ESG News from Leading Brands

Keep up with the latest environmental, social and governance news from companies embracing the triple bottom line, shared via 3BL's distribution platform.

Diversity & Inclusion

Arrow Electronics Celebrates SAM Car Project on National Autonomous Vehicle Day

In honor of National Autonomous Vehicle Day, Arrow Electronics is celebrating the success of its Semi-Autonomous Motorcar (SAM) Car Project, which has broken barriers to mobility for the disabled community.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Bolivian Women Found Opportunity in Oregano

There was a time not long ago where women were not welcome in the fields of Bolivia, one of the poorest countries in Latin America. Farming and laboring in the fields was viewed as men’s work. The culturally predominant and acceptable place for women was in the home, keeping the family fed and the house in order.

Green Infrastructure

Health and Wellness: One of the Cornerstones of Green Buildings

Architects, designers, and contractors are now commonly engaged in new construction, renovation and redesign projects intended to have smallest environmental and climate footprint possible. The factors that contribute to “green buildings” are fairly intuitive: energy efficiency and alternative energy sources, reduced water consumption, utilization of recycled materials, and low-emitting building materials and maintenance products. One of the cornerstones of this movement is the push for “healthy buildings,” addressing occupant health, comfort, and wellness. After all, the building’s primary function is to serve its occupants’ needs. As one would expect, it’s the details that matter, and risks abound. Fortunately, there are multiple rating systems and certifications available to help.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Benevity Study Links Employee-Centric Corporate Goodness Programs to Big Gains in Retention

The Benevity Engagement Study, an analysis of the link between participation in corporate Goodness programs and employee retention, found that turnover dropped by 57 percent in the employee group most deeply connected to their companies’ giving and volunteering efforts.

Research, Reports & Publications

CapitaLand Group Publishes Integrated Global Sustainability Report 2017

CapitaLand published its Integrated Global Sustainability Report: Propelling Our Sustainable Growth Journey. The report reaffirms CapitaLand’s commitment to integrating sustainability to build a resilient and sustainable real estate of the future. It covers CapitaLand’s international portfolio and global workforce of more than 12,500 employees, including its listed real estate investment trusts CapitaLand Mall Trust, CapitaLand Commercial Trust, Ascott Residence Trust, CapitaLand Retail China Trust and CapitaLand Malaysia Mall Trust.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Republic Services Las Vegas Participate in the 'Great Garden Build' Serving Students and Communities

Republic Services’ Las Vegas employees volunteered to help build student and community gardens as part of an initiative to install 12 gardens in one day. Republic volunteers had a great time working with the students and volunteers at Schofield Middle School and Gehring Elementary School in Las Vegas, NV.

Research, Reports & Publications

Sloan: We Are ‘Living Our Commitment’

In a letter about Wells Fargo’s corporate social responsibility efforts, CEO Tim Sloan writes, “We have a solid foundation, exceptional businesses, and an outstanding team whose generosity underscores our company’s most important values.”

Events, Media & Communications

Darren Beck Promoted to VP, Sustainable Brands Corporate Member Network

Sustainable Brands® recently announced that Darren Beck has been promoted to Vice President of the SB Corporate Member Network. Beck joined the company’s leadership team as Senior Director of Corporate Membership 18 months ago to further develop and enhance the growing SB Corporate Member Network.

Green Infrastructure

Making the Case for Better Buildings

The World Green Building Council recently released their latest report, Doing Right By People and Planet: The Business Case for Health and Wellbeing in Green Building. This report focuses on 11 case studies from around the world that highlight the ways health and well-being building features can "save your company money, make your employees feel healthier and more productive, and bring a positive return on your investment in a green and healthy space."

Diversity & Inclusion

Walmart Is Joining a Growing Movement to Get Stay-At-Home Moms Back Into the Workforce

Walmart Labs, the tech division of the retail giant, has signed onto Path Forward, a nonprofit that facilitates programs to aid caregivers—mainly moms—in returning to professional work after taking time off to look after children, a parent, or another loved one.

Diversity & Inclusion

Rafael Mandelman: Inner City Blues

Futurists, environmentalists and planners alike generally believe that humans living in more densely populated areas has benefits for the earth – city-living is just a much more efficient use of the planet’s resources. But cities also expose a society’s inequality. Some of the world’s wealthiest cities are plagued by abundant homelessness and have deep pockets of persistent poverty. This week on Sea Change Radio, we speak to Rafael Mandelman, a local San Francisco politician who has seen homelessness up close.

Research, Reports & Publications

Wells Fargo publica su Informe de RSC, reforzando el compromiso de donar más de $400 millones a organizaciones sin fines de lucro en el 2018

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) publicó hoy su Informe de Responsabilidad Social Corporativa 2017, en el que se detallan los importantes progresos realizados por la compañía el año pasado para abordar desafíos sociales, económicos y ambientales a través de la filantropía, las operaciones, y los productos y servicios. En el informe, Wells Fargo también refuerza su mayor compromiso con las inversiones comunitarias que apoyan el crecimiento económico, la recuperación y la sostenibilidad, incluida una promesa de donar $400 millones, o más de $1 millón al día, a organizaciones sin fines de lucro en el 2018 (en inglés).

