ESG News from Leading Brands

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Barclays Bolder Apprenticeships: A New Lease on Life

Dec 19, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Four years ago, Jeff Ruffell thought he might not work at a senior level again. He had spent two decades in sales management and another decade in the kitchen and bathroom industry, but a run of bad health and bad luck had left him jobless at the age of just 53.

“I was recovering from a serious car accident when the company I was working for folded,” he says. “The stress of the accident caused me to have a breakdown and I thought my depression would stop me finding work with a new company.”

Diversity & Inclusion

From Military Service to Data Analyst

Dec 19, 2016 8:50 AM ET

On Citizen IBM, Global Citizenship Initiatives Vice President Diane Melley writes about how IBM and our public- and private-sector partners are helping veterans successfully apply their technological and leadership-based skill sets to serve as data analysts within some of America's largest and fastest-growing industries.

Environment

Sourcing High-Risk Commodities, Nestlé's Commitment

Dec 19, 2016 8:45 AM ET

As part of our commitment to protecting biodiversity and ecosystems, we have continued our efforts in tackling deforestation, particularly in the production of palm oil.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

CBRE Appoints New Chairpersons of Asia Pacific American Forum

Dec 19, 2016 8:20 AM ET

CBRE Group, Inc. announced that Lilian Cavaleri, business manager for the company’s Microsoft account; and Eric Chen, first vice president, Investment Properties, Capital Markets, have taken leadership roles in CBRE’s Asia Pacific American Forum (APAF). Mrs. Cavaleri and Mr. Chen will serve as the Co-Chairpersons of the company’s newest employee network group.

Education

When a Second Chance at Education Changes Your Life

Dec 19, 2016 8:15 AM ET

My husband, an assistant manager at the Walmart supercenter in Palakta, FL, was searching for advancement opportunities on WalmartOne.com – the company intranet. What jumped out at me was the fact that eligible family members of Walmart associates could earn their high school equivalency free of charge via GEDWorks or the Career Online High School program.

Health & Healthcare

How Healthy Are We Indoors?

Dec 19, 2016 8:05 AM ET

With the average American now spending more than 90 percent of each day indoors, environmental factors such as lighting, noise, air quality and temperature in our homes, offices, gyms, stores and healthcare facilities play a vital role in our overall wellness. But which of these factors are most critical, and exactly what effects do they have on our health and behavior?

Health & Healthcare

How 3D Printing is Helping Make the Lives of Wounded Soldiers Better

Dec 19, 2016 8:05 AM ET

HP and 3D printing are making huge, positive changes in the lives of wounded soldiers.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Consumers Energy Receives Recognition for Commitment to Sustainable Business Practices

Dec 19, 2016 8:00 AM ET

Reflecting its commitment to delivering energy from increasingly green sources and more safely than ever, Consumers Energy announced today that it has been ranked in the top 6 percent among global utilities for sustainable environmental, social and economic practices.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Europe’s Sustainable Trade Initiative (IDH) and SIFAV Recognize SCS Sustainably Grown Certification Program

Dec 19, 2016 8:00 AM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

ANZ Shaping a World Where People and Communities Thrive

Dec 19, 2016 8:00 AM ET

ANZ has released its 2016 Corporate Sustainability Review, which reports on how it is tackling its most material sustainability issues.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Mohawk Group’s Light Lab Design Center Receives Petal Certification from International Living Future Institute

Dec 19, 2016 7:45 AM ET

Mohawk Group, a leading commercial flooring company known for cutting-edge and innovative flooring solutions, recently announced that Light Lab, the company’s newly renovated design studio, has received Petal Certification from the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) Living Building Challenge™ 2.1.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Tell Investors of Climate Risks, Energy Sector is Urged

Dec 19, 2016 7:10 AM ET

A coalition of the world’s most powerful bankers, regulators and even executives at some heavy polluters have a message for oil and gas companies: Be more forthcoming about the risks posed by climate change.

Events, Media & Communications

21CF Businesses Earn 34 Nominations at NAACP Image Awards, Celebrating Achievements of People of Color in Entertainment

Dec 19, 2016 7:00 AM ET

The nominees for the 48th NAACP Image Awards were announced on December 13, with 21st Century Fox film and television projects receiving 34 total nominations. Fox Searchlight's recent historical drama The Birth of a Nation received six nominations, tying with Moonlight as the year's most-nominated film. Several more Fox films and TV series were recognized, including FX's hit limited series The People v. O.J. Simpson (six nominations), 20th Century Fox's Hidden Figures (three nominations), and FOX's musical drama Empire (six nominations), which collected five awards last year. This year's winners will be announced at a ceremony in Hollywood on February 11 hosted by Anthony Anderson and broadcast live on TV ONE at 9pm/8c.

