ESG News from Leading Brands

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Shire Facility in Georgia Wins Green Building Award

Jun 8, 2018 11:20 AM ET

Shire's Georgia manufacturing facility near Covington has been nationally recognized as a green building for its energy and water efficiency and the healthy building practices that were incorporated into its design. The facility received three Green Globes from the Green Building Initiative, a nonprofit organization with a nationally recognized green rating assessment, guidance and certification program that seeks to promote best practices in sustainable design, construction, and building operations.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

The Venetian and The Palazzo Team Member Attends 2018 Amnesty International’s Annual General Meeting

Jun 8, 2018 11:10 AM ET

The Venetian and The Palazzo Team Member Biar Atem recently attended Amnesty International USA’s Annual General Meeting in Washington, DC as a “Build Bridges” panel member to empower Amnesty members to advocate for refugees and human rights.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

FCA US Mopar Parts Distribution Center Honored With Prestigious LEED Gold Environmental Award

Jun 8, 2018 10:55 AM ET

The FCA US LLC Mopar Parts Distribution Center (PDC) in Romulus, Michigan, has been honored with the prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold award for achieving excellence in green building standards. Administered by the United States Green Building Council, the PDC is the fourth FCA US facility to receive the elite designation.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Jubilant Life Sciences: Using GRI Reporting to Build a Sustainable Future for the Business

Jun 8, 2018 10:30 AM ET

GRI Impact Stories present companies that are using the GRI reporting framework to create tangible benefits for their business and stakeholders. Jubilant Life Sciences, an Indian pharmaceutical company, states that reporting has contributed in their overall improved sustainability performance. Read more about the benefits in this interview.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Students Step Into the Curiosity Cube

Jun 8, 2018 10:15 AM ET

For two years, MilliporeSigma has taken the teaching container around the country to elementary and middle schools free of charge with the goal of inspiring the next generation of scientists.

Environment

The Global Climate Action Summit: How Business Can Turn Up Climate Ambition

Jun 8, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Here are all the ways your company can get involved in the Global Climate Action Summit in San Francisco this September and contribute to a thriving, low-carbon economy.

Energy

World’s Longest Undersea Tunnel Stays Cool and Reduces Environmental Impact

Jun 8, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Eurotunnel today released official data demonstrating energy savings of 33 percent after the first season of operating a new cooling system for maintaining requisite temperatures in the landmark Channel Tunnel. The operator saved 4.8 GWh and approximately €500,000 in 2017 courtesy of the new cooling system – equivalent to saving enough electricity to run 1,000 households.

Events, Media & Communications

The Future Is Living Products at NeoCon 2018

Jun 8, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Environment

VIDEO | International Water Prize Competitors Complete Cold-Climate Testing in Race to Solve Algal Bloom Crisis

Jun 8, 2018 9:45 AM ET

May marked the final month of pilot stage testing for the top 9 George Barley Water Prize contestant teams. This international $10 million grand prize competition aims to find a lasting solution to the problem of harmful algal blooms fed by excess phosphorus. Begun in 2016 with more than 100 contestant teams, the competition’s latest stage challenged teams to test their innovations in real-world, cold-climate conditions. The winning team will demonstrate a cost-effective, scalable solution to remove and repurpose phosphorus from freshwater.

Environment

WATCH: Nestlé Waters to Certify All Sites with Alliance for Water Stewardship Standard by 2025

Jun 8, 2018 9:45 AM ET

Nestlé Waters is extending its commitment to water stewardship by certifying all of its sites to the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Standard by 2025.

The global standard promotes responsible water use that benefits local communities socially and economically, while ensuring environmental sustainability of watersheds - all priorities for Nestlé.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

What Corporate Leaders Are Saying About the Business of Gender Equity

Jun 8, 2018 9:35 AM ET

We had several illuminating conversations about the intersection of gender equity and shared value recently at the Shared Value Leadership Summit. The Summit brings together approximately 400 global leaders every year in New York to explore opportunities for shared value across industries and geographies.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Employees Celebrate Merck Medical Outreach Program by Giving Back

Jun 8, 2018 9:05 AM ET

Merck employees recently celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Merck Medical Outreach Program by assembling 1,500 disaster relief backpacks with MAP International.

Sustainable Development Goals

South Africa: A New Model for Transformational USAID/Water Office Support?

Jun 8, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Jeremy Gorelick, senior infrastructure finance advisor for the Tetra Tech-implemented U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Finance (WASH-FIN) project, discusses the reality of decreasing water levels in Cape Town, South Africa, and the opportunity WASH-FIN has to set an example for how to best prepare for water scarcity challenges in a rapidly changing world. All opinions expressed in this post are the author’s own.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Alumni, Whirlpool Gift $2M to Kelley School

Jun 8, 2018 9:00 AM ET

A pair of gifts totaling $2 million will support various initiatives at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business. The Michigan-based Whirlpool Foundation has donated $1 million, which is being matched by IU alumni Jeff and Marcia Fettig.

