ESG News from Leading Brands

Energy

National Grid’s Dean Seavers Joins National Commission to Slash Transportation Energy Use by Half

Oct 26, 2017 1:20 PM ET

Dean Seavers, U.S. President of National Grid, will co-chair a national commission launched today by the Alliance to Save Energy that will develop recommendations to reduce energy use in the U.S. transportation sector by 50 percent by 2050 while meeting future mobility needs.

Diversity & Inclusion

An Ally at the Intersection

Oct 26, 2017 12:40 PM ET

Imagine a room with 4,000 people from every state and 40 other nations. It’s a giant room which intersects many ages, genders, races, abilities and ethnicities along with a diverse range of talents, experience and professions. In fact, they come from more than 250 employers including my own, Sodexo. You might wonder what makes this global business conference unique?

Education

Mobile Science Lab Visits Bedford’s Lane School

Oct 26, 2017 12:10 PM ET

The 22-feet-by-10-feet Curiosity Cube encourages students at a formative age to get excited about science, as well as taking them into an atypical setting outside the traditional classroom.

Environment

New Talks on Paris Climate Pact Are Set, and That’s Awkward for U.S.

Oct 26, 2017 12:10 PM ET

Mike Bloomberg says the debate over Trump's intentions should not be a distraction from the urgent business of addressing climate change. "We have to act for our children and grandchildren," Mike urges in this New York Times article.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Guest Post: Timberland Talks Responsible Materials at the Textile Exchange Sustainability Conference

Oct 26, 2017 12:00 PM ET

At Timberland, we strive to be Earthkeepers in everything we do. We work hard to make our products responsibly, to protect the outdoors, and to serve the communities around the globe where we live, work and explore. My role focuses on responsible product.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Adopted Siblings Make Big Impact on Family

Oct 26, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Education

Wonders of Water and Wildlife Offers Hands-On Conservation Opportunities for Girls

Oct 26, 2017 12:00 PM ET

As one of Duke Energy’s Water Resources Fund recipients, the Hornet’s Nest Council brought the Wonders of Water and Wildlife (WoWW) program to its campus in Iredell County, which serves the surrounding eight counties. The program is developing tomorrow’s leaders in water conservation by teaching girls how to improve water quality and quantity.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

How this Cancer Survivor is Using Her Business and Personal Experience to Help Other Young Women Face Breast Cancer

Oct 26, 2017 11:45 AM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Xylem Provides Expanded Support for Relief Efforts in Puerto Rico

Oct 26, 2017 11:45 AM ET

Xylem announced plans to expand its support for the ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts in Puerto Rico in the aftermath of the devastating effects of Hurricane Maria. The Company has pledged financial support, including matching employee contributions, as well as a new effort to bring clean water to several of the hardest hit areas of the island.

Events, Media & Communications

Cone Communications to Headline 2017 B:CIVIC Summit

Oct 26, 2017 11:45 AM ET

Whitney Dailey, Director of Marketing/Research & Insights at Cone Communications, will join the 2017 B:CIVIC Summit as the keynote presenter on November 14. The event, hosted in metro Denver at the National Western Center, is designed to serve as a catalyst for building capacity in the community with social impact champions who know that for-profit business is a powerful force for social change.

Health & Healthcare

James Beard Award Winner and Celebrity Chef Jimmy Bannos, Jr. to Serve as Sodexo’s Culinary Ambassador at Northwestern University

Oct 26, 2017 11:25 AM ET

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life services, in partnership with Northwestern University Dining, today announced that one of Chicago’s own celebrity chefs and owner of The Purple Pig, Jimmy Bannos, Jr., will serve as Northwestern Dining’s new culinary ambassador for the upcoming school year. Working alongside Northwestern Dining’s Executive Chef Chris Studtmann and his 13 chefs, Chef Bannos brings an exceptionally creative and exciting lens to the student dining experience.

Green Infrastructure

Keep America Beautiful and Coca-Cola Celebrate Impact of Public Space Recycling Grants Over Past Decade; Announce 2017 Grant Opportunity

Oct 26, 2017 10:30 AM ET

National nonprofit Keep America Beautiful and The Coca-Cola Foundation today announced the opening of the application period for the 2017 Coca-Cola Public Space Recycling Bin Grant Program. In its 11th year, the initiative is designed to expand access to recycling in public spaces in communities across America. Grant applications will be available online through Friday, Nov. 17, 2017. All interested parties can visit BinGrant.org to apply.

Environment

Domtar Sustainability: Pulling Our Weight

Oct 26, 2017 10:15 AM ET

Unlike their counterparts in Pulp and Paper, our logistics colleagues in Personal Care don’t have a weight problem. Quite the opposite, they struggle to put it on.

Optimizing transportation efficiency is the objective for both of our divisions. They both strive to get the most product in a trailer. One is weight constrained. The other has a space issue.

The reason for the difference is that personal care products are lightweight. It is easy to fill a trailer and be well within the regulated weight limit. The challenge for our logistics colleagues in Personal Care is how to max out the allowable weight limit.

