ESG News from Leading Brands

Sustainable Development Goals

Sappi North America's Key Performance Indicators: Social Indicators

Jan 16, 2018 4:30 PM ET

Our pulp and paper products are derived from renewable resources, made with high levels of renewable energy, and are designed to be reused or recycled. While it is difficult to identify a more sustainable industry than forest products, not all companies perform equally when it comes to operating safely and sustainably. We track our progress annually, and in the following pages offer an updated view of our performance in important areas of environmental and social responsibility. We monitor key metrics for fiber, emissions, energy usage and the impact of our operations on air, water and solid waste. We use this data when setting improvement goals related either to our operations or our interactions with our key stakeholder groups—employees, customers and our local communities. We uphold the

Research, Reports & Publications

BNEF’s Annual Clean Energy Investment Trends Report Released

Jan 16, 2018 3:25 PM ET

An extraordinary boom in photovoltaic installations made 2017 a record year for China’s investment in clean energy. This over-shadowed changes elsewhere, including jumps in investment in Australia and Mexico, and declines in Japan, the U.K. and Germany.

Energy

Ohio Businesses Call on Senate to Protect Renewable and Energy Efficiency Standards

Jan 16, 2018 3:00 PM ET

The Ohio Senate is moving quickly to act on legislation that would undercut Ohio’s clean energy economy. In response, major businesses, investors, healthcare providers and trade associations representing nearly 200,000 employees are gathering to voice their firm opposition to legislation that would roll back the state’s clean energy standards.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Hormel Foods Receives Numerous Awards for Corporate Responsibility Report

Jan 16, 2018 3:00 PM ET

Hormel Foods announced today that it has received several awards for its 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report. The company’s annual report provides information about the company’s goals and progress as a leading corporate citizen.

Environment

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Announces Creative Collaboration with Globally Renowned National Geographic Photographer Andrew Mann

Jan 16, 2018 2:40 PM ET

Innovation & Technology

Booz Allen & Kaggle’s Annual Data Science Competition Puts Artificial Intelligence to Work Accelerating Life-Saving Medical Research

Jan 16, 2018 2:05 PM ET

In an era when terabytes of data can be analyzed in just a few days, the opportunity to enhance automation of biomedical analysis could help researchers achieve breakthroughs faster in the treatment of almost every disease—from cancer, diabetes and rare disorders to the common cold.

Education

AT&T Aspire Accelerator Alumni: Where Are They Now? CommonLit's Story

Jan 16, 2018 2:00 PM ET

In the spring of 2016, CommonLit.org was a collection of about 100 individual PDF reading lessons that English teachers could download and use with their students. Despite its humble start, I had a big vision. I came to the AT&T Aspire team with a simple pitch: Create the best reading and writing program in America and make it available for free so that even the most vulnerable students could access it online.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Starting a Year-round Employee Giving Program: Benefits, Barriers, and Things to Consider

Jan 16, 2018 1:35 PM ET

According to America’s Charities’ Snapshot 2017 report, nearly 71 percent of workplace donors say that they want to work for employers who have missions and values that align with their own personal values. What’s more, nearly 6 in 10 workplace donors say they want to work for companies where the culture supports giving and volunteering.

To accommodate these interests, and to recruit and keep a talented workforce, many companies offer the chance for employees to take part in seasonal giving campaigns or in an annual day of service. But for companies that are truly committed to building a culture that is focused on giving back, a once-a-year event or campaign often isn’t enough.

Research, Reports & Publications

Dave Stangis, CSO Campbell's to Speak at Erb Institute | Business for Sustainability on Convergence of Technology and Sustainability

Jan 16, 2018 1:15 PM ET

Dave Stangis has been in the sustainability business for over 20 years. As of last year, he quite literally wrote the book on sustainability—twice. The Campbell’s vice president of corporate responsibility and chief sustainability officer first co-authored 21st Century Corporate Citizenship:

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Child Waiting for a Family, Lands Right at Home

Jan 16, 2018 1:00 PM ET

To look at little Jayden lands you’d hardly believe he spent nearly his entire life in foster care. For more than three years he didn’t have the certainty of a forever family. But that has all changed for this little boy. His adoption has been finalized and the Lands family says he is finally home.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Service Makes Good Business Sense

Jan 16, 2018 12:30 PM ET

Not many executives can say that in their first week on the job they – literally and figuratively – pulled on their boots to help restore a vacant lot in the South Bronx into a community garden. But doing just that is how I quickly began to understand and experience the Timberland philosophy of being an “Earthkeeper.”

