ESG News from Leading Brands

Social Impact & Volunteering

Caterpillar and Cat Dealer Join Forces With Habitat for Humanity of Wake County

Sep 28, 2018 4:15 PM ET

Employees from Caterpillar’s Building Construction Division (BCP) based in North Carolina and Cat dealer Gregory Poole Equipment Company recently gathered with Habitat for Humanity of Wake County to raise the walls on a home for a deserving family in Southeast Raleigh.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

AIDA Cruises Receives Renowned Green Cruising Award 2018 for “Green-Cruising” Project

Sep 28, 2018 4:00 PM ET

In the context of the 32rd two-day long Stuttgart Controlling and Management Forum, the Green-Controlling-Award 2018 was granted by the Péter-Horváth foundation on September 19, 2018. This year’s awardee is AIDA Cruises with its “Green Cruising” Project. Senior Vice President & CFO AIDA Cruises and CIO Costa Group Dr. Ali Arnaout accepted the price. He convincingly illustrated the innovative approaches of AIDA Cruises to present the “Green Cruising” strategy as a fundamental part of AIDA’s corporate planning and controlling.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky Environmental Projects Awarded More Than $275,000 From Duke Energy

Sep 28, 2018 4:00 PM ET

Duke Energy today awarded $276,600 for 16 projects designed to aid clean water, clean air and conservation initiatives across Greater Cincinnati.

"We're proud to support organizations implementing impactful programs that aim to protect, improve or restore natural resources," said Lynn Good, Duke Energy's chairman, president and CEO. "From expanding land restoration to protecting habitats to educating future leaders on environmental stewardship, these projects will make a positive difference on the environment and the community."

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Servicemembers, Spouses, Veterans Name Booz Allen as Top Employer

Sep 28, 2018 3:45 PM ET

A spouse’s employment status can make a big impact on transitioning from active duty to civilian life, according to a 2017 survey by BlueStar Families. Yet fewer than half (47%) of military spouses are currently employed1.

Booz Allen is changing this situation—and career support for the military community—for the better. The company’s efforts have been recognized by GI Jobs Magazine, which named Booz Allen a 2019 Top Military Friendly® Employer (Silver Level, up from Bronze in 2018), and U.S. Veterans Magazine, which named Booz Allen among its 2018 “Best of the Best.”

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

From Farm to Blockchain: Walmart Tracks Its Lettuce

Sep 28, 2018 3:35 PM ET

When dozens of people across the country got sick from eating contaminated romaine lettuce this spring, Walmart did what many grocers would do: It cleared every shred off its shelves, just to be safe.

Diversity & Inclusion

Alliance Data Commits Lead Gift to Launch the World’s First Multidisciplinary Research and Training Institute Focused on Girls

Sep 28, 2018 2:25 PM ET

Ruling Our eXperiences, Inc. (ROX), announces the development of The ROX Research and Training Institute thanks to a lead gift from Alliance Data, a marketing and loyalty company that delivers value through branded credit programs for many of the world’s most recognizable brands. The Institute will be the first multidisciplinary institute designed to address the complex needs of today’s girls by creating targeted and relevant trainings and educational content to enable adults to make data-informed decisions when teaching, mentoring, parenting and caring for girls.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Timberland Partners With Community Recycling to Amplify the Impact Of Gently Used Footwear, Apparel and Accessories

Sep 28, 2018 1:15 PM ET

With a longstanding commitment to protect and restore the outdoors, Timberland constantly seeks ways to make its products responsibly and minimize its impact on the environment. Today, in partnership with socially-conscious recycling company Community Recycling, the brand announces an easy way for consumers to recycle their gently used clothing, footwear, and accessories – from Timberland or any brand – to create both environmental and social value.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Sustainability Now: The Flaws of Plastic Straws

Sep 28, 2018 12:35 PM ET

Large corporations such as Starbucks, Bacardi Rum, Marriott Hotels, Alaska Airlines, and American Airlines have promised to phase out their plastic straws, cities such as Seattle have banned all plastic utensils including straws from bars and businesses in the entire city, San Francisco followed and also banned plastic straws with beginning of July 2019.

Health & Healthcare

New Trends and Technologies in Foodservice: Third-party Delivery Food Safety

Sep 28, 2018 12:30 PM ET

The upswing in demand of third-party food delivery means restaurateurs need to tackle these issues head-on.

Innovation & Technology

Sappi North America Announces the Completion of Paper Machine Rebuild to Produce New Sustainable, Innovative Packaging Lines

Sep 28, 2018 12:25 PM ET

Sappi North America, Inc., a leading producer and supplier of diversified paper and packaging products, today announced the end of a year-long rebuild of Paper Machine 1 at Sappi’s Somerset Mill in Skowhegan, Maine.

In February 2017, Sappi Limited announced a major investment at the Somerset Mill to establish a strong platform for growth in paperboard packaging, while maintaining Sappi’s leadership position in the graphic paper market, increasing annual production capacity at this mill to almost one million tons per year. These new paperboard grades provide luxury packaging and folding carton applications and complement our existing specialty packaging products, which represent an important asset in the food packaging and labeling industries.

Innovation & Technology

Hands-on Learning

Sep 28, 2018 12:10 PM ET

MilliporeSigma created the mobile learning center to tour the country to spark early interest in STEM field careers. STEM careers are predicted to rise 25 percent from 2008 to 2018, and early engagement is crucial to getting students curious.

Environment

Reducing Green House Gas Emissions in the Marine Sector

Sep 28, 2018 11:20 AM ET

Powering large cruise ships and merchant vessels requires an enormous amount of energy and fuel. A recent innovation by Silverstream Technologies incorporates Atlas Copco’s compressor and blower technology to reduce hull drag and improve energy efficiency.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Nestlé Employees Donate Backpacks Full of School Supplies to Local Elementary School

Sep 28, 2018 11:15 AM ET

Nestlé US employees recently spent some time putting together backpacks full of school supplies for a local elementary school.

