ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

The Fight Against Poaching

Aug 20, 2015 10:30 AM ET

To track down rhinoceros and kill them is illegal, yet unfortunately a lucrative business model in South Africa. Sporting helicopters, silenced weapons and night vision scopes, the poachers come well equipped to claim their brutal prize. Just a single horn nets thousands of dollars on the black market. Ground into powder the horn allegedly is a miracle remedy for fever or even cancer and is said to increase male potency. Especially in Asia the horn of a rhino is also a treasured status symbol.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

The Key to Making Clients Successful

Aug 20, 2015 10:00 AM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

The Global Benefits of Stakeholder Engagement

Aug 20, 2015 10:00 AM ET

Effective corporate citizenship programs look not only at the social issues they seek to address, but also at the root causes of those issues, assessing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues both at the macro and micro levels simultaneously.

Health & Healthcare

The Adult Coloring Book Phenomenon

Aug 20, 2015 9:30 AM ET

Adult coloring books are the rage. In the last few months the American Art Therapy Association has received many media inquires about the value of coloring books for adults as a self-care hobby for stress management. Some consumers and media have asked us about the difference between at-home coloring or for that matter any engagement with art on a private basis, and the art therapy profession. They are indeed separate topics with one commonality, that art making in and of itself is personally rewarding and potentially therapeutic. The American Art Therapy Association supports the use of coloring books for pleasure and self-care, however these uses should not be confused with the delivery of professional art therapy services, during which a client engages with a credentialed art therapist.

Energy

Trying to Reduce Overall Energy Use? We Have One Area That Can’t Be Ignored.

Aug 20, 2015 9:30 AM ET

W. Scott Tew, executive director, Center for Energy Efficiency & Sustainability (CEES) at Ingersoll Rand, shares insights on energy trends and the process of moving air in big buildings, in EnergyCentral article.

Environment

What Does Climate Change Mean to China's Security?

Aug 20, 2015 9:00 AM ET

A recent report by Zheng Haibin, a professor at Peking University highlights the potential impact of climate change China’s national security. Haibin claims that climate change will endanger China’s defense and damage critical strategic infrastructure. Specifically, he called out several vulnerabilities:

Social Impact & Volunteering

Turner Broadcasting: Switched on to Volunteering

Aug 20, 2015 9:00 AM ET

Since 2009 employee volunteers at Turner Broadcasting, have helped build schools and school buildings in Mali, Rwanda, Malawi, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Mozambique.

Research, Reports & Publications

Upgrading Citizenship to a Whole New Level

Aug 20, 2015 8:05 AM ET

In order to build a truly sustainable organisation, global companies these days acknowledge that the umbrella of their stakeholders extends further than ever before.

Research, Reports & Publications

Upgrading Citizenship to a Whole New Level

Aug 20, 2015 8:05 AM ET

In order to build a truly sustainable organisation, global companies these days acknowledge that the umbrella of their stakeholders extends further than ever before.

Events, Media & Communications

FOX and EMPIRE to Build Free Music Studios for Youth Across the U.S.

Aug 20, 2015 8:00 AM ET

As FOX prepares for the September 23 premiere of Empire's second season, the network is partnering with the nonprofit Notes for Notes for a new initiative entitled "FOX PRESENTS EMPIRE Behind the Beat." The campaign will raise money to build fully equipped music studios across the country for young people to have free access to instruments and audio equipment, as well as professional mentors to help them hone their talent. The program will inspire the next generation to create its own musical voice.

Responsible Production & Consumption

US Court of Appeals Decision on US SEC Conflict Minerals Regulation

Aug 19, 2015 9:15 PM ET

Yesterday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit reaffirmed its April 2014 decision regarding the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Conflict Minerals Rule: the requirement to describe products as having “not been found to be DRC conflict Free” violates the First Amendment.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Giving Back and Going Back...Prepping for School in NC

Aug 19, 2015 7:00 PM ET

Today in Durham NC, over 150 GSK volunteers handed out backpacks filled with school supplies to children at the Durham Rescue Mission’s 16th annual Back to School Party. GSK donates the supplies (over 3000 backpacks!) and helps at the event as a contribution to the health of the community where we are proud to live and work. The goal is to get kids excited about going back to school and getting a good start on the new school year. View the photos for more info or check out GSK's More than Medicine blog for other ways that we are helping in our communities.

