ESG News from Leading Brands

Events, Media & Communications

Brands Taking Stands™ | It’s a Movement, Not a Trend

Sep 5, 2018 1:25 PM ET

I have been asked more than once if I thought the topic of brands taking stands on the big issues of the day is a trend that will eventually run out of gas. My answer is always the same: Get used to it. This is a movement, not just a meme of the current overheated political moment.

Environment

Reducing Environmental Impact From our Operations

Sep 5, 2018 12:40 PM ET

Northern Trust’s Corporate Services Group, charged with management of our real estate portfolio, procurement and facilities services, executes Northern Trust’s objective of reducing or eliminating negative environmental impacts from our supply chain. We detail our environmental expectations of vendors by providing them our Supplier Code of Conduct. Vendors’ sustainable practices are factored into our selection process, and we regularly review suppliers’ adherence to the Supplier Code of Conduct and pursue corrective measures when necessary, as noted in our Global Procurement Policy.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Allstate Foundation Awards $1.25 Million to Programs to Empower Domestic Violence and Financial Abuse Victims

Sep 5, 2018 12:30 PM ET

The Allstate Foundation announced today it is awarding $1.25 million in Moving Ahead grants to state domestic violence coalitions under its Purple Purse® initiative. The grants will enable the coalitions to provide financial empowerment resources for nearly 500,000 domestic violence survivors to help them break free from abuse.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Expanding Access to Insurance

Sep 5, 2018 12:05 PM ET

We seek to make insurance simple and accessible by offering useful products and services through convenient channels. We are achieving this objective by broadening access to affordable products and services, offering insurance to middle-class and disadvantaged populations and establishing a presence in countries where protection products are difficult to obtain.

Environment

Insights Into FB Heron’s ESG Investment Process: A Case Study

Sep 5, 2018 11:20 AM ET

Our friends at FB Heron recently published a summary of how they arrived at their current ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) investment process. It should be interesting for anyone who is trying to bring ESG factors into their own framework.

Education

Turning Data into Stories: S&P Global Volunteers & SARA Share Community Impact

Sep 5, 2018 11:15 AM ET

In June, Common Impact worked with our corporate partner S&P Global to deploy a team of skilled volunteers in Charlottesville, VA. The volunteer team was eager to share their expertise in data management with a nonprofit partner seeking to better communicate their stories of impact through data. SARA or the Sexual Assault Recovery Agency was excited to work with S&P experts to help organize their existing metrics and identify key data to highlight the effectiveness and importance of their prevention and response activities.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Ecocentricity Blog: Hey, Can I Borrow That?

Sep 5, 2018 11:15 AM ET

As an environmentalist, I am pulling for the growth of this movement. For every person who chooses to borrow or rent a tool, that’s one fewer tool that has to be built. For every person who chooses to buy clothing on the second-hand market, that’s one fewer garment that has to be created.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

KeyBank Provides $30.9 Million in Total Financing for Two Affordable Housing Projects in Seattle

Sep 5, 2018 11:00 AM ET

KeyBank Community Development Lending & Investment (CDLI) has provided $30.9 million in total financing to Community House Mental Health Agency for two tax credit affordable housing properties located at the corner of 23rd and Jackson streets in Seattle, WA.

Sustainable Development Goals

Bacardi Limited Aligns Corporate Responsibility Strategy to Include UN Sustainable Development Goals

Sep 5, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, today announced the compilation of results of its environmental sustainability goals made in 2014 and expanded its “Good Spirited: Building a Sustainable Future” environmental initiative to now encompass the company’s entire Corporate Responsibility (CR) platform.

With the expansion, the Good Spirited platform now comprises Marketplace, which includes responsible marketing and responsible drinking, Philanthropy & Community Investment, People, as well as the initial focus areas of Responsible Sourcing and Environment. This commitment aligns family-owned Bacardi’s CR platform with most of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Media & Communications

Sustainability Over the Next Two Decades – Forward? Backward? Something We Just Take For Granted in Running a Company or Investing In One?

Sep 5, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Predicting the way forward (that is, defining the future) is always challenging but pundits do try anyway. One of the most often quoted of such predictions is the 1944 forecast for the computer and copier markets with CEO Thomas Watson of IBM projecting…a market of perhaps five computers and as many as 5,000 copying machines!

Events, Media & Communications

Erb Institute to Hold Affiliate Event at Global Climate Action Summit

Sep 5, 2018 11:00 AM ET

The Erb Institute is joining the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco, CA on September 12, 2018, to host a roundtable “Developing Climate-Business Strategies: Partnering with Universities for Science-Based Impact.” This invitation-only affiliate event will bring together senior-level business, academic and non-profit executives and thought leaders and will focus on how to build and leverage partnerships with universities—like the University of Michigan’s Erb Institute—to:...

