ESG News from Leading Brands

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Bringing Banking to Low Income Communities in Northern Nigeria

Feb 14, 2018 9:15 AM ET

Union Bank of Nigeria (Union Bank) has joined Business Call to Action (BCtA) with a pledge to provide access to financial services for at least 30,000 people from low income communities in 11 states across northern Nigeria by 2020, where currently more than half the population are unbanked.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Eco-Friendly Valentines Day Gifts For Your Earthy S.O.

Feb 14, 2018 9:00 AM ET

It's sexy to care.

Research, Reports & Publications

Grid Modernization: Increasing Capital Investments To Decrease Risk

Feb 14, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Growing commitment to distributed energy resources (DER) is forcing continued modernization of the grid — and the effort shows no signs of letting up. Whether by regulatory mandate or stakeholder pressure, system upgrades are being made worldwide to support the increase in renewable energy, while making infrastructure smarter and more resilient. Historically, attention to the grid’s distribution system focused on poles and wire maintenance and upkeep, but growing connectivity between assets is requiring a more holistic approach.

Sustainable Development Goals

Are Companies Ready for the New Energy Economy?

Feb 14, 2018 8:55 AM ET

The recently concluded 2018 World Economic Forum in Davos focused extensively on energy and environmental challenges that companies are facing to ensure they attain their sustainability commitments. Most of the corporate participants at Davos agreed that they need to integrate and advance their energy and sustainability programs on an urgent basis to address the issues arising out of rapid climate change.

Events, Media & Communications

How Can We Deliver a Sustainable Chemical Industry?

Feb 14, 2018 8:15 AM ET

'Sustainability’ and ‘climate-friendly’ might not be the first thing we think of when imagining a chemical company. Has Japanese giant Sumitomo Chemical succeeded in driving sustainability in their industry? And how are they encouraging staff to engage in blue-sky thinking in this area? We sit down with Yoshihisa Takasaki, Manager at Sumitomo Chemical’s Responsible Care Department and Ms. Kathleen Buyle, CSR Manager at Sumitomo Chemical Europe to discuss this and more.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Tetra Tech Wins the ACEC Oklahoma 2017 Grand Conceptor Award for Inkana Bridge

Feb 14, 2018 8:00 AM ET

Tetra Tech received the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Oklahoma Chapter’s Grand Conceptor Award, the chapter’s highest honor, for design of the Chickasaw Nation’s Inkana Bridge. The annual awards showcase the best engineering projects from across Oklahoma. As winner of the Grand Conceptor Award, Tetra Tech’s Inkana Bridge project will be part of the ACEC national competition of 2017’s most outstanding and innovative engineering achievements.

Media & Communications

Novartis Forms Alliance to Develop Medicines for Treating Infectious Diarrheal Disease

Feb 14, 2018 3:15 AM ET

Novartis receives funding from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for further development of Novartis drug candidate KDU731 for the treatment of cryptosporidiosis

Events, Media & Communications

Lowest 2018 Shared Value Leadership Summit Prices End on Friday!

Feb 13, 2018 4:00 PM ET

Act now to get the lowest 2018 Shared Value Leadership Summit prices before they go up on February 17! Hear from shared value leaders, learn new skills in hands-on labs and network with others who believe that companies can change the world.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Carbon Tracker Unveils 2˚C Compliant Scenario Analysis Tool on Bloomberg App Portal

Feb 13, 2018 3:05 PM ET

Bloomberg Terminal subscribers can now access the Carbon Tracker Initiative’s research that provides investors in the energy sector and commodities markets, or those with a focus on sustainable investments, insight into oil and gas companies’ upstream portfolios. The tool provides forward-looking quantitative indicators based on project-level data provided by Rystad Energy, an independent source of business intelligence data about the oil and gas industry, alongside Bloomberg market data.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Paramount Viacommunity Film Vies for Top Spot at Boston College Festival

Feb 13, 2018 2:30 PM ET

​Each year, thousands of Viacom employees around the world unite for Viacommunity Day, helping to rebuild and revitalize their local communities with a series of service projects. At Paramount Pictures – which for the past two years has had the highest percentage of employees from any Viacom company division participating in projects – the day has special resonance.

To commemorate the titanic efforts of their employees at last year’s event, Paramount’s social responsibility team put together A Day for Unity, a rousing video recap of the landscaping, painting, organizing, and volunteering at zoos, community centers, soup kitchens and food distribution centers that took place across the Los Angeles area on Viacommunity Day 2017.

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: Leavers and Takers

Feb 13, 2018 2:15 PM ET

Ishmael’s compelling opening – TEACHER seeks pupil. Must have an earnest desire to save the world. Apply in person.

