ESG News from Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Answers, Hope and Support for Families of Children with Rare Disorders and Devastating Illnesses

Apr 26, 2017 11:25 AM ET

When modern medicine lacks answers, families of sick children often turn to clinical trials as their best hope for a treatment or cure. The National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, is the nation’s premier biomedical research center where thousands of medical specialists work hard every day to better understand medical mysteries and develop effective treatments. The Children’s Inn at NIH, a nonprofit hospitality house, opens its arms to welcome every family whose child is accepted into a clinical trial at the NIH, providing free housing and a wide range of educational, therapeutic and recreational supportive services.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Qualcomm Collaborates with Stakeholders to Bring the Future Forward

Apr 26, 2017 11:20 AM ET

We are working with stakeholders around the globe to bring breakthrough ideas to life in many areas ranging from innovative infrastructure to better health to economic empowerment. Our connections can bring the future forward faster, driving human and economic progress, and our employees, investors, suppliers, customers, governments, communities and nonprofit organizations are key to accelerating the invention and implementation of our mobile technology for social good.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

10 Million Bottles of Life-Saving Water Delivered to Communities in Need by Nestlé Waters North America and Americares

Apr 26, 2017 11:15 AM ET

For nearly 40 years, Americares has delivered medical aid and humanitarian assistance to millions of people affected by poverty or disaster worldwide. Nestlé Waters North America has proudly partnered with the global non-profit for more than a decade to deliver nearly 10 million bottles of water– to communities in crisis.

Diversity & Inclusion

Diverse and Inclusive Workforce Inspires Innovation at Shire

Apr 26, 2017 11:05 AM ET

At Shire, we are committed to people of all races, genders and sexual orientations. We believe our collective differences provide a solid foundation for our sector-leading position. Harnessing our differences provides a wealth of ideas and innovations that allow us to be more responsive to customer needs.

Education

Nashville Barbeque Gets “Jacked Up” at Belmont University and Lipscomb University

Apr 26, 2017 10:50 AM ET

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life services, today announced that students at two Nashville universities recently got the chance to try a new twist on a southern favorite during special pop-up sampling events held on campus.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

CITGO Lemont Refinery Holds Annual Bowl-a-thon to Benefit Muscular Dystrophy Association

Apr 26, 2017 10:30 AM ET

The CITGO Lemont Refinery recently held their annual bowl-a-thon at Bowlero in Romeoville to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), and to raise awareness, support and services for Illinois families living with this disease.

Sustainable Development Goals

Haagen-Dazs Pleased to Have Virtual Reality Experience “The Extraordinary Honey Bee” Selected for HTC Vive’s VR for Impact Program

Apr 26, 2017 10:25 AM ET

From 1,400 submissions, “The Extraordinary Honey Bee” has been selected as one of the first three grant recipients for HTC Vive’s VR for Impact program. VR for Impact is a program that HTC Vive created to invest $10 million on VR projects that ladder up to the UN’s sustainability goals.

Environment

Bloomberg Adds Climate Change Site to Its Financial News Empire

Apr 26, 2017 10:25 AM ET

The data and media giant on Thursday launched ClimateChanged.com, a hub for coverage of how rising global temperatures are changing the planet and moving financial markets.

Environment

Rahwa Ghirmatzion: Green Buffalo Soldier

Apr 26, 2017 10:25 AM ET

Events, Media & Communications

Partnership is Not New; PYXERA Global Addresses SwitchPoint on Successful Partnership

Apr 26, 2017 10:05 AM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Redefining Sustainable Business to Meet the Moment

Apr 26, 2017 10:00 AM ET

To mark its 25th anniversary year, BSR's President and CEO Aron Cramer shares his thoughts on redefining sustainability in an era of immense change.

Health & Healthcare

Fast-Tracking Our Response to Pandemics

Apr 26, 2017 10:00 AM ET

“In the wake of Ebola and Zika, there is consensus that the world needs to be better prepared for pandemics. Our new facility in Rockville is home to our proposed biopreparedness organization (BPO). We want the BPO to make an important contribution to improving global health preparedness.” (Rip, VP and Head, Slaoui Center for Vaccines Research)

Energy

Long-Term Planning Critical to Harnessing Distributed Energy Resources

Apr 26, 2017 10:00 AM ET

As more and more customers begin exercising more control over how and where their energy is produced, utilities have a responsibility to make the appropriate infrastructure investments that will optimize smart grid benefits for all stakeholders.

