ESG News from Leading Brands

Innovation & Technology

Relocation Transforms Akzonobel Facility into Energy Efficient Smart Building

Sep 28, 2016 10:30 AM ET

Completed in November last year, the company’s new Strongsville Technology Center in Ohio is only a third the size of the former location. Designed to use less than a third of the natural gas, electricity and water, the facility has now been recognized under the worldwide LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building certification program.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

The DNA of Robust Employee Engagement

Sep 28, 2016 10:15 AM ET

Hear from Berkshire Bank—“America’s Most Exciting Bank”—to learn about the benefits they reap from a robust employee volunteer program.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Call for Entries Now Open - Green Key Environment and Green Key Meeting Awards

Sep 28, 2016 10:15 AM ET

The Hotel Association of Canada (HAC) is now accepting entries for the 2016 Hall of Fame Awards of Excellence. The Hall of Fame Awards program continues the Association’s tradition of acknowledging the strong standards and values of those involved in and with the lodging industry.

Environment

Carolyn Lochhead on the Politics of Water

Sep 28, 2016 10:10 AM ET

Innovation & Technology

IBM Grant Helps Stop Hunger Now Develop Strategic IT Vision

Sep 28, 2016 10:05 AM ET

Technology can play a critical role in a nonprofit organization’s ability to raise awareness for its cause, inspire and attract staff and volunteers, and serve its constituents. In Citizen IBM, the President & CEO of Stop Hunger Now writes about how an IBM Impact Grant helped his organization develop a strategic roadmap for its technology solutions and services. Read the full story here.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Sappi’s Passion to Make a Difference

Sep 28, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Sappi’s new global mission statement highlights the fact that our success depends on collaboration and partnerships with stakeholders. In my role as Director of Sustainable Development and Global Policy Initiatives, I have the pleasure of representing Sappi in numerous sustainability initiatives.

Education

Planting a Science Education Seed in Croatia

Sep 28, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Every summer, 40 high school students from Croatia and other areas of Europe gather for 10 days to conduct hands-on research projects with mentors who are only a few years their senior. In the small town of Požega nestled in the mountains of eastern Croatia, these students learn about opportunities in science that lie ahead of them.

Education

Three Reasons to be Optimistic about Early Care and Education

Sep 28, 2016 9:45 AM ET

“Where do we even start?” “How can we expand access when we don’t have good quality?” “How do we build a skilled workforce when we can’t pay them what they deserve?” “How do we reach the informal providers who are caring for half of our community’s children?”

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Get to Know Allina Health, Finalist for 2016 Employee Volunteer Program of the Year

Sep 28, 2016 9:40 AM ET

Health care is more than just treating people when they are sick. As such, Allina Health is committed to improving the health of the communities they serve by investing in community health promotion efforts as well as its employees to support people on their path to better health.

Health & Healthcare

Ending Hunger and Malnutrition: How to Leverage Partnerships That Work

Sep 28, 2016 9:15 AM ET

The Sustainable Development Goals were created with the mindset that business as usual would not be enough to end poverty in all its forms and fight inequality. At its root, poverty is a result of inequality. In today’s food systems, the poor cannot access power, resources, and opportunities. The system is controlled by few, and poor and vulnerable people are further marginalized.

Environment

Powering The Wastewater Renaissance

Sep 28, 2016 9:05 AM ET

Hidden away or underground, wastewater infrastructure is an essential component to growing, sustainable communities. Around the world, this infrastructure enables cities to develop, economies to grow and communities to thrive.

Research, Reports & Publications

CBRE’s Shared Advantage: The Inside Story

Sep 28, 2016 9:05 AM ET

Some firms understand that their influence extends beyond the boundaries of their own work. They recognize that the impact of small, positive acts multiplied across a broad global enterprise can improve the communities they serve, while at the same time grow their bottom line. When those positive acts flow naturally from the business process, the organization evolves beyond its public persona to deliver a mutual benefit to all of its stakeholders.

Environment

Big Companies are Taking Climate Change Very Seriously

Sep 28, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Big companies are taking climate change very seriously.

Events, Media & Communications

At Industry Conference, Publishers Vent About Power of Social Media Companies

Sep 28, 2016 8:25 AM ET

Education

Norfolk Southern: Reaching People Where They Live

Sep 28, 2016 7:30 AM ET

Norfolk Southern trains run through thousands of communities in the eastern U.S., delivering goods that support local economies and residents. To promote safe rail operations, NS invests in community awareness programs that target two troublesome areas: trespassing on railroad tracks and unsafe motorist behavior at highway-rail grade crossings.

Environment

China is Losing its Appetite for Coal-Fired Power Plants

Sep 28, 2016 7:20 AM ET

Environment

National Grid Intervenes in Support of EPA’s Clean Power Plan

Sep 27, 2016 7:35 PM ET

Today National Grid joined eight other power companies at the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals in support of EPA’s Clean Power Plan. Together we urged the Court to uphold the rule as a lawful application of EPA’s authority under the Clean Air Act to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the power sector.

Health & Healthcare

Gilead Sciences and The World Health Organization Announce Five-Year Visceral Leishmaniasis Collaboration

Sep 27, 2016 7:30 PM ET

Gilead Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: GILD) today announced it has entered into a partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide $20 million in funding and drug donations over five years to expand access to diagnostic services and treatment for visceral leishmaniasis (VL).

Social Impact & Volunteering

Moving Forward: CSX and City Year Celebrate More Than 20 Years as Partners

Sep 27, 2016 6:30 PM ET

CSX believes that a strong partnership is built on shared values – and according to CSX CEO Michael J. Ward, these have been key to the success of CSX’s 21-year partnership with City Year, a national education organization that provides tutoring, mentoring and supports to more than 200,000 students in schools located in high-poverty communities across the country.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Subaru of America Continues Its Commitment to City of Camden Through Donation of More Than 1,700 Award-Winning Science Textbooks to Community Schools

Sep 27, 2016 6:00 PM ET

Subaru of America is proud to announce its donation of more than 1,700 award-winning science textbooks to 17 Camden schools, continuing the brand’s commitment to education as part of its “Subaru Loves Learning” initiative.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Helping Our Communities Prepare, Recover and Flourish from Disaster

Sep 27, 2016 4:50 PM ET

Astellas USA Foundation president Jeff Winton understands that disaster can strike when we least expect it, and that being prepared can ease the burden of those affected. He explains how Astellas USA Foundation is helping communities prepare, recover and flourish when the unexpected happens.

Health & Healthcare

Nestlé Waters North America Partners with Imagine H2O® to Support Water Innovation

Sep 27, 2016 4:00 PM ET

Events, Media & Communications

VM Summit 16 Ticket Prices Go Up This Saturday!

Sep 27, 2016 3:45 PM ET

VM Summit 16 — VolunteerMatch’s signature event and the conference on corporate volunteering — is less than one month away! That also means that regular registration rates will end soon, and we’ll cross over into last-minute registration territory.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Bacardi USA Receives U.S. EPA 2016 Smartway® Excellence Award

Sep 27, 2016 3:30 PM ET

For the second year in a row, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) honors Bacardi USA with a SmartWay® Excellence Award as an industry leader in freight supply chain environmental performance and energy efficiency in transportation logistics. The SmartWay Excellence Award, reserved for the top performing SmartWay Partners, is EPA’s highest recognition for demonstrated leadership.

Research, Reports & Publications

Stakeholders Call for More Action as Businesses Slow to Take up Global Goals

Sep 27, 2016 1:30 PM ET