ESG News from Leading Brands

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

At Exxon, a Failure of Governance on Climate Risk

May 23, 2019 5:30 PM ET

Climate change, and our market and regulatory response to it, has the potential to upend entire markets and sectors, and leave even the largest companies in the dustbin of history. It’s time investors raise their voices and cast their votes in favor of good governance, and it’s time Exxon introduce an independent party into its board leadership to ensure it can appropriately engage with and act on climate risk.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

National Military Appreciation Month: Remember. Honor. Support.

May 23, 2019 5:15 PM ET

Initiated by the United States Congress in 1999, National Military Appreciation Month is held each May as a time to thank service members and their families for all their hard work and bravery, and honor those who have died in the pursuit of freedom.

Research, Reports & Publications

Hallmark Unveils Latest Social Responsibility Results with its 2018 Caring in Action Report

May 23, 2019 5:10 PM ET

Hallmark has released its third annual Caring in Action Social Responsibility Report featuring work during 2018 made by the global company’s diverse portfolio of businesses in the areas of community, diversity and inclusion and sustainability.

“We are honored to be able to enrich lives where even on pebble of progress can have a ripple effect, spreading to impact the greater good,” explained Don Hall, CEO. “The world needs care now more than ever, so our work must continue.”

Responsible Production & Consumption

Introducing Durkan's Spirit Moderne Collection

May 23, 2019 5:05 PM ET

Spirit Moderne is a captivating and sustainable soft surface flooring portfolio for hospitality interiors inspired by Durkan’s collaboration with the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, N.M. Alluring ethnographic textiles from the world over breathe inspiration into new motifs and bring historical source material into the context of the modern era. The rich history behind textured garments spanning ceremonial to everyday use is revived and infused with a contemporary aesthetic for a hospitality audience.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The Family Center Team Wins Morgan Stanley’s Eleventh Annual U.S. Strategy Challenge

May 23, 2019 5:00 PM ET

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) today announced that The Family Center team has won the eleventh annual U.S. Strategy Challenge, the Firm’s flagship pro bono program, which brings together rising talent to help nonprofit organizations solve strategic, mission critical challenges.

Health & Healthcare

Bringing Cancer Research to Life

May 23, 2019 4:35 PM ET

Research is crucial for identifying effective treatments and potential cures for cancer. During the month of May, join us as we raise awareness about the important and incredible impact research has on treating and curing people with cancer.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Alaska Airlines Joins Ceres Company Network

May 23, 2019 4:25 PM ET

Ceres, the sustainability advocacy organization, and Alaska Airlines, a fuel efficiency pioneer in the airline industry, announced today that Alaska has joined the Ceres Company Network.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

My Husband, the Lineworker, Is a Superhero

May 23, 2019 4:15 PM ET

Our family’s life revolves around Wesley’s world as a lineman. We have attended birthday parties, family gatherings and holidays without a critical piece of our family’s puzzle. After seven years of service, my heart still drops when I hear the phone ring when we’ve just sat down for dinner because I know he will have to leave and get the lights back on for someone whose power has gone out.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Providing Assistance to Employees Who Have a Sudden Financial Emergency Due to a Catastrophe or Crisis in Their Life

May 23, 2019 4:15 PM ET

44% of Americans can’t cover a $400 unexpected emergency expense and only 39% of Americans say they have enough savings to cover a $1,000 emergency room visit or car repair. No matter the scale or severity of the crisis, employee financial stress costs employers an average of $5,000 per employee per year in lost productivity. Employers have an opportunity to address this problem and demonstrate their commitment to the well-being of their workforce through Employee Assistance Funds (EAF) – also known as an Employee Relief Fund or an Employee Crisis Fund.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The Scotiabank Calgary Marathon Celebrates its 55th Anniversary

May 23, 2019 4:05 PM ET

The 55th edition of the Scotiabank Calgary Marathon takes place this weekend with participants raising money for 78 local charities, as part of the Scotiabank Charity Challenge. Canada's longest running marathon, The Scotiabank Calgary Marathon, features the: 50km Ultra, Scotiabank Calgary Marathon, Centaur Subaru 21.1km, Jugo Juice 10km, GoodLife Fitness 5km Walk & Run and the Scotiabank Kids Marathon, for those 12 years of age and under. The race weekend will welcome 10,000 participants across all distances.

