ESG News from Leading Brands

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Blue Star Families Hosts Books on Bases Event for 500 U.S. Military Families in Colorado

Nov 11, 2015 7:50 AM ET

Five hundred U.S. military children and their parents stationed throughout the Colorado Springs area, participated in a Blue Star Families’ Books on Bases program, coordinated with support from Disney and its media network ESPN. During the event, including a surprise guest appearance, Blue Star Families and Disney VoluntEARS engaged military children and their families in art activities, including: making pirate swords, crowns and bookmarks. As families left the event, each child was given a reusable Blue Star Families tote bag full of read-along stories from Disney Publishing Worldwide and Disney plush toys.

Responsible Production & Consumption

ANSI Approves LEO-4000: American National Standard for Sustainable Agriculture

Nov 11, 2015 7:30 AM ET

The National Standard for Sustainable Agriculture (LEO-4000) has been approved!

Events, Media & Communications

MGM Resorts International to Host More Than 70 Wounded Warriors in Las Vegas for Veterans Day Weekend

Nov 11, 2015 7:00 AM ET

The five-day event, Nov. 13-17, is “A Salute to the Troops” weekend and includes a “Wall of Gratitude” where hundreds of MGM Resorts employees will gather to welcome and thank the veterans as they parade through The Mirage Hotel & Casino upon their arrival. There will also be a special welcome dinner, and excursions in and around Las Vegas and Southern Nevada. Special stops include: Terry Fator: The VOICE of Entertainment at The Mirage, Cirque du Soleil’s “O” at Bellagio Resort & Casino and a concert by Gary Sinise and the LT. Dan Band. Skydiving and helicopter tours in the Las Vegas area are also part of the plans.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

How Transparent Is Your Supply Chain? Slavery Can Be Just Around The Corner

Nov 10, 2015 7:00 PM ET

Innovation & Technology

New GM Wind Tunnel Accelerates Fuel-Saving Designs

Nov 10, 2015 5:40 PM ET

General Motors is now able to accelerate and verify fuel-saving designs earlier in development of new cars and trucks thanks to a new reduced scale wind tunnel test facility on the campus of the company’s Technical Center.

Events, Media & Communications

Samsung Wins 38 CES 2016 Innovation Awards, Bringing its 10-year Total to 309 including 22 Best of Innovation Awards

Nov 10, 2015 5:00 PM ET

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., a global leader and award-winning innovator in consumer electronics, semiconductors and telecommunications, today announced that it won 37 prestigious International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2016 Innovation Awards. The Consumer Technology Association™ (CTA), the producer of CES 2016 - the global gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies, who has been recognizing achievements in product design and engineering since 1976, has honored Samsung with one more Best of Innovation Award this year than last year.

Education

Chicago-Area Teachers Explore STEM Education with CITGO and the Ocean Exploration Trust

Nov 10, 2015 4:15 PM ET

More than 30 Chicago-area educators recently gathered at the CITGO Petroleum Corp. Lemont Refinery to take part in the Nautilus Exploration Program CITGO STEM Academy. Funded by CITGO, the free, day-long program provided a unique opportunity for local educators to learn more about deep-ocean exploration, network with their peers and partake in a variety of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)-related activities.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Disney Donates $1.5 Million to Feeding America to Help Inspire Healthier Generations and Promote Nationwide Access to More Nutritious Foods

Nov 10, 2015 3:05 PM ET

Feeding America, the nation’s leading hunger-relief organization, salutes The Walt Disney Company for its $1.5 million donation, the vast majority of which will provide grants to 60 food banks across the nation to expand their local fresh produce sourcing and distribution programs. The donation will be announced on ABC’s “The Chew” today at 1:00 p.m. ET/12:00 p.m. CT/PT.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Robert Reich Explores Resilience, Inclusive Economy at the BSR Conference 2015

Nov 10, 2015 3:00 PM ET

In a plenary address at the BSR Conference 2015, Robert Reich, Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at University of California, Berkeley and Senior Fellow at Blum Center for Developing Economies, explored how resilience and the inclusive economy intersect.

Diversity & Inclusion

Cox Automotive Trio Recognized Among Leading Women in North American Auto Industry by Automotive News

Nov 10, 2015 2:45 PM ET

Cox Automotive’s commitment to creating a culture built upon courageous leadership, innovation and growth was recognized by Automotive News as it named Janet Barnard, president, Manheim North America; Lori Wittman, vice president and general manager, VinSolutions; and Sharon Kitzman, vice president and general manager, Dealer Management Systems, Dealertrack, to its list of 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry during its annual awards ceremony on Nov. 9 in Detroit.

