ESG News from Leading Brands

Green Infrastructure

The Rise of the Intelligent Sewer

Jun 26, 2018 1:00 PM ET

Kansas City’s Smart Sewer program is the largest infrastructure investment in the city’s history.

The program employs a network of sensors—including sonar and radar technology—to accurately track real-time sewer overflows and optimize the use of its existing sewer system.

Kansas City is among a handful of American cities like Cincinnati and South Bend that are responding to chronic problems with sewer overflows by adopting the latest in smart tech to access real-time data to direct wastewater to existing stations. The new method saves money and protects the major waterways.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Impact at Work: An Interview With May Malik From NYC Service

Jun 26, 2018 12:45 PM ET

Last week, we released a blog post on some of our favorites communities of practice that bring diverse professionals together across sectors to achieve maximum business and social value in their communities. As a follow-up, I had the pleasure of interviewing May Malik, Director of Public-Private Partnerships at NYC Service who has an infectious passion for service and a unique vantage point from her role in the public sector.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Aflac Recognized as One of America's 50 Most Community-Minded Companies Company Honored by Points of Light with Civic 50 Award

Jun 26, 2018 12:45 PM ET

Aflac, the leading provider of voluntary insurance at the worksite in the United States, announced that Points of Light has named Aflac to its 2018 Civic 50 list. According to their website, Points of Light is the world's largest organization dedicated to volunteer service. The Civic 50 provides a national standard for superior corporate citizenship and showcases how companies can use their time, skills and other resources to improve the communities in which they do business. The award recognizes Aflac as one of the most community-minded companies in the United States.

Environment

2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Named Northwest Green Vehicle of the Year

Jun 26, 2018 12:25 PM ET

The 2018 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid took home two titles from the Northwest Automotive Press Association’s (NWAPA) 2018 Drive Revolution green vehicle competition, including the Northwest Green Vehicle of the Year, and for the second year in a row, the Northwest Family-sized Plug-in Hybrid of the Year.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Kicking off Grilling Season with the Chicago Spark Program

Jun 26, 2018 11:35 AM ET

The Spark Program connects schools in the Chicago community with corporate partners to immerse middle schoolers in workplace mentorships based on skills and interests.

“These mentorships go beyond educational aspects. Spark Mentors often have a big influence on the social and emotional development of these adolescents,” said Principal of Frazier International Magnet School, Charlette Broxton, “we are very lucky to partner with corporations, such as Tyson Foods, through the Spark Program.”

Tyson Foods has been a partner with the Spark Program since 2015, and with Chicago Public Schools closing out the year, it only made sense to have our Spark students join us for this summer celebration.

Events, Media & Communications

Lunch With Warren Buffett Auctioned Off for $3.3 Million

Jun 26, 2018 11:15 AM ET

For the 19th year in a row, the octogenarian CEO of Berkshire Hathawayauctioned off a lunch date to raise money for Glide, an anti-poverty organization in San Francisco, California. When the auction closed late Friday, the winning bid topped $3.3 million according to the online event hosted by eBay for Charity.

Environment

Founder Spotlight—Bob Karls

Jun 26, 2018 11:10 AM ET

Antea Group spotlights inspirational Bob Karls in a disarming and passionate snapshot of his career.

Environment

Designing New Climate Change Solutions, With Inspiration That Is Millions of Years Old

Jun 26, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Eight finalist teams from around the world have been announced for nature-inspired climate change design solutions in the Biomimicry Global Design Challenge, sponsored by the Biomimicry Institute.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Forbes Names Republic Services One of the World’s Most Innovative Companies

Jun 26, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG) has been recognized as one of most innovative companies in the world by Forbes Magazine. Ranked 89th, Republic is one of only two recycling and solid waste management companies on the 2018 list. Forbes selects its annual 100 World’s Most Innovative Companies list by identifying companies that investors believe to be forward thinking, who will continue to achieve profitable new growth through future advances.

Education

Orlando Sentinel | EA, Tupperware Work to Raise Female Impact in STEM

Jun 26, 2018 10:25 AM ET

As corporations push to add women in tech fields, some leaders say they are seeing results in Central Florida. Organizers behind the programs, which feature female employees leading activities designed to reach female workers and students directly, say they can serve two purposes: show female students potential career paths and help businesses foster future workers.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

SC Johnson Europe Earns Best Multinational Workplace Recognition

Jun 26, 2018 10:15 AM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

For a World Without Disease - Eradication and Prevention of Disease

Jun 26, 2018 10:15 AM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

For Everyone's Physical and Mental Health at Every Stage

Jun 26, 2018 10:15 AM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

For Better Medical Services - Reinventing the Way Healthcare Services are Provided

