ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: The Climate Divide and the Old Mason-Dixon Line

Aug 1, 2017 5:00 PM ET

A new study unveils the disproportionate negative economic impact of climate change on the “Old South.”

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Carnival Cruise Line Tops Off National Ice Cream Month With A ‘Funday Sundae’ Celebration Aboard Carnival Ecstasy For Kids From Charleston’s Connie Maxwell Children’s Home

Aug 1, 2017 4:45 PM ET

To celebrate its commitment to the greater Charleston community and to mark National Ice Cream Month, Carnival Cruise Line hosted a "FunDay Sundae" celebration on board Carnival Ecstasy yesterday for kids from the Connie Maxwell Children's Home in Charleston, South Carolina. The event, which was attended by 40 children between the ages of 11 and 16, included water park fun, lunch, a magic show and an ice cream sundae bar with almost endless toppings.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Duke Energy Helping Home Fund to Serve 700 Additional Income-Qualified North Carolina Families

Aug 1, 2017 4:20 PM ET

More than 700 income-qualified North Carolina families will save energy and money through free home energy makeovers provided by Duke Energy's Helping Home Fund.

Research, Reports & Publications

PerkinElmer, Thermo Scientific, Bioz, And More: News From July 2017

Aug 1, 2017 4:00 PM ET

Companies are interested in improving chemicals to reduce environmental impacts, also known as green chemistry. A new publication in ACS Sustainable discusses the 12 principles of green chemistry that outline a framework for identifying a greener chemical or process, spanning aspects in health hazard, ecological risk, and resource efficiency across a product lifecycle.

Environment

Orange County: Wastewater Reuse Leader

Aug 1, 2017 3:05 PM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

California Diversity Council Honors AMN Healthcare CEO, Susan Salka, with 2017 Healthcare Excellence Award

Aug 1, 2017 3:00 PM ET

The California Diversity Council is proud to honor Susan Salka with the 2017 Healthcare Excellence award, which will be presented on August 17, 2017 at the 4th Annual Southern California Healthcare Diversity Summit. Ms. Salka is the President and Chief Executive Officer at AMN Healthcare, the leader and innovator in healthcare workforce solutions and staffing services.

Innovation & Technology

Delivering Economic and Environmental Benefits

Aug 1, 2017 2:35 PM ET

In May 2015, CSX broke ground on a major project: reconstructing Washington, D.C.’s 110-year-old Virginia Avenue Tunnel. This project represents a major infrastructure improvement to fix a historic freight bottleneck in the congested beltway transportation system.

Media & Communications

Using The GRI Standard For Sustainability Reporting Leads To Higher Quality Reports -G&A Analysis Shows

Aug 1, 2017 1:30 PM ET

The G&A Institute team closely monitors US corporations included in the index (a number are clients of G&A), and analyzes the reporting practices of the constituent companies. In the first year of the study, we looked at 2010 sustainability / CSR / citizenship reporting by the S&P 500 and determined that about 20% were doing some kind of structured sustainability and related subject matter reporting. That was a good baseline year to build on, but 80% were laggards.

The next year the volume of reporting dramatically increased to more than 50% of the universe; then to three-quarters, and in our latest examination, for year 2016 the result was that 82% of the universe is reporting -- only 18% of the 500 are now laggards in this regard.

Energy

Sourcing Renewable Energy for Your Business: Worth its Weight in Gold/Green

Aug 1, 2017 1:10 PM ET

An increasing number of companies are making public commitments to power their operations with renewable energy, but convincing senior management that the investment is worth it can still be a difficult task. Evidence of improvements to ESG ratings and reputation make the task easier.

Environment

Corporate Hands | Scotiabank Plants Some 800 Trees at Primary Schools

Aug 1, 2017 1:05 PM ET

Kevin Burton, branch manager, Scotiabank Santa Cruz, waters a newly planted tree with the help of a student from Holland Primary

Events, Media & Communications

2017 Women’s Leadership Conference Will Feature Tailored Programming; Workshops Taught by Acclaimed Keynote Speakers and Thought Leaders

Aug 1, 2017 1:00 PM ET

The 11th annual Women’s Leadership Conference, sponsored by the non-profit MGM Resorts Foundation, will offer attendees custom-designed educational workshops, in addition to world class speaker presentations.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Northern Trust Maintains its Inclusion in the FTSE4GOOD Index for the Eleventh Consecutive Year

Aug 1, 2017 12:45 PM ET

Northern Trust has maintained its inclusion in the FTSE4GOOD Index for the eleventh consecutive year. The FTSE4Good Index Series measures the performance of companies that meet globally recognized corporate responsibility standards.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The Pentair Foundation Announces Its Fall Global Community Giving Grant Cycle

Aug 1, 2017 12:30 PM ET

Pentair, a global company dedicated to building a safer, more sustainable world, is pleased to announce that The Pentair Foundation is now accepting applications online for its global community giving grant cycle through September 15, 2017.

