ESG News from Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

In Sync With Zac Brown to Support Veterans

Nov 17, 2017 9:55 AM ET

A Wells Fargo grant is helping a Grammy award-winning artist continue to support the troops at Camp Southern Ground. Former Army Master Sgt. Orlando Aikens went to camp for a day and returned home with a clearer view of his future.

Environment

Improving Global Sanitation & Hygiene

Nov 17, 2017 9:45 AM ET

Even today, about 2.4 billion people—one in every three globally—live without access to proper sanitation. Recognizing the magnitude of the challenge, in FYE2016, LIXIL pledged to provide better sanitation to 100 million people by 2020. Since then, we have been accelerating our efforts to deliver viable toilet solutions to areas lacking adequate sanitation.

Environment

At GM’s Lansing Assembly Plant, Biodiversity Efforts Are for the Birds

Nov 17, 2017 9:30 AM ET

It all started in 2004 with a nature habitat initiative at GM’s Lansing Delta Township site in Michigan. With help from numerous NGOs, community and supplier partners over the next couple of years, the LDT site established a wildlife habitat. The project included more than 20 acres of diverse woodlands, 40 acres of restored prairie, and 15 acres of wetlands. It was the first GM site to earn Wildlife Habitat Council certification in 2006.

Education

VIDEO | How an Elementary School Teacher in Montana Helped Her Students Launch a Global Business

Nov 17, 2017 9:20 AM ET

Nestled along the Clark Fork River in the northeastern reaches of Montana, students at Garden City Montessori school are spread out across the floor holding impromptu photo shoots, earnestly making calculations and debating the price of a new Casio watch. These students aren’t just here to learn. They are running a vibrant marketplace—and they mean business.

Energy

The Texas Renewable Energy Landscape: From Aspiration to Execution

Nov 17, 2017 9:10 AM ET

Georgetown, Texas, is perhaps best known for its antiques and retirees. So what led former Vice President Al Gore and hundreds of renewable energy leaders to converge on this small Central Texas town last month? In 2016, Georgetown became the nation’s largest city to rely on 100% renewable electricity after signing a solar agreement with NRG[1]. In this context, the city provided a fitting backdrop for the GridNext conference organized by the Texas Renewable Energy Industry Alliance (TREIA). Each year, GridNext convenes private, public, and academic sectors to discuss the rise of renewable energy and the implications for the Texas grid.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

DEWALT Partners with Habitat for Humanity on Hurricane Recovery Efforts

Nov 17, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria wrought widespread devastation in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico, leaving many families distressed and displaced from their homes. Through its disaster response efforts, Habitat for Humanity thoroughly assesses the shelter and housing needs caused by these storms and works to help rebuild and repair homes alongside homeowners in need of a decent place to live.

DEWALT is proud to announce its partnership with Habitat for Humanity and contribute over $800,000 in tools and monetary support for Habitat’s recovery and rebuilding efforts.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Cox Automotive Presents Heather Pullen of Porsche Cars North America With Community Impact Award

Nov 17, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Cox Automotive presented its 2017 Community Impact Award to Heather Pullen, national remarketing manager, Porsche Cars North America, at the 2017 National Remarketing Conference/NAAA Convention during an awards luncheon on November 16.

Sustainable Development Goals

Unreasonable Impact: How the Barclays Partnership Aims to Tackle the World’s Food Crisis

Nov 17, 2017 8:55 AM ET

Disrupting food sounds almost ominous. The purists among us likely do not feel there’s much of a need to innovate their favourite steak or to reinvent the way we eat in pubs, restaurants or canteens. But the food industry is a sector in need of a sea change. This has a lot to do with the way food is produced – the question being whether the industry can adapt to meet the needs of a constantly growing global population in a sustainable fashion.

Sustainable Development Goals

VIDEO | WWF & HP Discuss Climate Action at COP23

Nov 17, 2017 8:35 AM ET

As world leaders gathered in Bonn, Germany, for COP23, World Wildlife Fund's Sheila Bonini spoke with HP's David Eichberg about corporate climate action in the United States and beyond. HP is a proud member of WWF Climate Savers. Climate change is one of the most significant and urgent issues facing business and society today.

Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainable Businesses Can Unlock More Than US$1 Trillion in Latin America and the Caribbean by 2030

Nov 17, 2017 8:35 AM ET

Business leaders and entrepreneurs can unlock new market opportunities worth more than US$1 trillion and generate up to 24 million jobs in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) by 2030 through sustainable business models, according to Better Business, Better World LAC, a new report released today by the Business & Sustainable Development Commission (BSDC).

Diversity & Inclusion

Voya Financial Recognized by Women's Forum of New York for Achieving Gender Parity of Board of Directors in 2017

Nov 17, 2017 8:25 AM ET

Sustainable Development Goals

At COP 23, Chief Executives and Leaders Agree: More Ambitious Targets Needed to Meet Paris Agreement Objectives

Nov 17, 2017 8:15 AM ET

Leaders from business, civil society, Government and the United Nations convened today in Bonn to discuss an accelerated pathway forward towards implementing the Paris Climate Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the COP 23/CMP 13: High-Level Meeting of Caring for Climate.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

The Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index 2017

Nov 17, 2017 8:05 AM ET

SolAbility releases the 6th edition of the Global Sustainable Competitiveness Index (GSCI). The GSCI 2017 is topped by the Scandinavian nations.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

FOOD for Lane County Gets New Subaru Outback

Nov 17, 2017 8:00 AM ET

FOOD for Lane County made its first delivery in a new Subaru Outback last month. The car was a gift from Subaru, part of their Subaru Loves to Help program.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

National Mining Association Independently Certifies Freeport-McMoRan to CORESafety System

Nov 17, 2017 7:30 AM ET

The CORESafety certification demonstrates Freeport-McMoRan’s commitement to their philosophy of Safe Production, which is demonstrated by the integration of health and safety practices in all aspects of their operational activities. CORESafety is a voluntary safety and health initiative developed and facilitated by the National Mining Association (NMA), the U.S. mining industry’s national trade association.

