ESG News from Leading Brands

Social Impact & Volunteering

AIDA New Year’s Raffle: 100,000 Euros for SOS Children’s Village

Jan 27, 2016 10:20 AM ET

AIDA Cruises is supporting the children’s aid organization “SOS-Kinderdorf e.V.” with a donation of 100,000 euros. This sum was raised by the New Year’s Raffle that is traditionally held on board the ships of the AIDA fleet on December 31. This year the donation will again benefit the SOS Children’s Village in Iloilo in the Philippines and SOS projects in Germany. AIDA Cruises gave away a total of 20 cruises and numerous high quality non-cash prizes to the raffle winners.

Innovation & Technology

The Green Light for a Green City

Jan 27, 2016 10:05 AM ET

Responsible Production & Consumption

BJ’s Wholesale Club Pledges Support to Help End Forced Labor in Uzbekistan

Jan 27, 2016 10:00 AM ET

BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc., continues its opposition on the use of forced labor by joining over 200 other brands and companies in signing the Cotton Pledge, managed by the Responsible Sourcing Network (RSN).

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Uptake CEO Brad Keywell: “We are Disrupting the Blind Spots”

Jan 27, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Brad Keywell, co-founder and CEO of Uptake Technologies and, perhaps most notably, the co-founder and director of Groupon, joined Businessweek’s Tom Giles for the second installment of the Cornell Tech @ Bloomberg speaker series Wednesday, January 13.

Events, Media & Communications

Keep America Beautiful Hosts 2016 National Conference in Orlando; Launches Call-to-Action to “Imagine. Inspire. Transform.”

Jan 27, 2016 9:45 AM ET

Renowned Australian psychologists Rob Curnow and Karen Spehr, who have been working for more than 20 years on changing people’s behaviors in relation to the environment, will serve as keynote speakers at the 2016 Keep America Beautiful National Conference, which takes place Feb. 1-3 at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista in Orlando, Florida.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Walmart, Coca-Cola, Nestlé and PepsiCo Come Together to Provide Flint, Mich., Public Schools with Water for Students Through the End of the Year

Jan 27, 2016 9:30 AM ET

Walmart today announced support for the Flint, Mich., community through donations, education and online services. Walmart, Coca-Cola, Nestlé and PepsiCo will collectively donate water to meet the daily needs of over 10,000 school children for the balance of the calendar year.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Should S&P’s Newest Index Be Associated With Corporate Sustainability?

Jan 27, 2016 9:20 AM ET

It seems that “sustainability” was a core topic at this year’s World Economic Forum (WEF) conference at Davos. Many talks centered around the idea of a “fourth industrial revolution” and all of the changes in corporate behavior that would result.

Research, Reports & Publications

Unique Reporting Challenges for Corporate Grant Programs (And How to Solve Them)

Jan 27, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Time, energy, and effectiveness. These are three vital resources for nonprofit organizations. The challenge of reporting compliance consumes all three and distracts them from their purpose. Is there a way to keep them from drowning in that sea of paperwork?

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Republic Services Driver Saves A Life

Jan 27, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Republic Services recognized one of our Phoenix-area drivers for helping to save someone's life.

Environment

Fighting the Flood: Students in Brazil are Using Mobile Bathrooms to Counter Climate Change

Jan 27, 2016 9:00 AM ET

São Paulo, the largest city in the Southern Hemisphere with a population of nearly 12 million, has been rattled with one extreme weather event after another for the past several years: major flooding in early 2015 occurred in the middle of a severe drought.

Innovation & Technology

KeyBank Offers Free Tax Return Prep in Nine Metro Areas on February 6

Jan 27, 2016 8:30 AM ET

On February 6, 2016, KeyBank will partner with nonprofit organizations in nine metropolitan areas across the United States to host its eleventh annual Super Refund Saturday—a one-day event during which KeyBank employees provide free, individual federal income tax preparation sessions to local low- and moderate-income wage earners, helping them determine their eligibility and apply for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

Responsible Production & Consumption

eZOO: The Animal Friendly Vision of Animals

Jan 27, 2016 8:00 AM ET

The use of animals in entertainment is going out of fashion for ethical reasons and ​its ​decreasing popularity.

