ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

Texas Trees, Alliance Data and American Forests Conduct Urban Heat Island Study to Understand the Effects of Trees, Paved Surfaces and Buildings on Temperature and Air Quality in Dallas County

Jun 7, 2017 4:30 PM ET

Alliance Data, and Texas Trees Foundation, in conjunction with American Forests, the oldest national conservation organization in the United States, teamed up to implement the urban heat island study in Dallas County, which identifies where the region is experiencing high urban heat island temperatures and the associated effect on air quality, and where greater tree canopy coverage could mitigate the issue.

Education

Sanofi Pasteur Sponsors 15th TecBridge Business Plan Competition

Jun 7, 2017 4:05 PM ET

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, once again served as a lead sponsor for the TecBridge Business Plan Competition – a regional competition, located in Northeast Pennsylvania, designed to stimulate innovative thinking to leverage a technology-driven economy while retaining area talent.

Environment

John Wilson: Finance of the Future

Jun 7, 2017 3:20 PM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

Covering the Cost of Everyday Bills, Nonprofit Brings Relief and Hope to Families Battling Cancer

Jun 7, 2017 2:15 PM ET

Cancer patients work hard battling the multiplying malignant cells in their bodies. In the meantime, most also face multiplying bills as medical expenses pile on top of ongoing costs for housing, food, utilities and more.That’s why Bringing Hope Home, a growing Philadelphia-based organization, raises money to help cancer patients pay everyday bills that loom over their already stressful lives.

Environment

Georgia Tech Professors Take the Carbon Reduction Challenge from Class to Co-op

Jun 7, 2017 2:15 PM ET

The Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business is creating the next leaders to take on carbon reduction through an innovative co-curricular initiative launched in partnership with the College of Sciences and partially funded by the Ray C. Anderson Foundation.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Timberland and Wrangler Explore Good Apparel Solutions at Sustainable Brands Detroit

Jun 7, 2017 2:00 PM ET

Global outdoor lifestyle brand Timberland recently joined forces with its VF sister brand, Wrangler, to explore and promote good apparel solutions through sustainable agriculture at the Sustainable Brands ‘17 conference in Detroit. The conference theme, “Redefining the Good Life,” came to life throughout the week at the Activation Hub, an interactive expo where brands and attendees partnered to explore and define a more sustainable future for various sectors.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Grants Management Software ≠ Greater Impact

Jun 7, 2017 1:45 PM ET

That title might seem surprising coming from a grants management software company, but it’s a reality we face every day with our clients. There is no shortcut to achieving impact with your philanthropy programs. Simply buying a grants system to measure outcomes won’t get you to greater insight or greater impact. You need a plan and that’s not something you generally look to your software vendor to provide.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

VMware’s Commitment To Sustainability: CEO Pat Gelsinger Message to Employees

Jun 7, 2017 1:45 PM ET

With the announcement that the US will withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, I wanted to reiterate VMware’s absolute commitment to operating our business in a responsible and sustainable manner. From our commitment to green building practices around the world to the order of magnitude our technology delivers in terms of energy and carbon emission reductions in IT, VMware has been on the leading edge of positive environmental impact since our inception.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Comcast NBCUniversal Receives Secretary of Defense 'Freedom Award'

Jun 7, 2017 1:25 PM ET

Comcast NBCUniversal's commitment to the military community is about more than just hiring. It’s about making sure these military employees have a professional environment that allows them to thrive both in their civilian career and their military career.

Education

Kip, Kip, Hooray: The Osprey has a Name

Jun 7, 2017 1:10 PM ET

"Ooohh," "Aahhh," "Whoooaaa."

Those sounds were some of the not really quiet, but trying to be quiet, squeals from 150 elementary students as Skoshi, a 28-year-old red-tailed hawk, made an appearance at Oakhurst STEAM Academy in Charlotte, N.C.

Health & Healthcare

Three Quality of Lifehacks for Adding More Dairy to Your Diet

Jun 7, 2017 1:00 PM ET

June is National Dairy Month, so we decided to highlight the benefits of adding naturally nutrient-rich dairy foods to your diet. Dairy foods—milk, yogurt and cheese—are an important source of high-quality protein and essential nutrients like calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and vitamins A and D.

Environment

Delivering Clean Water Through Circular Thinking

Jun 7, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Resource reuse makes such a big impression today because our natural resources are becoming noticeably scarce. But now, we have the technology to sustain them. Water is a great example, and a lush county in New York State is seeing its climate pose an issue that calls for circular thinking.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Scotiabank Impact Story: Empowering Customers with Sustainable Investing Tools

Jun 7, 2017 12:45 PM ET

Corporate environmental, social and governance practices (ESG) have the potential to impact a company’s financial performance, both positively and negatively. Corporate data on ESG practices has also been used by institutional investors and fund companies as part of their investment management.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Who Are the Winners of the European Bio-Based Innovation Awards 2017?

