ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

Inspiring Sustainability Champions

Apr 22, 2016 6:30 PM ET

Today Earth Day, we introduce you to the teachings (video) of Ilarion (Larry) Merculieff (Aleut), Founder of the Global Center for Indigenous Leadership and Lifeways and Dr. Robin Kimmerer, SUNY distinguished teaching professor and Director, Center for Native Peoples and the Environment.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Young Adult Cancer Survivor and LIVESTRONG Leader: Valerie

Apr 22, 2016 6:15 PM ET

LIVESTRONG Leaders are individuals that make a yearly significant commitment to those in their community affected by cancer by spreading the message of LIVESTRONG. They do this by fundraising, hosting events, bringing LIVESTRONG resources to their local hospitals and more. One of our amazing leaders from France, Valérie Sanja, talks about why she is involved with LIVESTRONG and what she is doing in her community to help spread the LIVESTRONG message.

Innovation & Technology

AT&T Setting Out to Connect More U.S. Residents to the Internet

Apr 22, 2016 6:05 PM ET

AT&T is making wireline home Internet service more affordable for low-income households starting today through Access from AT&T, a new program designed to help bridge the digital divide.

Environment

Las Vegas Sands Commemorates Success of “I Will If You Will” Campaign

Apr 22, 2016 5:45 PM ET

In celebration of Earth Day, Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS) proudly announces that more than 26,000 individual green actions were completed by its team members during the company’s annual “I Will If You Will” (IWIYW) global challenge. Initiated by Sands ECO360, Las Vegas Sands’ global sustainability program during the week leading up to Earth Hour on March 19th, the challenge encouraged the company’s team members to take action to reduce their impact on climate change.

Environment

Subaru's Zero Landfill Expertise are Helping Solve a Serious Waste Challenge in National Parks

Apr 22, 2016 4:20 PM ET

Subaru, together with the National Park Service and the National Parks Conservation Association, is leveraging their environmental expertise to work toward the goal of making these invaluable places zero landfill.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Volunteer Projects Engage Employees and the Community

Apr 22, 2016 4:05 PM ET

In corporate volunteerism, a company’s employees and retirees work together with local young students and residents to revitalize a community in need. Schools are cleaned up, fresh flowerbeds are planted in parks and colorful murals are painted in children’s play areas.

Environment

21CF Businesses Celebrate Earth Day with Photo Contests, Nat Geo Features, Days of Service, and More

Apr 22, 2016 4:00 PM ET

Since the launch of its corporate sustainability program in 2007, 21st Century Fox has consistently made Earth Day a focal point of its yearly calendar, regularly extending its celebration into a full month of activities engaging colleagues around the world. From the FOX network's annual "Green It. Mean It." PSA campaign, now in its ninth year, to a long tradition of spring volunteer events, 21CF's global colleagues embrace Earth Day as a time to take action in their own lives to better the environment, as well as inspire others to care about the planet.

Energy

Business Statement Welcoming the Paris Climate Agreement

Apr 22, 2016 4:00 PM ET

The Paris Agreement on climate change is a landmark achievement – it establishes an inclusive, pragmatic and, hopefully, durable framework for progressively strengthening efforts globally to address the causes and consequences of climate change.

Environment

Hospitals 'Going Green'

Apr 22, 2016 3:50 PM ET

Environment

Flying Toward a Cleaner Future

Apr 22, 2016 3:30 PM ET

Environment

Earth Week Guest Post: Corporate Renewables Growth: The Sky is the Limit

Apr 22, 2016 3:15 PM ET

Fossil fuels make up two-thirds of the approximately 1,100 gigawatts of capacity in the U.S. bulk power fleet. However last year the United States retired 14 gigawatts of fossil-fueled generation and brought 16.4 gigawatts of carbon-free generation online, with wind energy leading the mix at 8.5 gigawatts of newly installed capacity, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Even with low natural gas prices, new natural gas projects brought 6 gigawatts online. This is an exciting sign of a changing tide.

Environment

Ontario Children Helping House Endangered Bats

Apr 22, 2016 2:55 PM ET

TransCanada and Earth Rangers partner to help protect Little Brown Bats.

Environment

VIDEO: With SunPower Every Day is Earth Day

Apr 22, 2016 2:40 PM ET

Our company exists to help change the way our world is powered and leave the planet better off for future generations. That’s our purpose. It’s why we’re here.

