ESG News from Leading Brands

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

With Growing Community Garden Initiative, Teen Tackles Hunger and Obesity in Missouri

Nov 21, 2017 4:00 PM ET

Sophie Bernstein always wanted to grow her own garden. At 12 years old, she was looking for a meaningful project to complete for her bat mitzvah – something that would serve a larger purpose and help the community. Sophie realized she had the perfect opportunity to start her garden, while also benefitting others by donating the crops that her garden produced to the local food bank. She had no idea where that project would take her.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Scotiabank’s Donates $500,000 for the New Supportive Care Program at The Ottawa Hospital

Nov 21, 2017 3:35 PM ET

In celebration of World Prematurity Day on November 17, Scotiabank announced a donation of $500,000 in support of The Ottawa Hospital’s new “Scotiabank Supportive Care Program” for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Carole Chapdelaine, Frank Bilodeau were on-hand to mark the occasion.

Sustainable Development Goals

Why We Won’t Make It to 2030 Without Buy-In From Business

Nov 21, 2017 3:30 PM ET

If you were to audit a business class at a university 20 years ago, you would likely hear the recurring theme that the purpose of business is profit; to maximize shareholder value. Since that time, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have entered the picture. The SDGs are a United Nations ordained framework created to help guide government, the private sector and civil society agendas over the next 15 years.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Celebrate the National Dog Show Presented by Purina® and Help Raise Funds for Hurricane Relief by Sharing What Makes Your Pet the Best

Nov 21, 2017 2:30 PM ET

Millions of people and pets were affected by hurricanes which struck Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico earlier this year. To help raise funds to support hurricane victims and their pets, and to help celebrate the National Dog Show Presented by Purina® and the Thanksgiving holiday, Purina invites pet lovers across the United States to share what makes their pet the best through its annual #DogThanking initiative.

Environment

Highlights of BIER 2017 Fall Meeting

Nov 21, 2017 2:00 PM ET

Global beverage industry leaders convened October 17-19, 2017 in Guadalajara, Mexico for the Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER) semi-annual meeting. Hosted by Brown-Forman, this three-day meeting’s agenda tackled pressing environmental sustainability issues such as performance in watershed context, energy and climate change, regenerative agriculture, and transparency and disclosure.

Energy

ON DEMAND WEBINAR: How to Accelerate and Scale Your Renewable Energy Plan

Nov 21, 2017 2:00 PM ET

General Motors’ global manager of renewable energy, Rob Threlkeld, and Lily Donge, principal of the Rocky Mountain Institute’s Business Renewable Center, led a GreenBiz webinar on the economic opportunity in addressing climate change. Together they shared best practices to help organizations of all sizes achieve quick wins toward their renewable energy goals and scale efforts across their enterprise.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Why Fairfax County Needs a Food Bank

Nov 21, 2017 1:00 PM ET

People ask us all the time why Fairfax County needs a food bank. Just do the math. In 2015, Fairfax County had a median family income of $129,538 a year. The average housing rental cost was $1687 a month. The poverty level for a family of four is now $24,600 a year. And, of course, the national minimum wage is still $7.25 an hour.

Innovation & Technology

A Rising Tide To Raise All Boats: How Tech Can Benefit Everyone on the Planet

Nov 21, 2017 12:15 PM ET

Recently, I had the pleasure of participating in a debate at Web Summit on an increasingly important topic: “Future of Tech: Will Everyone Benefit?” It’s a question we should all contemplate and analyze. As tech breaks out and reshapes so many aspects of humanity, will all of this stunning innovation create a rising tide that lifts all boats, regardless of geography, background, or culture? Or will the advantages of tech innovation be limited to only the fortunate few?

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: a Thank You Letter

Nov 21, 2017 12:15 PM ET

I know, I know. I haven’t written to you in a while. And I’m so sorry I’m writing to you this week, when everyone is saying “thanks.” I shouldn’t need Thanksgiving to remind me to be grateful to you, someone who has given and taught me so much! I hope you’ll forgive me, and that these words will still earn a smile or two.

Energy

New Electric Utility Pricing Tool From Black & Veatch Offers Significant Advancement in Distributed Generation Analytics

Nov 21, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Black & Veatch, a market leader in the analysis and design of distributed generation systems, today announced a patent-pending analytics tool that accurately evaluates the utility ratemaking impacts of adding distributed power generation to the grid.

Education

Arrow Electronics Supports Innovative Sewable Tech Course

Nov 21, 2017 11:45 AM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

CreateNYC: A Look at How NYC’s Cultural Roadmap Makes a Case for the Social Value of the Arts

Nov 21, 2017 11:40 AM ET

In July, the City of New York released CreateNYC: A Cultural Plan for All New Yorkers, a first-of-its-kind comprehensive plan to establish New York City’s cultural roadmap for the next decade. The plan sets forth objectives and strategies for achieving a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient cultural ecosystem. It examines a number of issue areas including diversity, equity and inclusion, education, affordability, and health of the cultural sector that are essential to a vibrant, creative city.

