ESG News from Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

How One Call Became a Calling

Oct 8, 2018 12:00 PM ET

It was a sad time. My wife and I had tried to add to our family without success. It wasn’t an immediate decision, but we eventually decided to pursue adoption. From that moment, everything in our life changed.

Media & Communications

Porter Novelli Launches PN STANCE to Help Companies Determine If and How to Engage on Divisive Societal Issues

Oct 8, 2018 11:45 AM ET

Today, global public relations leader Porter Novelli (PN) launched PN STANCE, a first-of-its-kind product to help companies know if and how to respond to increasing stakeholder pressure to stand up for the various societal issues taking center stage in real-time.

Environment

Alaska Beyond Magazine | Pioneering Parks

Oct 8, 2018 11:35 AM ET

Diversity & Inclusion

Scotiabank Video: Inclusion Makes Us Stronger

Oct 8, 2018 11:35 AM ET

Four Scotiabank employees share their stories from the past and their thoughts on the future of inclusion. Here at Scotiabank, we are continuing to build a diverse and inclusive work environment, empowering everyone to bring their whole selves to work.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

GM Leads Way in Gender Equality

Oct 8, 2018 11:30 AM ET

Equileap, a leading organization providing data and insights on gender equality in the corporate sector, this week released the results of its annual global study and has ranked GM the No. 1 company in the world for gender equality in the workplace.

Green Infrastructure

IWBI Celebrates Crossing the 1,000th WELL Registered Project Mark

Oct 8, 2018 11:15 AM ET

The WELL Building Standard™ (WELL™) has marked a new milestone, crossing the 1,000 mark for projects that have enrolled in this premier global program that advances people’s health and well-being through better buildings and communities. The distinction of being 1,000th to register for WELL is shared by two projects in the capital city of Germany.

Sustainable Development Goals

Measuring Impact: Private Sector Sustainability Data for Achieving the SDGs

Oct 8, 2018 11:05 AM ET

Read how sustainability data published in voluntary reports can be used to evaluate national progress to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Innovation & Technology

Tools and Tips to Keep Our Families Safe Online

Oct 8, 2018 10:45 AM ET

In 2017, 92 percent of Americans used the internet, with 77 percent of us going online every day. We’re no longer just connected at work. We’re connected at home, in our car and when we walk down the street. Our kids are also connected. A recent Pew study found that 95 percent of teens have access to a smartphone, with 45 percent saying they are online ‘almost constantly.’

The increased use of smartphones, social media and connected toys comes with increased vulnerability. October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month and Symantec is proud to support the National Cyber Security Alliance as a 2018 Champion. This annual awareness campaign encourages individuals and businesses to take action towards protecting themselves from cyber threats.

Innovation & Technology

The Business and Societal Case for Privacy

Oct 8, 2018 10:25 AM ET

While compliance with a new regulation often seems burdensome to global firms, data shows that the type of privacy policies required under the GDPR echo a rising clarion call from consumers, who studies show are increasingly concerned about misuse of their data.

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar's Community Impact

Oct 8, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Our success contributes to the social stability of regions around the world. Caterpillar and our employees focus on contributing time and resources to promoting the health and welfare of communities in which we work and live. We conduct our business in a manner that respects human rights individually.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

How Corporate Foundations and CSR Initiatives are ‘Being the Change’

Oct 8, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Four ways to make changes within your organization to create greater social impact.

Environment

Itron and Discovery Education Launch National Effort to Advance Conservation, Applied-Learning, Technology and STEM Education

Oct 8, 2018 9:45 AM ET

Itron, Inc., which is innovating the way utilities and cities use energy and water, and Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, today announced Conservation Station: Creating a More Resourceful World – a new initiative developed to engage and educate middle school students on the relationship between energy and water through the lens of conservation.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Making Clean Water More Accessible by Equipping African Entrepreneurs With Resources and Expertise

Oct 8, 2018 9:40 AM ET

Jibu, a business that supports the self-empowerment of low income communities, joins Business Call to Action (BCtA) with a commitment to equip, train and finance 1,000 African entrepreneurs to launch drinking water franchises that will produce two and a half million litres of affordable, safe water every day and serve three million consumers by 2022.

Research, Reports & Publications

Improving Sustainability Communications

Oct 8, 2018 9:15 AM ET

Corporate Citizenship are seeking corporate sustainability communications experts, practitioners, sustainability information consumers, and thought leaders for their views on effective corporate sustainability communications.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Proofs and Research: Volunteering Benefits Individuals and Companies

Oct 8, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Realized Worth has gathered evidence that supports the business case for corporate volunteering from a talent, engagement and recruitment perspective, as well as from the employee perspective.