Media & Communications

HP’s Award‐winning Short Film Series Available for Streaming this Summer

May 23, 2019 3:30 PM ET

Fresh off the heels of winning a Tribeca X award for best episodic short series, HP Inc. struck a deal to distribute its film series The History of Memory through Cinedigm’s dedicated documentary channel Docurama by July. Created by Redglass Pictures and the Garage by HP The History of Memory celebrates the power of printed photographs to change our lives by exploring stories of real-life people whose lives were forever altered by the discovery, creation, or preservation of a photograph.

Research, Reports & Publications

Smithfield Foods Announces Zero-Waste-To-Landfill Initiative, Strengthens Commitment to Environmental Sustainability with Release of 2018 Sustainability Report

May 23, 2019 3:05 PM ET

Smithfield Foods, Inc. today announced the company’s commitment to reduce overall solid waste sent to landfills 75% by 2025. This includes certifying at least 35 of its facilities in the United States, or three-quarters of its domestic facilities, as zero-waste-to-landfill by 2025. Through this bold initiative, the company will minimize waste and recycle or reuse materials that were once considered garbage, ultimately reducing waste sent to landfills in numerous communities throughout the country. This initiative is a new target within Smithfield’s industry-leading sustainability program, which also includes a goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 25% by 2025—the first commitment of its kind from a protein company.

Diversity & Inclusion

Merck Veterans in the Spotlight on National Television Show

May 23, 2019 3:00 PM ET

Merck employees are in the spotlight on "Military Makeover: Operation Career" on Lifetime TV. The show, hosted by Montel Williams, captures the stories of veterans transitioning from the military back to civilian work life and the companies who employ them.

Innovation & Technology

VMware Unveils Carbon Avoidance Meter to Optimize Data Center Energy Usage

May 23, 2019 2:35 PM ET

VMware, Inc. (NYSE:VMW), a leading innovator in enterprise software, has announced the Carbon Avoidance Meter (CAM), to provide data center operators with near-real time “carbon scores” – determined from the level of one’s carbon footprint and energy usage – and recommendations for reducing this footprint. The CAM bases carbon scores on telemetry data sent to VMware through VMware Skyline, a proactive support technology, in order to encourage energy reduction and inspire sustainable best practices for the industry.

Education

Gardening Gives the Kids of Migrant Workers a Head Start

May 23, 2019 2:30 PM ET

When preschool teacher Tonya Langston first asked the children in her Bowling Green, Florida, classroom where milk came from, their response was: "the kitchen." When she asked them where a banana comes from, same answer: "the kitchen." Langston's students are young—3 or 4 years old—but because they're the children of professional migrant farmworkers, Langston and her fellow teachers wanted to teach them more about what their parents do, and why it's important. The East Coast Migrant Head Start Project is part of a nationwide program made possible by the Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation, designed to help children and families living in at-risk communities access fresh, healthy food.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

HPI Principles Guide Our Safety Journey

May 23, 2019 2:20 PM ET

Domtar safety leaders first encountered the idea of human performance improvement (HPI) in 2013 at a Pulp & Paper Safety Association conference focusing on human behavior. HPI principles have driven our safety journey ever since, leading to a steady decline in workplace injuries between 2013 and 2017.