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

PGA of America, Whirlpool Announce New Scholarship to Honor Jack, Barbara Nicklaus

On Friday at the 2018 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, golf’s greatest champion and acclaimed course designer Jack Nicklaus and his wife Barbara returned to Harbor Shores, host site of the Championship, to help announce an exciting new college scholarship program being created in their honor.

Research, Reports & Publications

Announcing the Las Vegas Sands 2017 Corporate Social Responsibility Overview

Las Vegas Sands' 2017 Corporate Social Responsibility Overview highlights areas of performance that best illustrates the company's priorities and successes through stories of community and volunteer outreach, leadership and developmental growth, adapting to a sustainable lifestyle, and more.

Education

French Inspired Menu Wins Sodexo Sponsored Kitchen Wars Challenge at Lakewood High School in New Jersey

Sodexo, a food services and facilities management company committed to improving Quality of Life and student nutrition to nearly 400 school districts throughout the U.S, recently hosted The Kitchen Wars Challenge for Lakewood High School students in Lakewood, New Jersey. Teams of seven submitted recipes to compete in the “At the Movies...” themed event. Chef G. Garvin joined Diane Piasentini, Kevin Campbell, and Laura Winters from the Lakewood Public School District (LPSD) to serve as guest judges to determine the best team based on taste, presentation from the students, plate appearance, recipe knowledge and decor of their station.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Saving Every Drop

Capturing rain water for irrigation is not a new idea. In fact, the Romans perfected the technique and were the innovators of their time, harvesting rain water for irrigation and other uses with simple to advanced concepts. Most of these models have not changed much over the centuries, and continue to be used today around the globe, ranging from multi-thousand-gallon cisterns to 55-gallon drum rain barrels. The idea of collecting rain water surfaced while our team at General Mills brainstormed ways to manage storm water runoff using simple storm water retention and pollution prevention techniques to protect endangered wetlands.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Since Its 2018 Edition, Our Gender-Equality Index Is Sector Neutral, Welcoming Participation from Companies in All Industries

In May 2016, we launched the Bloomberg Financial Services Gender-Equality Index (BFGEI), a first-of-its-kind reference index measuring the gender equality performance of global financial services companies. The index recognizes member firms’ commitment to disclosure and best-in-class policies and practices, providing investors with valuable data on internal company statistics, employee policies, gender-conscious product offerings and external community engagement.

Research, Reports & Publications

New Ways Forward in Pro Bono at the U.S. Pro Bono Summit

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. As part of this year's Summit, Taproot gathered CSR, nonprofit, and government leaders at New Ways Forward to identify and co-design new pro bono solutions for pressing challenges like food access, developing leaders, and driving technology adoption and use in the social sector.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Duke Energy Foundation Empowers Florida Students, Teachers and Workforce Through $1.56 Million in Grants

Emphasizing the importance of workforce development and science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Duke Energy recently awarded more than $1.56 million in grants to 46 Florida-based programs. The grants are administered through the Duke Energy Foundation, which provides philanthropic support to communities served by Duke Energy, with a focus on "K to Career" educational and workforce development initiatives, the environment and community impact.

Research, Reports & Publications

Wells Fargo Releases 2017 CSR Report, Reinforces Commitment to Donate More Than $400 Million to Non-Profits in 2018

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) today released its 2017 Corporate Social Responsibility report, which details the significant progress the company made last year to address social, economic, and environmental challenges through its philanthropy, operations, and products and services. In the report, Wells Fargo also reinforces its enhanced commitment to community investments that support economic growth, resiliency, and sustainability, including a pledge to donate $400 million — or more than $1 million a day — to nonprofits in 2018. The company also recently announced that it will provide $200 billion in financing to sustainable businesses and projects by 2030.

Health & Healthcare

Tyson Foods Invests in Community Healthcare Education and Access

As part of Tyson Foods’ efforts to raise the world’s expectations for how much good food can do and its commitment to support the communities it serves where help is needed most, the company announced today over $600,000 in grants to six community healthcare providers in four states.

Education

VMware Invests in a New Women’s Leadership Innovation Lab at Stanford University

At the 3rd annual Women Transforming Technology (WT2) Conference in Palo Alto, with the theme “Inclusion in Action,” VMware (NYSE:VMW) announced it is collaborating with Stanford University to create the VMware Women’s Leadership Innovation Lab, in the pursuit of dramatically improving female representation in leadership positions.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

How to Strengthen the (Work-Life) Balance Muscle

When I had my children more than two decades ago, I went back to work after four weeks. I even hid my pregnancies from my all-male team for as long as I could. I felt that if I didn’t, I’d be judged and my career would suffer.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Model Behaviour: How Val Walls is Leading By Example To Engage LGBT + Employees, Customers and Allies at Scotiabank

For Val Walls, the energy at Toronto’s Pride Parade feels like “arriving at the top of the mountain.”

A long-time participant in Pride festivities, Val says she looks forward to experiencing the spirit of harmony and togetherness that permeates the event each year.

Environment

Tod Christenson Announces Retirement as BIER’s Executive Director

Effective May 31, 2018, Tod Christenson will be formally retiring from his role as Executive Director of the Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER). As one of the original founders of the group back in 2006, Tod has been instrumental in the growth and evolution of the roundtable and in the success of its many initiatives.

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