ESG News from Leading Brands

Social Impact & Volunteering

Becoming an Employer of "Choice"

Aug 23, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Thanks to today’s diverse and socially conscious workforce—and driven by the rise of Millennials—people are increasingly demanding more meaning and purpose in their workplace. This has led to a shift towards employee-centered and team-based volunteering programs, as companies capitalize on the powerful relationship between increased purpose at work, higher employee engagement and greater skills and leadership development.

Skills-based volunteering programs are picking up steam. In fact, according to the 2016 CECP Giving in Numbers report, they’re currently the fastest growing type of corporate volunteer program. Fifty-four percent of companies now encourage their people to offer their specialized skills and talents to charities on a pro bono basis.

Diversity & Inclusion

LifeSkills Extends Business in the Community Partnership

Aug 23, 2017 8:55 AM ET

LifeSkills created with Barclays has signed new partnerships with Business in the Community (BITC) in Scotland and Northern Ireland, helping the employability programme to reach those young people who need it most. We talk to one school in South Wales – where a partnership with BITC Cymru has been running since 2015 – about the difference the initiative has made.

Diversity & Inclusion

Helping Employees Feel Connected in Large Organizations

Aug 22, 2017 6:40 PM ET

Diversity & Inclusion

Celebrating World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development

Aug 22, 2017 6:10 PM ET

In May, members of Newmont’s Diversitas Business Resource Group (BRG) hosted an engaging networking event to celebrate the United Nations World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development.

Innovation & Technology

Sappi North America's Release Business Continues Innovation with First-of-its-Kind Microtexture

Aug 22, 2017 5:30 PM ET

Through a partnership with Sharklet Technologies Inc. we are taking Ultracast to an entirely new application space—instead of aesthetic textures, the patterns used are functional.

Events, Media & Communications

Get CSR-Certified in Just Five Days

Aug 22, 2017 5:30 PM ET

The Management Intensive is a five-day certificate program that will provide you with the strategic tools and skills to advance corporate responsibility performance across your company.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Balancing Employee Passions with a Central CSR Strategy

Aug 22, 2017 4:45 PM ET

Employees who are passionate and driven are a huge asset to any organization, but when so many employees are passionate about so many causes close to their hearts, how can CSR professionals manage this against their core objectives and corporate values?

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

NYU Law Launches New Center to Help State AGs Fight Environmental Rollbacks

Aug 22, 2017 2:50 PM ET

NYU School of Law will launch a new center, financed by Bloomberg Philanthropies, aimed at helping state attorneys general fight any federal moves to roll back renewable energy, environmental protections and climate policies.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

The Digital Workspace: A Platform for Engagement

Aug 22, 2017 1:40 PM ET

The metrics are clear: employee engagement is the key to success in the workplace of the future. And a digital workspace focused on the needs of employees is the platform that will drive that employee engagement.

Environment

Green Turns to Gold at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon

Aug 22, 2017 1:25 PM ET

Eugene, OR — The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon (STWM), held October 16, 2016 and hosted by Canada Running Series, has achieved Gold Level Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport (Council) by improving performance from its first certification effort (silver) in 2015.

Energy

Fuel-Efficient Chevrolet Malibu Built at an Energy-Efficient Plant

Aug 22, 2017 12:25 PM ET

General Motors’ Fairfax Assembly & Stamping plant, home of the Chevrolet Malibu, earned ENERGY STAR® certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, signifying it meets strict energy performance levels. GM Fairfax is the only manufacturing plant in Kansas to earn such certification in the last nine years. Below are some energy-efficient practices the facility employs.

