ESG News from Leading Brands

Education

Calling Teen Filmmakers: Toyota and Discovery Launch Safe Driving PSA Challenge

Jan 10, 2018 3:05 PM ET

Now in its sixth year, Toyota and Discovery Education have kicked off the 2018 TeenDrive365 Video Challenge, inviting 9-12 grade students to submit an original 30-60 second Public Service Announcement for teens about safe driving habits.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

LIVARI: How 3 Women are Leading the New Sustainable Fashion Movement

Jan 10, 2018 2:20 PM ET

How many pairs of jeans do you own? How many t-shirts? How many pairs of shoes? A $3 trillion dollar industry employing roughly 60 million people, the fashion industry accounts for 2 percent of the world’s GDP and supports many adjacent industries, including agriculture, petroleum, mining and construction. It’s also an industry that historically hasn’t been very earth friendly. Boston Consulting Group estimates that the fashion industry is the fifth most polluting industry in the world. LIVARI, a new zero-waste, women-led, women-designed label has entered the fashion scene and is looking to change this one tonne of carbon pollution at a time.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sodexo Announces Its Mindful Soup-er Hero! Winner From Portland, OR, Receives Free Lunch for One Year

Jan 10, 2018 2:10 PM ET

Sodexo, world leader of quality-of-life services, is thrilled to announce that Shawn Daley is the winner of Make It Mindful. Shawn, an administrator at Concordia University in Portland, Oregon, created a delicious and healthy 3 Cs (Chicken, Cabbage & Chickpea) Soup that will be featured in Sodexo cafés across the country today through February 4. In addition to seeing his winning soup on the menu, Shawn will receive free lunch for one year.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

National Grid Earns Emergency Response Awards From Edison Electric Institute

Jan 10, 2018 2:00 PM ET

National Grid has received Edison Electric Institute’s Emergency Assistance and Emergency Recovery awards for its response to damaging thunderstorms and tornadoes that struck the upstate New York region in May and July 2017.

Environment

Jeremy Lent: Human History and the Climate

Jan 10, 2018 1:15 PM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

MLK Day Employee Volunteer Spotlight: John Ketner

Jan 10, 2018 12:15 PM ET

As MLK Day approaches, Common Impact is encouraging our partners to make it a day "on," not a day off. To honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's legacy were lifting up our inspiring employee volunteers who have a strong commitment to civic engagement and are deeply involved in strengthening the livelihood of their local communities.

Research, Reports & Publications

Action Points for Poverty Alleviation: New GRI Paper Outlines Practical Steps

Jan 10, 2018 12:05 PM ET

CSR reporting can help companies advance poverty alleviation. A new paper by GRI outlines recommendations and specific disclosures companies can apply to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goal #1: No Poverty.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Humana Named Greenest Among Health Care Providers & Services in 2017 Newsweek Green Rankings

Jan 10, 2018 11:45 AM ET

Humana is the greenest company in the Health Care Providers and Services industry, according to Newsweek’s 2017 Green Rankings. Humana ranked No. 18 out of 500 U.S. companies on the list and is the industry leader in the Health Care Providers and Services industry. Overall, Humana ranked No. 32 on the global list.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Scotiabank Sponsors Race Weekend 2018

Jan 10, 2018 11:30 AM ET

Nassau, The Bahamas - Scotiabank is a silver, corporate partner for Sunshine Insurance Race Weekend 2018. The Bank has supported the annual event, inclusive of Marathon Bahamas and the Susan G. Komen Bahamas Race for the Cure since inception.

Events, Media & Communications

Leveraging Technology for Financial Wellness

Jan 10, 2018 10:15 AM ET

Join us for a webinar hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and supported by JPMorgan Chase & Co., where representatives from University of North Carolina Center for Community Capital and nonprofit Leaders in Financial Technology (nLIFT) will discuss the potential for technology innovation in the financial services sector – fintech – to increase financial inclusion in the United States.

Education

JetBlue Encourages ‘Even More Girls - In Tech’ With an Event Focused on Inspiring Young Girls to Pursue STEM Careers

Jan 10, 2018 10:00 AM ET

JetBlue is continuing its mission of Inspiring Humanity®. Last week, JetBlue partnered with the nonprofit Girls in Tech to host a special event designed to encourage young girls to be brave, dream big, and build. Girls in Tech is a global organization focused on the engagement, education, and empowerment of girls and women who are passionate about technology.

During the “Even More Girls – In Tech” event, which took place at the Impact Hub in Oakland, Calif., nearly 50 girls, ages 12-15 learned leadership skills directly from JetBlue senior leaders and Girls in Tech CEO and Founder Adriana Gascoigne and received an introduction to technical skills such as coding that are critical to careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Ecolab to Receive World Environment Center’s 2018 Gold Medal Award for Corporate Sustainability

Jan 10, 2018 10:00 AM ET

The World Environment Center (WEC) is pleased to announce that its 34th annual Gold Medal for International Corporate Achievement in Sustainable Development will be awarded to Ecolab. The Chief Executive Officer of Ecolab will accept the Gold Medal Award on Thursday, May 17, 2018, during the Gold Medal Presentation Ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

7 Nestlé Brand Stories You Missed in 2017

Jan 10, 2018 9:30 AM ET

2017 was an eventful year here at Nestlé. We launched innovative products, had new learnings on the joy of pizza, broke Guinness World Records, and welcomed new members to our family.

