ESG News from Leading Brands

Energy

#CoolJobs: A Passion for Renewables

Aug 26, 2015 10:05 AM ET

Rosie Vetter is an AECOM senior environmental consultant who manages onshore renewable energy development projects across the United Kingdom. In a recent AECOM Impact blog post, she discusses what makes her job "cool" and why she chose to work in the renewables industry.

Environment

Papermaking: Doing More with Less

Aug 26, 2015 9:30 AM ET

Sustainable production and consumption depends on using materials and energy efficiently so that there are ample resources available for future generations. Consideration must be given to the full life cycle of a service or product to fully understand its impact. At Sappi, we take a holistic view of papermaking and understand that our sphere of influence extends beyond our mill gates from responsible sourcing through to the end of life of our products.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Ingersoll Rand Leader Awarded with Prestigious Women Worth Watching Honor

Aug 26, 2015 9:30 AM ET

Sheila Tierney, vice president of product management for the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) Parts & Supply Solutions at Ingersoll Rand was announced a winner of Diversity Journal’s 14th annual Women Worth Watching Award. Tierney is among 100 executives chosen for the esteemed honor and will be featured in Diversity Journal’s Summer 2015 issue.

Environment

Coca-Cola on Track to Meet 100% Water Replenishment Goal

Aug 26, 2015 9:00 AM ET

The Coca-Cola Company and its global bottling partners (the Coca-Cola system) today announced they are on track to meet their 2020 water replenishment goal by the end of 2015. Based on the Coca-Cola system’s global water replenishment projects to date, the system is balancing the equivalent of an estimated 94 percent of the water used in its finished beverages based on 2014 sales volume. Since 2004, Coca-Cola has replenished an estimated 153.6 billion liters of water back to communities and nature through 209 community water projects in 61 countries. The Coca-Cola system returned approximately 126.7 billion liters of water used in its manufacturing processes back to communities and nature through treated wastewater in 2014.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Money and Spirit: An Argument for Rediscovery

Aug 26, 2015 8:05 AM ET

Health & Healthcare

American Heart Association and Aramark Join Forces to Improve Diet, Health of Millions

Aug 26, 2015 8:00 AM ET

We're proud to be joining forces with the American Heart Association. We want to empower people to make better food choices. Together, we're pursuing a bold goal of improving the health of all Americans 20 percent by 2020.

Through the five-year Healthy for Life 20 By 20 initiative we're combining Aramark's scale and culinary expertise with the American Heart Association's research and nationwide volunteer network to help build a culture of health at the individual, community and national levels.

Events, Media & Communications

Support Dance Education to Win a VIP Trip to the 'So You Think You Can Dance' Finale

Aug 26, 2015 8:00 AM ET

FOX is hosting a contest giving fans the chance to win the Ultimate VIP Experience at the So You Think You Can Dance season finale this fall. Those who use Omaze.com to donate to judge Nigel Lythgoe's Dizzy Feet Foundation, which supports dance education in the U.S., will be entered automatically into a drawing to meet the judges, have dinner with Nigel and Paula Abdul, and enjoy VIP seats at the finale in Los Angeles. So far, the contest has raised more than $10,000, which is enough to provide a year's worth of dance classes for 237 students across America.The deadline to enter is August 31.

Energy

Addressing Eastern Canada’s Concerns About Natural Gas Supply

Aug 26, 2015 8:00 AM ET

TransCanada reaches important agreement with three large natural gas distribution companies in Ontario and Quebec.

Responsible Production & Consumption

U.N. Calls For Transparency in Tianjin Explosion Investigation

Aug 26, 2015 7:00 AM ET

An international investigation has been underway following the devastating aftermath of the Tianjin explosion in China that left more than 100 people dead. The United Nations have had an ongoing presence in the oversight of the inquiry into the Chinese government.

Events, Media & Communications

Achieving Impact Through Cross-Sector Collaboration

Aug 25, 2015 6:40 PM ET

Organizations are looking for new, innovative approaches to maximize community impact. Increasingly, working collaboratively across sectors allows individual actors to amplify their efforts and tackle society’s toughest problems.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Kaiser Permanente and Points of Light Honor Exceptional Disaster Relief Volunteers With Award Created by President George H. W. Bush

Aug 25, 2015 5:45 PM ET

Kaiser Permanente and Points of Light today announced that volunteers from across the country who served along the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina are being honored with the Daily Point of Light Award. One honoree left in the middle of the night to get to Biloxi, Mississippi, to help coordinate evacuation. Another used the Internet to coordinate volunteers and resources. All honorees responded with exceptional efforts and left a lasting impact.

Education

Prize Offered for Data Insights That Help Increase High School Graduation Rates

Aug 25, 2015 5:05 PM ET

Everyone benefits from a better-educated nation. How can we achieve it? If you’re a data expert, we’re challenging you: Experiment with public data sets and demonstrate insights that will help boost graduation rates.

“Data for Diplomas” is a DevPost contest that kicks off today with $40,000 in prizes and the support of AT&T as part of AT&T Aspire and GradNation. Individuals and groups are encouraged to produce a data driven app or data visualization that is creative, original and will positively impact high school graduation rates.

