ESG News from Leading Brands

Media & Communications

Houston, Texas Commits to Anti-Trafficking and Fair Trade

Nov 29, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Fair Trade Campaigns is proud to announce Houston’s designation as the first Fair Trade Town in the state of Texas, the second largest Fair Trade Town in the United States. Houston is also the first major city to announce a zero tolerance human trafficking policy in city service contracts.

Research, Reports & Publications

500th Cat® Certified Rebuild

Nov 29, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Fifteen years after Caterpillar, Cat® dealer PT Trakindo and customer PT Freeport Indonesia signed a strategic alliance agreement, the group celebrated its 500th Cat Certified Rebuild in 2016.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Sands China Responds to Typhoon Hato with Relief Efforts

Nov 29, 2017 8:55 AM ET

In the aftermath of recent typhoons, Sands China Ltd. contributed toward various disaster relief efforts aimed at Team Members and the wider community with transportation, technical and professional support, SME support, and long-term assistance. Sands China pledged to donate $8.4 million – $3.7 million from Sands China and a $4.7 million contribution from the Adelson Family Foundation – to assist with longer term relief, recovery, and rebuilding efforts in Macao.

Diversity & Inclusion

Sharing Insights: Bringing a Customer-centric Focus to the Financial Inclusion Community

Nov 29, 2017 8:35 AM ET

Customer centricity is a win-win strategy no matter who your clients are; but for institutions looking to serve financially vulnerable populations around the world, such wins can have a tremendous positive impact on the economic livelihoods and future prosperity of their customers. To help these organizations overcome the challenges of modernizing strategies to be more customer-focused, The Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP) – an initiative of the World Bank, and MetLife Foundation partner – looks to thought leaders in the field, like MetLife, to share their expertise.

Education

De Beers Funds an Upgrade for Two Rural Schools

Nov 29, 2017 8:30 AM ET

As part of its Rural School Development Programme, the company teamed up with Kagiso Shanduka Trust (KST) and the Free State Department to unveil the two infrastructure projects in Viljoenskroon, one of the areas from which its Voorspoed mine recruits labour.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

As #GivingTuesday Goes Global, Companies Around the World Join the Movement

Nov 29, 2017 8:30 AM ET

The day after one of the most successful and widely-adopted global giving events, CECP: The CEO Force for Good, one of the founding partners of the #GivingTuesday movement, announced record levels of corporate support for the global philanthropy movement. By 5:00 p.m. ET on November 28, online donations were up 25% compared to 2016. Begun in 2012, #GivingTuesday is a global day of giving fueled by the power of social media and collaboration. It kicks off the charitable season and takes place the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and the widely recognized global shopping events Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Philanthropy and the Impact Revolution

Nov 29, 2017 8:00 AM ET

Philanthropy has reached an “impact tipping point” and none too soon. On one side of the “leading with impact” divide is the learning-first sector, one where organizations are becoming empowered to track and monitor their results real-time and seamlessly share and learn best practices from similar initiatives.

Sustainable Development Goals

Building Stronger, More Resilient Cities

Nov 29, 2017 8:00 AM ET

As rapidly growing cities in developing countries become key frontiers of international development, urban areas require dynamic, local solutions to build resilience and sustain inclusive economic growth.

Social Impact & Volunteering

3,000 Colleagues Volunteer Across US for Second Annual 21CF Impact Week

Nov 28, 2017 7:15 PM ET

For six days and nights in October, nearly 3,000 colleagues from across 21st Century Fox businesses gave back to the communities around them as part of the second annual 21CF Impact Week. Building on the success of 21CF’s first ever company-wide week of service in 2016, which was piloted in New York and Los Angeles, colleagues in 25 U.S. cities took part in 99 service activities that benefited kids, veterans, the environment, victims of Hurricane Harvey, and many more. It is estimated that these efforts, which collectively totaled more than 9,000 hours of service, made a positive difference in the lives of more than 83,000 people. The company plans to further expand 21CF Impact Week to its global locations in 2018.

Environment

Poisonous Waters: Neela Banerjee on Fracking

Nov 28, 2017 6:15 PM ET

During the 2016 presidential race, many environmentalists found it disheartening that Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump actually seemed to agree on the expansion of fracking in the US. Some of us were wondering if the fight had been lost. That's why it's so encouraging to see good journalism persisting in the face of general indifference. This week on Sea Change Radio, we speak to Neela Banerjee of Inside Climate News, who recently wrote an article chronicling the travails of one small, vulnerable western Pennsylvania family. Her piece also brought to light why one government contractor was reluctant to attach its name to an EPA report that downplayed the risks of fracking. We discuss how irresponsible policy can lead to devastating consequences for real people.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Piedmont Natural Gas Invites Community to ‘Share the Warmth’ on #GivingTuesday

Nov 28, 2017 5:45 PM ET

Piedmont Natural Gas will participate in Giving Tuesday Nov. 28 by inviting its customers to support Share the Warmth, a Piedmont Natural Gas program that helps families in need stay warm when they can’t pay their energy bills.

To encourage the act of giving and sharing warmth with our neighbors, Piedmont is distributing symbolic orange scarves to its community partners, asking them to support Share the Warmth by posting selfies with the scarves on social media using the hashtag #PNGSharetheWarmth.

