ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

On Earth Day - Thoughts from Mars on Climate Change

Apr 21, 2017 1:20 PM ET

Earth Day 2017 comes exactly a year after 175 countries signed the Paris Agreement on climate change. One of the most critical and long term challenges the world has ever faced. On this important day, we wanted to reflect on the journey we are on to help turn this agreement into reality and share some of the lessons we’ve learned along the way.

Environment

Bristol-Myers Squibb Contributes to a Healthy Environment

Apr 21, 2017 1:20 PM ET

Contributing to a healthy environment requires a strong willingness to give back. See how we’re making an impact: #EarthDay

Social Impact & Volunteering

16th Annual Arkansas River Trash Roundup Set for Earth Day, April 22

Apr 21, 2017 1:15 PM ET

Taking place on Earth Day, the 16th annual Arkansas River Trash Roundup will see hundreds of volunteers remove tons of garbage from downtown area waters, benefitting both the river and wetlands restoration efforts at Wichita’s Great Plains Nature Center by Wichita Ducks Unlimited.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

CSX Partner Spotlight: Operation Lifesaver

Apr 21, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Safety has always been CSX’s top priority – and the company’s partnership with Operation Lifesaver is critical to tackling this important issue head-on by promoting public safety around the tracks.

Sustainable Development Goals

Wells Fargo Invested $67 Billion in 2016 to Advance CSR Goals

Apr 21, 2017 12:45 PM ET

Wells Fargo & Company announced today that the company invested nearly $67 billion in lending capital and grants during 2016 toward achieving its 2020 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals that were set last year to help create solutions to address global challenges and strengthen communities. Wells Fargo’s 2016 CSR Interim Report, released today, details the company’s performance and progress in addressing three areas of strategic focus: advancing diversity and social inclusion, creating economic opportunities in underserved communities, and accelerating the transition to a lower-carbon economy and a healthier planet.

Environment

Why does a Financial Services Company Focus on the Environment?

Apr 21, 2017 12:10 PM ET

Business relies on natural resources to operate — from the energy and water needed to run our buildings, to the minerals used in the manufacture of our computers. The sustainability of our business is linked to the planet’s sustainability.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Abbott Again Named One of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by CR Magazine

Apr 21, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Abbott was again recognized by Corporate Responsibility Magazine on its annual list of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens. The company ranked No. 11 this year, and has been on the list for nine consecutive years.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Amgen Volunteer Uses Impact Day to Wrap Gifts

Apr 21, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Jamie, an Amgen Sr. Biopharmaceutical Rep. from Denver, used her volunteer Impact Day to wrap gifts for children and families living at Brent’s Place, a free housing option for children who are immune-compromised.

Research, Reports & Publications

Pentair Releases 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report

Apr 21, 2017 11:30 AM ET

Pentair, a global company dedicated to building a safer, more sustainable world, announces the release of its 2016 Corporate Responsibility (CR) Report.

Green Infrastructure

Case Study Snapshot: TAIPEI 101

Apr 21, 2017 11:05 AM ET

CBRE’s Sustainability Group has made TAIPEI 101’s green profile soar, helping it become the first LEED v4 Platinum super tall building in the world and the only project to achieve 90 points.

Green Infrastructure

Coca-Cola/Keep America Beautiful Recycling Bin Grant Brings 42 New Bins to Downtown Des Moines

Apr 21, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Recycle DSM (Des Moines), a partnership between the City of Des Moines, Iowa, and Operation Downtown, added 42 new recycling bins for the City's Downtown. The new bins, which were provided by a Coca-Cola/Keep America Beautiful Public Space Recycling Bin Grant, are placed in the Historic East Village and the Western Gateway.

Environment

Earth Day and Managing the Clean Energy Transition

Apr 21, 2017 10:45 AM ET

Because it falls on a spring day, it’s easy to mark Earth Day as a time of sunny, optimistic renewal. It’s become traditional to plant trees, clean up parks, recycle, and reduce energy.

Environment

National Grid Employees Pitch in for Earth Day in New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island

Apr 21, 2017 10:15 AM ET

April is Earth Month, and National Grid continues its annual commitment by sponsoring Earth Day events throughout our service territory of New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. This year we have over 600 volunteers participating in 19 community activities throughout the month in all three states.

