ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

A Smart Cities Summer: A Conversation with EDF Climate Corps Fellow Maham Masood Sadiq

Sep 26, 2017 12:45 PM ET

As our cities integrate technology into their infrastructure and become more intelligent, a clear pattern is starting to emerge. The benefits of connectivity are helping to improve people’s lives and protect the environment. From conserving water to solutions that alert us to rush-hour traffic delays, Smart Cities technology represents a vision of a healthier, safer future that is more attainable than ever.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Bloomberg Signs Amicus Brief Opposing Trump's Travel Ban

Sep 26, 2017 12:20 PM ET

While often rivals in business, Google, Facebook, and Amazon are among 161 tech companies collectively asking the Supreme Court to strike down the Trump administration’s second travel ban. The companies range from sharing economy businesses Uber, Lyft, and Airbnb, to the entertainment giant Netflix, to the internet provider Verizon, to music streamers Pandora and Spotify.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Booz Allen Hamilton Named to 2017 Working Mother “100 Best Companies”

Sep 26, 2017 12:15 PM ET

For the 19th consecutive year, Booz Allen Hamilton was named to Working Mother’s list of 100 Best Companies for its “strong leadership in creating progressive programs for its workforce in the areas of advancement of women, flexibility, childcare and paid parental leave.” The 100 Best Companies are featured in the October/November issue of Working Mother and on workingmother.com.

Education

Aramark Associates Revitalize Playground for Wynnewood Family Hope Center

Sep 26, 2017 12:05 PM ET

More than 10,000 Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) team members, including more than 100 from the Dallas area, volunteered to support community centers and nonprofit organizations in the communities where they live and work, on Aramark Building Community Day (ABC Day).

Volunteers in 15 countries, including the U.S., Canada, Chile, China and the United Kingdom, gave their time, energy and expertise to over 500 service projects, which will bring health and wellness education and workforce readiness programs to families in underserved communities.

Health & Healthcare

Pfizer Expands Health Care Infrastructure in Underserved Communities

Sep 26, 2017 12:00 PM ET

An individual’s ability to access quality health care is often limited where infrastructure is weak or non-existent. By supporting collaborative and entrepreneurial approaches that aim to build and improve health infrastructure, we are giving organizations and individuals the skills and resources they need to drive better global health outcomes.

Environment

Change or Be Changed: The Future of Food & Beverage Is Now

Sep 26, 2017 11:45 AM ET

The food and beverage industry is facing major change and brands have to adapt or risk losing out. Listen to four experts in the fields of agricultural sustainability, finance, technology and business speak on topics around this issue.

Education

Tata Consultancy Services and Discovery Education Launch “Ignite My Future in School” to Prepare K-12 Students with Digital Skills for 21st Century Careers

Sep 26, 2017 11:30 AM ET

Tata Consultancy Services, (TCS), (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS) a leading global IT services, consulting and business solutions organization, and Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital education content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, today announced the

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Diageo North America Named in 2017 Working Mother Magazine’s “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers”

Sep 26, 2017 11:15 AM ET

Working Mother magazine today recognized Diageo North America as one of the 2017 Working Mother 100 Best Companies for its strong leadership in creating progressive programs for its workforce in the areas of advancement of women, flexibility, childcare and paid parental leave. This is the ninth consecutive year Diageo has received this honor. The 100 Best Companies are featured in the October/November issue of Working Mother and on workingmother.com.

Diversity & Inclusion

Innovators @ Qualcomm: Vicki Mealer-Burke on How Qualcomm is Breaking Down Barriers

Sep 26, 2017 11:05 AM ET

In a new series we’re calling Innovators @ Qualcomm, or IQ, we’ll get to know some of these talented people. Our first profile is of Vicki Mealer-Burke whose job it is to make sure each and every one of Qualcomm’s employees has a voice. A 20-year veteran of the company, Mealer-Burke has held a variety of positions in several different divisions, from product management to business development to operational leadership and general manager of an emerging business unit. She’s relying on that business acumen — and her empathetic nature — to navigate what is perhaps her most important role to date: chief diversity officer.

Research, Reports & Publications

Bacardi Corporate Responsibility Efforts Highlighted in 2017 Report

Sep 26, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Bacardi focuses its award-winning CR efforts in five priority areas: 1) Marketplace (Alcohol Responsibility & Responsible Marketing); 2) Environment; 3) Responsible Sourcing; 4) People; and 5) Philanthropy & Community Investment. The 2017 CR Report details examples within these categories that employees carried out across the globe and highlights the company’s progress against the Beer, Wine, and Spirits Producers’ Commitments to Reduce Harmful Drinking, the Good Spirited environmental sustainability initiative goals, and the Bacardi commitment to support communities where we live and work.