Environment

The Promise of a Connected Earth

Apr 22, 2016 2:20 PM ET

Right now, on this day, at this point in time, connections are being made like never before.

Environment

Happy Earth Day from Qualcomm!

Apr 22, 2016 2:00 PM ET

Happy Earth Day! This year, the theme of our celebration is “Global Goals, Local Action,” in recognition of the international climate agreement that was reached in December 2015 in Paris, and which we hope will be signed into force by world leaders in New York City today.

Environment

Etsy to Make Their Decentralized E-Commerce Model 100% Renewable by 2020

Apr 22, 2016 2:00 PM ET

Chelsea Mozen joined the inaugural class of Bard’s MBA in Sustainability program in the fall of 2012 because she wanted to help rewire the world with clean energy. Today, one year after graduation, Chelsea joined Etsy CEO Chad Dickerson and other team members at the company headquarters to announce a bold, near-term commitment to achieve “carbon neutrality.”

Environment

TD Forests Helps the Nature Conservancy of Canada Protect 167 Hectares of Critical Forest Habitat

Apr 22, 2016 2:00 PM ET

To celebrate Earth Day, the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) is announcing that it has acquired 167 hectares (412 acres) of cedar forest near the Pugwash River in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia. TD Bank, through the TD Forests program, helped secure this property, which is one of the largest stands of cedar in the province and one of only a handful in northern Nova Scotia.

Education

Norfolk Southern Rolls Out New Safety Train and Website to Educate First Responders

Apr 22, 2016 2:00 PM ET

In keeping with a strong tradition of safety, Norfolk Southern today rolled out a new educational train and website to help first responders across its network respond to potential rail-related incidents.

Environment

Companies Address Energy Efficiency in Operations, Supply Chains & Product Offerings

Apr 22, 2016 1:30 PM ET

A new whitepaper, Accountability for Climate Action: How Corporations Are Tackling Climate Change, shows that businesses are a powerful force in addressing climate change, with a large majority making commitments to increase energy efficiency, reduce CO2 emissions or increase the use of renewables.

Social Impact & Volunteering

#GoingToBat Community Spotlight: Sam Fuld

Apr 22, 2016 1:30 PM ET

Sam Fuld doesn’t let anything stop him, especially Type 1 Diabetes. Diagnosed at age 10, Fuld learned to manage his disease so he could pursue his passion – baseball.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

CSX Named in Top 50 Best Corporate Citizens

Apr 22, 2016 1:15 PM ET

Reflecting CSX’s ongoing commitment to being a good neighbor in the communities it serves, the company was recognized as one of Corporate Responsibility Magazine’s Best Corporate Citizens for 2016, with a ranking of #47 in the company’s fourth appearance on the list. CSX was the only railroad included in the ranking.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Whirlpool Corporation Ranked As One Of Top 100 Corporate Citizens By CR Magazine

Apr 22, 2016 1:00 PM ET

Whirlpool Corporation announced today that the company has been named as one of CR Magazine's Top 100 Corporate Citizens of 2016. The announcement marks Whirlpool's fourteenth consecutive appearance on the list, which ranks companies based on seven categories including environment, climate change, human rights, employee relations, corporate governance, philanthropy and financial performance.

Environment

First Tetra Top Carton Bottle with Bio-based Plastic Hits the Market with JUST Water

Apr 22, 2016 12:40 PM ET

Tetra Pak announces that a new version of its Tetra Top® package, more than 80% of which comes from plant-based materials, will make its global debut in the United States with JUST™ water.

The new generation carton bottle now comes with a cap and top made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) derived from sugarcane. Combined with the FSC™ certified paperboard used in the main sleeve of the carton, this pushes its renewable content up from 53% to 82%, with no impact to its recyclability. This unique bio-based bottle delivers another milestone in a long line of successful environmental innovations at Tetra Pak.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

UN Global Compact Calls on Companies to Set $100 Minimum Internal Price on Carbon

Apr 22, 2016 12:35 PM ET

UN Global Compact Executive Director Lise Kingo calls on companies to set an internal carbon price at a minimum of $100 per metric ton over time.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

CR Magazine Reveals 17th Annual 100 Best Corporate Citizens List

Apr 22, 2016 12:30 PM ET

Corporate Responsibility Magazine announced today its 17th annual 100 Best Corporate Citizens List, recognizing the standout performance of public companies across the United States.