ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

Aramark to Reduce Single-Use Disposable Plastics Across Global Operations by 2022

Jul 25, 2018 11:15 AM ET

Aramark (NYSE: ARMK), a global leader in food, facilities management and uniforms, has announced a commitment to significantly reduce single-use disposable plastics, across its global food service operations, by 2022. Single-use plastic items include straws, stirrers, bags, cutlery and various packaging materials. Aramark will implement actions across the 19 countries where it serves 2 billion meals annually in schools and workplaces, sports and leisure venues, hospitals and other locations.

Education

Supporting Science Fairs While Keeping Data Safe

Jul 25, 2018 11:05 AM ET

Sustainable Development Goals

Aligning Pfizer’s Business with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Jul 25, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Chris Gray, Senior Director, Global Institutions and Public Reporting, Pfizer, will join Dave Armon, CMO of 3BL Media, to discuss Pfizer’s commitment to the SDGs on July 26, at 2:00 pm ET.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Assessing the Effectiveness of Our New Community Response System at Eleonore

Jul 25, 2018 11:00 AM ET

In an effort to increase collaboration and transparency, our Éléonore operation formally established a site-based grievance mechanism in 2016 using the principles set out in our Sustainability Excellence Management System (SEMS). Through discussions with our Cree Nation of Wemindji partners, a joint decision was made to refer to it as a “dialogue mechanism,” with the intent of facilitating meaningful conversations with our stakeholders. In 2017, Éléonore volunteered to pilot a new internal tool developed by the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team to assess the effectiveness of the dialogue mechanism.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Wells Fargo Pledges to Give Away $400 Million This Year

Jul 25, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Innovation & Technology

Digital Fluency: An Intelligent Approach to A.I.

Jul 25, 2018 10:55 AM ET

Artificial intelligence (A.I.) is not the future. A.I. is the now, delivering real benefits for people and businesses today, in addition to holding extraordinary potential for accelerating innovation and creating even greater efficiencies down the road. At Monsanto, we recognize that the world of agriculture is being transformed by data science, and A.I. is a major part of that.

Health & Healthcare

Meet the 2018 Cisco GPS Challenge Grand Prize Winner: CareNX Innovations

Jul 25, 2018 10:45 AM ET

Education

Milliporesigma in Massachusetts

Jul 25, 2018 10:45 AM ET

MilliporeSigma CEO Udit Batra talks about the company's footprint here in New England. If they are located in 66 countries around the globe, why is their global headquarters in Massachusetts? Plus, what is a "curiosity cube?"

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Amplifying the Call for Help

Jul 25, 2018 10:05 AM ET

To truly make a difference during a disaster, we know providing information — from the latest weather updates and best evacuation routes to tips for people staying in place — is just step one. Step two is action. Our 2017 news coverage emphasized the magnitude of the challenges faced by people in affected areas. It also helped mobilize citizen action as we connected viewers with relief organizations offering financial and logistical aid.

Opening the nation’s eyes to the dire circumstances, infrastructure damage, and human struggle was vital to rallying support.

Research, Reports & Publications

Yum! Brands’ Recipe for Good: 2017 Global Citizenship & Sustainability Report Showcases Company’s Efforts to Serve Food People Trust, Grow Sustainably to Protect the Planet and Unlock Potential in People

Jul 25, 2018 10:05 AM ET

Yum! Brands, Inc. today released its 2017 Global Citizenship & Sustainability Report, citizenship.yum.com, highlighting the company’s progress in 2016 and 2017 and outlining efforts by KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell to make a meaningful impact in three areas of strategic focus: Food, Planet and People.

Media & Communications

Urban Centers – Preferable Place for Billions of Us to Settle Down -- So What About Helping Growing Cities Become More Sustainable?

Jul 25, 2018 10:00 AM ET

With the majority of the population moving into urban centers in coming decades…how can the action of today’s city planners create a better future for us? Scientific American shares some perspectives.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Hallmark Responds in Times of Need: Disaster Relief 2017

Jul 25, 2018 9:45 AM ET

Responding to the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey, Hallmark matched employee donations to the American Red Cross of $35,000 at its headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, and $4,000 at Crayola in Easton, Pennsylvania. Additionally, Hallmark Gold Crown stores across the U.S. accepted donations from their valued consumers through year-end, totaling $28,000 for the Red Cross.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

How to Plan your Financial Future in Your 30s

Jul 25, 2018 9:20 AM ET

Take advantage of ‘free money’. Does your employer match retirement contributions, offer a pension or an employee share ownership plan? If so, take full advantage of any free money, as you continue to grow your nest egg.

