ESG News from Leading Brands

Energy

What Happened to Solar Energy During the Eclipse?

Aug 29, 2017 5:35 PM ET

Instead of watching the Great American Eclipse on Monday, Duke Energy grid operators were watching the grid. For the most part, everything went as expected when the moon created a dusk-like darkness over North Carolina’s solar panels.

Innovation & Technology

Applying a Pattern of Excellence

Aug 29, 2017 5:30 PM ET

Imagine an innovation that reduces the accumulation of bacteria the moment germs hit a surface by 90–95 percent without the use of toxic chemicals that can lead to the development of resistant organisms. It may sound like something straight out of a science fiction novel, but it’s real—and Sappi paper helps make it possible.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Republic Services Sponsors 4th Annual 'Childrenz Challenge' at Michigan International Speedway

Aug 29, 2017 4:15 PM ET

Republic Services recently supported the fourth annual “Childrenz Challenge”, founded by Scott Vitale in 2013, held at the Michigan International Speedway (MIS) in Brooklyn, MI. The mud-filled 20 obstacle course was designed for children ages 4-13. This year’s course, with the help of Republic Services, featured a 36 foot-long water slide that sent participants into a puddle of mud to cap off the course.

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar's Integrated Value Chain

Aug 29, 2017 4:00 PM ET

Environment

Everyday Champion Eduardo López Merges Innovation and Tradition at Casa Herradura

Aug 29, 2017 4:00 PM ET

Eduardo López oversees one of Brown-Forman's Casa Herradura factories in Amatitán, Mexico. Merging innovation and tradition, he and his co-workers found a way to save energy and water while retaining the tequila’s unique flavor.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Implementing a Successful Public-Private Partnership | Part 1: Find the Right Partner

Aug 29, 2017 4:00 PM ET

To make true progress on the world’s largest societal issues — such as community health, economic development, and education and skills development—governments, companies, and nonprofits must work together. But, how does a company or organization develop and sustain successful public-private partnerships to achieve large-scale impact?

Research, Reports & Publications

Director of Erb Institute | Business for Sustainability Among Experts Suggesting Climate Assessment Improvements

Aug 29, 2017 4:00 PM ET

Climate change is a risk management challenge for society, with uncertain but potentially severe outcomes affecting natural and human systems, across generations. Managing climate-related risks will be more difficult without a base of knowledge and practice aimed at identifying and evaluating specific risks, and their likelihood and consequences, as well as potential actions to promote resilience in the face of these risks. We suggest three improvements to the process of conducting climate change assessments to better characterize risk and inform risk management actions.

Innovation & Technology

Hands-On Scientific Learning Goes Global with Amgen Biotech Experience Expansion

Aug 29, 2017 2:15 PM ET

It's no surprise that when students become fascinated by science, that enthusiasm can be contagious. From our survey with Change the Equation, we know students crave hands-on biology experiences that are often lacking in the classroom. The Amgen Foundation is on a mission to help more students catch the science bug, by introducing them to the thrill of scientific discovery and the experiences of actual working scientists.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

City Year & Comcast NBCUniversal: Building a Legacy of Service

Aug 29, 2017 2:00 PM ET

A mayor, three physicians and public health specialists, seven school principals and educators, and 28 executive directors and nonprofit leaders. These are some of the outstanding members of a special group of 67 people working in communities nationwide to change our world for the better – and they all have three things in common.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Visa Responds to Hurricane Harvey in Texas

Aug 29, 2017 1:30 PM ET

At Visa, our thoughts are with everyone impacted by the devastation of Hurricane Harvey. Today, we are announcing our commitment to support immediate relief and recovery efforts in Texas.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Cox and The Trust for Public Land Announce Eric Sophiea as Arizona’s 2017 Cox Conserves Hero

Aug 29, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Sophiea founded Climbers Association of Southern Arizona in 2015 to build an empowered group of rock climbers who give back to the community. As President, Sophiea dedicates thousands of personal volunteer hours managing all levels of the registered 501(c)(3) organization. He has forged collaborations with nonprofits and conservation agencies, including the AZ Wilderness Coalition, AZ Conservation Corps and the US Forest Service.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Helping in the Wake of Hurricane Harvey

Aug 29, 2017 12:45 PM ET

The destructive power of Hurricane Harvey, which made land over Texas this weekend, has been described by the National Weather Service as unprecedented and the full devastation of the storm is still unknown. Our thoughts go out to those who have been impacted, harmed and displaced by this terrible natural disaster. We also thank the brave men and women who have worked tirelessly and in grave danger to rescue people from the flood waters and to provide aid to those in need.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Keep America Beautiful Selects 2017–2018 National Youth Advisory Council

Aug 29, 2017 12:30 PM ET

Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, has selected 11 high school students from across the country to serve on its sixth national Youth Advisory Council, which is sponsored through the generous support of the Wrigley Company Foundation.

