Client News Feed

Aramark Building Community: A Decade of Impact

Social Impact & Volunteering

Millions of families struggle to make ends meet, but through Aramark Building Community, Aramark partners with local community centers to provide solutions. Tens of thousands of employees have shared their skills and expertise to inspire healthy lifestyles and help people succeed at work. Watch the video to see Aramark volunteers at work.

A New Model for Building Social-Benefit Markets – Research by Jacqueline Corbett and Erb Institute Visiting Scholar, Wren Montgomery

Research, Reports & Publications

Like all markets, social-benefit markets provide a platform for buyers and sellers to exchange commodities, but they are distinguished by their unique goal of improving social and environmental conditions. For example, most people are familiar with carbon trading markets, which aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Social-benefit markets are not only a promising strategy to combat pressing social and environmental problems; they are also contributing significantly to the world economy, with trading volumes estimated to reach $1 trillion by 2020. Still, the problems that these social-benefit markets address are large, complex and multifaceted; their development and sustenance therefore will require novel entrepreneurial approaches.

Stanton Chase LA and the International Well Building Institute™ Collaborate to Do Well by Talent

Green Infrastructure

The Los Angeles office of Stanton Chase today announced a collaboration with the International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™) to be the “Thought Leader” to educate executives and management of companies on the critical importance of healthy workplace environments. As part of the collaboration, Stanton Chase will introduce clients to IWBI’s WELL Building Standard™ (WELL™), which provides a meaningful solution to advance human health and well-being in the workplace.

Faster, Smarter, Greener

Green Infrastructure

Changing consumer behaviors are driving new economies and possibilities in a world of hyper-connectivity. But what lessons can cities, technologists and entrepreneurs take from this shift?
This excerpt from  Faster, Smarter, Greener: The Future of the Car and Urban Mobility (MIT Press), explores the factors altering the trajectory of mobility in developed economies, as well as the ripple effects of such disruption.

It’s 2018 – Does Wall Street “Get It” on Corporate Sustainability and Sustainable Investment? A Noted Author Explores the Question...

Media & Communications

Does Wall Street finally care about sustainability? A noted sustainability author (Andrew Winston) muses about this in the pages of the influential journal for the C-suite – the Harvard Business Review. Yes, we think – more and more asset owners and managers are getting aboard the train...but there is work to do.

Creating a Culture of Skill Sharing: Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina Spotlight

Social Impact & Volunteering

The Common Impact team is looking forward to a year full of exciting project opportunities and innovation! To kick us off with some inspiration, we're bringing back a project with a talented team from Fidelity Investments and its nonprofit partner, Research Triangle Foundation of North Carolina (RTF), whose mission is to support and partner with local universities, create jobs, and lift up all the citizens of North Carolina by providing a positive economic and social impact.

Yacht Converted into Mobile Science Lab with Xylem Solution

Environment

Up to 15 percent of the world’s cargo traffic is handled in the Baltic Sea, making it one of the busiest areas for ship traffic in the world. As part of an EU project, a yacht has been modified with Xylem water-monitoring technology to research the environmental impact of shipping in the region.

Today the Baltic Sea is heavily trafficked by a variety of ships, including ferries, cruise ships, oil tankers, car carriers, and container and other cargo ships. Due to its narrow straights and shallow waters, the sea is difficult to navigate. In some of the major ship lanes, one large ship passes on average every ten minutes.

The ever-expanding shipping and tourism industries have led to growing environmental pressure on the waterway.

How Drones Are Helping Traditional Industries Take Flight Into the Future

Innovation & Technology

Not long ago, the mere thought of drones was reserved for the military and sci-fi movies. Today, they’ve become a part of everyday conversation among friends, in the media and beyond. While drones aren’t swarming the skies yet, many companies across industries are using them more and more to increase efficiency and productivity.

“Drone technology is going to disrupt businesses,” says Elaine Whyte, head of drones (UK) at PricewaterhouseCoopers. “They’re agile, inexpensive, and rapid to respond. So, they can go and reach places that are difficult for a business to get to.”

Ultimately, implementing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) will make jobs easier, safer and more cost-effective, which is a win-win across sectors.

Sustainable Brands to Convene Global Executives at SB’18 Vancouver

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sustainable Brands® reveals highlights for its upcoming global flagship conference: SB’18 Vancouver. More than 3,000 brand and business leaders will convene June 4 -7 at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia to focus on how brands are updating their products and services to meet shifting consumer demands in an evolving economy.

KeyBank Provides $14.9 Million in Financing for Affordable Housing Acquisitions

KeyBank Real Estate Capital has provided a total of $14.9 million in Fannie Mae financing to Harmony Housing, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing safe, clean and comfortable affordable housing throughout the United States, for the acquisition of three affordable housing properties in North Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin.