Energy

Leadership at CAGI Gives Ingersoll Rand Advocacy Role for Sustainability

Aug 1, 2017 12:30 PM ET

Several Ingersoll Rand leaders and managers are making important sustainability contributions to the Compressed Air and Gas Institute's (CAGI) work in support of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The DOE has focused its efforts on regulatory action on efficiency standards for air compressors and the establishment of test procedures that determine if compressors meet those standards.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Treating the World with Care: General Mills Global Responsibility

Aug 1, 2017 12:05 PM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

Brown-Forman Launches Corporate Responsibility Report and Video Series

Aug 1, 2017 12:00 PM ET

This year’s report features narratives describing employees who champion the cause of responsibility throughout the business, from the founder of a non-drinker’s employee resource group to an employee who organized a significant refugee aid effort in Europe.

In addition to the written narratives, Brown-Forman has produced a series of videos to accompany the report which help bring to life the company’s responsibility approach and actions, including its proactive alcohol responsibility efforts in its sales and marketing, as well as the long history of environmental sustainability at the Jack Daniel Distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee.

Research, Reports & Publications

Natural Capital Protocol Toolkit Aims to Help Companies Better Assess Nature's Role, Value

Aug 1, 2017 11:35 AM ET

The introduction of the Natural Capital Protocol last year provided businesses with an important tool for businesses to measure their impacts and dependencies on natural resources. Now, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the Natural Capital Coalition are making it even easier for businesses to understand their relationships with nature with the launch of the Natural Capital Protocol Toolkit.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Consumers Energy Kicks Off Local National Night Out Activities to Prevent Crime; Promote Community Safety

Aug 1, 2017 11:30 AM ET

Fighting back against crime and promoting safer communities is the focus of statewide activities today involving Consumers Energy, local government leaders and law enforcement. A 5:30 a.m. promotional event at Consumers Energy’s office, 4000 Clay Ave. SW, Wyoming, kicked off activities across Michigan in support of the 34th Annual National Night Out.

Education

“Subaru Loves Learning” Initiative Brings World of Science to Students Across the Country

Aug 1, 2017 11:00 AM ET

This month, Subaru of America, Inc. will work alongside the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) to once again support its “Subaru Loves Learning” initiative and provide students with award-winning science books. As part of the brand’s Love Promise Community Commitment dedicated to supporting causes and passions Subaru and its customers care about most, Subaru and 477 participating retailers will donate more than 76,000 award-winning science books to help engage, prepare and inspire K-12 students across the country.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Dave Thomas Foundation Celebrates 25th Anniversary

Aug 1, 2017 10:55 AM ET

It is an exciting year for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption as we celebrate our 25th anniversary on July 31. Since 1992, the Foundation has been committed to the vision of our founder, Dave Thomas: to ensure every child has a permanent and loving family. Our mission has never wavered. Each day we work to dramatically increase the number of adoptions from foster care. We believe that family is the birthright of every child and that every child is adoptable.

Environment

Domtar Sustainability: More Renewable Energy for the Windsor Mill

Aug 1, 2017 10:15 AM ET

Our mill in Windsor, Quebec, is on its way to becoming one of the largest private producers of renewable energy in the Eastern Townships region of the province with a second turbine generator scheduled for commissioning in 2017.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

The Future of SRI - Sustainable, Responsible, Impact Investing

Aug 1, 2017 10:05 AM ET

Eight years ago I received the call asking me to consider joining Trillium Asset Management as CEO. Since that time, we have seen more interest than ever in the field of sustainable investing from a wide variety of institutions, mainstream money managers, and families often driven by women and millennials, bringing assets over to impact. But we are also keenly aware that since the election, the new Administration is actively working to dismantle many of the key policy initiatives we have advocated over the last 35 years. So we are at an interesting crossroads. Looking out over the horizon, I see six emerging trends that I believe shed light on the future of sustainable investing.

Social Impact & Volunteering

CIT Employees Volunteer 7,625 Hours This Summer

Aug 1, 2017 10:05 AM ET

Events, Media & Communications

Tickets on Sale Now to the 2nd Annual S.H.E. Summit Bacardi; A One-Day Women’s Empowerment Conference in Miami on September 28

Aug 1, 2017 10:00 AM ET

The 2nd Annual S.H.E Summit Bacardi will convene thought-provoking speakers and hundreds of women (and men) to unleash female ability while lifting others in the process. In collaboration with S.H.E. Summit, a globally-celebrated women’s empowerment conference, S.H.E. Summit Bacardi is an experience aimed at celebrating and cultivating female and male leaders from Bacardi, partner corporations, firms, and companies based in South Florida on September 28 at the Hilton Miami Downtown.

Health & Healthcare

WELL @Work: Healthy Food Choices for People and Planet

Aug 1, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Our CEO Rick Fedrizzi often talks about the Second Wave of sustainability. At IWBI, we believe that sustainability extends far beyond environmental protections. Just as WELL is for people, we believe that sustainability is about helping people make the best choices for both the environment and their health.