ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

How Ikea and HP Want to Help Keep Plastic out of the Ocean: Make Stuff From It

Oct 29, 2018 10:05 AM ET

If you buy an ink cartridge from HP, some of the plastic might have come from bottles collected on streets and canals in Port-au-Prince, Haiti–intercepted before they could end up in the ocean. Since 2017, the company has worked with local collectors to gather more than half a million pounds of plastic in the area, keeping around 12 million plastic bottles out of the Caribbean.

Events, Media & Communications

Experts Gather to Discuss ROI of Sustainable Business at New Metrics ‘18

Oct 29, 2018 10:00 AM ET

The Sustainable Brands® community gathers today in Philadelphia, PA to kick off the 8th annual New Metrics conference. Over 300 global executives from brands like Nike, Salesforce, and Eileen Fisher are convening to unveil cutting-edge corporate practices that measure and quantify environmental and social impacts and tie them to financial and business value. Conversations are focusing on 4 key areas: Value in Strategy & Operations, Value in Finance & Investing, Value in Product & Service Innovation and Value in Marketing & Communications.

Health & Healthcare

Two Childhood Cancer Patients Ring NYSE Opening Bell to Raise Cancer Awareness

Oct 29, 2018 9:55 AM ET

Last month, two young patients from the Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta joined Aflac executives to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

LG Experience Happiness Initiative Amplifies Awareness of Research-Backed Sustainable Happiness Skills

Oct 29, 2018 9:15 AM ET

Since launching the Life’s Good: Experience Happiness initiative a year ago, LG Electronics USA already has reached 530,000 youth across America with Sustainable Happiness Skills. LG has been working to increase awareness and usage of LG Experience Happiness partner programs across the U.S. with a goal of reaching 5.5 million over five years.

Education

Forbes Magazine | Corporations Turn To Community Colleges To Create Programs To Meet Workforce Needs

Oct 29, 2018 9:15 AM ET

Google isn’t the only major corporation taking the initiative on training its future workforce; car manufacturer Subaru announced in September that it was getting in on the action, launching an associate’s degree in automotive technology with Mt. Hood Community College in Oregon.

Education

Alliance for Community Trees Mentor Exchange Program Connects Up With Trees with Trees Forever

Oct 29, 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.

Research, Reports & Publications

Securing a Sustainable Future

Oct 26, 2018 5:55 PM ET

We are proud to share our 2018 Corporate Responsibility (CR) Report, which highlights the progress we’ve made in delivering on CR commitments to our people, your information, and the world. In this, our 11th CR report, we share both the progress we’ve made and the areas where we need to improve, as both are a part of our CR journey.

Our 2018 report also describes how we are contributing to specific UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs represent a unique opportunity to align our core business capabilities with society’s pressing needs and we provide progress updates on efforts towards Goal 4 (quality education), Goal 5 (gender equality), Goal 8 (decent work and economic growth), Goal 10 (reduced inequalities), and Goal 13 (climate action).

Events, Media & Communications

Discovery Education, TGR Foundation, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and University of Maryland Changemakers Discuss the Future Workforce and Talent Pipeline at ‘Brands Taking Stands’ 3BL Forum

Oct 26, 2018 5:00 PM ET

Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital education content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, TGR Foundation, A Tiger Woods Charity, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and University of Maryland panelists yesterday joined 3BL Forum: Brands Taking Stands - The Long View to discuss The Future Workforce and a Pipeline of Talent. Technology has drastically changed the technical skills needed to hold the jobs of today and greater job specializations are the driving force behind the need for a STEM talent pipeline.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Personalization and Sustainability Continue to Be Strong Influences in the Label and Packaging Industry

Oct 26, 2018 4:30 PM ET

Just over a week ago, I was in Chicago for Labelexpo, the largest trade show for the labeling and packaging industry. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the ongoing impact of the ever increasing demand from consumers for personalized products and experiences, that are more sustainable in their footprint, was evident across the booths at the show.

Environment

Partnering to Reduce Plastic Waste

Oct 26, 2018 4:30 PM ET

To achieve our long-term sustainability goals, we partnered with Plastic Whale to remove plastic waste from the Amsterdam canals to be recycled into raw material.

Events, Media & Communications

Mohawk Solar Energy “Handprinting” Initiative to be Featured on Oct. 30 GreenBiz Webcast

Oct 26, 2018 3:30 PM ET

Mohawk Industries’ George Bandy Jr., VP of sustainability and commercial marketing, will join Groundswell CEO Michelle Moore for an engaging webcast sharing how their respective organizations built a solar energy partnership geared towards schools and underserved communities. The GreenBiz webcast, titled “Powering Inclusion Through Solar Handprints: An Innovative Partnership,” will take place Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2018, 1-2 p.m. EST. Joel Makower, executive editor of GreenBiz, will serve as moderator. The webcast is free to attend online.

