ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

Grassland Conservation Project Earns Groundbreaking Recognition as Carbon Sink

Jul 18, 2018 1:30 PM ET

The Southern Plains Land Trust, working with the Environmental Defense Fund, has sold the first listed grassland carbon credits, making possible the restoration and preservation of two Colorado ranches that together sequester 8,000 metric tons of soil carbon per year. SCS Global Services conducted the third-party verification of the carbon offset project, confirming the accuracy of the emissions reductions and compliance with the Climate Action Reserve’s Grassland Project Protocol. The project was funded in part by a USDA Conservation Innovation Grant.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

KeyBank Provides $19.6 Million in Total Financing for the Construction of Affordable Housing in New York

Jul 18, 2018 1:30 PM ET

KeyBank Community Development Lending and Investment (CDLI) has provided $19.6 million in total financing for the development and acquisition of Mosaic Village in Cohoes, NY. Key provided a $10.7 million construction loan, plus $8.9 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit equity.

Education

Avoid Summer Learning Loss with These Family Activities for Middle Schoolers

Jul 18, 2018 1:20 PM ET

With summer now in full swing, most students’ minds are far from school. But as educators know, students need to be engaged in thinking and exploring year-round if they are to avoid what is known as “summer learning loss.”

Research, Reports & Publications

When Corporations Take Credit for Green Deeds Their Lobbying May Tell Another Story

Jul 18, 2018 1:15 PM ET

Diversity & Inclusion

What Duke Energy is Doing to Recruit More Female Employees

Jul 18, 2018 1:10 PM ET

As a civil engineering student, Alex Smith never considered a career in the energy industry. But at a job fair on campus, a Duke Energy recruiter revealed some opportunities that appealed to her. Today, Smith is a transmission line engineer designing power lines, poles and towers for the company, and she’s an example of how Duke Energy is changing its recruiting practices to attract more diverse employees including women.

Environment

CBRE Video: Offices in Latin America

Jul 18, 2018 12:10 PM ET

Following a relocation to an iconic new building at Torre Virreyes, CBRE's Mexico City office has embraced a free address and paperless environment, with an enhanced technology platform including Liquid Galaxy. Clients and employees are both thrilled to be operating in this new flexible environment -- the first of its kind among CBRE offices in Latin America.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sodexo Names Brett Ladd As New CEO of Government for North America

Jul 18, 2018 12:00 PM ET

Sodexo, a food services and facilities management company committed to improving Quality of Life, today announced that Brett Ladd will serve as the new CEO of the Government for North America and will be a member of Sodexo’s North America Regional Leadership Committee. Previously, Ladd led growth and client retention initiatives as Senior Vice President of Sales for Government North America. He was a member of the executive team when Sodexo established its formal Government segment in 2002.

Environment

Carnivorous Plant Inspires Sustainable Mosquito-Control Device

Jul 18, 2018 11:30 AM ET

Nature-inspired mosquito-control device from Cornell team is finalist in the Biomimicry Global Design Challenge.

Green Infrastructure

Using Roads to Make Power and Toilet Paper

Jul 18, 2018 11:00 AM ET

A highway in Georgia is being used as an experiment to try out alternative uses for roads.

Research, Reports & Publications

Northern Trust Releases Corporate Social Responsibility Report

Jul 18, 2018 10:30 AM ET

Northern Trust (Nasdaq: NTRS) announced the release of its eighth Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report. The latest report outlines key priorities for governance, citizenship and operations, employees, shared values and sustainable products / services. The report highlights achievements during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

How to Plan Your Financial Future in Your 20s

Jul 18, 2018 10:25 AM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

Sands Bethlehem Helps Plant the Seeds for a Healthier Future

Jul 18, 2018 10:15 AM ET

To provide the community with accessible horticulture, the Sands Cares and Sands ECO360 teams partnered with Penn State Extension, Lehigh and Northampton County 4-H, and the Community Action Development Corporation of Bethlehem to build planting beds for the Lynfield Community Center in Bethlehem.

Innovation & Technology

Cisco VIDEO | Giving Voice to the Voiceless

Jul 18, 2018 9:35 AM ET

Environment

Driving Decisions With Data Dashboards: Weaving a HydroWebbed Data Dashboard

Jul 18, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Across Tetra Tech’s markets, nearly all clients share the need for actionable information that can drive decision making. Big data began bursting onto the scene some 25 years ago, inundating our information-hungry clients with megabytes and gigabytes of facts and figures that soon became a flood of petabytes and zettabytes. Managers thirsty for relevant intelligence were drowning in oceans of data, wondering what was important, what was essential, and what was urgent information.

