ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

Albertsons Companies Stores Celebrate Earth Day with Plastics Recycling Partner

Apr 21, 2016 8:00 AM ET

This April 22nd marks the 46th anniversary of Earth Day. While this is a key day to celebrate environmental achievements, it’s also important to recognize our role as environmental stewards each and every day. This is something that Albertsons Companies and our family of stores (including ACME, Albertsons, Safeway, Shaw’s, Star, United, and others) takes seriously all year round through the conscientious reduction, reuse, and recycling of all our materials. Plastic is a great example. Last year alone our stores and other facilities recycled more than 22 million pounds of plastic film into new materials! Thanks to our partners at Trex Company, Inc. (Trex), this plastic film not only avoided going to landfill, but it was turned into new long-lasting resources and products.

Energy

Whirlpool Corporation Reaffirms Goal of Zero Waste to Landfill from Manufacturing

Apr 20, 2016 7:00 PM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

How the Expectations of Millennials Have Shaped Customer Service

Apr 20, 2016 6:50 PM ET

We do not believe customer service is enough to satisfy client’s expectations, it takes a team. Indeed, a partnership is so key to our approach we deliberately choose the name ‘Client Success’ versus the more commonly used ‘customer service’.

Research, Reports & Publications

Walmart Highlights Vision for “Whole Systems” Approach in 2016 Global Responsibility Report

Apr 20, 2016 6:30 PM ET

Walmart today released its ninth annual Global Responsibility Report, entitled “Using Our Strengths to Help Others,” highlighting the company’s progress and milestones during fiscal year 2016 in social and environmental responsibility. The report also outlines Walmart’s “whole systems” approach to continue to advance global responsibility in the key areas of opportunity, sustainability, and local communities.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Unlocking Purpose and Profit

Apr 20, 2016 6:25 PM ET

We have all seen corporate community engagement undergo a transformation in the past 20 years. Through the 1990’s a company’s engagement strategy was largely driven by compliance, aligning to policies that ensure that business does the least harm to consumers and the environment. In the early 2000’s, companies started to develop more intentional investment in their communities with the goal of being a strong corporate citizen in what we now think of as traditional corporate social responsibility. Most recently, companies have stopped thinking about the community as an external and separate actor and are integrating pro-social initiatives into their operations to drive value to their business and society at once.

Education

Building Bridges into the Innovation Economy

Apr 20, 2016 5:20 PM ET

When it comes to the innovation economy, access and opportunity are not always equal. Across the nation, rural students often fall behind their urban peers in developing the skills they need to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The opportunity-gap is even wider for rural students of color and English-learners seeking to break into a tech career.

Environment

National Grid Reaffirms Backing of Low-Carbon USA

Apr 20, 2016 5:15 PM ET

Innovation & Technology

Upstart Co-Lab to Promote a Creative Economy

Apr 20, 2016 5:00 PM ET

A creative economy is quintessential to building a sustainable future.

Environment

Timberland Employees Dive into Dumpsters for Earth Week

Apr 20, 2016 4:30 PM ET

Yesterday morning eight intrepid Timberland volunteers, including president Stewart Whitney, dove into a dumpster and sorted through the contents to identify key strategies for Timberland to reduce waste at its global headquarters in Stratham, N.H. Wearing polypropylene coveralls, gloves and protective eyewear, the volunteers sorted through 13 trash bags from the dumpster and assigned their contents to piles of recyclable waste, compostable waste, reusable waste and trash bound for the landfill.

Environment

Earth Week Guest Post: When “Eco-Friendly” Equals “Customer-Friendly”

Apr 20, 2016 3:55 PM ET

As the president and owner of two General Motors’ Green Dealer facilities – Sunshine Chevrolet in Arden, North Carolina and Don Elliott Autoworld in Wharton, Texas – I believe the smart thing to do today is embrace energy conservation.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Microsoft Announces YouthSpark Grants to 100 Nonprofit Partners in 55 Countries

Apr 20, 2016 3:30 PM ET

Sometimes all it takes is a spark: that one class, that one teacher, that one project which makes a difference. It can change the lives of young students who may have had little opportunity to excel, or perhaps even to complete high school, to enable them to become successful engineers, entrepreneurs or computer scientists. This is the inspiration behind our global YouthSpark initiative.

Environment

Zoe Weil: Sustainable Education, Part II

Apr 20, 2016 2:35 PM ET

Environment

CITGO and Local Refineries Observe Earth Day with Environmental Preservation and Recycling Events across the U.S.

Apr 20, 2016 2:30 PM ET

Events, Media & Communications

Trabajando Juntos en el fortalecimiento de nuestras Prácticas de Sustentabilidad

Apr 20, 2016 2:00 PM ET

En marzo de 2016, el equipo de Sustentabilidad de Goldcorp y el comité del SEMS conformado por el área de Responsabilidad Social Corporativa (CSR, por sus siglas en inglés); Seguridad y Medioambiente; se reunieron con la Junta Directiva y el resto de las áreas de nuestras operaciones, en la Cumbre Bianual de Sustentabilidad, encuentro que se realizó durante tres días con el propósito de aprender, dialogar e intercambiar conocimientos para seguir impulsando nuestro tránsito hacia la sustentabilidad.

