ESG News from Leading Brands

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

2017 Canadian Business Excellence Award Winner to Link Design Thinking to Corporate Impact in Community (November 2-3, 2017)

Oct 11, 2017 5:00 PM ET

Brock Hart, Founder & CEO of Overlap Associates, and a 2017 Canadian Business Excellence award recipient, will speak to "The Possibilities of Human-Centered Design" at the upcoming Toronto conference Inside Out: A Transformative Approach to Community Investment.

Innovation & Technology

Boeing, Liquid Robotics Build Solar-Powered, Autonomous Marine Glider

Oct 11, 2017 4:45 PM ET

An autonomous ocean vehicle manufactured in Australia and powered by the sun and waves is helping oceanographers monitor the Great Barrier Reef.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

JetBlue Partners with Three Budding New York Companies for Third Installment of Its BlueBud Business Mentoring Program

Oct 11, 2017 4:15 PM ET

JetBlue, New York’s Hometown Airline®, recently announced the winners selected to participate in its third annual BlueBud (buddies + budding new companies) business mentoring program. In celebration of the third round of the BlueBud program, JetBlue has selected three food and beverage brands from New York.

This year’s winners merge food and beverage with social impact. Toast Ale is a Bronx-based brewery that is reducing food waste by using surplus bread to make craft beer. Barber Farm Distillery is family owned, making craft vodka from potatoes grown on their farm. Luv Michael is a non-profit that produces nut-free gluten free granola made by workers on the autism spectrum.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

State Farm and Habitat Mark 10 Years of Partnership

Oct 11, 2017 4:00 PM ET

State Farm is kicking off several employee builds during the month of October to celebrate 10 years of partnering with Habitat for Humanity.

More than 400 State Farm employees in the company's hub locations of Dallas, Phoenix and Atlanta will build alongside four families in need of affordable housing. The employee volunteers will contribute to the revitalization of a historic neighborhood and help complete a Habitat town home community.

Social Impact & Volunteering

A South Bronx Sodexo Summer

Oct 11, 2017 3:10 PM ET

Now that I’m well into back-to-school mode and looking towards the future, I can’t help but reflect on our amazing South Bronx Sodexo Summer. A summer when twenty children from the largest stretch of public housing in the poorest congressional district in America chose to come together to:

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Houston Resident Uses Volunteer Coordination Experience, Tech Skills to Help After Hurricane Harvey

Oct 11, 2017 3:00 PM ET

When Ronnie Devries realized how many Houston residents were in need following the devastation of Hurricane Harvey, he knew he could help. With experience as the volunteer coordinator for TXRX Labs, a local nonprofit “hackerspace,” Ronnie helped create a makeshift command center at Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center – which quickly became a shelter for thousands of residents displaced by the storm. Working overnight, he helped set up a system for volunteer coordination to ensure volunteers were matched with all aspects of shelter operations.

Diversity & Inclusion

[Video] Scotiabank’s Colpatria Celebrates International Day of the Girl! CEO Takeover Through Plan International’s “Girls Belong Here” Campaign

Oct 11, 2017 3:00 PM ET

Young people are our future leaders and it is crucial to provide them with the skills and resources they need to succeed. In honour of the International Day of the Girl today on October 11th and in partnership with Plan International’s “Girls Belong Here” campaign, Scotiabank’s Colombian subsidiary, Banco Colpartria welcomed Sindy Mosquera as “CEO” for the day on October 2nd.

Responsible Production & Consumption

On Track to Sustainably Source Oats

Oct 11, 2017 2:45 PM ET

Our beloved Cheerios were named Cheeri-Oats when they launched in 1941. So you know that oats have been at the core of our business for a long time. Dating back to 1928, in fact.

Today, nearly four years into our commitment to sustainably source our ingredients, we are well on our way – particularly with oats.

As a global food company, our business depends on quality ingredients being grown and available to us every year. We see the ingredients we buy as a way to be transparent about where and how crops for General Mills foods are grown. So, in 2013, we set out to sustainably source 100 percent of our ten priority ingredients by 2020.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

New CITGO Program Will Help Rebuild Following Devastating Hurricane Season

Oct 11, 2017 2:15 PM ET

CITGO Petroleum Corporation announced its Fueling Good. Rebuilding Lives. initiative today, which will contribute a percentage of CITGO gas station purchases at the pump to long-term recovery in the wake of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. For the next three months, 1 cent from every gallon of CITGO fuel purchased - up to $8 million - will be donated to qualified organizations that are helping local communities rebuild after the devastating impact of these natural disasters.

Events, Media & Communications

What Are Employee Donors Really Interested In? Oct. 24th Webinar to Unveil New Research!

Oct 11, 2017 2:05 PM ET

We spoke to more than 1,500 employee donors to find out what they expect from their employers, the charities they support, and from workplace giving programs in general. Join America's Charities’ free webinar on October 24th at 2 PM EST as we unveil our groundbreaking new research, Snapshot 2017: What Employees Think about Workplace Giving, Volunteering, and CSR.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Republic Services Beyond the Blue | And the Award goes to...

