ESG News from Leading Brands

Sustainable Development Goals

Solving the Distance Problem to Reduce Maternal Mortality: The Mothers' Shelter Alliance

May 4, 2018 9:20 AM ET

When a young Zambian mother, Zimthambo Musianga, felt the onset of labor, she went into the hills to find an ox cart to take her to the hospital. But with the nearest clinic miles away from her remote village in the rural district of Lundazi, the ox cart wasn’t going to get her there in time. After being bumped along a dirt road over rough terrain, she had no choice but to give birth right there in the cart.

Environment

PHOTO GALLERY | Andy Mann’s Breathtaking Images Capture His Water Positive Journey

May 4, 2018 9:10 AM ET

We partnered with environmental photographer Andy Mann, one of the few people in the world capable of capturing both the beauty and the distress of America’s most important water bodies.

Sustainable Development Goals

Leveraging Partnerships for Water Security: Reducing Non-revenue Water in Uganda

May 4, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Urban areas in many parts of Africa face the challenges of competition for water resources, inadequate infrastructure, droughts and water shortages, and non-revenue water loss—water that has been produced and is "lost" before it reaches the customer. In this post, Tetra Tech’s Leif Kindberg and Dr. Scott McCormick discuss how reducing the amount of water lost before it reaches the customer is integral to water security and the resiliency of urban water and sanitation services. All opinions expressed in this post are the authors’ own.

Sustainable Development Goals

New Report Shows Green Growth and Reporting Are High on Vietnam’s Agenda

May 4, 2018 8:55 AM ET

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the Climate Disclosure Standards Board (CDSB) released a new Reporting Exchange case study on Vietnam, showing that sustainability and economic ambitions are shaping the country’s corporate reporting patterns.

Research, Reports & Publications

Charitable Giving Changing As Younger Donors Give and Demand More From the Third Sector

May 4, 2018 8:45 AM ET

A new Barclays Corporate Banking survey of over 2,000 UK consumers shows younger people report giving more money to charities than the over 55s, challenging widely-held views that the older generation support good causes the most. People aged 35 to 54 say they gave an average of £265 last year to charities, followed by £246 from under-35s. Over 55s gave £168 in comparison.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

JetBlue Celebrates Launch of Service to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport with a Book Donation and Career Day at Jefferson Community School

May 3, 2018 6:35 PM ET

On Thursday, May 3 JetBlue brought its award-winning service and low fares to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP). To kick-off service, JetBlue hosted a two-day celebration for its newest route. The day before service started, JetBlue crewmembers participated in a special “JetBlue For Good Day of Service” at Jefferson Community School in Minneapolis. The day consisted of a Career Day Q&A between fifth graders and JetBlue pilots and crewmembers. Following Career Day, JetBlue donated 500 age-appropriate children books. Each fifth grade student had the opportunity to take a book home to build their personal libraries and some will be donated to the school’s library.

Education

AEG Hosts Arroyo Seco Weekend Job Shadow Day

May 3, 2018 4:20 PM ET

AEG welcomed more than 30 students from Pasadena’s John Muir High School to its global headquarters in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 25 for the second Arroyo Seco Weekend Job Shadow Day. As part of AEG’s community outreach initiative with Pasadena Unified School District in conjunction with Arroyo Seco Weekend in Pasadena, Calif. in June, students were exposed to the company’s many facets of the sports and entertainment industry and received advice on future career paths.

Innovation & Technology

Booz Allen’s Anil Markose on the Need for Enterprise-wide Understanding of Cybersecurity

May 3, 2018 3:35 PM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

AEP Releases 2018 Corporate Accountability Report; New Sustainability Goals Unveiled

May 3, 2018 3:00 PM ET

American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) issued its 12th annual Corporate Accountability Report to provide a comprehensive view of AEP’s progress as a business and community partner.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Dow Leadership in Action

May 3, 2018 2:30 PM ET

In 2016, The Dow Chemical Company deployed 40 employees from across the globe to Cebu, Philippines as part of the company’s signature skills-based volunteer program, Leadership in Action. The Dow employees collaborated on six different projects as pro bono consultants for local government and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to address local challenges. Now, two years later, one of the more comprehensive projects—to increase access to sufficient, affordable, and safe water to 50 households of Sitio Kabatbatan in the Buhisan Watershed—has been successfully completed and was turned over to the local community on March 9.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Astellas Included in Forbes Best Midsize Employers List for Fourth Year

May 3, 2018 1:00 PM ET

Astellas was again named one of America's top workplaces by Forbes Magazine for the fourth consecutive year. Astellas appeared among the top 200 best midsize companies in the U.S. from 2,300 employers assessed. Astellas also ranked eighth out of the top pharmaceutical companies, up from the 25th spot previously.