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Smithfield Foods Donates $100,000 to the Wilmington Branch of the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina

Sep 5, 2018 10:40 AM ET

The Smithfield Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Smithfield Foods, Inc., is pleased to announce a significant donation to the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina to support its Wilmington Branch Location, serving Brunswick, Columbus, New Hanover, and Pender counties in southeastern North Carolina. The company presented a $100,000 donation while Smithfield employees volunteered, helping to pack meals for those served by the food bank in the Wilmington community.

Environment

GRI Podcast September Edition: Focus on Water

Sep 5, 2018 10:35 AM ET

GRI’s latest podcast episode focuses on water stewardship and how reporting can help companies manage their impacts better. Interviews with GRI's Chief of Standards Bastian Buck, Paul Reig from the World Resources Institute, and GRI Standards Manager Anna Krotova, explaining what exactly has changed in GRI's newly launched Water and Effluents reporting standard.

Energy

High-End Woodworking Company Improves Energy Efficiency and Performance with New Vacuum Pumps

Sep 5, 2018 10:35 AM ET

Innovation & Technology

How Do We Make STEM Education More Equitable?

Sep 5, 2018 10:05 AM ET

The challenge of diversifying the tech workforce is confronting companies across sectors as more jobs are requiring computational thinking and digital fluency. Simultaneously, the demographics of the United States are changing rapidly, and companies are challenged with ensuring that the talent pipeline reflects those dynamic shifts. Developing a robust and diverse technical workforce in the United States is becoming a national priority as a result of the emerging technologies and their impact on industries.

Research, Reports & Publications

How Business Can Manage Climate Risk in Southeast Asia

Sep 5, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Because of the existing and projected impacts from climate change, it is imperative for businesses in Southeast Asia to build resilience to prepare for today’s climate reality. These new reports from BSR and The Rockefeller Foundation explain why and how.

Social Impact & Volunteering

A Volunteer Opportunity Transforms More Than Cancer Care

Sep 5, 2018 10:00 AM ET

As Pfizer celebrates 15 years of skills-based volunteering through its Global Health Fellows and Teams volunteer programs, which deploy colleagues around the world to work with international development organization partners through long- and short-term assignments, a team member reflects on the impact the program had on his life.

Research, Reports & Publications

The Future of Energy

Sep 5, 2018 10:00 AM ET

The concept of “new energy” has ushered in a global movement dedicated to cost-effective sustainability, clean energy technology and grid innovation. Today more than ever, we’re seeing stakeholders and industry giants from all sectors — finance, manufacturing, retail, utilities, technology, even academia — come together in combined efforts.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Hallmark Employees in Australia Pack Food to Feed the Hungry

Sep 5, 2018 9:50 AM ET

The Foodbank volunteer day for employees at the Hallmark Greetings Australia office offers a great oppor- tunity to give back and help those less fortunate. “It allows us to build relationships with coworkers, make a difference in our community and have some fun along the way,” explained Rachel Goldsworthy, national account manager.

Innovation & Technology

FCA US Invests $30 Million in All-new Autonomous Driving and Advanced Testing Facility at Chelsea Proving Grounds

Sep 5, 2018 9:35 AM ET

FCA US announced today that it has invested more than $30 million at its Chelsea Proving Grounds in southeast Michigan to further development and testing of autonomous vehicle and advanced safety technologies. The all-new facility, which begins testing programs in September, features a dedicated autonomous highway-speed track, 35-acre safety-feature evaluation area and a high-tech command center.

Environment

VIDEO | Don't Feed the Landfills

Sep 5, 2018 9:35 AM ET

Subaru and the NPCA share five simple things we can all do to help the National Parks reach their historic goal of becoming zero landfill.

Sustainable Development Goals

Why and How Positive Impact is Celebrating World Peace Day on 21st September

Sep 5, 2018 9:25 AM ET

Positive Impact defines 'peace' as when people connect and collaborate to make the world a better place. This can be done through small, everyday and sustainable actions

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Safeway Foundation grant awarded to the National Foundation for Cancer Research

Sep 5, 2018 8:55 AM ET

Energy

Pathway to 2030: Transform the Heat Sector Through Energy Efficiency, Electrification, and Oil-to-Gas Conversion

Sep 5, 2018 8:25 AM ET

Achieving the 2030 target economically implies dramatic reduction in the reliance on the most expensive and polluting heating fuels: fuel oil, propane, and kerosene.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

WBCSD Senior Representatives Join Ethical Corporation October Events

Sep 5, 2018 8:25 AM ET

This year’s Summit builds on last year’s landmark event, with even more of a ‘Silicon Valley’ flavor as the event looks to tackle the three core issues impacting tech-driven business; data ethics and privacy, social impact and climate action.