Events, Media & Communications

Climate Related Financial Disclosure For Business: An Imperative For 2017

Dec 19, 2016 6:45 AM ET

2016 began - as recorded here on Forbes - noting that climate change was becoming very real in the financial world. As we head towards the end of what has been a tumultuous year, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) is clear the message needs to be reinforced, not dismissed.

Innovation & Technology

Capital One’s C1 Coders Program Creates Excitement and Opportunity for STEM Careers

Dec 16, 2016 4:30 PM ET

As part of Capital One’s ongoing efforts to help students develop a greater interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), Capital One hosted a closing event for the Capital One C1 Coders program. For the past 10 weeks, 1,000 middle school students across the country have been learning about software engineering alongside Capital One associates, with the final project of developing their own unique apps. At the graduation event, students demoed apps they created during the 10-week curriculum. Mayim Bialik, actress and neuroscientist, addressed the crowd by talking about her personal experience of discovering a passion for science and the importance of STEM.

Health & Healthcare

Michael R. Bloomberg Commits $360 Million to Reduce Tobacco Use – Raising Total Giving on Tobacco Control Efforts to Nearly $1 Billion

Dec 16, 2016 4:20 PM ET

Bloomberg Philanthropies today announced a new commitment of $360 million to global anti-tobacco efforts. The grant supports evidence-based policies to curb tobacco use and works to increase awareness of the dangers of tobacco in low and middle-income countries. The new round of funding raises Bloomberg’s total giving on this public health initiative to nearly $1 billion and builds on ten years of support for the implementation of tobacco control laws and policies around the world through the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use. To date the initiative has successfully supported 59 countries in passing laws or policies, reaching nearly 3.5 billion people and saving an estimated 30 million lives.

Green Infrastructure

Delos, IBM Join Forces to Advance Healthy Indoor Environments through Improved Digital Intelligence on the Cloud

Dec 16, 2016 3:05 PM ET

BM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that it is collaborating with wellness real estate and technology firm Delos™ to adopt IBM Cloud and cognitive technologies to speed the discovery of new insights in health and wellness and their connections to the design of indoor spaces.”

Events, Media & Communications

Department of Liquor Control Promotes Discounts for Designated Driving and Taxi Program

Dec 16, 2016 3:00 PM ET

In an effort to help prevent drunk driving in Montgomery County, the Montgomery County Department of Liquor Control (DLC) is partnering with a local transportation service, Dryver, to offer $20 gift cards towards a designated driver this holiday season and $5 off the first ten Lyft rides used.

Environment

GM’s Carsharing Service Expands. Is Your City Next?

Dec 16, 2016 2:20 PM ET

General Motors’ Maven carsharing service debuted in January 2016 as an alternative mode of transportation for people living in the college town of Ann Arbor, Michigan. It has since grown to 15 more cities and 17,000 users that together have clocked in 40 million miles. Peter Kosak, GM’s executive director of urban mobility, said the company will announce even more locations in 2017.

Health & Healthcare

Volunteers Ensure the American Red Cross Stands Ready to Respond

Dec 16, 2016 2:10 PM ET

Everything the American Red Cross does is powered by the commitment of our volunteers, and the generosity of the public and our corporate partners.

Education

Bechtel Sponsored DiscoverE Future City Team Visits White House, Appears on FabLabTV

Dec 16, 2016 2:05 PM ET

Who knew that joining a Future City team could land you a visit to the White House? That’s exactly what happened to the Nevada Future City team this year. Future City is a middle school competition that ask students to imagine, design and build cities of the future. After four months of designing a virtual city (using SimCity), they write up their solution to a city-wide issue, build scale models of their city, and then present their vision to a panel of judges. Luckily a team from Nevada was chosen to participate in the U.S. Science Fair Engineering Festival which was hosted by U.S. President Barack Obama, April 16-17, 2016.

Innovation & Technology

Topcoder, Booz Allen and Red Hat bring the Best Coders in the World to D.C. for the ‘Super Bowl’ of Crowdsourcing Competitions

Dec 16, 2016 2:00 PM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation Announce $250,000 Towards Relief and Recovery Efforts in Tennessee Wildfires

Dec 16, 2016 1:50 PM ET

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have made a commitment to provide support of $250,000 to organizations helping with relief efforts for those affected by Tennessee wildfires in Sevier County, which includes Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville.

Environment

Task Force Issues Specific Guidance for the Financial Sector

Dec 16, 2016 1:25 PM ET

A key aim of the FSB Task Force is to encourage disclosures that "would enable stakeholders to understand better the concentrations of carbon-related assets in the financial sector and the financial system's exposures to climate-related risks."

Diversity & Inclusion

How to Reward Employees With Time Off for Volunteer Work

Dec 16, 2016 1:25 PM ET

There’s a lot of evidence to show that launching a paid time off to volunteer (VTO) initiative will improve your corporate social responsibility image while benefiting your company in return. Here are a few things you need to know if you want to reward employees with time off for volunteer work.