ESG News from Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

GRID Alternatives Receives Grant from Wells Fargo for Major Low-Income Solar Expansion

Feb 7, 2017 1:15 PM ET

GRID Alternatives, America’s largest nonprofit solar developer, today announced the Wells Fargo Foundation has committed to a four-year, $2 million grant to expand low-income solar access. The grant builds on more than $4 million Wells Fargo has invested in GRID Alternatives since 2008, catalyzing the national expansion of GRID’s work bringing solar power and job training to disadvantaged communities.

Health & Healthcare

Three Quality of Lifehacks for Eating a Healthier Breakfast

Feb 7, 2017 12:15 PM ET

February is National Hot Breakfast Month. And while chilly February is the perfect time to start your morning with something warm, there are benefits to eating a cooked breakfast year-round.

Environment

TransCanada Recognized for Leadership in Corporate Sustainability

Feb 7, 2017 12:00 PM ET

It’s something many of us ask ourselves, especially around the start of a new year – what have I learned and how can I do better? From a company standpoint, opening ourselves up to evaluation by leading agencies is one way we can learn and improve.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Aflac #Duckprints Campaign for Childhood Cancer Soars Past 2016 Goal

Feb 7, 2017 11:30 AM ET

Aflac, the leading provider of voluntary insurance sales at the worksite in the U.S., announced it exceeded its 2016 goal for social interactions regarding the company’s #Duckprints campaign for childhood cancer. The year-long campaign rallied people across America to become active in the fight against pediatric cancer by asking them to create or share posts related to childhood cancer using the hashtag #Duckprints on social media.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Transparency and Trust in the Cognitive Era

Feb 7, 2017 11:25 AM ET

We are in the early days of a promising new technology, and of the new era to which it is giving birth. This technology is as radically different from the programmable systems that have been produced by the IT industry for half a century as those systems were from the tabulators that preceded them.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Mrs. Arkansas Using Title to Further Awareness of Foster Care Adoption

Feb 7, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

A Quick Look at Brand Finance’s 2017 Banking League Table

Feb 7, 2017 10:40 AM ET

Brand Finance has recently released its analysis of the brand strength for the world’s 500 top banks. This annual review uses Brand Finance’s royalty relief methodology to estimate how much of a bank’s market value derives from its brand assets.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

AIDA Supports SOS-Kinderdorf e.V. in the Philippines and the Dominican Republic in 2017

Feb 7, 2017 10:30 AM ET

Continuing its longstanding commitment to SOS-Kinderdorf e.V. projects in 2017, AIDA Cruises has presented the children’s charity with a donation of 102,450 euros.

This year the proceeds from the New Year’s raffle that is traditionally held on board the AIDA fleet on December 31 will once again go to the SOS Children’s Village in Iloilo, Philippines and an SOS Children’s Village in Los Mina/Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

How DSI Alums Are Putting Social Design to Work

Feb 7, 2017 10:30 AM ET

She came to DSI in the first class as a Fulbright Scholar, from a family devoted to social issues in Mexico City, and her dream was always to return to her native country to help its citizens.

Energy

UPS Invests $18 Million In On-Site Solar

Feb 7, 2017 10:20 AM ET

UPS today announced plans to significantly escalate its investment in solar energy as an owner/operator of solar assets starting with at least eight of its facilities in the U.S.

Diversity & Inclusion

VMware’s Commitment to an Inclusive and Diverse Workplace

Feb 7, 2017 10:15 AM ET

Strong, balanced and inclusive practices and policies that support our commitment to diversity are key to the health of our business, and our unique culture and employee community. We know that innovation thrives in cultures where diverse perspectives are actively encouraged, respected and celebrated. As a globally connected community, we know that the power of human difference has been, and will continue to be, a vital component to VMware’s success.

Health & Healthcare

School Food Director Embraces Buying Power, Diversity to Improve Menus

Feb 7, 2017 10:05 AM ET

One rainy day last fall, Anneliese Tanner scrolled through photos of sweet potatoes on her phone.The managers at some of the 114 school cafeterias under her watch in the Austin Independent School District were posting photos of the vegetables as their cooks made baked sweet potatoes for the first time.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Abbott Receives Gold Class Sustainability Award 2017

Feb 7, 2017 10:00 AM ET

RobecoSAM recently awarded Abbott with a Gold Class Sustainability Award for excellent corporate sustainability performance in its annual Sustainability Yearbook, the world's most comprehensive publication on corporate sustainability. The award recognizes Abbott for promoting responsible business practices in its own operations and throughout its supply chain, with a focus on business ethics, environmental stewardship and development of human capital.

