ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

The Dawn of a New Era

Mar 17, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Little Buffalo, a town of 500 people in Alberta, is at the forefront of multiple environmental justice battles: it has been polluted by oil spills and damaged by tar sands mining, but it is also pushing to move beyond fossil fuels and towards renewable energy.

Environment

Record-Breaking Earth Hour to Set the Stage for New Era of Climate Action

Mar 17, 2016 9:55 AM ET

On Saturday, March 19 at 8:30pm local time, the 10th and most far-reaching Earth Hour will sweep across the world and kick off a new era of climate action. Millions of individuals, along with businesses, cities, landmarks and an unprecedented 178 countries and territories, will switch off their lights to call for increased action to protect our planet from climate change.

Research, Reports & Publications

Visa Europe and JA Europe Launch New Research to Address the Financial Skills Gap in Young People

Mar 17, 2016 6:00 AM ET

Businesses across Europe are being invited to collaborate in new research which will help identify the financial skills needed by young people in today’s digital economy.

Innovation & Technology

Young Minds from 15 U.S. Public Schools Present STEM Projects for Making a Difference in their Communities in front of a Live Panel of Judges in the $2 Million* Solve for Tomorrow Contest

Mar 16, 2016 9:30 PM ET

Students and teachers from 15 public schools across the nation convened at the brand new Samsung 837 building in New York City yesterday to present their STEM-driven projects in front of a live panel of judges. Five schools will be selected as National Winners in the Solve for Tomorrow contest, which challenges young minds to tap into their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education to solve a problem affecting their local community. From designing prosthetic enhancements for wounded veterans to filtering contaminated drinking water, the 15 National Finalist schools are tackling real-world problems in their backyards.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sodexo Recognized by Women’s Empowerment Principles for Championing Gender Equality

Mar 16, 2016 5:55 PM ET

In observance of International Women’s Day, over 300 leaders from business, civil society, government and the United Nations (UN) gathered at UN Headquarters in New York City for the 2016 Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) event.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Life in a Banking Desert

Mar 16, 2016 5:35 PM ET

Economists from the New York Fed recently investigated the increase of “banking deserts,” or communities with little to no access to mainstream banking services, in their Liberty Street Economics blog.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Ethisphere Identifies World’s Most Ethical Companies

Mar 16, 2016 5:00 PM ET

Companies with strong ethical practices have historically outperformed others financially and managed to achieve a greater level of stakeholder satisfaction.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Reflections from the International Women's Day Forum

Mar 16, 2016 4:30 PM ET

A belated happy International Women’s Day to all! As I reflect on an inspiring two days at the 2016 International Women’s Day forum last week, The Business of Inclusion: Global Prosperity through Women and Girls Empowerment, I wanted to share a few of the themes that came to the fore over the course of the conference.

Education

BJ’s Wholesale Club to Help Educators Receive Valuable Resources

Mar 16, 2016 4:20 PM ET

Health & Healthcare

CVS Health Foundation Announces Second Round of Grants in Partnership with Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

Mar 16, 2016 3:35 PM ET

The CVS Health Foundation, a private foundation created by CVS Health (NYSE:CVS), today announced the second round of grants awarded in partnership with the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids through the “Making the Next Generation Tobacco-Free” grant program. The new grants are part of Be The First, CVS Health’s $50 million, five-year initiative to help deliver the nation’s first tobacco-free generation, and extend the company’s commitment to help people lead tobacco-free lives.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Launching the $1 Million Fostering Wellness Initiative

Mar 16, 2016 3:30 PM ET

Last week, GSK announced a new $1 million grant to Fostering Wellness, a group of seven nonprofit organizations in the Triangle, NC region helping young people aging out of foster care to transition to a healthy and productive adulthood.

Environment

How to Make Money in Plastics Recycling

Mar 16, 2016 3:20 PM ET

Health & Healthcare

Heart Healthy Aging with Nutrition

Mar 16, 2016 2:25 PM ET

Energy

Desalination: Is It Time to Drink the Pacific?

