ESG News from Leading Brands

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Making the Midlands the Heartbeat of the UK Economy

Mar 15, 2018 10:10 AM ET

New research from Barclays has found that the Midlands is one of the most cost effective regions for small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) in the UK to start. The Barclays Midlands Growth Fund is targeted at these SMEs and is designed to boost jobs and economic growth. The five-year initiative will work in tandem with the UK Government’s own £250m Midlands Engine Investment Fund.

Events, Media & Communications

Excitement Builds for Sustainable Brands ‘18 in Vancouver

Mar 15, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Sustainable Brands® reveals program, networking and activity highlights for its upcoming global flagship conference: SB’18 Vancouver. More than 3,000 brand and business leaders will convene June 4 -7 at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia for a conversation on brand innovation for the 21st century.

Health & Healthcare

National Nutrition Month Highlight: Aramark and American Heart Association Helping Children and Families Lead Healthier Lives

Mar 15, 2018 10:00 AM ET

March is National Nutrition Month and throughout the month, Aramark and the American Heart Association are presenting a series of videos highlighting the work of their breakthrough health impact initiative, Healthy for Life 20 By 20. Experts from Aramark and the American Heart Association, as well as community members, will talk about the multi-year collaboration, and how we are working together to help millions lead healthier lives.

Diversity & Inclusion

The JetBlue Foundation and The Nantucket Project Support the Rwanda Girls Initiative

Mar 15, 2018 10:00 AM ET

In celebration of Women’s History Month, JetBlue would like to bring attention to the great work being done by the Rwandan Girls Initiative (RGI) whose mission is to educate and empower girls of Rwanda to reach their highest potential. JetBlue was recently introduced to RGI through our inflight entertainment partners - The Nantucket Project (TNP). Last fall, the JetBlue Foundation helped fly several women from RGI to Nantucket for the TNP annual gathering.

Events, Media & Communications

WBCSD's Panorama Podcast | Sustainability at Microsoft: IT Innovation, the Future of Work and Moving From a Know-it-all Culture to a Learn-it-all Culture

Mar 15, 2018 9:35 AM ET

Where does sustainability fit in a diverse IT company like Microsoft? For a special edition of Panorama, WBCSD President and CEO Peter Bakker sits down with Toni Townes-Whitley, Corporate Vice-President for Industry at Microsoft, to discuss the increasing role of information technology in our lives, Microsoft’s vision for the future of work and how business leaders can work to deliver the SDGs.

Diversity & Inclusion

Comcast NBCUniversal Celebrates Military Hiring Achievement

Mar 15, 2018 9:30 AM ET

In 2015, Comcast NBCUniversal committed to achieving an exciting but ambitious goal – the hiring of 10,000 Veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, and Military Spouses across our company by the end of 2017. We are committed to military hiring because it strengthens our team, and our long-standing support of military and veteran organizations across the country. Today, I am very proud to share that we officially met and surpassed this goal as of the end of last year, and we can proudly say that since 2010 we have hired more than 15,000 Veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, and Military Spouses, across Comcast NBCUniversal.

Events, Media & Communications

Trends in Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting: A 3BL Media Webcast, April 4, 12:30 p.m.

Mar 15, 2018 9:25 AM ET

During a recent ReportAlert webinar, an attendee asked about trends in corporate reporting around CR and sustainability.

To answer, we have invited reporting veteran Tim Woodall and training extraordinaire Nancy Mancilla to share their observations on how corporate reporters are gearing up for 2018 and beyond.

Environment

Global $10M Phosphorus Challenge to Restore Freshwater Reaches Its Third Stage

Mar 15, 2018 9:25 AM ET

The George Barley Water Prize, a four-stage global competition of which The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation is lead sponsor, has achieved a major milestone. Ten scientist teams have advanced to Stage 3, having beaten out nearly 100 competitors in their bid to remove and repurpose excess phosphorus from surface water.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

What It Means to Be a Miner in the 21st Century

Mar 15, 2018 9:15 AM ET

The mining industry has traditionally been a laggard when it comes to innovation. The 21st-century economy, however, dominated by emerging technologies like electric vehicles, green energy sources and ever-more advanced mobile devices, is demanding creative approaches to efficiently delivering the raw materials that will fuel modern economies.

Innovation & Technology

Drone Solutions Enable More Efficient Land and Mill Monitoring

Mar 15, 2018 9:00 AM ET

You’ve probably seen kids, hobbyists and amateur photographers using drone technology for fun, but drone solutions have a great deal more potential than an afternoon’s worth of entertainment. These small, unmanned aerial vehicles are useful for a wide range of applications, from logistics to manufacturing.

