ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

Composting at Vigilant Global: 1 Year Later

Apr 28, 2016 12:20 PM ET

Since starting a composting initiative in March 2015, Vigilant Global has collected a total of 18,140L of organic matter.

Events, Media & Communications

“Purpose” – It is Central to Business Success Says a Sustainable Brands Thinker -- And, A Fascinating Look Into the 21st Century

Apr 28, 2016 12:00 PM ET

What may sound at first glance to be “touchy-feely” management advice turns out to be solid guidance to corporate executives and managers strategizing about “bullet-proofing” their companies and brands for the immediate and the long-term. Dimitar Vhalov, the Director of Content for Sustainable Brands, explains in our Top Story the importance of “purpose” for companies as the enterprise is made more resilient and focused as part of “future-proofing,” especially for brand marketers.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

SCS Global Services Becomes Newest Non-GMO Project Verification Provider

Apr 28, 2016 12:00 PM ET

SCS Global Services (SCS) announced today that it has successfully completed a rigorous, year-long Non-GMO Project Verification Pilot Program, and is now formally recognized as Non-GMO Project Technical Administrator. This designation means that SCS is authorized to independently verify claims for all types of food products and supplements under the Non-GMO Project, one of the United States’ fastest growing food labels of all time.

Health & Healthcare

CVS Health Marks National Prescription Drug Take Back Day with Events, Education and New Take Back Data

Apr 28, 2016 11:10 AM ET

CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) is marking National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, this Saturday April 30, with the announcement that its Medication Disposal for Safer Communities Program has donated more than 500 drug collection units to law enforcement partners across the U.S., resulting in the safe disposal of more than35 metric tons of unwanted medication to date.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Republic Services Volunteers at Anaheim Health Fair Adding a Fun Environmental Education Element to the Event

Apr 28, 2016 11:00 AM ET

We were proud to work, live, and raise families in the areas we serve. This past weekend we joined hundreds of volunteers at the 10th Annual Anaheim Health Fair to show our commitment to our community. As a sponsor of the two-day event, we hosted a booth to help residents pass the time as they waited to see the doctor and/or the dentist.

Environment

Riding the Rails to Environmental Compliance: A Railroaders Guide to Regulatory Requirements

Apr 28, 2016 10:55 AM ET

Antea Group consultants Dean Krebs, Phil Gilchrist, and Tim Larson presented and moderated a session on environmental compliance at the 2016 ASLRRA Connections Convention. Topics included EPA regulations, SWPPPs, FRPs, SPCCs, C-plans, air quality, a case study, and lessons learned.

Responsible Production & Consumption

This Earth Day: Find Cracks in the Corporate Armor

Apr 28, 2016 10:35 AM ET

There seem to be, in my overly simplistic view of the world, two kinds of companies:

– companies that use their sustainability values to inform their business practices, and
– those who resist or don’t recognize the s-word.

Social Impact & Volunteering

2016 Sodexo Future Chefs Competition - Featured Chef Ella Dettloff

Apr 28, 2016 10:35 AM ET

As part of the Sodexo 2016 Future Chefs competition, today we are featuring Ella Dettloff. Ella hails from the garden state of New Jersey. Ella is a 4th grader at Madison Park Elementary School in Old Bridge, New Jersey. In this video, Ella will be showing us how to make her Sweet Potato Pancakes with Grilled Pineapple.

Social Impact & Volunteering

TruGreen Helps Keep America Beautiful

Apr 28, 2016 10:30 AM ET

TruGreen today announced a partnership with national nonprofit Keep America Beautiful to help fulfill a vision of a country where every community is a clean, green and beautiful place to live. Starting with projects in Jacksonville, Florida; Kansas City, Missouri; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Keep America Beautiful affiliates will submit community improvement ideas for a chance to secure TruGreen TruNeighbor grants of up to $15,000, including in-kind services.

Environment

Warren Buffett’s Mixed Signals on Climate Risk and Insurance

Apr 28, 2016 10:00 AM ET

When it comes to addressing climate change impacts to Berkshire Hathaway’s insurance business, Warren Buffett paints a somewhat misleading picture that minimizes the business risks posed by a demonstrably changing climate. In doing so, Buffett begs serious questions about his company’s planning for climate impacts and undermines confidence in the insurance division’s climate resilience.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Siemens and Valeo Join Forces for Global Leadership in Powertrains for Electric Cars

Apr 28, 2016 9:45 AM ET

Siemens and Valeo have signed an agreement to form a joint venture in high voltage powertrains. With this move the companies create a global leader of innovative and affordable high-voltage components and systems for the entire range of electric vehicles including hybrids, plug-in hybrids and full electric vehicles.

