ESG News from Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

ScriptDrop and Albertsons Hurricane Relief Efforts to Be Covered on 'Success Files,' Hosted by Rob Lowe

Nov 9, 2017 7:55 AM ET

"After Hurricane Harvey, we had patients who were struggling to meet their basic needs, so partnering with ScriptDrop to deliver their prescriptions to their homes was an easy decision and allowed our patients to stay healthy and focus on recovery efforts," says Mark Panzer, Albertsons Companies Senior Vice President of Pharmacy Health and Wellness.

Sustainable Development Goals

As Trump Steps Back From Climate Talks, Coke and HP Move In

Nov 9, 2017 7:45 AM ET

Business leaders from Coca-Cola, Citigroup, HP and Microsoft are set to join those from Ingersoll-Rand Plc, Target Corp., Johnson Controls Inc. and other companies to emphasize their climate commitments. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is hosting an event on the role businesses play facilitating dialogue on climate. The Business Council for Sustainable Energy plans to describe how clean-energy technology can be deployed globally to help satisfy carbon-cutting goals.

Education

Arrow Electronics Funds Educational Indiegogo Campaign STEMosaur

Nov 8, 2017 7:30 PM ET

Arrow Electronics today flash funded CogniToys, the innovators behind the STEMosaur Indiegogo campaign. The funding, announced on National STEM-STEAM Day, provides the technology startup with critical seed money to help them turn their entrepreneurial dream into a reality.

STEMosaur is a smart, educational toy that engages children in interactive play while building their coding and engineering skills. Children are encouraged to assemble the toy, which comes equipped with an easy-to-use coding panel that teaches coding basics.

Energy

Cool Effect’s Smart Vision of How to Improve the Planet – One Carbon Credit at a Time

Nov 8, 2017 3:55 PM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Celebrating Safety at Sappi's Cloquet Operations

Nov 8, 2017 3:30 PM ET

A redoubled focus on increasing awareness through daily safety communications is ongoing. Critical safe behaviors have been defined with front-line leaders providing observations and corrective feedback. At Somerset, union and management leadership are meeting regularly and working collaboratively to drive safety improvements.

Social Impact & Volunteering

LA Galaxy Foundation and LA Food Bank Team Up to Feed Los Angeles

Nov 8, 2017 3:15 PM ET

AEG’s LA Galaxy Foundation joined the fight against hunger and food insecurity in Los Angeles through weeklong support of Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Throughout the week of Oct. 9, LA Galaxy staff members and fans collected more than 700 pounds of food and prepared and distributed nearly 4,000 meals to children, families, seniors and individuals in need throughout the Los Angeles area.

Education

Examining the Value of Traditional Campus Services in an Increasingly Technology-Centric World

Nov 8, 2017 3:15 PM ET

Technology has had a dramatic and undeniable impact on almost every facet of modern life, and higher education is no exception. From how lectures and course materials are delivered to the immense wealth of learning resources that are available from anywhere at any time, technology has enabled greater access to education than ever before.

Research, Reports & Publications

New From Ecotone Publishing: Creating Biophilic Buildings

Nov 8, 2017 3:00 PM ET

A visually-rich, case study-filled book from ILFI CEO Amanda Sturgeon, FAIA showcases how design can regenerate life.

Diversity & Inclusion

FCA Foundation Supports Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s ‘Heroes Night’ Concerts for U.S. Armed Forces Veterans and Their Families

Nov 8, 2017 2:25 PM ET

The FCA Foundation, the charitable arm of FCA US LLC, today announced $180,000 in support for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for the 2017-2018 concert season. The funding will support a number of DSO initiatives for veterans in southeast Michigan, including underwriting special $10 tickets for veterans to attend “Heroes Night” concerts performed in Orchestra Hall.

Green Infrastructure

Expatriate Workers and Sustainable Development on the Alba Potline 6 Project

Nov 8, 2017 2:10 PM ET

By the time Bechtel’s Alba Potline 6 Aluminum project in Bahrain reaches peak construction in mid-2018, there could be more than 10,000 skilled craft workers on site. Like most construction projects in the Middle East, Alba will rely to a large extent on the commitment and dedication of expatriate workers, from India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, and other countries.

Research, Reports & Publications

Market for Digitalization in Energy Sector to Grow to $64bn by 2025

Nov 8, 2017 2:10 PM ET

Digitalization in the energy sector is shifting towards services for distributed renewables and the connected home and away from technologies for fossil fuel operation and maintenance today as per new research released by Bloomberg New Energy Finance. The market for digitalization is set to grow to $64bn by 2025.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Agriculture in the Anthropocene: The Challenge is the Solution

Nov 8, 2017 1:40 PM ET

The world’s farmers not only must feed a growing population, but also cope with a rapidly changing climate.

Education

Curiosity Cube Comes to the Blanchard School

Nov 8, 2017 1:30 PM ET

There are plenty of science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM fields out there and Millipore Sigma, a life-sciences company, wants to share some of the field’s newest technologies with students to generate interest.