Social Impact & Volunteering

#CiscoChat Live: Making an Impact on Homelessness

May 23, 2019 2:05 PM ET

The homelessness challenge may seem enormous, but it is solvable. Organizations like Destination: Home and PATH—with the support of companies like Cisco and local communities—are making an impact across the state. And at Cisco Live US 2019, attendees will have the opportunity to make conquering homelessness possible. Before Cisco Live US kicks off on June 9th, we invite you to join our #CiscoChat Live on Thursday, May 30th at 10 am PT to hear directly from Cisco, Destination: Home, and PATH. They’ll share how we can conquer homelessness, together, and how you can get involved at Cisco Live or in your own backyard.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The 7 Deadly Sins of Grantmaking

May 23, 2019 1:30 PM ET

Contrary to the seven virtues, the 7 Deadly Sins - pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth, are often thought to be the abuses or excessive versions of one's natural tendencies. In your grantmaking process, do you need help curbing your inclination towards evil before dire consequences and misdeeds occur?

Energy

Kimberly-Clark Switches on One of Singapore’s Largest Solar Roofs

May 23, 2019 1:10 PM ET

Kimberly-Clark switched on one of Singapore’s largest solar energy installations at its manufacturing facility in Tuas, which produces Huggies diapers and Huggies baby wipes. The 7,730 photovoltaic panels mounted on its roof will generate 3.5 Gigawatt hours of clean energy, enough to power up a thousand 3-bedroon HDB flats for a year.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

From Go Green Finalist to Schneider Electric Employee

May 23, 2019 12:25 PM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

The Arbor Day Foundation Partners With Brambles|CHEP, P&G and Sustainable Brands to Plant Trees in Detroit

May 23, 2019 12:00 PM ET

The Arbor Day Foundation is collaborating with Brambles|CHEP, Procter & Gamble and Sustainable Brands to help ReLeaf Michigan plant 35 trees in Detroit’s Muliett Park on June 3.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Intel Makes ESG a Competitive Advantage

May 23, 2019 11:45 AM ET

Sustainable and socially responsible investing now represents $1 in every $4 under professional management. As this type of investing becomes increasingly mainstream, companies around the world are scrambling to make environmental, social and governance (ESG) data available to investors so they can be included in ESG-focused portfolios. Intel, in particular, started engaging with investors around ESG issues nearly 20 years ago. Through so-called “outreach roadshows,” company representatives met with investment firms to share Intel’s ESG metrics and gather feedback about the data points of greatest interest to investors.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

SC Johnson Latinoamérica fue nombrada como el mejor lugar de trabajo multinacional por decimocuarta vez

May 23, 2019 11:15 AM ET

SC Johnson anunció hoy que ha sido reconocida por Great Place to Work® (Los mejores lugares de trabajo) como uno de los mejores lugares de trabajo multinacional en Latinoamérica. Esta es la decimocuarta vez que la región de Latinoamérica de la empresa ha sido reconocida como uno de los mejores lugares de trabajo, y el cuarto año consecutivo. SC Johnson Latinoamérica obtuvo el puesto n.º 22 de la lista 2019 de los mejores lugares de trabajo en la región.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

SC Johnson América Latina é considerada um dos melhores locais de trabalho dentre empresas multinacionais pela 14.ª vez

May 23, 2019 11:15 AM ET

A SC Johnson anunciou hoje que foi reconhecida como um dos melhores locais de trabalho dentre empresas multinacionais na América Latina pela Great Place to Work®. Essa é a 14.ª vez — e o quarto ano consecutivo — que a região latino-americana da empresa foi reconhecida como um dos melhores locais de trabalho. A SC Johnson América Latina obteve a 22.ª colocação na lista de 2019 dos melhores locais de trabalho da região.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

SC Johnson Latin America Named Best Multinational Workplace for 14th Time

May 23, 2019 11:05 AM ET

SC Johnson today announces it has been recognized as a Best Multinational Workplace in Latin America by Great Place to Work®. This is the 14th time the company’s Latin America region has been recognized as a Best Workplace, and the fourth consecutive year. SC Johnson Latin America ranked No. 22 on the 2019 list of top places to work in the region.