ESG News from Leading Brands

Sustainable Development Goals

VIDEO: Our Forests Are Our Heritage

Jan 11, 2019 8:00 AM ET

Our forests are a treasured legacy providing the very necessities of life itself — clean air, healthy drinking water, a tolerable climate, and so much more. But these majestic lands are threatened by insects, disease, and devastating wildfires.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Booz Allen Campaign Empowers Sailors to “Keep What You’ve Earned”

Jan 10, 2019 4:45 PM ET

Sailors in the U.S. Navy face serious financial and career consequences if they’re caught driving under the influence. A chief who’s served 14 years, whose rank is reduced to first class due to a DUI, could lose $527 a week in base pay alone. Yet long-standing messages about alcohol abuse weren’t resonating, given an entrenched drinking culture.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Scout’s Vision: Tiny Home for Homeless Veteran

Jan 10, 2019 4:30 PM ET

Step by step, teenager Tim Maron’s vision of home for a homeless military veteran has become reality in a resurgent, small-town neighborhood once infested with drugs and crime. Today, that neighborhood is known for its clean streets and renovated homes, thanks to a local nonprofit, and most recently a modest tiny house project led by Maron, 17, a Boy Scout and budding young community leader in eastern Pennsylvania.

Diversity & Inclusion

LAGLCC Announces New Capacity Building Program with AEG

Jan 10, 2019 3:30 PM ET

The Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce today announced that it has formed a partnership with AEG, the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company, to develop a capacity-building program designed to promote the economic growth and development of LGBTQ owned businesses in Los Angeles. The program will help qualified small-and medium-sized LGBTQ-owned businesses reach their next level of growth through mentoring, partnerships, referrals and promotions.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

KeyBank Arranges $28.4 Million in Financing for the Preservation of Affordable Housing in San Antonio

Jan 10, 2019 3:00 PM ET

KeyBank announced today arranging $28.4 million in a Fannie Mae affordable housing preservation refinance loan for Commonwealth Multifamily Housing Corporation (“Commonwealth”) for the benefit of White Rock Apartment Homes, a multifamily, 336-unit mixed-income property in San Antonio, TX. The refinance replaces two series of tax exempt bonds issued by the Texas State Affordable Housing Corporation more than 17 years ago to develop and construct the property and provides over $2 million in capital for roof replacements and other improvements that will enhance White Rock’s role as Commonwealth’s flagship property. More importantly, the property will continue to provide its historical and much needed affordable housing in the city.

Events, Media & Communications

Georgia Interfaith Power & Light Green Team Summit 2019

Jan 10, 2019 2:50 PM ET

Georgia Interfaith Power & Light Green Team Summit focuses on creation care.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Duke Energy Named to Black Enterprise’s “50 Best Companies for Diversity” list

Jan 10, 2019 2:45 PM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

Fulfill Your Resolution to Start an Employee Volunteer Program in 2019

Jan 10, 2019 2:15 PM ET

The benefits of employee volunteering are well documented. This video showcases some of the highlights. If you're convinced but don't know how to get started, check out the collection of resources below.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

A Newsworthy 2018 - Whirlpool Corporation

Jan 10, 2019 2:15 PM ET

Whirlpool Corporation welcomes 2019 with much excitement, but we're still taking time to reflect and celebrate the innovation, volunteerism, sustainability and news stories of 2018.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

CIT Bank Provides Grant to Neighborhood Housing Services of LA County

Jan 10, 2019 1:05 PM ET

CIT Bank N.A., the banking subsidiary of CIT Group Inc., today announced a $350,000 grant in support of Neighborhood Housing Services of Los Angeles (NHS). The grant is CIT’s second for the organization and will provide affordable lending, financial education and real estate services to 4,500 low- and moderate-income residents across Los Angeles County.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

MegaMex Foods Donates a Fire Truck to the City of Sabinas, México

Jan 10, 2019 12:15 PM ET

Sabinas is a city of 63,000 residents in the northern state of Coahuila, México. Since 1990, Avomex, the local subsidiary of MegaMex in México, has been producing Wholly Guacamole® dips. Due to the economic conditions of Sabinas, the city did not have a fire truck. So Avomex decided to help. On Dec. 14, 2018, MegaMex Foods and Avomex donated a fire truck to the local fire department. This was a major event in which several local authorities participated. The Mayor of Sabinas, Cuauhtémoc Rodríguez, received the keys to the truck from MegaMex Foods. The modern, fully equipped truck will be used to fight fires and help with other types of local emergencies.

Responsible Production & Consumption

The Future of Business Sustainability: Pushing Sustainable Consumption Toward the Mainstream

Jan 10, 2019 12:00 PM ET

Education

HP Commits to Empowering Another 100,000 Learners in Africa Over the Next Three Years

Jan 10, 2019 11:35 AM ET

HP has long recognized that access to education is crucial to powering the creativity and innovation that our industry thrives on. From a business perspective, access to education increases diversity, drives new business, and attracts and retains the best employees. But much more than that, education is a fundamental human right.

