ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

Green Your Black Friday (And All Your Holidays)

Nov 24, 2015 9:00 AM ET

This fun infographic Green Your Black Friday shows how solar can be a part of living more sustainably during the holidays.

Diversity & Inclusion

CBRE Vancouver Workplace Transformation – Our Future At Work

Nov 24, 2015 8:05 AM ET

Education

Leonardo Academy Announces Free December Sustainability Webinar Training

Nov 24, 2015 7:25 AM ET

Events, Media & Communications

FOX Celebrates Scientists, Inspires Students with Breakthrough Prize Ceremony, Airing this Sunday, Nov. 29

Nov 24, 2015 7:00 AM ET

On Sunday, Nov. 29, at 7/6c, FOX will air a one-hour special on the 2015 Breakthrough Prize Ceremony, an annual awards show honoring the work of today's leading scientists and mathematicians. The ceremony, hosted by Family Guy creator and Cosmos executive producer Seth MacFarlane at NASA's Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California, originally aired live on 21st Century Fox's National Geographic Channel on Nov. 8. Presenters include Russell Crowe, Hilary Swank, Lily Collins, Thomas Middleditch, and Martin Starr, as well as a special musical performance by Pharrell Williams. In addition, this year's ceremony was the first to feature the Breakthrough Junior Challenge for students, which awards $400,000 in educational prizes.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Norfolk Southern: Giving Back

Nov 24, 2015 6:05 AM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

With Its New Tech Hub, Bloomberg Shows Start-ups How It’s Done

Nov 23, 2015 7:55 PM ET

Health & Healthcare

How John Wayne Cancer Institute Makes Healing and Health Possible for Millions of Cancer Patients Worldwide

Nov 23, 2015 7:00 PM ET

The John Wayne Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John's Health Center has been shaping a vital future for cancer patients and their families for more than 30 years. In this post from our Shape the Future Blog Series, this internationally recognized leader in basic, translational and clinical cancer research shares how the Institute has changed the way cancer is detected, diagnosed and treated worldwide.

Environment

Leading By Example on Climate Action

Nov 23, 2015 5:50 PM ET

In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Paris, the U.N.'s global conference on climate change that will take place there next week has become more important than ever. The conference presents a unique opportunity for world leaders to express their support for the people of Paris, and to re-affirm their shared commitment to addressing common threats.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

GBCHealth & Global Health Council Announce Winners of Best Corporate Global Health Programs

Nov 23, 2015 5:00 PM ET

GBCHealth and Global Health Council announced last week the winners of the Business Action on Health Awards, bestowed annually to the world’s best corporate-supported global health programs. The awards were presented to two winning and five commended companies at Global Health Council’s Landscape Symposium held in Washington D.C and attended by over 150 representatives from the international development, global health and business sectors.

The 2015 winners are healthcare company Abbott (in the Core Business Competency category) and digital marketing agency Ontarget (in the Innovation and Technology category). LifeSpring Hospitals, Ecobank, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic and ZMQ received commendations.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Booz Allen Atlanta Donates Meals, Volunteer Hours

Nov 23, 2015 4:20 PM ET

For the third year in a row, Booz Allen Hamilton’s Atlanta office donated Thanksgiving meals and grocery store gift cards to support a food drive benefitting the Children’s Resource Network and the Ambassador’s Life Center.

Energy

UK Announces Commitment to Phase Out Coal

Nov 23, 2015 4:00 PM ET

Prime Minister David Cameron’s wise decision to phase out coal-fired electricity generation over the next decade, at a faster pace than any other developed country, is welcome news for the global climate and the health of communities throughout the U.K. Coming just weeks before international climate talks are set to begin in Paris, this bold step in the birthplace of the coal-powered industrial revolution sends a clear and unmistakable message to other government leaders.

Environment

Behind AT&T’s 10x Return-on-Carbon Commitment

Nov 23, 2015 3:35 PM ET

This week, AT&T announced its goal to enable carbon savings 10 times the carbon footprint of its operations by 2025. That’s an impressive commitment to be sure. In fact, it very well might be a B-hag (Big, Hairy, Audacious Goal). I love to see companies make these big goals. The real problems we’re trying to solve with sustainability don’t necessarily have answers yet, and it’s a bold company who will make a public goal they don’t yet have a plan to meet.

