ESG News from Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Xylem Donations Make Completion of New Prep School Possible After Devastation from Hurricane Harvey

Nov 2, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Xylem colleagues toured one of YES Prep Schools facilities in Houston, TX last week in celebration of the completion of a new school building. Xylem Watermark donated to YES Prep to support building classrooms in response to the devastation from Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Xylem also participated in water monitoring educational events at the time, adding to its efforts to solve water and educate youth about water issues. YES Prep School is committed to providing students in underserved communities access to superior educational opportunities, and Xylem is proud to support this effort.

Environment

Working Toward Zero-Landfill Parks

Nov 2, 2018 10:45 AM ET

NPCA is working to significantly reduce waste at our national parks, starting with three pilot parks: Denali, Grand Teton and Yosemite. Collectively, these three pilot parks welcomed nearly 8.3 million visitors in 2017, who left behind nearly 9 million pounds of waste that could otherwise be recycled or composted.

Research, Reports & Publications

GRI Newsletter: Updates and Upgrades for Easier Reporting

Nov 2, 2018 10:35 AM ET

As the data collection for many report preparers gains momentum, we are happy to announce new and updated GRI Standards and services to support reporters' work. There are also new mapping documents that help harmonize and reduce the burden of reporting to different frameworks. GRI is also presenting updates to its Digital Reporting Tool, which helps in data collection.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

An Interview with Ron Reese, Senior VP of Global Communications and Corporate Affairs, Las Vegas Sands

Nov 2, 2018 10:10 AM ET

We’ve identified this as a priority for the company several years ago. We felt it was an issue the public didn’t know much about and as one of the biggest employers in Southern Nevada, we’re able to provide resources and help bring awareness to the issues most important as we work together with our community partners.

Events, Media & Communications

Innovative Initiatives, Visionary Leadership: Highlights from 3BL Forum 2018

Nov 2, 2018 9:25 AM ET

For the over 300 CR professionals, CEOs, sustainability executives, and journalists who gathered at the MGM National Harbor, just outside Washington D.C., the 3BL Forum was a fast-paced, idea-packed two days of panels, breakout sessions, issue tables, one-on-one interviews, and networking.

Innovation & Technology

Privacy: A Business Imperative and Pillar of Corporate Responsibility

Nov 2, 2018 9:05 AM ET

Education

Alliance for Community Trees Mentor Exchange Program Connects Community Greening with California Groups

Nov 2, 2018 9:00 AM ET

This year, Alliance for Community Trees hosted a mentor exchange program for members through a grant from the U.S. Forest Service. The mentor exchange program paired smaller non-profit groups with larger groups and allowed them to learn by travelling to their location and doing a site visit.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Gildan Supports Sarah’s Fund for Cedars to Help the Montreal Children’s Hospital Care for Young Cancer Patients

Nov 2, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Gildan is proud once again be a Gold level sponsor for the Splash & Dash event, raising funds for Sarah’s Fund for Cedars, a local Montreal charity dedicated to supporting the needs of the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology patients and their families at the Montreal Children’s Hospital.

Events, Media & Communications

Join Us for "CSR & Employee Engagement Technology For IMPACT"

Nov 1, 2018 7:00 PM ET

On November 20 Chris Jarvis, Co-Founder of Realized Worth and Lesa George, Director of Digital Business Development, United Way of Calgary and Area will share insights into the customer experience and how technology can enable companies to meet impact and engagement objectives.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Recycling Business Model Getting Trashed

Nov 1, 2018 6:25 PM ET

Energy

VMware Achieves Carbon Neutrality and Partners with City of Palo Alto on Community Microgrid, as Part of Global Impact Initiative

Nov 1, 2018 6:00 PM ET

VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW), a leading innovator in enterprise software, has announced the achievement of key milestones in its journey to drive positive global impact across people, products and the planet. At the opening of the new VMware Discovery Center in Palo Alto, CEO Pat Gelsinger announced the company has achieved carbon neutrality in global operations two years ahead of the company’s scheduled 2020 goal, and a partnership with the City of Palo Alto to develop a proof-of-concept for a community microgrid.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Composting at Sappi Transforms Food Waste Into Community Resource

Nov 1, 2018 5:40 PM ET

Sappi’s shared service center in South Portland Maine has implemented a program that collects the office’s organic solid waste on-site, adding a compost container to complement the existing single-stream recycling and landfill waste containers.

Environment

Borden Project Receives Canada’s Clean Growth Program Funding

Nov 1, 2018 5:00 PM ET

Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, together with Parliamentary Secretary Paul Lefebvre, announced this week that the Government of Canada plans to invest $5 million to help position Goldcorp’s Borden Project as a mine of the future — mining ore in a more environmentally sustainable way.

