ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

Mongabay: Why Keep Africa’s Dryland Forests Alive?

Sep 14, 2018 11:45 AM ET

About 10 years ago, the average millet farmer in Boromdougou village along the Niger River in Mali produced about 170 kilograms of cereals per hectare per season, according to Pierre Dembele, executive secretary of Malian NGO Sahel Eco. Lack of wind breakers, however, eventually led to heavy losses.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Riding Hope’s Trail

Sep 14, 2018 11:30 AM ET

There were smiles all around Aug. 30, as members of the Hormel Foods Bentonville (Ark.) Sales Office helped dedicate a new bike trail, a gift to some of the town’s youngest and most deserving residents.

Cassie Moore, customer business manager for Hormel Foods, was among those in attendance, grinning from ear to ear at what her co-workers and her company have done for children who find refuge at the Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter. For a quarter of a century, the organization has served as a 24-hour emergency residential care facility for children who are victims of family violence, abuse and/or neglect. Since it opened its doors in 1993, the residential center has welcomed in excess of 9,000 children, giving them on-site schooling, counseling and other services during their stays.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Farming + Finance for a Path out of Poverty

Sep 14, 2018 11:10 AM ET

Through a new project WPF supports in Honduras, we will get to see firsthand if the two-pronged approach of providing both agricultural and financial assistance will have a synergistic, lasting positive effect on the alleviation of poverty.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

A ‘Special’ Day for Children at the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center

Sep 14, 2018 11:05 AM ET

Aflac, the leader in voluntary insurance sales at U.S. worksites, today delivered the very first My Special Aflac DucksTM to the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. My Special Aflac Duck, designed by Sproutel, is a social robot that uses medical play, lifelike movement and emotions to engage and help comfort kids during their cancer care.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Holland America Line Donates $25,000 to Seattle Children’s as Part of K’s for Kids with the Seattle Mariners

Sep 14, 2018 10:30 AM ET

Holland America Line President Orlando Ashford presented a check for $25,000 to Seattle Children’s Uncompensated Care Fund Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2018, at the Seattle Mariners’ home game at Safeco Field. The company made the donation as part of its partnership with the Seattle Mariners Major League Baseball team and the K’s for Kids program. Holland America Line became the presenting sponsor of the program during the 2014 baseball season.

Events, Media & Communications

Powering and Digitizing the Economy

Sep 14, 2018 10:15 AM ET

Energy decentralization means customers can now produce their own energy, and we can go one step further to help them be sustainable, efficient and productive. Schneider Electric is innovating to help customers navigate the new energy landscape at the upcoming Innovation Summit Singapore.

The Summit will open with a keynote by Schneider Electric Chairman & CEO Jean-Pascal Tricoire who will talk about the digital transformation of energy management and automation. This keynote will focus on how digital transformation can unlock more value for everyone.

Innovation & Technology

ESG Investing: What IT Leaders Need to Know

Sep 14, 2018 10:15 AM ET

IT can play a pivotal role in a company’s environmental, social, and governance impact, criteria that are key to institutional investors. Greater access to data, lower environmental impact, and improved privacy and security controls are just a few things they look for when shopping for new investments. Here's what you need to know.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Consumers Energy on Standby for Hurricane Florence

Sep 14, 2018 10:10 AM ET

Even though the storm is hundreds of miles away, Mid-Michigan utility crews are preparing for Hurricane Florence.

Health & Healthcare

Video: Nurses Change Lives

Sep 14, 2018 10:10 AM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

Why Transformative Volunteering Is Good Citizenship

Sep 14, 2018 10:05 AM ET

Frequently, volunteer experiences are episodic events that provide vital support to organizations, but what if more resources could be used to boost the impact we can have as volunteers, and forge sustainable relationships?

Environment

At GCAS, Walmart and Unilever Show Leadership on Forests: 3 Big Reasons to Join Them

Sep 14, 2018 10:05 AM ET

Walmart and Unilever made big news at this week’s Global Climate Action Summit. With forest loss is still on the rise (the highest levels of tropical tree cover loss occurred in the last two years), these two consumer-product giants just committed to taking big, concrete steps toward addressing the complex reality of global deforestation.

Education

The New MBA Will Educate the 'Whole Manager'

Sep 14, 2018 9:35 AM ET

Behind the unending stream of headlines about executive malfeasance, there’s a lot of thought and action going on in progressive quarters about how to improve leadership training so that business can perform better.

Research, Reports & Publications

A Deeper Look at CECP's Investing in Society: Planet

Sep 14, 2018 9:35 AM ET

Investing in Society, CECP’s recently launched compendium of data, research, and case studies illustrates innovations in corporate efforts to solve the world’s most pressing problems. Divided into five sections – Priorities, Performance, People, Planet, and Policies – the collection of insights offers a far-reaching assessment of what leading companies are doing in each of the five focus areas.

