ESG News from Leading Brands

Innovation & Technology

Public Safety LTE Integration with Smart City Initiatives

Mar 28, 2017 10:00 AM ET

As the communication technologies leveraged by the public safety sector advance, the intersection with smart city initiatives becomes all the more inevitable. Technological advances afforded by broadband long-term evolution (LTE) networks have changed how first responders, city and county officials, public agencies and transportation fleets communicate and gather data to better serve their communities. Learn more in the Black & Veatch 2017 Strategic Directions: Smart City/Smart Utility Report.

Events, Media & Communications

Why Don’t We Redefine the Good Life?

Mar 28, 2017 9:50 AM ET

Environment

World Wildlife Fund: Taking Action for Our Planet

Mar 28, 2017 9:45 AM ET

Though some people may not realize it, healthy oceans are critical to a healthy planet. Yet we know our oceans are struggling. Overfishing and illegal fishing are both major culprits in aggravating the oceans’ distress. Eighty-five percent of the Earth’s fisheries are fished to capacity or overfished. And often, other species are caught with the fish, threatening the survival of dolphins, whales, seabirds, sharks, and turtles, among others.

Education

Initiative Will Train 20,000 Teachers to Introduce Computational Thinking in CS Education

Mar 28, 2017 9:40 AM ET

Environment

Salvaged Honduran Wood Repurposed as Fire Starter Earns Verification

Mar 28, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Education

TCS and Discovery Education Partner to Prepare One Million Students for 21st Century Careers

Mar 28, 2017 9:20 AM ET

Innovation & Technology

Meet Post-doc Researcher Caitlin DeJong, HP Labs’ First Molecular Biologist

Mar 28, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Dr. Caitlin DeJong is the first molecular biologist to be hired at HP Labs. She joined the Life Sciences Research Group in HP’s Print Adjacencies and 3D Lab last May on a three year post-doctoral research position.

Environment

Domtar, Procter & Gamble Create a Sustainable Supply Chain

Mar 28, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Sustainable Brands, a leading website for forward-thinking businesses, published a case study that examined the unique nature of the partnership between Domtar and Procter & Gamble. By focusing on the importance of relationships with landowners, the partnership offers several lessons to other corporations and agencies about the benefits of collaboration.

Education

Sands Cares Donates $10,000 to Communities in Schools

Mar 28, 2017 9:00 AM ET

The donation will help offset the costs of college application fees and other post-secondary interests for CIS of Nevada seniors. SAT and ACT testing can cost $75 per student, cap and gown rental can cost graduates $85 each and non-refundable college application fees can cost students between $45 and $75 per application.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Rebuilding Together Affiliates to Engage 40,000 Volunteers on 1,600 Rebuild Projects During National Rebuilding Month this April

Mar 28, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Rebuilding Together, a leading national nonprofit in safe and healthy housing that provides homeowners in need with critical home repairs, will host its annual National Rebuilding Month this April. Nearly 40,000 volunteers will serve in more than 1,600 affiliate-led rebuild projects across the country throughout National Rebuilding Month.

Environment

Xylem Watermark | Bringing Clean Water to Communities Across Asia

Mar 28, 2017 9:00 AM ET

The world is facing unprecedented water challenges brought on by popular growth, urbanization, and shrinking fresh water supplies. Xylem employees helped address these challenges by helping to build innovative water towers and bring water education to schools and communities.

Research, Reports & Publications

Verizon (NYSE:VZ) Publishes Corporate Responsibility Report

Mar 28, 2017 9:00 AM ET

In its Corporate Responsibility Report, published in concert with its 2016 Annual Report, Verizon detailed the progress it has made over the past year toward reaching its corporate responsibility goals, and demonstrated how its technology can help people lead better lives, solve problems in new ways and create lasting value both for Verizon and for society.

Research, Reports & Publications

AkzoNobel Digital Report 2016: Going Beyond the Numbers

Mar 28, 2017 9:00 AM ET

One of the most inspiring aspects of 2016 was seeing examples of our purpose being brought to life. Our Human Cities initiative played a major role in this, underlining how we welcome our responsibility to play an important role in the communities where we operate.

