ESG News from Leading Brands

Social Impact & Volunteering

Building a Better Tomorrow Through Community Service and Corporate Giving

Feb 22, 2018 10:00 AM ET

For the ninth consecutive year, Wells Fargo is United Way Worldwide’s No. 1 workplace giving campaign in the U.S. More than 65,000 team members demonstrated their strong commitment to community service by giving $85 million to 40,000 nonprofit organizations and volunteering a record 2 million hours — valued at $48 million — in communities nationwide during the company’s employee giving campaign in 2017.support disaster relief and recovery efforts, veterans, military service members and their families, community revitalization, and environmental sustainability.

Events, Media & Communications

Mars, GSK & TD Bank + 400 More to Join RBSNY

Feb 22, 2018 9:45 AM ET

The Responsible Business Summit New York (March 26-27) is the leading conference to create long-term, positive impact on society, the environment and industry through transforming business operations.

See who you could be altering the course of your business and collaborating with.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

CITGO Announces 10th Anniversary Grantee Finalists for the Bronx Social Program

Feb 22, 2018 9:45 AM ET

Today, CITGO Petroleum Corporation celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Bronx Social Program by announcing the 2017-2018 grant recipients. The 21 chosen programs were selected because of their efforts to serve the Bronx community through five focus areas, including arts and culture, education, empowering communities, environment and healthy living. CITGO and its charitable organization the Simón Bolívar Foundation created the Bronx Social Program in 2007 to provide grant opportunities to local nonprofit organizations dedicated to ensuring a brighter future for the South Bronx.

Environment

Tetra Pak Delivers More Than Half a Billion Fully Renewable Packages

Feb 22, 2018 9:00 AM ET

In 2014 Tetra Pak launched the world’s first fully renewable carton package – Tetra Rex® Bio-based. Today, we observe a significant milestone as more than half a billion packs have reached consumers. Manufactured entirely from paperboard and sugar cane, it is not only good for the planet, but also for brands seeking to differentiate themselves.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Adoption-Friendly Employers Make the Dream of Family a Reality for Employees

Feb 22, 2018 9:00 AM ET

For more than a decade the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption has been ranking our nation’s employers with the top adoption benefits. Families like the Royster’s have been able to adopt because of the commitment from the companies for which they work.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

MilliporeSigma Strengthens Corporate Responsibility Efforts With Nine New Signature Partnerships

Feb 22, 2018 9:00 AM ET

Building on its commitment to accelerate scientific research and science education, MilliporeSigma today announced nine new or expanded partnerships with leading nonprofit organizations across the world. These long-term, multi-dimensional partnerships are designed to spark scientific curiosity and passion — paving the road for innovative breakthroughs with demonstrated impact and measurable outcomes.

Innovation & Technology

Symantec Helps to Change the Face of IT

Feb 22, 2018 8:20 AM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Top Trends From Goodness Matters 2018

Feb 22, 2018 8:15 AM ET

Benevity kicked off its annual Goodness Matters conference (and 10th birthday!) by acknowledging that we’re living in a time when businesses—more than any other institution, including government and nonprofits—are expected to be the driving force for social change. This macro-trend is what’s shepherding us into what we’re calling “the next era of Goodness.”

Media & Communications

Domtar's Sustainability Monthly Minute: February 2018

Feb 22, 2018 8:15 AM ET

The latest issue of Domtar's Sustainability Monthly Minute is out. In this Issue: Eye in the Sky – Shipping with Care - The Debate Over Forest Fires + the Eco-tip of the month.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Providing Millennials With the Financial Planning They Need

Feb 22, 2018 8:05 AM ET

I am loving my life as an entrepreneur and enjoy explaining to clients exactly what it is that I do and how I can help them understand their finances. I have worked to create tailored services that are affordable, but fit my client’s needs. From my own personal experience and working with clients, I have discovered the following tips that every millennial should know...

Research, Reports & Publications

Delivering on Our Purpose to Help Britain Prosper

Feb 22, 2018 8:00 AM ET

Lloyds Banking Group has published its latest Helping Britain Prosper Plan Update. The Plan is the Group’s response to help address the social and economic issues that matter to Britain. We believe no other bank is better placed to do this – we serve approximately 27 million customers, more than 1 million businesses and are the UK’s biggest digital bank. We can use our scale and reach to go beyond business as usual and address issues such as the housing shortage, sustainable business growth, social disadvantage and saving for the future.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Alliance Data Named One of the 2018 FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For®

Feb 21, 2018 8:25 PM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Will Corporations Inherit the Earth?