Jun 26, 2018 10:15 AM ET

Environment

PepsiCo Expands Safe Water Access to Nearly 16 Million People, Achieving More Than 60 Percent of Company's Performance With Purpose 2025 Goal

Jun 26, 2018 10:00 AM ET

PepsiCo today announced it has expanded access to safe water1 to nearly 16 million people in some of the world's most water-stressed areas, including 10 million people in India, since it launched its Performance with Purpose vision in 2006. The company has invested more than $40 million in safe water access solutions with strategic partners as part of its goal to support a total of 25 million people with safe water access by 2025.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Releases Annual CSR Report

Jun 26, 2018 9:35 AM ET

Artificial intelligence, blockchain and cryptocurrency: today’s hottest emerging technologies have the potential to reinvent the way we live, but also demand unprecedented amounts of energy and computing resources – calling into question their impacts on our environment, climate, and dwindling resources. In fact, research suggests that by 2025 the IT sector could consume 20% of all the world’s electricity generation. So how can the industry balance innovation and sustainability?

Energy

CMS Energy Announces Two New Wind Energy Parks

Jun 26, 2018 9:20 AM ET

CMS Energy today announced the addition of two new planned wind energy parks to its portfolio that will produce up to 250 megawatts of clean, renewable energy: the Gratiot Farms Wind Project and the Northwest Ohio Wind Project.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Respecting Human Rights in Sport: Visa’s Founding Support of the Centre for Sport and Human Rights

Jun 26, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Today, Visa is proud to join as a founding supporter of the Centre for Sport and Human Rights, a new institution announced in Geneva by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, the Director-General of the ILO Guy Ryder and the Centre’s founding Chair Mary Robinson. As longtime believers in the power of sport to inspire and unify the world, and as a company committed to operate responsibly, ethically and sustainably across our business, we are pleased to support this important initiative dedicated to a vision of a world of sport that fully respects human rights.

Education

12 Fast-Growing Shade Trees

Jun 26, 2018 9:00 AM ET

If there were a Guinness Book of World Records for trees, the quaking aspen would be in it – several times. First, it has the widest natural range of any tree in North America, spanning 47 degrees of latitude (equal to half the distance from the equator to the North Pole), 110 degrees of longitude (nine time zones) and elevations from sea level to timberline. It is also the largest living organism, growing in clones that reproduce primarily by sending up sprouts from their roots. And as far as the oldest … a clone in Minnesota has been estimated to be thousands of years old!

Sustainable Development Goals

Webinar - Tetra Pak, PGGM, Coca-Cola HBC & WBCSD on SDG Reporting

Jun 26, 2018 5:00 AM ET

The increasing focus and push towards the UN Global Goals and 2-degree target requires businesses to disclose accurate data to showcase future risks, demonstrate the long-term value of the business and show their impact on the SDGs.

Environment

With China Saying No to Plastic Waste, the World Needs a New Plan

Jun 25, 2018 8:30 PM ET

A global crisis over what to do with millions of tons of discarded plastic and other trash is becoming even more difficult after China decided last year to stop importing much of the waste. In some cases, that means used paper and plastic containers that Americans intend to recycle are actually ending up in landfills, waste company managers say.

Sustainable Development Goals

Whirlpool Corporation Sets New Greenhouse Gas Emission Targets

Jun 25, 2018 7:35 PM ET

After achieving its energy and water intensity goals three years early, Whirlpool Corporation has set significant new Greenhouse Gas Emission (GHG) goals. The new science-based targets will exceed the original U.S. commitments to the Paris Climate Accord, pledging to reduce 30 percent GHG in operations and products in use by 2025, using a 2005 baseline. The goals are outlined in the 2017 Sustainability Report, which was released this week.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Randy Castro to Lead Black & Veatch Federal Business

Jun 25, 2018 6:30 PM ET

​Randy Castro, former Deputy Director, Defense Threat Reduction Agency,Corps of Engineers leader and retired U.S. Army major general has been named President of Black & Veatch Special Projects Corp.; the company’s Federal business.

Education

CLP Strives to Connect to People for Sustainable Development

Jun 25, 2018 5:00 PM ET

As sustainability education matters, the CLP Group has been participating in the WBCSD Leadership Program, an intensive year-long executive education initiative which prepares leaders for sustainability challenges and opportunities, since 2004. This year, CLP is joining the program to navigate how to better communicate sustainable development and report to stakeholders. Check out how participants from companies around the world gained new insights from industry experts and academics.

Research, Reports & Publications

5 Things Partners Should Know From HP's Sustainable Impact Report

Jun 25, 2018 4:25 PM ET

HP Inc. doesn't consider sustainability tangential to corporate goals -- it's actually at the heart of the company's continued reinvention efforts, according to Nate Hurst (pictured), chief sustainability and social impact officer at HP.