Events, Media & Communications

Centering on Business and Government Collaboration, Michael R. Bloomberg Convenes Heads of State and International CEOs at Inaugural Forum Providing a New Platform to Connect Public and Private Sectors From Across the World in New York City

Sep 26, 2017 10:55 AM ET

Today, world and business leaders from every region, including more than 50 heads of state and 250 international CEOs, joined Michael R. Bloomberg for the inaugural Global Business Forum, to discuss innovative and collaborative ways to solve challenges and explore new opportunities to global economic growth.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Common Impact and John Hancock Launch Inaugural Skills-Based Flash Consulting Event

Sep 26, 2017 10:45 AM ET

Common Impact, a nonprofit that pioneered corporate skills-based volunteering, teamed up with longtime partner John Hancock to design its inaugural skills-based flash consulting event in Boston. Structured as a team-based, flash consulting event, John Hancock matched teams of volunteers with five local nonprofit organizations dedicated to developing youth in low-income communities to support projects focused on technology and data, two critical areas of need for nonprofits.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Announces 2017 Russell E. Train Fellowship Winners

Sep 26, 2017 10:40 AM ET

Today, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) announced the recipients of the 2017 Russell E. Train Fellowship. Funded by WWF’s Russell E. Train Education for Nature Program (EFN), Train Fellows pursue their graduate degrees in conservation-related fields anywhere in the world and then return to their home countries to conduct their research.

Diversity & Inclusion

SC Johnson Only Wisconsin-Based Company Named to Working Mother Magazine’s 100 Best Companies List

Sep 26, 2017 10:30 AM ET

For the 29th year, SC Johnson has been named to Working Mother magazine’s list of 100 Best Companies. Today, the only Wisconsin-based company on the 2017 list announced that it is again being recognized for its programs and benefits that support working parents including paid family leave, schedule flexibility and advancement of women.

Health & Healthcare

Novartis Foundation Announces IntraHealth and PATH As Latest Better Hearts Better Cities Partners in Dakar, Senegal

Sep 26, 2017 10:20 AM ET

The Novartis Foundation is pleased to announce IntraHealth International and PATH as local implementation partners for the Better Hearts Better Cities initiative in Dakar, Senegal.

Health & Healthcare

Domtar Sustainability: Personal Caring at Domtar Personal Care

Sep 26, 2017 10:15 AM ET

Gwendolyn McNuckles volunteered to serve as a “Wellness Champion” out of concern for her health and that of her colleagues at Domtar’s personal care manufacturing facility in Waco, Texas.

"My co-workers were suffering bouts of diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma and other ailments,’’ said Gwendolyn. ‘‘Many were severely overweight, including myself. Something had to be done.’’

Research, Reports & Publications

Making the Case for Health: Insights from the First WELL Projects

Sep 26, 2017 10:05 AM ET

With a handful of WELL-certified projects now in operation and hundreds in the certification pipeline, real estate owners and developers are starting to take a hard look at the business case for healthy building certification. From these first few projects, it is clear that this business case is still developing, but it will look a lot different than the one that has driven the green building certification movement to date.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Video: GRI – Driving Global Change Since 1997

Sep 26, 2017 10:00 AM ET

GRI is celebrating its first 20 years of helping companies and other organizations take action to create a more sustainable and inclusive global economy. Watch this video to learn more about the impact GRI has had over the past two decades.

Events, Media & Communications

Opioid Crisis Becomes Corporate Responsibility Issue

Sep 26, 2017 10:00 AM ET

The heroin overdose death of an employee’s son and pleas for help from Maryland’s governor prompted the CEO of a multibillion-dollar defense contractor to join the fight against opioid abuse. Now the corporate leader wants help from other big businesses.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Whirlpool Learns to 'Pack Away Hunger'

Sep 26, 2017 9:55 AM ET

Whirlpool Corporation employees used a unique assembly line model to help non-profit organization Pack Away Hunger efficiently assemble thousands of servings of food for families in need.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

2017 Nickterns Spruce Up California Boys & Girls Club

Sep 26, 2017 9:45 AM ET

The summer 2017 Nicktern class united to create a mural at the Boys & Girls Club of Burbank and Greater East Valley. The mural, which is one of their largest to date, covers more than 300 square feet and employs a number of Boys & Girls Club themes.

Sustainable Development Goals

Watch This Woman Turn Design Ideas Into Beautiful Wooden Sculptures and a Successful Business

Sep 26, 2017 9:40 AM ET

In 2015, Zina Ouled Si Ali launched her small business, Arjouan, a computer numerical control (CNC) engraving and cutting workshop that offers customized decoration articles and tailor-made furniture to its customers.

Research, Reports & Publications

The Reporting Exchange Launches Today: The Global Resource for Corporate Sustainability Reporting

Sep 26, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Today, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) launched the Reporting Exchange - the single most up to date and comprehensive source of information on sustainability reporting requirements and resources currently available.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

A Day of Giving with United Way of New York City

Sep 26, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Nominates Albertsons Companies as Finalist for 2017 Corporate Citizenship Awards

Sep 26, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Albertsons Companies has a long history of helping cities recover from disasters, such as the recent hurricanes that hit Texas and Florida. In recognition of this commitment, Albertsons Companies was nominated as a finalist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Corporate Citizenship Awards for its disaster relief and outreach efforts during Louisiana's devastating floods last year. The Corporate Citizenship winners will be announced in November 2017.