ESG News from Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Five Companies Giving Back This Holiday Season

Dec 19, 2016 10:15 AM ET

Company philanthropic efforts over the holidays are nothing new – in fact, many companies have heritage campaigns they've committed to year over year. Yet, each year heralds in new campaigns and innovations to existing efforts and this holiday season is no different. This past month we saw brands make landmark donation commitments, react to real-time news – executives even slept on the streets to show how they care. Here's a roundup of the latest seasonal campaigns that caught our eye.

Social Impact & Volunteering

DVR Alert! Don’t Forget “A Home for the Holidays” Airs Friday!

Dec 19, 2016 10:00 AM ET

The Dave Foundation for Adoption is a proud sponsor of the CBS special "A Home for the Holidays." This year will be the 18th annual event headlined by Miranda Lambery with performances by Aleesia Cara and Rachel Platten.

A Home for the Holidays is a special featuring inspirational stories of foster care adoptions and filled with great music to raise awareness about this important issue. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is dedicated to increasing the number of adoptions from foster care. This special will feature several families who have been through the adoption process.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Permit, License and Registration Transfer Support for a Global Chemical Company

Dec 19, 2016 9:55 AM ET

The client, a chemical manufacturing company, was separating into two separate companies. As part of the separation process, it was determined that approximately 300 EH&S related permits, licenses and registrations in multiple states required transfer to the new entity in order to allow continued operation.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Voya Financial White Paper Explores the Unique Challenges Facing People with Special Needs and Their Caregivers

Dec 19, 2016 9:35 AM ET

Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), today released a white paper discussing the many economic and emotional challenges faced by Americans with special needs and their caregivers and how employers can help ease those challenges.

Environment

Chicago-Area Hospitals Share Successes, Challenges of Pilot Healthcare Plastics Recycling Program

Dec 19, 2016 9:30 AM ET

Health & Healthcare

Sustainability and CSR in Healthcare Sector is Focus of Free 3BL Media Webinar, Jan. 4

Dec 19, 2016 9:15 AM ET

December 19, 2016 /3BL Media/ - Being recognized for successfully treating disease and sending patients home healthy and happy is no longer enough. Increasingly, top healthcare organizations and pharmaceutical companies are extending the focus of innovation to their social and environmental footprints.

Join 3BL Media for our next “best practice” webinar, The Prescription for Sustainability and CSR in Healthcare, Jan. 4 at 9:30 a.m. ET. The event is free and will feature a live question and answer session that is open to corporate social responsibility, sustainability and communications professionals from brands and nonprofits.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Forest City Continues Corporate Responsibility Transparency with First GRI G4 Report and GRESB Green Star Designation

Dec 19, 2016 9:05 AM ET

Forest City Realty Trust, Inc., (NYSE: FCEA and FCEB) announced the official release of the company’s latest corporate responsibility report – its fourth overall and first to be published in accordance with guidelines from the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), a leading corporate sustainability reporting organization.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Barclays Bolder Apprenticeships: A New Lease on Life

Dec 19, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Four years ago, Jeff Ruffell thought he might not work at a senior level again. He had spent two decades in sales management and another decade in the kitchen and bathroom industry, but a run of bad health and bad luck had left him jobless at the age of just 53.

“I was recovering from a serious car accident when the company I was working for folded,” he says. “The stress of the accident caused me to have a breakdown and I thought my depression would stop me finding work with a new company.”

Diversity & Inclusion

From Military Service to Data Analyst

Dec 19, 2016 8:50 AM ET

On Citizen IBM, Global Citizenship Initiatives Vice President Diane Melley writes about how IBM and our public- and private-sector partners are helping veterans successfully apply their technological and leadership-based skill sets to serve as data analysts within some of America's largest and fastest-growing industries.

Environment

Sourcing High-Risk Commodities, Nestlé's Commitment

Dec 19, 2016 8:45 AM ET

As part of our commitment to protecting biodiversity and ecosystems, we have continued our efforts in tackling deforestation, particularly in the production of palm oil.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

CBRE Appoints New Chairpersons of Asia Pacific American Forum

Dec 19, 2016 8:20 AM ET

CBRE Group, Inc. announced that Lilian Cavaleri, business manager for the company’s Microsoft account; and Eric Chen, first vice president, Investment Properties, Capital Markets, have taken leadership roles in CBRE’s Asia Pacific American Forum (APAF). Mrs. Cavaleri and Mr. Chen will serve as the Co-Chairpersons of the company’s newest employee network group.

Education

When a Second Chance at Education Changes Your Life

Dec 19, 2016 8:15 AM ET

My husband, an assistant manager at the Walmart supercenter in Palakta, FL, was searching for advancement opportunities on WalmartOne.com – the company intranet. What jumped out at me was the fact that eligible family members of Walmart associates could earn their high school equivalency free of charge via GEDWorks or the Career Online High School program.

Health & Healthcare

How Healthy Are We Indoors?