Research, Reports & Publications

See How Sappi Measured Success in 2016

Nov 28, 2017 4:05 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.

Education

6 Things For-Profit and Nonprofit Startups Can Learn From Each Other

Nov 28, 2017 3:45 PM ET

At AT&T, we believe great ideas can come from anywhere and impact kids and communities everywhere. That’s why we designed the AT&T Aspire Accelerator to support startups across the country, both for-profit and nonprofit organizations.

Education

Booz Allen Invites Girls to Invent, Innovate at THE IMAGINE IT BOOK Launch

Nov 28, 2017 3:25 PM ET

Solving the world’s toughest problems requires grit and determination, sound education, and endless curiosity. To spark that curiosity and nurture kids’ innate passion to create, Booz Allen Hamilton has invited D.C.-area girls to its Innovation Center for an event featuring the launch of THE IMAGINE IT BOOK: Discover, Create, and Invent our Amazing Future! written by Ellen Sabin, published by Watering Can® Press, and underwritten by Booz Allen.

Innovation & Technology

How Technology Can Empower At-Risk Students Before It’s Too Late

Nov 28, 2017 3:05 PM ET

An overarching theme of the recent Dreamforce conference in San Francisco is that cloud computing can be harnessed to accelerate social good.

One of the fields in which technology can make a huge difference is in education, from pre-school to technical education.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Nespresso Announces Investment in Post-Conflict Colombian Coffee

Nov 28, 2017 3:00 PM ET

espresso today announced it will expand its coffee-sourcing programme for the first time into several former conflict zones as part of a USD 50 million investment in sustainable high-quality coffee cultivation in Colombia.

President Juan Manuel Santos addressed the Nespresso Sustainability Advisory Board where he welcomed the company’s commitment. He cited the investment as an important contribution to the development of post-conflict areas.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Be #ThankFULL This #GivingTuesday and Support Feeding America

Nov 28, 2017 2:25 PM ET

Giving the perfect gift is hard. Gifts are stressful, both for the giver and the receiver; it’s hard to know exactly what someone will want. But a donation to Feeding America is the perfect solution.

Responsible Production & Consumption

How to Deal with a Major System Disruption in a Meat Processing Facility

Nov 28, 2017 2:05 PM ET

Any comprehensive food production process relies on control programs to ensure food safety and quality. Major interruptions to these processes and programs may cause large economic losses to the producer as well as risks to consumers.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

This #GivingTuesday Be a CUREsader

Nov 28, 2017 1:15 PM ET

Today, and every single day, 43 families will hear the devastating news that no parent should hear: their child has cancer. At CureSearch, it is our goal to protect the future of those children diagnosed with cancer by delivering better, less-toxic treatments NOW.

Green Infrastructure

Kia Motors Makes Second Annual Co-Sponsorship Contribution to The Ray on Giving Tuesday

Nov 28, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) delivered a significant financial contribution to The Ray, Georgia’s living laboratory for transportation technology on Interstate 85, on Giving Tuesday. The $26,000 gift is the second installment of a three-year commitment for the WheelRight® tire safety station, installed in December of 2016 at the Georgia Visitor Information Center on The Ray at mile marker one.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Wells Fargo Launches Holiday Food Bank Program With $5 Million Donation to United Way, and Commitment of 5,000 Volunteer Hours During the Holidays

Nov 28, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Wells Fargo today announced the launch of the Wells Fargo Holiday Food Bank program to make more meals possible in communities this holiday season. Working with United Way Worldwide to create a long-term, high impact program that will support hunger-related causes in our local communities, Wells Fargo donated an additional $5 million grant to the United Way in support of this effort.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Giving Tuesday: Dell Team Members Make a Difference in Puerto Rico

Nov 28, 2017 12:15 PM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

ASPCA Hosts Its First Giving Hope Facebook Live-a-Thon on Giving Tuesday to Raise Critical Funds for Animals in Need

Nov 28, 2017 11:45 AM ET

On Giving Tuesday, November 28, beginning at 9 a.m., the ASPCA is hosting its first-ever ASPCA Giving Hope Facebook Live-a-thon on the ASPCA’s Facebook page. Special guests include actress Edie Falco, Mother of Dogs founder Allie Rizzo, as well as Travis Brorsen, host of Animal Planet’s My Big Fat Pet Makeover, Dan Schachner, America's favorite Animal Planet Puppy Bowl "Rufferee," and Jill Rappaport, an award-winning animal advocate and host of Animal Planet’s first-ever, Puppy Bowl Presents: The Dog Bowl. Influencers and senior pet advocates Chloe Kardoggian and Mervin the Chihuahua will also join the event.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Gifts of Energy an Ideal Way to Help Others on Giving Tuesday

Nov 28, 2017 11:30 AM ET

Gifts of Energy from Consumers Energy offer a convenient solution for those who want to help others this Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday (#GivingTuesday) is a global day where people are encouraged to donate time, goods or their voice in order to assist those in need.

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: Pride vs. Guilt

Nov 28, 2017 11:30 AM ET

Perhaps you’ve started shopping at your local farmers market weekly. Maybe you’ve replaced your incandescent lightbulbs with LEDs. You might have started paying a bit extra for the organic strawberries instead of the regular ones. How should you feel?