Social Impact & Volunteering

The Joy Maker Challenge Helps Youth Take Action and Spread Much-Needed Joy This Holiday Season

Nov 23, 2015 3:15 PM ET

generationOn, the youth division of Points of Light, and Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ:HAS) have partnered for The Joy Maker Challenge. Now in its sixth year, the annual campaign connects youth ages 5-18 to meaningful, hands-on service projects and encourages them to take action and spread some much needed joy to those in need during the holiday season through volunteerism. For every kid and teen who volunteers as part of the campaign, Hasbro will donate a toy or game to Toys for Tots, up to $1 million worth.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

VIDEO: How are Millennials Giving to Causes They Care About?

Nov 23, 2015 2:15 PM ET

GivingTuesday is asking shoppers to observe the season of giving in a different way: by first donating, then sharing their giving stories using the hashtag #GivingTuesday. Yet, when it comes to online giving, a sizeable gap still remains between what Americans say they will do, and what they have actually done, according to the 2014 Cone Communications Digital Activism Study.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Accelerating Pathways Research Finds Cities Can Do More to Enable Youth Economic Progress

Nov 23, 2015 2:00 PM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

Sustaining a Wildlife Refuge by Connecting to the Community

Nov 23, 2015 2:00 PM ET

This is the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, almost 1,000 acres of woods, pond, marsh, and meadow dedicated to wildlife conservation. The refuge is a crucial habitat for both resident and migrant birds. Without these habitats to use as a stopover, the migrant birds would be in great survival danger.

Events, Media & Communications

The (R)evolution of the Car Company

Nov 23, 2015 1:45 PM ET

Given the rise of alternative powertrains, autonomous and connected technologies, and various car-sharing models, General Motors Urban Mobility Executive Director Peter Kosak recently relayed how the company is reinventing itself and transforming its business model.

Events, Media & Communications

The Changing Nature of Workplace-centered Philanthropy and Employee Engagement

Nov 23, 2015 1:15 PM ET

New research on the changing nature of workplace-centered philanthropy and employee engagement, including its role in attracting employees and engaging Millennials, will be released during the next 3BL Media “Best Practices” webinar, Dec. 10 at 11 a.m. ET.

Innovation & Technology

Digital Tapestry

Nov 23, 2015 12:50 PM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Accenture Expands Partnership with Fundación Entreculturas to Equip 175,000 Youth with Job Skills

Nov 23, 2015 12:45 PM ET

Accenture’s (NYSE: ACN) US$3.8 million grant to Fundación Entreculturas will help expand the nonprofit’s e-learning program and equip an additional 80,000 disadvantaged youth across Africa, Latin America and Spain with the skills needed for the most in-demand jobs.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Republic Services in Texas Receives the 2015 World Class Landfill Recognition

Nov 23, 2015 12:45 PM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

Domtar's Personal Care Facilities Reduce Waste with New Technologies

Nov 23, 2015 11:55 AM ET

Domtar Corporation (NYSE: UFS) (TSX: UFS) designs, manufactures, markets and distributes a wide variety of fiber-based products, including communication papers, specialty and packaging papers, and absorbent hygiene products.

Environment

International Consultation Opens on Water Climate Bond Standard

Nov 23, 2015 11:30 AM ET

The Climate Bonds Initiative and consortium partners Ceres, World Resources Institute, CDP and the Alliance for Global Water Adaptation have released for public comment, the world’s first standard for low carbon and climate resilient water bonds. The proposed Water Climate Bond Standard will bring a focus on vulnerability assessment and climate mitigation and adaptation planning to the fixed income space. It will allow investors to easily prioritise projects that are seriously considering their climate impacts and climate resilience.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Legg Mason Builds Bikes for a Cause

Nov 23, 2015 11:15 AM ET

Two Legg Mason teams, US Product and Global Distribution, individually hosted their own build a bike events to benefit local organizations in their communities.

Events, Media & Communications

Sea Change for Public Sector Pension Funds And Other U.S. Fiduciaries – US DOL Green Lights ESG Investing…

Nov 23, 2015 11:05 AM ET

On an important societal issue (think of civil rights, or immigration, or highway construction funding, or criminal justice, or environmental protection) the U.S. Congress deliberates and passes the laws (Federal statutes), the President of the United States of America signs them into law, then an agency is directed to develop the “rules of the road” for those affected by or having to comply with the law.