ESG News from Leading Brands

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Comerica Bank Supports Southern Dallas Entrepreneurs Through New Pitch Competition

Mar 26, 2019 3:55 PM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Johnson & Johnson Named a 2019 NAFE Top 70 Companies for Executive Women

Mar 26, 2019 3:30 PM ET

Now in its 21st year, this list captures women’s progress moving into senior leadership roles. The winning organizations have high female representation in key management positions, and programs and policies that help women reach the top.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Nestlé Joins the Africa Plastics Recycling Alliance to Transform Plastics Recycling Infrastructure

Mar 26, 2019 2:30 PM ET

Nestlé, together with a number of international consumer goods companies, launched the Africa Plastics Recycling Alliance at the CEO Africa Forum in Kigali, Rwanda.

This Alliance aims to turn the current challenge of plastic waste in Sub-Saharan Africa into an opportunity to create jobs and commercial activity by improving the collection and recycling of plastics.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Xylem Watermark Kicks Off a Month of Service by Volunteering with Planet Water Foundation and EarthEcho International on World Water Day

Mar 26, 2019 2:20 PM ET

World Water Day marked the launch of this year’s Make Your Mark 30 Day Challenge for Xylem Watermark—the philanthropic arm of Xylem, Inc. This month of service spans from World Water Day to Earth Day and encourages Xylem colleagues around the world to volunteer globally and in their local communities to bring awareness to the global water crisis.

Diversity & Inclusion

Hallmark's Lindsey Roy: Finding Purpose For The Pain

Mar 26, 2019 2:15 PM ET

In this Forbes video, learn how Hallmark CMO Lindsey Roy "puts good in the world" through her work as an authentic leader following a tragic accident.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

U.S. News and Aetna Foundation Release 2019 Healthiest Communities Rankings

Mar 26, 2019 1:50 PM ET

Douglas County, Colorado, is the healthiest community in America, according to the 2019 Healthiest Communities rankings by U.S. News & World Report, released today in collaboration with the Aetna Foundation. The second annual report and accompanying analysis are based on an evaluation of nearly 3,000 communities nationwide across 81 health-related metrics in 10 categories, from education and population health to infrastructure and environment.

Innovation & Technology

Students, Professionals and Local Leaders Come Together for Charleston Social Good Hackathon

Mar 26, 2019 1:00 PM ET

What happens when you get 85+ coders, 60+ volunteers and mentors, and a plethora of industry specialists together for one targeted effort to combat the world’s biggest challenges? Booz Allen Hamilton’s Charleston Digital Hub and Charleston Open Source wanted to find out - and so on February 23, 2019, they assembled a group for the Charleston Digital Hub Hackathon, an intense, one-day coding sprint that challenged participants to create open-source solutions to tackle one of four United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Research, Reports & Publications

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Exceeds Sustainability Goals in 2018

Mar 26, 2019 12:40 PM ET

As the world’s leading provider of consumer lawn and garden products and North America’s largest provider of hydroponic growing products, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company embraces our responsibility to do the right thing. It shapes how we care for the planet and all those we touch, both inside and outside our company. We’re pleased to share our latest Corporate Social Responsibility Report, which provides information on our achievements in operations, workplace and community outreach during 2018.

Environment

International Day of Forests Celebrates Sustainably Managed Forests

Mar 26, 2019 12:30 PM ET

Each year on March 21, we celebrate the International Day of Forests to raise awareness of the importance of sustainably managed forests. You’ve probably heard many common myths about the pulp and paper industry’s effect on forests, but the truth is that sustainable forestry practices are instrumental (not detrimental) to the health and vitality of our precious forest resources.

Environment

How the Fishermen of Madagascar Are Pulling Together to Combat Climate Change

Mar 26, 2019 12:00 PM ET

Fishermen in Madagascar spend several hours a day on their pirogues (fishing canoes) out at sea. In the past, they would return home with baskets brimming with fish. But today, catch sizes have dwindled due to overfishing, rising sea temperatures and extreme weather.

Energy

Duke Energy Florida Announces 3 More Solar Power Plants, Totaling 195 Megawatts

Mar 26, 2019 12:00 PM ET

Duke Energy Florida (DEF) has announced the locations of its newest universal solar power plants, which will provide cleaner, smarter energy solutions to benefit Florida customers.

Diversity & Inclusion

5 Viacom Executives Share Their Paths to Leadership in Honor of Women’s History Month

Mar 26, 2019 11:30 AM ET

To celebrate Women’s History Month, Viacom is hosting a series of events tied to the theme “champion each other to break barriers.” It’s an empowering nod to the role individuals play in improving the diversity of voices, experiences, and identities that are represented at the proverbial (and literal) professional table.

Events, Media & Communications

PYXERA Global CEO Deirdre White to Moderate Panel at What Works 2019

Mar 26, 2019 11:30 AM ET

PYXERA Global is excited to announce our participation in the What Works 2019 conference on April 1–3 in Reykjavik, Iceland. First held in 2016, the What Works global summit is the premier forum for debating solutions that will accelerate social progress around the world.

Events, Media & Communications

CSRHub’s Bahar Gidwani Speaking at ESG5 Summit

Mar 26, 2019 11:30 AM ET

Skytop Strategies will launch its ESG5 Summit on April 4th in New York. CSRHub Co-founder and CTO Bahar Gidwani will be speaking on Materiality: Aligning Materiality to Your Company’s Business Model.