Environment

Video: Nat Geo's Year of Global Exploration and Cutting-Edge Storytelling in 2-Mintues

Jan 27, 2016 7:00 AM ET

From discovering a new human ancestor deep in a South African cave to protecting more than one million square miles of ocean through its Pristine Seas initiative, National Geographic made its mark on 2015 through science, exploration, and storytelling. In the video above, Nat Geo reflects on its many achievements over the past year, including new discoveries and expeditions across the globe. 21st Century Fox expanded its partnership with the National Geographic Society in 2015 to create National Geographic Partners, bringing together all of National Geographic's media assets, including magazines, book and map publishing, National Geographic Studios, and more. The deal increased the Society's endowment to more than $1 billion.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Albertsons Companies Builds on Commitment to Source Sustainable Palm Oil

Jan 27, 2016 7:00 AM ET

Palm oil is one of the most widely used vegetable oils, accounting for ~65% of all vegetable oil traded internationally. It can be found in thousands of products, from food items like baked goods and ice cream to personal care products such as cosmetics, shampoos and detergents. Palm oil is derived from the fruit of oil palm trees which are found in tropical regions such as Indonesia and Malaysia. However, oil palm plantations can also have adverse environmental impact such as destruction of tropical forests to plant oil palm trees, and social impacts that affect the health and well-being of the local people if not properly managed. This is why Albertsons Companies has made it a priority to source from suppliers that use certified sustainably sourced palm oil for its Own Brand products.

Events, Media & Communications

Conflict Minerals Compliance in 2016: How to Approach Reporting Year Three

Jan 26, 2016 7:05 PM ET

Whether you are just getting started or would like to make improvements to your existing conflict minerals program, this webinar will provide guidance for year three of conflict minerals compliance and reporting.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Cruise Lines Adopt Environmentally Friendly Practices

Jan 26, 2016 4:00 PM ET

The cruise industry produces nearly one billion tons of sewage every year, apart from consuming several million tons of fuel.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Boeing Provides $15K Grant to Alabama Sustainable Energy Group

Jan 26, 2016 4:00 PM ET

An educational program of the Alabama Center for Sustainable Energy has received a major boost from the Boeing Company.

Environment

MacGillivray Freeman Film's "National Parks Adventure 3D" Narrated by Academy Award® Winner, Robert Redford Commemorates the U.S. National Park Service's 100-Year Anniversary on the Giant Screen Opening at the California Science Center on February 12

Jan 26, 2016 3:55 PM ET

MacGillivray Freeman Film's National Parks Adventuretakes audiences on the ultimate off-trail adventure into the nation's awe-inspiring great outdoors and untamed wilderness when it arrives at the California Science Center on February 12, 2016.

Events, Media & Communications

Marvel Joins Forces with Wounded Warrior Project for VENOM: SPACE KNIGHT Storyline

Jan 26, 2016 3:10 PM ET

This spring, a special Marvel Comics storyline will delve into the trials, perseverance, and eventual triumph of wounded veterans aided and informed by one of the leading non-profit organizations dedicated to these wounded service members – Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP).

Social Impact & Volunteering

Major Leaguers, Action Team Captains Assist Troubled Veterans and their Families

Jan 26, 2016 3:00 PM ET

Forty-five Action Team Captains from Southern California joined Major Leaguers Trevor Plouffe (Twins), Rob Rasmussen (Angels) and Chad Smith (Rangers) in a project intended to help normalize the lives of troubled veterans and their families.

Responsible Production & Consumption

EU Conflict Minerals: Are We There Yet?

Jan 26, 2016 2:00 PM ET

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act was one of the most groundbreaking pieces of legislation to go through in recent years. Section 1502 states that all SEC publicly traded companies must go through a mandatory due diligence process to confirm their manufacturing materials are sourced, conflict free.

Diversity & Inclusion

Wynn Resorts Supports Employees’ Path to Citizenship

Jan 26, 2016 1:50 PM ET

Thousands of workers representing various races and cultures make up the Wynn Family. To aid those seeking citizenship, Wynn offers citizenship classes to employees.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Steps India Must Take to Achieve Financial Inclusion

Jan 26, 2016 1:35 PM ET

India’s financial inclusion campaign has been in the spotlight, winning an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records for the number of bank accounts opened in the shortest period of time (over 18 million accounts in the campaign’s first week).

Events, Media & Communications

MGM Resorts Foundation’s Women’s Leadership Conference Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Jan 26, 2016 1:00 PM ET

The MGM Resorts Foundation today announced that registration is open for the 10th Annual Women’s Leadership Conference. Hosted by MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM), the conference is Aug. 8-9, 2016, at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Stakeholder to Shareholder Alchemy: CSR Management as a Catalyst for Change

Jan 26, 2016 12:30 PM ET

Corporate Social Responsibility is bringing communities and corporations together in ways that will change the future. As boardrooms around the world begin to feels its presence, CSR continues to present a whole host of opportunities and challenges for businesses.