ESG News from Leading Brands

Social Impact & Volunteering

Officer Michael Harris Gets Maytag Dependable Leader Award

Dec 6, 2016 4:30 PM ET

Grand Rapids, MI - Officer Michael Harris has been named a 2016 Maytag Dependable Leader Award winner for his demonstrated dedication to keeping youth on the path to achieve great futures.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Comcast NBCUniversal Named A 'Best Workplace For Diversity' By Fortune Magazine

Dec 6, 2016 3:45 PM ET

At Comcast NBCUniversal, diversity and inclusion is part of the DNA of our company. Our commitment to D&I is built into everything that we do, and has become an important part of the foundation for our innovation.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Volkswagen Group of America Honored By The Human Rights Campaign Foundation as a Top LGBT-Inclusive Business

Dec 6, 2016 3:30 PM ET

Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (VWGoA), today proudly announced that it has been honored by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation as one of 517 major U.S. businesses that scored a 100 percent on the 2017 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), earning the designation as a 2017 Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality. This accolade recognizes companies that satisfy all of the CEI’s criteria on corporate policies and practices pertinent to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Events, Media & Communications

Caterpillar Invests $11.5 Million in United Way

Dec 6, 2016 3:00 PM ET

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) employees and retirees together with the Caterpillar Foundation have pledged more than $11.5 million to United Way agencies across the United States as part of its 2016-2017 campaign. This amount includes a dollar-for-dollar matching grant from the Caterpillar Foundation. The United Way has been Caterpillar’s only annual solicitation for funds to its employees and retirees for more than 60 years.

Diversity & Inclusion

Meet the Antea Group Hartford Office!

Dec 6, 2016 2:15 PM ET

The Hartford office works primarily in areas of environmental liability management and operational performance and assurance. Our ELM work encompasses assessment and remediation, calculating asset retirement obligations, and supporting real estate and business transactions. Our OPA work has included management of operational and compliance issues for retail stores, chemical companies, and industrial operations.

Innovation & Technology

How Bloomberg Offers Women Technologists in India Challenging Global Opportunities

Dec 6, 2016 1:10 PM ET

From an early age growing up in India, Vedika Dalmia knew she wanted to pursue a career in engineering and computer science. With support from her family and teachers, she eventually left the country to study computer science at the University of Surrey in Guildford, England.

Innovation & Technology

It Takes More Than a Village

Dec 6, 2016 1:10 PM ET

Where there is wireless connectivity, there is a way to improve lives. That’s why countless mobile-for-development programs designed to address health, education and economic issues have been flooding Africa. Presently hailed as the “mobile continent,” Africa has generated $150 billion through the mobile ecosystem, and its mobile subscribers have surpassed half a billion. But not every tech-for-good initiative can be M-PESA, the juggernaut mobile money system of Kenya.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Lockheed Martin Achieves Perfect Score on Human Rights Campaign's Corporate Equality Index for Ninth Consecutive Year

Dec 6, 2016 1:05 PM ET

For the ninth year in a row, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) achieved a perfect score of 100 percent on the Corporate Equality Index (CEI). The index is a national benchmarking survey administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation to measure corporate policies and practices related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) workplace inclusion. The corporation was also cited as a 2017 Best Place to Work for LGBT Equality.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

T. Rowe Price Earns Perfect Score on 2017 Corporate Equality Index

Dec 6, 2016 1:00 PM ET

T. Rowe Price was recognized for its commitment to maintaining a comfortable environment for all associates with a perfect score on the Corporate Equity Index (CEI) released by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). The score earns the firm designation as a 2017 best place to work for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) equality.

Environment

Republic Services Suggests Seven Ways to Make the Holidays More Sustainable

Dec 6, 2016 12:45 PM ET

This holiday season, Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG) encourages consumers across the country to incorporate sustainability into their celebrations and family gatherings with helpful sustainability tips. Click here to view Republic’s 2016 holiday recycling video.

Innovation & Technology

Better Lives for Bangladesh’s Garment Workers

Dec 6, 2016 12:25 PM ET

Garment manufacturer DBL Group has joined the Business Call to Action (BCtA) with a pledging to provide 24,450 of its employees with access to affordably priced basic household food and health items through its Bandhan Fair Price Shops.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Habitat for Humanity and Lowe’s nationwide initiative surpasses goal, builds or repairs 1,009 homes in 2016

Dec 6, 2016 11:50 AM ET

Health & Healthcare

When Cheese isn’t Cheese

Dec 6, 2016 11:45 AM ET

We all want to enjoy food that tastes great. Ask any American what their favorite food is, chances are they’ll tell you something delicious… but not necessarily healthy. Pizza, for example, is one of America’s favorite foods — according to some studies, Americans eat 3 billion pizzas a year. That’s 350 slices of pizza every second!