Events, Media & Communications

Ensemble, nous œuvrons pour instaurer des pratiques plus robustes au profit du développement durable

Apr 20, 2016 2:00 PM ET

Au mois de mars 2016, les membres de l’équipe mondiale de Goldcorp se sont réunis dans le cadre du sommet semestriel de l’entreprise sur le développement durable, pour poursuivre notre démarche en ce sens. Les équipes intervenant dans le domaine de la durabilité, dont des représentants de la Responsabilité sociale d’entreprise (RSE), de l’Environnement, la sécurité, les Services techniques, les Ressources humaines, les Communications, les Opérations ainsi que des membres du Comité de la durabilité, de l’environnement, de la santé et de la sécurité (SEH&S) du conseil d’administration sont venues prendre part aux activités d’apprentissage, de dialogue et de savoir qui se sont déroulées sur une période de trois jours.

Education

Teams Showcase Brain Health Innovations at Pathways to InnoVAtion Summit

Apr 20, 2016 2:00 PM ET

Events, Media & Communications

Together, Working to Build Stronger Sustainability Practices

Apr 20, 2016 2:00 PM ET

In March 2016, members of Goldcorp’s global team convened for the company’s bi-annual Sustainability Summit to further our sustainability journey. Teams from Sustainability, including CSR, Environment and Security; Technical Services; Human Resources; Communications; Operations and Safety and Health, as well as all members of the Board’s Sustainability, Environment, Health & Safety (SEH&S) Committee were in attendance for three days of learning, dialogue and knowledge sharing.

Environment

Business Leaders Disclose How Companies are Acting on Climate Change

Apr 20, 2016 1:05 PM ET

As part of a global study, business leaders discussed actions being taken to help mitigate #ClimateChange. More than 80 percent of these companies have committed to reducing emissions. Many, including Ingersoll Rand, have implemented wide-ranging activities to reduce the carbon footprint of their operations and product offerings.

Research, Reports & Publications

General Mills 2016 Global Responsibility Report Overarching Video

Apr 20, 2016 12:45 PM ET

Our 2016 Global Responsibility Report highlights four key focus areas: Health & Wellness, Sustainability, Workplace and Community, each of which presents unique challenges, opportunities and goals for our business.

Environment

Republic Celebrates Earth Day in St. Louis by Expanding Compressed Natural Gas-Powered Fleet

Apr 20, 2016 12:20 PM ET

Republic Services announced today the addition of four Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) solid waste collection trucks to its fleet serving customers throughout metropolitan St. Louis. The CNG trucks replace older diesel-powered trucks, and bring the total number of natural gas vehicles operated by Republic in metropolitan St. Louis to 107.

Environment

Boeing Deepens its Roots in Washington – One Tree at a Time

Apr 20, 2016 12:10 PM ET

Mother Nature demonstrated her approval by holding back the rain clouds as elementary school students joined lawmakers and community leaders to start a multi-year partnership to plant one million trees in King County by 2020. Together, they planted a slender Douglas Fir in White Center Heights Park to kick off a campaign aimed at simultaneously improving the environment and neighborhoods across King County, Wash.

Environment

Arbor Day Foundation and BJ’s Charitable Foundation to Plant a Half Million Trees by End of Spring

Apr 20, 2016 12:00 PM ET

The Arbor Day Foundation is planting a half million trees in our nation’s forests by the end of spring of 2016 thanks to the continued support of BJ’s Wholesale Club and BJ’s Charitable Foundation. In 2013, BJ’s committed one million dollars to plant more than one million trees in forests of need and communities devastated by natural disasters by the year 2020.

Events, Media & Communications

NAEM’s 2016 Forum Agenda Focuses on Refining Strategy, Advancing Safety and Driving Business Impact

Apr 20, 2016 12:00 PM ET

To be a leader in environment, health and safety (EHS) and sustainability management today, companies are carefully targeting their programs to deliver a positive business impact, according to NAEM Deputy Director Virginia Hoekenga, who announced the association’s annual conference agenda this week.

Diversity & Inclusion

Enhancing Economic Power Through “Traditional” Women’s Work

Apr 20, 2016 11:45 AM ET

Northern Ghana Shea (NGS), a social enterprise operating in the Upper West region of Ghana, has joined the Business Call to Action (BCtA) with a commitment to expand market access for 4,000 rural women who pick shea nuts and produce shea butter, and to diversify their customer base by securing at least two international buyers by 2018. As part of its commitment, by 2017 the company will increase the volume of these small-scale farmers’ production by 60 percent.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Recognizing Those in Our Industry Who Give Back

Apr 20, 2016 11:30 AM ET

In the November 2015 issue of MarketWatch, FIA features DRW College Prep, giving a glimpse inside the school and sharing its success despite the challenges faced by its students.