Environment

JetBlue's T5 Farm

Nov 10, 2015 2:00 PM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

AT&T, DonorsChoose.org and Cell Phones For Soldiers Serve Those who Served This Veterans Day

Nov 10, 2015 1:35 PM ET

Teachers at school districts serving military-connected communities woke up this morning to great news: AT&T* flash-funded projects they listed on crowd-funding site DonorsChoose.org. More than 790 projects were fulfilled, benefitting more than 680 teachers and more than 83,690 students. We gave more than $532,000 in honor of Veterans Day.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Republic Expands Natural Gas-Powered Fleet Serving Raleigh

Nov 10, 2015 12:35 PM ET

Republic Services announced today the addition of eight Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) solid waste collection trucks to its fleet serving customers throughout the greater Raleigh area. The CNG trucks replace older diesel-powered trucks, and bring the total number of natural gas vehicles operated by Republic throughout North Carolina to 25.

Health & Healthcare

Replenish Africa Initiative Brings Clean Water to Millions

Nov 10, 2015 12:30 PM ET

Water is a resource that most of us take completely for granted. Thirsty? Just walk over to the sink and turn on the faucet; or head over to the fridge and grab a cold drink. Yet, there are an astonishing number of people in the developing world who could not even dream of doing such a thing.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Salmon Farming: The Bigger Picture

Nov 10, 2015 12:15 PM ET

British Columbia's farm-raised salmon travels from the farm to cities in Canada, the United States and Asia, getting onto the customer’s plate within 36-to-48 hours. 70% of all salmon consumers worldwide choose farm-raised salmon, and demand continues to increase.

Innovation & Technology

Lockheed Martin Upgrades Enhance Data Security, Sustainability

Nov 10, 2015 12:10 PM ET

Environment

FCA US Belvidere Assembly Plant Teams Up with PepsiCo Recycling to Increase Recycling Effort While Supporting Disabled Veterans

Nov 10, 2015 12:05 PM ET

As the nation pauses to honor its veterans on Nov. 11, the FCA US Belvidere Assembly Plant (Ill.), with assistance from PepsiCo Recycling, is launching a new program that will not only make recycling more convenient for its employees, but also help support disabled U.S. veterans.

Environment

El Rol de Goldcorp en la Ayuda para Preservar el Salmón del Pacífico

Nov 10, 2015 11:45 AM ET

En el oeste de Canadá, las activas poblaciones de salmones se han considerado por mucho tiempo un referente importante de la salud del ecosistema circundante.

Environment

America Recycles Day is Nov. 15: Pledge to Recycle!

Nov 10, 2015 11:30 AM ET

Thousands of creative recycling events are being planned for America Recycles Day (ARD), a Keep America Beautiful initiative, which takes place on and in the weeks leading up to Nov. 15.

Research, Reports & Publications

Domtar Helps Clean America's Hardest Working River

Nov 10, 2015 11:05 AM ET

Domtar Corporation (NYSE: UFS) (TSX: UFS) designs, manufactures, markets and distributes a wide variety of fiber-based products, including communication papers, specialty and packaging papers, and absorbent hygiene products. The foundation of our business is a network of world-class wood fiber-converting assets that produce papergrade, fluff and specialty pulp.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Subaru of America Donates $50,000 to American Red Cross in Support of Pacific Northwest Wildfire Disaster Relief

Nov 10, 2015 11:00 AM ET

In the spirit of its Love Promise initiative, Subaru of America Inc. has donated $50,000 to the American Red Cross to help deliver relief to thousands of disaster victims that were affected by the recent wildfires in numerous states, including Washington, California and Oregon. Subaru’s contribution has helped the Red Cross provide food, shelter, blankets, cots, emotional support, health services and other relief supplies to people affected by this regional disaster.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Nestlé Acclaimed as ‘World Leader’ for Action to Tackle Climate Change

Nov 10, 2015 11:00 AM ET

Energy

GM’s Team of Energy Stars

Nov 10, 2015 10:50 AM ET

The hard work and dedication of GM’s energy managers have helped us realize $435 million in energy savings. During the last 20 years, they’ve helped mobilize their teams and, as a result, reduced energy intensity by 40 percent and carbon dioxide emissions by 41 percent at GM’s facilities in the U.S.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Carnival Cruise Line to Host Comedy Fundraiser Benefiting Kids in Distress at Ft. Lauderdale Improv on Wednesday, November 18

Nov 10, 2015 10:30 AM ET

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Barclays Supports UK Living Wage Week

Nov 10, 2015 10:30 AM ET