Environment

Essity Commits to 100% Recyclability of Plastic Packaging by 2025

Nov 1, 2018 4:45 PM ET

Essity has joined the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastic Economy global commitment, “A line in the sand”. Essity is therefore committed to working toward 100% recyclability of the company’s packaging by 2025.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Celebrate With Your Community This Small Business Saturday®

Nov 1, 2018 3:00 PM ET

Are you ready to shop, eat and celebrate with the small businesses in your neighborhood this holiday season? Today, American Express (NYSE:AXP) revealed its lineup of community programs for the ninth annual Small Business Saturday, taking place nationwide on November 24. Small Business Saturday, founded by American Express in 2010, is held each year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to encourage people to shop at independently-owned businesses online and at storefronts across the country.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Mohawk's Bandy to Be Recognized with Prestigious Greenbuild Leadership Award

Nov 1, 2018 3:00 PM ET

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has announced the recipients of its 2018 Leadership Awards, an annual recognition of the outstanding individuals and organizations at the forefront of the green building movement. George Bandy Jr., Mohawk Industries vice president of sustainability and commercial marketing, will join five other distinguished honorees, including global apparel retailer NIKE, for the USGBC Leadership Awards Reception on Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018, in Chicago. Individuals and organizations representing diverse expertise from across the green building industry will be celebrated in tandem with the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

LA Kings Host Halloween Party at Ronald McDonald House

Nov 1, 2018 2:30 PM ET

AEG’s LA Kings and Blue Shield of California teamed up to host a Halloween Party at the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House on Tuesday, October 30. Throughout the afternoon, volunteers from the Kings and Blue Shield of California – including LA Kings center Nate Thompson and his wife Sydney – prepared and distributed gift bags, decorated cookies with guests, led Halloween-themed arts and crafts and played a lively game of ball hockey.

Health & Healthcare

Nestlé Partners with Tembo Education to Drive Greater Nutritional Awareness in East Africa

Nov 1, 2018 2:30 PM ET

Nestlé has partnered with Tembo Education to deliver customised, nutrition-based curriculums to families across Kenya, through SMS and WhatsApp messages. The aim is to help families provide their children with the best possible nutritional start in life by delivering information, tools and tips that could tackle malnutrition and potentially save lives.

The initiative, launched through Nestlé’s open innovation platform - HENRi@Nestlé, forms part of Nestlé’s ambition to improve nutritional levels across the East and Southern Africa region (ESAR). According to joint assessments conducted by Kenya’s County Departments and UNICEF last year, nearly 73,000 children are severely malnourished in Kenya alone.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

GM’s Toledo Transmission Receives Ohio EPA’s Top Environmental Stewardship Award

Nov 1, 2018 2:20 PM ET

General Motors' Toledo Transmission plant was recently recognized for excellence in environmental stewardship by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This year, the plant was awarded the Platinum Level – the highest-level award from Ohio EPA’s Encouraging Environmental Excellence Program (E3) – making General Motors one of five organizations to receive this recognition this year.

Environment

Smithfield Foods Collaboration with Environmental Defense Fund and Roeslein Alternative Energy Helps Bring Monarch Butterflies Back in Large Numbers

Nov 1, 2018 2:15 PM ET

Smithfield Foods, Inc. is the first food company to participate in a new program with Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and Roeslein Alternative Energy (RAE) to restore key prairie habitat for monarch butterflies, as described in this video. Their efforts are helping bring back the iconic insect, which has experienced a 95 percent population decline since the 1980s and could be listed as a threatened species in June 2019. However, the monarch is currently undergoing what is anticipated to be the largest migration in 10 years.

Diversity & Inclusion

You Don’t Have to Wait to Be Successful: How Astellas Supported my Professional Growth as a Working Mother

Nov 1, 2018 1:35 PM ET

Health & Healthcare

FCA US Offers Employees, Families Personalized Support and a Digital Tool to Better Manage Critical Gaps in Diabetes Care

Nov 1, 2018 1:35 PM ET

FCA US today announced it will enhance support for employees, retirees and covered dependents managing diabetes by offering them personalized care and a digital tool to help better manage critical gaps in their diabetes care.

Research, Reports & Publications

Symantec Looks Back on 10 Years of CR Commitment

Nov 1, 2018 1:05 PM ET

We are proud of the progress we have made, and the impact we have had over the last 10 years—even as we continue to embed sustainability practices throughout our company and value chain.

Health & Healthcare

Introducing Sysco Simply: A Platform Dedicated to Health and Well-Being Food Solutions

Nov 1, 2018 1:00 PM ET

Sysco Corporation, the leading global foodservice distribution company, announced today the launch of Sysco Simply, a platform designed to enable our customers to accommodate the growing consumer demand for varied dietary and lifestyle choices. Based on customer insights, feedback and industry trends, the first focus area of Sysco Simply is plant-forward dining; including vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian and plant-based protein products.

Energy

VMware and the City of Palo Alto Advance Sustainability Efforts with a Proof of Concept for a New Community Microgrid

Nov 1, 2018 1:00 PM ET

VMware, Inc. (NYSE: VMW), a leading innovator in enterprise software, announced its intent to explore developing a microgrid at its headquarters campus with the City of Palo Alto. A microgrid is a system of generators, batteries, and electric loads that can be operated in a controlled, coordinated way to provide resiliency. Microgrids can operate while connected to the main power grid or can power critical electric loads when off-grid. The VMware microgrid will serve as a testbed for the company and the City of Palo Alto to explore the potential of microgrids to advance resiliency at the corporate and community level. Palo Alto and VMware will also explore a partnership to use this microgrid to augment the community’s emergency services by providing a charging site for the City’s emergency