Environment

Sustainability HP Reinvents Every Day to Make Earth a Better Place

Apr 21, 2017 10:15 AM ET

According to independent analyses conducted by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 2016 was the warmest year on record globally and represented the third record year in a row. The analyses noted that the rise in temperature is being driven primarily by increased carbon dioxide and other human-made greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Inspiring Learning and Discovery

Apr 21, 2017 10:05 AM ET

This is part three in a series highlighting the SAP Social Sabbatical for global engagement in Cape Town, South Africa, which focused on bridging the digital divide in the city’s most underserved communities. Stay tuned for part IV, out next week. Read part one and two here.

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Walking into the Cape Town Science Centre (CTSC) on a busy weekday morning can result in a bit of sensory overload as children of all ages run, skip, and hop around the massive warehouse located in the Observatory neighborhood of Cape Town.

A bottle rocket zooms on a zip line overhead, leaving a group of students giggling at their aeronautic success in its wake. A defiant announcement of “check” comes from the teenager dragging his Bishop with two hands across the giant life-sized chess board on the floor.

Sustainable Development Goals

Applying Human Centered Design to Solvable Problems

Apr 21, 2017 10:05 AM ET

The amount of post-harvest loss (PHL) in countries of the Global South is familiar to many by now. In Africa alone, 50 percent of fruits and vegetables, 40 percent of roots and tubers, and 20 percent of cereals—all of which are staple foods—are lost after harvest or during processing. Fortunately, solutions to PHL exist and with pilots underway attempting to introduce low-fidelity technologies into the equation, the future of reduced PHL looks promising. While PHL is a solvable problem, the timely diffusion of applicable technologies into the local context remains challenging. And the negative repercussions of insensitive approaches of noble intent should be identified and avoided early in the process.

Environment

Tide purclean Encourages Energy-saving Laundry Habits Through Its Sustainable Laundry Pledge and Donates $250,000 to World Wildlife Fund for Earth Day

Apr 21, 2017 9:50 AM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Sands Bethlehem Starts Prom Dress Drive Benefitting Local YWCA

Apr 21, 2017 9:30 AM ET

This year, Sands Bethlehem embarked on a Prom Dress Drive, a new initiative to recycle prom dresses, allocating them to those less fortunate in the area.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Engaging Employers: Three Lessons from Impact Hiring

Apr 21, 2017 9:15 AM ET

How to create more inclusive economies by engaging employers in developing new ideas and solutions for employing and retaining entry-level talent.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Ingersoll Rand Ranks on Corporate Responsibility Magazine 100 Best Corporate Citizens List for Fourth Consecutive Year

Apr 21, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Ingersoll Rand (NYSE: IR), a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments, is named to Corporate Responsibility (CR) Magazine’s annual 100 Best Corporate Citizens List for the fourth consecutive year.

Environment

GOJO Blog: Celebrating What Matters Most

Apr 21, 2017 9:05 AM ET

This coming Saturday, April 22nd, marks the 47th anniversary of Earth Day. At GOJO, we honor this day, and every day, by celebrating our commitment to understanding the needs of and creating Sustainable Value for all GOJO stakeholders.

Research, Reports & Publications

Walmart Highlights Progress in Creating Shared Value in Tenth Annual Global Responsibility Report

Apr 21, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Walmart today released its tenth annual Global Responsibility Report, which looks back at the company’s progress during fiscal year 2017 in advancing the key areas of opportunity, sustainability and local communities. The report also looks ahead at the retailer’s role in helping rewire whole social and environmental systems as it strives toward a new era of trust and transparency.

Environment

Sustainability Advocate Jason Mathers Demonstrates Sustainability is Good for Business

Apr 21, 2017 9:00 AM ET

“At first folks thought that FedEx and EDF were an odd couple. Together, we’ve demonstrated that sustainability is good for business.”

As Director of Supply Chain at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Jason Mathers helps companies cut pollution, greenhouse gas emissions—and

Sustainable Development Goals

This Earth Day, the World is Investing in the Most Valuable Asset We Have

Apr 21, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Tamara Coger of Tetra Tech’s Environment and Natural Resources sector discusses the benefits of investing in sustainable natural resources management to people, societies, and economies around the world. All opinions expressed in this post are the author’s own.

Environment

Consumers Energy Offers Appliance Recycling, Helping Michigan Residents Reduce Costs and Earn Rebates

Apr 21, 2017 9:00 AM ET

As Michigan residents start their spring cleaning, Consumers Energy is encouraging people to turn old household items into cash through its appliance recycling program.