ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

LSU Football Fans Champions of 2016 GameDay Recycling Challenge

Jan 19, 2017 12:30 PM ET

While Clemson University recently defeated the University of Alabama in the College Football Playoff National Championship, football fans at Louisiana State University could also claim a championship of their own having been crowned the overall winners of the 2016 GameDay Recycling Challenge (GDRC), the national collegiate football recycling competition.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Nine Amazing Ways to Give Back in 2017

Jan 19, 2017 12:30 PM ET

Corporate houses and entrepreneurs are custodians of the future. They are responsible for creating a long lasting measurable change that could add value in the economic and social welfare arenas.

Energy

Duke Energy Turned N.C.'s Sunny Days Into More Solar Energy Capacity in 2016

Jan 19, 2017 11:00 AM ET

North Carolina's status as a national solar energy leader expanded further in 2016 as Duke Energy connected about 500 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity in the state to serve customers.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Return on Equality: Investment Opportunities that Help Close the Global Gender Gap

Jan 19, 2017 10:30 AM ET

Achieving gender equality is essential as a matter of justice and human rights — and it also unleashes a range of positive economic and development outcomes. While women and girls have made significant gains in the past decade in terms of education, health, economic participation, and political leadership, gender equality has yet to be attained in many critical areas, and at the cost of substantial and unrealized social and market benefits. In fact, the McKinsey Global Institute estimates that narrowing the global gender gap could add US $12 trillion in annual gross domestic product.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Jewelry Industry Moves Toward More Sustainable and Ethical Supply Chains

Jan 19, 2017 10:30 AM ET

The jewelry industry has forged ahead with recent efforts to ensure gemstones and other jewelry products are sustainably sourced. Before the American Gem Trade Association’s annual conference kicks off in Tucson, hundreds of jewelers and others will gather on Jan. 29-30 for their second “Jewelry Industry Summit” to advance efforts for responsible sourcing of gemstones and to improve sustainability in the gem supply trade.

Health & Healthcare

NAACP, Baxter Launch Partnership to Boost Access to Kidney Care

Jan 19, 2017 9:30 AM ET

The NAACP announced today that, with support from Baxter International Inc., it is launching a series of town hall events in communities across the country to improve knowledge about kidney disease and dialysis treatment options for African Americans. Baxter’s support will enable the project to bring needed information about prevention and treatment of kidney disease to African Americans, whose rates of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) continue to rise at alarming rates.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Domtar Difference Makers: Khloe Thompson & Stephanie Arnold Help Homeless Women

Jan 19, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Through Khloe’s efforts, four generations of women are working together to provide help for homeless women through Khloe Kares. This small but heartfelt initiative provides basic necessities to homeless women in and near Fullerton, California.

How do you make a difference in your community?

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Astellas Improves Rank in Second Year Named to Corporate Knights’ 2017 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations

Jan 19, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Astellas has been named for the second year one of Corporate Knights’ 2017 Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World, moving up 10 spots in the index. Corporate Knights announced this year’s honorees at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Five More Cities Join Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Aspen Institute’s Global Initiative on Autonomous Vehicles

Jan 19, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Bloomberg Philanthropies, in conjunction with the Aspen Institute, is helping more cities prepare for the emergence of autonomous cars through its global initiative. Now, five more cities are a part of the cohort.

Research, Reports & Publications

Millennials in the Workplace: What Do They Really Want?

Jan 19, 2017 8:45 AM ET

Entitled, flighty, never fully invested—if you were to take the stereotypes about millennials seriously, they’d be about the worst co-workers and employees imaginable. Happily for HR departments everywhere, a recent report from CBRE Research suggests that (for the most part) the stereotypes would seem to be just that.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

UN Global Compact Bulletin (January 2017)

Jan 19, 2017 8:05 AM ET

Let's Make Global Goals Local Business in 2017!

Learn more about the UN Global Compact’s multi-year strategy to drive business awareness and action in support of achieving the SDGs by 2030.

Innovation & Technology

Empowering Women Through Design

Jan 19, 2017 8:05 AM ET

US-based social enterprise Raven + Lily has joined the Business Call to Action (BctA) with a commitment to provide market access and sustainable livelihoods to over 2,000 women from impoverished communities.