Education

Rural Illinois Schools Offer New STEM Education Programs with Grant Funding from Project Lead The Way and Astellas USA Foundation

Aug 22, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Project Lead The Way (PLTW), a national nonprofit organization that provides transformative educational experiences for K-12 students and teachers, announced today that 26 rural Illinois middle and high schools will begin new computer science, engineering and biomedical science-focused programs this school year, thanks to $1 million in multi-year grant funding made possible by Astellas USA Foundation.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Growing Interest in Sustainability Reporting and SDGs in India

Aug 22, 2017 12:00 PM ET

India has witnessed a year-on-year growth in total CSR spending. More consistent and comparable reporting will help stimulate accountability and measure the actual impact of CSR spending on the Indian economy, environment and society. In addition to building reporting capacity and quality, GRI South Asia is also gathering business momentum to align corporate reporting in the region with the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Research, Reports & Publications

Erb featured Business Sustainability Case Study: Climate Change and the Napa Valley Wine Industry

Aug 22, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Jon-Mark Chappellet, Director of Operations at Clos Du Val Winery in Napa Valley, is developing a 50-year plan. The effects of climate change are forcing Chappellet and other Napa Valley vineyards to adopt various adaptation strategies to protect the quality of their grapes and wines. Climate change impacts can include decreased water availability, temperature variations outside optimal growing conditions, and increased threat of pests.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Going the Distance: Foster Care Adoption Finalized after 10 Years

Aug 22, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Sometimes the adoption process seems like a never-ending journey, but here at the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption we believe it is always worth it.

Media & Communications

5 Ways to Go Back to School with Fair Trade

Aug 22, 2017 11:00 AM ET

The school year is upon us, and with the help of Fair Trade you can use your daily school routine as opportunities to change the lives of families around the world!

Education

What's Possible When Science Isn't Boring?

Aug 22, 2017 10:50 AM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Call for Entries: Keep America Beautiful 2017 National Awards Program Applications Open for Individuals and Organizations Committed to Cleaner, Greener and More Beautiful Places to Live

Aug 22, 2017 10:30 AM ET

Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, announced today that the application period for its annual National Awards program is officially open.

Energy

Ecocentricity Blog: Solar Physics

Aug 22, 2017 10:30 AM ET

In a sense, the Sun is just being generous. It already has enough energy to fuse atoms together over and over and over again, which just creates more energy that it is willing to share with us. Thank you, Sun!

Environment

Bacardi Embraces Sustainability Practices at Bottling Facility

Aug 22, 2017 10:15 AM ET

The Bacardi Bottling Corporation in Jacksonville, Fla., shows how business and conservation can work together for the benefit of humans, animals, and the environment. Its Good Spirited programs for sustainability have led to a 35-ton reduction of landfill discards and cutting down carbon emissions by 90%.

Environment

Domtar Sustainability: Waste Want, Not Want

Aug 22, 2017 10:15 AM ET

Putting construction and demolition waste—concrete, brick, tile and stone— to beneficial use is a winning strategy for our mill in Nekoosa, Wisconsin. During construction or demolition work at the mill, these materials are kept aside instead of going to a landfill. When sufficient material is accumulated over a number of years, the recycling work begins.

Sustainable Development Goals

Major Companies and Investors Urge California Legislators to Support State 100 Percent Renewable Energy Goal

Aug 22, 2017 10:00 AM ET

As California’s legislature considers boosting the state’s renewable energy goal to 100 percent of electricity generation by 2045, more than two dozen institutional investors and influential companies expressed their support of such a goal in two letters sent this week to the State Assembly.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

KeyBank Provides $12.7 Million to Preserve Affordable Housing in Albany, NY

Aug 22, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Women’s Leadership Conference Digs into Politics, Business and the Human Condition

Aug 22, 2017 10:00 AM ET

pening the 2017 Women’s Leadership Conference, the young voices of the Musicology Academy blew the roof off the MGM Grand. They sang of struggle and triumph, prevailing themes of the testimony given by speakers and attendees of the two-day event. For the 11th year, it featured diverse thought leaders sharing professional and sometimes deeply personal revelations.

Research, Reports & Publications

Aflac 2016 CSR Report Unveiling

Aug 22, 2017 10:00 AM ET

At Aflac, we try to live by this very simple rule: Everyone has the power to do good. We have unveiled Aflac’s 2016 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report, where we share with you how Aflac strives to be a good neighbor with good people leading the way.