ESG News from Leading Brands

Health & Healthcare

Slow Progress in India's Toilet Mission

Nov 17, 2016 3:00 PM ET

the toilets at SDMC Primary School were renovated six months ago by US multinational Kimberly-Clark, in collaboration with non-profit group Charities Aid Foundation.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Regenerative Qualities of the Circle of Aunts and Uncles

Nov 17, 2016 2:30 PM ET

The Circle of Aunts and Uncles is a group of 35 friends in the Greater Philadelphia area who have come together to invest in relationship- and place-building by providing low-interest loans and a network of social capital to worthy, under-resourced entrepreneurs in their city. As the Circle’s founder Judy Wicks, former owner of Philadelphia’s legendary White Dog Café and author of Good Morning, Beautiful Business, explains, the Circle’s goal is to co-create, the “diverse, inclusive, and joyful community that we all want to live in.”

Education

Last Call for Teachers and Schools to Enter the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest

Nov 17, 2016 2:05 PM ET

In just two weeks, Samsung will close applications for the 7th annual Solve for Tomorrow Contest (#SamsungSolve) which will award $2 million* to deserving public schools. Teachers have until Wednesday, November 30 to enter the contest online by submitting a project idea describing how their students will use STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) skills to address a local issue affecting their community.

Innovation & Technology

Diageo Unveils Immersive Virtual Reality Technology That Puts Consumers in Front Seat of a Drunk Driving Collision

Nov 17, 2016 1:30 PM ET

Diageo, a global leader in beverage alcohol, today introduced “Decisions,” a first-of-its-kind virtual reality (VR) experience that puts consumers of legal drinking age in the middle of a fatal drunk driving crash. This launch represents the company’s latest innovative approach to educate and meaningfully impact consumers about the importance of responsible decision-making when drinking.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Kimberly-Clark’s HAKLE Brand Changes Lives in Angola and South Africa

Nov 17, 2016 1:30 PM ET

HAKLE, the leading tissue brand in Switzerland, has joined forces with the world’s leading children’s organization, UNICEF, to transform the lives of children and their families in Angola and South Africa.

Health & Healthcare

Three Quality of LifeHacks to Help Employees Quit Smoking

Nov 17, 2016 1:15 PM ET

The Great American Smoke Out is this week. The American Cancer Society leads this yearly event on the third Thursday of each November to encourage smokers across the country to make a plan to quit or to plan in advance to quit smoking on this day. Over 480,000 Americans die from tobacco-related illnesses each year. Research also shows that smokers cost their employers close to $6,000 per year more than non-smokers.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Whirlpool Corporation Receives U.S. EPA 2016 SmartWay Excellence Award

Nov 17, 2016 1:00 PM ET

For the second year in a row, Whirlpool Corporation’s Integrated Supply Chain (ISC) is honored with a SmartWay® Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The award recognizes industry leaders in supply chain environmental performance and energy efficiency.

Innovation & Technology

Human-Machine Teams: Lockheed Martin UAS and Optionally-Piloted Helicopters Validate Firefighting and Search-and-Rescue Capabilities

Nov 17, 2016 12:45 PM ET

Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) demonstrated for the first time how its suite of optionally-piloted helicopters and small unmanned aerial systems can work together to successfully locate and extinguish fires, pinpoint the location of a missing person, and bring that person to safety.

Social Impact & Volunteering

New Subaru Advertising Campaign Brings to Life the Impact of the Share the Love® Event

Nov 17, 2016 12:05 PM ET

Subaru of America has launched a new advertising campaign showcasing real stories from real people who have been positively impacted by the Subaru Share the Love® program over the past nine years, as well as the automaker’s national charity partners: the ASPCA®, Make-A-Wish®, Meals on Wheels America, and the National Park Foundation.

Environment

Maven City Car Sharing Expands to Serve Western Customers

Nov 17, 2016 12:05 PM ET

Maven, General Motors’ personal mobility brand, is expanding to the western United States, adding the Denver, Los Angeles and San Francisco markets. In 10 months, Maven has launched three products and has grown to 13 U.S. cities: Ann Arbor, Michigan; Baltimore; Boston; Chicago; Denver; Detroit; Los Angeles; Jersey City, New Jersey; New York City; Orlando, Florida; San Diego; San Francisco; and Washington, D.C.

