ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

JetBlue Helps Sustainable Aviation Take Off with Carbon Offsets

Sep 7, 2018 12:00 PM ET

Consumer priorities are shifting across a number of industries, and the aviation sector is no exception. In the past, businesses could get away with offering a simple, good-value service, but today’s customers expect airlines to take sustainability as seriously as they do profitability.

One airline looking to integrate long-term environmental planning and corporate social responsibility into its core business strategy is JetBlue. The airline sets goals to meet both short and long-term financial needs, while also fulfilling its commitment to reducing emissions.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

It’s Not Just Hard Work: It’s Knowing How the Company Works

Sep 7, 2018 11:45 AM ET

As I reflected on the unpredictable zigs and zags of my career, I thought back to that very confident (my mother would have said way too confident) and dare I say naive 22-year-old, and I’m still in awe of where I find myself today. My worldview, desire for inclusion and appreciation for experiences have grown. Although, a few things haven’t changed, including my belief that the power of possibility can be limitless, desire to be quicker and an unquenchable thirst for more information to power change. As a friend and colleague recently said to my team during an off-site meeting in York, U.K.: “It’s not just hard work, it’s knowing how our business works that leads to success.” In my mind, truer words have never been spoken, and that all started proofreading catalogs.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Nespresso Revives Zimbabwe’s Coffee Production

Sep 7, 2018 11:05 AM ET

Nespresso announced today a long-term investment plan to revive Zimbabwe’s coffee industry and stimulate the rural economy.

The company will provide training and technical assistance to 400 smallholder coffee farmers over the next five years, with the goal of increasing the country’s production of quality sustainable coffee.

Research, Reports & Publications

Ingersoll Rand Reaffirms Commitment to ESG in Latest Sustainability Supplement

Sep 7, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Ingersoll Rand, a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments, has published its eleventh annual sustainability supplement. The supplement is designed to provide a comprehensive update on Ingersoll Rand’s progress on environmental, social and governance issues and how the company transforms everyday life.

Responsible Production & Consumption

INFOGRAPHIC | Bacardi Limited Highlights Sustainability Achievements of Good Spirited Initiative

Sep 7, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Announced in early 2014, Good Spirited was an ambitious environmental sustainability initiative with specific goals in sourcing, packaging, and operations to be achieved by 2017 and 2022 -- under the vision to return to the environment at least as much as we take away. Significant reductions have been achieved in greenhouse gas emission (GHG) intensity (59%) and water usage (50%), as well as Zero Waste to Landfill targets. In addition, the original sourcing goal to obtain 40% of sustainably sourced sugarcane-derived products used to make BACARDĺ® rums were not only achieved but more than doubled.

Events, Media & Communications

Time to Fly: Our Picks for Fall 2018 Events

Sep 7, 2018 10:20 AM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Celebrating Wendy’s Family Members Who Go the Extra Mile

Sep 7, 2018 10:05 AM ET

It’s an old adage and while we may not realize it in the moment, actions speak louder than words.

What we do and how we choose to treat people can make a lasting impression on strangers and friends. It’s great when we learn about examples of this type of behavior by Wendy’s employees, and it’s important that we take a minute to appreciate those moments and the people who make them.

Research, Reports & Publications

CEOs Who Take Stands on Issues Seen as Future Leaders: New Survey

Sep 7, 2018 9:50 AM ET

A just-released report, “CEOs Speaking Out on Social Media,” adds yet more numbers to the argument for brands taking stands, and to the growing assumption that chief executives should take the lead. Authors Ann Charles, founder and CEO of BRANDfog, and Susan McPherson, founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies, set out to examine “social media as an effective tool that enables CEOs to amplify their positions on key social issues.”

Health & Healthcare

Burnout 101: What Ignites Burnout and How to Protect Yourself From Getting Scorched

Sep 7, 2018 9:50 AM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

P&G Named: JUST Capital's Top Ten Companies For Workers

Sep 7, 2018 9:20 AM ET

Green Infrastructure

Meet Sunweave, Living Product Woven Sustainable Carpeting That Evokes the Sun’s Natural Patterning

Sep 6, 2018 6:00 PM ET

Sunweave is a Living Product Challenge Petal certified woven broadloom carpet collection that merges the time-honored craft of woven construction with today’s desire for artisanal materials, authenticity and warmth in contract spaces. Inspired by women weavers of indigenous cultures around the world, Sunweave evokes the natural patterns found in baskets, blankets and textiles realized in its biophilic design.

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar Inc. | Manufacturing Products Responsibly

Sep 6, 2018 4:00 PM ET

At our facilities, we work to minimize our environmental impact by focusing on energy conservation, greenhouse gas emission reduction, water conservation and waste reduction.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Accenture Ranks No. 1 on Thomson Reuters Index of World’s Most Diverse and Inclusive Companies

Sep 6, 2018 3:05 PM ET

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has been named the top company on the Thomson Reuters Diversity & Inclusion Index, which recognizes the 100 most diverse and inclusive companies in the world, according to Thomson Reuters ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) data. The Index, established in 2016, is one of the most comprehensive measures of workplace inclusion and diversity practices.

