ESG News from Leading Brands

Research, Reports & Publications

BNY Mellon President Karen Peetz on Financial Services’ Responsibility to Engage as Global Challenges Intensify

Jun 29, 2016 11:00 AM ET

As executive sponsor of BNY Mellon’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, president Karen B. Peetz sees the emergence of a new paradigm of CSR leadership. The power and potential for business to contribute solutions to large-scale social and environmental issues is unprecedented. We’ve excerpted part of her message from this year’s CSR Report below.

Responsible Production & Consumption

SmartLabel: True Transparency for Consumer Products

Jun 29, 2016 10:05 AM ET

Hershey’s 2015 CSR Report was released on June 9, and I encourage everyone interested in Hershey and our sustainability work to download and read it. The progress we have made as a company and the positive impact we are having on the world is truly inspiring.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

The Living Breakwaters at Conference House Park, a Project of Ambitious Regenerative Proportions

Jun 29, 2016 10:00 AM ET

On the first of June—one of those rare days invoked by the American poet James Russell Lowell—we met our advisor and Patagonia's long-time chief storyteller Vincent Stanley, and boarded the Staten Island Ferry for a visit to Tottenville. The village is the last stop on the Staten Island Rapid Transit line, at New York City's and New York State's southernmost tip.

Events, Media & Communications

Alison Levine, Acclaimed Mountain Climber, Explorer and Leadership Expert, Will Speak at 10th Annual Women’s Leadership

Jun 29, 2016 10:00 AM ET

The MGM Resorts Foundation is proud to announce Alison Levine as a keynote speaker at the 10th annual Women’s Leadership Conference. Hosted by MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM), the 2016 conference will be held Aug. 8 & 9 at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV.

Research, Reports & Publications

Las Vegas Sands Reaches Five-Year Global Sustainability Milestone

Jun 29, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Sands ECO360, the global corporate sustainability program of Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: LVS), under the Sands Cares corporate citizenship initiative, has released its 2015 report.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

SunPower's Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Silver Solar Panels Earn Top Product of the Year Award from Environmental Leader

Jun 29, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Since 2014, SunPower has manufactured a portion of its direct current E-Series and X-Series solar panels to meet Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Silver standards and now 100 percent of SunPower® direct current panels hold this certification. This week, Environmental Leader – an energy, environmental and sustainability news source published by Business Sector Media LLC – named SunPower's Cradle to Cradle Certified™ Silver solar panels the 2016 Environmental Leader Product of the Year.

Research, Reports & Publications

The Crown Estate Announces Annual Results

Jun 29, 2016 5:00 AM ET

The Crown Estate’s annual report and accounts for 2015/16, the organisation’s fourth integrated report, continues to show innovation in reporting and is a visible commitment that sustainability is woven into the fabric of its business.

Education

Disney Characters to Join Code.org’s K–5 Curriculum

Jun 28, 2016 5:40 PM ET

Millions of students were introduced to the world of computing when Disney partnered with Code.org on a Frozen-themed Hour of Code tutorial in 2014, and again in 2015 when Lucasfilm brought iconic characters like Princess Leia, R2-D2, Rey and BB-8 to a tutorial themed to the Star Wars saga. Disney and Code.org announced today that these characters will be coming soon to Code.org’s Computer Science Fundamentals curriculum for young learners in grades K–5.

Environment

Gemma Bulos: Turning A Drop Into A Wave

Jun 28, 2016 5:30 PM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

Alliance Data 2015 Corporate Responsibility Report Highlights Company Progress

Jun 28, 2016 5:10 PM ET

Alliance Data Systems Corporation (NYSE: ADS), a leading global provider of data-driven marketing and loyalty solutions, today issued its annual Corporate Responsibility report, which encompasses actions and commitments across the enterprise, including its corporate headquarters and three lines of business – Alliance Data’s card services business, Epsilon and LoyaltyOne.

Green Infrastructure

What's New With The Living Building Challenge?

Jun 28, 2016 5:05 PM ET

Living Building Challenge 3.1 is the latest release of the LBC Standard. This version is a tweak to the 3.0 iteration, which had major updates and was released in 2014.

Education

JetBlue Adds Detroit As The Next Destination For Its ‘Soar With Reading’ Free Book Vending Machine Initiative

Jun 28, 2016 5:00 PM ET

Innovation & Technology

Leaders Opting for Dual Paths to Smart City Development

Jun 28, 2016 4:30 PM ET

Adoption of smart city initiatives appears to be dividing most city governments into two camps – those that opt for incremental add-on or pilot programs, and those that pursue some form of root-level master planning. There are advantages and disadvantages to each course.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Baxter Recognized as One of the Most Community-Minded Companies in the United States by Points of Light

Jun 28, 2016 4:00 PM ET

Baxter International Inc. was recognized for the third consecutive year as one of the most community-minded companies in the nation, as a part of the Civic 50. Civic 50 is an initiative of Points of Light - the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, mobilizes millions of people to take action and change the world. Points of Light sets the standard for corporate civic engagement and creates a roadmap for companies seeking to best use their time, talent, and resources to improve the quality of life in the communities where they do business.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Wells Fargo Named One of America’s Most Community-Minded Companies by Points of Light

Jun 28, 2016 4:00 PM ET

Points of Light has named Wells Fargo as one of America’s most community-minded companies in its annual Civic 50 initiative. Points of Light is the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service.