Social Impact & Volunteering

The CSR Scoop - 8/19/15

Aug 19, 2015 5:45 PM ET

This week, we’re talking about purpose. What is it? How do we channel and leverage it? Why bother? Read on to find out!

Energy

National Grid Submits Grid Modernization Plan to Mass. DPU

Aug 19, 2015 5:45 PM ET

WALTHAM, MA. August 19, 2015 ​– National Grid today submitted its grid modernization proposal to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities that represents the start of a conversation about how Massachusetts customers would benefit from a modern and more resilient electric grid.

Energy

Freight and Transport Companies Rapidly Investing in Biofuels

Aug 19, 2015 5:00 PM ET

Biofuels are emerging as a credible alternative that can help reduce the dependence on fossil fuels. Biofuels are an important key to decelerating climate change and improving global fuel security. The U.S. currently leads the world in biofuel investments. More than 13.3 billion gallons of ethanol was produced in the U.S. in 2013, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Five Upstate South Carolina Businesses to Grow with Support from Michelin Development

Aug 19, 2015 3:30 PM ET

Five upstate businesses will be growing and creating new jobs with financial help from Michelin Development, a subsidiary of Michelin North America.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Why Being Customer-Centric is a Supply Side Strategy

Aug 19, 2015 3:10 PM ET

In recent years Human Centred Design (HCD) became a buzzword in the financial inclusion world. It focused financial service providers on the design of products and services based on customer insights. Design firms became part of the technical provider fraternity, servicing financial service providers in the quest to improve inclusion. At the same time, the network of financial service providers broadened to include mobile network operators and retail chains, in addition to microfinance institutions (MFIs), banks, cooperatives and a myriad of microfinance suppliers. With new entrants come new ideas – and repetition of old ones. One consistent, but underrated idea, is to focus on the customer.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

GM’s Toledo Transmission Goes 3 for E3

Aug 19, 2015 3:05 PM ET

Our Toledo Transmission’s 2,200 employees are busy bees. Not only do they build 5,400 transmissions every day, they’re building them in an environmentally responsible manner. Just ask the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Can Toilets Help Change Lives? Kimberly-Clark’s Commitment To Improving Access To Sanitation For Those Who Need It Most

Aug 19, 2015 3:00 PM ET

2.5 billion people around the world are living without access to improved sanitation, and the impacts on quality of life are significant. Millions of girls miss school every month because menstruation becomes too hard to manage without proper facilities. And countless children are absent from school because of the spread of disease and infection from a lack of basic sanitation.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Fostering Healthy Communities Makes for Healthy Businesses

Aug 19, 2015 3:00 PM ET

Businesses play a vital role in the welfare of the community, impacting the lives of employees, customers, investors and countless others. Conversely, the health of all these stakeholders has a direct impact on a company’s success. - See more at: http://3blmedia.com/News/Fostering-Healthy-Communities-Makes-Healthy-Businesses#sthash.rwaaQTBP.dpuf

Social Impact & Volunteering

JetBlue Moves People Through Employee Engagement

Aug 19, 2015 2:10 PM ET

The following member spotlight is excerpted from the most recent issue of The Corporate Citizen, the Center’s magazine, and illustrates the importance of strategic communication in effective corporate citizenship programs. To learn more about communicating effectively, join us in New York on Oct. 6-8 for our Communications 101 course.

Events, Media & Communications

MGM Resorts Employees Mark Educator Appreciation Day 2015 with Donated Supplies

Aug 19, 2015 2:00 PM ET

Annual event provides support to Clark County School District teachers and students by filling the Mirage Grand Ballroom with free supplies that have been donated by MGM Resorts employees.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

To Stand Up for Quality of Life is to Stand Up For a Certain Idea of Human Progress

Aug 19, 2015 1:30 PM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

Domtar Reduces Waste to Landfill 23%

Aug 19, 2015 12:35 PM ET

Canada-based specialty paper manufacturer Domtar reduced the waste its pulp and paper mills sent to landfill by 23 percent from 2013 to 2014, according to its 2015 Sustainability Report. The company is now more than half way to its 2020 goal of decreasing waste to landfill by 40 percent against a 2013 baseline.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Asia Waits for No One

Aug 19, 2015 12:20 PM ET

Throughout its modern history, Asia has labored under a perception problem. Most of the world saw it as the place that produced the goods and services that ran businesses and entertained consumers throughout the world.