ESG News from Leading Brands

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Launching Investing in Society, a Sector-Wide Insights Collection

Jul 31, 2018 10:30 AM ET

Companies issue an annual report every year but where can you find information about the corporate sector as a whole? Sure, indices can tell you lots about stock price, market cap, and EBITDA. In this modern age, expectations of companies go much further beyond financial performance. CECP is thrilled to launch Investing in Society, a digital collection that endeavors to focus on the most crucial insights of how the sector is faring beyond where the Dow closes.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Nestlé’s Day of Service Shows How Passion Feeds Purpose

Jul 31, 2018 10:05 AM ET

As a leader at the world’s largest food and beverage company, I know that no single person, company, or organization can solve hunger, but our collective efforts can change lives.

I’m proud to say that Nestlé and our employees across the country take enormous pride in the role we play in working toward a solution. For 2018, Nestlé’s annual Day of Service in the U.S. will focus on combating hunger in our communities. Our employees will work at more than 75 events across the country, doing everything from preparing meals for families here in Northern Virginia, to serving at a Cleveland food bank, to leading a food drive in Oakland, California. These are only a few of the volunteer efforts organized across our factories, distribution centers, headquarters, and many locations in between.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Closed Loop Launches Circulate Capital to Take on Ocean Plastics in Asia

Jul 31, 2018 9:55 AM ET

Closed Loop Partners today is announcing a new venture, Circulate Capital, to invest in companies, innovations and projects that prevent marine plastic waste originating in Asia.

Sustainable Development Goals

Driving Progress Towards Achieving the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Jul 31, 2018 9:35 AM ET

In collaboration with the United Nations Foundation, the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) and companies like Nestle and Novozymes, Essity invited experts and executives from the UN, government, business and non- governmental organizations to discuss the relationship between policy and investments that drive progress toward SDG implementation.

Environment

VIDEO | Hallmark Is Making Progress Toward 2020 Goals

Jul 31, 2018 9:25 AM ET

In working toward Hallmark’s ambitious 2020 Environmental Goals, the company regularly incorporates positive strides for the environment with the needs of the business. In years like 2017, it can be a balancing act between what is required to grow the business and what is needed to maintain forward progress on environmental goals.

Environment

Developing the New Mexico Heirloom Corn Project

Jul 31, 2018 9:05 AM ET

In February 2016 The New York Times ran a story, “Oaxaca’s Native Maize Embraced by Top Chefs in US and Europe,” highlighting the work of a new company called Masienda that was sourcing landrace (heirloom) corn from small farms in Mexico. Masienda’s business model emphasizes conservation of agrobiodiversity, while supporting smallholders using sustainable/organic farming methods. When some of us here in Santa Fe saw this article we asked the question, “Why can’t this be happening in New Mexico as well?” And so the New Mexico Landrace (Heirloom) Corn Project was born.

Sustainable Development Goals

Northern Trust's Commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals

Jul 31, 2018 9:05 AM ET

During 2017, we set specific key performance indicators aligned to the Sustainable Development Goals adopted by the United Nations and will continue to measure progress against these indicators.

Sustainable Development Goals

Warranty Solutions and the Arbor Day Foundation Reach the Planting of 2M Trees

Jul 31, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Warranty Solutions and the Arbor Day Foundation have reached a new milestone in their partnership by planting two million trees in our nation’s forests. The partnership began in 2009 to help improve air quality, water quality, mitigate the effects of climate change, combat deforestation and prevent species loss.

Research, Reports & Publications

Moody’s Details Its Progress Opening Doors to a Better Future

Jul 31, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Moody’s Corporation’s newly released Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report details the company’s progress in delivering on its goal of empowering people around the world to create a better future for themselves, their communities and the environment. “Moody’s CSR strategy is focused on finding challenges that we can solve by creating paths to knowledge and opportunity,” said Raymond McDaniel, President and Chief Executive Officer of Moody’s. “I am proud that Moody’s employees have dedicated their time and expertise to addressing these challenges — from supporting small business owners to nurturing the environment — in ways that have changed the world around us for the better.”

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

What Types of Partnerships Should You Be Exploring? Join Social Capital and Blackbaud in a Free Webinar August 1st and Find Out

Jul 31, 2018 8:00 AM ET

Be smarter about your partnerships with insights from Social Capital. Join Social Impact and Blackbaud on August 1st at 2 pm ET to learn more about this shift toward corporate activism, and uncover what kinds of partnerships you should be exploring.

Sustainable Development Goals

Coca-Cola & PGGM: Reporting on the SDGs

Jul 31, 2018 5:00 AM ET

Businesses are increasingly asked to demonstrate the long-term value of the business and show their progress on SDG targets.

