ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

Reducing GHG Emissions: From Seed To Shelf

Apr 29, 2019 8:00 AM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

Citi Releases 2018 Global Citizenship Report

Apr 29, 2019 5:00 AM ET

Citi today released its 2018 Global Citizenship Report, highlighting efforts made in the last year to responsibly provide financial services that enable growth and progress. This report and related summary includes numerous examples of how, through our core business and with the philanthropic efforts of the Citi Foundation, we are helping address complex and pressing issues such as climate change, the affordable housing crisis in the U.S., youth unemployment, diversity in business and financial independence for women.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Nestlé Waters, PepsiCo and Suntory Beverage & Food Europe join Consortium founded by Carbios and L’Oréal to support the world’s first enzymatic technology for the recycling of plastics.

Apr 29, 2019 4:30 AM ET

Carbios and L’Oréal previously founded the Consortium to bring enhanced recycling technology designed and developed by CARBIOS to market on an industrial scale. Committed to supporting sustainable development with innovative solutions, Nestlé Waters, PepsiCo and Suntory Beverage & Food Europe are joining the Consortium to help support the circular plastics economy using Carbios’ breakthrough enzyme-based enhanced recycling technology.

Diversity & Inclusion

How Bloomberg Is Amplifying Women’s Voices in the Middle East

Apr 26, 2019 4:55 PM ET

There’s little question that women are underrepresented in the global media sector. While companies say they are improving on this, a quick flipping of the channels on cable television often reveals man after man after man at the anchor desk—particularly in the business and finance media world.

Health & Healthcare

A Vaccine for E. coli? Meet a Researcher Hot on the Trail

Apr 26, 2019 4:10 PM ET

Think of "E. coli," and you probably picture outbreaks of foodborne illnesses that can cause severe stomach cramps, vomiting and more. After all, certain strains of the bacterium are among the most common and potentially lethal causes of food poisoning.

But there are other strains of E. coli. Some are harmless gut bacteria, but others—specifically, Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC)—are dangerous, and even fatal, particularly if you're an older adult. And due to rising antimicrobial resistance, the antibiotics used to fight dangerous infections caused by ExPEC, like bacteremia, which occurs when bacteria enters the blood, and sepsis, the body's extreme and dangerous reaction to infection, are becoming less effective.

Responsible Production & Consumption

HP Singapore: Make-IT-Green Campaign

Apr 26, 2019 2:00 PM ET

HP Make IT Green Campaign, which kicked off in January 2018, had set a goal of collecting 50,000kg in used personal computers, laptops and display monitors at six community centres and 24 schools here.

Environment

Where Are We Now? This Earth Week, How Mars Is Working to Better Serve the Planet

Apr 26, 2019 1:15 PM ET

This year for Earth Week, Mars is taking a look back at some of the Healthy Planet projects we’ve embarked on since launching our Sustainable in a Generation Plan in 2017, and how they make a difference where we live, work and source our materials.

Diversity & Inclusion

Celebrating World Intellectual Property Day

Apr 26, 2019 1:10 PM ET

Over the past twenty-five years at Kimberly-Clark, I’ve been privileged to see the power that intellectual property has to grow our business. And while most of our patented innovations are found on shelves around the world, much of Kimberly-Clark’s IP development occurs behind the scenes.

Environment

eBay for Charity Partners with Bill Nye, Ellen DeGeneres and Little Sun to Celebrate Earth Month

Apr 26, 2019 1:00 PM ET

In celebration of Earth Day, eBay is shining a spotlight on the environment with a newly launched Earth Month campaign alongside Ellen DeGeneres, Bill Nye, and social business Little Sun to raise funds and support various environmental issues including global conservation efforts for space science exploration, women in the aerospace industry, endangered species and universal access to clean energy.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Tomorrow's Capital Podcast - Episode 1: The Mainstreaming of ESG

Apr 26, 2019 12:55 PM ET

Bloomberg's Global Head of Sustainable Business & Finance Curtis Ravenel joined Nasdaq's Tomorrow's Capital Podcast and discussed the mainstreaming of ESG, the future of the industry and our work on the FSB Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

Diversity & Inclusion

Gender Equality: Closing the Gap in the Private Sector Around the World

Apr 26, 2019 12:40 PM ET

Let’s be honest, in the world of development, the private sector has not always been our partner of choice in the race to achieve gender equality. There has been a perception that business actions in this area are merely front-line measures or meagre efforts that simply impose quotas on boards of directors. These assumptions are today less and less accurate. Indeed, the private sector is increasingly interested in this issue because it makes business sense, and the time has come for governments and donors to move closer to the private sector in order to enhance their impact on gender equality and women's empowerment.

Energy

Smithfield Foods and RAE Partner to Produce Renewable Energy while Restoring Missouri’s Natural Environment

Apr 26, 2019 12:40 PM ET

Smithfield Foods, Inc. and Roeslein Alternative Energy (RAE) have formed a joint venture called Monarch Bioenergy to produce renewable natural gas (RNG) across Smithfield’s hog farms in Missouri. This partnership converts manure collected from Smithfield farms into RNG, while simultaneously delivering ecological services and developing wildlife habitat. Once complete, all Smithfield company-owned finishing farms in Missouri will have the infrastructure to produce RNG, resulting in approximately 1.3 million dekatherms of RNG annually, which is the equivalent to eliminating 130,000 gasoline vehicles.

