ESG News from Leading Brands

Diversity & Inclusion

Diversity and Teamwork Drive Innovation

Nov 21, 2017 11:25 AM ET

Back in August this year I attended the opening of our Innovation and Knowledge Center in Pune, India - an expansion of our facilities to celebrate our 20 year anniversary in the country. The center is one of 7 global Innovation and Knowledge centers, each of which represent the specific needs of their region as well as having unique perspectives and specialist material science expertise.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sappi North America Awarded Johnson & Johnson Rising Star Award for Sustainability

Nov 21, 2017 11:20 AM ET

Sappi North America was a proud recipient of the Johnson & Johnson 2015 Rising Star Sustainability Award. The award comes after Sappi helped the company create and implement Johnson & Johnson’s US Commercial Paper Program.

Education

CITGO Lemont Refinery Brings Bess the Book Bus to Lemont School

Nov 21, 2017 11:20 AM ET

The CITGO Lemont Refinery and mobile literacy outreach program, Bess the Book Bus, brought the joy of reading to local students at St. Cyril and Methodius School in Lemont during the month of October. Approximately 105 books were distributed to St. Cyril and Methodius School students. Students were able to pick out their very own book to take home and then enjoyed participating in an interactive and hands-on drum circle hosted by Bess the Book Bus Partner, Giving Tree Music.

Environment

Michael Bloomberg on a Near-Presidential Run, a Call to Trump and His "War on Coal" Movie

Nov 21, 2017 11:15 AM ET

After building a sprawling financial-services and media empire, Bloomberg LP, which employs 19,000 people and brings in annual revenue of about $9 billion, Bloomberg, who has two daughters, Georgina and Emma, from a previous marriage, has pledged to give away most of his personal fortune, estimated at $47.8 billion. Founded in 2006, Bloomberg Philanthropies boasts assets of $10 billion (the mogul himself so far has contributed $5 billion) and employs 120 people. As part of its environmental efforts, the foundation has donated more than $100 million to move America away from coal.

Energy

Cool Effect Carbon Projects Capture the Imagination, While Improving Lives

Nov 21, 2017 11:00 AM ET

If you were to pick your favorite way to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, what would it be?

Sustainable Development Goals

WBCSD's Panorama Podcast | The Legacy of Paris and Business at COP23

Nov 21, 2017 10:45 AM ET

Diversity & Inclusion

Cultivate Confidence: Joyce Roche, Girls, Inc.

Nov 21, 2017 10:00 AM ET

At our recent #CultivateConfidence panel Joyce Roché, former President and CEO of Girls Inc. agreed that men's support is vital to helping women rise up in the workplace. Joyce is also the co-author of “The Empress Has No Clothes: Conquering Self-Doubt to Embrace Success.”

Energy

Sourcing Our Fuels Responsibly: From Coffee to Electricity

Nov 21, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Most people aren’t thinking about the journey that coffee makes from a farm half a world away to the cup in their hand, but as a sustainability professional, I just can’t help myself. You can call it a blessing—or a curse.

Environment

Infographic: Smithfield Foods Animal Care

Nov 21, 2017 9:25 AM ET

We began our industry-leading journey in 2007 and expect to complete it by the end of 2017. In addition to the efforts at company-owned farms, we recommend that all of our U.S. contract sow growers complete a transition to group housing by the end of 2022.

Research, Reports & Publications

Nearly 3.5 Million More People Improve Their Housing Conditions with Habitat for Humanity

Nov 21, 2017 9:15 AM ET

In the past year, thanks to generous donors and more than 2.1 million volunteers, Habitat for Humanity helped nearly 3.5 million people around the world build or improve an affordable place they can call home. With a “hand up” from Habitat, more families have acquired the skills, confidence and opportunity they need to build healthier, more financially stable lives.

Innovation & Technology

Meeting the Needs of Teens with My.Future

Nov 21, 2017 9:00 AM ET

In today’s digital world, new technologies and social sharing platforms are abound. Studies show that more than 90% of youth, especially teens, engage in some sort of social media activity daily. Now, Boys & Girls Clubs join this virtual space with a dynamic digital experience that’s more powerful than that of any other youth-based organization in the country.

With a goal of meeting youth where they are engaging in the digital world, this month Boys & Girls Clubs of America, in partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal, will unveil the latest evolution of My.Future in Clubs across America. My.Future is a safe, fun, and interactive digital platform that enables kids to create online accounts they can use to learn, play and socialize.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The Impact a Wish Has on Children With Life-Threatening Medical Conditions

Nov 21, 2017 9:00 AM ET

While you may be familiar with the work of Make-A-Wish® Mid-Atlantic, you may not know the impact a wish experience can have on not only local wish kids, but also their families, medical teams, volunteers and even local community supporters. Serving children who reside in Maryland, the District of Columbia and northern Virginia since 1983, Make-A-Wish Mid-Atlantic has granted the wishes of more than 9,500 children fighting illnesses such as cancer, pediatric AIDS, cystic fibrosis, Duchene’s muscular dystrophy and heart disease.

