ESG News from Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption Names Two New Board Members

Jan 11, 2017 11:00 AM ET

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption welcomes two new board of trustees members this month. Deepak Ajmani and Robert Geen will each join the board for a three-year term.

Education

Ecolab Foundation Awards $1.1 Million to Teachers in 2016 Through Visions for Learning National Educator Grants Program

Jan 11, 2017 9:45 AM ET

Ecolab Inc., the global leader in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services, has awarded $1.1 million in grants to K-12 educators throughout the U.S. through the Ecolab Foundation’s 2016 Visions for Learning Educator Grants program.

Responsible Production & Consumption

7 Basic Steps for Conducting a Successful Materiality Assessment

Jan 11, 2017 9:45 AM ET

Materiality is a hot topic in the corporate sustainability world, with CSR teams working hard to meaningfully convey the opportunities and successes of their initiatives to both internal and external stakeholders.

Environment

Incoming EPA Chief: Fox in the Henhouse

Jan 11, 2017 9:10 AM ET

When someone sues an organization repeatedly and then gets put in charge of that agency it's a pretty classic example of the fox guarding the henhouse.

Environment

“Externalities” is a Big Word

Jan 11, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Do we pay for these costs at the grocery store cash register? Not even close. That’s what I mean by the market’s failure to internalize external costs.

Energy

Duke Energy Renewables Acquires Three California Solar Projects From SunPower

Jan 11, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Duke Energy Renewables announced today it has acquired three solar power projects from SunPower Corp. totaling 55 megawatts (MW).

The sites include the 20-MW Rio Bravo I, the 20-MW Rio Bravo II, and the 15-MW Wildwood Solar II solar power plants. They are located in Kern County, California, adjacent to two existing solar sites owned by Duke Energy Renewables.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Cargill Foundation Partnerships Reached More Than 300,000 Children in 2016

Jan 11, 2017 8:45 AM ET

Partnering with local non-profits, Wayzata-based food, agriculture and nutrition company Cargill is investing in improving the way Minneapolis kids eat, learn and learn to eat well. In addition to funding education programs, the Cargill Foundation contributed more than $1.9 million in grants in 2016 to improve access to nutritious food and nutrition education for more than 300,000 children ages 2-12 in the Twin Cities.

Environment

Procter & Gamble’s Environmental New Year’s Resolution - Send Zero Manufacturing Waste to Landfill From All Production Sites by 2020

Jan 11, 2017 8:30 AM ET

Environment

Orvis CEO Stresses Urgency of Everglades Crisis

Jan 11, 2017 8:00 AM ET

I remember from my earliest days camping with my father, he taught me and my brother to always leave a campsite better than we found it. That has become a metaphor for my life and our company.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Kimberly-Clark’s “Certified” Sustainability Hero

Jan 11, 2017 8:00 AM ET

As one of the world’s largest buyers of market pulp, Kimberly-Clark knows that protecting our forests is critical to addressing climate change, conserving terrestrial biodiversity and ensuring a resilient, healthy supply chain.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Americorps Members to Repair Flood-Damaged Homes in Louisiana with Rebuilding Together for MLK Day

Jan 11, 2017 7:00 AM ET

Rebuilding Together will join with its affiliate, Rebuilding Together Acadiana, and its AmeriCorps members to repair flood-damaged homes for MLK Day.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

JPMorgan Chase and CCSSO Announce $20 Million to Improve Career Education for Young People in 10 U.S. States

Jan 11, 2017 5:45 AM ET

The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and JPMorgan Chase & Co. today announced $20 million in grants to 10 U.S. states to dramatically increase the number of students who graduate from high school prepared for careers. Developed as part of JPMorgan Chase’s $75 million global New Skills for Youth initiative, each winning state will work with government, business and education leaders to strengthen career education and create pathways to economic success.

Innovation & Technology

Whirlpool Corporation Debuts New Zera™ Food Recycler on Indiegogo

Jan 10, 2017 6:00 PM ET

Whirlpool Corporation announces the release of the Zera™ Food Recycler, a state-of-the-art kitchen appliance that turns today’s food waste into tomorrow’s fertilizer. The Zera™ system – from WLabs of Whirlpool Corporation, the company’s innovation incubator – will debut at CES® 2017 and is available for pre-orders on Indiegogo.

