ESG News from Leading Brands

Sustainable Development Goals

Schneider Electric Joins Corporate Renewable Energy Buyers' Principles; Commits to Increasing Access to Renewable Energy

Aug 24, 2018 9:05 AM ET

Schneider Electric, the global specialist in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, announced it joined the Corporate Renewable Energy Buyers' Principles, an initiative made up of 76 companies seeking to spur progress on renewable energy and achieve their sustainable energy goals.

Environment

Sustainable Water Management: The Heart of Our Pulp and Paper Mills

Aug 24, 2018 9:05 AM ET

When people think of paper manufacturing, the first natural resource that comes to mind is probably trees. But water plays an equally important role in our industry. That’s why sustainable water management is one of our top priorities.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Rewiring Employment Systems: FSG’s Innovation Labs Now Accepting Applications

Aug 24, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Everyone’s talking about workforce, but do you have the tools and knowledge to access and support new sources of talent? Over the last year, FSG has been working to advance employer practice change through their Talent Rewire Innovation Lab program, which supports a wide range of employers to better recruit, retain, and support historically overlooked talent pools with an aim of improving the bottom line.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Member Weekend at Arbor Day Farm Reinvigorates the Arbor Day Foundation’s Mission

Aug 24, 2018 9:00 AM ET

This summer, the Arbor Day Foundation invited a select group of long-time Foundation members to enjoy a hosted stay at Lied Lodge & Conference Center at Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City, Nebraska. Member weekend was an opportunity for our members to learn more about our programs and see our work come to life.

Sustainable Development Goals

USAID Awards Tetra Tech $650 Million Contract for Land Tenure and Natural Resource Management Services

Aug 24, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Tetra Tech, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTEK) announced today that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) awarded the Company a $650 million, multiple-award contract to develop innovative solutions to address land rights challenges around the world. Secure property rights provide a foundation for sustainable natural resource management, access to water resources, economic growth, and improved food security.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

21st Century Fox Invests in Disaster Preparedness and Awareness With $1MM to the American Red Cross and Center for Disaster Philanthropy

Aug 23, 2018 8:55 PM ET

In response to 2017’s series of devastating and unprecedented natural disasters, including hurricanes that affected over 25 million people, 21st Century Fox is preparing for forthcoming natural disasters this year by donating $1 million to the American Red Crossand the Center for Disaster Philanthropy. The contribution will support the two organizations’ capacity-building, preparedness, relief, and recovery efforts for 2018, as deadly wildfires continue tearing through California and coastal regions begin fortifying themselves ahead of hurricane season.

Environment

Ian Power: Rocking Climate Change

Aug 23, 2018 8:00 PM ET

There is no silver bullet to solve the intractable problem of global warming. Nevertheless, there is a lot of vital and hopeful work being done to chip away at the mountain of problems human beings have wreaked on this planet. This week on Sea Change Radio, we look at two innovative ideas that are moving us in a hopeful direction.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Whirlpool Corporation to Support Habitat for Humanity’s 2018 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project in Indiana

Aug 23, 2018 7:30 PM ET

Whirlpool Corporation will be on the front lines of home-building projects in the Midwest, as part of Habitat for Humanity’s 35th Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project.

Research, Reports & Publications

Force for Good: VMware Releases 2017 Global Impact Report

Aug 23, 2018 5:35 PM ET

Innovation & Technology

How New Tech Startup Pinkaloo Is Using Its Platform to Personalize Charitable Giving at Work

Aug 23, 2018 5:25 PM ET

Just outside of Baltimore, MD, a new technology startup company, called Pinkaloo, is helping set the stage for a more modern way for employees to give through the workplace.

Environment

National Grid Statement on Clean Power Plan

Aug 23, 2018 5:15 PM ET

“National Grid believes significant and urgent action is needed to combat climate change and has long supported reasonable decarbonization policies and strategies – including the Clean Power Plan and the Paris Climate Accord,” said Dean Seavers, president of National Grid, US. “Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while maintaining affordability and resiliency, is paramount for National Grid.”

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar Inc. | Innovating Efficient Technologies

Aug 23, 2018 5:00 PM ET

Innovation & Technology

From Data to Discovery, Faster: Next Generation Sequencing

Aug 23, 2018 3:30 PM ET

The Technical University of Denmark conducts research in bioinformatics and systems biology—fields that employ powerful computers to explore biological data.

