ESG News from Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Microsoft Employees Raise a Record-Breaking $125 Million for Nonprofits in 2015

Feb 10, 2016 1:00 PM ET

Microsoft’s Employee Giving Program raised a record-breaking $125 million for nonprofits and schools around the world in 2015, including the company match of employee contributions. Our employees increased their support through time, money and talent by $8 million, marking the greatest year-over-year increase in our program’s history.

Social Impact & Volunteering

CITGO Employees Raise Funds and Awareness for the American Heart Association

Feb 10, 2016 12:45 PM ET

According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular disease kills 17.3 million people every year. To help curb this statistic, volunteers from the CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery raised money for the local chapter of the American Heart Association, joining their neighbors for the 11th consecutive year in the organization’s annual Heart Walk. This event raises funds for the American Heart Association, while increasing awareness for this deadly disease.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Making Employee Volunteers Matter

Feb 10, 2016 12:15 PM ET

Four little but important steps can help bridge the gap between corporate goals, employee desires and nonprofit needs when it comes to structuring a valuable and successful company volunteering program.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Total Control

Feb 10, 2016 11:45 AM ET

I’m describing, of course, IT assets at play in an enterprise without very tight controls in place. Sound far-fetched? Unfortunately, it’s all too common.

Innovation & Technology

Siemens’ SiMobility Connect Tool Provides Commuters Convenient, Eco-Friendly and Multi-Modal Traveling

Feb 10, 2016 11:15 AM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

The Emerging Workforce & How Demographics are Changing Business

Feb 10, 2016 11:15 AM ET

The workforce, in the U.S. and globally, is evolving at an unprecedented rate. With the addition of Generation Z, it will soon be five generations strong. While having access to such an extensive pool of talent is an exciting prospect for many employers, managing employees across such a broad range of demographics will require leadership to flex their styles and meet employees where they are.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Women’s Economic Empowerment Strategies Should Be Holistic and Integrated

Feb 10, 2016 11:05 AM ET

A new report from BSR, the International Center for Research on Women, and the Oak Foundation helps companies build effective women's economic empowerment strategies.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Barclays Empowering Young People On And Off The Rugby Field

Feb 10, 2016 11:00 AM ET

Diversity & Inclusion

Mark Ciriello Named New Operational Performance and Assurance Practice Leader for Antea Group

Feb 10, 2016 10:05 AM ET

Antea Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Mark Ciriello to the role of Operational Performance and Assurance Practice Leader. With an MBA and 15 years of consulting experience, Mark assists clients with development, implementation and maintenance of EHS programs, compliance auditing, due diligence and strategic planning. He specializes in managing the environmental, health and safety (EHS) risks inherent in facility operations and business transactions, while identifying the value that can be created through effective EHS management systems that are aligned with corporate culture.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Subaru of America, Inc. Appoints Denise Coogan as Environmental Partnerships Manager

Feb 10, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Subaru of America, Inc. today announced the appointment of Denise Coogan to manager of environmental partnerships. Reporting to the manager of promotions and sponsorship for Subaru, Coogan will be responsible for leading the company’s external environmental and sustainability marketing programs.

Environment

A Smart Monitoring System for Singapore’s Drinking Water Network

Feb 10, 2016 9:40 AM ET

Xylem teamed with a local company to develop a monitoring system that will help Singapore address – and avoid – leaks, clogs and water quality issues in its drinking water network.

Health & Healthcare

The Global Health Corporate Champions: Expanding the Boundaries of Global Health

Feb 10, 2016 9:30 AM ET

“There is a shift taking place in the public health arena to strategically engage the private sector to address global health needs,” said Bridget McHenry, a fellow for Global Health Fellows Program II, serving as organizational development adviser for Office of Population and Reproductive Health in U.S. Agency for International Development’s Global Health Bureau.
Benefit from this expanding concept of global health by taking part in the Global Health Corporate Champions. Global Health Corporate Champions is making pro bono experiences more accessible and affordable for companies interested in exploring pro bono in a critical emerging market. PYXERA Global recently announced that it is fielding a multi-corporate, cross functional team of 10-12 professionals for a four-week assignment in A

Events, Media & Communications

Sustainable Brands Reveals Snapshot of SB’16 Copenhagen with Premier Networking Event

