ESG News from Leading Brands

Diversity & Inclusion

MGM CEO Blasts ‘Hate Mongers,‘ Will Match Civil Rights Donations

Aug 21, 2017 10:00 AM ET

MGM Resorts International denounced “hate mongers and white supremacists” in a letter to employees Friday, offering to match their donations to civil rights groups including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Student-Powered Hunger Relief

Aug 21, 2017 9:45 AM ET

Food waste is prevalent across the globe, but have you ever thought about how much waste might be happening on college campuses?

Americans waste 40 percent of the food that’s produced. And the average college student generates 142 pounds of food waste every year.

These statistics are staggering when nearly 15 percent in the U.S., or 47 million people, live below the poverty line.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Weatherford 2016 Digital Annual Report Wins Silver at International Business Awards

Aug 21, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Weatherford International plc (NYSE: WFT) today announced it has been named the Silver Winner of the Best Annual Report – Online/Electronic category at the 14th Annual International Business Awards (IBA). This is the third consecutive year Weatherford has received recognition in this category.

Sustainable Development Goals

Unreasonable Impact | Modern Energy Could Mean the Difference Between Peace and Unrest

Aug 21, 2017 9:25 AM ET

When we think about the things we take for granted, one of the most common is access to basic energy. Turning on a lamp so you can teach your children how to read, watching the evening news, or working into the night on your computer are all basic acts that most of us don’t even consider to be a privilege. Over 500 million people have a mobile phone without a place to charge it at home – a basic convenience needed to conduct commerce.

Diversity & Inclusion

Las Vegas Sands 2016 CSR Overview | Our People

Aug 21, 2017 9:25 AM ET

Las Vegas Sands is focused on promoting a positive working environment for our Team Members by delivering outstanding benefits and quality health and safety practices, creating a culture of excellence and providing an array of advancement opportunities through professional development and education. We maintain a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion by recruiting, training and developing individuals of all experiences, ages, cultural and racial backgrounds, and religious beliefs.

Research, Reports & Publications

Cargill Unveils Progress Towards Sustainability Targets in Latest Annual Report

Aug 21, 2017 9:20 AM ET

Building on strong earnings in the latest fiscal year, which saw the company turn over $109bn, Cargill is working to continue growing its business and corporate responsibility impact.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

How Data Has Transformed Social Good: A Conversation with Steve MacLaughlin, VP of Data and Analytics at Blackbaud

Aug 21, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Steve MacLaughlin, VP of Data & Analytics at Blackbaud, discusses how data has tranformed social good by removing guesswork.

Environment

Experts Learn How to Protect Trees AND Utility Lines

Aug 21, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Unfortunately, trees and other vegetation — if not planted in the right place — are not always compatible with our energy needs. The network that crisscrosses North America includes about 5 million miles of high-voltage distribution lines (the ones that run down our neighborhood streets), 450,000 miles of very high-voltage transmission lines largely running across the natural landscape, and 300,000 miles of underground liquid and gas pipelines. Trees growing near this enormous system can pose several problems. Kids climb trees and can be exposed to dangerous electrical lines. Tree care workers and homeowners might not know the danger that these lines pose to them as they do their daily work.

Environment

Xylem Watermark and Disaster Relief Impact

Aug 21, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Since 2008, Xylem Watermark has been committed to Disaster Relief and Risk Reduction and has worked with global nonprofit partner, Mercy Corps, to complete 28 water projects in 19 countries to deliver clean water and rebuild water infrastructure in the aftermath of water-related emergencies, as well as to secure water in vulnerable regions around the world through community engagement, disaster preparedness training, and water infrastructure monitoring and analysis.

Innovation & Technology

Minivan Monday: Natural Product Helps Quiet the All-New Chrysler Pacifica

Aug 21, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Designers of the all-new minivan used a soy-based foam to keep noise from entering the passenger cabin of the Pacifica.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

FOX’s “Pitch” Caps a Year of Social Impact With $25,000 Equipment Donation to Local Youth Sports Program

Aug 21, 2017 8:15 AM ET

20th Century Fox Television has donated $25,000 worth of sports equipment to Sylmar Independent Baseball League, Inc. (SIBL), a nonprofit youth baseball and softball league serving communities in Los Angeles. The donation consists of gear used during the production of FOX’s drama series Pitch, which chronicled the fictional story of the first female player in the major leagues. 21st Century Fox worked with the series for nearly a year to create campaigns and forge partnerships that promote the achievements of female athletes and expand access to sports for women and girls across the country.

Research, Reports & Publications

Freeport-McMoRan Releases 2016 Working Toward Sustainable Development Report “Driven by Value”

Aug 21, 2017 5:00 AM ET

Freeport-McMoRan is a leading international mining company with headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona. The company’s mineral resources are the building blocks of infrastructure and critical elements of progress for the modern world. Freeport-McMoRan believes responsible management and strong partnerships create value and contribute to sustainable development.