Mar 16, 2016 2:15 PM ET

Transforming ocean water into potable drinking water seems so remarkably cool on so many levels.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Business Impacts: Action Where it Matters

Mar 16, 2016 2:00 PM ET

In this short film, Corporate Citizenship explores how the relationship between business and society is becoming more complex. As companies are being asked tougher questions about their impacts, the importance of mapping, measuring and taking action on issues across the value chain has never been more important. Diageo and Civicus share insights into how organisations can use a better understanding of their economic, social and environmental impacts to focus their efforts and drive change where it matters most.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Volunteers Drive Vital Eye-Screening Program for Kids

Mar 16, 2016 2:00 PM ET

Austin Hull arrived at Apple Tree Children’s Center in downtown Iowa City one morning last week with the mission to save some young eyes by screening children early for potential sight problems.

Research, Reports & Publications

Pfizer Launches 2015 Annual Review

Mar 16, 2016 1:20 PM ET

Innovation & Technology

Data into Drops: Improving Water Services through the Water Point Data Exchange

Mar 16, 2016 1:00 PM ET

Over the past decade, a dramatic shift has taken place in the water sector that fundamentally changes the way that work is done. During this time, water point mapping around the world has accelerated at unprecedented rates. Dropping costs of technology and innovative software has enabled national governments, as well as funders, NGOs, academics, and others to inventory, share, and even monitor the work they have contributed to. The impacts of the data collected are truly profound

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

City of Rio to Host First C40 Event to Unlock Access to City Financing

Mar 16, 2016 12:30 PM ET

Today, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) and the City of Rio de Janeiro announced a first-of-its-kind global financing forum to accelerate city climate action. The C40 Financing Sustainable Cities Forum – hosted along with the Citi Foundation and WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities – will bring together senior decision-makers from financial institutions, the private sector and more than a dozen city governments from across the globe. The Forum will take place April 5-7 at the City of Rio de Janeiro’s iconic new Museum of Tomorrow.

Energy

The Workplace as Consumer and Producer of Energy: A Global Perspective

Mar 16, 2016 12:15 PM ET

This is the fourth in a continuing blog series based on insights and findings from the Sodexo 2016 Workplace Trends Report. The Report examines nine key trends affecting business outcomes and the quality of life of employees and consumers. To learn more, access the full article: Smart Energy Management: A Win for the Environment, People and Business

Events, Media & Communications

Business Leaders, UN Member States and Civil Society Agree: Gender Equality Critical to Economic Development

Mar 16, 2016 11:05 AM ET

Recognizing gender equality as a fundamental human right, central to driving the global economy and achieving the recently adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), business leaders joined UN Member States and civil society organizations at the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Annual Event. The event focused on the multiplier effect of empowering women and girls in advancing all development issues and the enormous opportunity for business to lead on promoting gender equality.

Environment

National Geographic Channel's Upcoming Series Highlight the Power of Storytelling to Change the World

Mar 16, 2016 11:00 AM ET

On March 15, 21st Century Fox's National Geographic Channel unveiled its slate of new shows for the 2016-2017 season, with each series delivering on the channel's commitment to premium content from the world's best storytellers. The slate includes "Mars," a six-part event series from Ron Howard and Brian Grazer about the science behind a manned mission to Mars, as well as the climate change documentary series "Years of Living Dangerously" and the unique live documentary event "Earth Live!" The new shows build on the legacy of the National Geographic brand and demonstrate the channel's unique ability to use storytelling to change the world.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

NAEM Launches New EHS & Sustainability Software Satisfaction Benchmark

Mar 16, 2016 10:40 AM ET

Today the National Association for Environmental Management (NAEM) announced the launch of the EHS & Sustainability Software Ratings Project, a new research initiative to evaluate customer satisfaction with commercial software systems.

Environment

Getting Our Hands Dirty - Real Sustainable Agriculture

Mar 16, 2016 10:35 AM ET

Learn about the fast growing movement of Slow Money and how it is investing in sustainable agriculture -- join us as we get back down to the earth, grounded in the soil where we grow our food and sustain our planet and its many living systems.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Keep America Beautiful Launches 2016 Great American Cleanup; Encourages Family and Friends to ‘#cleanYOURblock’

Mar 16, 2016 10:30 AM ET

Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s leading nonprofit that envisions a country where every community is a green, clean and beautiful place to live, today announced the launch of the 2016 Great American Cleanup. Entering its 18th year, the Great American Cleanup is the country’s largest community improvement program.