Environment

Islamic Climate Declaration Asks Muslims to Take Action On Climate Change

Aug 25, 2015 5:00 PM ET

Islamic leaders have issued an Islamic Climate Declaration, calling 1.6 billion Muslims around the world to work towards phasing out greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and towards a 100 percent renewable energy strategy.

Environment

Empowering San Francisco Residents to Restore the Balance

Aug 25, 2015 4:15 PM ET

SAN FRANCISCO, August 25, 2015: Californians know first-hand how devastating climate change can be. Extended drought and extreme weather events have taken their toll on the San Francisco Bay Area and TerraPass has a solution: Bay Area Balance. Bay Area Balance combines carbon offsets and renewable energy credits (RECs) to balance your carbon footprint and Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) Water Restoration Certificates (BEF WRCs®) to balance your water footprint. This versatile solution is the first of its kind, tailored to the average emissions of Bay Area residents to make taking action easy and impactful.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

JetBlue Book Vending Machines Dispense Free Kids’ Books in D.C. Neighborhood

Aug 25, 2015 3:35 PM ET

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

A New Path for Social Enterprises Through the “Valley of Death”

Aug 25, 2015 3:25 PM ET

People have been talking for years about the “valley of death” between seed money and growth capital that confronts and sometimes swallows up social enterprises. Now we’re finally starting to see a critical mass of funders willing to fill the gap with capital combinations designed for enterprises that maximize social and environmental value.

Research, Reports & Publications

Poised for Growth – Corporate Responsibility at Symantec

Aug 25, 2015 2:45 PM ET

Corporate responsibility is about more, not less: more value creation, more collaboration, more diversity and more passion. This belief in continuous growth and improvement is central to our approach to corporate responsibility here at Symantec.

Health & Healthcare

What Makes a Donor Heart Available for Transplant Was Almost a ‘Deal Breaker’ for Pastor Who Needed One to Save His Life

Aug 25, 2015 2:00 PM ET

A Massachusetts pastor supported by the SynCardia temporary Total Artificial Heart for four months vows to live a life worthy of the person whose heart donation gave him a second chance at life.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Talkback Submission Call: “Corporate Governance and Business Ethics”

Aug 25, 2015 1:30 PM ET

At a recent CSR Investing Summit sponsored by S-Network Global Indexes, there was a strong focus on the “G” pillar of ESG—(environmental, social, and governance)—issues. Keynote Speaker Kevin Parker, CEO of Sustainable Insight Capital Management, said that his investment decision-making begins with governance. He looks for “good” governance by boards, management, and related stakeholders as the bottom line for what makes a “good” company. He and other speakers and panelists described ethics—fair practices—as key to defining “good” governance. Simply put, a good company is one that has good governance—and that’s a good investment opportunity.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Clean Cargo Working Group Progress Report 2015

Aug 25, 2015 1:00 PM ET

BSR's Clean Cargo Working Group shares its progress over the past year, including a reduction in carbon emissions by more than eight percent among group members.

Environment

Republic Services Partnered with the University of Nevada Las Vegas for the First Annual Recyclathon

Aug 25, 2015 12:15 PM ET

Republic Services partnered with the University of Nevada Las Vegas for the first annual Recyclathon, a campus wide initiative and contest encouraging faculty and staff from each college and the student body to recycle each semester. Recyclathon was established to celebrate and honor the 20 anniversary of the on-campus Rebel Recycling Program. As of 2015 the University, in collaboration with Republic Services, collects more than three tons of material every day on UNLV’s main campus, its residence halls, athletics facilities and satellite campuses.

Research, Reports & Publications

Bombardier Transportation Releases Its Corporate Responsibility Report 2014: Moving Minds

Aug 25, 2015 12:00 PM ET

With the publication of Moving Minds, its fifth biennial Corporate Responsibility (CR) Report, the company has showcased its achievements as a responsible corporate citizen in the years 2013 and 2014.

Environment

Taking a Stance on Sustainability? Start Here.

Aug 25, 2015 11:30 AM ET

As COP21 approaches, countries continue to debate policies that foster a sustainable future. Should companies wait to align their climate targets with international goals? Or, should they take a stance now to drastically reduce their impact on the environment? Where is the path to becoming more sustainable, and how can organizations keep their employees motivated to meet their goals?

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Ten Years After Katrina

Aug 25, 2015 11:30 AM ET

At the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, CECP looks back at how disaster relief response has changed among companies. We found that overall, the data show that aggregate giving from corporations for disaster relief has declined over the last five years. A deeper look into the data and additional resources shows that it’s a complex story.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

CITGO Fuels Mobile Literacy Program ‘Bess the Book Bus’ National Tour

Aug 25, 2015 11:30 AM ET

Continuing efforts to bring free books and a love of reading to children in underserved communities, CITGO Petroleum Corporation joined mobile literacy program Bess the Book Bus in kicking off the next leg of its 2015 national tour on August 24 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Since January, Bess the Book Bus has distributed more than 29,000 free books to 21,000 children – and is well on the way to reaching its goal of distributing 100,000 books to 25,000 children across more than 30 states this year alone.