In the Vanguard: Fund Giants Urge CEOs to Be a 'force for Good'

American markets are spinning on a carousel. As fourth-quarter corporate earnings tumble out this week, analysts are digesting every digit, leaving share prices swinging. But if Bill McNabb, chairman of Vanguard, has his way, this carousel may soon spin differently.

T. Rowe Price Sponsors Local Cybersecurity Programs to Grow Baltimore's Cybersecurity Workforce

Innovation & Technology

T. Rowe Price Group (NASDAQ-GS: TROW) announced today that the firm’s information security team made financial contributions to two local cybersecurity programs in an effort to support science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and research specifically in cybersecurity. University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) Center for Cybersecurity received $60,000 and Loyola Blakefield received $25,000.

New Animation: GRI Competitive Business Program for SMEs

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

GRI's newly established Competitive Business Program is tailored to help SMEs to break into global value chains by improving transparency around their sustainability impacts. This two-minute animation will list the many benefits of corporate responsibility for SMEs, and how GRI can help them become more competitive.

2018 Global Pro Bono Summit Gathers Innovators of the Field in Mumbai

Events, Media & Communications

The Taproot Foundation, together with BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt and local host iVolunteer, will convene the 6th annual Global Pro Bono Summit February 6 – 9 in Mumbai, India. “Pro bono is an increasingly valuable resource for our global communities,” says Elizabeth Schwan-Rosenwald, Taproot’s Chief External Relations Officer. “The Global Pro Bono Summit offers a unique opportunity to bring together cross-sector leaders eager to innovate and expand the ways in which pro bono can be used to create social impact.”

Is Professional Online Education on Sustainability the New Trend?

Education

Increasingly, Sustainability Training originates WITHIN companies and organizations, using flexible online training to improve corporate-wide sustainability and financial performance.

Part 2: Q&A With Global Diversity and Inclusion Leader Dr. Rohini Anand

Diversity & Inclusion

"Making Every Day a Better Day through Diversity and Inclusion" is Sodexo’s award-winning initiative. What is unique about this initiative and the work Sodexo is doing in diversity and inclusion?

Ecocentricity Blog: Don't Forget the Elephant

Environment

Why does biodiversity matter? The answer is because the African elephant isn’t unique. Countless species on Earth form an integral and necessary part of their ecosystems.

Small Business Owners Descend on Washington to Advocate for Small Businesses With Goldman Sachs CEO, Warren Buffett, Michael Bloomberg

Events, Media & Communications

More than 2,000 small business owners will descend on Washington for the first-ever 10,000 Small Businesses Summit: The Big Power of Small Business from Feb. 13-14. They will charge Capitol Hill with more than 2,000 small business owners to chart a path for growth and share their experiences and insights with policymakers. Goldman Sachs Chairman and CEO Lloyd C. Blankfein, Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett, and founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies and three-term Mayor of New York City Michael R. Bloomberg, among numerous other industry leaders and policymakers, will also participate in the Summit.

Arrow Electronics’ SAM Car Spotlighted in the International Corporate Citizenship Film Festival

Innovation & Technology

Arrow Electronics is showcasing its award-winning SAM Car project in the International Corporate Citizenship Film Festival. The festival, which honors excellence in corporate citizenship, relies on public voting to determine a “fan favorite” and finalists in each of its three company-size categories.

Oil Spill Response Planning: Looking Forward to 2018

Environment

Antea Group blogs about regulations requiring railroads to write oil spill response plans when they are transporting crude oil or other flammables.

IFF Recognized on Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable Companies List

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

NEW YORK, N.Y., (February 6, 2018) – International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (NYSE: IFF) (Euronext Paris: IFF), a leading innovator of sensory experiences that move the world, was named to Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable Companies, an index launched in February 2018. It joins the ranks of 99 other leading companies, assessed by performance in key stakeholder categories.

BCtA Webinar Recap | Women’s Economic Empowerment: The (Inclusive) Business Case

Diversity & Inclusion

On Tuesday 30 January 2018, we hosted an engaging conversation on the role business has played and can play in empowering women economically – whether through the development of appropriate goods and services or through job creation and income generation opportunities.

Cooler Return Program Is a ‘Win-Win’ for Lab

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

As a believer in the coexistence of science and the environment, the Glaunsinger Lab at the University of California-Berkeley takes a proactive approach to its efforts to recycle and reuse coolers needed for the storage and shipment of temperature-sensitive reagents, chemicals and kits.

National Park Foundation & HanesBrands Kick Off New Partnership Supporting America’s National Treasures

Events, Media & Communications

Perfectly timed for #TravelTuesday, the National Park Foundation and HanesBrands announced a new partnership to inspire people from all backgrounds to connect with, celebrate, and support America’s national parks and community-based programs. As the newest National Park Foundation partner for the Find Your Park/Encuentra Tu Parque movement, HanesBrands’ support will benefit America’s National Park System.