Environment

AEG Celebrates America Recycles Day

Nov 16, 2017 8:00 PM ET

This week more than 35 AEG Facilities-affiliated arenas, stadiums, theaters, clubs and convention centers nationwide are celebrating America Recycles Day, a nationally-recognized event organized by Keep America Beautiful to promote recycling in the United States. Throughout the week, AEG venues will host a variety of events, from cell phone recycling drives to recycling awareness campaigns, to encourage guests, employees and community members to make recycling a part of their lives.

Diversity & Inclusion

21CF Global Inclusion Hosts Breakfast Honoring Alums of Inaugural Fox Filmmakers Lab, Women Directors at AFI Fest in Hollywood

Nov 16, 2017 7:30 PM ET

On Friday, Nov. 10, 21st Century Fox Global Inclusion hosted a breakfast to honor the 25 participants of 20th Century Fox’s inaugural Fox Filmmakers Lab, a highly selective lab designed to help increase the number of female directors working in the industry. The breakfast also celebrated the 40 women directors whose films are showcased in the 31st Annual AFI Fest, which runs Nov. 9-16, 2017, in Hollywood. Over 100 guests, including female filmmakers and Fox executives, networked and continued to forge relationships that started through the Fox Filmmakers Lab.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

IFF Partners With Mars Wrigley Confectionery to Support Smallholder Mint Farmers; Strengthen Supply Chain

Nov 16, 2017 5:45 PM ET

International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (NYSE:IFF) (Euronext Paris:IFF), a leading innovator of sensory experiences that move the world, is pleased to announce its supporting partnership with Mars Wrigley Confectionery in their initiative to improve the long-term viability of mint farming in India. The program, called Shubh Mint, is part of AdvanceMint, a larger, global project to advance mint plant science and support mint farmers and their communities. IFF is specifically contributing to the initiative’s “Resilient Communities” pillar by sponsoring a municipal center focused on youth education and women’s empowerment.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Essity Recognized by CDP as World Leader for its Action on Water and Forests

Nov 16, 2017 4:30 PM ET

Essity, a leading hygiene and health company, has been recognized as a global leader for its action on water and forests and received the highest score from CDP, an international not-for-profit charity that promotes a more sustainable economy. From thousands of participating companies, Essity is one of only four to qualify for CDP’s A List for both Water and Forests.

Education

CITGO and Steve Spangler Recognize Public School Teachers Dedicated to STEM Education

Nov 16, 2017 4:00 PM ET

CITGO Petroleum Corporation recently announced the winners of this year’s fifth annual Fueling Education Sweepstakes. Through the CITGO Fueling Education program, 93 elementary and middle school teachers received awards that will help them to improve science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education in the classroom.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Nestlé Waters North America Holds Annual Celebration to Honor Our Dedicated Volunteers

Nov 16, 2017 3:30 PM ET

Nestlé Waters North America today hosted our annual “Thanks for Giving” luncheon to honor employees’ volunteer efforts and commitment to supporting local communities and organizations.

Education

Meet Amgen Scholars Alumni Nguyen Thu Trang from Nam Dinh, Vietnam

Nov 16, 2017 3:20 PM ET

My goal is to pursue a career in clinical and translational research, for which I believe the experiences, knowledge, and advice from the Amgen Scholars Program would help me prepare.

Events, Media & Communications

Highlights From CECP CEO Investor Forum

Nov 16, 2017 2:35 PM ET

Repeating the success of its inaugural event, CECP’s Strategic Investor Initiative (SII) held its second CEO Investor Forum on September 19, 2017 where leading cross-sector CEOs shared their long-term business plans for sustainable value creation. CEOs presented their strategies to an audience of 200 major institutional investors that represent more than $25 trillion in assets under management.

Education

T. Rowe Price: Parents Who Stick to Their Holiday Spending Budgets Are More Likely to Shop Online

Nov 16, 2017 2:30 PM ET

T. Rowe Price’s 2017 Parents Kids & Money Survey, which sampled parents of 8 to 14 year olds nationally and their kids, found that 72% of the parents surveyed set a specific budget for holiday spending, yet 58% of the parents surveyed agree that they spend more money during the holidays than they intended.

Health & Healthcare

LIXIL Marks World Toilet Day with Next Generation of SATO Products

Nov 16, 2017 1:15 PM ET

LIXIL Group Corporation, a global leader in the housing and building industry, is marking World Toilet Day (November 19) with the roll-out in multiple states in India of its new series of innovative SATO products. SATO is a first-of-its-kind line of innovative toilet and sanitation products designed to bring improved sanitation and comfort to rural and peri-urban communities around the world.