ESG News from Leading Brands

Education

Zoe Weil: Sustainable Education

Apr 13, 2016 10:15 AM ET

What's the purpose of schooling? Reading, writing and 'rithmetic, right? Well, our guest today begs to differ.

Research, Reports & Publications

General Mills Reports Progress on Global Responsibility Commitments

Apr 13, 2016 10:05 AM ET

Today, General Mills released its 2016 Global Responsibility Report, which outlines the company’s goals and progress in the areas of health and wellness, sustainability, workplace and community engagement. This marks the 46th year General Mills has shared a report with stakeholders and the community.

Innovation & Technology

Techstars Atlanta Names Tyler Scriven as Director

Apr 13, 2016 9:30 AM ET

Techstars Atlanta announced Tyler Scriven as director. The startup accelerator program is entering its inaugural year in Atlanta and is presented in partnership between Techstars and Cox Enterprises.

Environment

Bacardi's 'No-Straw' Movement Aims to Reduce Plastic Straw Waste

Apr 13, 2016 9:05 AM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

Partnering With You to Do Good Things: Old Mutual Publishes Positive Futures Plan

Apr 13, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Old Mutual’s purpose is to help its customers thrive by enabling them to achieve their lifetime financial goals, while investing their funds in ways which create a positive future for them, their families, their communities and the world at large.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Are Your Products Exposing Children to Toxic Chemicals?

Apr 13, 2016 8:10 AM ET

Washington’s Department of Ecology, released a study last month on children’s accessory products that contained concerning amounts of cadmium and lead. The chemical levels in the 27 different products tested were in violation of Washington’s Child Protection Act, which aims to mitigate hazardous proportions of chemicals and metals in child merchandise.

Education

Teenage Filmmakers at Ghetto Film School Screen Their Thesis Project, "El Coche Rojo"

Apr 13, 2016 8:00 AM ET

This year's class of Ghetto Film School Fellows recently screened the family drama they shot on location in Spain, "El Coche Rojo," at a Paley Center for Media event in New York sponsored by 21st Century Fox. GFS teaches filmmaking to young people from communities traditionally underrepresented in Hollywood, and its Fellows Program gives the students the chance to create an entirely original short film. 21CF is a longtime supporter of Ghetto Film School and works hand-in-hand with the organization to provide new avenues into the entertainment industry.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Food Waste: The Harvest is Just the Beginning

Apr 12, 2016 9:15 PM ET

We waste one-third of our food. That is, quite simply, a failing grade.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Discovery Communications and VolunteerMatch Partner to Inspire Volunteerism

Apr 12, 2016 6:25 PM ET

Discovery Communications, a purpose-driven company built on satisfying curiosity, entertaining and inspiring global audiences, is extending its partnership with VolunteerMatch, the web’s largest volunteer engagement network, as a national media partner to raise awareness and drive volunteerism. Coinciding with the 42ndNational Volunteer Week (April 10-16), the partnership kicks off with a national Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign. The PSA begins airing this week across all of Discovery’s 13 U.S. networks. To learn more, visit discovery.com/volunteermatch.

Environment

GM Recycles Water Bottles to Make Chevy Equinox Part

Apr 12, 2016 4:55 PM ET

General Motors is turning its employees’ recycled water bottles into a new life: noise-reducing fabric insulation that covers the Chevrolet Equinox engine. The bottles – collected from five of its Michigan facilities – are also being turned into air filtration components and insulation in coats for the homeless community.

Diversity & Inclusion

At White House Event Sodexo Announces Exceeding Leadership Gender Balance Goals

Apr 12, 2016 4:20 PM ET

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life Services, announced today that it exceeded its 2015 goal to have women comprise at least 25 percent of its top 200 leadership positions globally by 6 percentage points; achieving 31 percent. The company made the announcement at a White House Diversity and Inclusion Roundtable, where it also announced higher targets of 35 percent by 2020 and 40 percent by 2025.

Events, Media & Communications

Taproot Foundation Convenes Corporate Social Responsibility Leaders and Pro Bono Providers for the 5th Annual U.S. Pro Bono Summit, April 13th & 14th, Los Angeles

Apr 12, 2016 4:00 PM ET

This week the Taproot Foundation is convening the 5th annual U.S. Pro Bono Summit in Los Angeles, a two-day convening of cross-sector leaders who are committed to connecting business professionals who volunteer their time and expertise (pro bono) to nonprofit organizations who benefit from this support to achieve their missions. These skilled volunteers are filling gaps in areas like marketing, finance, IT, and HR for under-resourced social change organizations across the country. The Summit is a forum to share best practices and challenges to ensure delivery of high-quality pro bono service and is generously supported by pro bono enthusiasts and advocates KPMG LLP, Prudential Financial, Inc., Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Warner Bros.