Diversity & Inclusion

Diversity and Teamwork Drive Innovation

Nov 21, 2017 11:25 AM ET

Back in August this year I attended the opening of our Innovation and Knowledge Center in Pune, India - an expansion of our facilities to celebrate our 20 year anniversary in the country. The center is one of 7 global Innovation and Knowledge centers, each of which represent the specific needs of their region as well as having unique perspectives and specialist material science expertise.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sappi North America Awarded Johnson & Johnson Rising Star Award for Sustainability

Nov 21, 2017 11:20 AM ET

Sappi North America was a proud recipient of the Johnson & Johnson 2015 Rising Star Sustainability Award. The award comes after Sappi helped the company create and implement Johnson & Johnson’s US Commercial Paper Program.

Education

CITGO Lemont Refinery Brings Bess the Book Bus to Lemont School

Nov 21, 2017 11:20 AM ET

The CITGO Lemont Refinery and mobile literacy outreach program, Bess the Book Bus, brought the joy of reading to local students at St. Cyril and Methodius School in Lemont during the month of October. Approximately 105 books were distributed to St. Cyril and Methodius School students. Students were able to pick out their very own book to take home and then enjoyed participating in an interactive and hands-on drum circle hosted by Bess the Book Bus Partner, Giving Tree Music.

Environment

Michael Bloomberg on a Near-Presidential Run, a Call to Trump and His "War on Coal" Movie

Nov 21, 2017 11:15 AM ET

After building a sprawling financial-services and media empire, Bloomberg LP, which employs 19,000 people and brings in annual revenue of about $9 billion, Bloomberg, who has two daughters, Georgina and Emma, from a previous marriage, has pledged to give away most of his personal fortune, estimated at $47.8 billion. Founded in 2006, Bloomberg Philanthropies boasts assets of $10 billion (the mogul himself so far has contributed $5 billion) and employs 120 people. As part of its environmental efforts, the foundation has donated more than $100 million to move America away from coal.

Energy

Cool Effect Carbon Projects Capture the Imagination, While Improving Lives

Nov 21, 2017 11:00 AM ET

If you were to pick your favorite way to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, what would it be?

Sustainable Development Goals

WBCSD's Panorama Podcast | The Legacy of Paris and Business at COP23

Nov 21, 2017 10:45 AM ET

Diversity & Inclusion

Cultivate Confidence: Joyce Roche, Girls, Inc.

Nov 21, 2017 10:00 AM ET

At our recent #CultivateConfidence panel Joyce Roché, former President and CEO of Girls Inc. agreed that men's support is vital to helping women rise up in the workplace. Joyce is also the co-author of “The Empress Has No Clothes: Conquering Self-Doubt to Embrace Success.”

Energy

Sourcing Our Fuels Responsibly: From Coffee to Electricity

Nov 21, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Most people aren’t thinking about the journey that coffee makes from a farm half a world away to the cup in their hand, but as a sustainability professional, I just can’t help myself. You can call it a blessing—or a curse.

Environment

Infographic: Smithfield Foods Animal Care

Nov 21, 2017 9:25 AM ET

We began our industry-leading journey in 2007 and expect to complete it by the end of 2017. In addition to the efforts at company-owned farms, we recommend that all of our U.S. contract sow growers complete a transition to group housing by the end of 2022.

Research, Reports & Publications

Nearly 3.5 Million More People Improve Their Housing Conditions with Habitat for Humanity

Nov 21, 2017 9:15 AM ET

In the past year, thanks to generous donors and more than 2.1 million volunteers, Habitat for Humanity helped nearly 3.5 million people around the world build or improve an affordable place they can call home. With a “hand up” from Habitat, more families have acquired the skills, confidence and opportunity they need to build healthier, more financially stable lives.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The Impact a Wish Has on Children With Life-Threatening Medical Conditions

Nov 21, 2017 9:00 AM ET

While you may be familiar with the work of Make-A-Wish® Mid-Atlantic, you may not know the impact a wish experience can have on not only local wish kids, but also their families, medical teams, volunteers and even local community supporters. Serving children who reside in Maryland, the District of Columbia and northern Virginia since 1983, Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic has granted the wishes of more than 9,500 children fighting illnesses such as cancer, pediatric AIDS, cystic fibrosis, Duchene’s muscular dystrophy and heart disease.

Education

Thousands of High School Students Support Small Businesses with New Technology Solutions

Nov 21, 2017 9:00 AM ET

This school year, underrepresented high school students in eight cities nationwide are learning principles of design thinking, and how to apply them to emerging technology and mobile devices to serve as creative solutions for local small businesses and non-profits.

Innovation & Technology

Meeting the Needs of Teens with My.Future

Nov 21, 2017 9:00 AM ET

In today’s digital world, new technologies and social sharing platforms are abound. Studies show that more than 90% of youth, especially teens, engage in some sort of social media activity daily. Now, Boys & Girls Clubs join this virtual space with a dynamic digital experience that’s more powerful than that of any other youth-based organization in the country.

With a goal of meeting youth where they are engaging in the digital world, this month Boys & Girls Clubs of America, in partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal, will unveil the latest evolution of My.Future in Clubs across America. My.Future is a safe, fun, and interactive digital platform that enables kids to create online accounts they can use to learn, play and socialize.