Health & Healthcare

Technology and Health Converge in Toronto

Sep 14, 2018 9:05 AM ET

Toronto has firmly established itself as one of the most desirable modern cities in North America to live in and it’s clear to see why. As the city experiences a renaissance and booming real estate market, it has placed technology and health at the forefront.

Research, Reports & Publications

Albemarle’s Core Values Highlight 2018 Sustainability Report

Sep 14, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Albemarle is pleased to present its 2018 Sustainability Report on 2017 activities. This edition marks the 12th year Albemarle has released a sustainability report, demonstrating the company's commitment to growing in a sustainable manner.

Environment

Unilever and Walmart Announce Forest Sustainability Initiatives at the Global Climate Action Summit

Sep 13, 2018 9:00 PM ET

Today, at the Global Climate Action Summit (GCAS) in San Francisco, USA, Unilever committed to supporting work in Sabah, Malaysia as part of the strategy to achieving a deforestation free supply chain and further reducing emissions. Unilever will help sustainably certify 60,000 hectares in Sabah, Malaysia as part of a program led by Forever Sabah, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Malaysia and PONGO Alliance.

Diversity & Inclusion

Freeport-McMoRan and Its Indonesian Subsidiary, PT Freeport Indonesia, Increase Women in Workforce

Sep 13, 2018 8:15 PM ET

Seeking ways to recruit and foster career development for is important to Freeport-McMoRan, as women historically have been underrepresented in the mining sector. Women serve in key management roles within Freeport-McMoRan, including the Chief Financial Officer and two members of the Board of Directors, while an additional 280 women hold manager-level or higher positions.

Environment

Major Companies Join Forces to Drive Climate Resilience in Supply Chains

Sep 13, 2018 8:00 PM ET

BSR today announced a new corporate leadership platform that will aid companies in the fight against climate change: The Climate-Resilient Value Chains Leaders Platform is being launched as leaders of the Global Climate Action Summit call on corporations to step up their climate efforts.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Named Industry Leader in Sustainability for the Sixth Consecutive Year by DJSI

Sep 13, 2018 6:10 PM ET

For the sixth consecutive year, Abbott has been named the leading company in its industry by the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), one of the most prestigious global benchmarks for corporate sustainability and responsibility. As the industry leader in Health Care Equipment & Supplies, Abbott is one of the 60 companies recognized for leading their respective global industries.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Dow Jones Sustainability Index Names Ingersoll Rand to World and North America Indices

Sep 13, 2018 6:00 PM ET

For the eighth consecutive year, Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR), a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments, has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America Indices (DJSI). Continued placement on this index series showcases the company’s advances in integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices into the core of how the company is operated.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

It’s Time for a Round of Applause

Sep 13, 2018 5:20 PM ET

Anyone who decides to drive a commercial truck for a living is performing one of the most critical aspects of our economy. Think about the products we enjoy every day, yet probably take for granted. Groceries. Gas. Clothing. Electronics. School supplies. Food at our favorite restaurants, like Wendy’s. Do we ever stop to consider how these staples of our lives magically get to where they are supposed to be when they are supposed to be there?

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Yum! Brands Named to Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index for Second Consecutive Year

Sep 13, 2018 4:50 PM ET

Yum! Brands today was once again named to the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (DJSI) for its ongoing commitment to sustainable business practices. DJSI is regarded as one of the leading sustainability benchmarks among businesses and investors alike.

“This recognition reflects our commitment to making the world better through our global citizenship and sustainability strategy called our Recipe for Good,” said Greg Creed, CEO, Yum! Brands.

Green Infrastructure

Starbucks Announces Global Greener Stores Commitment

Sep 13, 2018 4:30 PM ET

“Starbucks Greener Stores” framework will be co-developed by leading experts including World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and will be audited and verified by SCS Global Services, a third-party verification organization that also oversees Starbucks Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E.) Practices. This framework will be open-sourced to enable other retailers to engage in this initiative.

Environment

Today is the Day to Step Up for Global Climate Action

Sep 13, 2018 4:15 PM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

More than 800 Astellas Employees Volunteer for 16 Community Organizations as Part of Ninth Annual Changing Tomorrow Day

Sep 13, 2018 3:50 PM ET

More than 800 Astellas employees joined together across four countries to help their communities and volunteer at 16 local nonprofit organizations. The effort is part of Changing Tomorrow Day (#ChangingTomorrow) – an Astellas employee initiative dedicated to building stronger communities by giving back.