ESG News from Leading Brands

Innovation & Technology

Bridging the Opportunity Divide

Jun 28, 2018 1:00 PM ET

As a global media, technology, and broadband leader, Comcast NBCUniversal understands the power of technology to improve lives. We are committed to closing what we see as the opportunity divide — the gap between people who have the knowledge, resources, and support to take part in the modern economy and those who are at risk of being left behind. One of our most critical priorities as a company is helping more people fully participate in the innovation economy.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

SEED SPOT and Booz Allen Double Down on Supporting the Washington, DC Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Jun 28, 2018 12:40 PM ET

SEED SPOT and Booz Allen Hamilton are doubling down on their mission of supporting Washington, DC’s entrepreneurial ecosystem to spur startup innovation as a force for good. Their strategic partnership provides early-stage impact-driven entrepreneurs with business fundamentals, mentorship, resources, and access to capital to create businesses that positively impact the world.

Innovation & Technology

Tupperware Brands Works with NASA to Help Astronauts Grow Fresh Food in Space

Jun 28, 2018 12:25 PM ET

Tupperware Brands believes that people should not only have fresh food on Earth, but in space as well.

Events, Media & Communications

Blockchain for Social Impact: A Discussion Panel with Industry Leaders and Experts

Jun 28, 2018 12:25 PM ET

What do you need to know to make successful investments in the new world of cryptocurrency and blockchain? How can you build a strategy that helps you and your investors leap ahead of the pack?

Environment

EHS Insights: Most Common Low-Risk Regulatory Challenges in Europe

Jun 28, 2018 12:20 PM ET

From 2015 to 2018, Antea Group audited almost 100 low-risk (non-manufacturing) European facilities and found some EHS gaps in common among them.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Opening a Window to Our Supply Chain Via Virtual Reality Customer Tours

Jun 28, 2018 11:35 AM ET

Dell’s new virtual reality tour of our suppliers’ manufacturing facilities is one of the many ways we’re helping customers see further and deeper into our global supply chain.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Belonging: The Third Piece of the Diversity & Inclusion Puzzle

Jun 28, 2018 11:30 AM ET

While many companies execute their diversity and inclusion (D&I) initiatives through high-level corporate strategies, we’ve learned there’s a crucial factor that, when taken into consideration, helps their efforts become a true culture and performance driver: belonging. When businesses get it right, it leads to more than just good vibes and friendships in the workplace—it improves employee retention and pride, and can be a more powerful motivator than money.

Environment

Ortho and Pollinator Stewardship Council Help Home Gardeners “Bee Responsible”

Jun 28, 2018 11:30 AM ET

To help home gardeners protect honey bees and other native pollinators OrthoⓇ, a leading brand in lawn and garden, today announced a first-of-its-kind consumer education campaign with the Pollinator Stewardship Council. Titled “Bee Responsible,” the campaign shares tips for responsible pesticide use, including when and how to apply garden control products to avoid pollinators.

Research, Reports & Publications

GRI Standards Update: Leading Reporting Practice in Occupational Health and Safety Management, and Water Stewardship

Jun 28, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Continued degradation of environmental resources and failing to provide safe and healthy working environments globally have put water and OHS high on the global agenda. Credible and actionable information about organizations’ impact on society and the environment is more important now than it has ever been. The GRI Standards on OHS and water and effluents have been updated to ensure best practice of reporting. The updated GRI Standards further reflect the urgency of the new ways of understanding and addressing issues such as harm to workers’ health, or fresh water as an increasingly scarce resource.

Diversity & Inclusion

Yes, Women Can Have It All: Viacom and The Girls Lounge on Thriving in the Workplace

Jun 28, 2018 10:30 AM ET

On a recent Friday, more than 600 Viacom employees, clients, and partners joined Viacom executives, as well as speakers from JP Morgan Chase, ColorComm, Refinery29 and WIE Network for The Girls’ Lounge. Co-hosted by Viacom and The Female Quotient, the event included a full day of panel discussions and professional coaching focused on work-life balance, leadership and diversity.

Events, Media & Communications

Reflections on Points of Light Service Unites 2018

Jun 28, 2018 10:15 AM ET

One of my favorite annual events is Points of Light’s Service Unites. Not only is the conference an opportunity to connect with peers to celebrate best practices and commiserate lesson learned, but it is also a chance to share updates on emerging philanthropy trends and hear from global service leaders. This year’s event delivered on its promise of incredible speakers and insights on the state of volunteerism, and I am happy to share my reflections on three networking and learning-filled days in Atlanta.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

The Rise of Employees As Agents of Change

Jun 28, 2018 10:00 AM ET

The corporate social responsibility software space has seen some pretty major changes over the past decade. It has long been our goal to evolve the prevailing approach to employee giving and cause marketing from one that is largely top-down and transactional to one that is experiential and cultural. Today, we are excited to announce the launch of Benevity’s next generation corporate social responsibility and employee engagement product: Missions.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Aflac’s CSR Efforts Fit the Bill: How a Duck Helped Strengthen the Company’s Reputation

