ESG News from Leading Brands

Education

Millennial Uses Technology to Connect Students, Communities Across the Globe

Sep 28, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Picture a student in science class, seated at a desk, her computer on. The student isn’t writing a paper about her studies or reading class materials, according to Akash Patel. She is interacting with students halfway around the world in Australia, touring their classroom, hearing about what their science quiz will cover that week. The child, from her desk in America’s heartland, is experiencing a world she may never get to travel to – but because of the World Experiences Foundation, she’s learning from it.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Case Study: GRI & Switzerland Fostering Responsible Growth in Emerging Markets

Sep 28, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Together with the Swiss Confederation, GRI helps small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in emerging markets improve their sustainability performance through high-quality reporting. By showcasing responsible business practices through reporting, SMEs can gain access to international value chains, and contribute to economic development in their countries in a way that creates wealth and well-being across all segments of society.

Health & Healthcare

Living With Hypertension in Cameroon When You Live on Only a Few Dollars a Day

Sep 28, 2017 10:30 AM ET

This month like the previous ones, Alvine Nyintché is visiting the Etoug-Ebe Baptist Hospital in Yaounde. Aged 50, Alvine has been diagnosed with high blood pressure seven years ago.

Environment

CITGO Awards Grants for Restoration Programs in Celebration of National Estuaries Week

Sep 28, 2017 10:30 AM ET

For the third year in a row, CITGO Petroleum Corporation has awarded eight grants to local government agencies and nonprofits in celebration of National Estuaries Week, which took place Sept. 16-23. Through a partnership between CITGO and Restore America’s Estuaries (RAE), each grant will fund the organization’s restoration programs, environmental clean-ups, tree plantings and educational events.

Education

The Joys of Working in a Lab: Reflections on a Summer at the Kyoto University

Sep 28, 2017 10:30 AM ET

For me, the most valuable part of Amgen Scholars Program was working in a laboratory. I met great people who made me feel appreciated and loved.

In my host laboratory, I found the field that I am passionate about and where I really want to continue working in the future: microalgae research. I was surprised by the large number of species of microalgae in our lab and admired the research of other lab members. I also saw and used some technology for the first time such as the HPLC sequencing machine that my home university taught us about but did not have.

Environment

Domtar Sustainability: Bridging the Gap in Forest Certification

Sep 28, 2017 10:15 AM ET

What is the difference between certified wood fiber and fiber from sustainably-managed forests? It depends on your perspective.

Ask small landowners in the U.S. Southeast and most will probably say they are responsible forest stewards; many don’t immediately see the value or the need for certification by a third party.

Health & Healthcare

The Aflac Childhood Cancer Campaign

Sep 28, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Give the gift that gives back – because you shouldn’t have to choose between looking good and doing good.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

PNC Named to the 2017 Working Mother 100 Best Companies list for its Commitment to Work-Life Balance for Moms

Sep 28, 2017 9:35 AM ET

Education

De Beers Helps Fund a New Book to Tell Tłı̨chǫ Stories From Long Ago

Sep 28, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Tłı̨chǫ Whaèhdǫǫ̀ Godıı̀ (Tłı̨chǫ Storıes from Long Ago) and an accompanying Teachers’ Guide were launched at an event held in Behchokǫ̀.

Tammy Steinwand-Deschambeault, Culture and Language Coordinator for the Tłı̨cho Community Services Association (TCSA), said: “These are our stories from long ago that have been passed down to us. When young people are out on the land, the evidence is out there for them to see. Our history helps them know who they are as Tłı̨cho people.”

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

General Mills Foundation & No Kid Hungry

Sep 28, 2017 9:15 AM ET

School breakfasts are important for a child’s emotional, social and academic well-being. Fueling youngsters in the classroom is the goal of the General Mills Foundation and No Kid Hungry.

Environment

Tetra Tech is Using Innovative Technology to Recharge the Groundwater in Southern California

Sep 28, 2017 9:00 AM ET

The Water Replenishment District of Southern California (WRD), selected Tetra Tech to design the Ground Water Reliability Improvement Project (GRIP). Tetra Tech used multiple technologies to treat secondary effluent to a near distilled water quality and re-inject into the groundwater basin.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Hunger Is Spotlight: Los Angeles Regional Food Bank

Sep 28, 2017 9:00 AM ET

The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank (LARFB) serves more than 300,000 people each month through a variety of programs meant to “mobilize resources to fight hunger in the community.” In 2016, LARFB’s long-time supporter, Albertsons Companies Foundation, invited the food bank to appl

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Benevity Maintains Leadership in Data Accuracy and Security for its Employee Engagement Software

Sep 28, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Benevity, Inc., the global leader in workplace giving, volunteering and community investment software, announces the completion of two independent audit reports demonstrating full compliance with SSAE 18, an authoritative reporting standard for service organizations in the U.S.

"Meeting these robust standards allows us to provide assurance of second-to-none processes and controls to the world’s most iconic companies, in a technological climate where vigilance is vital,” says Bryan de Lottinville, Founder and CEO of Benevity.

