ESG News from Leading Brands

Sustainable Development Goals

Bechtel CASE STUDY & PODCAST: Rethinking Construction, Workforce Development, and Local Economic Development

Nov 13, 2017 10:25 AM ET

As part of Bechtel’s commitment to contribute 100 ideas to support the United Nation’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this case study examines how large-scale construction projects can be transformative by shifting from local content programs to long-term economic development. This change enables governments to organize business partnerships more strategically, broaden local participation, and promote systemic change across national workforce policies and programs.

Education

Hormel Foods Announces 2017 Hormel Heroes Scholarship Recipients

Nov 13, 2017 10:15 AM ET

Hormel Foods Corporation today announced the recipients of its $10,000 2017 Hormel Heroes Scholarships. The Hormel Heroes Scholarship Program was created by Hormel Foods to support female students with military backgrounds pursuing careers in culinary arts or a foodservice management related program, and is administered by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF).

Social Impact & Volunteering

VIDEO: 250 Charities Benefit from 2017 Shire's Global Day of Service

Nov 13, 2017 10:10 AM ET

This year, over 7,300 Shire employees volunteered 29,000 hours and we partnered with over 250 charities in 300 global locations.

Green Infrastructure

Recycled Garbage: Paving the Way to a Sustainable Future

Nov 13, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Recyclable waste may literally pave the way to a sustainable future. Around the world, an increasing number of urban planners and engineers are utilizing recycled garbage and turning it into viable, environmentally friendly infrastructure.

In 2013, Americans generated about 254 million tons of trash, recycling and composting about 87 million tons of it, equivalent to a 34.3 percent recycling rate. That’s a lot of waste just waiting to be converted into efficient, environmentally-sound structures and systems that can help cities flourish.

From unavoidable potholes on freeways to wobbly bridges over lakes in the Midwest, updating America’s aging infrastructure with eco-friendly materials derived from trash is a win-win.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

INFOGRAPHIC | eBay Everyday Heroes: Feeding the Hungry

Nov 13, 2017 9:55 AM ET

Millions of Senior Citizens struggle with hunger on a daily basis. Learn how a nonprofit is using eBay to help deliver food to those in need.

Education

Bringing Education to Rural India Through Technology

Nov 13, 2017 9:45 AM ET

In September, 8 Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) employee volunteers traveled to Pune, India, as part of the HPE Leadership Through Service program. Their mission: to enhance a digital platform that will improve provide educational opportunities to 6 million underprivileged children.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Nestlé USA and Nestlé Purina PetCare Earn Top Scores in 2018 Corporate Equality Index

Nov 13, 2017 9:45 AM ET

Nestlé USA and Nestlé Purina PetCare received scores of 95% and 100% respectively on the 2018 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices relating to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) workplace equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Nestlé USA and Nestlé Purina PetCare’s scores reflect a commitment to LGBTQ workplace equality, with respect to tangible policies, benefits, and practices.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

LIXIL Included in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the First Time

Nov 13, 2017 9:45 AM ET

LIXIL Group Corporation, a global leader in the housing and buildings industry, announced that for the first time it has earned a place in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) for its sustainability performance. LIXIL Group was included in the DJSI Asia-Pacific Index as the highest scoring company in the Building Products Industry, and ranked third globally in this industry group.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Sands Cares and Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth host Southern Nevada Youth Homelessness Summit at The Venetian

Nov 13, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Health & Healthcare

Diabetes Research Institute Foundation: Focused on Finding a Cure

Nov 13, 2017 9:30 AM ET

During November’s Diabetes Awareness Month and World Diabetes Day on November 14, our communities take notice of this global health threat that continues to grow. Diabetes is a disease that can strike anyone, from any walk of life. And it does at an alarming rate.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Once Suicidal, Here's How Boys Town Helped Pyper Shine

Nov 13, 2017 9:25 AM ET

Diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a child, Pyper was bullied in school to the point of ​considering suicide. Pyper and ​her father found hope at Boys Town, where she fell in with a group of peers who immediately embraced her for her unique gifts.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Mark Your Calendar: Dinner at Wendy’s on November 14!

Nov 13, 2017 9:25 AM ET

On Tuesday, November 14 between the hours of 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm, 15% of restaurant sales from customers who visit a participating Wendy’s restaurant for dinner will be donated to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption® in recognition of National Adoption Month. These funds will support the DTFA’s continued efforts to find forever homes for children waiting in foster care.

Events, Media & Communications

Insider Perspective: Advanced Bioeconomy Leadership Conference

Nov 13, 2017 9:20 AM ET

Held in San Francisco, CA on October 16 - 18, 2017, ABLC ‘Next’ offered participants a snapshot of the up-and-coming companies, technologies, projects and initiatives that are making waves in the bioeconomy throughout North America. The event brought together application and platform developers, investors, policymakers, end-use customers and development partners for three days of fresh updates and rich insights into the latest technologies of the advanced bioeconomy in health, nutrition, ‘AgTech’, genetics, big data, robotics, fuels, chemicals and materials.