Environment

Ortho Brand Announces Plan to Eliminate Neonics from All its Outdoor Products

Apr 12, 2016 3:50 PM ET

Diversity & Inclusion

Jordan Spieth’s Masters Meltdown Can Teach Us How to Handle a Bad Day at the Office

Apr 12, 2016 3:05 PM ET

On Sunday, golfer Danny Willet of England earned his first Masters win at Augusta National. It was a great day for Willet, whose wife had given birth to the couple’s first child just twelve days before.

Diversity & Inclusion

Volkswagen Group of America Honored by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation as a Top LGBT-Inclusive Business

Apr 12, 2016 3:00 PM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

2015 Bloomberg Impact Report Update

Apr 12, 2016 3:00 PM ET

Since our founding in 1981, Bloomberg has been guided by the principle that making markets more transparent empowers investors, fuels entrepreneurs, and supports economic growth. As new developments in markets arise, we are committed to making sure that our clients have the tools they need to understand them—and act on them. Sustainability, especially as it relates to climate change, is a great example.

Events, Media & Communications

14 Sessions to Make the Circular Economy Work for You

Apr 12, 2016 2:30 PM ET

Hosted in partnership with The Ellen MacArthur Foundation and PYXERA Global, Better Business, Better World: Mainstreaming the Circular Economy will convene more than 300 private and public sector leaders to identify practical and scalable ideas and solutions for putting the circular economy in motion.

Innovation & Technology

On the Road to Autonomous Driving, Toyota Establishes Ever Deeper Roots in Ann Arbor Tech Community with Third US Research Facility

Apr 12, 2016 2:10 PM ET

Dr. Gill Pratt, CEO of the Toyota Research Institute (TRI), announced recently that Toyota will establish its third TRI facility in the U.S.

Environment

Smart Cities Mission Supports Indian Program

Apr 12, 2016 2:10 PM ET

In early February 2016, 18 US companies led by US Deputy Secretary of Commerce Bruce Andrews visited the Indian cities of New Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai as part of the executive-led Smart Cities Infrastructure Business Development Mission.

Responsible Production & Consumption

EU Conflict Minerals Update

Apr 12, 2016 1:30 PM ET

A mandatory certification process for Conflict Minerals in the European Union is critical. Any voluntary certification that is put in place leads to a grey area for compliance reporting, and the regulation will not serve its purpose.

Environment

Carbon Emissions and Food Waste Reduced with Baldor’s SparCs Program

Apr 12, 2016 1:30 PM ET

The White House Climate Change Plan to Reduce Methane Emissions identified landfills as being responsible for 18% of all methane emissions and approximately 100 million metric tons of carbon dioxide pollution. [1] Baldor Specialty Foods, a leading produce distributor in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states based in the Bronx, NY, is on a mission to reduce these numbers by tackling the overwhelming problem of food waste in the United States.

Responsible Production & Consumption

LEED v4 Adopts Living Future's Declare Label

Apr 12, 2016 1:00 PM ET

On April 4, 2016, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that the Living Future Institute’s Declare label is now an approved pathway for Option 1 of the Building Product Optimization and Disclosure, Material Ingredients credit for LEED v4. Declare labels with ingredient disclosure greater than 1,000ppm now comply with the LEED v4 credit requirements.

Education

Exploring, and Learning, Across Borders

Apr 12, 2016 12:50 PM ET

At AT&T we are passionate about supporting education beyond the classroom.

To me, world travel is one of the most impactful learning experiences you can have during your formative years. When I was 16, I was lucky enough to travel with a group of fellow students to a remote island off the coast of Panama to help build a new school. The four weeks I spent on Arritupo completely changed my perspective on the world and inspired me to pursue a career that would enable me to give back.

Environment

Water Conservation: A Way to Make Waves in Your Industry

Apr 12, 2016 12:35 PM ET

It’s no surprise that water is at the core of the United Nations’ new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), given its connection to health, climate change and resiliency. The SDGs seek to improve water quality and to substantially increase recycling and safe reuse globally by 2030.

Increasing the efficiency of water consumption at the industry level will help address these goals and also reduce scarcity issues. From using stormwater to flush toilets to installing low-flow nozzles where appropriate, conserving water will drive efficiency and also help companies save money. Here are some ways businesses can get started.

Research, Reports & Publications

Shape Culture, Drive Strategy: From Deloitte's Global Human Capital Trends 2016 Report

Apr 12, 2016 12:10 PM ET

Culture has become one of the most important business topics of 2016. CEOs and HR leaders now recognize that culture drives people’s behavior, innovation, and customer service.