Oct 11, 2017 2:00 PM ET

We get that what we do — collecting waste, hauling and disposing of rubbish and sorting through recyclables is not glamorous work. We do not expect to see it portrayed on the big screen. But, it’s something we excel at — we’re increasingly recognized for doing it with pride and differentiation. We’re not just talking trash. We’re living our values every day.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Webinar // Taproot+ Live: Craft a Project Ask to Find the Right Skilled Volunteer

Oct 11, 2017 1:10 PM ET

If you work at a nonprofit, you probably find yourself putting off projects and plans due to shortages in budget or in-house expertise. With the support of volunteers with professional-level skills­­­—you can make those plans happen. Join Taproot’s upcoming webinar and learn everything you need to get started on Taproot+, the cost-free online platform that connects nonprofits with skilled volunteers for short-term pro bono projects.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

VIDEO | Mohawk Cushions the Fight Against Breast Cancer in 2017

Oct 11, 2017 12:55 PM ET

To help in the fight against breast cancer, Mohawk is once again partnering with Susan G. Komen® by sponsoring all seven of the organization’s 3-Day events, providing 8,000 pieces of durable, eco-friendly SmartCushionÔ to comfort walkers and crew members.

Diversity & Inclusion

5Capitals-G: Gender-Responsive Methodology for Value Chain Development

Oct 11, 2017 12:50 PM ET

Over the past decade value chain development has been widely promoted as a catalyst for rural economic growth. As smallholder farmers become increasingly integrated into value chains, how can scholars and development practitioners ensure that the benefits of participation accrue equitably to both women and men?

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Voya Financial Announces Third-Quarter 2017 Grant Recipients

Oct 11, 2017 12:45 PM ET

Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), today announced the nonprofit organizations that received grants in the third quarter of 2017 through Voya Foundation, the company’s charitable giving arm. Voya Foundation invests in programming to help foster healthy, sustainable communities and supports local and national nonprofits with missions that advance children’s education and financial resilience.

Research, Reports & Publications

INFOGRAPHIC | New Report from Delos: Health, Well-being, and the Evolution of ESG

Oct 11, 2017 12:30 PM ET

A growing number of studies show that office space design can significantly impact employee health, cognitive function and overall satisfaction. What does this mean for the investor?

Innovation & Technology

The Mind and The Machine: How Memory-Driven Computing is Contributing to the Cure for Alzheimer’s

Oct 11, 2017 12:15 PM ET

Health & Healthcare

Creating the Mentally Healthy Workplace

Oct 11, 2017 12:15 PM ET

For those of us working in the 21st century, we’ve experienced technologies, innovation and efficiencies in our personal lives and across the global marketplace that were unthinkable just a few decades ago. On World Mental Health Day, we’re focused on the solutions and so are many global employers.

Sustainable Development Goals

Pfizer’s Progress on 2020 Reduced Water Use Goals

Oct 11, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Pfizer believes in the importance of reducing human impact on the environment. As part of this, the company has pledged to reduce water use by five percent by 2020.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Help Puerto Rico and Hurricane Maria Relief Efforts

Oct 11, 2017 12:00 PM ET

The people affected by Hurricane Maria are in desperate need of aid. The Category 4 storm which struck Puerto Rico on September 20 has caused massive destruction and left 3.5 million people in crisis. A vast majority of the island is still without power. Food and fuel is scarce.
At PayPal, our thoughts go out to those who have been harmed by this terrible tragedy. We want to do all that we can, to help. We’ve launched a disaster relief campaign so that the PayPal community of customers and employees can respond, as you always do, in times of crisis. The campaign features charities that are working directly and through local partners to provide relief with emergency shelters, medical supplies, food and other forms of support. PayPal is covering all costs associated with these donations, en

Social Impact & Volunteering

Common Impact's Nonprofit Skills-Based Volunteering Toolkit

Oct 11, 2017 11:45 AM ET

We are excited to announce the launch of Common Impact’s Skills-Based Volunteering (SBV) Toolkit! Since 2000, Common Impact has supported nonprofits in effectively utilizing SBV to build internal capacity to better serve the community. Our decades of experience have proven that SBV holds great promise for both companies and nonprofits, and represents a sustainable resource for addressing social challenges, that complements traditional philanthropy and volunteerism.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Hormel Foods Announces Record Year of Giving

Oct 11, 2017 11:45 AM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Fighting the Cholera Epidemic in Yemen

Oct 11, 2017 11:20 AM ET

Since the beginning of the armed conflict in March 2015, the humanitarian situation has continued to deteriorate in Yemen. According to the UN, nearly 80% of the population needs humanitarian assistance, particularly regarding access to healthcare. The cholera epidemic is part of this very deteriorated health situation and the spread of the disease cannot be prevented without decisive action to end it quickly.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Duke Energy Work From Home Program Benefits Customers, Employees

Oct 11, 2017 11:20 AM ET

Mike Weatherspoon didn’t create his Duke Room for watching Duke University Blue Devils basketball. It’s for taking calls as a senior customer service virtual care specialist at Duke Energy.

Energy

VIDEO | Discover How to Maximize Energy Efficiency and Get Results by Being Sustainable

Oct 11, 2017 11:20 AM ET

We help AEG increase overall efficiency and reduce total resource consumption. We partnered in developing sustainability objectives for 2020 and deployed the technology to monitor progress against goals.