Health & Healthcare

Meet a Johnson & Johnson Researcher Poised to Crack the HIV Vaccine Code

Jan 10, 2019 11:30 AM ET

In 1992, as a young HIV/AIDS researcher in her native Netherlands, Hanneke Schuitemaker, Ph.D., now Vice President, Global Head of Viral Vaccine Discovery and Translational Medicine, Janssen Vaccines & Prevention B.V., was devoted to learning as much as she could about the disease—and saw her role as that of a researcher, rather than someone who closely interacted with people who were living with HIV.

Innovation & Technology

How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming how Companies Manage EHS

Jan 10, 2019 11:15 AM ET

I have worked within the environment, health and safety (EHS) field for more than 20 years, and in that time, I’ve seen some dramatic changes in how companies manage their programs, and data. But nothing compares to the technological innovations that are now upon us.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sysco, NRG Energy Recognized for Work in Renewable Energy Sourcing

Jan 10, 2019 10:45 AM ET

Sysco and NRG Energy have been recognized by Smart Energy Decisions for our efforts in Renewable Energy Sourcing.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Sands Cares Joyce Siew Leads Corporate Social Responsibility Program in Singapore

Jan 10, 2019 10:25 AM ET

Sands Cares, the corporate giving and community engagement program of Las Vegas Sands, is dedicated to being a good corporate citizen, committed to its people, communities in which it operates and the planet. In each region, Sands Cares has Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) leads that manage the program and execute initiatives unique to each region. Born and raised in Singapore, Joyce Siew graduated with a degree in English and Sociology and began her career in various communications related roles in both the public and private sector, before joining Marina Bay Sands’ communications and CSR team in 2012.

Research, Reports & Publications

INFOGRAPHIC: Cisco's 2018 CSR Report | What We Made Possible in FY18

Jan 10, 2019 10:15 AM ET

Cisco technology and people are accelerating global problem solving in ways that have never been attempted before. From solving customers’ business challenges to tackling the toughest social and environmental issues of our time, we are helping to make the impossible possible.

Energy

General Motors to Collaborate With EVgo, ChargePoint and Greenlots to Enhance the Charging Experience for Customers

Jan 10, 2019 10:00 AM ET

GM will collaborate with three of the nation’s leading electric vehicle charging networks to enable access to the largest collective EV charging network in the U.S., including more than 31,000 charging ports.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Faces of GSK's Pro Bono Efforts

Jan 10, 2019 9:20 AM ET

As the Vice President and Director of Scientific and Public Health for GSK’s Vaccines practice, Dr. Len Friedland has a very rewarding job, but his sense of purpose extends beyond his day job to support people in poor health as well as those with limited access to quality healthcare, as a volunteer. “Helping patients feel better and live longer aren’t just words to me—they’re part of who I am. The way I see it, having great science at the company is fantastic, but it means nothing unless we make sure this science benefits the right people,” said Len.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

LG Honored by Environmental Protection Agency for Responsible Electronics Recycling Leadership

Jan 10, 2019 9:15 AM ET

LG Electronics USA has been recognized for responsible electronics recycling leadership by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. LG received the highest-level recognition in the EPA’s Sustainable Materials Management (SMM) Electronics Challenge. Highlighting the company’s dedication to environmental sustainability at CES® 2019, William Cho, president and CEO, LG Electronics North America, applauded the EPA SMM Electronics Challenge program, which encourages responsible recycling. “By using third-party certified recyclers, we’re proud to help drive the use of environmentally protective practices,” he said.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Supporting a Global Workforce

Jan 10, 2019 8:20 AM ET

Working together is our model for success. And no partner is more important to Medtronic than our employees. We work hard to fulfill the fifth tenet of our Mission — to recognize the dignity and the personal worth of all employees. We value an inclusive and diverse global workforce and strive to advance employees’ professional growth, support their health and wellness, and reward them with competitive compensation, benefits, and recognition.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Duke Energy Protects Carolinas' Waterways With $800,000 in Grants

Jan 9, 2019 4:40 PM ET

Energy

Solar Decathalon 2.0

Jan 9, 2019 4:35 PM ET

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is an award-winning program that challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. Bob Bissen imagines a Solar Decathalon 2.0.

Innovation & Technology

In 2019, Businesses Will Need to Embrace Sustainability, or Risk Being Left Behind

Jan 9, 2019 4:20 PM ET

What would you do if you only had 12 years to stop catastrophic climate change? At COP 24 in Poland earlier this year, 200 nations formed plans to collectively tackle this issue, and their message is clear: as nations, we will go beyond our commitments and ambitions from the 2015 Paris Agreement to further reduce emissions and tackle one of the world's greatest challenges.