ESG News from Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

To Kick-Off the Holiday Season, JetBlue Customers and Crewmembers Checked In For Good in Houston, Jamaica and Bahamas

Jan 2, 2018 1:30 PM ET

Throughout the month of November, JetBlue customers and crewmembers checked in for good on three volunteer trips with some of the airline’s non-profit partners. More than 8,000 customers entered the #CheckInForGood contest. Nearly one hundred customers and crewmembers participated in trips focusing on the three JetBlue For Good pillars: youth and education, community and the environment. These trips took place around #GivingTuesday, the international day of giving kicking off the holiday season.

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar Global Parts EVC Program Delivers Profitability With Sustainability

Jan 2, 2018 1:00 PM ET

With thousands of suppliers, plants, dealers and customers in our value chain, there are opportunities to improve efficiencies in moving raw materials and finished products from point A to point B.

Media & Communications

We Are Far Now From Milton Friedman’s Prevailing View on CSR in 1970 – Companies Are Showing the Way – Here Are 5 Examples

Jan 2, 2018 12:00 PM ET

The stage was set in 1970 by Professor Milton Friedman, who wrote in a New York Times Magazine essay: The social responsibility of business is to increase its profits. He famously said in conclusion: “here is one and only one social responsibility of business–to use it resources and engage in activities designed to increase its profits so long as it stays within the rules of the game, which is to say, engages in open and free competition without deception or fraud."

Media & Communications

Zero Mass Water: A New Source for H2O

Jan 2, 2018 11:55 AM ET

In our household we do our best to avoid buying bottled water - we're keenly aware of what those darn plastic bottles are doing to the environment. Instead, we just drink our tap water - it's safe and delicious, because we live in San Francisco, and our water is sourced from the magnificent Hetch Hetchy Reservoir.

Events, Media & Communications

Subaru Encourages Winter Warriors to Seize the Snow Days With the Return of #SubaruWinterFest

Jan 2, 2018 11:40 AM ET

Subaru of America, Inc. has announced the return of Subaru WinterFest, the automaker’s mountain destination and lifestyle tour that brings together winter warriors across the country for a one-of-a-kind experience. Featuring a blend of entertainment and adventure in amazing places, the 2018 tour will celebrate the winter season, while encouraging attendees to seize the snow day with an array of memorable activities.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Whirlpool Corporation Among Top-ranked Companies in 2017 Newsweek Green Rankings

Jan 2, 2018 11:30 AM ET

Whirlpool Corporation has risen in the Newsweek Green Rankings to 50 and 82 on the national and global lists respectively. The rankings assess the environmental performance of the largest publicly traded companies in the U.S. and the world. This year, Whirlpool Corporation was classified as a "top-ranked company," a designation awarded to fewer than 100 companies on either list.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Opens Final Year of GRO1000 Grassroots Grants to Benefit Communities Through Gardens

Jan 2, 2018 11:30 AM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

As Temperatures Plunge, Heating Costs Rise -- but Help Is Available to Keep the Heat on at Home

Jan 2, 2018 10:35 AM ET

Temperatures plunged across the Midwest this week, and if the bitter cold isn't bad enough, energy costs are rising. Bigger bills are expected to show up in January and already, 90,000 Consumer Energy customers are behind on their heating bill payments.

Social Impact & Volunteering

The Biggest Event at Rose Bowl Stadium Helps Feed Hundreds Locally

Jan 2, 2018 9:50 AM ET

More than 90,000 fans were gathered yesterday at the Rose Bowl Stadium for the venue’s biggest event of the year. Following the event, the stadium’s concessions partner, SodexoMAGIC, a partnership with Magic Johnson Enterprises and Sodexo, a food services and facilities management company, fed hundreds in need when it donated remaining food items to the Pasadena Hot Meal Program just as it has done for the past seven years.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Scotia Volunteers Assist Salvation Army with Grocery Packing

Jan 2, 2018 8:05 AM ET

What better way to get into the spirit of the season than by giving a helping hand to those in need? When the Salvation Army reached out to Scotiabank for their assistance with the packaging of groceries for the less fortunate, a number of staff members volunteered to give of their time.

Environment

2017 in Review: Sustainability Reporting to Fight Climate Change

Dec 31, 2017 11:00 AM ET

2017 was a record year in many respects, and climate change played a big part in it. We witnessed devastating natural disasters, groundbreaking policy changes and shocking political decisions, which set some of the progress backwards. However, many companies, states, even individuals, continue the fight with determination.