Feb 21, 2018 4:00 PM ET

In a recent New York Times op-ed piece entitled, “Corporations Will Inherit the Earth,” Frank Bruni muses about the role of corporations in society at a time that the federal government is -- to use his phrase -- “a bumbling klutz.” Bruni asserts, “It can’t manage health care. It can’t master infrastructure. It can’t fund itself for more than tiny increments of time. It can barely stay open.” In contrast, he says, America’s corporations are operating “with an innovation and can-do ambition solely absent in Washington.”

Innovation & Technology

Duke Energy Uses Drones to Restore Power in Puerto Rico

Feb 21, 2018 4:00 PM ET

More than 220 Duke Energy workers have been working to restore power in Puerto Rico since January, and they have found a new way to string lines and navigate the challenging mountain terrain: drones.

Research, Reports & Publications

Companies in the LBG Canada Network Are Creating Impact in Community

Feb 21, 2018 3:55 PM ET

Whether they be large or small, companies in the LBG Canada network are creating impact through their investments in community, using the LBG Model.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Sustainable Products Help Drive Mohawk Sales in Q4

Feb 21, 2018 1:15 PM ET

The flooring giant’s Flooring North America segment, which includes area, accent and bath rug division Mohawk Home, posted a 3% sales increase in the period, driven by products made of the company’s own sustainable fibers and treatments.

Diversity & Inclusion

Part 3: Q&A With Global Diversity and Inclusion Leader Dr. Rohini Anand

Feb 21, 2018 1:00 PM ET

Rohini Anand, PhD, is the Senior Vice President Corporate Responsibility and Global Chief Diversity Officer, Sodexo, and Chair, Catalyst Board of Advisors. In a three-part Q&A blog series, we asked Dr. Anand to share details about her pivotal role at one of the world's largest multinational corporations focusing on “quality of life services.” Below is the third and final part where we asked about what challenges she faces and what she believes the future holds for diversity and inclusion.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Wells Fargo’s Corporate Philanthropy Totals $286.5 Million for 2017

Feb 21, 2018 1:00 PM ET

Wells Fargo contributed $286.5 million to more than 14,500 nonprofits across the U.S. in 2017, and was named United Way Worldwide’s top workplace giving campaign for the ninth year in a row.

Research, Reports & Publications

Are Smart Cities Real?

Feb 21, 2018 12:30 PM ET

Is the smart city hype cycle over? Have concerns about cost, security and public skepticism finally won out over the benefits of efficiency, sustainability and public safety? It is fair to consider whether the futuristic visions of hyper- connectivity and advanced livability, enabled by accessibility to vast streams of data, can withstand the very real concerns that municipalities cannot afford the technologies behind smart city projects.

Sustainable Development Goals

New Indicators in the SDG Compass

Feb 21, 2018 12:30 PM ET

Understanding how companies contribute to solving the great sustainability issues of our time is crucial to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The SDG Compass tool shows companies how they can align their strategies, measure and manage their contribution to reaching the SDGs, and put sustainability at the heart of their business strategy.

Research, Reports & Publications

Well Living Lab Announces 3-year Research Plan to Study Effects of Indoor Surroundings on Health and Well-being

Feb 21, 2018 12:20 PM ET

The Well Living Lab today announced an extensive three-year scientific research plan to identify how indoor environments effect five significant facets of people’s lives: health, performance, stress and resiliency, sleep and comfort. Studies will examine these factors for homes, workplaces and independent living communities. A critical component of the research is the interplay of elements such as sound, lighting, temperature and air quality, all of which can be altered in various combinations to uncover positive, neutral and negative effects on people.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Great Place to Work and Fortune Name VMware One of the Best Workplaces for Giving Back

Feb 21, 2018 12:00 PM ET

Responsible Production & Consumption

Farmers, Ranchers Set to Gain New Market Opportunities for Improving Soil Health

Feb 21, 2018 11:15 AM ET

Today, a national coalition convened by the Noble Research Institute announced its intent to create a new voluntary environmental services market that benefits agricultural producers and improves the environment for society at large.

Research, Reports & Publications

T. Rowe Price Releases 2016–2017 Corporate Social Responsibility Report

Feb 21, 2018 11:00 AM ET

T. Rowe Price has released its 2016–2017 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report, which is available at troweprice.com/CSRreport. The report details how CSR is an integral part of the firm’s culture and interwoven through its business, as demonstrated in how it invests for clients, associates, and communities.

Health & Healthcare

Healthy Kids Make Healthy Adults

Feb 21, 2018 11:00 AM ET

A ground-breaking study called EarlyBird was set up to explore the biology of growing children, how metabolic disorders develop in childhood and their consequences in adulthood. I lead the Nestlé team that is involved in this research.

Our research shows that by monitoring children during crucial stages of their development, we can accurately identify those at risk of developing metabolic disorders, better understand how these diseases develop and hopefully, eventually intervene nutritionally to prevent the onset of these conditions.