ESG News from Leading Brands

Sustainable Development Goals

Scarcity Is The Mother Of Innovation: Anirban Ghosh, Chief Sustainability Officer, Mahindra Group

Nov 22, 2017 10:05 AM ET

On 15th November, during the India and Sustainability Standards 2017 conference organized by Centre for Responsible Business, there was a high-level panel discussion on ‘towards strategies for the commons – pro-sustainability innovations in business models and strategies’, which was convened by Terry Nelidov, Managing Director, Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise, University of Michigan.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

SC Johnson Argentina Named Best Workplace for 14th Time

Nov 22, 2017 10:00 AM ET

SC Johnson today announced SC Johnson Argentina has been recognized as a 2017 Best Workplace by the Great Place to Work® Institute. The organization ranked fourth on the list of Best Medium-Sized Multinational Companies in the country. The win in Argentina is SC Johnson’s 17th Best Workplace recognition in 2017.

Sustainable Development Goals

An Interview With MetLife’s Josh Wiener on Sustainability

Nov 22, 2017 10:00 AM ET

When people think “insurance company,” they don’t typically jump to greenhouse gas emissions or environmental sustainability. However, even a business built around intangible services such as home and life insurance still has a carbon footprint. MetLife’s Assistant Vice President of Global Sustainability and Facilities Management, Josh Wiener, sat down with Ethisphere editor Tyler Lawrence to talk about sustainability, getting to carbon neutrality, and reaching skeptical employees.

Diversity & Inclusion

CBRE Debuts Women's Network Simulcast Featuring "A Conversation with Amy Cuddy"

Nov 22, 2017 10:00 AM ET

CBRE hosted its first-ever simulcast for members of the CBRE Women’s Network, on November 9. The live-streaming presentation, called "A Conversation with Amy Cuddy," was viewed by more than 3,000 CBRE women and men across the U.S., Canada, Latin America and Australia.

Amy Cuddy, the keynote speaker, is a Harvard Business School professor who studies how nonverbal behavior and snap judgments affect people in business settings. She spoke in person, exclusively to the Women's Network at the main event in New York City, and her presentation was broadcast to more than 80 CBRE viewing locations worldwide.

The simulcast was the cornerstone of a half-day, professional development opportunity for all CBRE women.

Energy

Consumers Energy Provides $100,000 Payment to Jackson Manufacturer for Using Less Energy on Hottest Days

Nov 22, 2017 10:00 AM ET

A Jackson manufacturer is being rewarded with an $100,000 incentive from Consumers Energy for its effort to help lower energy costs for homes and businesses across Michigan.

Education

Scotiabank Video: Why We Invest in Financial Knowledge

Nov 22, 2017 9:45 AM ET

When our customers know how to make better financial decisions, they can become better off. We educate our customers by providing them with an understanding of how they can plan for a better future and by offering fairly designed products and services.

Green Infrastructure

Next to a Georgia Highway, This Plant Is Helping Fight Climate Change

Nov 22, 2017 9:30 AM ET

This section of highway is a testing ground for more sustainable roadways. One solution: Replace the roadside grass with Kernza, a grain that sequesters more carbon and doesn’t require mowing or replanting.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

eBay VIDEO | Circular Economy: An Engine of the Future

Nov 22, 2017 9:10 AM ET

eBay helps give products the opportunity to find renewed life and value.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

This Woman Turned Her Passion for Food into a Thriving Business in Tunisia

Nov 22, 2017 9:05 AM ET

The Mashrou3i program, organized by UNIDO in partnership with USAID, the Italian Cooperation, and the HP Foundation, is designed to foster a spirit of entrepreneurship and offer tools that support fledgling business owners. Its mission is to create some 6,000 jobs and reach more than 25,000 aspiring and existing entrepreneurs in Tunisia over the next five years. In addition to mentoring and technical skills training, participants have access to HP LIFE, a free, online program of the HP Foundation, which features 27 interactive modules covering business and IT skills training in seven languages.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Becoming an Employer of Choice

Nov 22, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Whether it’s providing training, the right tools and resources for the job, growth and development opportunities or celebrating achievements, at Republic Services, we believe in making our people feel welcomed and valued. We believe this brings out the very best in our people and it attracts the best possible outside talent. It is why we have become an employer of choice.

Research, Reports & Publications

Economics Remain Driving Force for Downstream Sector Trends

Nov 22, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Lower gas prices are driving investment across the sector as the industry hedges its bets on market recovery. Continuing flat demand has caused a stalemate across the industry, and most natural gas utilities remain in waiting mode. Nevertheless, the industry is looking ahead. It is expecting demand to shift and prices to eventually rise, and utilities are working to keep their assets running and maintain the systems currently in place.

Events, Media & Communications

BSR’s Early Leaders Discuss Its Origin and History

Nov 22, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Early founders of BSR Bobb Dunn (Former President and CEO of Synergos Institute) and Mats Lederhausen (Founder of BE-CAUSE) discuss the origin and history of the organization at the BSR Conference 2017.

Education

Employer Engagement and Work Experience Are Critical to Achieving Top Grades at Secondary School, Say Teachers

Nov 22, 2017 8:25 AM ET

Secondary school teachers overwhelmingly believe that employer engagement, careers advice and work experience have a direct impact on improving exam results, research published today has found.