Events, Media & Communications

DSM, B&Q and YES BANK Award Winning CSR Strategies

Apr 26, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Last year’s 7th Annual Ethical Corporation Responsible Business Awards showcased the crème de la crème of companies across the world who are setting the bar for sustainability.

Environment

The Secret Word for Today Is…UN SDGs

Apr 26, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Some readers of this blog may remember how in Pee Wee Herman’s Playhouse, there was always a secret word. When someone said this word, everyone jumped up and down, screamed, and ran around. The same sort of thing sometimes happens in sustainability metrics. Words such as “stranded assets” and “integrated reporting” take on extra weight and meaning that can be surprising to those of us who track the field.

Events, Media & Communications

UN Global Compact Kicks Off Annual Conference in New Delhi with More than 300 Global Business and Civil Society Leaders

Apr 26, 2017 9:35 AM ET

UN Global Compact convenes two-day forum on business opportunities for sustainable development in India through the SDGs and launches Global Opportunity Explorer, the world’s largest digital platform that provides the global business community.

Education

TCS and Toronto District School Board Host 18 Schools in ‘goIT’ App Development Finale

Apr 26, 2017 9:35 AM ET

Events, Media & Communications

Ingersoll Rand to Discuss Embedding Sustainability in Operations at Building Energy Summit

Apr 26, 2017 9:30 AM ET

W. Scott Tew, executive director, Center for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability at Ingersoll Rand (NYSE: IR), a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments, will speak to building owners and operators on energy efficient technologies and solutions at the Building Energy Summit. The event is scheduled to take place April 27 in Washington.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

National Grid Honored with ENERGY STAR® Award

Apr 26, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Today the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will present National Grid with a 2017 ENERGY STAR Award in Excellence in ENERGY STAR Promotion at an event at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington D.C. at 5:15pm.

Green Infrastructure

Mohawk Group Video | Light Lab: Sustainable Design Through Collaboration

Apr 26, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Environment

Every Drop Counts: Five Water-Saving Strategies from the Carlsberg Group's Chinese Breweries

Apr 26, 2017 9:05 AM ET

In 2016, the amount of water used to brew one hectolitre (hl) of beer was reduced by more than 7% in our Chinese breweries. Around the country, 11 sites reduced their water use by more than 10%. Two stellar performers actually used less than 3 hl/hl: the Carlsberg Brewery Guangdong (Huizhou), and the Urumqi No. 2 Brewery.

Innovation & Technology

‘Life in Space’ Challenge Winners Aim to Improve Health Outcomes on the International Space Station

Apr 26, 2017 9:05 AM ET

When pondering the challenge of how to make astronauts’ lives better on the International Space Station, the winners of the “Life in Space” Challenge went back to basics. The winning team of five students from Carnegie Mellon University looked at how astronauts working on the International Space Station (ISS) spent their days.

Sustainable Development Goals

West Africa Biodiversity and Climate Change Project | Combatting Wildlife Trafficking, Increasing Coastal Resilience, and Reducing Biodiversity Loss

Apr 26, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Many of West Africa’s 340 million residents are facing serious risks due to a rapidly changing climate. A series of interconnected direct and indirect drivers of resource degradation—illegal and unsustainable logging, wildlife poaching and trafficking, poverty, population growth, and weak governance—threaten the sustainability of key transboundary resources; undermine the ability of the region’s human and natural systems to respond and adapt to anthropogenic shocks and stressors; and in turn, compromise sustained and broad-based economic growth.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

JPMorgan Chase Annual Corporate Responsibility Report Highlights Model for Impact

Apr 26, 2017 9:00 AM ET

JPMorgan Chase & Co. today released its annual Corporate Responsibility report, highlighting the firm’s model for impact, which combines business and philanthropic resources to drive inclusive economic growth. The report features JPMorgan Chase’s $100 million investment in Detroit’s economic recovery, the firm’s most comprehensive initiative to date, as a proof of concept for how the firm’s model can effectively make a meaningful impact in communities around the world.

Research, Reports & Publications

Bloomberg Publishes 2016 Impact Report

Apr 26, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Bloomberg published its eighth Impact Report, which highlights the integration of sustainability into our products, communities and operations, as well as the progress we’ve made towards our 2020 targets.