Research, Reports & Publications

2017 in Review: Tools for Non-financial Reporting

Dec 30, 2017 10:30 AM ET

After a challenging year for sustainability, this short series looks back at efforts and achievements in sustainability reporting during 2017. Part 3 focuses on the important work GRI has done with CSR EUrope regarding the new EU regulation, requiring companies to disclose non-financial information on a regular basis.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Republic Services Employees Volunteer at St. Louis Toy Drive

Dec 29, 2017 1:30 PM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Sodexo Shares Industry Expertise and Best Practices As Part of United States Army’s Training With Industry Program

Dec 29, 2017 11:30 AM ET

Sodexo, a food services and facilities management company, is working directly with the United States Army in support of its highly coveted Training With Industry Program, an initiative developed to create a group of soldiers experienced in higher level managerial techniques and who have an understanding of the relationship of their industry as it relates to specific functions of the Army.

Environment

2017 EHS and Sustainability Year-end Review

Dec 29, 2017 10:05 AM ET

During this season, we like to take time to reflect upon the things we are thankful for, and that includes you. Our goal is always to provide trustworthy, useful information to help you excel in your role and do more with less, and we wish you peace, health, and prosperity in the New Year.

Sustainable Development Goals

2017 in Review: Making the SDGs a Reality Through Sustainability Reporting

Dec 29, 2017 10:00 AM ET

This year has been challenging for sustainability in many respects, but there have also been exciting developments in the sustainability reporting landscape. In part 2 of this short series, GRI looks back at efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals and developments with the investor community.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Keep America Beautiful Celebrates a Year of Beautiful Moments

Dec 29, 2017 9:30 AM ET

As 2017 comes to a close, Keep America Beautiful looks back with pride and a sense of accomplishment about many of our favorite "Beautiful Moments" from this year.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Arrow Electronics’ CSR and Sustainability Report Wins Design Award

Dec 29, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Global technology-solutions provider Arrow Electronics was recently awarded top honors in the “Best CSR Report Photography and Design” category of the American Society of Professional Communicators’ annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) awards. Arrow won for its 2016 CSR and Sustainability Report.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

VIDEO: In the Wake of Natural Disasters, New Trees Bring Communities Hope and Healing

Dec 29, 2017 8:00 AM ET

Trees play a vital role in our everyday lives. They improve the quality of the air we breathe and the water we drink. They beautify our streets and shade our children. So when natural disasters strike, the loss of trees is much more than meets the eye.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Tetra Tech’s 2017 Year in Review

Dec 29, 2017 8:00 AM ET

Our 2017 Year in Review video shows Tetra Tech from our employees’ perspectives, as they lead with science to create and implement innovative solutions for water, environmental, energy, infrastructure, resource management, and international development projects. This video also highlights some of the outreach activities through which our employees give back to their local communities.

Health & Healthcare

Advancing Human Health Through Global Collaboration

Dec 29, 2017 7:40 AM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Major League Baseball Players Association Year in Review: Players Make Connections With All Those Who Play and Love the Game

Dec 28, 2017 6:40 PM ET

The Major League Baseball Players Association had quite a year in 2017, on and off the field, as the union began its second 50 years of advancing and protecting players' rights.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Republic Services Driver Gives to Little Boy with Cancer

Dec 28, 2017 3:30 PM ET

Republic Services driver, Rick Neatherlin, based in the Bellevue developed a special relationship with a residential customer, Little Isaac Williams of Sammamish, Wash. The little boy is fighting stage 4 cancer. Neatherlin recruited some additional Republic drivers and supervisors to surprise the little boy for Christmas with several trucks and gifts.

Health & Healthcare

Walking the Talk: How Nestlé USA is Tackling Obesity

Dec 28, 2017 12:15 PM ET

America’s obesity epidemic won’t be solved by any single agency, non-profit, or even a progressive company like Nestlé USA. We understand that no one-size-fits-all solution exists, yet realize we can play an important part in moving the needle on obesity.

Nestlé USA is taking deliberate steps to help tackle this public health crisis with our products, from a relentless focus on reducing sugar, sodium, and saturated fat in our foods and beverages, to educating consumers on making healthier choices. Because our products have such significant reach — 97% of American consumers have a Nestlé product in their home — we believe this reformulation work can help improve health outcomes.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Hurricane Harvey Holiday Meal

Dec 28, 2017 11:00 AM ET

With the aroma of turkey, ham and all the fixings in the air, and music playing in the background, volunteers served a holiday meal for more than 1,000 people affected by Hurricane Harvey at Celebration of Life Church in Baytown, Texas.

“Hurricane Harvey was one of the biggest disasters we’ve seen in recent years,” said Stacy Lamb, U.S. response director of disaster services at Convoy of Hope. “People’s lives have been turned upside down. They are still trying to figure out how to get their homes back in shape and back to normal, and then you have the holiday season.”

When Hormel Foods learned about the holiday meal that was being planned, the company donated over 700 Hormel® Cure 81® hams and its Jennie-O Turkey Store subsidiary donated over 700 turkeys.