Receipt of these independent reports demonstrate the maturity of Benevity’s financial processes and controls, and positions the company as one of the only solutions of its kind that can offer enterprise clients world-class operational and governance practices.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Whirlpool EMEA: First Community Day

Sep 28, 2017 8:55 AM ET

Whirlpool Corporation EMEA employees(Europe, Middle East and Africa) volunteered for non-profit organizations in their local communities as part of the company’s first-ever Community Day.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Bristol-Myers Squibb Named to 2017 Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America for Third Consecutive Year

Sep 28, 2017 7:00 AM ET

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY) has been named to the prestigious Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America for the third consecutive year. The 2017 North America Index is an independent validation of the important work the company is carrying out in the area of corporate responsibility and Bristol-Myers Squibb is one of three pharmaceutical, biotechnology and life sciences companies to earn a spot. Recognizing public companies for outstanding performance across economic, environmental and social factors, the Index serves as a benchmark for investors who integrate sustainability considerations into their portfolios.

Research, Reports & Publications

Symantec Educates One Million Students in STEM

Sep 28, 2017 5:00 AM ET

As a global corporate citizen, Symantec believes in its shared responsibility to tackle issues that leverage its size, scale and expertise about the cyber security threat landscape to make the world a safer place. In its 2017 Corporate Responsibility Report, Symantec shares what it has done over the past year – and where it is headed. Symantec is proud of the progress it has made so far and is committed to ongoing improvement.

Health & Healthcare

Novartis Access and Government of Cameroon Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Fight Chronic Diseases

Sep 28, 2017 3:30 AM ET

Novartis has reached an agreement with Cameroon to supply medicines against chronic diseases for the poorest populations. The collaboration also includes capacity-building activities with the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services (CBCHS) on community awareness.

Environment

Ole Kaven + Julie Greene: Earthquakes and Solar Cookers

Sep 27, 2017 8:15 PM ET

While the earth probably won’t shake the next time you turn on your gas stovetop, keep in mind it comes at a cost. This week on Sea Change Radio, we re-visit a couple of discussions from our archives – first we hear from Ole Kaven, a geophysicist with the US Geological Survey, about the connection between gas exploration in Oklahoma and earthquakes. Next, we learn about the benefits of cooking with the sun from Julie Greene, the executive director of Solar Cookers International.

Energy

New Wind Turbine Makes Turnhout More Sustainable

Sep 27, 2017 5:45 PM ET

Wind energy will help provide 30% of our Turnhout, Belgium manufacturing plant electricity needs, ensuring a sustainable environment. We recently installed our first wind turbine that will help power our Performance Tapes and Vancive Medical Technologies manufacturing plant’s electricity needs. Electricity for process manufacturing can account for a substantial portion of a factory’s energy budget, not to mention contributing to CO2 emissions.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Players Trust Provides Funding for Approximately 1.5M lbs of Food, Water & Supplies to Puerto Rico

Sep 27, 2017 5:30 PM ET

The Major League Baseball Players Trust today announced it is providing a grant to Pacific Prowler Nonprofit’s Operation Airdrop, with support from the Office of the Governor in Puerto Rico and Unidos Por Puerto Rico, to distribute supplies to those suffering in the wake of Hurricanes Irma and Maria.

Education

Deadlines Approaching for Keep America Beautiful School-Based Educational Initiatives

Sep 27, 2017 5:15 PM ET

Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, has two fall school-based educational initiatives with deadlines fast approaching. The 7th annual Recycle-Bowl, Keep America Beautiful’s national K-12 school-based recycling competition, begins on Oct. 16 and culminates on America Recycles Day, Nov. 15. The deadline for schools to register is Tuesday, Oct. 10.

Events, Media & Communications

Industry Experts Talk Sustainability at London Fashion Week

Sep 27, 2017 5:00 PM ET

“Lead with purpose and profits will follow.” This mantra from Helen Sahi, RBIS’ senior director of Sustainability, echoed last week during a panel discussion at London Fashion Week.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Charmin and Bounty Manufacturing Now Powered by Biomass

Sep 27, 2017 4:00 PM ET

Founded in 1837, Procter & Gamble holds some of the most well-recognized brands in the world. The company has remained a family favorite for everyday necessities like Charmin, Pampers, Tide, and Pantene, among many others products, since that time. Now, nearly 180 years later, P&G is moving full speed ahead into their current reality of business where sustainability is a major focus. On September 26, P&G and Constellation, a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation, opened a new biomass plant in Albany, Ga, a plant that will move the consumer goods giant closer to their goal of using 30 percent renewable energy in their U.S. operations by 2020.

Health & Healthcare

Promoting Healthy Lifestyles in and Outside the Company

Sep 27, 2017 3:55 PM ET

When Medtronic decided to partner with the Minnesota Vikings this fall, the goal was simple — bring awareness to the importance of health and fitness. In September, Medtronic and the Vikings awarded a local school with a "Fit Zone" donation. The financial support allowed Minneapolis North Community High School to invest in a new weight room and training center for its student athletes. Additionally, Medtronic is providing Twin Cities employees the opportunity to donate gently used sports equipment throughout the month of October. The donations will go to the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Department.

Environment

Domtar Sustainability Monthly Minute: September

Sep 27, 2017 3:30 PM ET

Field Trip, Minus Permission Slips

There's nothing like a field trip - the chance to shake up the usual routine and gain a fresh perspective. Recently, Domtar joined with Staples and the Appalachian Woodland Alliance to host a field trip in the forests of North Carolina. Watch what happened when procurement professionals stepped out from behind their desks and into the woods to better understand the impacts of their supply chain decisions.