ESG News from Leading Brands

Innovation & Technology

The Living Progress Challenge Proposal Phase is Complete—and the Winners are:

May 5, 2016 4:55 PM ET

Launched in December, 2015, the Living Progress Challenge invited the global community to submit their best ideas for software applications and digital services that can improve lives. We received more than 360 ideas and 130 detailed proposals from around the world.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

HP, Inc. Among 5 Global Companies Committed to "Employer Pays Principle"

May 5, 2016 4:05 PM ET

HP, Inc. joins Coca-Cola Company, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, IKEA, and Unilever to launch a new collaboration, the Leadership Group for Responsible Recruitment, focused on promoting ethical recruitment and combating the exploitation of migrant workers in global supply chains across industries.

Events, Media & Communications

Exploring The Dutch Way

May 5, 2016 3:15 PM ET

More than 120 attendees representing 60 companies from Europe, America, Asia and Oceania joined the Inogen WorldView® Conference, themed ‘The Dutch Way’, on April 19th.

Energy

Avista Completes Upgrades at Post Falls South Channel Dam

May 5, 2016 3:00 PM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Top UN Climate Change Executive, Christiana Figueres, Wins Prestigious Joan Bavaria Sustainability Award

May 5, 2016 3:00 PM ET

Christiana Figueres, the executive secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), has been awarded the Joan Bavaria Award for Building Sustainability into the Capital Markets. The announcement was made today at the Ceres Conference 2016 at the Park Plaza Hotel in Boston.

Social Impact & Volunteering

TOMS Giving Partner Children International Celebrates Giving Nearly 3 Million Pairs of Shoes

May 5, 2016 3:00 PM ET

As the annual event One Day Without Shoes approaches, Children International is celebrating giving nearly 3 million pairs of shoes to kids in need and three years as a TOMS Giving Partner.

Research, Reports & Publications

Safety Services Keep Customers Alert to Fatigue

May 5, 2016 2:00 PM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Five Ways Companies in the Construction Industry Are Focusing on Sustainability in 2016

May 5, 2016 1:30 PM ET

In 2015, G&S Business Communications Sense & Sustainability Study determined that only 21 percent of the adults polled for the study ranked construction among the top three sustainable industries. When Ron Loch, the author of the study, was asked his thoughts on why the number was so low, he attributed it to public perception and the images those perceptions invoked in people's’ minds.

Diversity & Inclusion

Prudential Takes White House Fair Chance Business Pledge

May 5, 2016 1:15 PM ET

Events, Media & Communications

Senator Whitehouse to Ceres Conference: 'Denial Castle' is Crumbling

May 5, 2016 1:15 PM ET

With the ink barely dry on the landmark Paris COP21 agreement signed by 175 countries, one New England lawmaker sees “real cracks in denial castle” and is calling on corporations to lobby Republicans in Congress to break party ranks and take a stand on climate change.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Setting Your Own Direction for a Clean-Fuel Commercial Fleet

May 5, 2016 1:00 PM ET

A new fuel tool from BSR's Future of Fuels helps companies make the most sustainable and effective decisions to create cleaner fleets.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Kimberly-Clark Ties up with Charities Aid Foundation on Sanitation Drive

May 5, 2016 12:50 PM ET

Multi-billion dollar personal care products firm Kimberly-Clark is hoping to change the approach and impact of private sector initiatives in the sanitation space. Instead of building toilets, it has taken up refurbishing and rebuilding work on existing not-in-use toilets.

Diversity & Inclusion

Macy's Systems and Technology CSR Managing Change and Developing Human Capital Live Podcast

May 5, 2016 12:40 PM ET

The Bard MBA in Sustainability  will host a live dial-in podcast discussion with LaTrice Ross, Manager of Diversity and Inclusion with Macy's Systems & Technology. LaTrice works to ensure an inclusive environment where all employees are treated with respect. Prior to joining MST, LaTrice worked with Step IT Up America, which was a program designed to train and assist minority women in starting careers as IT consultants. Listeners can dial in to the podcast at NOON EST, May 6th.

Diversity & Inclusion

AT&T Commits to Hiring 20,000 Veterans by 2020

May 5, 2016 12:15 PM ET

Doubling its military hiring commitment, AT&T* has announced it plans to hire an additional 10,000 veterans for a total of 20,000 by 2020. This commitment was announced at today’s White House Joining Forces event, along with more than 50 other companies dedicated to hiring and training veterans and military spouses.