Research, Reports & Publications

Pfizer Releases 2017 Annual Review

Mar 15, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Pfizer announced the release of its 2017 Annual Review, which highlights The Power of Science to showcase how science drives every aspect of Pfizer’s business in its mission to deliver innovative medicines and vaccines to help ensure every individual lives the healthiest life. At Pfizer, we believe there is a science to everything, from research and development, to manufacturing, to patient access and philanthropy. This year’s integrated Annual Review uses the lens of our colleagues to illustrate how The Power of Science drives our strategies for addressing the needs of patients.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Arbor Day Foundation and Publix Collaborating to Protect the Natural Waters of Florida

Mar 15, 2018 9:00 AM ET

The Arbor Day Foundation and Publix are pleased to announce an expanded collaboration to help restore Florida’s water ways with additional tree plantings in the Little Orange Creek Preserve and the Withlacoochee River Watershed, building on the inaugural watershed partnership which had focused on the cleaning and restoration of the Ocklawaha River Watershed in Alachua, Marion and Lake Counties in Florida.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Smithfield Foods Discusses Global Trade During University of Nebraska Symposium

Mar 15, 2018 9:00 AM ET

During her speech, Smithfield's Keira Lombardo provided the audience with a variety of information about the status of the global pork trade, the challenges and opportunities facing Smithfield and the industry, and how Smithfield is responding and adapting to the increasing global demand for its products.

Research, Reports & Publications

NN Group Publishes Its 2017 Annual Report

Mar 15, 2018 5:00 AM ET

NN Group is pleased to announce the publication of our 2017 Annual Report. It consists of two components – the Annual Review and Financial Report – providing an overview of our strategy and performance.

Environment

Frank Carini on the State of the Ocean State

Mar 14, 2018 7:00 PM ET

This week on Sea Change Radio, we focus on Southern New England and how climate change is affecting the region. We hear from Frank Carini, the co-founder of ecoRI News, a publication which recently came out with a special report on the topic.

Education

Why Do Girls Lose Interest in STEM? New Research Has Some Answers — And What We Can Do About It

Mar 14, 2018 6:10 PM ET

“People used to even make jokes about me because I asked so many questions,” says Kennedy Sampson, now a high school junior in Maryland. “But I needed to understand it …I had to do what I had to.” Kennedy’s determination and grit makes her a good candidate to succeed in math. Her voice was among more than 6,000 U.S. girls and women from ages 10 to 30 who were interviewed for a newly released study about STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Sustainable Investing Challenge Expands Its Global Footprint

Mar 14, 2018 5:20 PM ET

This year’s 8th annual Sustainable Investing Challenge has attracted the most geographically dispersed slate of finalists yet, with an equally diverse offering of investment proposals.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Deloitte Honored by Junior Achievement With Gold US President's Volunteer Service Award

Mar 14, 2018 5:05 PM ET

Junior Achievement USA® (JA) announced that it will honor Deloitte with a gold level 2016-2017 U.S. President's Volunteer Service Award for providing at least 15,000 volunteer hours to local Junior Achievement offices during the 2016-2017 school year.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Sanofi Mentorship Program Offers Guidance for Raritan Valley Community College Students

Mar 14, 2018 5:05 PM ET

Leadership teams from Sanofi and RVCC have created a structured mentoring program for students and an enriching experience for Sanofi mentors. Sanofi's volunteer mentors are mid- and senior-level employees representing science and research; technology; marketing and communications; and business and finance.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Astellas Volunteers Restore a Home and Hope with People Attempting to Help (PATH)

Mar 14, 2018 5:05 PM ET

Nine Astellas volunteers from the PCP/Specialty team helped to restore a home in Tyler, Texas. The team worked with PATH (People Attempting to Help) to support the organization’s Transitional Housing Program—designed to provide safe, decent and affordable housing to low-to-moderate income families in East Texas.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

City Year Names David L. Cohen and Jonathan S. Lavine Co-Chairs of its National Board of Trustees

Mar 14, 2018 2:45 PM ET

City Year, an education nonprofit fueled by national service that helps students and schools to succeed, announced today that David L. Cohen and Jonathan S. Lavine have been elected co-chairs of its national Board of Trustees.

Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer of Comcast NBCUniversal, Cohen has served as vice-chair of the national board since 2013, when Lavine, Co-Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Bain Capital Credit, was first elected chair. The two will now lead the national board together.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month – Take Care of Your Health!

Mar 14, 2018 2:35 PM ET

Colorectal cancer is the third most frequently diagnosed cancer in both men and women and the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States, but it is also largely preventable. March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and the Prevent Cancer Foundation® remains dedicated to educating the public on the importance of getting screened and the ways to reduce your colorectal cancer risk.

Innovation & Technology

Youth for Technology Foundation and HP Foundation Announce New Partnership to Boost 3D Printing Education

Mar 14, 2018 2:05 PM ET

Green Infrastructure

Recycled Rubber Paves the Way to the Future in Troup County, Georgia

Mar 14, 2018 2:00 PM ET

This week, Troup County will complete the paving of the county’s first “rubber road” on the new Tom Hall Parkway. The project used over 32,000 pounds of recycled tire rubber (RTR) in the top layer or “wearing course” of the road, which represents the rubber taken from over 2,500 end of life passenger tires.

Education

Post-secondary Students in Ontario Recognized for Their Efforts to Build a Greener World

Mar 14, 2018 2:00 PM ET