ESG News from Leading Brands

Responsible Production & Consumption

Patagonia Debuts New Short Film on Fair Trade Apparel

Oct 13, 2016 4:30 PM ET

You may be familiar with the “Fair Trade Certified” symbol and its assurance that some of the money spent on a bag of coffee or bar of chocolate goes directly to its producers and stays in their community.

Responsible Production & Consumption

NGOs Shifting Focus to Electric Cars in Cobalt Disclosure Debate

Oct 13, 2016 4:25 PM ET

Fresh from a lengthy investigative article by the Washington Post and increased international attention to cobalt, Amnesty International announced it is calling on electric car manufacturers to be more transparent about this key ingredient in their vehicles and its possible connections to modern-day slavery and child labor.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Freedom on the Board

Oct 13, 2016 4:05 PM ET

More than three million young people supported in 35 countries with more than 150 projects - that is the positive result of the work done by Laureus Sport for Good. The worldwide social projects encourage children and adolescents to quit the street and become involved in one of many sporting activities such as football, kickboxing or, in this case, skateboarding and surfing.

Diversity & Inclusion

Republic Services Unveils Customer Resource Center in Chandler

Oct 13, 2016 4:00 PM ET

Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG) unveiled today its latest Customer Resource Center, the third of three centers designed to enhance the overall service experience for more than 14 million customers nationwide. The new 72,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility is home to modern communications capabilities to cater to evolving customer preferences and needs.

Energy

Jet Blue - What is Renewable Jet Fuel

Oct 13, 2016 3:20 PM ET

Since the Wright brothers, planes have been running on fossil fuel – that’s 100 years of using the same energy source. Just as the term “fossil” implies, the externalities from this form of fuel means there is need for rethinking. Investments in renewable energy are needed for a more sustainable future, especially in the aviation industry.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Guest Blog: This Adoption Recruiter says, “You Gotta Believe!”

Oct 13, 2016 3:00 PM ET

I’ve been working to find adoptive homes for children in foster care for 30 years. After 18 years working at a nonprofit, that I founded, called “You Gotta Believe!” which focuses on finding permanent families for youth on the verge of aging out, I moved on to become a Wendy’s Wonderful Kids (WWK) recruiter. It was a job I knew well as I worked with these men and women for 18 years before deciding that I too should be a recruiter.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Timberland Shares Best Practices on Empowering Employees Through Purposeful Work at Eighth Annual Sustainatopia

Oct 13, 2016 2:45 PM ET

This week, global outdoor lifestyle brand Timberland joined sustainability and impact leaders from around the world at the 8th Annual Sustainatopia, a global event for investors, entrepreneurs, nonprofits, foundations and companies across social, financial and environmental sectors.

Events, Media & Communications

LBG Canada November Regional Meeting Series

Oct 13, 2016 2:40 PM ET

Learn the value of mapping your community investment and social impact vision to the Sustainable Development Goals at one of LBG Canada's Regional Meetings this November!

Education

A Conversation on Mentoring

Oct 13, 2016 2:30 PM ET

What early influences motivated you to become involved with Aspire?

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Protecting Shareholders and the Public Interest

Oct 13, 2016 1:30 PM ET

In April 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a request for public comment regarding the modernization of certain business and financial disclosure requirements under Regulation S-K as part of its ongoing “Disclosure Effectiveness Initiative.” Under Regulation S-K, reporting companies must disclose non-financial information that is material to investors.

Diversity & Inclusion

Seeding Successful Flexible Work Arrangements in STEM

Oct 13, 2016 12:20 PM ET

While workplace flexibility has become commonplace in office and other more traditional work environments, it’s less often discussed and implemented in laboratories and other settings more common to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) occupations. One expansive team of approximately 170 employees in Life Sciences and Operations within Baxter’s CSO organization has found a way to make such flexibility work in what many may consider to be a non-traditional environment.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Sustainability Beyond the Photo Op

Oct 13, 2016 12:10 PM ET

One of the perks of attending sustainability and corporate social responsibility events is exposure to business leaders who are genuinely excited about the way their organizations are making the world a better place.

