ESG News from Leading Brands

Social Impact & Volunteering

Duke Energy Employees Honor MLK’s Legacy Through Service

Jan 24, 2019 1:20 PM ET

On MLK Day of Service, hundreds of Duke Energy employees fanned out across our communities to serve others. Each year, thousands of people across the country spend the day serving their communities to carry on the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Social Impact & Volunteering

NONPROFITS: Tackle Your 2019 Goals With Expert Marketing, Strategy, and Tech Support From Taproot

Jan 24, 2019 12:25 PM ET

Join Taproot Foundation’s free webinar for nonprofits on Thursday, January 31 for all the tools you’ll need to tap into valuable marketing, HR, strategy, finance, and tech support. During the event, nonprofits will learn how to design and manage a successful pro bono project with Taproot’s pool of over 50,000 experienced business professionals on the free online platform, Taproot+.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Walmart Commits Funds to Feeding America, the Coast Guard Foundation and the United Way to Assist Those Affected by the Government Shutdown

Jan 24, 2019 12:10 PM ET

Walmart has committed $300,000 to support Feeding America’s Shutdown Response Fund, the United Way’s United for U.S. Fund and the Coast Guard Foundation, providing much-needed assistance to each of these organizations that are all experiencing an increase in demand for their services, particularly in areas hardest hit by the government shutdown.

Green Infrastructure

Declare Chemical Transparency Program Released in European Building Market

Jan 24, 2019 11:30 AM ET

The International Living Future Institute announces the release of a new edition of the Declare product transparency label for the European building and manufacturer market. The Declare Europe launch is taking place in Bolzano during the 2019 Klimahouse conference, which is focused on the exchange of ideas, innovations and insights on the latest trends in the energy-efficiency and sustainable construction sector.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

VIDEO | Driving Mohawk’s Passion for Sustainability and Sustainable Business

Jan 24, 2019 11:10 AM ET

As Mohawk’s VP of sustainability, George Bandy Jr. is uniquely in touch with how the flooring company’s capabilities and solutions can meet the needs of customers and help them further their sustainability objectives. In this clip, the former chair of the U.S. Green Building Council shares his perspectives and insights about how and why Mohawk and its employees around the world believe in better.

Environment

Hershey Aims to Cut the Carbon Footprint of its Chocolate with New Science-Based Target Commitment

Jan 24, 2019 10:55 AM ET

One of the world’s top chocolate companies shared new plans for reducing its impact on the planet – including committing to set Science-Based Targets. But what sets Hershey apart from its peers is not this commitment. It’s the journey behind how it got here.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Sustainable Forestry Tour: Educating the Social Media Generation

Jan 24, 2019 10:15 AM ET

Domtar, the Forest Stewardship Council® and Procter & Gamble brands Charmin and Bounty recently hosted two social media influencers during a sustainable forestry tour. It’s just one way we’re helping to raise awareness for the next generation of digital natives. Our sustainable forestry tour was a perfect opportunity to show how we and others are working to protect our natural resources.

Health & Healthcare

Government of Ghana Launches First of Its Kind Public-Private Partnership With Novartis to Improve Diagnosis and Treatment of People With Sickle Cell Disease

Jan 24, 2019 10:05 AM ET

Today, at the World Economic Forum, the Government of Ghana announced a new public-private partnership to improve the diagnosis and accelerate treatment for people with sickle cell disease (SCD), making Ghana the first African country to commit to offering the global standard of care for their people with SCD.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Timberland, Journeys, and the Student Conservation Association Leave Green Footprint in New York City

Jan 24, 2019 10:00 AM ET

Since 2016, Timberland has created or restored more than 130,000 square feet of green space in U.S. cities. Beyond the fall events, past efforts transformed a vacant lot into a community garden in the Mott Haven community of the Bronx and planted much of the greenery for Philadelphia’s new Rail Park which opened the public this spring.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

VH1 Save The Music Delivers Latest Keys+Kids Piano Grant in Atlanta

Jan 24, 2019 9:45 AM ET

Together with Zaytoven, Audiomack, and Zay Area Foundation, we delivered our first Keys + Kids Piano Grant in Atlanta, GA to Benjamin E. Mays High School. Principal, Mr. Richard Fowler, opened the assembly by talking about how it is the job of educators to ignite a passion into students and that the new instruments will encourage them to pursue music. Dr. Sara Womack of Atlanta Public Schools spoke about the importance of music education, followed by Jason Johnson of Audiomack who emphasized the company’s commitment to making sure students have the tools to grow and hopefully populate the streaming service’s platform one day. Chiho Feindler, Save The Music’s Senior Director of Programs & Policy, then led the audience in a countdown to unveil the brand-new piano!

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Mars CEO Grant Reid on reinvention, future-proofing and the importance of purpose

Jan 24, 2019 9:30 AM ET

From ever-evolving consumer tastes to environmental challenges, it’s clear the world is changing rapidly – and businesses must adapt in order to keep up. Want to hear more? Follow this link to Mars CEO Grant Reid’s interview with Bloomberg Businessweek.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Baltimore Humane Society & Safeway Supermarkets Partner to Help Federal Workers

Jan 24, 2019 9:30 AM ET

Baltimore Humane Society and Safeway have partnered to help federal employees during the government shutdown. To help employees without paychecks who are struggling to make ends meet. Baltimore Humane Society through its Bmore Kind Pet Food Bank, will be distributing dog and cat food donated by Safeway.

