ESG News from Leading Brands

Responsible Production & Consumption

Bioneers to Host the First Biomimicry Global Design Challenge Ray of Hope Prize Awards Event

Apr 18, 2016 2:00 PM ET

One finalist team will win the Ray C. Anderson Foundation’s $100,000 grand prize for a nature-inspired food-systems solution at Bioneers 2016.

Environment

Hope for South Sudan’s Coffee Farmers with Nespresso-USAID Partnership

Apr 18, 2016 2:00 PM ET

The world’s newest country, South Sudan, is also one of the most volatile nations on the planet. After years of civil war within Sudan, a referendum held in 2011 scored a 99 percent “yes” vote for independence.

Events, Media & Communications

10th Annual Living Future unConference Showcases Latest Trends in Green Building

Apr 18, 2016 1:25 PM ET

The International Living Future Institute is thrilled to announce Living Future 2016, a cutting-edge conference that brings together leading minds in the green building movement. The goal? To shape the built environment around social justice, diversity, and equity for all people—in other words, to create a Living Future. Participants envision ways that the building industry can become a model for true sustainability and lead a shift toward ecological wholeness and urban regeneration.

Environment

New Study Gives Insights on How Corporations Are Addressing Climate Change

Apr 18, 2016 1:05 PM ET

What are corporations around the world doing to mitigate #ClimateChange? New whitepaper from Ingersoll Rand and GreenBiz shows it’s more than you may think. http://bit.ly/263pLl6

Education

Rutgers / G&A CSR Certificate Update: Eric Fernald of MSCI, and Peter Roselle of Morgan Stanley

Apr 18, 2016 12:30 PM ET

On April 27th and 28th, an outstanding faculty will present at the new two-day CSR Certificate Program at the Rutgers University Business School's Ethical Leadership Institute in downtown Newark, New Jersey.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Two SCS Sustainably Grown Certified Clients Named “Produce Trailblazer” Award Winners

Apr 18, 2016 12:00 PM ET

Each year, Grocery Headquarters Magazine recognizes the country’s most notable growers, packers and distributors of fresh produce. This year’s 2016 Produce Trailblazer Awards, handed out earlier this month, included Del Monte Fresh Produce N.A. and Peri & Sons Farms, both of whom were cited for their sustainable agriculture initiatives.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Brown-Forman Supports Addiction Treatment and Recovery Services

Apr 18, 2016 12:00 PM ET

Brown-Forman is proud to support many organizations in its hometown community that provide addiction treatment and recovery services.

Responsible Production & Consumption

NH Liquor Commission & Jack Daniel’s Launch Alcohol Responsibility Initiative

Apr 18, 2016 11:30 AM ET

One of the country’s most well-respected and profitable control states and the best-selling whiskey in the world have teamed up to launch an initiative designed to encourage responsible alcohol service and consumption. Live Free & Host Responsibly is a partnership between the New HampshireLiquor Commission and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey that will engage and inform consumers and lounge and restaurant owners through a year-long campaign that includes a “Cocktail & Mocktail Competition” designed to highlight the responsible use of Jack Daniel’s products and the creation of alcohol-free drinks known as “mocktails.” To learn more, visit www.LiquorAndWineOutlets.com/responsibility.

Environment

Republic Commemorates Earth Day in South Florida with Expansion of Compressed Natural Gas-Powered Fleet

Apr 18, 2016 11:10 AM ET

Republic Services announced today the addition of 62 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) solid waste collection trucks serving customers in Broward and Dade Counties. The new CNG trucks replace older diesel-powered collection trucks, and bring the total number of natural gas vehicles operated by Republic in South Florida to 127

Environment

It Starts From Within: Bacardi Launches Internal “No-Straw” Movement

Apr 18, 2016 11:05 AM ET

Last month, Bacardi launched the "No Straw" movement – an internal initiative to eliminate straws and stirrers from all company events. The effort helps to send a signal to employees that sustainability is a priority for the brand, and even the smallest acts can build to greater impact.

Events, Media & Communications

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Helps Companies Reimagine the Future of Business

Apr 18, 2016 11:05 AM ET

Business needs another industrial revolution—one led by corporations like Phillips, selling light as well as bulbs, or Dell, creating a closed-loop recycled plastics supply chain to recycle computers back into new computers, or the Dow Chemical Company, recovering non-recycled plastics, and converting them into usable energy. While reducing waste is not a new idea, these companies understand the value of a circular economy at work, one in which resources are endlessly cycled back into supply chains, where waste simply does not exist.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Ecolab Foundation Matches Employee Giving Campaign Donations to United Ways Across the U.S.

