ESG News from Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Hormel Foods Announces Donations Totaling $300,000 to Fight Hunger Across the Country on Hunger Action Day

Sep 14, 2017 9:00 AM ET

In recognition of Hunger Action Day, Hormel Foods Corporation today announced donations totaling $300,000 to 41 hunger relief organizations throughout the United States through its Plant Community Donations Program. The donations are being presented to the organizations this month to support Hunger Action Month.

Environment

Yosemite Creates More than 2,000 Tons of Trash Each Year. Here’s How You Can Help That Number Shrink

Sep 14, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Between the five million visitors who come through Yosemite National Park each year and the park’s 2,800 staff members, California’s famous national park sends nearly 2,200 tons of garbage each year to the Mariposa County Landfill.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Carol Chan Discusses Innovative Technology to Combat Counterfeit Seed

Sep 14, 2017 9:00 AM ET

As part of our Leading with Science® campaign, we asked our employees to reflect on how they incorporate the latest science and technology into their work at Tetra Tech.

Environment

How Food Waste Reduction Can Save Wildlife

Sep 14, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Biodiversity is a crucial marker of Earth’s environmental health. The more diverse and abundant life is on this planet, the more resilient our landscapes and cities are to disease, drought, storms and other threats.

Energy

Consumers Energy Increasing its Commitment to Restore Power after Hurricane Irma

Sep 14, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Consumers Energy is sending an additional 130 employees and contractors Wednesday to help restore power to Georgia residents in the wake of Hurricane Irma.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Pandora at the Forefront in Responsible Sourcing

Sep 14, 2017 5:00 AM ET

In the context of global industry peers, Pandora is at the forefront in regards to responsible sourcing of jewellery materials, including those that are deemed controversial such as precious stones and metals, placing Pandora in line with Richemont (e.g. Cartier, Piaget), Kering (e.g. Gucci, Stella McCartney), Adidas and Nike.

Events, Media & Communications

VolunteerMatch Joins Brands Taking Stands at COMMIT!Forum

Sep 13, 2017 7:45 PM ET

We hear it time and time again from our friends in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) space: conferences and other gatherings are uniquely important to CSR professionals. One of the longest-running conferences in CSR, COMMIT!Forum, recognizes this challenge.

Environment

Aaron Huertas on the Purveyors of Disinformation

Sep 13, 2017 6:45 PM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Net Impact and Samsung Partner in Support of Feeding America

Sep 13, 2017 6:40 PM ET

Net Impact and Samsung Electronics America, Inc. has announced a donation of $70,000 to Feeding America in Support of National Hunger Action Day. The “Small Change, Big Effect” 30-day fundraising campaign launched on August 3, 2017 with an event at Samsung 837 in New York City.

Diversity & Inclusion

You Grow, Girl!: Haley Ostberg

Sep 13, 2017 5:35 PM ET

We recently spent time with Haley Ostberg from Terra Trigo Inc., a grain farm in Dominion City, Manitoba. Haley and her brother Brett are fifth generation farmers who cultivate 3,600 acres of oats, wheat, canola and soybeans.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Leading the Mining Industry in Sustainability Three Years in a Row

Sep 13, 2017 4:10 PM ET

For an unprecedented three years in a row, Newmont was named by the prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World) as the mining industry’s overall leader in sustainability. Newmont’s inclusion on the index also marked the 11th year running we have been selected for the DJSI World.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Giving Nonprofits What They Want

Sep 13, 2017 3:30 PM ET

You’ve probably read a restaurant review on Yelp. How many comments are about the food? About the host’s reception? About the attentiveness of the waiter? I used to just read the food reviews and not care too much about the others, but it’s the combination of all of these factors that create my restaurant experience. The food can be outstanding, but if the host made me wait 2 hours to get it and the waiter spilled it on me, I’m probably not having a nice dinner out.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

How to Compare International Employee Giving and Volunteering Solutions

Sep 13, 2017 3:15 PM ET

Your company's international giving and volunteering program comes with complexities: multiple languages and currencies, on-the-ground vetting in global locations, foreign regulatory requirements and much more. Get the guide that asks all the right questions (39 of them) to ensure your international Goodness solution delivers maximum social impact where it’s needed most.

Research, Reports & Publications

Aurora Organic Dairy’s 2017 Corporate Citizenship Report Demonstrates Its Passion for Organic, and How Its Commitment to Animals, People and the Planet Drives Its Cow-to-Carton Model

Sep 13, 2017 3:00 PM ET

With its support of more than 75,000 acres of organic farmland operated by 100 independent farmers, and 12,000 organic pasture acres surrounding its dairy farms, the leading producer of organic milk for store brand retailers has the scale to positively impact more animals, people and the environment with its keen focus on animal welfare, employee care and environmental stewardship.