Environment

Land Restoration in Africa Builds Momentum

Sep 28, 2018 11:05 AM ET

During 29–30 August 2018, delegates from governments, donor agencies, development organizations, research institutions and the private sector convened at the Global Landscapes Forum Nairobi to align their work on restoring degraded land with the African Forest Landscape Restoration Initiative (AFR100). AFR100 aims to restore 100 million hectares by 2030.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Step Up 2020 Coalition

Sep 28, 2018 11:05 AM ET

In 2016, Symantec committed to reducing its scope 1 and 2 emissions by 30% over a 10 year period (FY16 to FY25 with a FY15 baseline). We are pleased to share that we have met that goal 7 years early, having achieved in just 3 years a 32% reduction through investments in energy conservation, more efficient use of space, and a move to cleaner sources of energy to power our offices, labs, and data centers. Building on our success to date, we have set a new goal to reduce our scope 1 and 2 and scope 3 fuel and energy related emissions by a further 30% over the next 15 years (FY18 to FY33). At the Global Climate Action Summit, Symantec joined a collaboration of twenty one innovative, influential companies working to accelerate GHG emissions reductions across all sectors of society.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Celebrating National Coffee Day With O Organics®

Sep 28, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Sipping a cup of coffee is a morning ritual for many Americans. In fact, the number of Americans drinking a daily cup of coffee is at the highest level since 2012, with demand continuing to get a boost from at-home consumption and gourmet drinks, according to the National Coffee Association.

In celebration of National Coffee Day, we salute our Fair Trade Certified™ coffee producers who work behind the scenes to make our favorite O Organics® Fair Trade Certified™ coffee.

Environment

HP & Planet Ark Help Aussies Face Up To Plastic Pollution With Monster Installation

Sep 28, 2018 10:40 AM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

Xylem Watermark Brings Clean Water and Hygiene Education to the Arya Deep School in Delhi, India

Sep 28, 2018 10:30 AM ET

Volunteers from Xylem Watermark spent their Saturday building a water tower for the Ayra Deep School in the Greater Noida region of Delhi, India. The school has 750 students, but no access to clean water. Changing that, with Xylem’s help, more than 1,000 students and community members now have access to clean water, allowing students to focus more on their education. While at Ayra Deep, Xylem employees also played games of “Germ Tag” and taught students about hygiene and water-health, including the spreading of germs and the importance of hand washing. Xylem is committed to continuing to transform communities by building AquaTowers through its partnership with Planet Water Foundation.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Health Benefits of Volunteering for the Employee Volunteer

Sep 28, 2018 10:10 AM ET

When a company asks employees to volunteer, there is a tendency to lean heavily on community impact as a benefit. Impact is certainly a benefit to the community, and a desired result. Yet, there are plenty of benefits to the individual volunteer that CSR practitioners can leverage to engage employees more effectively in volunteerism. One of the most significant benefits is the effect volunteering has on personal health and well-being.

Energy

How Consumers Can Take Control of Their Power Usage

Sep 28, 2018 10:05 AM ET

A growing number of consumers want to know that the energy they are using comes from green resources. Even if they aren’t able to invest in solar panels on their property, or there’s a local ordinance against wind power generators in residential areas, surveys show that many residents are willing to pay a premium to help develop better access to renewable energy.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Jimmy Carter and Wells Fargo Build ‘Hope’ for Habitat Homeowners

Sep 28, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Hammers pounded, saws cut, cranes lifted trusses, and St. Joseph County, Indiana, residents like Anneliese Bennett literally built a new life for themselves in Mishawaka, Indiana. The future Habitat for Humanity homeowner built her house alongside a group of 1,773 Habitat for Humanity volunteers ­­— led by former President Jimmy Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter. Visit Wells Fargo Stories to watch the video.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Costa Cruises and AISM: Tours Now Also Accessible to Guests with Disabilities for the First Time

Sep 28, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Costa Cruises, AISM (Italian Multiple Sclerosis Association) and the Costa Crociere Foundation present the results of a joint project aimed at making vacations increasingly accessible to people with impaired mobility. For the first time in the world in the cruise sector, guests with disabilities will be able to participate in group shore excursions, at no extra cost, with accessibility verified by AISM, in accordance with the most advanced international good practices.

Innovation & Technology

VIDEO | My Stuffed Animal Has Cancer Just Like Me

Sep 28, 2018 9:55 AM ET

Aaron Horowitz, CEO of Sproutel and inventor of the My Special Aflac Duck, discusses his passion for helping children with serious illnesses.

Events, Media & Communications

U.S. Businesses Push Back Against China Trade Policy

Sep 28, 2018 9:40 AM ET

The collision of principle and policy in current affairs has just ratcheted up several notches in intensity. The reason? The latest round of tariffs on Chinese goods imported into the U.S. that takes direct aim at profits at a number of the largest multinationals. After losing the lobbying battle to stave off this latest round, these companies are going public with their protests, hoping to encourage a rollback by taking a collective stand against a policy that hits their bottom line.

Energy

New York City, Con Edison, and National Grid Launch Study Building Toward Carbon Emission Reduction Goal of 80% by 2050

Sep 28, 2018 9:15 AM ET

NEW YORK – The Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and electric and gas utilities Con Edison and National Grid have announced a Request for Proposal (RFP) that will begin the process of evaluating different pathways that New York City can pursue to effectively reach its goal of achieving 80 percent reduction in carbon emissions over 2005 levels by 2050, while maintaining safe, affordable, and reliable delivery of energy.