We know you had a busy year too — so in case you missed any of our biggest stories, we’ve got a quick roundup of the highlights for you.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Acumen America Makes Its First Financial Inclusion Investment Under New Partnership With Metlife Foundation

Jan 10, 2018 9:20 AM ET

Acumen, the nonprofit global venture fund, today announced its first financial inclusion investment under its Acumen America portfolio. Launched in 2016, Acumen America invests in social enterprises addressing the problems of poverty in the United States with a focus on the sectors of health care, workforce development and financial inclusion.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Sands ECO360 Holds Green Ideas Challenge for Team Members

Jan 10, 2018 9:15 AM ET

Team Members at The Venetian, The Palazzo and Sands Expo participated in the Green Ideas Challenge conducted by the property sustainability team. Approximately 180 ideas were submitted from various departments, and the goal is to implement the top three ideas in 2018.

Environment

Natural Gas Storage Operators Bracing for Regulatory Impact

Jan 10, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Results from the 2017 Strategic Directions: Natural Gas Industry Report survey signal that in order to realize natural gas storage potential, industry organizations will first need to manage the array of associated federal and state regulations.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Names New Chair and Vice Chair

Jan 10, 2018 9:00 AM ET

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption announced today that Mary Schell, chief public affairs officer for The Wendy’s Company, has been elected as chair of its board of trustees. Todd Penegor, president and chief executive officer of The Wendy’s Company, has been elected vice chair.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Sunny Verghese Appointed New WBCSD Chair

Jan 10, 2018 8:45 AM ET

Mr Sunny Verghese last week officially took up his role as the new Chair of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), the global, CEO-led organization dedicated to accelerating the transition to a sustainable world.

Education

Calling All Ed-tech Innovators: Apply Within

Jan 10, 2018 8:30 AM ET

Ed-tech isn’t just about digitizing books and training manuals for a tablet. It’s about using technology to deliver new forms of learning and teaching. It’s about personalizing and accelerating learning for everyone, everywhere, at any time.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Video: Smithfield Sow Farm 360° Virtual Tour

Jan 10, 2018 8:05 AM ET

Smithfield Foods, Inc. is proud to announce that it has fulfilled its industry-leading commitment of providing group housing systems for pregnant sows on all company-owned farms in the United States.

Watch the virtual reality video that transports viewers to a company sow farm.

Health & Healthcare

Protecting the Food System from Hazards, Threats, and Vulnerabilities

Jan 10, 2018 8:00 AM ET

Food safety risk assessment has been historically associated with the identification of hazards in food using Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), and food defense, now identified as Threat Analysis/Critical Control Points (TACCP) by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI.) An additional risk assessment, Vulnerability Analysis/Critical Control Points (VACCP), has been added to the mix to assess the risk of vulnerability to food fraud, following international incidents of intentional adulteration. For instance, in 2008, melamine was added to infant formula to artificially increase the protein content, resulting in infant deaths and serious illness, and leading to massive recalls. This article highlights the similarities and differences among the three assessments.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Arbor Day Foundation Awards Finalists Announced

Jan 10, 2018 8:00 AM ET

The Arbor Day Foundation has announced finalists for its bi-annual recognition program with the winners to be announced prior to National Arbor Day on April 27, 2018. Since 1972, the Foundation has presented awards for work at the international, national, state, and community levels to recognize conservation efforts such as tree planting and care, Arbor Day celebrations, education, community projects, and roadside beautification.

Environment

Expert Interview With Bob Daylor, Land Development Expert

Jan 10, 2018 8:00 AM ET

Bob Daylor is a civil engineer and senior consultant for land development and land tenure issues at Tetra Tech. He has 50 years’ experience in facility planning, design, and construction and specializes in master planning and permitting projects at the water’s edge and in or near ecologically-sensitive landscapes. He holds professional registrations in civil engineering and land surveying and has held several elected and appointed city and regional planning positions.

Sustainable Development Goals

Sappi North America's Key Performance Indicators: Solid Waste

Jan 9, 2018 3:00 PM ET

Our pulp and paper products are derived from renewable resources, made with high levels of renewable energy, and are designed to be reused or recycled. While it is difficult to identify a more sustainable industry than forest products, not all companies perform equally when it comes to operating safely and sustainably.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

JetBlue Marks the 100-Day Milestone of its 100x35JetBlue Hurricane Relief Program in Puerto Rico

Jan 9, 2018 3:00 PM ET

JetBlue announced the 100-day milestone of its 100x35JetBlue hurricane relief initiative, which launched shortly after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico in September 2017. A nod to the island’s 100x35 mile dimensions, 100x35JetBlue outlined 100 days and 35 ways – and beyond – of caring for Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. JetBlue has completed or launched 34 of the 35 initiatives, and now transitions to initiative #35: developing a long-term plan for supporting Puerto Rico and fostering economic growth.