Events, Media & Communications

CECP Announces Third CEO Investor Forum As Movement to End Short-termism Gains Momentum

Jan 16, 2018 11:55 AM ET

CECP's Strategic Investor Initiative (SII) will host the third CEO Investor Forum (CIF) on February 26, 2018, at the Time Warner Center in New York City. Michael R. Bloomberg, Founder, Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies and 108th Mayor of New York City will join the invitation-only event for a 30-minute fireside chat and will offer his perspective on the need for the financial industry and the corporate sector to embrace long-term-oriented strategic planning and reporting.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Bridgeton Distribution Center Wins Green Business Award

Jan 16, 2018 11:45 AM ET

Ingersoll Rand’s Residential heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) & Supply's National Distribution Center (NDC) in Bridgeton, Missouri, won the Award of Merit from the St. Louis Green Business Challenge for the third consecutive year. The Challenge recognizes top companies in the St. Louis area for implementing sustainability measures in their daily operations.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

How Have Devastating Hurricanes Affected Rum?

Jan 16, 2018 11:15 AM ET

Like many rum producers, including Diageo and Beam Suntory, Bacardi has given generously to disaster relief, donating US$3 million in the wake of Irma and Maria.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Creating College Experiences That Build Students’ Character While Strengthening the Community

Jan 16, 2018 11:10 AM ET

Making a significant difference requires courage, commitment and drive. It is those same principles that are inspiring the next generation of students at University of Detroit Mercy, a Catholic university founded in the Mercy and Jesuit traditions of community service and social justice.

Health & Healthcare

Accelerating Access to NCD Care in Tanzania

Jan 16, 2018 11:00 AM ET

In many low- and middle-income countries, it can be difficult for people living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) to access the care they need. Those living with NCDs – like cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, and mental health conditions – often struggle to take care of themselves and their loved ones. And the situation becomes even more burdensome with age.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

CITGO Honored by Coastal Bend Bays Foundation

Jan 16, 2018 10:30 AM ET

The CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery recently received the Industry Award at the 15th annual Conservation and Environmental Stewardship Awards Banquet at the American Bank Center. The Coastal Bend Bays Foundation presented the award to CITGO in recognition of the refinery’s efforts to reduce waste generation and air emissions.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

CVS Pharmacy Makes Commitment to Create New Standards for Post-Production Alterations of Beauty Imagery

Jan 16, 2018 10:15 AM ET

CVS Pharmacy, the retail division of CVS Health (NYSE: CVS), today announced a commitment to create new standards for post-production alterations of beauty imagery it creates for stores, websites, social media and any marketing materials. As part of this initiative, transparency for beauty imagery that has been materially altered will be required by the end of 2020.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Sustainable Investment in Europe at a Crossroads

Jan 16, 2018 10:00 AM ET

The pull from institutional investors for sustainability has virtually doubled since 2012. In this article, Eurosif's Executive Director Flavia Micilotta discusses the trends and challenges of SRI, and issues recommendations for creating a sustainable financial policy framework.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Tetra Pak Pledges Support for EU Plastics Strategy

Jan 16, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Tetra Pak pledges to support the European Commission’s Plastics Strategy, announced today as part of the EU Action Plan for a Circular Economy.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Investing Close to Home

Jan 16, 2018 9:45 AM ET

Since Homewise founding in 1986, we’ve helped over 14,000 households become more financially educated, 3,600 become homeowners, 2,100 make energy-efficient home improvements and emergency repairs, 600 refinance to more affordable mortgages, and we have built over 600 high-quality affordable homes. These results are made possible through the support of our investors and donors, who serve as our partners in helping families build financial resilience and stability through successful homeownership.

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: So What Epoch Is It Again?

Jan 16, 2018 9:30 AM ET

How about today? Is it still true that the natural world exists independently from human influence? Or, on the other hand, maybe human constructs have become so pervasive that our impacts are seen in every corner of the globe.

Innovation & Technology

Not Your Average IT Work Day

Jan 16, 2018 9:15 AM ET

The Pan American Games are a big event: 31 sporting venues, 364 medal events, 7,000 athletes, 1 million tickets sold, 650 hours of online coverage, and 23,000 volunteers. To connect the games to the world, technology-sponsor Cisco tapped local Cisco Networking Academies to build the technology to power the game.

Energy

Consumers Energy Seeks Public Input in Developing Long-Term Energy Plan

Jan 16, 2018 9:15 AM ET

Consumers Energy is taking input from the public as it develops a long-range plan that will help ensure Michigan continues to be powered by affordable, reliable and clean energy. Consumers Energy is developing an Integrated Resource Plan that will serve as a valuable guide for actions for the next 15 years.

Research, Reports & Publications

Corporate Sustainability Efforts Redouble, Says New Report

Jan 16, 2018 9:00 AM ET

The rollback of America’s environmental regulations and international commitments has galvanized companies around the world to extend or redouble their efforts, according to a new report. “State of Green Business 2018,” published by GreenBiz Group in association with Trucost, part of S&P Dow Jones Indices, is the 11th annual assessment of the progress by companies around the world in addressing their energy, waste, water, greenhouse gas and other impacts, and in increasing their sustainability investments, transparency and other leadership activities.