Sustainable Development Goals

Albertsons Companies Marks World Oceans Day by Taking Actions to Fulfill our Pledge to End Use of Eel in Sushi

Jun 8, 2018 8:55 AM ET

At Albertsons Companies, we do a lot of work behind the scenes to ensure that we are providing responsibly sourced seafood products as part of our Responsible Seafood Program. Following our January 2018 announcement to remove eel from our sushi products, we immediately started working with our sushi vendors to discontinue the use of eel in sushi sold at our stores. In addition, our employees are working hard to audit each of our stores to make sure we phase out eel as quickly as possible.

Sustainable Development Goals

Cerro Verde, a Freeport-McMoRan Company, Supports Organic Agricultural Business Development

Jun 8, 2018 8:00 AM ET

Cerro Verde has supported the Promotion for Agricultural Development Project in surrounding communities near its operations in Arequipa, Peru. The program benefits the farmers of Tiabaya, Uchumayo, Yarabamba, La Joya and Hunter. The Promotion for Agricultural Development Project started in 2012 with the aim of improving the quality and quantity of agricultural and animal yields to increase the economic income of local farmers.

Research, Reports & Publications

BCE Publishes 25th Corporate Responsibility Report

Jun 8, 2018 5:00 AM ET

BCE Inc. ("Bell Canada” or “Bell”) has released its 25th annual Corporate Responsibility Report, covering the company’s performance in 2017 and progress towards its short- and long-term sustainability goals.

Diversity & Inclusion

Booz Allen Hamilton Joins Coalition to Offer Employment, Professional Development to Student Veterans

Jun 7, 2018 6:50 PM ET

From a recent press release from the Student Veterans of America (SVA), Booz Allen Hamilton, and 20 of America’s largest companies recently launched the Business and Industry Roundtable, designed to provide employment and professional development opportunities to the nation’s student veterans.

Research, Reports & Publications

A Letter from Sappi CEO Steve Binnie

Jun 7, 2018 5:10 PM ET

At Sappi we believe that sustainable growth must emanate from a solid foundation where we do not focus exclusively on profits, but rather, balance our need to generate Prosperity by promoting the interests of People while respecting the boundaries of the Planet. Our value statement “at Sappi we do business with integrity and courage, making smart decisions which we execute with speed” is guiding people towards the right behaviour and is providing the foundation for further growth.

Energy

SCE’s Puerto Rico Restoration Effort Wraps Up

Jun 7, 2018 4:15 PM ET

When Southern California Edison asked David Elias to return to Puerto Rico for a second time this year to help restore power on the island, he had his doubts. There were family obligations. There was also the communications course he would have to drop at Copper Mountain College in Joshua Tree.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Avoiding High-Risk Ingredients Essential for Non-GMO Food Manufacturers: Webinar

Jun 7, 2018 4:00 PM ET

With consumer demand for non-GMO foods on the rise, food companies are increasingly making the decision to formulate their products to earn Non-GMO Project Verified distinction (see VIDEO). However, as many food companies have discovered, steering clear of GMOs can be tricky, given the pervasive degree to which genetically modified commodities and their derivatives have penetrated the world market.

Events, Media & Communications

WEBINAR: Insights From Taproot Foundation's U.S. Pro Bono Summit

Jun 7, 2018 3:35 PM ET

The Taproot Foundation’s U.S. Pro Bono Summit is an annual gathering of leaders from across sectors and industries with a shared vision to make the talents and skills of the business community accessible to social change organizations. Over the course of two days in April, 100+ CSR, nonprofit, and government leaders from across the country gathered in San Francisco to dig into topics ranging from tackling food access through pro bono to aligning programming with talent development strategies.

Education

New York City Department of Education ‘Lighthouse School’ M.S. 88 Integrates Computational Thinking Into Core Subjects to Prepare Students 21ST Century Careers

Jun 7, 2018 3:05 PM ET

Tata Consultancy Services, (TCS), (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS) a leading global IT services, consulting and business solutions organization, and Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital education content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, announced the launch of their Ignite My Future in School initiative in partnership with Cornell Tech. Through this program, New York City teachers will receive professional development, educational resources and year-round support to integrate computational thinking into core subjects such as math, sciences, arts, and social studies. In turn, students will learn foundational skills for 21st century careers – across industries – through this pioneering approach.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Supporting the Wellbeing of Local Communities through Legal CARES Day

Jun 7, 2018 3:05 PM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Whirlpool Corporation and Habitat for Humanity Renew Commitment Through 2018

Jun 7, 2018 3:00 PM ET

Today, Whirlpool Corporation announced it will continue its longtime relationship with Habitat for Humanity through 2018. This marks the 19th year the appliance manufacturer and nonprofit organization collaboration to support families in need of affordable housing, with Whirlpool Corporation committing to providing a new range and refrigerator for every new Habitat home built in the U.S. and Canada.