Jun 7, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Last week at the end of the second day of Bio-Based Live Europe, hosted at the University of Amsterdam, the winners of the Bio-Based Innovation Awards (Europe) were announced. The winner of our European Bio-Based Chemical Innovation of the Year 2017 which is Cyrene developed by Mercki, the Chemistry Centre of Excellence at the University of York and Circa Group in response to increasing demand for safer, greener alternatives to PMF and NMP.

Research, Reports & Publications

WEBINAR: 2017 Cone Communications CSR Study: The Need-to-Know Data & Insights

Jun 7, 2017 11:15 AM ET

2017 will be remembered as the year that corporate social responsibility (CSR) was redefined. Although CSR will always be grounded in business operations, the stakes have gotten a lot higher. Companies must now share not only what they stand for, but what they stand up for.

Environment

General Motors Sustainability Newsletter - June 2017

Jun 7, 2017 11:15 AM ET

General Motors’ sustainability approach enables the company to serve its customers and shareholders, increase operational efficiency, mitigate risk and improve the communities where it does business.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Cornell’s Climate-Conscious Urban Campus Arises

Jun 7, 2017 11:00 AM ET

When Cornell University competed in 2011 to develop an applied science and engineering campus in New York City, part of its pitch was that it would construct an academic building that would at least approach making as much energy as it used in a year, a concept known as net zero. It won. Then came the hard work of making that vision happen at the campus, known as Cornell Tech.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

CITGO Renews Its Commitment as Official Fuel Sponsor of First Response Team of America

Jun 7, 2017 10:30 AM ET

CITGO renewed its Official Fuel Sponsorship of First Response Team of America, helping the organization support communities across the country in the crucial moments immediately following natural disasters. As Official Fuel Sponsor, CITGO will help First Response Team purchase the fuel they need to help communities struggling in the aftermath of a catastrophe.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

2017 Environmental Leader Conference Honors Ingersoll Rand with Awards for Product Innovation and Energy Management Leadership

Jun 7, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Ingersoll Rand®, a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments, won an Environmental Leader Product Award for its Ingersoll Rand Next Generation R-Series line of compressors at the Environmental Leader Conference in Denver, Colorado on June 6, 2017. Deborah Kalish, program manager for Ingersoll Rand, also received an Energy Manager Today 50 award at the conference.

Education

Arrow Electronics Sponsors Student-led Formula-E Electric Race Car Projects in Norway, Germany

Jun 7, 2017 10:00 AM ET

In Europe, Arrow is working with universities that are participating in Formula Student, a global automotive engineering competition. Some 3,500 students across Europe participate in the program each year, producing more than 100 custom vehicles. Arrow sponsors the Formula-E Race Car Projects in Norway and Germany.

Sustainable Development Goals

National Geographic and Partner GSK Launch ‘Chasing Genius’, a Global Platform and Call for Transformational Ideas to Improve the Wellbeing of Our Planet and People

Jun 7, 2017 9:35 AM ET

21st Century Fox’s National Geographic is now accepting submissions for Chasing Genius, a new digital community developed in partnership with GSK Consumer Healthcare based on the idea that global change can come from anyone and anywhere. The platform is inspired by Genius, Nat Geo’s first scripted series produced by Academy Award winners Brain Grazer and Ron Howard, which premiered in April and chronicles Albert Einstein’s life through stories about his friends, lovers, enemies, and fellow scientific luminaries.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

HP Canada Listed as One of Canada’s Greenest Employers for the Tenth Year in a Row

Jun 7, 2017 9:35 AM ET

HP Canada is listed as one of Canada’s Greenest Employers for the tenth year in a row. Canada's Greenest Employers is an editorial competition organized by the Canada's Top 100 Employers project.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Unreasonable Impact | Creating the Jobs of Tomorrow

Jun 7, 2017 9:20 AM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Strengthening the World’s Largest School Meals Program

Jun 7, 2017 9:15 AM ET

The General Mills Foundation announced a two-year, $500,000 grant to the World Food Program last month to advance a pilot program to fortify rice and other staples served daily at the mid-day meal in India to nearly 140,000 school children.

Diversity & Inclusion

MetLife Foundation | Sharing What We Learn

Jun 7, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Multipliers of Prosperity is an award-winning thought leadership platform that features stories from MetLife Foundation’s grantees. It includes videos, infographics, and other content on the work of financial inclusion. This unique resource, developed in partnership with WSJ. Custom Studios, helps share best practices, insights, and information about financial inclusion issues. It is the Foundation’s contribution to sharing knowledge and raising awareness of financial inclusion around the world.