ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: Six Down, Many More to Go

Oct 30, 2018 4:45 PM ET

What matters most, however, are not the conversations that we have with our guests. It’s the conversations our guests have among themselves. Those conversations are the largest part of why we host RayDay, and we can’t know even a small fraction of what comes from them.

Research, Reports & Publications

The Sustainability Imperative: Business and Investor Outlook

Oct 30, 2018 4:30 PM ET

Do investors have the information they need to adequately manage risk and identify sustainable investment opportunities? Are companies prioritizing sustainable strategies throughout their organizations? A new Bloomberg survey of U.S. and European investors and corporations, explored in this paper, seeks to uncover how these groups believe they are faring on their path towards a sustainable future.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

IDC MarketScape Names Booz Allen a Leader in U.S. Cyber Response

Oct 30, 2018 4:25 PM ET

Cybersecurity remains an increasing concern and investment priority for organizations across the globe. Worldwide spending on security-related hardware, software, and services is forecast to reach $133.7 billion in 2022, 45 percent greater than the $92.1 billion forecast for 2018, according to tech analyst firm IDC. IDC MarketScape recognized Booz Allen’s work in cybersecurity by positioning the company as a Leader in U.S. Incident Response in its September 2018 report.

Education

New Digital STEM-career Curriculum Takes High-school Students Behind-the-scenes With Scientists and Engineers

Oct 30, 2018 4:00 PM ET

Lockheed Martin has partnered with Discovery Education on Generation Beyond: Aviation, a digital STEM curriculum that takes students behind-the-scenes with Lockheed Martin engineers and scientists to solve real-world technology challenges, from fighting wildfires to making flight suits for military pilots safer.

Events, Media & Communications

What Doors Open When We Measure Impact?

Oct 30, 2018 3:10 PM ET

What Doors Open When We Measure Impact?

November 6th, join important dialogue to move social enterprise forward in Ontario!

Energy

Businesses Commend Gov. Cooper’s Plan to Bolster North Carolina’s Clean Energy Economy and Reduce Emissions

Oct 30, 2018 3:00 PM ET

Businesses lauded Gov. Roy Cooper for taking action to rapidly transition North Carolina to a clean energy future in a move that will benefit all North Carolina residents by strengthening the state economy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Goodness Gains Momentum as 200 More Companies Embrace Benevity’s Innovative Approaches to Employee Engagement

Oct 30, 2018 2:30 PM ET

212 companies—including Okta, Tiffany & Co., Rackspace® and Major League Baseball—have joined Benevity's growing community of over 500 enterprise clients since this time last year.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Partners In Preservation: Main Streets Awards $2 Million in Preservation Grants to Sites Reflecting America’s Diverse History

Oct 30, 2018 2:30 PM ET

Today, American Express, the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Main Street America announced the winners of the 2018 Partners in Preservation: Main Streets campaign. The 11 winning historic sites will receive a total of $1.6 million in grants to fund their respective preservation projects. At the outset of the campaign, an additional $400,000 was allocated to the 20 Main Street communities that participated in the program to increase public awareness of the importance of these historic places and build grassroots support for the participating Main Street districts.

Education

New Digital STEM-Career Curriculum Takes High-School Students Behind-the-scenes with Scientists and Engineers Working on Life-saving Technologies

Oct 30, 2018 1:30 PM ET

Lockheed Martin has partnered with Discovery Education on Generation Beyond: Aviation, a digital STEM curriculum that takes students behind-the-scenes with Lockheed Martin engineers and scientists to solve real-world technology challenges, from fighting wildfires to making flight suits for military pilots safer.

Energy

Duke Energy Aims to Expand Solar Power to Non-residential Customers Without Large Upfront Investment

Oct 30, 2018 1:00 PM ET

Duke Energy wants non-residential customers to have another option to install solar power on their premises. The company recently filed to be a certified solar lessor with the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC). Duke Energy Clean Energy Resources (DECER), a non-regulated affiliate of Duke Energy, will build, own and operate on-site solar facilities that will allow customers to access renewable energy without a large upfront investment. DECER is not financially supported by either Duke Energy Carolinas or Duke Energy Progress, Duke Energy's operating companies in the Carolinas.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

How to Optimize Your Grants Lifecycle for a Better ROI

Oct 30, 2018 1:00 PM ET

A solid grantmaking process is key to maximizing the social impact of your funding. Here are some tips and techniques that will help you fine-tune your process, so you can better serve non-profits and measure the impact of your foundation’s efforts.

Environment

Don’t Be a Tardigrade: Private Sector Solutions for Ensuring a Freshwater Future

Oct 30, 2018 1:00 PM ET

While the private sector must double down on its ambitions to achieve rapid decarbonization of the global economy, it must, at the same time, do everything in its power to protect the freshwater resources that are essential to all human and economic activity.