Sustainable Development Goals

Scientists, Inventors, Entrepreneurs: These Girls Are Ready to Show the World That STEM Isn’t Just a Boy Thing

Sep 6, 2018 3:00 PM ET

The Verizon Innovative Learning program is in its second summer at Patrick Henry Community College in Martinsville, VA. It's one of 16 locations around the country focused on getting middle school girls in rural communities excited about careers in STEM. Between summer intensives, students meet monthly for field trips and to hone their skills. It’s all part of the Verizon Innovative Learning mission to provide free technology, free internet access and hands-on learning experiences to help underserved students get the education they deserve.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sappi North America Announces Recipients of the 19th Annual Ideas that Matter Grant

Sep 6, 2018 2:30 PM ET

Sappi North America, Inc., a leading producer and supplier of diversified paper and packaging products, today announced the recipients of its 19th annual Ideas that Matter grant program, which provides funds to support the production and distribution of printed social impact projects proposed by designer applicants.

Diversity & Inclusion

Medtronic Jumps to #3 on Diversity and Inclusion Top 100 List

Sep 6, 2018 2:05 PM ET

Announced today, Medtronic has been ranked third on the 2018 Thomson Reuters Diversity and Inclusion Index. This is the third year Medtronic has made the list, jumping ten spots from number 13, which they held in 2016 and 2017.

Events, Media & Communications

Interview with Evan Toporek, CEO of Alternative Apparel: From Engineering to Apparel

Sep 6, 2018 2:05 PM ET

From industrial engineering to consulting, Alternative Apparel's CEO, Evan Toporek, talks about making the move to Alternative Apparel to satisfy his entrepreneurial spirit. After 20 years, the brand has seen many milestones, including the most recent, joining the Hanesbrands family.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

ScottsMiracle-Gro LiveTotal Health Program Helps Associates Thrive

Sep 6, 2018 1:45 PM ET

The LiveTotal Health program, established in 2005, provides a comprehensive wellness approach to help our associates and their families achieve physical, financial and personal health.

Green Infrastructure

Building More Resilient Communities: Pro Bono As a Tool for Disaster Preparedness

Sep 6, 2018 1:15 PM ET

From massive natural disasters to complex and escalating conflicts, communities around the world experienced unprecedented incidences of crises requiring emergency response last year. The global cost for natural disasters in 2017 alone totaled $330 billion. In the wake of disasters, many companies mobilize to offer volunteers for on-the-ground rapid response activities and to provide financial assistance, often spending significant portions of their philanthropic budget on disaster relief. But, is there room for more to be done?

Innovation & Technology

What Does a City of One Million People on Mars Look Like?

Sep 6, 2018 12:10 PM ET

For the past year, creative professionals, students, space geeks—even families—have been creating their visions for a metropolis on the fourth planet from the sun. The final winners of the HP Mars Home Planet challenge were announced today by HP and unveiled in a VR experience at SIGGRAPH 2018, an annual computer graphics convention, in Vancouver.

Environment

From Treatment to Prevention - Shifting Focus of Reporting on Waste

Sep 6, 2018 12:10 PM ET

Waste is a major contributor to climate change, ill health, and pollution. The prevention of waste generation is critical, and the reporting standards should reflect this. GRI has kicked off a project to thoroughly review its waste disclosures towards circular models and prevention over treatment.

Energy

Sysco to Source 20% of Electricity from Renewable Sources by 2025

Sep 6, 2018 12:00 PM ET

By 2025, we will source 20 percent of electricity from renewable sources. One of the ways we will achieve this is with our multi-site solar garden project, which will support approximately 10 percent of Sysco’s electricity usage.

Innovation & Technology

PepsiCo Launches Nutrition Greenhouse Program to Support Food and Beverage Brands Driving Change in North America

Sep 6, 2018 12:00 PM ET

PepsiCo announced today the launch of its Nutrition Greenhouse accelerator program in North America, an innovation initiative designed to discover and support emerging brands in the food and beverage sector. The North American program follows the launch of PepsiCo's Nutrition Greenhouse in Europe, now in its second year. In 2017, eight start-ups in the European program delivered an estimated combined sales growth of over €10 million – a fourfold increase throughout the duration of the 6-month program.

Environment

A Watershed Moment: Regulatory Changes in Mexico

Sep 6, 2018 11:40 AM ET

Antea Group’s blog discusses Mexico’s 10 Presidential Decrees, eliminating the concept of restricted areas around water exploitation.

Energy

Ingersoll Rand Unveils Solar Power System at New Jersey Manufacturing Plant As Part of Its Global Climate Commitment

Sep 6, 2018 11:30 AM ET

Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR), a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments, announced that a 1,990 kW GE Solar PV power system is now online and generating power at its 430,000 square-foot manufacturing facility in Trenton, N.J.

The solar power system marks another milestone in Ingersoll Rand’s Global Climate Commitment, which includes a 35-percent reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint from its operations by 2020.