Diversity & Inclusion

Nat Geo Explorers Encourage Girls to Pursue STEM Careers at Microsoft Events

Mar 28, 2017 8:45 AM ET

On March 18, girls across the United States gathered in Microsoft Stores to hear from National Geographic Explorers about the importance of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. The events were in partnership with Microsoft’s “Make What’s Next Campaign,” which aims to inspire the next generation of inventors, scientists, mathematicians and engineers. Given that only 6.7 percent of women graduate with STEM degrees, the campaign encourages girls to pursue these subjects from a young age, effectively doubling the potential to solve the worlds’ problems.

Education

Oklahoma Pipeline Simulator Supports Next-Gen Learning

Mar 28, 2017 6:00 AM ET

It was the last piece of the puzzle needed to complete the pipeline simulator at Central Technology Center in Drumright, Oklahoma.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Celebrating Farmworkers Through Simple Purchases

Mar 28, 2017 6:00 AM ET

Because fruits and veggies are such a staple, it's easy to forget that behind each tomato, pineapple and grape is a person, a farmer or worker with a family and community. (..)

Environment

Bright Lights In Big Cities Go Dark For World’s Earth Hour

Mar 27, 2017 6:45 PM ET

AEG’s STAPLES Center and the Los Angeles Convention Center went dark on Friday night in support of World Wildlife Fund’s Annual Earth Hour, a movement to encourage people, communities and businesses to turn off non-essential lights for an hour as a symbol of their commitment to protecting the planet and fighting climate change.

Environment

Your Cities Can Change Our World

Mar 27, 2017 5:20 PM ET

Cities account for 60-80% of energy consumption and 75% of carbon emissions on the planet.* Because of their population density, cities are also likely to feel the impacts of climate change – including water shortages, more intense natural disasters and heat waves.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

KeyBank Arranges $18.2 Million in Total Financing to Preserve Affordable Housing in Troy, NY

Mar 27, 2017 5:00 PM ET

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

America Just Got Its First Fair Trade Certified Farm

Mar 27, 2017 5:00 PM ET

With National Farmworker Awareness Week running March 24-31, ending on Cesar Chavez Day, we'd like to take a moment to recognize the many farmerworkers who feed us daily. And this year, Cesar Chavez Day and Farmworker Awareness Week arrive at an especially exciting time: Wholesum’s Amado farm is the first produce farm in America to become Fair Trade Certified™.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Celebrating Farmworkers Through Simple Purchases

Mar 27, 2017 5:00 PM ET

Fruits and vegetables are an essential part of our daily diet. They provide us with nutrients, reduce our risk of certain diseases, and they taste delicious!

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Procter & Gamble and Whirlpool Corporation EMEA Together with the Civil Protection Dept. Donate 10 “Laundry” Containers to Earthquake Stricken Families in Central Italy

Mar 27, 2017 4:45 PM ET

Procter & Gamble and Whirlpool Corporation Europe, Middle East & Africa have teamed up to support communities hit by the earthquake in central Italy.

Environment

Combating Pollution with Bioswales

Mar 27, 2017 4:15 PM ET

Last week, The Ray and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) installed five to ten acres of native grasses and pollinator plant seeds in the median and northbound lane gore area of Exit 6 on I-85 near LaGrange, Georgia

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Eastern Bank Joins Influential Sustainability Group to Help Advance Clean Energy Economy

Mar 27, 2017 3:20 PM ET

The nonprofit sustainability organization Ceres announced today that Eastern Bank has joined the Ceres Company Network. The Ceres board of directors approved the mutual bank’s membership in February 2017.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Good News about the Proposed PA State Budget for Intellectual Disability and Autism Services

Mar 27, 2017 3:10 PM ET

Pennsylvania's proposed budget includes critical funding for autism and intellectual disability services, affecting both people with disability and the people who support them.