Health & Healthcare

Nestlé Announces Support for Lower Sodium Targets

May 5, 2016 12:00 PM ET

Innovation & Technology

Ray C. Anderson Memorial Highway

May 5, 2016 11:45 AM ET

What if we reimagine the way we connect our communities, our lives, and our world in a way that’s safer, more responsive to the climate, more regenerative to the environment, more uplifting to the spirit, and more capable of generating economic opportunity?

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Keeping Up with the Customers (Sustainably)

May 5, 2016 11:45 AM ET

A few years ago, “showrooming” – in which a customer checks out a product at a physical store and then buys it from a different business online – looked like the harbinger of doom for brick-and-mortar retailers. Then shoppers flip-flopped that behavior, engaging in what’s dubbed “webrooming.”

Events, Media & Communications

IBM, GSK, and JPMorgan Chase Join PYXERA Global for a Discussion on Leadership at 22nd Annual Leadership Development Conference

May 5, 2016 11:00 AM ET

After attending the session, Learning and Leading By Doing Real Work in the Field at The Conference Board’s 22nd Annual Leadership Development Conference, HR professionals will have new ways to retain talent longer and increase employee engagement. Moderated by Amanda MacArthur, Vice President of Global Pro Bono and Engagement at PYXERA Global, Thursday’s discussion will feature Gina Tesla, Director, Corporate Citizenship Initiatives at IBM, Manu Juneja, Global Volunteering Manager at GSK and Tara Cardone, Head of Employee Engagement & Volunteerism at JPMorgan Chase.

Events, Media & Communications

Examining the Bloomberg Average ESG Disclosure Scores-- Higher For S&P 500® Companies That Disclose/Publish Sustainability Reports With Relevant ESG Data

May 5, 2016 10:55 AM ET

At G&A Institute we continue to look at the S&P 500® universe of companies in two groups: those companies that have published in some form a sustainability, corporate responsibility, citizenship or some related titling to publicly disclose important data and narrative on their ESG strategies, actions, performance and achievements. And, a second group, those companies that do not disclose / report on ESG factors.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

America’s Charities and National Corporate Research Partner to Offer Discounted Charitable Solicitation Registration/Renewal and Related Services

May 5, 2016 10:25 AM ET

America’s Charities, the leader in workplace fundraising for nonprofits, today announced a new partnership with National Corporate Research, Ltd. (NCR) to provide America’s Charities’ nonprofit members a discount on NCR’s charitable solicitation registration and renewal services, sales tax exemption services, statutory representation and state corporate compliance services. The partnership is the latest in the benefits and discounted resources available to America’s Charities members.

Responsible Production & Consumption

EHS for Low-Risk Facilities

May 5, 2016 10:10 AM ET

For low risk facilities such as offices, data centers, warehouses, labs and retail stores, employee health, safety and comfort are proven to increase productivity and job satisfaction. Antea Group’s RiskRight EHS is designed to reduce and proactively manage so your business can focus on what it does best.

Health & Healthcare

Clean Hands Count!

May 5, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Education

Toyota Says Thanks a Million to Future STEM Scholars

May 5, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Georgetown, Ky. April 29, 2016 /3BL Media/ -- As Yogi Berra put it, “the future ain’t what it used to be.” The same could be said for manufacturing, which is why Toyota continues to invest in the people and institutions at the center of the industry’s future.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Wells Fargo Supports Diverse-Owned Small Businesses, Distributes $22.3 Million

May 5, 2016 9:35 AM ET

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) today announced it is providing $22.3 million in lending capital and grants to 15 Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) selected for round one of the Wells Fargo Works for Small Business®: Diverse Community Capital program. CDFIs are private, nonprofit financial institutions that assist underserved populations. The three-year Diverse Community Capital (DCC) program will provide a total of $75 million in lending and grant capital over six selection rounds to CDFIs that support diverse-owned small businesses. CDFIs interested in the program’s second round can submit an interest form through June 1.

Innovation & Technology

Lockheed Martin Enables Advanced Infrastructure

May 5, 2016 9:05 AM ET

Lockheed Martin’s 2015 Sustainability Report details how we manage and achieve progress in Product Performance. Our objective is to innovate to deliver optimal economic and performance value over the life cycle of our products. Our focus on performance and sustainability ensures safe, reliable, affordable products that support our customers’ missions of national security, citizen services and sustainable development.