Education

Learn & Live Carpet: Nature-Inspired Design Meets Worry-Free Construction

Mar 26, 2019 11:15 AM ET

Learn & Live is a carpet collection that draws its influence from a design study and nature-inspired concepts of complexity and order proven to increase collaboration and creativity, reduce negative behavior and encourage social interaction. Education designers, specifiers and end users can leverage Red List-free carpet tile and broadloom styles together to create unique installations inspired by biophilic principles through the use of neutrals and accent colors.

Environment

Xylem Holds Third Annual “Make Your Mark 30-Day Challenge” to Raise Awareness of World Water Day

Mar 26, 2019 11:15 AM ET

Xylem (NYSE: XYL), a leading global water technology company, is recognizing World Water Day 2019 by launching its third annual “Make Your Mark 30-Day Challenge.” While Xylem colleagues, customers and partners volunteer every day, the company welcomes this specific opportunity each year to raise awareness and invite others to join the cause. Through the “Make Your Mark 30-Day Challenge,” conducted by the company’s corporate citizenship program Watermark, Xylem employees and stakeholders will come together from World Water Day (March 22nd) to Earth Day (April 22nd) to help solve water challenges through activities around the world, such as educational events for children focused on the water crisis and hosting walks for water to raise awareness of water issues.

Education

T. Rowe Price: Sandwich Generation Strain Negatively Impacts Kids and Their Money Habits

Mar 26, 2019 11:00 AM ET

T. Rowe Price’s 2019 Parents, Kids & Money Survey, which sampled 1,005 parents of 8 to 14 year olds and their kids, found that stress among parents who are caring for both their kids and aging family members, commonly known as the sandwich generation, is negatively impacting their money habits and their kids’ money habits.

Media & Communications

Five/in/Five – IBM Predicts Five Innovations To Change Our Lives in the Next Five Years at 2019 Think Conference

Mar 26, 2019 11:00 AM ET

At the recent IBM Think 2019 Conference, fascinating artificial intelligence (“AI”) innovations were showcased; these are approaches in development to help meet the needs of global stressed food and water ecosystems.

Environment

Why Recyclers Should Consider Healthcare Plastics as a Valuable Feedstock

Mar 26, 2019 11:00 AM ET

Healthcare facilities in the U.S. generate about 14,000 tons of waste per day. 25% of it is plastic packaging and products, and— 85% of this plastic waste is non-infectious (meaning it never comes into contact with a patient)! How can recyclers take advantage of this clean plastics waste stream and create value with it?

Health & Healthcare

Ending the HIV Epidemic Requires Supporting Those Already Living With HIV

Mar 26, 2019 11:00 AM ET

While the challenges continue to be daunting, there are numerous signs of progress in the fight to eradicate HIV by 2030. Between 2012 and 2016, new infections in New York City decreased by 26 percent. In 2017, new infections in San Francisco fell to a record low of 221 in the city that was once known as ground zero for the AIDS epidemic. While we still have a long way to go, each of these headlines would have been unthinkable 24 years ago.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

GRI Standards Now Available in Spanish

Mar 26, 2019 11:00 AM ET

Global Reporting Initiative are delighted that we can now offer the latest GRI Standards in Spanish. Organizations who report in Spanish can download GRI 303: Agua y efluentes 2018 and GRI 403: Salud y seguridad en el trabajo 2018 on the GRI website.

Health & Healthcare

Novartis Foundation and Microsoft Partner to Develop AI-Enabled Digital Health Tool for Early Leprosy Detection

Mar 26, 2019 10:35 AM ET

The Novartis Foundation and Microsoft are partnering to develop an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-enabled Digital Health tool and a Leprosy Intelligent Image Atlas to aid in the early detection of leprosy. Over 200,000 people are diagnosed with leprosy every year. Brazil, India, and Indonesia account for about 80% of new cases. If untreated, patients are left with lifelong disabilities and are often stigmatized in their societies.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

It Takes Focus to Grow and Maintain a Company Culture

Mar 26, 2019 10:30 AM ET

I spend a lot of my time thinking about corporate culture. Since we grew the life science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany in 2015, through the acquisition of Sigma-Aldrich, we’ve been navigating that interesting space of culture creation. You’ve got the established culture of the acquiring company and then you’ve got the established culture of the acquiree. How are those two things supposed to automatically mesh or even mesh after several years?

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Philanthropic Investors Tap “Catalytic Capital” to Seed Innovation & Scale Progress

Mar 26, 2019 10:25 AM ET

Often, the most compelling impact investments are made, not found. That phrase describes how foundations and impact investors use “catalytic capital” to support social and environmental progress. These patient, flexible, “catalytic” investments take on more risk and/or accept a lower return than commercial capital to finance gains that would not otherwise be possible.

Energy

Consumers Energy Achieves Broad Support for Breakthrough Clean Energy Plan, Files Settlement

Mar 26, 2019 9:40 AM ET

Consumers Energy and other stakeholders have filed a settlement with the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) on the company’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) outlining a breakthrough Clean Energy Plan for Michigan. The plan positions Consumers Energy as a national clean energy leader and demonstrates its commitment to people, the planet and Michigan’s prosperity. Today’s settlement announcement – from a broad coalition of customer groups, environmental organizations and the Michigan Attorney General – outlines the best plan for Michigan’s energy future.