ESG News from Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

After Hurricane Irma, How Power Gets Restored

Sep 13, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Mike Volrich will celebrate 30 years with Duke Energy next week, but he is still finding new opportunities. On Monday, he traveled to Florida to work a hurricane for the first time. He has worked countless ice storms and tornadoes in Indiana throughout his career, and although they have different hazards, he approaches them all with the same mindset.

Energy

Renewing a Brand Through Renewable Energy

Sep 13, 2017 9:05 AM ET

The rooftop solar market has exploded in recent years, enabling individual homeowners and small businesses to claim their turf in the transition to renewable energy. However, rooftop solar is just one of a growing number of opportunities for electricity customers to wean themselves from fossil fuels.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Top CEOs Place High Value On Corporate Ethics And Social Responsibility To Drive Business

Sep 13, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Environment

Flowering Dogwood: Spring Splendor in the Forest

Sep 13, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Flowering dogwood holds a special place in the heart of all who love trees. Perhaps this is because of its bloom — bursting forth in the dark woods or barren backyard with a promise that the dreary days of winter are over. Perhaps it is its brilliant fall leaves and bright berries, or the unusual pattern of its bark. Maybe it’s the gracefulness of its crown, or, for those who look closely, the interesting shape of its buds.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

SC Johnson’s Legacy of Environmental Leadership Commemorated by 30th Anniversary of Chloroflourocarbon Ban

Sep 13, 2017 8:00 AM ET

Forty-two years ago, SC Johnson shocked the chemical industry and set new heights for environmental responsibility, as it was the first company to protect the Earth’s ozone layer by banning chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from all its aerosol products worldwide.

In 1975, the company’s pre-emptive and voluntary action came more than a decade before the 1987 Montreal Protocol treaty designed to reduce the production and use of chemicals that contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer.

SC Johnson took this bold step motivated by early, yet not widely accepted, scientific research that suggested CFCs might harm the Earth’s ozone layer.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Fans to Help Major Leaguers Choose the 2017 Marvin Miller Man of the Year

Sep 12, 2017 8:00 PM ET

Online balloting at www.MLBPlayers.com opened today so fans can select the six division finalists for the 2017 Marvin Miller Man of the Year award, which goes to the player whose on-field performance and contributions to his community most inspire others to higher levels of achievement. The online voting, in which fans choose a finalist in each division, will continue through midnight, September 17.

Education

Sappi North America Celebrates Education Grant at Cloquet Mill

Sep 12, 2017 5:30 PM ET

Sappi and the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College have received a US $350,000 grant from the Minnesota Job Skills Partnership (MJSP) to develop and implement a Knowledge Management and Training System at Sappi’s Cloquet Mill in Minnesota.

Events, Media & Communications

New Speakers Announced for Opportunity Forward!

Sep 12, 2017 4:45 PM ET

Hear from these inspiring speakers and more on November 14-15 in Washington, D.C. discussing how the business community is uniquely positioned to solve the greatest issues of our time, while also building opportunities for all.

Innovation & Technology

Myths & Facts About Water Use in Las Vegas Resorts

Sep 12, 2017 4:45 PM ET

As a national operator of resorts in the resort destination of Las Vegas, MGM Resorts International recognizes the importance of water efficiency and conservation. As such, we have implemented a wide array of water management innovations that focus on reusing water when we can, avoiding or reducing irrigation in our landscaping, and investing in water efficiency innovations.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

6 Ways Cargill Is Protecting Forests in Its Cocoa Supply Chain

Sep 12, 2017 4:40 PM ET

Stopping deforestation in cocoa begins with helping farmers improve their livelihoods. That is the approach Cargill is taking as we continue to deliver on our promise of ending deforestation in all of our operations, and it is especially true in cocoa.

Education

Three Quality of Lifehacks to Teach Your Child(ren) to Cook

Sep 12, 2017 4:35 PM ET

Today is National Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day. In most cultures, learning to cook from your parents is a natural part of growing up. It may be connected to a holiday or religious tradition or simply a weekly dinner for a big family with deep ties to its heritage. But for many of us, that tradition sadly takes a back seat to the rigors of our daily existence. Cooking with the kids would be nice, but on a busy school night, dinner is just another chore to check off the list.