Jun 28, 2018 9:50 AM ET

Aflac's modern brand identity was born after the insurance company’s ad team made a striking discovery nearly two decades ago: The sound “Aflac” resembles “quack quack.” The symbol debuted on Jan. 1, 2000 (yes, Y2K), and the rest is history. Since that time, the Aflac duck has become an advertising icon, signifying the company’s commitment to best business practices, philanthropy and corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Diversity & Inclusion

What Celebrating Pride in India Means to Symantec Employees and the World at Large

Jun 28, 2018 9:45 AM ET

Symantec still remains one of the few companies in India that is vocal both internally and externally about its culture of inclusion. For example, Symantec has been participating in the Pune Pride Parade for the past three years, making the company’s commitment to LGBTQ employees publicly visible. This also sends the message to our LGBTQ identified employees that we take LGBTQ inclusion seriously and to those outside, that Symantec is a safe place for them to work.

Events, Media & Communications

Join 3BL Media's Chicagoland Corporate Responsibility Stories Forum

Jun 28, 2018 9:45 AM ET

Astellas, Conagra,and Walgreens will share stories of corporate responsibility at a breakfast hosted by 3BL Media

Environment

Consumers Energy Marks 100 Years for Tippy Dam

Jun 28, 2018 9:35 AM ET

Diversity & Inclusion

Live from Cannes: Procter & Gamble’s Damon Jones on Boosting Diversity

Jun 28, 2018 9:25 AM ET

Procter & Gamble director of global communications Damon Jones joined PRWeek's Steve Barrett at Cannes for a quick chat about diversity in PR and at P&G.

Sustainable Development Goals

Warranty Solutions Empowers Consumers to Leave a Greener Footprint

Jun 28, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Everything we do releases energy, energy that is converted into carbon dioxide and released back into the atmosphere. Every time you switch on a light, turn on your computer, or drive your car, you’re emitting carbon. It may not seem like much, but collectively we’re leaving a giant carbon footprint, 6-7 billion metric tons of carbon annually to be exact. These emissions contribute to climate change, which is negatively affecting the environment.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sodexo Recognized for Leadership in Sustainable Purchasing

Jun 28, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

Pearson Announces Progress Towards 2020 Sustainability Plan

Jun 28, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Pearson, the digital education company, published its 2017 Sustainability Report, which highlights the progress made in implementing its 2020 Sustainability Plan and a continued vision for integrating social and environmental issues into every aspect of the business.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Benevity Launches “Missions,” a Purpose-Driven Employee Engagement Solution

Jun 28, 2018 8:15 AM ET

Today, Benevity announced the launch of its latest innovation: Missions, a new module for its award-winning cloud solution that lets companies engage employees in positive actions to do more good, helping create purpose-driven corporate cultures and increase their social impact. Missions empowers employees to adopt new prosocial behaviors through gamified and easy-to-complete activities, which can be tracked, measured and optionally rewarded through the software.

Research, Reports & Publications

Edmond de Rothschild Reports on Its Progress: Building a Sustainable Future

Jun 28, 2018 5:00 AM ET

Edmond de Rothschild Group is committed through its strategy to support the shift to a sustainable, low carbon economy and to contribute to the realisation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Whole Planet Foundation | Dispatch From the Field - Impact Dashboard Update

Jun 28, 2018 1:15 AM ET

Thanks to our microfinance partners around the globe who are working diligently daily to serve the world's poorest people, the average first microloan size we fund decreased over several fiscal quarters from $187 to $184 then $182 to now $180. What does this signify? That our partners continue to serve the unserved and that Whole Planet Foundation funds have created 15 million opportunities for low-income entrepreneurs to lift themselves and their family members out of poverty.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

An Incredible Team of Heroes Visits Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Jun 27, 2018 8:30 PM ET

On Monday, June 25, patients and their families enjoyed “Incredible” visitors at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The stars of Disney•Pixar’s Incredibles 2, Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl, paid a special visit to the hospital, where kids and families posed for pictures with the Supers, attended a private screening of the new film as part of the Disney Movie Moments program and also met Pixar animators, who created sketches of favorite Incredibles 2 characters for children in attendance. The young patients also received Disney toys, games, books and movies that were delivered in hospital care packages that are part of the Company’s Team of Heroes $100 million commitment to transform the children’s hospital experience over the next five years.

Health & Healthcare

Merck Announces Findings from WHO-led Study of Investigational Heat-Stable Carbetocin for Preventing Excessive Bleeding After Childbirth

Jun 27, 2018 6:15 PM ET

Study results announced on an investigational heat-stable formulation of carbetocin for the prevention of excessive bleeding after childbirth, also known as postpartum haemorrhage (PPH). The results demonstrated that heat-stable carbetocin is clinically non-inferior to the standard of care, oxytocin, for the primary outcome of ≥500 ml blood loss or additional uterotonic use.1 Non-inferiority was not demonstrated for the second primary outcome of blood loss of ≥1,000 ml or more