Health & Healthcare

Novartis Story About the Rising Concern of Malaria That Resists Treatment

Aug 18, 2017 7:40 PM ET

In Kenya, about three-quarters of the population is at risk for malaria, and all four species of the malaria parasite that infect humans occur in the country. Although there has been substantial progress, malaria remains the leading cause of mortality in Kenya, killing an estimated 30,000 people every year, most of them children under 5 years old.

Diversity & Inclusion

North Face Pushes for Inclusivity in the Outdoors

Aug 18, 2017 7:10 PM ET

Over the past few years, industry-leader REI has sparked movements focused on getting people outside during Black Friday and advancing gender equality in the outdoors through campaigns like #OptOutside and Force of Nature. Now, another outdoor company is gearing up to add a new dimension to level nature’s playing field.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Discovery Communications Employees Shine on Impact Day and Beyond

Aug 18, 2017 5:15 PM ET

Discovery Communications held their annual Impact Day on June 16, 2017. Over 4,000 Discovery employees across 60 offices in 37 different countries completed nearly 200 service projects. In this post, Laurel Schepp, Manager, Corporate Relations at Discovery, discusses the planning that goes into Impact Day, how they align the day with business goals, and what makes their overall volunteer program shine.

Innovation & Technology

The Next Generation Rucksack: Booz Allen Interns Develop Autonomous Vehicle to Ease Soldiers’ Load

Aug 18, 2017 4:30 PM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Sodexo Pledges $650,000 to Scholarship Assistance for Employees and Their Dependents

Aug 18, 2017 3:45 PM ET

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life Services and the University’s partner in facilities management, has made a gift commitment to WKU to establish the Sodexo Scholarship Fund to support their employees, as well as their dependents, in the pursuit of higher education at any campus of WKU.

Events, Media & Communications

Living Future unConference Call for Proposals Closes Monday, August 21st

Aug 18, 2017 3:30 PM ET

Responsible Production & Consumption

Promoting Alcohol Responsibility

Aug 18, 2017 2:30 PM ET

At Brown-Forman, alcohol responsibility starts with our marketing and continues through our sales process. We want our brands to be a positive influence, encouraging customers and consumers to have a positive experience with them.

Health & Healthcare

Malaria Fighter Rides Bicycle into Battle with Disease, Story from Novartis

Aug 18, 2017 1:50 PM ET

Healthcare worker Dismus Mwalukwanda is on the front line of the battle against malaria. Saving lives is his priority

Dismus Mwalukwanda works on the front line of the battle against malaria, one of the world’s deadliest diseases. He’s a community healthcare worker responsible for testing and treating patients in a remote part of rural Zambia, as well as teaching people how to combat the illness.

Environment

How to Stay the Course Toward A Low Carbon Future: Three Effective Corporate Strategies

Aug 18, 2017 12:15 PM ET

Despite contemporary obstacles on the road to climate action, companies, non-profits and cities recognize addressing climate change is important and are continuing their work to achieve climate success. Holly Emerson, Ingersoll Rand senior sustainability analyst, shares 3 strategies to help businesses achieve a low-carbon future. She recommends establishing a long-term climate commitment, empowering customers to reduce their carbon footprints and encouraging authentic employee engagement.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Arrow Electronics’ Innovation Paces Para-Athlete Ride at Colorado Classic

Aug 18, 2017 12:15 PM ET

Events, Media & Communications

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Best Practices

Aug 18, 2017 12:00 PM ET

PNC has invested $350 million in Grow Up Great, a multi-year, bilingual initiative that provides leadership, advocacy, funding, tools and volunteers to help parents, caregivers and communities prepare young children for success in school and life.

Environment

Texas Trees Foundation Announces New Dallas Urban Heat Island Effect Report and Findings, Sponsored by Alliance Data and Wells Fargo

Aug 18, 2017 11:45 AM ET

Texas Trees Foundation (“Texas Trees”) announced findings from the 2017 Dallas Urban Heat Island Effect report, a year-long study of the impacts and implications of air temperatures at the neighborhood level. Most notable among them: Dallas is heating up faster than every city in the country except for Phoenix.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Twenty Years Of The Global Reporting Initiative: Interview With CEO Tim Mohin

Aug 18, 2017 11:00 AM ET

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), an independent body that has pioneered sustainability reporting from a niche practice to one now adopted by organizations around the world. Read what GRI's Chief Executive Tim Mohin has to say about the growth of sustainability reporting, the importance of transparency, competition between reporting methods and his hopes for his own legacy.