Feb 10, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Sustainable Brands® officially launches into the Northern European business community today with an exclusive networking event in Copenhagen designed to capture attention among brand leaders who view sustainability-led initiatives as an essential driver of business success and value creation.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Evolving Regulations: REACH, 5 Substances Added to the Candidate List

Feb 10, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Recently, the European Chemical Agency (ECHA) updated their list of Substances of High Concern (SVHCs). According to an article published on the ECHA website, there were five new SVHCs added to The Candidate List. The ECHA cited that the reasoning for these being added was due to “…the carcinogenic, toxic to reproduction, persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT), and very persistent and very bioaccumulative (vPvB) properties of the substances…”, expanding The Candidate List total to 168.

Responsible Production & Consumption

How the Commodities Market is Pummeling Sugar Rights Holders

Feb 10, 2016 8:00 AM ET

Sugar. It’s such a labor-intensive crop that it drove the slave industry in the Caribbean for decades.

Innovation & Technology

HPE: Closing the Digital Divide

Feb 10, 2016 7:55 AM ET

Diversity & Inclusion

FOX's 'Empire' Wins Big at the 2016 NAACP Image Awards, Takes Home 5 Awards

Feb 10, 2016 7:00 AM ET

FOX was well-represented at the 47th NAACP Image Awards on February 5, which celebrated the year in "outstanding achievements and performances of people of color in the arts, as well as those individuals or groups who promote social justice through their creative endeavors," according to the NAACP's website. The blockbuster drama Empire, which was recently renewed for a third season, won five Image awards.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Modern Day Slavery: The Scope May Be Larger Than You Think

Feb 9, 2016 5:05 PM ET

a company that provides goods and services to a larger company above the £36 million threshold may be asked to provide due diligence reports on their respective anti-slavery efforts.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Wells Fargo Commissions Original Art Depicting the African American Experience

Feb 9, 2016 3:30 PM ET

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) recently commissioned Atlanta-based artist Keith Rosemond II to create six original illustrations depicting the African American experience.

Social Impact & Volunteering

CSX Announces Availability of “Game On” School Grants for Healthy Kids

Feb 9, 2016 3:00 PM ET

CSX and Action for Healthy Kids have again partnered to offer “Game On” School Grants for Healthy Kids to support increasing physical activity and promote nutrition initiatives.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Behind Domtar's Landowners: Donna Janssen

Feb 9, 2016 2:40 PM ET

Last year, Domtar made the decision to be more vocal about the importance of purchasing paper made in North America with customers, prospects, media and environmental groups.

Events, Media & Communications

Antea Group Segment Showcase Pages Now on LinkedIn

Feb 9, 2016 2:35 PM ET

Antea Group is excited to roll out our brand-new segment showcase pages on LinkedIn. Hopefully you are already connected with Antea Group's company page, and now these showcase pages will allow you to dig deeper into the industries you care about with content and links specificially geared toward the field.

Innovation & Technology

Penn. Students Develop Low-Cost Water Filtration System, Earn State-Wide Recognition

Feb 9, 2016 2:00 PM ET

An engineering class from Burrell High School in Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania was recently recognized for their efforts using STEM education to treat contaminated water in their community.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Amy Springsteel Appointed to AccountAbility AA1000 Standards Board

Feb 9, 2016 12:30 PM ET

AccountAbility is pleased to announce that Ms. Amy Springsteel, Assistant Vice President of Corporate Responsibility for Voya Financial, has been appointed to the AccountAbility AA1000 Standards Board. Ms.Springsteel is currently the Director of Corporate Responsibility for Voya Financial, which rebranded from ING U.S. in 2014, a leading provider of retirement, investment management and insurance products and services. AccountAbility CEO, Sunny Misser, stated, “Amy is a very valuable addition to our Standards Board – she brings strong subject matter expertise, a sound understanding of the business world and an impressive network within the US, and globally. We look forward to working with Amy and the rest of the Standards Board.”

Social Impact & Volunteering

Viacom and Second Chance Toys Partner for Kids and the Environment

Feb 9, 2016 12:30 PM ET

Viacom, one of the world’s largest media corporations, and Second Chance Toys, an East Coast nonprofit, have partnered to reduce the amount of plastic toys that enter landfills and to put smiles on the faces of kids living below the poverty level by collecting and distributing toys to those in need.