Events, Media & Communications

Inogen Worldview Conference 2017

Feb 7, 2017 9:55 AM ET

Antea Group is excited to host a future look at what Food & Beverage industry leaders should be thinking about and planning for today to prepare them for what’s next in terms of environment, health, safety and sustainability (EHS&S) impacts to business.

Join us along with esteemed keynotes and our Inogen Environmental Alliance partners for a thought-provoking day of discussion around how innovation and technology are shaping EHS&S management.

This event is free of charge. Come to learn, discuss, and connect. Or just come for the drinks. Either way, we would love to see you there.

Environment

How to Select a Hospital Plastics Recycling Strategy

Feb 7, 2017 9:50 AM ET

Choosing how to structure your hospital plastics recycling program is an important decision that can have dramatic ramifications on your outcome. In this post, we walk you through three proven approaches to help you determine what's right for your hospital.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

National Grid- Smart Grid Programs in Worcester and Beyond

Feb 7, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Let’s be honest. Most of our customers believe energy prices are too volatile and too expensive. Reliability might have been a differentiator for high-performing utilities in years past, but today, keeping the lights on is table stakes.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Nancy Rigby Promoted to President of Cox Foundations

Feb 7, 2017 9:00 AM ET

“Under Nancy’s leadership, the Cox Foundation reinforces our company’s long history of being a good corporate citizen through giving,” said Kennedy. “Her insights have elevated our philanthropic impact in the areas of conservation, early childhood education, empowerment and health. Nancy’s expertise is creating local models that are being successfully replicated across the nation. She has helped our foundation not only respond to grant requests, but also to partner with non-profits to develop innovative projects which have great impact. Now, more than ever, we are committed to making a difference by helping people and communities where we do business.”

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

HP Recognized as World Leader for Corporate Action on Climate Change

Feb 7, 2017 9:00 AM ET

HP has been identified as a global leader for the actions and strategies it is taking to manage carbon and address climate change across its supply chain by CDP, the international not-for-profit that drives sustainable economies, which named HP to its supplier engagement leader board and Supplier Climate A List.

Innovation & Technology

Bank of Nova Scotia Unveils ‘Digital Factories’ to Boost Online and Mobile Capabilities

Feb 7, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Bank of Nova Scotia has launched “digital factories” in five countries in a bid to attract top tech talent and speed up the development of online and mobile banking solutions.

Innovation & Technology

Barclays Accelerator: Meet the Future Stars of UK Fintech

Feb 7, 2017 9:00 AM ET

The Barclays Accelerator, powered by Techstars, welcomed a new generation of fintech gamechangers to its London programme last week.

The accelerator, which also operates programmes in New York, Cape Town and Tel Aviv, lasts for 13 weeks. The current cohort is London’s fourth.

With help from Barclays, Techstars and a team of high-level mentors, the participants aim to evolve their business propositions and solve problems at the cutting edge of fintech: from artificial intelligence to cybersecurity, from blockchain to identity.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Future-Proofing the Fleet: Plant Retrofits Progress NRG's Sustainable Energy Future

Feb 7, 2017 8:30 AM ET

NRG Energy’s large-scale wind generation as well as our utility-scale, commercial, community and residential solar generation are an integral component of the Company’s strategy to produce increasingly cleaner power. Another component critical to maintaining a reliable and affordable power grid is to couple renewables with electricity generated whenever needed by conventional technologies.

Diversity & Inclusion

Married to the Military: How Being the Spouse of a Service-member Changed a Career

Feb 7, 2017 8:20 AM ET

While many of us are aware of the difficulty that veterans face when transitioning to the civilian workplace, many conversations overlook the experience of military spouses.

Research, Reports & Publications

VisionFund International, Microfinance Network – Social Performance Report

Feb 7, 2017 8:00 AM ET

VisionFund International, World Vision's network of over 30 microfinance institutions across Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe, presents its 2016 Social Performance Report.

Research, Reports & Publications

Build Trust in a Digital World - Complimentary Briefing

Feb 7, 2017 4:00 AM ET

With digital and data transforming industries and empowering audiences, companies are battling to find new ways to build trust and reputation, engage and influence stakeholders while protecting against data breaches.

Diversity & Inclusion

National Geographic and Katie Couric Offer Free Screenings and Discussion with Upcoming ‘Gender Revolution Tour’

Feb 6, 2017 7:00 PM ET

In support of the television premiere of Gender Revolution: A Journey with Katie Couric, National Geographic and Picture Motion are partnering to launch a free screening series across the U.S. The Gender Revolution Tour invites all universities, high schools, and nonprofits to request a free DVD of the film, along with a comprehensive discussion guide full of resources, to continue the conversation on understanding gender and identity in 2017.