget for Intellectual Disability and Autism Services

May 22, 2017 2:40 PM ET

Contact your Pennsylvania Senator to support a 2017-2018 budget that invests in intellectual disability and autism services.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Timberland Fosters Community Spirit in Retail Stores Nationwide

May 22, 2017 2:30 PM ET

For global outdoor lifestyle brand Timberland, community is a key pillar for corporate responsibility along with making products responsibly and protecting and restoring the outdoors. Employees receive up to 40 paid hours per year to participate in service to their community, and have served more than one million hours to date. At the company’s Stratham, New Hampshire world headquarters, messaging boards throughout the building proudly display Timberland’s heritage of service and promote new ways for employees to engage in the community.

Diversity & Inclusion

Women Are Changing the Face of Facilities Management

May 22, 2017 12:45 PM ET

Facilities management has long been a male-dominated career field. In fact, it may be even more lopsided than many other male-dominated fields: In facilities management (FM), men outnumber women in leadership roles by nine to one, according to a recent survey from the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources.

That’s slowly starting to change, however, as a growing number of women are beginning careers as facilities managers. It’s a welcome change, and one that’s likely to improve the quality of life in many facilities.

Innovation & Technology

Watch: Fintech According to Kids

May 22, 2017 12:10 PM ET

On National Take Your Kids to Work Day, PayPal moms and dads in the United States brought their children with them to work to see what life is like at PayPal. At our San Jose campus, more than 2,000 kids joined us for a fun day including everything from playing with toys and gardening to computer programming, movies, and carnival games. Plus a “What is PayPal?” class that offered a fun and interactive overview about what their parents are working on.

Events, Media & Communications

Early #Snapshot2017 Findings Unveiled at +IMPACT Conference

May 22, 2017 12:00 PM ET

For more than a decade, America’s Charities has reported trends, attitudes, and perceptions in employee workplace giving through our Snapshot Report Series. We've explored these trends from the perspective of employers and nonprofits. With Snapshot 2017, we are offering a first-ever look at trends in employee giving from the perspective of donors.

Education

JPMorgan Chase Commits $17 Million to Create Skills-Based Summer Jobs for Young Adults

May 22, 2017 11:45 AM ET

Today at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Jamie Dimon will highlight JPMorgan Chase’s $17 million, five-year commitment to Summer Youth Employment Programs (SYEP) in Boston as well as over a dozen U.S. cities. Jamie will participate in a small group discussion with Brigham and Women’s Hospital leadership, Lieutenant Governor Polito, and alumni of youth employment programs in Boston.

Health & Healthcare

Better Hearts Better Cities: Launching a Multisector Effort to Combat Hypertension in Low-income Urban Communities

May 22, 2017 11:15 AM ET

How can we prevent the urbanization boom from becoming a health crisis? Making our cities into places of wellbeing, exciting growth and opportunity will require every sector to join forces on urban health, says Dr. Ann Aerts, Head of the Novartis Foundation.

Responsible Production & Consumption

2018 Equinox: Doing More with Less

May 22, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Crossovers become more agile when they drop some weight. For the redesigned 2018 Equinox, shedding nearly 400 pounds —approximately 10 percent of its mass — pays dividends in a nimbler, more responsive and more refined driving experience. Combined with this weight loss, the all-new body was designed and optimized for top safety ratings.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Nestlé Waters North America Announces $6 Million Investment in Closed Loop Fund

May 22, 2017 10:15 AM ET

Nestlé Waters North America today announced it is investing $6 million as part of a shared effort among business, government and community partners to fund comprehensive recycling infrastructure and programs in cities across the United States.

Education

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle School Supplies

May 22, 2017 10:10 AM ET

Across the country, the school year is wrapping up for our children. Soon, alarm clocks, schedules and homework will be forgotten for a few months as kids enjoy the summer. And while many of them can’t wait to be on break, taking the time to properly go through their books, notes and school supplies cannot only save you some dough for next year, it can help the environment.

Social Impact & Volunteering

PepsiCo and Feed the Children Unite to Strike out Hunger

May 22, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Eight hundred DC-area families in need will receive enough food to supplement meals for a week plus daily essentials, thanks to a partnership between PepsiCo and Feed the Children. The event kicks off today at 11:00 a.m. at the Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy, 3675 Ely Place SE

Research, Reports & Publications

Nestlé in the U.S. Releases 2016 Creating Shared Value Report

May 22, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Nestlé in the United States today released its 2016 Creating Shared Value Report at Sustainable Brands 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. The report highlights the company’s efforts and achievements in nutrition, health and wellness; environmental sustainability; rural development and responsible sourcing; water; and social impact.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Diageo Brands Awarded Top Honors for Superior Quality at the 17th Annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition

May 22, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Events, Media & Communications

Sustainable Brands Hosts Influential Brand Leaders at SB’17 Detroit

May 22, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Sustainable Brands® kicks off its largest community gathering today with Sustainable Brands’17 Detroit at the Cobo Center in downtown Detroit. Over 2,000 business executives along with their teams from 35+ countries across the globe are attending the conference and Activation Hub. In addition, there is anticipated record breaking livestream viewership in collaboration with Detroit Public Television (DPTV).

Energy

National Grid Offers Free Professional Energy Network

May 22, 2017 10:00 AM ET

National Grid has announced the launch of a new program that will support building designers, engineers, contractors, trade and other professionals in achieving their energy savings goals.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Changing Lives with Training and Entrepreneurship Support

May 22, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Investing to Close the Energy Gap

May 22, 2017 9:55 AM ET

Energy

Access to Energy is a Basic Human Right

May 22, 2017 9:45 AM ET

Sustainable Development Goals

Lockheed Martin Reports First Year of Progress Toward New Sustainability Goals

May 22, 2017 9:20 AM ET

In late 2015, we reassessed our priority sustainability issues based on Lockheed Martin’s evolving business portfolio and highly dynamic environment. Beginning in 2016, we focus on five core sustainability issues made up of 23 factors. Our sustainability factors have two tiers of priorities: Tier 1 performance factors where we seek to accelerate progress by setting targets for 2017 and 2020; and Tier 2 factors that we will advance through continued management and disclosure, without setting new SMP goals.

Green Infrastructure

SCS Global Services Approves VITO to Conduct VOC Emissions Testing for its Indoor Air Quality Certifications

May 22, 2017 9:10 AM ET

SCS Global Services (SCS) has partnered with VITO, a premier independent research and technology organisation based in Belgium, to provide volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions testing for SCS' indoor air quality certification programs SCS Indoor Advantage™, SCS Indoor Advantage™ Gold, and FloorScore®.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Our Volunteers Have an Award-Winning Impact

May 22, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Every day, around the world, our employees choose to spend some of their time volunteering for organizations and projects they are proud to support.

Of those volunteer opportunities that primarily deal with food, our sweet spot, Second Harvest Heartland, keeps us coming back again and again. The organization has been a General Mills partner for more than three decades.