Diversity & Inclusion

Exploring Portland's Rich Native American & Indigenous History

Nov 13, 2017 9:15 AM ET

November is National Native American Heritage Month, and here in Portland, Oregon, we are celebrating the artistic contributions from the American Indian and Indigenous community with this year’s Portland Film Festival (PDXFF). As the presenting sponsor, Comcast provides support for our festival to bring a wide array of diverse voices to audiences across the region. This year, we are screening over 152 films from around the world, 89 of which were directed by women – that’s nearly 60 percent of the films being screened – and, each day, a film will be shown that highlights current Indigenous voices.

Sustainable Development Goals

UN Global Compact Bulletin (November 2017)

Nov 13, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Find out how the private sector can contribute to accelerating and enhancing the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Paris Agreement at COP 23 in Bonn on 15 November. Join the world's largest annual gathering on business and human rights at the 2017 UN Forum on Business and Human Rights in Geneva on 27-29 November.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

PANDORA’s Prize Winning Waste Management

Nov 13, 2017 9:00 AM ET

At PANDORA Production Thailand, waste is seen as a resource. In 2016, 86% of the waste produced by its crafting facilities was reused or recycled. The dedicated effort put into the company’s waste management has now been rewarded by the Department of Industrial Works in Bangkok, Thailand.

Events, Media & Communications

Cutting-Edge Business Performance Metrics Revealed at Sustainable Brands New Metrics ‘17

Nov 13, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Members of the Sustainable Brands® community gather in Philadelphia to kick off the 7th annual New Metrics conference. More than 300 global senior executives are convening today through Nov 15th to unveil cutting-edge corporate practices that will enable brands to identify and measure entirely new forms of business risk and value.

Research, Reports & Publications

British American Tobacco Launches Sustainable Agriculture and Farmer Livelihoods Focus Report

Nov 13, 2017 8:25 AM ET

British American Tobacco’s commitment to working to enable prosperous livelihoods for all farmers who supply our tobacco leaf is the focus of the latest report on Sustainable Agriculture and Farmer Livelihoods, available now.

Diversity & Inclusion

Smithfield Foods Veteran Highlight: Jurmon Baker

Nov 13, 2017 8:15 AM ET

Jurmon Baker comes from a family with a history of military service, so joining the Army straight out of high school seemed like a logical decision for this native of Lawrenceville, Georgia.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Trash to Treasure: Hawaii Company Uses Ocean Waste to Create Jewelry

Nov 13, 2017 8:00 AM ET

Three years ago Kat Crabill took a drive that would forever change her life. She visited Kamilo Beach on the southeast coast of the island of Hawai’i, an area that collects a huge amount of trash due to the movement of currents. It was there, while watching plastic waste wash ashore, that Crabill thought about repurposing the large plastic pieces and nurdles, small nuggets of plastic, into true gems.

Research, Reports & Publications

The Most In-Depth EHS & Sustainability Staffing Research Available

Nov 13, 2017 8:00 AM ET

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you will find The National Association of Environmental Management’s (NAEM) EHS & Sustainability Staffing, Structure and Budgets report extremely valuable.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Port Angeles Safeway Wins Governor’s Award

Nov 13, 2017 7:45 AM ET

The Port Angeles Safeway on Lincoln Street was honored as the Governor’s 2017 Medium Private Employer of the Year for its efforts in hiring people with disabilities. The Safeway employs 13 people with developmental disabilities who are supported by community organizations, making up nearly 10 percent of the approximately 160 employees.

Research, Reports & Publications

ITV Recognised as Top Community Investor

Nov 13, 2017 4:00 AM ET

Leading a cohort of 25 companies who are pioneering best practice in Corporate Social Responsibility, ITV was crowned the inaugural top contributor in the GivX Community Value Award (the GivX Awards) on 12 October this year.

Diversity & Inclusion

Brave the Ask: Courage, Diversity and Equal Representation in Tech

Nov 12, 2017 9:30 AM ET

At Benevity, we encourage our team to be bold, and the bravery required to do so doesn't escape us. Rosemary Sanchez, a People Leader for the Web Software Development team and Bailey Copithorne, a User Experience Designer, share their individual (and sometimes surprisingly similar) experiences as women in the technology sector.

Sustainable Development Goals

Action for Impact: The World Business Council Releases Its 2017 Report on the Low Carbon Technology Partnerships Initiative

Nov 12, 2017 7:35 AM ET

Today at COP23, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) released its 2017 progress report on the Low Carbon Technology Partnerships initiative (LCTPi). This report marks the next step in business’ continued drive to scale up climate action and impact.