ESG News from Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Wendy’s High School Heisman – Application Now Open

Sep 12, 2017 2:55 PM ET

Summer is just about coming to a close. Which – is a bummer. We know. But at Wendy’s®, there’s a silver lining: the kickoff to Wendy’s High School Heisman® Scholarship season. You know we are passionate about a lot. Fresh beef, for instance. Quality ingredients overall. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption®. But for the past 23 years, Wendy’s has also been a champion for students who show incredible passion in overcoming obstacles to be successful in the classroom, on the athletic field and within their communities.

Energy

Massachusetts Businesses Urge Lawmakers to Support Increased Renewable Energy Standard

Sep 12, 2017 2:00 PM ET

Massachusetts businesses are calling on state lawmakers to support an increase of the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) to achieve 50 percent renewable energy supply by 2030.

Autodesk, Ikea, JLL, Legal Sea Food, and New Balance are among the businesses calling for more renewable energy in a letter delivered today to lawmakers. The call comes as Massachusetts lawmakers prepare for a briefing this week on several pieces of legislation that would increase the RPS.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

LG Unveils Its Highest Power Residential Solar Module with Enhanced Performance

Sep 12, 2017 2:00 PM ET

LG Electronics brings its most powerful and energy efficient solar module technology to Solar Power International in the form of the LG NeON®R. The new residential module, available in the US this month, creates a system with seamless installation and use, improved temperature coefficient and heightened visual appeal making it an all-around win for energy-conscious homeowners.

Responsible Production & Consumption

World’s First MSC Certified Pearls Confirms Sustainability of Intergenerational Australian Fishery

Sep 12, 2017 2:00 PM ET

In a ground-breaking move for sustainability certification, the Australian Pearl Producers Association (PPA) are the first wild pearl fishery in the world to achieve Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification. The fishery was awarded the third-party certification after an 18-month assessment period carried out by SCS Global Services.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Dell Included in Fortune’s 2017 Change the World List

Sep 12, 2017 1:55 PM ET

Dell is proud of its inaugural inclusion on Fortune’s 2017 Change the World List, as Dell Technologies marks its One Year Anniversary and celebrates accomplishments in its Annual Report to Customers.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Amgen Staff Members Volunteer in Rockport After Hurricane Harvey

Sep 12, 2017 1:45 PM ET

A team of Amgen volunteers recently traveled to Rockport, Texas to help those affected by Hurricane Harvey.

Education

Khan Academy Launches First-Ever National Learnstorm Education Challenge

Sep 12, 2017 1:30 PM ET

Khan Academy announces today the start of the first-ever national LearnStorm, a free, six-week online learning challenge for grades 3-12. LearnStorm helps schools address the effects of summer learning loss and start the school year strong.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

JPMorgan Chase to Donate $1 Million to Support Hurricane Irma Relief Efforts

Sep 12, 2017 1:30 PM ET

JPMorgan Chase & Co. announced today that it is donating $1 million to aid the response to Hurricane Irma across affected communities in the U.S. and the Caribbean.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Volkswagen Of America Hits the Road With Endurance Runner Mimi Anderson

Sep 12, 2017 1:30 PM ET

Volkswagen of America (VWoA) announces its support for endurance runner Mimi Anderson as she attempts to run across the USA for charity – and set a world record for the feat.

Energy

Energy Conservation & Emissions in Boeing Operations

Sep 12, 2017 1:05 PM ET

Boeing takes a life cycle approach to our environmental footprint, which means we look at more than the effects of our products on the planet. We also carefully review how our products are manufactured and the effects of our operations. Reducing factory and facility emissions is a core part of our strategy and focus of innovation.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Consumers Energy Crews Heading Into Path of Hurricane to Restore Power

Sep 12, 2017 12:05 PM ET

Over 200 Consumers Energy employees and contractors are working in Florida today to help restore power to over 4 million homes and businesses that lost power due to Hurricane Irma.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

On National Day of Service, Jonathan and Drew Scott Urge Support of Habitat Hammers Back Hurricane Recovery Initiative

Sep 12, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Jonathan and Drew Scott are urging support of Habitat for Humanity’s response to Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma in a new public service announcement out today. Through the Habitat Hammers Back initiative, the global housing nonprofit is assisting families in Texas and has begun assessing damages in Florida and the Caribbean.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Timberland Supports WWII Veterans and Honor Flight New England

Sep 12, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Recently, employees of outdoor lifestyle brand Timberland took a few hours away from their desks to participate in an in-house service event in support of Honor Flight New England. Honor Flight’s mission is to transport America’s veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit and reflect at the memorials dedicated to honoring their service and sacrifices.