Research, Reports & Publications

CFSI Study: Payday Shrinks While Underserved Consumers Pay More for Auto Insurance

Nov 17, 2016 12:00 PM ET

Today, the Center for Financial Services Innovation (CFSI) and Core Innovation Capital (Core) released their sixth annual Financially Underserved Market Size Study. The report, which benefited from the financial support and strategic input of Morgan Stanley and with additional financial support from CFSI’S Founding Partner the Ford Foundation, reveals that underserved American consumers spent $141 billion in fees and interest in 2015, generated from a volume of $1.6 trillion in financial activity.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Modern Leadership & Social Change: A Discussion with John Gerzema of BAV Consulting

Nov 17, 2016 12:00 PM ET

In this episode of the Champions for Social Good Podcast, Jamie Serino speaks with John Gerzema (@JohnGerzema), Chairman and CEO of BAV Consulting (@BAVConsulting), and an internationally recognized theorist on consumerism and its impact on growth, innovation and strategy.

Education

Education & Opportunity in Indian Country

Nov 17, 2016 11:55 AM ET

November marks Native American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the diverse cultures, traditions and histories of Native Americans, as well as the important contributions of Native people to our communities and country. This month also presents the opportunity to raise awareness about the unique challenges Native Americans face.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sodexo Recognized by USDA and EPA as U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champion

Nov 17, 2016 11:55 AM ET

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life services, today announced being named by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the inaugural class of the U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions. The recognition is awarded to U.S. businesses and organizations pledging concrete steps to reduce food loss and waste in their operations by 50 percent by 2030. It also aligns with the commitment Sodexo made last Spring for zero waste to landfill by 2025.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Parents, Governmental Leaders Meet at National Parents Meet to Celebrate Progress in the Disability Movement in India

Nov 17, 2016 11:50 AM ET

The 24th National Parents Meet in Jalandhar, Punjab was a potent mix of passion, gritty determination, and celebration. From across India, several hundred family members of people with developmental disabilities came together, along with their sons and daughters, to meet, plan, share, learn, and celebrate the hard-won gains they have made.

Events, Media & Communications

Mapping Community Impact Measurement Activities to the SDGs at the LBG Canada Calgary Regional Meeting

Nov 17, 2016 11:05 AM ET

Events, Media & Communications

Chief Executives Lay Out Concrete Plans to Put Global Climate Agreement into Action at COP22

Nov 17, 2016 11:00 AM ET

More than 100 high-level business leaders and investors meet in a show of resounding support and commitment to taking action on the Paris Climate Agreement at the COP 22/CMP 12: High-Level Meeting on Climate Change.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

UPS Delivers Magic Again This Holiday Season One Wish At A Time

Nov 17, 2016 10:30 AM ET

UPS has launched the annual Wishes Delivered campaign, created to spread goodwill and share stories of people making a difference. This year, UPS employees were asked to submit their wishes for the people and communities where UPSers work and live every day.

Diversity & Inclusion

Carnival Rocks the Boat

Nov 17, 2016 10:30 AM ET

During a meeting with her senior managers in August, Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises since late 2013, got an update on the bedding at her 18-ship line.

Innovation & Technology

How This Mobile Tech is Reducing Pregnancy Related Deaths

Nov 17, 2016 10:10 AM ET

Pregnant women throughout the developed world expect multiple ultrasounds during their trimesters to track the progress of their baby’s growth and development.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Focus, Impact and Business Returns: The Companies Getting Community Investment Right

Nov 17, 2016 10:05 AM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

Morgan Stanley and Bloomberg Survey Finds Sustainable Investing Has Entered the Mainstream

Nov 17, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Two-thirds of asset management professionals surveyed (65%) say that they are using sustainable investing strategies to achieve competitive market-rate financial return alongside positive social and/or environmental impact.

Diversity & Inclusion

Darden Dimes Helps Employees Weather Storm

Nov 17, 2016 9:45 AM ET

Employees at the Olive Garden in Spokane, WA, were grateful for Darden’s emergency assistance fund after a severe storm. The Darden Dimes program awarded more than 2,800 grants totaling about $1.6 million to employees in 2015.

Education

Ten to Watch: Elisabeth Krow-Lucal, Ph.D.

Nov 17, 2016 9:40 AM ET

Elisabeth Krow-Lucal Ph.D. is currently working as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where she has spent more than half of this year working to combat the Zika virus outbreak both in the U.S. and Brazil.

Social Impact & Volunteering

CITGO Lemont Refinery Honored as Grand Marshal at Romeoville Founder’s Day

Nov 17, 2016 9:30 AM ET

In honor of the CITGO Lemont Refinery’s 90th Anniversary, employees were asked to serve as this year’s Grand Marshal for the annual Founder’s Day Parade in Romeoville, Ill.