ESG News from Leading Brands

Innovation & Technology

Addressing Social Sector Needs Through Technology Pro Bono

May 14, 2019 11:15 AM ET

The social sector continues to lag in the adoption and use of technology due in part to lack of funding and limited staff. How can pro bono service bridge the gap between the needs of the sector and available human and financial resources? On the heels of last week’s Global Pro Bono Summit, Taproot Foundation and VMware are releasing their latest research—a compilation of guides to Transforming Technology Pro Bono—in an effort to support nonprofit organizations in maximizing the impact technology pro bono can have on their mission.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

CITGO Raises More Than $2.2 Million for the Muscular Dystrophy Association

May 14, 2019 11:00 AM ET

CITGO employees, Marketers, Retailers, vendors and suppliers raised more than $2.2 Million to date for families living with muscular dystrophy, ALS and related neuromuscular diseases that severely weaken muscle strength and mobility.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Foodies Learn About Farming’s Future

May 14, 2019 10:35 AM ET

There are many challenges in today’s food system, from resource scarcity to soil health and water quality. Cascadian Farm and General Mills believe it will take a collective movement to change how crops are commercially grown, to positively impact climate change, and that’s what we’re doing by collaborating to help develop Kernza.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Aflac Agent Nick Wagner on Living with a Sense of Purpose

May 14, 2019 10:30 AM ET

Giving back to the community is important to Nick Wagner, who's been an Aflac independent sales agent for 18 years. Working at Aflac gives Nick the flexibility he needs to ensure that he's giving back how and when he wants. "Aflac gives me the opportunity to help people and make a lifestyle out of doing that." says Nick, "It's one thing to give money to a cause, and it's another thing to become a part of the cause. When there's a need in the community, I can take time away from what I'm doing with Aflac to go volunteer my time."

Environment

Medtronic CEO Reinforces Commitment To Sustainability

May 14, 2019 10:15 AM ET

Business Roundtable CEOs, including Medtronic Chairman and CEO, Omar Ishrak, are embracing sustainability across their businesses. Now, through the #EmbracingSustainability challenge, they are sharing progress and calling on other business leaders to balance environmental stewardship practices and social impact with economic growth for a sustainable future.

Events, Media & Communications

The New Climate for Business

May 14, 2019 10:00 AM ET

The BSR Conference 2019 will offer the opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the new climate that every business is facing and to learn about how to meet these challenges as we move into the decisive decade ahead. Early-bird registration is now open.

Research, Reports & Publications

Using Data for Good: Return on Investment in Corporate Responsibility

May 14, 2019 9:25 AM ET

Alliance Data recently hosted a panel discussion at Boston College’s annual Center for Corporate Citizenship Conference on the topic of “Data for Good: Maximizing Impact through Data-Driven Nonprofit Partnerships.” Alliance Data’s Dana Beckman, Director of Corporate Affairs, facilitated a conversation with Tina Weinfurther, President and CEO of nonprofit consulting firm CNM, as well as Daniel Roby, Executive Director of homeless shelter Austin Street Center, on the challenges of both corporate funders and nonprofits in demonstrating return on investment.

Green Infrastructure

Aiken County (S.C.) Off Road Tire Plant Achieves LEED Green Building Certification

May 14, 2019 9:00 AM ET

Bridgestone Americas, Inc., a subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest tire and rubber company, today announced that its Aiken County Off Road Tire Plant (Aiken ORR), located in Trenton, S.C., has been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED recognizes buildings that are designed, constructed, and operated for improved energy, environmental, and human health performance. LEED is the world’s most widely used green building program with more than 94,000 registered and certified projects in 167 countries and territories.

Research, Reports & Publications

Catalyzing Action on the SDGs Through Collaboration

May 14, 2019 9:00 AM ET

Slowly but surely we are seeing pockets of progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Ten years remain until the 2030 deadline and as the urgency ramps up, so does the commitment of many businesses and swathes of civil society around the world. Still, experts worldwide polled by GlobeScan and SustainAbility continue to view progress on sustainable development as inadequate (particularly the contribution of national governments). The good news is that they are gradually becoming less negative according to the most recent SDG Progress Report.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Nestlé Makes Its Human Rights Training Available to All

May 14, 2019 9:00 AM ET

Nestlé today made its human rights training for employees available to all. Companies and others will be able to use the training module and adapt it to meet their own needs.

Environment

Compressed Air Applications Reduce Environmental Footprint With Ingersoll Rand Energy Recovery Units

May 14, 2019 9:00 AM ET

Manufacturing plants using oil-free compressed air solutions like pharmaceutical, food and beverage, chemical and automotive industries can lower their environmental footprint and reach their ISO 50001 goals in energy management with the new Energy Recovery Units (ERU) from Ingersoll Rand®. The new sustainability oriented solutions work with oil-free compressors transferring the heat generated throughout the compression process to warm water, which customers can use in industrial processes or to heat spaces in the plant.

Environment

WWF Launches Activation Hub to Help Prevent 10 Million Metric Tons of Global Plastic Waste

May 14, 2019 8:00 AM ET

Principal Members, Keurig Dr Pepper, McDonald’s, Procter & Gamble, Starbucks, Tetra Pak and The Coca-Cola Company, with Thought Partners Ocean Conservancy and the Ellen MacArthur Foundation sign on to ReSource: Plastic to inspire action across sectors and supply chains

Research, Reports & Publications

Sanofi 2018 Integrated Report Presents Its Responsibility for the Future

May 14, 2019 5:00 AM ET

For the third year, Sanofi has published its Integrated Report, "Our Responsibility for the Future”.