Innovation & Technology

Implementing a Successful Public-Private Partnership | Part 3: Determine How to Execute

Sep 12, 2017 11:35 AM ET

How does a company or organization develop and sustain successful public-private partnerships to achieve large-scale impact?

Determine how to execute: The partnership must develop a clear vision, differentiated strategy, and detailed execution plan to drive long-term success. This includes defining outcomes for the PPP that are informed through stakeholder input, establishing an effective governance structure with clearly defined and transparent operating practices, and agreeing upon roles and accountabilities in advance.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Merck Donates $1 Million to Hand in Hand Hurricane Relief Fund

Sep 12, 2017 11:25 AM ET

Today, Merck announced a donation of $1 million to the Hand in Hand Hurricane Relief Fund to support Hand in Hand: A Benefit for Hurricane Relief television fundraiser. The one-hour special will include a host of celebrities who are supporting Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma disaster relief. The special will air live on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. EST and re-air at 8 p.m. PST.

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar's Human Rights Policy

Sep 12, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Energy

Black & Veatch and Renewable Energy Test Center Launch New Energy Storage Bankability Service

Sep 12, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Black & Veatch, a leading engineering, construction and consulting company, and Renewable Energy Test Center (RETC), an engineering services, and certification testing provider for photovoltaic and renewable energy products, today announced the launch of a new energy storage bankability service. The bankability service reflects the growing need for advanced testing and assessments of products, processes and technologies supporting the fast-growing photovoltaics (PV) and energy storage markets.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

CBRE Group, Inc. Earns Place on Dow Jones Sustainability Index for Fourth Consecutive Year

Sep 12, 2017 10:35 AM ET

CBRE Group, Inc. today announced that it has been included on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America for the fourth year in a row. This prestigious index recognizes corporations that demonstrate leadership in environmental, social and governance performance.

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: Ahead of Their Time

Sep 12, 2017 10:30 AM ET

What other companies were focused on being responsible environmental stewards at that time (Before Ray Anderson had his epiphany)? Well, it turns out that the answer is … at least one.

Education

CITGO Lemont Refinery Recognized for STEM Contributions in Local Schools

Sep 12, 2017 10:30 AM ET

During the May board meeting, School District 113a recognized the CITGO Lemont Refinery for its support of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) initiatives in their schools.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

New Report Ranks Largest Global Food Companies on Water Risk Management as Climate Change Impacts Accelerate

Sep 12, 2017 10:20 AM ET

Climate change is making water one of the biggest risks to the $5 trillion food industry, whether from epic flooding or prolonged drought. A new report released today by the sustainability nonprofit organization, Ceres, calls on major food companies to reduce the impacts of a warming climate—on both the global water supply and on their bottom lines—by adopting far stronger practices to use limited fresh water resources more efficiently.

Diversity & Inclusion

LATINA Style Recognizes Sodexo for Its Outstanding Career Advancement Opportunities

Sep 12, 2017 10:15 AM ET

Sodexo, world leader in quality of life services, announced today its recognition in the 2017 LATINA Style® 50 Report. For the past 20 years, the LATINA Style 50 Report recognizes companies whose mission of diversity and inclusion have been reflected in the way they recruit, promote, provide benefits, and create programs for the betterment of their employees.

Environment

Counting Our Carbon

Sep 12, 2017 10:15 AM ET

For the first time, Domtar’s Transportation and Logistics team estimated the greenhouse gas emissions from shipping pulp and paper products to our customers. The results: an estimated 349,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2016.

Education

Keep America Beautiful, Environmental Research & Education Foundation to Collaborate on Food Waste Education in K-12 Schools

Sep 12, 2017 10:15 AM ET

Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, and the Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance scientific research and education for sustainable solid waste management practices, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that outlines an agreement to join efforts on quantifying food waste in K-12 schools. In addition, the MOU outlines the organizations’ aim to provide tools and resources that help reduce school-based food waste.

Health & Healthcare

A Sense of Community is the Heart of Resilience

Sep 12, 2017 10:05 AM ET