If you want to strengthen your case for corporate volunteering, this is a must-read blog by Angela Parker on the benefits of volunteering at corporate and individual level.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Mars’ New Sustainable in a Generation Report – Our Progress to Date for the Thriving People Pillar

Oct 8, 2018 9:00 AM ET

A range of issues continue to face our global community—including climate change, poverty, obesity and water stress. That’s what prompted us to launch our Sustainable in a Generation Plan last year, pledging to invest over $1 billion to start tackling these issues within our own supply chain.

Early indicators of progress for each pillar of our plan—Healthy Planet, Thriving People, Nourishing Wellbeing—say that we are moving in the right direction.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sodexo Wins Outie Award for Workplace Excellence at Out & Equal

Oct 8, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Sodexo, a food services and facilities management company committed to Quality of Life, announced today that it has won an Outie Award for Workplace Excellence at the Out & Equal Workplace Summit in Seattle. This award recognizes Sodexo for the organization’s historic and ongoing commitment to pursuing and executing workplace inclusion and equality for LGBT employees.

Sustainable Development Goals

The Arbor Day Foundation’s Pennsylvania Community Tree Recovery Campaign Partners With TruGreen, FedEx and Tree Pittsburgh to Distribute Free Trees to Local Pittsburgh Residents Affected by Emerald Ash Borer

Oct 8, 2018 9:00 AM ET

The Arbor Day Foundation’s Pittsburgh Tree Recovery Campaign – a partnership between the Arbor Day Foundation and TruGreen, FedEx and Tree Pittsburgh will distribute 500 new trees this year to homeowners in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Saturday, October 13, 2018 from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Pittsburgh Zoo parking lot, 7370 Baker Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15206.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

LA Kings Raise More Than $175,000 for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Oct 5, 2018 11:00 PM ET

AEG’s LA Kings raised more than $175,000 for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles at the club’s 19th annual Golf Tournament earlier this week. The event marked the unofficial kick-off of the Kings' regular season, which starts at STAPLES Center on Friday, Oct. 5 against the San Jose Sharks.

Research, Reports & Publications

Symantec Reduces GHG Emissions by Over 30% in 3 Years

Oct 5, 2018 6:00 PM ET

As part of its commitment to climate action, Symantec set a goal in 2016 to reduce Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30 percent over a 10-year period (FY16 to FY25 with a FY15 baseline). Through investments in energy conservation and more efficient use of space the company has achieved a 32 percent reduction in GHG emissions in just three years.

Events, Media & Communications

Register for the LBG Model & Impact Measurement Discussion Series With LBG Canada

Oct 5, 2018 3:30 PM ET

Impact Measurement doesn't need to be difficult, finding the right metric is easier than you think! Are you interested in Impact Measurement? Join the conversation!

Education

Smithfield Foods Unveils New JROTC Facility at Smithfield High School

Oct 5, 2018 2:20 PM ET

Today, Smithfield Foods, Inc., and Isle of Wight County Schools unveiled a new Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) fieldhouse for Smithfield High School’s award-winning JROTC program.

The campus addition provides JROTC participants and instructors with needed classroom space and equipment storage for drill and competition practice.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

For Third Consecutive Year, Mohawk Cushions the Fight in All Seven Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walks to Raise Awareness for Breast Cancer

Oct 5, 2018 12:30 PM ET

Mohawk continues its fight against breast cancer with its support of the Susan G. Komen® 3-Day Walk by donating more than 7,000 SmartCushion pads to comfort this year’s walkers and crew members. The company also hosts the “Mohawk Mile,” a bright pink carpeted footpath to the finish line filled with Mohawk residential and commercial team members, retail partners and customers urging walkers on to success.

Mohawk became involved with the 3-Day Walk in 2015, when it provided 800 pieces of soft, durable and eco-friendly SmartCushion to place under the sleeping bags of weary walkers and crew in the Philadelphia walk. Today Mohawk supports the three-day, 60-mile walk in all seven participating cities.

Green Infrastructure

Porterville Transit First Site for SCE’s Electric Bus Charging Pilot

Oct 5, 2018 12:30 PM ET

Bus riders in Porterville, a city about 60 miles north of Bakersfield, will soon have one more reason to feel good about using public transportation: clean, smog-free electric buses. And thanks to a new pilot program being launched by Southern California Edison, Porterville Transit will receive financial assistance for bus charging stations, including free installation of electrical infrastructure, to support 10 new zero-emission buses the transit agency is adding to its fleet. The new battery electric buses are replacing older ones that run on fossil fuel.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

HanesBrands Donates More Than $2 Million of Underwear, Socks and T-Shirts to Assist Hurricane Florence Victims

Oct 5, 2018 12:25 PM ET

Hanes is partnering with nonprofit charity Delivering Good to distribute essential basic apparel valued at more than $2 million to storm and flood victims who have endured relocation, lost homes, power outages and other hardships in wake of the hurricane and associated flooding.