Research, Reports & Publications

CEO Gerald Hassell on Corporate Social Responsibility’s Growth and Maturation

Jun 28, 2016 4:00 PM ET

In this year’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report, BNY Mellon Chairman and CEO, Gerald L. Hassell, reflects on how CSR has matured both at BNY Mellon and around the world since he arrived at The Bank of New York fresh out of college in 1973. We’ve excerpted part of his message below. Read his full letter here for more on how the new generation of employees is spurring corporations to increase their commitment to responsible behavior.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Astellas Farma Brasil Among Top 3 Workplaces in Brazilian Pharmaceutical Industry

Jun 28, 2016 3:45 PM ET

Astellas Farma Brasil (AFB) has placed #3 among the best companies to work for in the Brazilian pharmaceutical industry, according to the Great Place to Work® Institute’s latest rankings. The results are based on a survey of hundreds of pharmaceutical industry employees across Brazil.

Events, Media & Communications

Twitterchat: Getting to Know Hewlett Packard Enterprise CSO Lara Birkes

Jun 28, 2016 3:35 PM ET

Chat with us on Twitter as Joel Makower, Chairman and Executive Editor of GreenBiz Group, talks with Lara Birkes about her new role as Chief Sustainability Officer and Vice President, Living Progress at Hewlett Packard Enterprise and what role she thinks technology plays in the sustainability of our planet.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Global Movement on Sustainable Palm Oil is Growing

Jun 28, 2016 3:30 PM ET

A global trend toward sustainable palm oil is emerging; diverse stakeholders including non-profits, scientists, and global brands worldwide have announced their commitment to sustainably sourced palm oil and supply chain transparency.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

UPS Recognized as One of the Most Community-Minded Companies on 2016 Civic 50 List

Jun 28, 2016 3:00 PM ET

UPS® (NYSE: UPS) today was recognized again as a leader in global volunteerism on the 2016 Civic 50, marking the third year the company has made the list. The Civic 50 initiative by Points of Light, honors the 50 most community-minded companies in the U.S., and helps set a standard for corporate civic engagement, creating a roadmap for companies seeking to improve quality of life in the communities where they do business.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Making Families One Match at a Time

Jun 28, 2016 3:00 PM ET

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption has one mission: To dramatically increase the number of adoptions from foster care. The Foundation’s signature program is the Wendy’s Wonderful Kids (WWK) program.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Prudential Financial Recognized as One of the Most Community-Minded Companies in the Country by Points of Light

Jun 28, 2016 2:45 PM ET

Prudential Financial, Inc. today announced it has been recognized as one of the most community-minded companies in the nation as a part of the Civic 50, an initiative of Points of Light that sets the standard for corporate civic engagement and creates a roadmap for companies seeking to best use their time, talent, and resources to improve the quality of life in the communities where they do business. Civic 50 winners were announced today at Points of Light’s Conference on Volunteering and Service in Detroit, Michigan, where leaders in volunteerism and civic engagement are gathering to discuss social innovation, cross-sector collaboration and citizen engagement that can drive change.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Timberland Recognized for Global Tree Planting Milestones

Jun 28, 2016 2:30 PM ET

As an outdoor lifestyle brand, Timberland has a legacy of protecting and restoring the outdoors and supporting the communities in which it operates. Tree planting plays an important role in this commitment. Since 2001, Timberland has planted 8.7 million trees around the world, empowering thousands of smallholder farmers in the process. For its tree planting milestones around the globe, Timberland was recently recognized by: the Environmental Leader Product & Project Awards, The Stevie American Business Awards and The Classy Awards.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Brown-Forman Named Top Beverage Alcohol Company in Newsweek Magazine U.S. Green Awards

Jun 28, 2016 2:30 PM ET

Brown-Forman claimed the top spot as the “greenest” beverage alcohol company among U.S. publicly traded companies in the Newsweek Green Rankings, one of the foremost corporate environmental rankings index.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Caterpillar Inc.'s Contributions to Sustainable Development Recognized by United Nations

Jun 28, 2016 2:20 PM ET

By 2030, the United Nations wants to accomplish three extraordinary things: end poverty, combat climate change and fight injustice and inequality. The UN also has a blueprint to achieve that vision. The plan is called UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – 17 global goals to make our world more prosperous, inclusive, sustainable and resilient.