Innovation & Technology

PayPal Exceeds $7 Billion in Charitable Giving in 2016 as Mobile Giving Continues to Surge

Jan 10, 2017 4:00 PM ET

PayPal reported 11 percent growth in charitable giving in 2016, processing $7.3 billion in contributions over the year, including more than $971 million raised during the holiday season alone. Proving that spirits really were brighter this holiday, the company announced today that 8 million PayPal users in 181 countries contributed $971,213,604 to 282,053 charities, making 2016 the biggest year for end-of-year donations with PayPal ever.

Energy

CITGO Kicks off the New Year With Annual Marketer Roundtable Meetings

Jan 10, 2017 2:25 PM ET

CITGO Petroleum Corporation kicks off its annual Marketer Roundtable meetings on Jan. 10 with an emphasis on new initiatives, industry trends and best practices. Continuing through Feb. 2 in various cities throughout the company’s marketing regions, CITGO marketing personnel will address the following and more:

Diversity & Inclusion

This New Year Focus on Improving Employees Quality of Life

Jan 10, 2017 2:15 PM ET

The New Year is always an excellent time for employers to reflect on the previous year and plan for the coming year.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Source Control Investigation Activities for a Midstream Oil and Gas Client

Jan 10, 2017 1:50 PM ET

A midstream oil and gas client requested that Antea Group conduct a variety of sediment, transition zone, and erodable bank soil studies at bulk fuel terminals to determine potential contaminants of concern and possible sources. Antea Group collected multiple surface grab samples for contaminants related to the client’s operations, as well as adjacent facilities. This included DDT and PCB samples for fingerprinting analysis.

Diversity & Inclusion

Arrow Electronics Promotes Gender Diversity in Colorado Technology Industry

Jan 10, 2017 1:15 PM ET

Responsible Production & Consumption

Environmental Impact of 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid 31 Percent Less Than Previous-Generation Minivan

Jan 10, 2017 12:25 PM ET

The all-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, the most efficient minivan of all time, offers consumers a brighter shade of green performance.

Innovation & Technology

GM Partners with Girls Who Code to Empower Future Technology and Engineering Leaders

Jan 10, 2017 12:10 PM ET

The gender gap in technology and engineering is getting worse despite the increased demand for STEM-related jobs. GM and the national nonprofit Girls Who Code (GWC) today announced a partnership to inspire and empower thousands of U.S. middle and high school girls to become future leaders in these fields.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Wendy's: It's All About Food, Family & Community

Jan 10, 2017 12:05 PM ET

By most standards, last week was busy. Not only did friends and fans tell us we won the internet with the most epic tweet of 2017 (their words, not ours), we also published our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability year-in-review. It was eye opening and enjoyable to look back and see all that our Wendy’s family had accomplished in 2016.

Education

Opening Doors for the Next Generation of STEM

Jan 10, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Robin Andrews has dedicated her life and passion to charitable work since she was a child. Growing up on a farm in rural Indiana, Robin was inspired early by her father and grandmother, both of whom were actively involved in community service, to pursue a life of helping those in need. Now corporate secretary of Astellas USA Foundation, Robin is proof that values and interests instilled in early childhood can have an influence across a lifetime. She explains how the Foundation’s commitment to inspiring interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with today’s youth is helping the next generation pursue jobs in STEM to build a more sustainable future.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sodexo Earns Distinction Among Canada’s 2017 Top Employers for Young People

Jan 10, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life services, today announced its recognition among winners of Canada’s 2017 Top Employers for Young People competition.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Duke Energy Powered Up Florida With More Than $3 million in Grant Funding in 2016

Jan 10, 2017 11:45 AM ET

Duke Energy is powering Florida with more than electricity. Last year, the company donated more than $3 million to Sunshine State non-profit organizations.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Giving Back: Aiding Access to Clean Water in the San Juan Tlacotenco Community

Jan 10, 2017 11:00 AM ET

According to the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program for Water Supply and Sanitation, at least 1.8 billion people around the world drink contaminated water, and an even greater number drink water delivered through unsanitary systems. With a significant presence of employees in San Juan Tlacotenco, a community near Cuernavaca, Mexico, Baxter identified the lack of a stable and safe water supply as an opportunity to help.