ESG News from Leading Brands

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

October is Fair Trade Month: Fair Trade USA Announces Growth and New Product Categories

Oct 1, 2015 10:00 AM ET

October is Fair Trade Month! It's the perfect time to learn about the people and places behind our favorite products, and to spread the word about Fair Trade. #BeFair.

Environment

Global Food Companies Unite On Climate Action

Oct 1, 2015 10:00 AM ET

With key international climate negotiations fast approaching in Paris, the chief executive officers of Mars, Incorporated, General Mills, Unilever, Kellogg Company, Nestlé USA, New Belgium Brewing, Ben & Jerry’s, Clif Bar, Stonyfield Farm and Dannon USA today released a joint letter to U.S. and world leaders pledging to accelerate business action on climate change and urging governments to do the same by forging a robust international agreement this December.

Research, Reports & Publications

CBRE Group, Inc. Releases Eighth Annual Corporate Responsibility Report

Oct 1, 2015 9:45 AM ET

CBRE Group, Inc., a leader in responsible business practices within the commercial real estate industry, has released its eighth annual Corporate Responsibility Report, which provides an overview of the global social, economic and environmental impacts of CBRE’s operations.

Environment

GRID Alternatives Launches 2015 Tribal Solarthon

Oct 1, 2015 9:30 AM ET

GRID Alternatives, America’s largest non-profit solar installer, today announced its national Tribal Solarthon event. Between September 28 and October 9, GRID Alternatives is partnering with four tribes in California, New York, South Dakota and Arizona to install solar power and provide solar job training for tribal members.

Responsible Production & Consumption

E-Waste in the Facility: Plague or Profit?

Sep 30, 2015 6:15 PM ET

Getting rid of the trash is a function that frequently falls to facilities management. As trash equates to waste, trash itself is a worthy target for the sustainability-minded, the economically minded, and the efficiency-minded.

Events, Media & Communications

Why You Should Attend the We First Brand Leadership Summit

Sep 30, 2015 6:00 PM ET

Your time is more precious than ever in light of an ever-increasing workload and the rising competition that we face today as marketers. That said, there are times when it’s critical to step outside your company or industry to understand the best practices of other brands that have built their brand reputation, sales and social impact. The We First Brand Leadership Summit is such an occasion.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Procter & Gamble Commits to Helping 100 Million Girls and Women Build Confidence

Sep 30, 2015 5:30 PM ET

P&G announced a new Commitment to Action today at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting to help 100 million girls and women build confidence. The global goal aims to help girls and women boost and maintain confidence and avoid traps that create negative feelings of self-worth. The Company also recognized Keep a Child Alive and Walmart for being outstanding partners in helping bring women, girls and others in need clean drinking water through P&G’s Children’s Safe Drinking Water (CSDW) Program.

Events, Media & Communications

'The Toyota Effect' World Premieres at New York Film Festival Convergence

Sep 30, 2015 5:30 PM ET

Recently at the New York Film Festival (NYFF) Convergence, a brand-new short film series – entitled The Toyota Effect – debuted.

Education

Comcast Offers College Scholarships to Leaders in the Classroom & Community

Sep 30, 2015 5:00 PM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

2015 Corporate Volunteer Awards: A Look at Finalist 1st Source Bank

Sep 30, 2015 4:40 PM ET

Being volunteer leaders in the community has been one of 1st Source’s principal values since its founding in 1863.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Timberland Wins at 6th Annual Ethical Corporation Responsible Business Awards

Sep 30, 2015 4:15 PM ET

On Friday, September 25, Timberland was honored at Ethical Corporation’s Sixth Annual Responsible Business Awards ceremony held in London as winner of the “Best Employee Engagement” category.

Environment

Successful Recycle Programs Need More Than Lofty Goals

Sep 30, 2015 3:35 PM ET

Environment

Bechtel's Smart Cities Guide: How To Transform Your City With Smart, Resilient Infrastructure

Sep 30, 2015 3:05 PM ET

Diversity & Inclusion

LGBT Equality in the Workplace

Sep 30, 2015 2:00 PM ET

Today Symantec joins a consortium of 12 major businesses with 1.4 million employees across more than 190 countries committing to uphold LGBT workplace protections abroad.