Energy

A New Blueprint for Renewable Energy Aggregation

Jan 24, 2019 9:15 AM ET

Watch this video on how Bloomberg, Cox Enterprises, Gap Inc., Salesforce and Workday closed an all-new renewable energy aggregation deal with guidance from LevelTen Energy. This is the first example of companies aggregating similar, relatively small amounts of renewable energy demand to collaboratively enter into a virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA), collectively acting as the anchor tenant for a large offsite renewable energy project.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Smithfield Foods Donates More Than 30,000 Pounds of Protein to Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana

Jan 24, 2019 9:05 AM ET

On January 23rd, Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Kroger joined forces to donate more than 30,000 pounds of protein to Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana. Smithfield’s contribution was part of the company’s 2019 Helping Hungry Homes® donation tour.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Comerica Named One Of America's Most JUST Companies In 2018 By Forbes And JUST Capital

Jan 24, 2019 9:05 AM ET

Comerica was named one of America's Most JUST Companies in 2018, according to Forbes and JUST Capital, a nonprofit that ranks the largest publicly-traded corporations in the United States on the issues Americans care about most. Comerica was included on this year's list for outperforming its peers on issues like fair pay and good benefits, customer treatment and privacy, beneficial products, environmental impact, job creation, community support in the U.S. and abroad, as well as ethical leadership and long-term financial growth.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

At Davos, P&G's Marc Pritchard says Consumers Expect Brands to be a Force for Good

Jan 24, 2019 9:05 AM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

WashingtonExec Recognizes Susan Penfield, Booz Allen for Innovation in Government

Jan 24, 2019 9:00 AM ET

What do GPS, closed captioning, smartphones, and supercomputers have in common? They’re some of the many technology innovations that the federal government has helped make possible. One of the leaders driving tech innovation in government today is Booz Allen Chief Innovation Officer Susan Penfield, named among this year’s WashingtonExec Top 25 Executives to Watch.

Energy

Consumers Energy Dedicates First Ever Solar, Battery Storage Systems on Grand Rapids’ West Side

Jan 24, 2019 8:45 AM ET

Consumers Energy today dedicated Michigan’s first ever rooftop solar array and battery storage system in a vibrant and growing area of Grand Rapids.

Diversity & Inclusion

First Look: Why eBay Renovated Its HQ with Breastfeeding Rooms and Gender-Neutral Bathrooms

Jan 24, 2019 8:30 AM ET

eBay gives the Business Journal a sneak peek at the renovations it's made at its headquarters as it aims to hire and retain top talent in Silicon Valley's extremely competitive labor market.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

For the 8th Consecutive Year, Schneider Electric Is Proud to Be Recognized by the CDP Climate Change a List for Spearheading Corporate Action Against Climate Change

Jan 24, 2019 8:05 AM ET

Schneider Electric has been highlighted as a global leader on corporate climate action for the 8th consecutive year by environmental impact non-profit CDP, achieving a place on the CDP Climate Change A List.

Education

Arrow Electronics Expands Access to Agriculture Technology in Rural Schools

Jan 24, 2019 7:30 AM ET

Now in its fourth year of sponsorship, Arrow Electronics is celebrating the National Western Stock Show by expanding access to agricultural technology in rural schools. The company is sponsoring a new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) program at Eads High School in Eastern Colorado that aims to improve livestock management.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

UPS Packaging Design and Testing Enables Launch of First-of-its-Kind Reusable Consumer Packaging Solution

Jan 24, 2019 5:45 AM ET

Engineers at UPS worked with TerraCycle to design and test a first-of-its-kind reusable tote for consumer goods to replace single-use cardboard boxes. The new Loop™ tote is bringing the circular economy to your doorstep.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Supply Chain Integrity - Introducing Farm to Yarn, Traceable Organic Cotton With Social and Environmental Benefits

Jan 24, 2019 4:00 AM ET

Volcom, in partnership with the social enterprise CottonConnect, is launching Farm to Yarn – a socially conscious raw materials initiative in India that features certified organic cotton that’s traceable back to the program’s farmers and that provides social and professional education programs for the farmers and the women in the farming villages of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, where the cotton was sourced.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Aligning Business Needs & Community Impact | LBG Canada Company Spotlight - Cenovus

Jan 23, 2019 6:35 PM ET

As we begin 2019, LBG Canada spotlights the Cenovus Decision Making Criteria. A tool created to assist a geographically dispersed community investment team with decision-making consistency by clearly outlining and identifying characteristics of a community investment opportunity to ensure both community and business impact.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Sappi Continues to Procure 100% Sustainable Fiber

Jan 23, 2019 4:30 PM ET

The following offers a view of our annual performance in important areas of environmental and social responsibility. We monitor key metrics for fiber, emissions, energy usage and the impact of our operations on air, water and solid waste. We use this data to set improvement goals for our operations and interactions with key stakeholders.