Health & Healthcare

Case Study: Improving Workplace Conditions a Vital Component of Social Responsibility

Nov 8, 2017 1:30 PM ET

Humantech Inc. specializes in industrial engineering, bio-mechanics and occupational ergonomics, and helps Fortune 1000 companies identify and quantify injury risk in the workplace. We spoke with their President, James Good, who told us examples of major savings gained by improving workplace conditions. ​

Environment

Sammy Roth: Desert Power Investigation

Nov 8, 2017 1:00 PM ET

With all the false claims about “fake news” and verifiable lies being proffered as facts by the president and others, it’s quite refreshing to be reminded that there is still some fantastic journalism taking place in this country. This week on Sea Change Radio, host Alex Wise speaks to Desert Sun energy reporter Sammy Roth about his investigative piece on the Imperial Irrigation District (IID).

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

How a Data Engineer Used Tech Skills to Help Rescue 35,000 Disaster Victims

Nov 8, 2017 1:00 PM ET

After spending a chaotic day on a boat rescuing people from Hurricane Harvey floodwaters, Matthew Marchetti set out to see if he could put his data engineering skills to work to find a more organized way to save those affected by the storm damage. He created a platform called CrowdSource Rescue to connect victims with volunteers while local officials and the U.S. Coast Guard were inundated with calls. Within hours of setting up the platform, Matthew received thousands of requests for rescue.

Environment

Making Life in Minneapolis Sweeter for Bees

Nov 8, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Roberta Rogers spends her workdays concerned about her customers and how she can help them with their loans. But on a summer day outside of her office in Minneapolis, the Wells Fargo underwriter was worried about the dwindling population of bees and how she could help them avoid extinction.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Enhancing Lives by Providing Food, Basic Needs, and Self-Sufficiency Programs

Nov 8, 2017 12:40 PM ET

The Lorton Community Action Center (LCAC) serves the southeastern portion of Fairfax County, Virginia. LCAC’s mission, to enhance the quality of life in our community by providing food, basic needs, and self-sufficiency programs through the generous support of our community, has reached tens of thousands of individuals in our community since our humble beginning back in 1975.

Environment

Wells Fargo Global Operations Now Powered by 100 Percent Renewable Energy

Nov 8, 2017 12:30 PM ET

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) today announced that 100 percent of its global electricity consumption for 2017 will be met with renewable energy. The milestone means the company has met the first part of its commitment to purchase renewable energy to power 100 percent of global operations by the close of 2017, with a transition to long-term agreements that fund new sources of green power by 2020.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Hormel Foods Recognized by Forbes on Top Regarded Companies List

Nov 8, 2017 12:15 PM ET

Hormel Foods Corporation today announced it has been recognized by Forbes on its Top Regarded Companies 2017 list.

Environment

Duke Energy, YMCA of Greenville Team Up to Build Outdoor Classroom

Nov 8, 2017 12:10 PM ET

As one of Duke Energy’s Water Resources Fund recipients, the Greenville YMCA is working to improve access to the Reedy River with outdoor classrooms and science stations. Together, we’re creating better recreational and educational facilities for local families.

Innovation & Technology

UPS Launches eBike Solution in Pittsburgh

Nov 8, 2017 12:05 PM ET

UPS announced today its launch of an eBike that will deliver packages in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The electrically-assisted tricycle will help reduce carbon emissions in addition to congestion, noise and air quality challenges in Pittsburgh.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Thanking Our Heroes: Today and Every Day

Nov 8, 2017 11:55 AM ET

Veterans Day is an important time to reflect on the brave men and women who fought for our freedoms. This November, we’re honoring veterans by supporting organizations who, like us, are committed to serving our heroes all year long. These groups help ensure active duty military, veterans and their families receive the support they need long after the parades come to an end.

Energy

Carnival Cruise Line Signs Agreement With Shell to Fuel North America’s First LNG-Powered Cruise Ships

Nov 8, 2017 11:50 AM ET

Carnival Cruise Line, a unit of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK) and the world's most popular cruise line, today announced it has signed an agreement with Shell NA LNG, LLC (Shell) to be its supplier of marine liquefied natural gas (LNG) to power North America’s first fully LNG-powered cruise ships. Under this framework agreement, Shell will supply Carnival Cruise Line with fuel for its two new LNG-powered ships expected to launch in 2020 and 2022 and to be homeported in North America.

Environment

Soil Matters More Than You Think

Nov 8, 2017 11:00 AM ET

As I walked through the verdant fields filled with a dazzling array of sorghum, hairy vetch, daikon radish, collards, cowpeas, clover, millet, kale, and other crops, I was struck by how different this field looked relative to so many other farms I've walked over the years. When we conducted a spade test, digging out a section of the soil with a simple tool, it revealed heavily clumped, rich brown matter with visible earthworms: soil life.