Environment

Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Leads in Tackling Water Challenges at National Meeting

May 3, 2018 12:35 PM ET

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation convened its national network of environmental grantees in Oyster Bay, Long Island, last week with one goal: Addressing America’s toughest water resource challenges. Dr. Christopher Gobler, head of the Gobler Laboratory at SUNY Stony Brook, presented the keynote address on his research exploring the causes and effects of harmful algal blooms, as well as potential solutions.

Education

EcoRise, Green Mountain Energy Sun Club® Team up to Educate Students about Sustainability

May 3, 2018 12:00 PM ET

EcoRise, the school-based nonprofit organization inspiring a new generation of leaders to design a sustainable future for all, and Green Mountain Energy Sun Club are joining forces to deliver a new program of leading-edge, student-driven sustainability curriculum, project grants, and training an estimated 50 K–12 educators at no cost to teachers, schools, or school districts.

Diversity & Inclusion

HPE’s 2018 Women's Excellence Award Winner: “I Will Always Encourage Everyone to Pursue Their Passions”

May 3, 2018 11:50 AM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

Running a Sustainable Airline

May 3, 2018 11:45 AM ET

Last week, JetBlue published its 2017 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report which highlights all the work the airline has done to ensure JetBlue’s sustainability. Throughout the report, readers will see mentions of all the work JetBlue is doing to run a sustainable business. For any airline, this is mostly about conserving fuel.

JetBlue has a lot to share…from introducing electric Ground Service Equipment at JFK to our recent order for the latest fuel-efficient engines…to equipping our aircraft in preparation for the latest advances in air traffic control…to providing support and funding for renewable jet fuels. The list is extensive and impressive – and it speaks to JetBlue’s culture of caring and our long history of innovation.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Deciphering the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)

May 3, 2018 11:30 AM ET

Climate change not only poses serious threats to communities in the form of natural disasters such as catastrophic floods, droughts and storms, but it also impacts businesses operating in the affected communities. Companies around the world, and in nearly every sector, are increasingly acknowledging that climate change presents significant risks to the economy, while battling climate change may bring new opportunities for growth as well.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

We Lost Our Pigtails for National Foster Care Month

May 3, 2018 11:25 AM ET

Why did Wendy’s® remove the well-known pigtailed girl (or as we call it, the cameo) from our cup?

Events, Media & Communications

How Social Sustainability Can Change the Industry

May 3, 2018 11:10 AM ET

In this interview with Green Building + Design, Mohawk's VP of Sustainability discusses the lessons he has learned over time that helped him distrupt the industry.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace Survey Closing Soon

May 3, 2018 11:00 AM ET

Each year the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption recognizes employers in the United States that offer adoption benefits to their employees. Each year the Foundation is thrilled to see more and more companies recognizing the significance of adoption benefits. This time away from work allows families to bond and the financial reimbursement for private adoptions and international adoptions is critical to many families.

Responsible Production & Consumption

INFOGRAPHIC: Animal Care at Smithfield Foods

May 3, 2018 10:45 AM ET

Learn more about Smithfield’s industry-leading approach to keeping its animals safe, comfortable, and healthy in its 2017 Sustainability Report.

Green Infrastructure

Dr Pepper Snapple Group and Keep America Beautiful Award More Than 900 Recycling Bins Through 34 Grants to Improve Recycling in Public Parks

May 3, 2018 10:25 AM ET

Public space recycling efforts in dozens of communities across the U.S. will be getting a boost this spring thanks in part to a significant contribution by Dr Pepper Snapple Group (NYSE: DPS) in partnership with national nonprofit Keep America Beautiful.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Spilling the Beans: Peru's Coffee Value Chain in a Changing Climate

May 3, 2018 10:20 AM ET

Climate change will affect Peru’s northeastern coffee region across all links in the crop’s value chain, though primary production will be impacted most significantly, according to a recent study from the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT).

Environment

La Prensa Gráfica: Non-profits to Be Awarded for Promoting Innovation Among MSMEs

May 3, 2018 10:00 AM ET

The US Department of State together with World Environment Center (WEC), Le Groupe-conseil baastel Itée (Baastel), and RioSlum Studio launched the “Power to Grow” Challenge. The challenge has been promoted by a partnership called La Red de Innovación e Impacto, funded by the US State Department.

Environment

La Prensa Gráfica: Premiarán a entidades que promuevan la innovación de mipymes

May 3, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Le Groupe-conseil baastel Itée (Baastel), y RioSlum Studio organizaron el concurso “El Poder de Crecer”. Este es impulsado por una coalición de organizaciones denominada la Red de Innovación e Impacto, y es financiada con fondos del Departamento de Estado de Estados Unidos.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Wells Fargo and ‘The Mission Continues’ Nonprofit Deploy Veteran Volunteers

May 3, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) and the nonprofit The Mission Continues announced they will join forces to create community service projects designed to empower military veterans who are transitioning to civilian life.