Green Infrastructure

Health Product Declaration® (HPD) Collaborative Announces Third-Party Verification Program

Oct 26, 2017 10:10 AM ET

The Health Product Declaration® (HPD) Collaborative today announced the approval of its Third-Party Verification Program. This program provides a means for manufacturers to obtain an authoritative third-party verification of Health Product Declarations® (HPDs) that they have created for their products

Social Impact & Volunteering

Creating a Purpose-Rich Environment for Your Employees Through Volunteering

Oct 26, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Historically, there has been a disconnect between purpose in personal and professional life. In your personal life, you choose how to incorporate purpose — such as helping your neighbors, volunteering for a specific cause, or donating to a local organization. At work, you just do tasks related your job — right?

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Brown-Forman Corporation Named One of “Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion”

Oct 26, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Brown-Forman Corporation was named a top-scoring company on the 2017 Disability Equality Index (DEI®) survey, conducted by the US Business Leadership Network (USBLN) and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). Brown-Forman received a perfect score of 100.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

PANDORA Ranks as One of the World’s Best Employers

Oct 26, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Forbes magazine has released its latest Global 2000 list, ranking publicly listed companies in over 58 countries based on four specific categories. Most notably, PANDORA has been ranked as number 133 in the World’s Best Employers list – placing the company first in its listed country, Denmark.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

De Beers Teams Up to Provide Free Health Screening to Mining Communities

Oct 26, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Around 1,500 people were screened at the health fair held during the Community Health Week in mid-October in the towns of Musina, Alldays and Blouberg.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Voya Financial Chief Legal Officer Trish Walsh Recognized on the Ethisphere Institute’s 2017 List of Attorneys Who Matter

Oct 26, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Trish Walsh, Chief Legal Officer (CLO) for Voya Financial, Inc. has been recognized by the Ethisphere Institute as one of the 2017 Attorneys Who Matter in the category of In-House Counsel. The annual designation highlights those who have made a significant difference in the field of ethics and compliance through their professional legal work and track record in public service.

Since joining Voya in 2015, Walsh has been extremely effective in creating a nimble, high-functioning legal and compliance program with a collegial, collaborative team culture. She has championed efforts to advance diversity and inclusion throughout Voya and in the broader legal and business community.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Loukoumi the Lamb Inspires a Good Deeds Movement, Encouraging Children to Make a Difference

Oct 26, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Some 15 years ago, Nick Katsoris was inspired to write a series of children’s books featuring Loukoumi, a cuddly lamb named after the sweet Greek candy. And in 2009, he released “Loukoumi’s Good Deeds,” which encourages children to make a difference by pledging to do good in their communities. The book blossomed into a movement, with the launch of the Loukoumi Make A Difference Foundation, which engages thousands of children each year to make a difference in the lives of others.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Tetra Tech Congratulates Its Leadership Academy Graduating Class of 2017

Oct 26, 2017 9:00 AM ET

On October 7, 2017, Tetra Tech’s Leadership Academy Class of 2017 successfully completed the company’s annual corporate professional development program. The Leadership Academy prepares project managers to become outstanding business leaders to better serve their clients.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Republic Services and Alabama Coastal Foundation Recognized with Top Recycling Award

Oct 25, 2017 6:35 PM ET

Republic Services and the Alabama Coastal Foundation were recognized by the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) with the Organics Recycler of the Year Award. The award is in recognition of an innovative oyster shell recycling program, and was presented today at NWRA’s annual Executive Leadership Roundtable and Awards Luncheon in Orlando, Fla.

Education

Citi Foundation’s Youth Workforce Fund to Increase Access to Jobs, Including Apprenticeships and Internships, Among Youth

Oct 25, 2017 5:25 PM ET

The Citi Foundation today announced the launch of the Youth Workforce Fund as part of its Pathways to Progress initiative to provide youth both in the U.S. and around the world with training and access to jobs, including paid apprenticeships and internships. In partnership with America’s Promise Alliance, 15 nonprofit organizations across the United States will expand their programming to provide a range of employment opportunities in various areas including environmental sustainability to robotics and culinary arts to coding.

Environment

Atlanta City Council Honors Cox Conserves

Oct 25, 2017 4:35 PM ET

District 2 Councilmember Kwanza Hall presented a proclamation at the Oct. 16 city council meeting in honor of Cox Conserves. Launched in 2007 by Chairman Jim Kennedy, Cox Conserves is Cox Enterprises’ national sustainability program. It focuses on reducing waste, energy consumption and conserving water while encouraging employees and their families to engage in eco-friendly practices.

Health & Healthcare

Gilead Awards $7.5 Million in Second Round of Grants to Advance HIV Cure Research

Oct 25, 2017 4:05 PM ET

Gilead Sciences, Inc.(NASDAQ:GILD) announced the second round of recipients of its HIV cure grants program. This new commitment will provide $7.5 million to support five additional HIV cure research initiatives led by top academic institutions and focused on translational research and efficacy studies in preclinical models.