Environment

Ingersoll Rand Issues Extensive Update on Its Global Climate Commitment to the Clinton Global Initiative

Apr 28, 2016 9:30 AM ET

Ingersoll Rand announced key milestones towards its climate commitment to the Clinton Global Initiative. To date, the company’s climate commitment has supported the avoidance of approximately 2 million metric tons of CO2e globally, which is equivalent to annual CO2 emissions from nearly 300,000 homes annual electricity use and more than 2.3 billion pounds of coal burned. By 2030, the company expects to reduce its carbon footprint by 50 million metric tons.

Events, Media & Communications

CBRE Brisbane Women’s Network Event

Apr 28, 2016 9:25 AM ET

As part of CBRE’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, and to recognise the achievements of women in the workforce, the Brisbane chapter of CBRE’s Women’s Network recently hosted an evening of conversation and canapés.

Environment

We Mean Business Highlights Post-Paris Opportunities

Apr 28, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Global leaders have converged to New York this week to sign the ​agreement thrashed out at the ​COP21 in Paris in December 2015.

Research, Reports & Publications

Making Sustainability the Everyday Standard at UBS

Apr 28, 2016 5:00 AM ET

UBS is pleased to announce its sustainability reporting for 2015. For the 15th year in succession, UBS has disclosed key information on its corporate responsibility and sustainability strategy and performance in its Annual Report and on its website. Moreover, in its Annual Review 2015, UBS has taken an important step toward integrated reporting.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Samsung and U.S. Government Officials Celebrate Students, Winners of National STEM Competition

Apr 28, 2016 3:15 AM ET

A solar-powered charging station for electric cars, a smartwatch app for pedestrian safety and prosthetic devices for veterans were among the winning projects of this year’s Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest. Students from the public schools named National Winners earlier this month were honored at an annual awards luncheon attended by congressional leaders.

Environment

Sustainability and Climate Risk Strategies and Scenarios

Apr 27, 2016 6:15 PM ET

As we move off of debating the science of climate change, but given that we’ve been largely ineffectual thus far at slowing global climate change, it’s time to focus on how organizations can make wiser decisions in this time of great uncertainty. Expert Mark Trexler is the subject of this very timely blog post based on a video interview of April 23rd, 2016 in Portland, Oregon.

Health & Healthcare

Healthy Cities Need a Low Carbon Diet

Apr 27, 2016 6:05 PM ET

Why might cities be the best place for social change to happen? Who better to answer this than Mark Watts, Executive Director of C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40). C40 connects more than 80 of the world’s largest cities, where change can have impact and scalability. We talked to Mark about the connection between climate change and type 2 diabetes.

Education

Booz Allen Celebrates STEM Mentoring at FIRST® Championship

Apr 27, 2016 5:45 PM ET

Health & Healthcare

Sodexo’s Wellness Meals Make it Easy to B-Healthy at Binghamton University

Apr 27, 2016 4:20 PM ET

B-Healthy Wellness Meals created by Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life Services, are helping Binghamton University reach its campus-wide wellness goals. B-Healthy is a Binghamton University initiative focused on the overall health and well-being of students, faculty and staff. Part of that focus is meeting the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) guidelines for college campuses.

Environment

EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, Oil Industry Expert Amy Myers Jaffe, Food Tank’s Danielle Nierenberg and Fortune 500 Business Leaders to Headline Ceres Conference May 4-5 in Boston on “Sustainability in an Age of Disruption”

Apr 27, 2016 4:15 PM ET

On the heels of the historic signing of the Paris Climate Agreement, the nonprofit sustainability group Ceres will bring together 500 business, investor and nonprofit group leaders to discuss how leading businesses in key industries are responding to sustainability challenges and combating climate change threats on a rapidly warming planet.

Education

2010 LMU Amgen Scholar Bartosz Helfer Takes His Summer Project to Publication

Apr 27, 2016 4:05 PM ET

In 2009, Bartosz Helfer was well into earning his bachelor’s degree in cognitive sciences at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, one of the biggest universities in one of the largest cities in Poland.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Impact Inspirations: Fidelity Investments Program

Apr 27, 2016 4:00 PM ET

One of the Common Impact initiatives that best exemplifies shared value is its program with the Fidelity Investments Workplace Investing (WI) business. The program offers a unique experiential learning and leadership development opportunity for WI’s senior level associates and delivers tangible, long-term impact for its nonprofit beneficiaries. In 5 years, the program has supported 78 of WI’s strongest talent and future leaders in their career development and yielded a community investment valued at $1,334,725.

Events, Media & Communications

PESO for Your Thoughts on Sustainability?

Apr 27, 2016 3:35 PM ET

Acronyms make it easier to remember new concepts. The term PESO – paid, earned, shared and owned -- was useful in remembering the new paradigm for PR pros and marketers seeking to reach key audiences with their content in a highly fragmented media environment.

Environment

Pledges from Sustainability Leaders: Domtar's EarthChoice Ambassadors

Apr 27, 2016 3:25 PM ET