Green Infrastructure

Tetra Tech Is Advancing the Revitalization of the Los Angeles River

Jul 25, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Tetra Tech is supporting local communities in Southern California to improve the natural functions, habitat, and ecosystems of the 19-mile-long Lower Los Angeles River. Tetra Tech is leading a diverse team of planners, landscape architects, scientists, and community organizations to develop an innovative revitalization plan that is community-centric and watershed-based. The Lower Los Angeles River Revitalization Plan represents the future of inclusive and integrated water management.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Hormel Foods Announces Three Employee Engagement Trips to Guatemala

Jul 25, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Hormel Foods Corporation today announced the company has coordinated three trips for employees and their guests to travel to Guatemala this year to help those in need through its Project SPAMMY® program.

Research, Reports & Publications

Re-imagining Global Agriculture – Olam Sets Out New Purpose and Reporting Model in 2017 Annual Report

Jul 25, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Recently winning silver at the 13th annual Singapore Corporate Awards in the Big Cap category, our 2017 Annual Report is the first on Olam’s journey to develop a new model of reporting that provides insight into how we create value for multiple stakeholders over the long-term.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Live Twitter Chat: #YumRecipeforGood, July 31, Noon ET

Jul 25, 2018 8:30 AM ET

Please join us for a LIVE 1-hour Twitter chat with Yum! Brands as the company discusses its 2017 Global Citizenship & Sustainability Strategy, which highlights the company’s progress and outlines efforts by KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell to make a meaningful impact in three areas of strategic focus: Food, Planet and People.

Serving millions of customers across 45,000 restaurants in more than 135 countries and territories worldwide, Yum! Brands takes its role as a global citizen and its impact on society and the environment seriously and is focused on building three iconic restaurant brands that people worldwide trust and champion.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Shortlist Announced! Ethical Corporation Responsible Business Awards

Jul 25, 2018 5:00 AM ET

The shortlist for Ethical Corporation's 9th Annual Responsible Business Awards has been announced. The winners will be revealed and celebrated at a glamorous Awards Dinner ceremony on 9th October in central London

Environment

Rebecca Vallas on Poverty Denialism

Jul 24, 2018 9:00 PM ET

“Just remember that what you’re seeing and what you’re reading is not happening,” said the President of the United States this week to a group of veterans. It was a statement eerily reminiscent of the quote from George Orwell’s 1984, “The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears.” It was also yet another example of gaslighting, a term derived from the 1938 Patrick Hamilton play “Gas Light” that’s used to describe efforts to manipulate someone’s perception of reality. It’s, of course, a term with which more and more of us are becoming familiar as of late since we seem to be getting a consistently unhealthy dose of gaslighting under the current Administration. Recently, the White House Council of Economic Advisers published a report that essentially declared poverty in thi

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

CBRE Group, Inc. Named One Of 2018’s Best Employers For Women By Forbes

Jul 24, 2018 5:30 PM ET

CBRE Group, Inc. was recently named one of the Best Employers for Women by Forbes, based on an independent survey by the market research company Statista. CBRE is the only commercial real estate firm on the list.

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: A Fish Tale

Jul 24, 2018 5:15 PM ET

Projections have our oceans containing more plastic than fish, by weight, by the year 2050. A ridiculous amount of the plastic pollution I wrote about last week ends up in our oceans, where it gets caught up in massive swirling ocean currents called gyres.

Environment

The Importance of Movement Building

Jul 24, 2018 5:15 PM ET

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation partners with Ohio Environmental Council to bring a wide variety of groups together to solve Ohio’s clean water challenges. Pete Bucher, Water Resources Director, recently shared about this movement-building approach, which includes business, agriculture, nonprofits and government, on the Foundation’s blog.

Sustainable Development Goals

Economic Responsibility at Sappi Has Been a Transformative Journey

Jul 24, 2018 5:05 PM ET

Sustainable development is core to our business strategy. We balance a daily operational focus of sourcing wood, identifying productivity improvements and fulfilling customer orders, with a longterm view for growth in core markets and expansion through investment in new markets, innovative equipment and groundbreaking technology.

Events, Media & Communications

How Are You Rising to Sustainability Challenges? | Sustainability Twitter Chat Q&A with Erb Institute

Jul 24, 2018 4:10 PM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Black & Veatch Among Top 10 U.S. Solar Contractors

Jul 24, 2018 12:30 PM ET

Black & Veatch has been recognized by Solar Power World magazine for its achievements within the solar industry, earning the No. 9 spot as an overall Top Solar Contractor on the magazine's 2018 Top Solar Contractors list.