Social Impact & Volunteering

[New Issue Alert] The Corporate Citizen Magazine

Sep 30, 2015 2:00 PM ET

The Fall 2015 issue of the Corporate Citizen Magazine is now available! This special issue provides the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship’s Professional Development and Executive Education offerings for 2015-2016, as well as key insights into the corporate citizenship efforts of leading companies.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Laborlink Receives First Ever Best Social Enterprise Award

Sep 30, 2015 1:45 PM ET

In London on September 25, 2015 - Laborlink was presented the first ever Best Social Enterprise award for its mission to improve working conditions in the supply chains of our favorite apparel and electronics brands. Now in its 6th year, the Ethical Corporation’s Responsible Business Awards are a truly international affair, honoring responsible business practice from around the world.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Results from the BSR/GlobeScan Survey 2015: Business Leaders’ Perspectives on Climate, Global Goals

Sep 30, 2015 1:00 PM ET

BSR and GlobeScan's seventh annual State of Sustainable Business Survey reveals compelling facts about how companies are approaching sustainability--and which issues matter the most to corporate leaders.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

FedEx Pledges $1 Million in Aid to Support European Migrant Crisis

Sep 30, 2015 12:45 PM ET

FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) has committed approximately $1 million in cash and transportation support to deliver emergency supplies and critical medical aid to the thousands of migrants and refugees arriving in Europe, and provide ongoing assistance to both the people and the local communities affected by the crisis.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Using Nature’s Design Principles to Feed Nine Billion

Sep 30, 2015 12:15 PM ET

Earlier this year, hundreds of people from around the world took on a challenge to fix our global food system by looking to nature for design solutions. Now, eight finalist teams have been invited to prototype their solutions in an accelerator program that will award $100,000 to the top contender in an effort to increase speed to market for biomimetic solutions to global problems.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Skip Million-Dollar Consultants. Instead, Just Encourage Employee Volunteering.

Sep 30, 2015 12:00 PM ET

A study from Boston College’s Center for Corporate Citizenship shows, companies can sizably boost employee engagement by thoughtfully encouraging and implementing simple, inexpensive initiatives such as employee volunteering programs, and skip the need to hire million-dollar strategy consulting firms to turn around corporate fortunes.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Feed People, Not Landfills

Sep 30, 2015 12:00 PM ET

The fight against food waste just got some powerful allies. The USDA and EPA joined with Sodexo and other private sector organizations to set the first national goal for reducing the food waste sent to landfills in half by 2030.

As part of this first-ever national food waste reduction effort, the federal government will lead a new partnership with charitable and faith-based organizations, the private sector and local, state and tribal governments to reduce food loss and waste, leading to improved food security and conservation of our resources.

To learn more visit us at www.sodexoinsights.com

Diversity & Inclusion

Ron L. Phillips Named Senior Vice President of Human Resources - Office of People and Potential For Carnival Cruise Line

Sep 30, 2015 11:35 AM ET

Ron L. Phillips has been appointed Senior Vice President of Human Resources - Office of People and Potential for Carnival Cruise Line. In this capacity, Phillips will oversee shoreside and shipboard human resources for the world's largest cruise line, including talent acquisition, talent management, leadership development, human capital planning, employee engagement, compensation and benefits, and performance management. Phillips begins his new role effective October 19 and will report to Carnival President Christine Duffy.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Creating Value by Investing in Community Involvement

Sep 30, 2015 11:15 AM ET

At the Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship, we have been busy finishing the analysis of our 2015 study of how companies are managing and executing the community involvement activities within their corporate citizenship efforts, and expect the final report to be released this fall.

Environment

Mars Supports UN’s Sustainable Development Goals

Sep 30, 2015 11:00 AM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

Aramark Volunteers Create Wellness Hub at Houston's Baker-Ripley Neighborhood Center

Sep 30, 2015 11:00 AM ET

Aramark volunteers helped Houston's children and families get healtheir when they created a community health and wellness hub at Neighborhood Centers Inc.'s Baker-Ripley location as part of Aramark Building Community Day.