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Reinforcing Reputation -- Why Non-Financial Reporting Matters

Dec 6, 2016 11:15 AM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

Dark Data—5 Ways It Effects Sustainability Performance

Dec 6, 2016 11:05 AM ET

We have coined the phrase “Dark Data,” to describe information on corporate sustainability that exists, but cannot normally be seen and evaluated. Dark Data is exchanged privately as part of supply chain, certification, and regulatory interactions. As such, it forms an important part of how companies interact with their environment.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Capital Institute, Think Tank Behind “Regenerative Capitalism,” Releases First Documentary

Dec 6, 2016 11:00 AM ET

Can a bank be profitable in the long-term and serve as a regenerative change agent? Capital Institute's first documentary, "A Year in the Life of First Green Bank," looks at one community banker's story.

Innovation & Technology

GM Expands Availability of Rear Seat Reminder Technology

Dec 6, 2016 10:45 AM ET

Rear Seat Reminder, an industry-first feature designed to remind drivers to check the back seat as they exit their vehicles under certain circumstances, will be offered across many Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC vehicles by the 2018 model year.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Kimberly-Clark: Innovating a World of Possibilities

Dec 6, 2016 10:30 AM ET

Our thinking about sustainability doesn’t end when a product is sold. We’re continuously innovating to design products and packaging that are environmentally-friendly, efficient to produce, and that bring secondary value after use.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Amway President Doug DeVos Encourages Participation During International Volunteer Week

Dec 6, 2016 10:20 AM ET

What cause or charity are you passionate about? Amway celebrates those volunteers who are making a difference in their local communities. Join the effort by going to http://amwayvolunteers.com/ or using #AmwayVolunteers when sharing photos of your volunteer experiences.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Wendy's Joins U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef

Dec 6, 2016 10:10 AM ET

Wendy's® announced its partnership with the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and a commitment to advancing sustainability efforts throughout the U.S. beef value chain. With a forty-six year commitment to serving only fresh*, never frozen North American beef, Wendy's has long partnered with leaders throughout the beef supply chain to advance responsible practices in animal production, health and welfare. By joining the Roundtable, Wendy's will also ensure it has an active voice in discussions about the environmental, social and economic sustainability of the U.S. beef industry.

Environment

Climate Change Goes Primetime for National Geographic's First-Ever Earth Week

Dec 6, 2016 10:00 AM ET

For six consecutive nights this fall, National Geographic devoted its primetime television slate to programming that addressed the topic of climate change. Between Sunday, October 30, and Friday, November 4, 2016, viewers followed Leonardo DiCaprio across five continents to explore the effects of climate change on our communities in Before the Flood; they journeyed to India with David Letterman to understand the country’s energy challenges in the season premiere of Years of Living Dangerously; and they joined dozens of National Geographic Explorers for in-depth looks at ecosystems damaged by climate change in several thrilling nature documentaries.

Innovation & Technology

Unified for Impact – Meet the Electronics Industry Citizenship Coalition

Dec 6, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Big problems require wide-scale collaboration and when problems daunt an entire industry, it behooves that industry to come together to solve them. That was the vision of eight electronics companies that, in 2004, saw the opportunity to “drive positive change and increase efficiency.”

Responsible Production & Consumption

Ecocentricity Blog: Congrats to the Lifecycle Building Center

Dec 6, 2016 9:45 AM ET

The Lifecycle Building Center has a permanent home, and I’m sure that Shannon, Adam and the whole team are feeling a sense of pride. Given their hard work the last several years, they deserve this moment.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

El Abra, a Freeport-McMoRan Company, Receives Award for Renewable Energy Project

Dec 6, 2016 9:25 AM ET

The El Abra mining operation recently received the National Environmental Award 2016 from the Recyclápolis Foundation for its part in a project that built Chile's first community hybrid power plant.

Environment

Reconceiving the Water Challenge: Turning Scarcity Into Abundance

Dec 6, 2016 9:15 AM ET

While there may be sufficient physical sources of water, behavioural patterns often lead to water scarcity. That which may be abundant effectively becomes scarce through waste, poor pricing, ineffi cient allocation or the inability of human systems to keep up with the latest technologies. However, institutions can foster decisions that take us on a path from scarcity back to abundance.

To assess the true sustainability of a resource you have to look at both sides of the coin to fully appreciate water risk and security as material issues on a country’s water balance sheet.