Education

Thousands of High School Students Support Small Businesses with New Technology Solutions

Nov 21, 2017 9:00 AM ET

This school year, underrepresented high school students in eight cities nationwide are learning principles of design thinking, and how to apply them to emerging technology and mobile devices to serve as creative solutions for local small businesses and non-profits.

Energy

€1.5M Savings Found by iomart Taking a Strategic Approach to Climate Change with Schneider Electric Services

Nov 21, 2017 8:50 AM ET

Experts have predicted the amount of energy used by data centers will triple in the next decade, and as a responsible cloud computing company, iomart has started its journey to sustainable growth through lower energy consumption across its data centers. The company turned to Schneider Electric to lower energy use, meet energy compliance standards, and manage volatile energy costs.

Education

Tata Consultancy Services and Discovery Education Provide Ann Richards Middle School with Groundbreaking Program to Prepare Students for 21st Century Careers

Nov 21, 2017 8:45 AM ET

Tata Consultancy Services, (TCS), a leading global IT services, consulting and business solutions organization, and Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital education content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, officially launched Ignite My Future in School in Dallas at Ann Richards Middle School in Texas’ 5th congressional district. As early adopters of this system, Dallas teachers will receive professional development, educational resources and year-round support to integrate computational thinking into core subjects such as math, sciences, arts and social studies. In turn, students will learn foundational skills for 21st century careers – across industries – through this transdisciplinary approach.

Diversity & Inclusion

Voya Gives New Meaning to the Term Continuous Improvement

Nov 21, 2017 8:35 AM ET

When Voya Financial spun off from ING Group in 2013, leadership seized the opportunity to build a new kind of company—one centered around a thoughtfully curated culture of integrity, performance, and inclusion.

Diversity & Inclusion

Northern Trust Supports Disabled Children in Bangalore

Nov 21, 2017 8:25 AM ET

Northern Trust funded and presented a Hydrotherapy Pool at the Association of People with Disability in Bangalore!

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Benevity Shares Why More Companies Are Joining the #GivingTuesday Movement

Nov 21, 2017 7:45 AM ET

New data points to an increase in companies participating in the #GivingTuesday movement. The growth represents a terrific opportunity for companies to put empathy, service and generosity at the top of the agenda. However, Benevity sees greater potential for the occasion as the world needs to embrace a culture of Goodness now more than ever.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Aramark Once Again Named a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality

Nov 21, 2017 7:40 AM ET

Aramark, a global leader in food, facilities management and uniforms, received a perfect score of 100 percent for the fourth consecutive year on the 2018 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Aramark joins the ranks of 609 major U.S. businesses which also earned top marks this year.

Diversity & Inclusion

21CF and National Geographic Sponsor American Black Film Festival’s Documentary Initiative, Announce Muta’Ali as Inaugural Winner

Nov 20, 2017 8:45 PM ET

The American Black Film Festival (ABFF) and the production company Lightboxhave named director Muta’Ali as the winner of the first ever ABFF Lightbox Documentary Initiative, a new annual program sponsored by 21st Century Fox and National Geographic to support new voices in documentary film. As the winner of the competition, Muta’Ali will receive funding for his feature-length documentary project, Storm Over Brooklyn, which commemorates the 30th anniversary of the killing of 16 year-old Yusuf Hawkins. ABFF and Lightbox will work with Muta’Ali to develop the project, which is set to premiere at the American Black Film Festival in Miami in June 2019.

Health & Healthcare

INFOGRAPHIC | Merck Foundation Launches Bridging the Gap in Diabetes Care

Nov 20, 2017 3:05 PM ET

The Merck Foundation has launched Bridging the Gap, a five-year initiative to help improve diabetes care and health outcomes for vulnerable and underserved populations in the United States.

Environment

Public Pecerptions of Solar Radiation Management with Erb Institute | Business for Sustainability Faculty Director Joe Arvai

Nov 20, 2017 3:00 PM ET

A group of researchers, including Erb Institute Faculty Director Joseph Árvai, set out to study public perceptions of this technology in different countries, and their findings were published in Climatic Change—“Beliefs and Values Explain International Differences in Perception of Solar Radiation Management: Insights from a Cross-Country Survey,” by Vivianne H.M. Visschers, Jing Shi, Michael Siegrist and Joseph Árvai.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

First Phase of CITGO Aruba Refinery Man Camp Almost Complete

Nov 20, 2017 2:55 PM ET

Construction of the man camp has positively impacted the economy of the island, with engineering and construction activities employing nearly 150 local residents, as well as procurement activities for materials and services.

Events, Media & Communications

Video: Aligning Your Volunteer Program With Employee Interests

Nov 20, 2017 2:45 PM ET

Studies show that employees seek out companies that embody socially responsible values and provide an outlet for volunteering. You’ve checked those boxes yet can’t seem to get your employees to participate in your volunteer program. Where’s the disconnect here?

Sustainable Development Goals

WBCSD | Insider Perspective: COP23 in Bonn

Nov 20, 2017 2:45 PM ET

Thousands gathered in Bonn Germany for the 2017 climate negotiations under the Paris Agreement. This year’s COP23 was presided over by Fiji and helped shine a light on important aspects of climate resilience and adaptation that have not been as visible at previous COPs.