Education

DonorsChoose.org and AT&T Want Teachers to Submit Tech Ideas That Help Students Tell Stories

Feb 13, 2018 1:55 PM ET

A podcast that empowers students to deliver local news to their community. Technology to host a blog for elementary school English language learners and their families. A year-long mobile video documentary about the benefits of therapy dogs for students with special needs.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Historic Donation Boosts Education in Mexico

Feb 13, 2018 1:00 PM ET

TransCanada works with INEA, whose mission is to give access to education to millions of Mexicans who never had the opportunity to study, and as adults do not know how to read or write

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Timberland Is Helping Rebuild Haiti’s Cotton Industry

Feb 13, 2018 12:15 PM ET

Haiti hasn’t grown cotton in decades. Its once-abundant industry collapsed in the 1970s due to government corruption, economic mismanagement, and U.S. embargoes. But now, thanks to a project involving thousands of smallholder farmers, apparel brands like Timberland, and a blockchain network, it could be set for a comeback. Within a few years, if all goes to plan, the island will be supplying millions of pounds of organic cotton for shoes, shirts, and other clothing sold in U.S. stores.

Education

A Diagnosis That Led to Life’s Mission: Working to Reverse Alopecia Areata at Columbia

Feb 13, 2018 12:15 PM ET

Most Amgen Scholars only begin to learn about their summer research topic in their college years. For Trévon C. Gordon, his research topic began in high school, when he began to suffer from a condition called alopecia areata, which prevents him from growing hair. Since then, understanding the autoimmune disease has become his mission, and he spent his Amgen Scholars summer researching ways to treat it with a cutting-edge researcher who herself has alopecia areata.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Foster Care Adoption: When Things Don't Go as Planned

Feb 13, 2018 12:00 PM ET

More and more the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption learns that the families who choose foster care adoption are families who already have children in the home or whose children have already grown.

Green Infrastructure

Don’t Curb Your Enthusiasm

Feb 13, 2018 11:15 AM ET

We often overlook one of a city's most valuable assets: the curbside. Learn about how we can use curbsides to cut congestion and pollution in growing urban centers.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Wells Fargo Donates $250,000 for Nashville-Area Revitalization Efforts

Feb 13, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) today announced a total of $250,000 in donations for two local nonprofits to help revitalize Nashville neighborhoods through the Wells Fargo NeighborhoodLIFT® program.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Republic Services Named One of the 2018 World’s Most Ethical Companies® by the Ethisphere Institute

Feb 13, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG) is pleased to announce that the Company has been named one of the 2018 World’s Most Ethical Companies® by the Ethisphere Institute, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices. Republic is the sole recycling and solid waste services provider to be listed under the Environmental Services category this year.

Media & Communications

Porter Novelli Launches New Purpose Practice

Feb 13, 2018 10:15 AM ET

Global public relations leader Porter Novelli (PN) announced the launch of its global Purpose Practice, specializing in purpose-driven brand strategy, corporate social responsibility (CSR), social marketing, social impact and brand communications. The launch follows Porter Novelli’s merger with Cone, a leading CSR firm, in February 2017.

Events, Media & Communications

Tips for a Greener Valentine’s Day

Feb 13, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Did you know almost 1 billion Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year globally, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas? We’ve compiled a handful of tips to help you and your Valentine make this year’s celebration a bit greener!

Environment

CSR -- What's Driving Company Interfuse, and What's Hindering It?

Feb 13, 2018 9:45 AM ET

Cynthia Figge is a forerunner and thought leader in the corporate sustainability movement. Figge is CEO and Cofounder of CSRHub, the world's largest database on ESG (environmental, social and governance) performance of 17,500+ companies that provides sustainability ratings and business intelligence to professionals, academics and API partners. In 1996 she co-founded EKOS International, one of the first consultancies integrating sustainability and corporate strategy. Figge has worked with major organizations, including Boeing, BNSF, Coca-Cola and REI, to help craft sustainability strategy integrated with business.

Innovation & Technology

An Experience of a Lifetime at Super Bowl LII

Feb 13, 2018 9:30 AM ET

Teaching digital skills to young people is at the core of our partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. One Club member, Anaa Jibicho, had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see those skills in action at Super Bowl LII, and to shadow members of the NBC Sports team as they used leading-edge technology to deliver the biggest game of the year.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

ROI That Matters – Return On Integrity

Feb 13, 2018 9:30 AM ET

Environment

Consumers Energy Ensures Historic Weadock Plant Site is Safe for Reuse

Feb 13, 2018 9:25 AM ET

Consumers Energy is keeping its promise to “leave it better” in Hampton Township, a community near Bay City, Michigan, where it closed the historic J.C. Weadock power plant. The energy provider is following through to ensure that the site is returned to “brownfield” status, making it available for potential reuse.