Environment

Ørsted, GRI & CDSB on the TCFDs

Jul 18, 2018 5:00 AM ET

Ethical Corporation has just published a new briefing that delves into the role of the TCFDs in sustainability reporting and I wanted to send this across to you - you can access the report here.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The Case for Cause Marketing

Jul 17, 2018 7:35 PM ET

Understand the difference between cause marketing and other CSR efforts, so you are prepared to build a sound strategy that complements your other corporate responsibility activities.

Innovation & Technology

Booz Allen Interns Develop Innovative Solutions to Help Combat the Nation’s Opioid Epidemic

Jul 17, 2018 5:00 PM ET

Three teams of Booz Allen Hamilton’s Summer Games interns are offering creative approaches to tough challenges within the vast ecosystem of the national opioid crisis. They’re applying data analytics and machine learning to develop tools to more accurately measure pain, assess harm reduction interventions, and understand narcotic supply chains.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Gilead Supports AIDS Walk San Francisco

Jul 17, 2018 4:30 PM ET

This year, Gilead sponsored @aidswalksf, the largest #AIDS fundraising event in Northern California. 10,000 people participated in the 10k walk, and raised more than $1.8 million to benefit HIV/AIDS support organizations in the Bay Area.

Sustainable Development Goals

VIDEO | The Water Brothers Discuss Solutions to the Algal Blooms Issue with George Barley Water Prize Contestants

Jul 17, 2018 4:25 PM ET

Recently the Water Brothers, producers of an international water-focused TV series, traveled to the Prize testing site to document ongoing research and testing. There they talked with contestants to uncover what is causing this summer’s massive outbreaks, what the risks are, and how we can solve them.

Sustainable Development Goals

Sappi Aims High With Sustainability Goals for Our Planet

Jul 17, 2018 4:10 PM ET

At Sappi North America, we are committed to operating our businesses in a sustainable manner. Together with the 2020Vision— Sappi’s global growth strategy—we use our sustainability goals program to set targets, initiate improvement actions and monitor progress.

Innovation & Technology

How to Help Enable Nonprofits with Technology

Jul 17, 2018 3:35 PM ET

Software has the power to unlock new possibilities for people, and for the planet. And yet, not everyone is benefiting equally from automation and operational efficiency. NTEN’s 10th Annual Nonprofit Technology Staffing & Investment report showed that the average technology budget of nonprofits is 5.7 percent of their total operation budget, with only 28 percent of organizations often or regularly using technology volunteers. Pro bono service learning can help enable nonprofits with technology, processes and people, giving it what it needs to thrive and ultimately bridging the growing digital divide.

Research, Reports & Publications

New Ethical Corporation Report – The Future of Digital on Reputation

Jul 17, 2018 3:00 PM ET

In today’s world of cybersecurity, automation and data the resulting disruption for business is ballooning. Companies need to adhere to higher ethical standards to ensure social purpose and reputation stays intact.

Energy

Republic Services and NJR Clean Energy Ventures Turn New Jersey Brownfield into Green Energy with Completion of New 13 Megawatt Solar Project

Jul 17, 2018 2:00 PM ET

Republic Services and NJR Clean Energy Ventures (CEV), the clean energy subsidiary of New Jersey Resources, today celebrated the completion of a 13 megawatt (MW) ground-mounted commercial solar project constructed on the former South Brunswick Landfill Superfund site. Comprised of more than 36,000 solar panels, the project will provide enough clean energy to power 1,360 homes annually. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s carbon calculator, it will also reduce emissions by approximately 14,000 tons, equivalent to removing 2,700 cars from the road each year.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Kroger, Walmart, Albertsons Among Top Grocers Supporting Ethical Charter for Produce Industry

Jul 17, 2018 12:35 PM ET

A new framework for responsible practices in fresh produce and floral supply chains has been unveiled in a joint partnership between the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) and United Fresh Produce Association, and several of the industry's top grocers have voiced their support for the undertaking.

Green Infrastructure

Meet Georgia's Solar Road

Jul 17, 2018 12:30 PM ET

People usually think of highways as polluted eyesores, but an 18-mile stretch of road in rural Georgia is working to change that perception.