Events, Media & Communications

Smart Cities, Stupid Cities, and How Data Can Be Used to Solve Urban Policy Problems

Aug 29, 2017 12:10 PM ET

The idea that we can and should use data to solve urban policy problems is widely accepted among policy makers, academic researchers and in the business community. Most mayors have accepted the value of data driven policy by signing on to what might be called the “smart city movement.” Not all urban leaders actually know what it means to be a smart city though.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Mohawk Becomes Proud School Crasher in Community-Focused School Makeover Program

Aug 29, 2017 11:55 AM ET

This summer, Mohawk Industries partnered with a Georgia-based credit union to “crash” four schools and give them makeovers in the fourth annual Georgia United Credit Union School Crashers℠ program. School Crashers offers local schools the opportunity to apply for a facility makeover. In 2017, 330 schools submitted nominations for makeovers.

Social Impact & Volunteering

HELP of Southern Nevada Opens New Shannon West Homeless Youth Center

Aug 29, 2017 11:30 AM ET

After eight years of planning, HELP of Southern Nevada has opened their new location of the Shannon West Homeless Youth Center on July 14 on Flamingo Road. The new 37,000 square-foot center provides services to youth at no cost and the residential and day programming enables youth to learn skills necessary to succeed as adults.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Connecting Cotton and Trees Signals Hope for Farmers in Haiti

Aug 29, 2017 11:30 AM ET

Once the country's fourth largest agricultural export, cotton is making its comeback to Haiti after a 30-year absence. Today, global outdoor lifestyle brand Timberland, the Smallholder Farmers Alliance (SFA) and Haiti’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Pierre Marie Du Mény, announce the reintroduction of cotton as an anchor crop in Haiti which will help revitalize farming, boost the economy and contribute to environmental restoration through a link to tree planting.

Events, Media & Communications

Hurricane Harvey Relief Coordination Webinar: August 30 @ 1:00 p.m. EDT

Aug 29, 2017 11:30 AM ET

The aftermath of Hurricane Harvey has led to extreme flooding in Texas over the past few days and damaged homes and businesses, displaced families and individuals, and left at least eight fatalities in the region. In the wake of disasters such as these, a multi-sector response effort is critical.

Events, Media & Communications

The Latest on Hurricane Harvey Support and Response

Aug 29, 2017 11:00 AM ET

We are working hard to ensure all our associates in the affected area are safe and customers have access to the essential items needed during this difficult time. Associates have been working closely with the Red Cross and local government officials to understand how we can best help. At this time, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have committed at least $1 million in support, and our local teams will continue to provide extra assistance over the coming days and weeks as we learn more about the damage and what is needed.

Innovation & Technology

Avnet and Arizona State University Invite Enterprising Students to Compete in Second Annual ASU Innovation Open

Aug 29, 2017 10:30 AM ET

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Responsible Investing – Principles, Pillars and Progress

Aug 29, 2017 10:25 AM ET

The responsible investing movement that we have started and shaped has reached the end of the beginning, with a broad and strong foundation that will evolve to provide the superstructure of our society’s continuing struggle to address and solve its greatest challenges. Our efforts are working, and we are being joined in our mission by more investors worldwide every day. But there is more to be done...

Environment

Wildlife Thrives at Bacardi Bottling Facility

Aug 29, 2017 10:15 AM ET

The Bacardi Bottling Corporation in Jacksonville, Fla., welcomes wildlife of all types on its 92-acre industrial site. Through its eco-conscious efforts to help pollinators thrive, the bottling plant works to fulfill its Good Spirited sustainability initiative of putting back at least as much as they take away. The campus’ animal-friendly conservation efforts include a monarch butterfly habitat, blue martin bird houses, and bat houses, with a plan of adding honeybee hives in the future.

Environment

Domtar Sustainability: The Measure of a River

Aug 29, 2017 10:15 AM ET

It is an ongoing challenge for this federal agency to secure the money required to maintain real-time monitoring stations across the country. Moreover, if the USGS stops executing this mission, the benefit of long-term water monitoring data is lost. Enter Domtar. We understand the importance of real-time water quality and stream flow data.

Research, Reports & Publications

NRG | Sustainable Retail Operations: Green Mountain Energy

Aug 29, 2017 10:10 AM ET

In 2016, GME partnered with the Texas Parks 
& Wildlife Department (TPWD) to provide the organization innovative and cost-effective solar and smart-meter solutions. Additionally, GME will provide energy solutions to all TPWD facilities in deregulated areas with 100 percent renewable energy, supporting the TPWD’s mission to manage and conserve the state’s natural and cultural resources for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

Green Infrastructure

WELL Scales Across Every Dimension

Aug 29, 2017 10:05 AM ET

Healthy people through better buildings: That’s our daily focus here at the International WELL Building Institute.