Education

Fox and LA Promise Fund Screen ‘Hidden Figures’ for 10,000 Girls in Los Angeles

Jan 19, 2017 7:00 AM ET

Nearly 10,000 young women from middle and high schools across Los Angeles County gathered at the University of Southern California’s Galen Center on January 10 for an exclusive screening of Hidden Figures, the hit film from 20th Century Fox that tells the true story of three female African American mathematicians who played crucial roles in the Space Race of the 1960’s. The LA Promise Fund for Public Schools organized the screening, which featured appearances by cast members Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe and Aldis Hodge, along with producer Pharrell Williams, all of whom spoke about their hope that the Hidden Figures story will inspire more women and women of color to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and math.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Macomb Innovation Fund Awards $225,000 to Five Detroit-area Technology Startups

Jan 19, 2017 6:00 AM ET

Five early-stage companies from Macomb, Washtenaw and Wayne counties will receive $225,000 in funding from the Innovation Fund Macomb Community College, Powered by JPMorgan Chase & Co. Since July 2015, the Macomb Innovation Fund has awarded $1.4 million to 24 companies, which have garnered $3.5 million in follow-on funding.

Media & Communications

New Avery Dennison ClearIntent™ Portfolio Enables Sustainability Improvements

Jan 19, 2017 5:15 AM ET

As part of its ambitious 2025 sustainability goals, Avery Dennison Label and Packaging Materials has created a new portfolio designed to enable customers choose products that can help to make a positive environmental impact.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

MSD for Mothers Commits $10 Million and Business Expertise to the Global Financing Facility to Help End Preventable Deaths of Mothers

Jan 19, 2017 1:30 AM ET

Environment

Multi-Level Water Resources Strategy Urged

Jan 18, 2017 5:30 PM ET

While acknowledging progress in efforts to better manage our nation’s water resources, there is still much to be done in the area of combining private and public forces for the good of all, according to Nelson Switzer, Chief Sustainability Officer for Nestlé Waters North America.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Final Call for 2017 Collegiate RecycleMania Competition Applications!

Jan 18, 2017 4:30 PM ET

Registration for new and returning colleges and universities is coming to a close for the 2017 RecycleMania tournament, the premier collegiate recycling competition. Now in its 17th year, RecycleMania pits colleges and universities against one another to see which will claim the championship in the fight to reduce, reuse, recycle and compost the most on campus. The 2017 RecycleMania competition, managed by national nonprofit Keep America Beautiful, will kick off on Feb. 5.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Aramark Joins Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

Jan 18, 2017 4:00 PM ET

Education

Meet Amgen Scholars Alumni Anna Talyzina

Jan 18, 2017 3:40 PM ET

My grandfather was a pharmacologist, and he told me about his work. I have always dreamt that one day I would create my own drug and it would help people and make a difference in the world.

Green Infrastructure

Delos™ and HKS Announce a Strategic Partnership to Study the Impact of the Built Environment on Health and Well-Being

Jan 18, 2017 3:05 PM ET

Delos™, a wellness real estate and technology firm, today announced a partnership with HKS, an international design firm, to study and measure the impact of interventions in the built environment on human health and well-being. The new HKS and Delos partnership will focus on applied research and will build on the strengths of each company to target peer-reviewed open sourced publications, and advance Delos’ mission to transform buildings into healthier spaces.

Responsible Production & Consumption

I Received an OSHA Citation--What Should I Do?

Jan 18, 2017 2:35 PM ET

Let's say OSHA recently conducted a wall-to-wall inspection of your plant. During the close out conference, you were informed that your plant was in violation of certain OSHA standards. While the compliance officer (CO) does not have the authority to issue citations or penalties-- the final authority lies with the OSHA Area Director--the CO stated that, should OSHA choose to issue citations and financial penalties, you should expect correspondence within a few weeks.

After six long weeks of anxiously awaiting the final outcome of the inspection, the plant manager notifies you the results have arrived. The correspondence is handed off to you, which marks another first in your role as the new plant safety person.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Spectrum Health Recognized for Excellence in Community Service with 2016 Foster G. McGaw Prize

Jan 18, 2017 1:00 PM ET

In recognition of its cutting-edge programs and services to reach the underserved residents of Western Michigan, Spectrum Health is awarded the 2016 Foster G. McGaw Prize for Excellence in Community Service and will receive $100,000 for programs creating healthier and stronger communities.

Social Impact & Volunteering

CSX Honors Service on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Jan 18, 2017 1:00 PM ET

CSX observes Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a National Day of Service, when many employees dedicate their personal time to volunteer.

This past Monday, some CSX employees joined a service event at Jean Ribault High School in Jacksonville in conjunction with CSX’s national partner, City Year. Together, volunteers painted a mural highlighting a city skyline along with values of both City Year and Martin Luther King, Jr., such as honesty and respect.

Social Impact & Volunteering

10 Companies Engaging Employees Through Exemplary Matching Gift and Grant Programs

Jan 18, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Matching gift programs do a lot to encourage employee loyalty, and many companies include added perks with their matching gift programs.