Apr 18, 2016 11:00 AM ET

Environment

Ingersoll Rand Releases Study Revealing How Corporations are Taking Action on Climate Change

Apr 18, 2016 10:30 AM ET

Ingersoll Rand revealed findings from a new survey conducted in partnership with GreenBiz Group that details the current landscape of corporate action on climate change. Findings include that more than 90 percent of companies are working to reduce their carbon footprint.

Events, Media & Communications

Deirdre White, CEO of PYXERA Global, Gives TEDx Talk on the Solvable Problem of Post-Harvest Loss

Apr 18, 2016 10:15 AM ET

Deirdre White, CEO PYXERA Global, gave a TEDx talk on April 9, on the solvable problem of post-harvest loss at the Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart. White’s talk was titled How Will the World Feed 9 Billion People by 2050? and addressed the severity of post-harvest loss and the solutions currently available.

Approximately 40% of all produce is lost between farm and market in less industrialized countries throughout the world.

“At its heart, our approach focuses on behavior change, from how small farmers grow and store their crops to how companies account for food loss and waste across their operations,” said White. “An efficient, productive food system with minimal loss is our goal – and one that is well within reach.”

Events, Media & Communications

Get Ready for the Paris Agreement: Develop a Company Climate Action Plan

Apr 18, 2016 10:00 AM ET

In this upcoming webinar series, learn how to develop a great climate action plan for your company.

Innovation & Technology

GRI and IOE Partner to Advance Private Sector Action on Sustainable Development

Apr 18, 2016 9:15 AM ET

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

The U.K., New York and California Increase the National Living and Minimum Wage in the Same Week

Apr 18, 2016 9:00 AM ET

One of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne's big ideas was to increase the National Living Wage (NLW) on 1 April 2016 and wasn’t an April Fools!

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Final Week to Nominate Volunteers for Virginia’s 2016 Cox Conserves Heroes Awards Program

Apr 18, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Cox Communications, in partnership with The Trust for Public Land, is accepting nominations for Virginia’s 5th annual Cox Conserves Heroes program at CoxConservesHeroes.com through 5 p.m. EST on April 22. The program honors volunteers who are creating, preserving or enhancing outdoor spaces.

Innovation & Technology

Atlas Copco: A World of Innovation

Apr 18, 2016 8:30 AM ET

Responsible Production & Consumption

Part 2: Technology and Clean Data Can Wipe Out Modern Day Slavery

Apr 18, 2016 8:15 AM ET

Clean data is the gateway to supply chain visibility and allows companies to identify risk. Companies that take a risk based approach tend to have the most success because it allows them to dissect their supply chains in pieces, and not analyze the supply chain as a whole.

Events, Media & Communications

FOX Sports Supports and National Geographic honored as leaders in social responsibility on television

Apr 18, 2016 8:00 AM ET

At the Second Annual Social Good Awards Breakfast in New York City, Cynopsis Media recognized FOX Sports Supports as this year's "Social Good Shining Star," while awarding several honorable mentions to programming at National Geographic. The April 7th event honored the television industry's outstanding social responsibility initiatives, for which 21st Century Fox brands received seven nominations.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

[VIDEO] Benevity User Conference 2016: Nicole Campbell on Creating Engaging Corporate Social Responsibility Programs

Apr 17, 2016 1:00 PM ET

In this video filmed at Benevity's Goodness Matters User Conference, Nicole Campbell, Principal of Goodness Consulting at Benevity, discusses how companies can create engaging corporate social responsibility programs.

Environment

2016 Jeep® Cherokee Trailhawk First Gasoline-powered American-made, American-brand Passenger Vehicle to Qualify for Japan Eco-Car Tax Incentive

Apr 15, 2016 5:15 PM ET

Add another milestone to the Jeep brand’s storied history: the 2016 Cherokee Trailhawk is the first gasoline-powered, American-made, American-brand passenger vehicle to qualify for Japan’s Eco-Car tax incentive.

Social Impact & Volunteering

#GoingToBat Community Spotlight: MLB Players Honor Jackie Robinson with Grant to Jackie Robinson Foundation

Apr 15, 2016 5:05 PM ET

As part of its recognition of Jackie Robinson Day, the Players Association announced Friday that its charitable arm, the Players Trust, is making a $42,000 grant to the Jackie Robinson Foundation to provide a college scholarship to a young person in its program.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Team Terra Limpa Aims to Revitalize Agriculture in Angola; Wins Morgan Stanley Sustainable Investing Challenge

Apr 15, 2016 4:35 PM ET

Morgan Stanley’s Institute for Sustainable Investing and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management today announced that Terra Limpa was named the winner of the 2016 Morgan Stanley Sustainable Investing Challenge.