ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

Cleaner Air Is on the Horizon As the Bay Area Passes New Regulation

Dec 12, 2017 1:30 PM ET

Antea Group tells you about Regulation 11, Rule 18, a new program in the Bay Area aimed at reducing health risks from toxic emissions from facilities

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Forbes And JUST Capital Release JUST 100 Ranking Of America's Most Just Companies

Dec 12, 2017 1:15 PM ET

Forbes, in partnership with JUST Capital, released today the JUST 100 list, a ranking of the largest publicly traded U.S. corporations on worker pay and treatment, customer respect, product quality, environmental impact and other priorities of the American public. The rankings provide a comprehensive measurement of how U.S. companies perform on the issues Americans care about most.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Global Health Corporate Champions Announce Their Team for Rwanda Cohort

Dec 12, 2017 1:00 PM ET

All-star team will partner with NGOs in and around the capital city of Kigali, Rwanda addressing various aspects regarding community health including clean water and sanitation, food and nutrition security, health system strengthening, and gender inclusion and empowerment. As a result of the GHCCs assistance, local organizations improve their capability without taking resources away from their everyday operations.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Your Gift Makes "Unadoptable" Unacceptable

Dec 12, 2017 1:00 PM ET

To meet CJ today, you’d never know there was a time when he didn’t speak, that he feared his food would be taken away or that he would use negative behaviors to protect himself. Today, when you meet CJ he will tell you he likes to eat dinner with his family and that he loves his dog.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Ecocentricity Blog: Into the Garbage Shoot, Fly Boy

Dec 12, 2017 12:15 PM ET

Earlier this year, China decided to ban foreign imports of different types of solid wastes, effective January 1, 2018. As a result, Chinese recycling companies won’t be buying American recyclables, which will crater the global demand for those materials.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

UPS Named One of America’s Most JUST Companies by Forbes and JUST Capital

Dec 12, 2017 12:05 PM ET

UPS is honored to be named one of America's Most JUST Companies by Forbes and Just Capital for the second consecutive year. The second annual JUST 100 ranks the largest publicly traded corporations in the United States on the issues Americans care about most, including leadership and ethics, worker well-being, job creation, supporting communities, supply chain impact, customer treatment, environmental impact, and more.

Innovation & Technology

The Possibility Report: Healing Bodies and Environments with Technology

Dec 12, 2017 12:05 PM ET

Responsible Production & Consumption

DC Hearing: Weakening National Vehicle Standards Would Hurt Auto Industry

Dec 12, 2017 10:40 AM ET

Today, a joint hearing by the Subcommittee on Environment and the Subcommittee on Digital Commerce and Consumer Protection will discuss the economic impacts of vehicle fuel economy and emissions standards and how multiple agencies work together to develop and enforce these policies that provide fuel costs savings for businesses and consumers, regulatory certainty and increased sales for suppliers, and a kind of insurance policy for automakers in the event of a fuel price spike.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The World's Most Solvable Problem: Hunger

Dec 12, 2017 10:30 AM ET

KFC Canada's Harvest Program (a program that donates surplus chicken to local charities), recently celebrated the enrollment of their 100th KFC restaurant! Since rolling out the program earlier this year, KFC Canada has donated nearly 14,000 pounds of chicken to local charities across Canada.

Education

CITGO Lemont Recognizes National STEM Day With First Annual Celebration

Dec 12, 2017 10:30 AM ET

CITGO Lemont Refinery celebrated National STEM Day on Nov. 8 with more than 360 students, teachers and parents from Homer Glenn, Lemont, Lockport and Romeoville participating in 29 hands-on STEM activities and live demonstrations. The event is part of the CITGO STEM Talent Pipeline, a program that seeks to increase access to educational opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

Environment

Consumers in China Widely Support Upcoming Ivory Ban, but Awareness Is Low, Largest-ever Ivory Consumer Survey Finds

Dec 12, 2017 10:30 AM ET

As a landmark ban on domestic elephant ivory trade comes into effect in China at the end of this month, TRAFFIC and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) surveys found that the ban has widespread support from a majority of consumers surveyed and that it is likely to substantially reduce ivory purchase. However, many citizens are unaware of the upcoming ban.

Innovation & Technology

VIDEO | eBay Everyday Heroes: Closing the Technology Gap

Dec 12, 2017 10:15 AM ET

According to Pew Research, 44% of Americans making less than $30,000 a year do not own a desktop or laptop computer. To bridge the digital divide, eBay seller ReviveIT refurbishes computers and provides this commercial-grade technology to small businesses and schools at a lower cost than new—making technology more accessible to these organizations. ReviveIT also donates technology to programs that aide low income families.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Listen Now: GRI Podcast December Edition

Dec 12, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Corporate social responsibility efforts in Asia Pacific are on the rise, driven by new regulatory regimes and investor demand for sustainability data. This, and a report from GRI's Regional Hub US and Canada, are two of the topics of the GRI podcast: Beyond reports in December.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Ceres Joins Forces With Investors and Partner Organizations Worldwide to Launch Climate Action 100+