Environment

HP Sources More Than 550,000 Pounds of Ocean-Bound Plastic for New Cartridges

Oct 26, 2018 2:55 PM ET

Imagine the size of an adult humpback whale. Now imagine the whale relative to an empty plastic water bottle. No comparison, right? In fact, it would take about 12 million empty plastic bottles (that’s nearly one bottle per every person in the state of Ohio) to balance the scale against just seven adult humpback whales.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Xylem Employees in Germany Improve Their Communities During October Month of Service

Oct 26, 2018 2:00 PM ET

Xylem employees in Germany have been active during Xylem Watermark’s October Month of Service and have engaged children in their volunteer efforts. Last week, the Ludwigsburg site participated in a creative event, where they built a beautiful wooden shed at a youth farm for local children. Their neighbors at the Langenhagen site supported the Friends Children Forest in Hannover by planting trees and restoring a stream. Both the Ludswigburg and Langenhagen teams are showing how their volunteer efforts are improving their communities during Xylem’s Global Month of Service!

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

2018 Youth Homelessness Summit | Faces of Collaboration: Tayvon and Emily

Oct 26, 2018 1:55 PM ET

Emily Paulsen has served as the Executive Director of the Nevada Homeless Alliance since 2016. She believes housing is a human right and is dedicated to building a socially just community where everyone can be housed.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Celebrating Pro Bono Week 2018

Oct 26, 2018 1:05 PM ET

Happy Pro Bono Week! Pro Bono Week recognizes the skilled volunteers who put their talents to work making a positive difference in communities around the world. Common Impact is excited to celebrate the nonprofits, volunteers and leaders that make pro bono so successful - not just in October, but throughout the year!

Energy

UPS to Launch First-of-Its-Kind U.S. Urban Delivery Solution in Seattle

Oct 26, 2018 12:05 PM ET

In an effort to address growing traffic congestion and air quality concerns, UPS (NYSE: UPS) and Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan today announced the deployment of an innovative downtown delivery pilot project using pedal-assist cargo eBikes and customized, modular trailers.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Subaru's Act of Kindness for an Area Family in Need

Oct 26, 2018 12:05 PM ET

A local family going through tough times purchased a new Subaru... but dealer Subaru of Gwinnett went above and beyond when they delivered their new car.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Transforming Inner-City Youth — Mind, Body, and Food Literacy

Oct 26, 2018 12:00 PM ET

At the peak of his teen rebellion in high school, De’shawn Woolridge left home and lived out of his car for a while, until his life was transformed with the help of a nonprofit agency and its after-school programs.

Woolridge said he found direction in his life with the help of Success Through Self Academy, or STS, a nonprofit that provided after-school programs for inner-city youth in Pittsburg, California. He flourished in its multimedia program, while living temporarily in STS’ parking lot at its main location.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Introducing the MTV EMA Generation Change Award

Oct 26, 2018 11:30 AM ET

For the first time ever, the MTV EMA is recognizing the inspiring, young changemakers of the world with the MTV EMA Generation Change award. The five changemakers nominated for the award this year are Xiuhtezcatl "X" Martinez, Sonita Alizadeh, Mohamed Al Jounde, Hauwa Ojeifo and Ellen Jones. They're all no older than 25 and tackling some of the world's toughest problems in substantial ways.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

NAEM Recognizes the Best in EHS and Sustainability Leadership

Oct 26, 2018 11:15 AM ET

This week the National Association for Environmental Management (NAEM) recognized the achievements of seven EHS and Sustainability leaders during a luncheon ceremony at the 26th Annual EHS & Sustainability Management Forum in Louisville, Ky.

Research, Reports & Publications

A Message from Raymond W. McDaniel Jr., President & CEO, Moody's Corporation

Oct 26, 2018 11:15 AM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

The Multiplier Effect

Oct 26, 2018 11:15 AM ET

The term “capacity-building” tends to be thrown around quite a bit in the nonprofit sector. And as jargon, it has the unfortunate fate of being pretty obscure outside of our sector—not to mention losing its meaning when overused within the field. But at the heart of it, nonprofit capacity-building is one of the most exciting and inspirational ways to support an issue. Quite simply, it’s about achieving a multiplier effect—creating more change in the world by helping to strengthen the organizations that are tackling society’s greatest challenges. At Taproot, we are driven by a strong belief in the exponential impact that can come from supporting nonprofits in this way.

Research, Reports & Publications

Tracking Sustainability Commitments on a Quarterly Basis is Possible

Oct 26, 2018 11:05 AM ET

For the fourth year, Schneider Electric, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, announces its financial and non-financial results together for the third quarter of 2018. Each quarter, Schneider Electric publishes 21 indicators across 5 megatrends from the Schneider Sustainability Impact, measuring progress towards its ambitious sustainability commitments for 2018 to 2020, in line with the COP 21 and United Nations objectives. With a total score of 5.25 out of 10 at end-October 2018, the Group has exceeded its Schneider Sustainability Impact target of 5 out of 10 for the end of 2018.

Social Impact & Volunteering

NASCAR and eBay Launch Joint Auction

Oct 26, 2018 11:00 AM ET

eBay and NASCAR today launched their first joint charity sale giving fans the opportunity to bid on autographed memorabilia and once-in-a-lifetime racing experiences.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Aflac’s Newest Cancer Policy Helps Families Focus on Recovery, Not Cost

Oct 26, 2018 10:40 AM ET

Did you know that Aflac’s newest cancer policy provides coverage for dependent children at no additional charge?

Aflac cancer insurance is there to help offer financial protection for insureds so they can focus on what matters most: recovery and one another.