Dec 19, 2016 8:05 AM ET

With the average American now spending more than 90 percent of each day indoors, environmental factors such as lighting, noise, air quality and temperature in our homes, offices, gyms, stores and healthcare facilities play a vital role in our overall wellness. But which of these factors are most critical, and exactly what effects do they have on our health and behavior?

Health & Healthcare

How 3D Printing is Helping Make the Lives of Wounded Soldiers Better

Dec 19, 2016 8:05 AM ET

HP and 3D printing are making huge, positive changes in the lives of wounded soldiers.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Consumers Energy Receives Recognition for Commitment to Sustainable Business Practices

Dec 19, 2016 8:00 AM ET

Reflecting its commitment to delivering energy from increasingly green sources and more safely than ever, Consumers Energy announced today that it has been ranked in the top 6 percent among global utilities for sustainable environmental, social and economic practices.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Europe’s Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) and SIFAV Recognize SCS Sustainably Grown Certification Program

Dec 19, 2016 8:00 AM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

ANZ Shaping a World Where People and Communities Thrive

Dec 19, 2016 8:00 AM ET

ANZ has released its 2016 Corporate Sustainability Review, which reports on how it is tackling its most material sustainability issues.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Mohawk Group’s Light Lab Design Center Receives Petal Certification from International Living Future Institute

Dec 19, 2016 7:45 AM ET

Mohawk Group, a leading commercial flooring company known for cutting-edge and innovative flooring solutions, recently announced that Light Lab, the company’s newly renovated design studio, has received Petal Certification from the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) Living Building Challenge™ 2.1.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Tell Investors of Climate Risks, Energy Sector is Urged

Dec 19, 2016 7:10 AM ET

A coalition of the world’s most powerful bankers, regulators and even executives at some heavy polluters have a message for oil and gas companies: Be more forthcoming about the risks posed by climate change.

Events, Media & Communications

21CF Businesses Earn 34 Nominations at NAACP Image Awards, Celebrating Achievements of People of Color in Entertainment

Dec 19, 2016 7:00 AM ET

The nominees for the 48th NAACP Image Awards were announced on December 13, with 21st Century Fox film and television projects receiving 34 total nominations. Fox Searchlight's recent historical drama The Birth of a Nation received six nominations, tying with Moonlight as the year's most-nominated film. Several more Fox films and TV series were recognized, including FX's hit limited series The People v. O.J. Simpson (six nominations), 20th Century Fox's Hidden Figures (three nominations), and FOX's musical drama Empire (six nominations), which collected five awards last year. This year's winners will be announced at a ceremony in Hollywood on February 11 hosted by Anthony Anderson and broadcast live on TV ONE at 9pm/8c.

Events, Media & Communications

Climate Related Financial Disclosure For Business: An Imperative For 2017

Dec 19, 2016 6:45 AM ET

2016 began - as recorded here on Forbes - noting that climate change was becoming very real in the financial world. As we head towards the end of what has been a tumultuous year, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) is clear the message needs to be reinforced, not dismissed.

Innovation & Technology

Capital One’s C1 Coders Program Creates Excitement and Opportunity for STEM Careers

Dec 16, 2016 4:30 PM ET

As part of Capital One’s ongoing efforts to help students develop a greater interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Capital One hosted a closing event for the Capital One C1 Coders program. For the past 10 weeks, 1,000 middle school students across the country have been learning about software engineering alongside Capital One associates, with the final project of developing their own unique apps. At the graduation event, students demoed apps they created during the 10-week curriculum. Mayim Bialik, actress and neuroscientist, addressed the crowd by talking about her personal experience of discovering a passion for science and the importance of STEM.

Health & Healthcare

Michael R. Bloomberg Commits $360 Million to Reduce Tobacco Use – Raising Total Giving on Tobacco Control Efforts to Nearly $1 Billion

Dec 16, 2016 4:20 PM ET

Bloomberg Philanthropies today announced a new commitment of $360 million to global anti-tobacco efforts. The grant supports evidence-based policies to curb tobacco use and works to increase awareness of the dangers of tobacco in low and middle-income countries. The new round of funding raises Bloomberg’s total giving on this public health initiative to nearly $1 billion and builds on ten years of support for the implementation of tobacco control laws and policies around the world through the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use. To date the initiative has successfully supported 59 countries in passing laws or policies, reaching nearly 3.5 billion people and saving an estimated 30 million lives.

Green Infrastructure

Delos, IBM Join Forces to Advance Healthy Indoor Environments through Improved Digital Intelligence on the Cloud

Dec 16, 2016 3:05 PM ET

BM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that it is collaborating with wellness real estate and technology firm Delos™ to adopt IBM Cloud and cognitive technologies to speed the discovery of new insights in health and wellness and their connections to the design of indoor spaces.”

Events, Media & Communications

Department of Liquor Control Promotes Discounts for Designated Driving and Taxi Program

Dec 16, 2016 3:00 PM ET

In an effort to help prevent drunk driving in Montgomery County, the Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control (DLC) is partnering with a local transportation service, Dryver, to offer $20 gift cards towards a designated driver this holiday season and $5 off the first ten Lyft rides used.