Increasingly, I’m encountering senior executives who encourage their peers to look closely at CSR programs to make sure they have adequate scale to actually make a difference, and that they connect to a company’s mission.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

New Report by Barclays Corporate Banking: Why Businesses Need to Enter the Military Mindset

Oct 13, 2016 11:55 AM ET

Businesses should adopt the agile, collaborative approach of the military to prevent their leaders making critical decisions based solely on “gut feel”, according to a new report by Barclays Corporate Banking.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Costa Cruises Supports “Pink is Good” Project on Board its Ships

Oct 13, 2016 11:30 AM ET

Innovation & Technology

CFSI 2016 Annual Conference: Advancing Responsible Sourcing

Oct 13, 2016 11:15 AM ET

The Conflict-Free Sourcing Initiative (CFSI), a coalition of leading companies dedicated to improving the security and human rights conditions in their raw materials supply chains, today announced additional speakers for its annual conference in Santa Clara, California on November 9 and 10.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Korea’s CSR Strategy: An Interesting Mix of Profit and Social Change

Oct 13, 2016 11:00 AM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

DuPont Issues 2016 Sustainability Report

Oct 13, 2016 10:15 AM ET

DuPont has released its 2016 Sustainability Report, highlighting progress against its 2020 Sustainability Goals and ongoing commitment to areas such as food security, environmental stewardship, and diversity and inclusion.

“DuPont has a long history of developing sustainable solutions for a remarkable number of industries,” said Krysta Harden, DuPont vice president of Public Policy and chief sustainability officer. “We understand that to carry that legacy of success into the future, DuPont must not only innovate relentlessly to create value for our customers but also continue to integrate sustainability into how we operate and what we produce to also create value for society. Our sustainability goals and commitments do just that.”

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Ideas that Matter 2016 | Extraordinary Playscapes

Oct 13, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Extraordinay Playscapes is a national traveling exhibition and education program focused on the importance and design of outdoor play.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Successful Hiring, Development and Advancement Opportunities for Latina Talent Earns Sodexo 2016 LATINA Style® 50 Award

Oct 13, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life services, today announced being recognized in the 2016 LATINA Style® 50 Report highlighting companies with dedicated efforts to hire and promote Latinas. From more than 800 eligible organizations, Sodexo ranked 15 on a list of 50 award winners, and it is the only company in its industry to be recognized. Winners will be honored during LATINA Style’s Awards Ceremony & Diversity Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. on February 9, 2017.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

FOX25 Announces Adam Crellin-Sazama as Boston’s 2016 Cox Conserves Hero

Oct 13, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Diversity & Inclusion

Companies Use Storytelling to Communicate Progress: 5 Reasons to Commit to Diversity and Inclusion

Oct 13, 2016 9:45 AM ET

Facebook has figured out how to make an application so appealing that 1.13 billion people log in at least once every day. And Intel is credited with spawning the $300-billion semiconductor market, which touches every aspect of people’s lives daily.

These two highly successful technology businesses don’t have a shortage of smart people, or the cash to get things accomplished. But neither has been able to recruit and retain enough women and underrepresented minority employees.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Arrow Electronics and Cherry Creek Arts Festival Take Home “Best Individual Sponsorship” Award from International Festivals and Events Association

Oct 13, 2016 9:15 AM ET

Arrow Electronics and the nonprofit Cherry Creek Arts Festival won a gold award for “Best Individual Sponsorship” from the International Festivals and Events Association. The award was presented at the association’s annual conference in Tucson, Arizona on September 28.

Responsible Production & Consumption

What It Takes to Be a Wendy’s Supply Partner

Oct 13, 2016 9:05 AM ET

At Wendy’s and QSCC, we talk a lot about dedication to quality and doing the right thing. And that goes beyond the walls of One Dave Thomas Boulevard in Dublin, Ohio and into every corner of our business: from the team members in Wendy’s restaurants to the interactions within our communities and ultimately it extends to our supply chain. For us, if you’re going to talk about a dedication to quality, it has to start in the field where the ingredients are grown and distributed throughout the whole of the business.

Innovation & Technology

IBM SAFETY-NET: IBM Bolsters Social Services Sector With Technology Grants

Oct 13, 2016 9:05 AM ET

IBM (NYSE: IBM) is kicking off an $18 million grant program to put no-cost cloud hosting, customizable software, and consulting services into the hands of not-for-profit social service agencies that qualify.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Patriot Subaru of Saco Wins Cox Automotive Leader in Sustainability Award

Oct 13, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Cox Automotive presented its Leader in Sustainability Award to Patriot Subaru of Saco, Maine at the 2016 Automotive News Best Dealerships to Work For celebration this week.