Health & Healthcare

To Be Successful, Your Business Should Lead With This

Jul 31, 2018 1:30 AM ET

Eighty-five percent of Americans say they would likely support a purpose-driven company in their community, while more than two-thirds (68%) say they would want to work for that company. This and other insightful data was just published in the 2018 Cone/Porter Novelli Purpose Study from public relations agency Porter Novelli who recently announced the launch of its global Purpose Practice, specializing in purpose-driven brand strategy and communications.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Legg Mason Affiliate Martin Currie Achieves Top ESG Rating For Second Year In A Row

Jul 30, 2018 4:35 PM ET

For the second year running, the PRI has awarded Martin Currie, an investment affiliate of Legg Mason (NYSE:LM) an A+ (highest performance band) in all three of its top-level categories: ‘Strategy and Governance', 'Incorporation’ and ‘Active Ownership'.

Health & Healthcare

A New Health Center is Under Construction Thanks to PNC Bank’s Innovative Community Development Banking

Jul 30, 2018 4:15 PM ET

Every day, dozens and dozens of patients, from parents with newborns to the elderly, visit Unity Health Care’s East of the River Health Center for medical care. For many people in that Northeast Washington, D.C. community, this may be the only place they go to see a doctor. Unity doesn’t turn away anyone who seeks care, no matter their circumstances.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Using Cooking to Fight Poverty

Jul 30, 2018 4:00 PM ET

One in three children in Washington, D.C.’s Wards 7 and 8, east of the Anacostia River, live in households that are food insecure, where their families don’t know if they’ll have enough to eat every month, said Mike Curtin Jr., CEO of D.C. Central Kitchen. That’s one of the many reasons the nonprofit is working to fight poverty in the nation’s capital.

Research, Reports & Publications

Insights Collection Delivers a Far-Reaching Assessment of Company Actions as They Respond to New Global Challenges

Jul 30, 2018 3:30 PM ET

In an effort to provide a comprehensive view of the private sector’s activity in the Corporate Societal Engagement (CSE) space, CECP has released the second annual Investing in Society, this time launched exclusively online. Developed from CECP’s original research, thought leadership, findings from the 2017 Giving in Numbers Survey, hundreds of monthly discussions with more than 200 of the world’s largest companies, conversations with leading experts, and on-the-ground practitioners, Investing in Society is a 360-degree view of the corporate sector over the past year.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Transwestern and Caesars on Climate Action in Supply Chains - Webinar

Jul 30, 2018 3:00 PM ET

For the majority of businesses, the supply chain is where they can have the largest impacts on climate change and greatest risks to business occur. But how do you build climate resilience and move to a low carbon supply chain?

Events, Media & Communications

Do You Have Sustainability Figured Out? | Sustainability Twitter Chat Q&A with Erb Institute

Jul 30, 2018 1:00 PM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Linking Climate-related Metrics to Earnings for Capital Goods Companies

Jul 30, 2018 12:20 PM ET

Innovation in the capital goods sector is driving a low-carbon industrial revolution according to CDP, the not-for-profit organization provides the only global system for companies and cities to measure, disclose, manage and share vital environmental information.

Innovation & Technology

Saving Broken Home Electronics, One 3D-printed Part at a Time

Jul 30, 2018 11:55 AM ET

For HP’s Dare to Repair contest, entrants from around the world 3D-printed parts for broken goods to keep them out of the waste stream.

Health & Healthcare

Three New Seasons of MTV Shuga to Promote Sexual Health in Africa

Jul 30, 2018 11:30 AM ET

The MTV drama series Shuga is hoping to help millions of young viewers protect themselves from HIV with three new seasons of the show airing across southern Africa and Francophone west Africa. Unitaid, the MTV Staying Alive Foundation, and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine will contribute storylines on HIV self-testing, preventive drugs and related issues.

Innovation & Technology

Amazon Asks Developers to Create Alexa Skills that Inspire Behavior Changes

Jul 30, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Smart speakers have become one of the hottest products in consumer technology with experts predicting that 56.3 million will be sold worldwide this year. Recently, Amazon, one of the largest smart speaker manufacturers, introduced Alexa Donations with Amazon Pay, which allows users to donate directly to charities through an Alexa skill, or voice activated capability. Now the iconic online marketplace is asking consumers to join in, using its assets to make a positive impact on the environment, local communities and the world.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Deja Vu for Family Who Adopted from Foster Care

Jul 30, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Sometimes when a family opens their heart to a child in foster care, they realize there is still more love to give. That’s what happened to the Holbrooks!

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Ray C. Anderson Foundation Achieves CarbonNeutral® Company Certification

Jul 30, 2018 11:00 AM ET

The Ray C. Anderson Foundation has achieved CarbonNeutral® Company Certification

Health & Healthcare

Pfizer’s Puerto Rico Colleagues Resume Supporting Trachoma Elimination Efforts After Hurricane Maria

Jul 30, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Antibiotics are a key component in the global effort to eliminate trachoma, the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness. One of several neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified for elimination, trachoma is a preventable disease, and one that affects those living in communities with limited access to healthcare, clean water and sanitation.