Environment

Tetra Tech Helps with Landmark Study on Food Waste in the United States

Nov 22, 2017 8:00 AM ET

Tetra Tech collected and analyzed data for a recent Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) report analyzing food waste trends in urban areas of the United States to identify ways to reduce the amount of food that ends up in landfills.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Chance the Rapper Surprises CPS Students as Jewel Announces $1M Donation

Nov 22, 2017 7:55 AM ET

Chance, fresh off his stint hosting “Saturday Night Live” over the weekend, was at Michele Clark Magnet High School with President of Jewel-Osco Doug Cygan, who presented Chance’s Social Works organization with a $1 million check to benefit CPS.

Events, Media & Communications

Raising the Bar for Corporate Sustainability Leadership: Join Tom Murray, EDF+Business, and Stewart Leeth, Smithfield Foods

Nov 22, 2017 7:05 AM ET

Join Tom Murray, Vice President, EDF+Business, and Stewart Leeth, VP of Regulatory Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer, Smithfield Foods, for a timely discussion on corporate sustainability leadership and why businesses should stay the course on sustainability regardless of federal and state policy developments. Learn how setting aggressive goals, such as Smithfield's plan to reduce emissions in its U.S. supply chain at least 25 percent by 2025, is driving business efficiencies and scaling environmental gains.

Media & Communications

Shorty Social Good Awards Recognize 21CF and National Geographic for Social Media Campaigns That Make a Difference

Nov 21, 2017 7:15 PM ET

21st Century Fox and National Geographic took home top honors at the second annual Shorty Social Good Awards on November 15 for developing social media campaigns that engage audiences on important social issues and empower them to take action. The winning campaigns included 21CF’s contest to award free screenings of Hidden Figures to communities across America, as well as initiatives from Nat Geo to encourage women in STEM, expand access to clean water, and inspire the genius in each of us. The Shorty Social Good Awards launched in 2016 to celebrate the power of digital storytelling tools to raise awareness and make change.

Health & Healthcare

Partnerships and the Private Sector: New Innovations in Global Health

Nov 21, 2017 6:25 PM ET

Environment

Kansas City Chiefs “Go Nuts” Over a Compostable Peanut Bag

Nov 21, 2017 4:05 PM ET

Football season is in full swing and the Kansas City Chiefs are going the extra yard by scoring a major victory for the environment. Thanks to a collaboration between BASF, Aramark and Hampton Farms, Arrowhead Stadium will become the first-ever professional sports venue to sell a pre-packed compostable peanut bag.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

With Growing Community Garden Initiative, Teen Tackles Hunger and Obesity in Missouri

Nov 21, 2017 4:00 PM ET

Sophie Bernstein always wanted to grow her own garden. At 12 years old, she was looking for a meaningful project to complete for her bat mitzvah – something that would serve a larger purpose and help the community. Sophie realized she had the perfect opportunity to start her garden, while also benefitting others by donating the crops that her garden produced to the local food bank. She had no idea where that project would take her.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Scotiabank’s Donates $500,000 for the New Supportive Care Program at The Ottawa Hospital

Nov 21, 2017 3:35 PM ET

In celebration of World Prematurity Day on November 17, Scotiabank announced a donation of $500,000 in support of The Ottawa Hospital’s new “Scotiabank Supportive Care Program” for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Carole Chapdelaine, Frank Bilodeau were on-hand to mark the occasion.

Sustainable Development Goals

Why We Won’t Make It to 2030 Without Buy-In From Business

Nov 21, 2017 3:30 PM ET

If you were to audit a business class at a university 20 years ago, you would likely hear the recurring theme that the purpose of business is profit; to maximize shareholder value. Since that time, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have entered the picture. The SDGs are a United Nations ordained framework created to help guide government, the private sector and civil society agendas over the next 15 years.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Celebrate the National Dog Show Presented by Purina® and Help Raise Funds for Hurricane Relief by Sharing What Makes Your Pet the Best

Nov 21, 2017 2:30 PM ET

Millions of people and pets were affected by hurricanes which struck Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico earlier this year. To help raise funds to support hurricane victims and their pets, and to help celebrate the National Dog Show Presented by Purina® and the Thanksgiving holiday, Purina invites pet lovers across the United States to share what makes their pet the best through its annual #DogThanking initiative.

Environment

Highlights of BIER 2017 Fall Meeting

Nov 21, 2017 2:00 PM ET

Global beverage industry leaders convened October 17-19, 2017 in Guadalajara, Mexico for the Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER) semi-annual meeting. Hosted by Brown-Forman, this three-day meeting’s agenda tackled pressing environmental sustainability issues such as performance in watershed context, energy and climate change, regenerative agriculture, and transparency and disclosure.

Energy

ON DEMAND WEBINAR: How to Accelerate and Scale Your Renewable Energy Plan

Nov 21, 2017 2:00 PM ET

General Motors’ global manager of renewable energy, Rob Threlkeld, and Lily Donge, principal of the Rocky Mountain Institute’s Business Renewable Center, led a GreenBiz webinar on the economic opportunity in addressing climate change. Together they shared best practices to help organizations of all sizes achieve quick wins toward their renewable energy goals and scale efforts across their enterprise.