Environment

Taking a Stand Against Ocean Pollution

Apr 26, 2019 12:30 PM ET

Legg Mason and Jupiter Asset Management joined forces to co-sponsor a run on April 11th in Stockholm, Sweden, to benefit Plastic Oceans, a pioneer in the fight against plastics in our seas.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

GM Earns ‘Biggest Loser’ Recognition in the Michigan Battle of the Buildings

Apr 26, 2019 12:00 PM ET

General Motors has won the title of 2018 Biggest Loser in the Michigan Battle of the Buildings competition for its energy and water reduction efforts at three Michigan sites. Over 1,000 buildings across the state competed in the year-long energy and water reduction competition hosted by the U.S. Green Building Council of West Michigan (USGBC-WM).

Environment

Earth Day 2019: More Relevant than Ever

Apr 26, 2019 11:30 AM ET

There is a sea change underway, and it is being led in no small part by organizations. Faced with increasing risk of business disruption from climate-related weather events, pressure from stakeholders to future-proof operations, and policy and political shifts, more and more organizations are taking voluntary action on environmental concerns. Commonly, these actions are also economically beneficial, helping organizations to reduce resource consumption, hedge against market conditions, or improve financial performance.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Chopped Champion Roshara Sanders Changes the Culinary Scene for Families and Veterans

Apr 26, 2019 11:15 AM ET

Chef Ro Sanders' recent celebrity ambassadorships with leading global nonprofit Habitat for Humanity led her to launch “Home Cooking with Love,” which marks a 20-year partnership between Habitat and Whirlpool Corp., stressing ways to cook for families on a budget and veterans.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Red Nose Day Returns to NBC May 23

Apr 26, 2019 11:05 AM ET

Red Nose Day, the national fundraising campaign to end child poverty, will return to NBC in 2019 with a night of special primetime programming on Thursday, May 23.

Research, Reports & Publications

CNH Industrial Leaders Address Latest Ambitious Sustainability Goals for 2030 in 2018 Sustainability Report

Apr 26, 2019 11:05 AM ET

In our inaugural Sustainability Report address as Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer, we wish to outline the results achieved Company-wide from our work in sustainability in 2018 and share our strategic vision and targets for CNH Industrial going forward. We have updated our key targets to reflect CNH Industrial’s commitment to taking on this challenge. We have set even more ambitious goals for 2030: committing to cut CO2 emissions per production unit by 60% (compared to 2014) across our plants worldwide and to obtaining 90% of our total electricity consumption from renewable sources.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

My Special Aflac Duck® Testimonial: Child Life Specialist Bethany Fisackerly

Apr 26, 2019 11:00 AM ET

This is what health care professionals are saying about My Special Aflac Duck™: "The Aflac ducks are a game-changer, and honestly have made me fall in love with Child Life all over again. It reinforces to me the value of play, and the importance of empowering children to retain control over their environments. As of today, we have distributed 33 ducks (with another dozen or so slated to go out this week), and they have been universally adored across the ages.” - Child Life Specialist Bethany Fisackerly, MS, CCLS; Child Life Specialist: Hematology/Oncology, Rheumatology, Bone Marrow Transplant

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

SC Johnson Canada Named One of 2019 Best Workplaces

Apr 26, 2019 10:50 AM ET

SC Johnson Canada today announces it has been ranked No. 49 on the 2019 list of Best Workplaces by Great Place to Work®. This marks the 12th time the Canada operation has been recognized on the annual Best Workplace list of large and multinational workplaces in Canada, with more than 1,000 employees working in Canada or worldwide.

Environment

Consumers Energy Helps Grand Rapids Reach 40% Tree Canopy Goal

Apr 26, 2019 10:25 AM ET

Did you know one tree can produce enough oxygen for up to four people? According to the Arbor Day Foundation, planting trees has many benefits including improving air quality, protecting wildlife and enabling energy savings.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Culture of Health for Business Task Force

Apr 26, 2019 10:15 AM ET

GRI is launching an 18-month task force in May 2019 with 10-15 US-based companies under the Culture of Health for Business (COH4B) project with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).

Research, Reports & Publications

Timberland 2018 CSR Report Shows Steady Progress Toward 2020 Sustainability Goals

Apr 26, 2019 10:10 AM ET

On the heels of Earth Day, global outdoor lifestyle brand Timberland today releases its 2018 corporate social responsibility (CSR) report, showing steady progress toward its 2020 sustainability goals in support of three key pillars: better product, a greener world and stronger communities.

Education

Lockheed Martin’s Aeronautics Division Partnered with Students on Top-Secret Project

Apr 26, 2019 10:00 AM ET

Lockheed Martin and Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital curriculum resources, digital content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, surprised students this month in California and Texas with a top-secret STEM mission:, to create a prototype aircraft that could serve in a humanitarian aid mission.

Energy

Hormel Foods Announces Construction of Solar Energy Project at its Swiss American Sausage Company Facility in California

Apr 26, 2019 9:00 AM ET

Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL) and IGS Solar have started construction on a solar energy project at the Hormel Foods Swiss American Sausage Company facility in Lathrop, Calif. The project is slated for completion in July.