Research, Reports & Publications

Corporate Giving Increased for a Third Consecutive Year, up 15% Since 2015

Oct 30, 2018 1:00 PM ET

In the largest, most robust, industry-leading, and internationally-recognized research of corporate social investment, CECP: The CEO Force for Good, in association with The Conference Board, found in their annual Giving in Numbers: 2018 Edition report that leading corporations are intensifying efforts to meet key societal needs around the world.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Timberland’s Fall Fest Celebrates Service, Company Culture and the Season

Oct 30, 2018 12:50 PM ET

Eight employees who volunteer to serve on Timberland’s “Culture Club” planned this year’s Fall Fest celebration. The Club’s mission is to plan and execute small scale events throughout the year to bring a bit of fun into the workplace.

Energy

Secure. Affordable. Responsible. With Renewables, Have All 3

Oct 30, 2018 12:30 PM ET

Global institutions today face what is known as the energy “trilemma”—the need to balance energy security with energy that is both affordable and environmentally responsible. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) currently projects that world energy consumption will increase 28% by 2040. Simultaneously, the energy delivery system around the world is expected to undergo massive disruption in the forms of decentralization, digitization, and decarbonization.

Futureproofing energy supply has become a predominant goal for managing risk and resilience for a majority of companies.

An enormous opportunity exists for organizations with distributed energy load to act by acquiring renewables.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Humana Foundation Invests $1.84 Million to Address Social Determinants of Health in Knoxville and Jacksonville

Oct 30, 2018 12:00 PM ET

The Humana Foundation is investing $1.84 million to address social determinants of health in two communities – Knoxville, Tenn., and Jacksonville, Fla.

In Knoxville, the Humana Foundation will invest $1,020,000 in the Truck2Table pilot program and is partnering with InterFaith Health Clinic and Catapult 4D to address East Tennessee health barriers.

Environment

Smithfield Addresses the Hog Industry’s Vulnerability to Climate Change

Oct 30, 2018 11:45 AM ET

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

New Study on Financial Inclusion, the 2018 Global Microscope, Shows Countries in Latin America and Asia Provide the Best Environments for Financial Progress

Oct 30, 2018 11:30 AM ET

The Global Microscope on Financial Inclusion, now in its 11th year, is a benchmarking index that assesses the enabling environment for financial access in 55 countries. The 2018 Global Microscope underscores the evolving landscape of financial inclusion itself. This year’s index was completely revised to take a forward-looking focus on digital financial services, and to address the critical role of financial inclusion envisioned in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Kohler Co.’s Innovation For Good Program Recognized as Changemaker with 2018 Mahatma Award

Oct 30, 2018 11:15 AM ET

Kohler Co. has been presented with a 2018 Mahatma Award for Social Good for its “Innovation for Good” (IfG) efforts. Laura Kohler, Senior Vice President-Human Resources, Stewardship & Sustainability for Kohler Co., accepted the award on behalf of IfG and Kohler Co. in New York City during the recently held UN General Assembly.

The Mahatma Awards for Social Good spotlight changemakers and are awarded annually to individuals or organizations committed to addressing complex social issues like safe water, sanitation, disease, poverty and hunger.

Kohler’s Innovation for Good program is an innovation incubator focused on developing and implementing sustainable business solutions to address some of the most pressing problems related to safe water, safe sanitation and reliable power.

Health & Healthcare

Helping Nonprofits Within the Food System Tap Into Pro Bono

Oct 30, 2018 11:10 AM ET

Environment

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Helps Orca to Expand ‘Living Lagoon’ Program to St. Lucie County to Promote Water Improvement in the Indian River Lagoon

Oct 30, 2018 10:50 AM ET

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation and Ocean Research & Conservation Association (ORCA) today announced a new Living Lagoon School Program partnership. The partnership will expand access to hands-on programs for middle-school students living near the Indian River Lagoon in Florida’s Treasure Coast region.

Media & Communications

FSB Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosure Considers the Dramatic Contents of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Oct 30, 2018 10:35 AM ET

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) was organized by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 1988 (30 years ago!) to provide a “clear scientific view of the current state of knowledge in climate change and its potential environmental and socio-economic impacts”.

Events, Media & Communications

Alexander “Sandy” Taft Joins Sappi North America as Director of Sustainability

Oct 30, 2018 10:05 AM ET

Sappi North America, Inc., a leading producer and supplier of diversified paper, packaging products and dissolving wood pulp, today announced the appointment of Alexander “Sandy” Taft as director of sustainability.

Events, Media & Communications

Pro Bono Perspectives Podcast: Episode 7 - Tim Smith, The Boston Foundation and Pledge 1% Boston

Oct 30, 2018 10:05 AM ET

We are so excited to welcome Tim Smith, Senior Director of The Boston Foundation and Head of Pledge 1% Boston chapter, powered by The Boston Foundation to Pro Bono Perspectives this week. In his day-to-day work with The Boston Foundation, Tim advises individuals and companies in the region on a variety of philanthropic offerings including Donor Advised Funds.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Refining Honey Production Through Investing in Bee Houses

Oct 30, 2018 9:35 AM ET

“When we decided to build a bee house, fellow community members thought it was impractical and unwise. But since we saw a snippet of its advantages during a tour in Western Uganda, nothing would deter us from pursuing this new venture. Why shouldn’t we benefit from the same?” said William Sabila, a Honey Innovation Platform facilitator, during a field visit to Kapchorwa District, Uganda, with representatives from Landcare Australia and the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF).