ESG News from Leading Brands

Research, Reports & Publications

Responding to the Bigger Picture: Telstra’s 2018 Sustainability Report

Sep 4, 2018 9:00 PM ET

Telstra has released its Bigger Picture 2018 Sustainability Report, detailing the company’s progress in implementing its Sustainability Strategy – aimed at helping everyone to thrive in a digital world – and in responding to the issues that matter most to its stakeholders.

In what has been a year of significant change for Telstra, the company remains committed to supporting its communities, connecting regional Australians, and serving the needs of its vulnerable customers.

Diversity & Inclusion

Using Skills-Based Volunteerism to Diversify STEM Leadership

Sep 4, 2018 5:30 PM ET

Through our work developing strategic partnerships that engage business professionals to create positive community change, we see two major STEM education challenges that skilled volunteerism can help address. Last week, we wrote about how skills-based volunteerism can help build capacity within the social sector to effectively deliver STEM education. Today we are sharing our perspective on how STEM education and volunteering can increase representation for women and diverse communities in both the social and corporate sector.

Innovation & Technology

Feeding the World: IoT and the Intelligent Edge

Sep 4, 2018 4:35 PM ET

HPE is partnering with Purdue University to uncover digital technologies with the potential to transform agricultural research. The objectives are increased crop yields with reduced inputs—and therefore less environmental impact.

Innovation & Technology

Making the UPS Smart Logistics Network a Reality

Sep 4, 2018 4:35 PM ET

UPS’s smart logistics network refers to our digitally and physically connected facilities, fleet, and information systems. Using real-time data, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other technology, we will optimize tracking and processing of packages and freight, and synchronize our transportation fleet.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

U.S. Veterans Magazine Announces Its 2018 Best of the Best Results Lists

Sep 4, 2018 4:00 PM ET

U.S. Veterans Magazine (USVM) released the results of its highly anticipated 2018 evaluation of the nation’s Best of the Best Top Veteran-Friendly Companies, Top Supplier Diversity Programs, Top Government & Law Enforcement Agencies, and Top Veteran-Friendly Schools. Brown-Forman among those listed for Top Veteran-Friendly Companies.

Sustainable Development Goals

Putting Students in the Driver’s Seat Helps Develop Lifelong Learners

Sep 4, 2018 3:00 PM ET

Verizon Innovative Learning schools are putting students in the driver’s seat. They’re using technology and a transformative curriculum to implement a student-driven approach to learning. In the process, students are becoming more engaged, creative and persistent – skills that will put them on the path to success in an increasingly tech-dependent job market.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

JetBlue Announces Jacksonville, Fla. as the Winner of the Soar With Reading #BookWithUs Online Vote

Sep 4, 2018 3:00 PM ET

JetBlue today announced Jacksonville, Fla. as the winner of the #BookWithUs online vote, part of this year’s annual Soar with Reading literacy initiative. Thanks to support from the local community in North Florida, Jacksonville bested JetBlue’s other 101 cities, receiving 38 percent of the votes. Throughout the summer, customers were invited to vote for their favorite city to win $25,000 worth of children’s books and a “reading room makeover” by celebrity interior designer Tyler Wisler for a local organization. More than 544,300 online votes were cast.

Environment

Carbon Reduction Challenge Awards Top Prize to Chick-Fil-A Intern

Sep 4, 2018 2:35 PM ET

A Georgia Tech undergraduate student teamed up with Chick-Fil-A staff over the summer to reduce millions of pounds of heat-trapping greenhouse gases while delivering significant cost savings.

Environment

Sysco's Commitment to Protecting the Planet

Sep 4, 2018 1:15 PM ET

Sysco is committed to protecting the planet by advancing sustainable agriculture practices, reducing the company’s carbon footprint and diverting waste from landfills, in order to protect and preserve the environment for future generations.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

NRG Helps Businesses Reach Their Sustainability Goals

Sep 4, 2018 12:55 PM ET

The Business Solutions team makes sustainability a reality for organizations by developing unique energy solutions based on each customer’s needs. These solutions include demand response, commodity sales, access to renewable energy, asset-backed distributed energy systems, energy efficiency measures and energy management services. Responding to the demand of ROI-driven companies, our projects span multiple industries and an equally diverse range of solutions. See a complete list of offerings here.

Events, Media & Communications

UN Global Climate Action Summit to “Take Ambition to the Next Level”

Sep 4, 2018 12:30 PM ET

The Global Climate Action Summit is challenging people, communities, societies and economies around the world to ‘step up’ and take ambition to the next level across five key issue areas: Healthy Energy Systems, Inclusive Economic Growth, Sustainable Communities, Land and Ocean Stewardship and Transformative Climate Investments. The 2018 Global Climate Action Summit, hosted in San Francisco, USA between 10–14 September, will bring together state and local governments, business and citizens from around the world to showcase climate action taking place, thereby demonstrating how the tide has turned in the race against climate change and inspiring deeper national commitments in support of the Paris Agreement.

Diversity & Inclusion

Scotiabank Supports Indigenous Communities in Mexico

Sep 4, 2018 12:05 PM ET

Since 2013, Scotiabank Mexico has been partners of Fondo para la Paz I.A.P. to help improve living conditions of indigenous teneek communities. Over the past year more than 500 young people have developed projects that benefit the entire region. This video (in Spanish) tells more about this story.

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar Inc. | Enabling Safer Work

Sep 4, 2018 12:00 PM ET

Our commitment to safety begins with the engineering of our products and manufacturing processes, and extends to operator training, job site solutions and promoting a culture of safety that guides the way we work.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Remembering Harvey and Irma: Mohawk Sends a Deluge of Care

Sep 4, 2018 11:15 AM ET

An extraordinary series of hurricanes last year prompted an extraordinary response by Mohawk employees.

Environment

Keeping up With ISO 45001: Being Proactive and Preventative With Risk Assessments

Sep 4, 2018 11:15 AM ET

Antea Group’s blog provides a background to ISO 45001, its implications for your business, and how important it is to be proactive in risk management.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Gaining Perspective in Nepal

Sep 4, 2018 10:45 AM ET

Along with several other members on the Tyson Foods Corporate Communications team, I traveled to Nepal to meet Moushumi Shrestha – agricultural entrepreneur and, together with Tyson Foods, co-sponsor of a brand new ONEEGG project in Nepal.

In Nepal, I was reminded that feeding the world isn’t a job for just one company in just one country. It’s a humongous task. And let’s face: development is messy. But when you see the work Moushumi and OneEgg are doing, and when you see companies like Tyson Foods supporting that work, you know that it’s possible.

That’s the good food can do. And that’s work worth doing.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

A UCLA Student Turned Innovator Realizes Charity Starts on Campus

Sep 4, 2018 10:30 AM ET

Out of a college student’s simple idea of donating a few boxes of food to the homeless, Rachel Sumekh built a national movement to end hunger on college campuses.

Education

Through a New Grant from Symantec, NPower Expands Offerings in the Bay Area

Sep 4, 2018 10:10 AM ET

We often talk of a time where our IT workforce is diverse, with equal representation and opportunity. A time where people of all backgrounds, regardless of ethnicity, gender, or socio-economic status have the opportunities, the skills, the pathways to develop life-long careers and succeed in our digital economy.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Domtar and SCA Clean Up Parks in Two of Our Communities

Sep 4, 2018 10:05 AM ET

Domtar volunteers in Missouri and Ontario invested hundreds of volunteer hours this spring to clean up community parks, with help from the Student Conservation Association (SCA). Participating in an SCA clean up is a great way for our colleagues to give back to the communities in which they live and work.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Whole Kids Foundation® Launches 2018 Growing Healthy Kids Campaign

Sep 4, 2018 10:00 AM ET

With its 2018 Growing Healthy Kids Campaign, Whole Kids Foundation aims to raise $3 million to fund K-12-focused programs in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. that are working to create a deeper connection between kids and food. The foundation’s goal will allow it to grant 620 edible educational gardens, 450 salad bars in schools, and support healthy teacher programs and educational bee programs.

Sustainable Development Goals

Good Sanitation: How Toilets Can Help Children Learn for Longer

Sep 4, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Responsible Production & Consumption

Las Vegas Sands Properties Participate in the Global Clean Plate Challenge and Responsible Consumption Week

Sep 4, 2018 9:50 AM ET

Las Vegas Sands conducted its annual Global Clean Plate Challenge in an effort to reduce its environmental impact on the environment through its award-winning program, Sands ECO360. The company encourages its Team Members to be conservative with their food quantities during the clean plate challenge, but also the rest of the year.

Research, Reports & Publications

ScottsMiracle-Gro Launches Corporate Foundation, Makes Strides in Waste Reduction in 2017

Sep 4, 2018 9:45 AM ET

Inspired by the words of Miracle-Gro founder Horace Hagedorn to “find a need and fill it”, ScottsMiracle-Gro continues to invest in its associates, communities and operations to ensure we leave our piece of the Earth better than we found it. We are pleased to share our latest Corporate Responsibility Update, which provides information on our achievements in the 2015-2017 timeframe.

Innovation & Technology

Recycling Technologies: Making Plastics Digestible

Sep 4, 2018 9:35 AM ET

In 2016, Recycling Technologies was part of the first cohort of the Barclays Unreasonable Impact accelerator, which supports entrepreneurs that are providing solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges. Two years on it has booked £65m of future sales and is opening a UK factory with capacity for 300 employees. Founder and CEO Adrian Griffiths tells us the story of his company and how it plans to change the world of plastic recycling.

Health & Healthcare

Managing School Stress: Why Creating a "School-life" Balance Matters

Sep 4, 2018 9:35 AM ET

Responsibilities piling up, competing demands, lack of time. Just reading this may make your heart start to race a little. Does the word stress come to mind? Stress is a normal part of the human experience, and in fact, can be useful − mild levels of stress have the ability to motivate us to get our work done and even stimulate creativity