Dec 12, 2017 9:50 AM ET

The sustainability nonprofit organization Ceres joined forces with investors and partner organizations worldwide today to help launch a new five-year global initiative led by investors to engage with the largest corporate greenhouse gas emitters in North America and around the world to act on climate change. The effort is backed by more than 225 global investors, including nearly 70 North American investors, with USD $26.3trillion in assets under management at the time of launch.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

How NAACP LDF Is Working to Secure Equal Justice for All

Dec 12, 2017 9:35 AM ET

We are facing increased attacks against civil rights. The current presidential administration has launched an “Election Integrity Commission” aimed at thwarting non-existent voter fraud that will lead to more voter suppression nationwide.

Education

Amgen Scholars Alumni Wants to Mentor Underrepresented Undergrads Interested in STEM

Dec 12, 2017 9:35 AM ET

"Ultimately, I aspire to become a principal investigator (PI) with my own lab crewed by brilliantly blossoming scientists. As of now, I am fascinated by neuroimmunology and the role of neuroinflammation in neurodegenerative diseases."

Green Infrastructure

More People, More Infrastructure: The Big City Challenge

Dec 12, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Global urban population growth is expected to skyrocket by 2050, at which point 70 percent of the world’s population will be living in cities. With this growth comes added strain to urban infrastructures, especially those in need of repair.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Marina Bay Sands Team Members Share: What Volunteerism Means to Me

Dec 12, 2017 9:25 AM ET

Shortly after joining Marina Bay Sands in June 2014, Seah Beng Tat, Senior Guest Service Agent, signed up for his first Sands for Singapore volunteer opportunity. He recalled the event, where Team Members assisted children with dyslexia, as a memorable and motivational experience. Since then, Beng Tat has been an avid volunteer with Sands for Singapore, participating in numerous events over the past three years and making him one of the top 10 volunteers for the community event. His efforts go beyond Marina Bay Sands – during his own free time, he also helps out with the elderly and handicapped.

Sustainable Development Goals

How This Tunisian Mother Is Building Her Own Business and Creating Jobs

Dec 12, 2017 9:20 AM ET

In 2017, at age 37, Ines Mohdhi launched her own business — a service dedicated to the cleaning and environmental management of Kairouan, Tunisia, which eventually will help to create eight permanent jobs.

Environment

Looking to Hire Millennials? Sustainability Commitment Is Key

Dec 12, 2017 9:15 AM ET

The face of the U.S.’s workforce is undergoing a vast and rapid change as an estimated 10,000 baby boomers retire each day. With nearly 4 million people calling it quits each year, this silver tsunami is creating a personnel gap that is being felt by a broad range of industries.

Filling the void is the generation that in 2015 became the largest in the U.S. workforce, according to the Pew Research Center — millennials, defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as those born between 1982 and 1998.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Special Recognition Award Recipients Honored at R&D 100 Award Gala Event in Orlando

Dec 12, 2017 9:10 AM ET

MilliporeSigma received a Special Recognition Silver Award for Corporate Social Responsibility, along with co-developer Betabox, for its Curiosity Platform: Curiosity Labs and Curiosity Cube Programs. The program is an inquiry-based, hands-on science curriculum enabling students to engage in experiments used in real-world application, such as DNA extraction. It was launched by MilliporeSigma as part of their global science education program—known as the SPARK program— which aims to bring leading-edge science technology and experiments to students around the globe, inspiring them to seek a career in STEM.

Research, Reports & Publications

WBCSD Releases CEO Guide to Climate-related Financial Disclosures

Dec 12, 2017 9:05 AM ET

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) has released the CEO Guide to climate-related financial disclosures. The new guide, written in partnership with the CEOs of 25 WBCSD member-companies, sets out clear actions that CEOs can take to align their organizations with the recommendations of the Taskforce for Climate-related Financial Disclosure (TCFD).

Research, Reports & Publications

ING, Verizon, Mars and Siemens on Transforming Business

Dec 12, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Being able to prove how transformative strategies contribute to the long-term goals of the business is crucial. To meet the UN Global Goals and the 2 Degree target requires a wholesale change in practice, across both the business and industry.

Events, Media & Communications

Schneider Electric VIDEO | Why Should Companies Attend Climate Conferences?

Dec 12, 2017 8:55 AM ET

“Schneider Electric’s participation in COP23 has become a tradition for many years. We are in these meetings to better understand stakes, especially for climate change, and to discuss with other stakeholders to find the right solutions.” -- Gilles Vermot Desroches, Senior Vice President, Sustainability, Schneider Electric

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

NRG Makes the "A-list" for Water Stewardship

Dec 12, 2017 8:55 AM ET

NRG has joined the ranks of the CDP Water A-list, announced October 25, affirming our measurable corporate progress toward water stewardship. Only 14 U.S. companies are part of the list, and no other U.S. company in the “utilities” category (in which NRG is found) scored as high.