Environment

Download Antea Group’s New Ebook "Change or Be Changed: The Future of Food & Beverage Is Now"

Sep 13, 2017 2:55 PM ET

Antea Group’s new our ebook, “Change or Be Changed: The Future of Food & Beverage is Now” is a compilation of presentations by industry leaders on issues related to environment, health, safety, and sustainability in the food and beverage sector--dissecting and distilling the new ideas changing the food and beverage industry today and tomorrow.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

MetLife Named to the 2017 Dow Jones Sustainability Index

Sep 13, 2017 2:45 PM ET

MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) today announced that it has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), a widely-recognized standard for corporate responsibility that tracks leading sustainability-driven companies.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Apache Junction ‘Water for Living’ Drive Tops 10,000 Bottles Donated

Sep 13, 2017 2:00 PM ET

The fourth annual Water for Living drive has collected more than 10,000 bottles of water to help those in need in our community.
The drive, spearheaded this year by the United Way of Pinal County, is held each summer at several locations throughout the city with donations being distributed to area agencies.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

GM Celebrates Volunteerism With 6th Annual teamGM Cares Week

Sep 13, 2017 1:15 PM ET

More than 5,000 General Motors employees will donate time and talent to more than 225 community service projects across the United States during the company’s sixth annual teamGM Cares Week Sept. 11-15.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Aflac Earns Place on Dow Jones Sustainability Index for 7th Consecutive Year

Sep 13, 2017 1:10 PM ET

Aflac, the leading provider of voluntary insurance sales at the worksite in the U.S., announced today that the company has once again captured a place on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America List for 2017. This is the 7th consecutive year that Aflac has qualified for this prestigious honor.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Republic Services Named to the Prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America Indices

Sep 13, 2017 1:05 PM ET

Republic Services, Inc., an industry leader in U.S. recycling and non-hazardous solid waste, was named to both the 2017 DJSI World and North America indices for the second consecutive year. Republic is the sole recycling and solid waste collection provider included in the 2017 DJSI Indices. The rankings highlight Republic’s continued leadership in corporate governance, environmental, social and financial sustainability.

Education

GM, Black Girls CODE Celebrate Launch of Detroit Chapter

Sep 13, 2017 12:45 PM ET

General Motors and Black Girls CODE (BGC) today announced the launch of a BGC Detroit chapter with a series of hands-on and engaging activities at Detroit International Academy for Women (DIA), a Detroit Public Schools Community District school, and TechTown.

Environment

Businesses Call on Trump to Reverse Decision on Federal Flood Risk Management Rule

Sep 13, 2017 11:45 AM ET

As the devastating climate change-fueled impacts of Hurricane Irma continue to unfold, and the financial costs of Hurricane Harvey continue to escalate, a network of businesses is calling on the Trump administration to reinstate the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard, known as FFRMS.

The standard requires federal agencies to take into account current and future flood risks in investment decisions related to federally-funded buildings and infrastructure, ensuring they are built to withstand growing flooding threats.

Research, Reports & Publications

Many Businesses Still Fail to Report Financial Value From Strong Environmental Performance, According to New Research From Accenture, CDP and Hermes Investment Management

Sep 13, 2017 11:15 AM ET

Four in 10 telecommunications and consumer goods companies reporting to CDP fail to capture or report any financial value from strong environmental performance, according to new research released today by Accenture (NYSE: ACN), CDP and Hermes Investment Management.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Businesses Have a Unique Opportunity to Help Communities Effectively Recover from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma

Sep 13, 2017 11:15 AM ET

What happens when the cameras and first responders leave the Hurricane Harvey and Irma scenes? Donations dry up quickly and the media moves on to the next big story. Unfortunately, that’s when the people and communities affected by these storms get the least community support, but need it most.

Research, Reports & Publications

Gen Z Sees Social Media Activity As More Effective Than Community Involvement According to New Research by Cone Communications

Sep 13, 2017 11:15 AM ET

Eighty-one percent of Gen Z believes they can have an impact on social and environmental issues by using social media, according to the 2017 Cone Gen Z CSR Study: How to Speak Z. The study, surveying Americans ages 13-19, examined this budding generation’s aptitude and attitudes toward company involvement in social and environmental issues – and just how they’re willing to stand up for causes they care about.