This year, the report took on a shorter, bolder format. In this latest edition, we illustrate our commitments and long-term value creation for all stakeholders, giving them a clear, concise, and comprehensive vision of our business model. We also provide key information about the company, its strategy, its value creation, and its sustainable governance, as well as its financial and non-financial performance.

Innovation & Technology

Partners in Purpose: My Special Aflac Duck is Helping Kids With Cancer

May 13, 2019 5:15 PM ET

On average, children with cancer will spend 1,000 days undergoing treatment. Knowing this can be a scary and difficult time for young patients, Aflac partnered with Sproutel to develop "My Special Aflac Duck." The duck is designed to be a comfort and help children share their emotions. The robotic companion recently earned SXSW's People Choice Award in the Robotics & Hardware category in addition to previous accolades from TIME Magazine and Engadget.

Diversity & Inclusion

Inclusive Workplace Earns Aramark Three Awards

May 13, 2019 4:25 PM ET

Higher rates of workplace diversity can help companies evolve, innovate, problem-solve and be more efficient. It attracts the best talent, and helps define a company's reputation as a responsible company.

Environment

Behind the Wheel: The Goodwood Estate, in the Fast Lane for Sustainable Growth

May 13, 2019 4:00 PM ET

What does the English ancestral home to the Dukes of Richmond have in common with one of the largest capital goods companies in the world? The Goodwood Estate and CNH Industrial: two global, multi-faceted businesses with a reputation for excellence in their various fields are committed to finding new, innovative and sustainable ways of working. Nowhere does this become more apparent than on Goodwood’s own Home Farm.

Innovation & Technology

Modern-Day Nightingales: Meet Three Enterprising Nurses Who Moonlight as Inventors

May 13, 2019 3:50 PM ET

When you think about groundbreaking healthcare innovations—creations that forever changed how medicine is practiced, like the invention of sutures—chances are you first think of medical device engineers and pharmaceutical scientists brainstorming in a lab.

But there's another category of equally inventive medical professionals who work on the very front lines of healthcare: nurses.

Health & Healthcare

How Food Companies Can Make the Most of Longer Lives

May 13, 2019 3:30 PM ET

According to UN statistics, the number of people over 60 will increase to 1.4bn by 2030, from 962m in 2017, and will have more than doubled to 2.1bn by 2050. By the end of the century, the 60+ population will reach 3.1bn.

For food manufacturers, these numbers have significance beyond the growth potential they could offer. Supporting good health at all life stages is core to their sustainability missions and the vital role they can play in improving nutrition among older consumers to support healthy ageing will become more significant as the 60+ population grows.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Serving Those Who Served For Us

May 13, 2019 3:00 PM ET

The Whirlpool Veterans Association (WVA), in partnership with Blue Star Mothers, was recently able to provide local veteran Scott Spearitt with a new Whirlpool brand washer and dryer.

Environment

The Timberland® and Wrangler® Brands and the VF Foundation Support Research on Regenerative Ranching Practices to Improve Farmer Well-Being, Soil Health

May 13, 2019 2:15 PM ET

The VF Foundation and the Timberland® and Wrangler® brands today announced $150,000 in grants to researchers at seven U.S. universities, including Arizona State University and Michigan State University, that are conducting the first comprehensive research into regenerative ranching practices.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Procter & Gamble is Doing Good Every Day with Tide Loads of Hope and Relief Efforts

May 13, 2019 2:05 PM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Maximizing Impact for Global Disaster Relief Efforts

May 13, 2019 1:05 PM ET

At the recent Council on Foundations bi-annual conference, Leading Together, almost 1000 philanthropy leaders and business, government, and academia influencers gathered together to connect, share, and learn with one another. Celebrating 70 years, the Council on Foundations assembled a jam-packed agenda full of thought-provoking sessions, learning labs, tech bars, keynotes, as well as plenty of networking and entertainment opportunities for an event that not only educated, but truly lived up to its moniker of “Leading Together.”

Green Infrastructure

Infographic | UPS Solutions for Urban Logistics

May 13, 2019 12:40 PM ET

How is UPS delivering more sustainable logistics in cities? Through new technologies, innovative last-mile solutions, and stakeholder partnerships. See UPS’s approach to city solutions:

Health & Healthcare

Pfizer Utilizes Framework to Enable Quicker, More Effective Response to Major Societal Issues

May 13, 2019 12:00 PM ET

We live in challenging, often contentious times, with political, cultural and environmental issues constantly brewing. Companies across industries face the daunting task of appropriately responding to issues and news on a regular basis, and to help guide our responses at Pfizer, we developed our Social Framework – a way to determine if, when, how and why we will address a societal issue.

Media & Communications

Webinar: Overcoming Roadblocks to Enterprise-wide Efficiency

May 13, 2019 11:45 AM ET

Energy efficiency dominates corporate energy investments, with 93 percent of companies using efficiency technologies today. While technology is an enabler, companies are struggling to accelerate energy conservation results portfolio-wide. Funding is perceived to be a top barrier, but CapEx is only the tip of the iceberg. Today's global executives face difficult questions to solve...