Responsible Production & Consumption

VIDEO | Mohawk’s Nutopia Looks at Urban Connectivity and Biophilia

Aug 23, 2018 3:20 PM ET

Design Milk talked to Royce Epstein, A&D Design Director, Mohawk Group and George Bandy Jr., VP of Sustainability and Marketing, Mohawk Group about their new collection and its sustainable materials.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Hallmark Donated $10.7 Million and 53K Volunteer Hours in 2017

Aug 23, 2018 3:15 PM ET

In 2017, Hallmark and its businesses contributed nearly $11 million in product and financial contributions to non- profit
organizations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Asia-Pacific and Europe. At the same time, employees at all levels of the organization volunteered their time and talents to provide more than 53,000 hours of volunteer service — nearly two hours for every one of its world- wide employees.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Joint Training Strengthens Disaster Response

Aug 23, 2018 3:00 PM ET

In 2015, when the call came in of an oil spill off of Refugio State Beach in Santa Barbara County, emergency officials immediately leaped into action. Santa Barbara County’s Office of Emergency Management, Plains All American Pipeline, Southern California Edison, the U.S. Coast Guard, California Department of Fish & Wildlife and a host of local, state and federal agencies responded. They organized under the Incident Command System, an organizational structure used across the country to respond to wildfires, floods, earthquakes and other disasters.

Innovation & Technology

Interns Win with Artificial Intelligence Drone for Reconnaissance at Booz Allen’s Summer Games

Aug 23, 2018 2:50 PM ET

Move over Shark Tank—Booz Allen’s Summer Games interns are budding entrepreneurs in their own right. Whether the solution is a modular, cost-effective reconnaissance drone, a mixed-reality airmanship training application, or a browser extension that detects fake news, the firm’s interns are taking their innovative ideas to the next level.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Benevity Expands Global Corporate Giving and Employee Engagement Solution

Aug 23, 2018 2:35 PM ET

The latest expansion to Benevity's market-leading international CSR offering enables companies in Germany to engage people in local volunteering and tax-receiptable giving to German charities as a way to build a more purpose-driven and socially responsible corporate culture.

Energy

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at How the Makers of M&M’s Source Renewable Energy

Aug 23, 2018 2:30 PM ET

We recently heard from Mars, Incorporated’s chief procurement and sustainability officer, Barry Parkin, about the company’s plan to tackle its ambitious climate goals in an EDF+Business “Business of Sustainability” podcast. Their Sustainable in a Generation plan details Mars’ commitment to procure 100 percent renewable energy. Mars is plowing full speed ahead toward these goals and recently, Mars Australia signed 20-year power purchase agreements (PPA) to generate the equivalent of 100 percent of Mars’ electricity from renewable energy by 2020.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Keeping the Dream of Education Alive Amid Conflict

Aug 23, 2018 2:20 PM ET

Inspired by UNICEF's commitment to education, innovative thinking and community-based approach to delivering learning to Syria's children, our Foundation has contributed $100,000 to support UNICEF's Self-Learning Program.

Diversity & Inclusion

Walmart Hires More Than 206,000 U.S. Military Veterans and Promotes More Than 30,000 Since the Launch of the Veterans Welcome Home Commitment

Aug 23, 2018 2:05 PM ET

Today, Walmart announced that the company has hired more than 206,000 veterans and promoted more than 30,000 to roles with higher pay and greater responsibility since launching its Veterans Welcome Home Commitment in May 2013.

Sustainable Development Goals

Verizon Employees Cheer on Middle School Students Heading Back to School

Aug 23, 2018 2:00 PM ET

All across the U.S. this week, kids arriving for their first day of school are being met with cheers, applause and high fives. It’s part of a nationwide “Clap-In” given by Verizon employees to welcome students into Verizon Innovative Learning, a transformative program that gives a free tablet and internet access to every student and teacher, and provides extensive teacher training, support, and a unique, immersive curriculum.

Green Infrastructure

How the Right Screen Can Increase a Home’s Energy Efficiency

Aug 23, 2018 12:50 PM ET

The window screen is engineered to do more than block out mosquitoes, spiders and pesky flies. It’s a critical part of the ventilation system of a house, particularly in the summer. And when a house – and its windows – are constructed well, those open, protected apertures can often reduce the dependency on high-emissions, expensive air conditioning systems.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Expert Predicts Every Day Trends That Won’t Exist In The Future

Aug 23, 2018 12:30 PM ET

Working alongside BACARDÍ® rum, who has collaborated with the award-winning non-profit organisation Lonely Whale to secure commitments from bars, restaurants and venues in a goal to remove 50 million single-use plastic straws from London this summer by asking them to become 100% single-use plastic straw-free, expert forecaster Jacqui Ma has looked at trend developments throughout the decades and revealed which trends she believes will cease to exist in the future, such as the use of plastic straws, a fashion that only developed in the 1980’s.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Consumers Energy Employee’s Memory Helps Save Dog From Michigan House Fire

Aug 23, 2018 12:20 PM ET

Consumers Energy Howell industrial gas service worker Guy Houseman is a dedicated employee and devoted animal lover. Those two traits recently played a key role that resulted in a lifesaving effort of the four-legged kind.