So how can we change that? It may be easier than you think and the benefits of taking just the first few steps are enormous.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

TD Bank Group Inaugural US$ Green Bond Upsized to US$1 Billion

Sep 12, 2017 4:25 PM ET

TD Bank Group (TD) (TSX: TD) announced today that it closed on the issuance of a US$1 billion green bond, its first in US dollars and one of the largest green bonds ever issued by a bank. Initially targeting an issue size of US$500 million, the transaction was upsized to US$1 billion and almost 70% of the issue went to green investors.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

National Diversity Council is Proud to Announce the 2017 Top 50 General Counsels in Dallas

Sep 12, 2017 3:30 PM ET

National Diversity Council is proud to announce the 2017 Top 50 General Counsels in Dallas, a definitive list of executives, influencers and achievers impacting the legal industry.

Events, Media & Communications

Advance Your CSR Career with a Certificate in Corporate Citizenship Leadership

Sep 12, 2017 3:00 PM ET

Are you ready to take your CSR leadership skills to the next level? APPLY by Thurs 9/14 and save $750 on the Leadership Academy!

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Wendy’s High School Heisman – Application Now Open

Sep 12, 2017 2:55 PM ET

Summer is just about coming to a close. Which – is a bummer. We know. But at Wendy’s®, there’s a silver lining: the kickoff to Wendy’s High School Heisman® Scholarship season. You know we are passionate about a lot. Fresh beef, for instance. Quality ingredients overall. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption®. But for the past 23 years, Wendy’s has also been a champion for students who show incredible passion in overcoming obstacles to be successful in the classroom, on the athletic field and within their communities.

Energy

Massachusetts Businesses Urge Lawmakers to Support Increased Renewable Energy Standard

Sep 12, 2017 2:00 PM ET

Massachusetts businesses are calling on state lawmakers to support an increase of the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to achieve 50 percent renewable energy supply by 2030.

Autodesk, Ikea, JLL, Legal Sea Food, and New Balance are among the businesses calling for more renewable energy in a letter delivered today to lawmakers. The call comes as Massachusetts lawmakers prepare for a briefing this week on several pieces of legislation that would increase the RPS.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

LG Unveils Its Highest Power Residential Solar Module with Enhanced Performance

Sep 12, 2017 2:00 PM ET

LG Electronics brings its most powerful and energy efficient solar module technology to Solar Power International in the form of the LG NeON®R. The new residential module, available in the US this month, creates a system with seamless installation and use, improved temperature coefficient and heightened visual appeal making it an all-around win for energy-conscious homeowners.

Responsible Production & Consumption

World’s First MSC Certified Pearls Confirms Sustainability of Intergenerational Australian Fishery

Sep 12, 2017 2:00 PM ET

In a ground-breaking move for sustainability certification, the Australian Pearl Producers Association (PPA) are the first wild pearl fishery in the world to achieve Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. The fishery was awarded the third-party certification after an 18-month assessment period carried out by SCS Global Services.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Dell Included in Fortune’s 2017 Change the World List

Sep 12, 2017 1:55 PM ET

Dell is proud of its inaugural inclusion on Fortune’s 2017 Change the World List, as Dell Technologies marks its One Year Anniversary and celebrates accomplishments in its Annual Report to Customers.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Amgen Staff Members Volunteer in Rockport After Hurricane Harvey

Sep 12, 2017 1:45 PM ET

A team of Amgen volunteers recently traveled to Rockport, Texas to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey.

Education

Khan Academy Launches First-Ever National Learnstorm Education Challenge

Sep 12, 2017 1:30 PM ET

Khan Academy announces today the start of the first-ever national LearnStorm, a free, six-week online learning challenge for grades 3-12. LearnStorm helps schools address the effects of summer learning loss and start the school year strong.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

JPMorgan Chase to Donate $1 Million to Support Hurricane Irma Relief Efforts

Sep 12, 2017 1:30 PM ET

JPMorgan Chase & Co. announced today that it is donating $1 million to aid the response to Hurricane Irma across affected communities in the U.S. and the Caribbean.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Volkswagen Of America Hits the Road With Endurance Runner Mimi Anderson

Sep 12, 2017 1:30 PM ET

Volkswagen of America (VWoA) announces its support for endurance runner Mimi Anderson as she attempts to run across the USA for charity – and set a world record for the feat.

Energy

Energy Conservation & Emissions in Boeing Operations

Sep 12, 2017 1:05 PM ET

Boeing takes a life cycle approach to our environmental footprint, which means we look at more than the effects of our products on the planet. We also carefully review how our products are manufactured and the effects of our operations. Reducing factory and facility emissions is a core part of our strategy and focus of innovation.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Consumers Energy Crews Heading Into Path of Hurricane to Restore Power

Sep 12, 2017 12:05 PM ET

Over 200 Consumers Energy employees and contractors are working in Florida today to help restore power to over 4 million homes and businesses that lost power due to Hurricane Irma.