ESG News from Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Eckrich®, Operation Homefront, Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions, and Former Professional Beach Volleyball Player Christopher “Sinjin” Smith Partnered to Honor Local Military Family

Oct 4, 2017 8:55 AM ET

Eckrich®, the makers of naturally hardwood smoked sausage and perfectly seasoned deli meats, partnered with Albertsons, Vons, Pavilions, former professional volleyball player Christopher “Sinjin” Smith, and Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit that serves America’s military

Environment

TD Bank Group Participates in Largest Transaction Involving Forest Carbon Capture in Quebec

Oct 4, 2017 8:30 AM ET

On September 19, 2017, TD Bank Group and Just Energy announced the purchase of 140,000 tonnes of voluntary carbon credits from Solifor Perthuis. As the largest transaction in Quebec involving forest carbon capture, the offsets were acquired from established plantation forests just west of Quebec City, in the Portneuf region.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Paper Doesn’t (Just) Grow on Trees: Rolland Innovates Smarter Paper

Oct 4, 2017 8:20 AM ET

It is arguably counter-productive to think our modern business world will ever be entirely “paperless.” Focusing instead on production, consumption, and the supply chain connecting all stakeholders can lead to a sustainable “Less Paper” society. Though “Smarter Paper” may be a more accurate moniker.

Sustainable Development Goals

SC Johnson Accelerates Pace to Meet Zero Waste to Landfill Goal

Oct 4, 2017 7:00 AM ET

SC Johnson is poised to do at most of its manufacturing facilities what for many families seems impossible to do at home – throw nothing out. The company announced today that it is ahead of schedule in meeting a goal to send zero manufacturing waste to landfill from its factories by 2021.

Events, Media & Communications

Webinar: Transforming Business and Industries to Deliver Long-Term Impacts

Oct 4, 2017 6:00 AM ET

Increasingly businesses are realising that small sustainable impacts are no longer enough. To meet the UN Global Goals and 2 Degree target requires a wholesale shift in thinking and operations across both the business and industry.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Habitat for Humanity Prepares Long-term Hurricane Recovery Plan for Puerto Rico

Oct 3, 2017 7:05 PM ET

In response to the overwhelming destruction caused by Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, Habitat for Humanity has expanded its Habitat Hammers Back initiative to aid impacted families and individuals on the island.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Indiana University, Kelley School and Whirlpool Partnering on 2017 Habitat for Humanity Campus Build in Bloomington

Oct 3, 2017 5:55 PM ET

Whirlpool Corporation is sponsoring a home building project in Bloomington, IN, as part of a partnership with Habitat for Humanity, Indiana University and the university's Kelley School of Business.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Hormel Foods Honored with Employer of the Year Award

Oct 3, 2017 5:15 PM ET

Hormel Foods was recently recognized with a silver Stevie Award in the Employer of the Year – Food and Beverage category. Stevie Awards recognize the world’s best employers and the human resources professionals, team achievements and HR-related products and suppliers who help create and drive best places to work.

Sustainable Development Goals

Supply Chain Management at Sappi North America

Oct 3, 2017 5:00 PM ET

We approach environmental responsibility from a holistic perspective grounded in life cycle thinking—looking carefully at raw material use, energy generation, manufacturing and the end of life of our products. We work across the supply chain to drive change within our spheres of influence.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Bloomberg’s New European Headquarters Rated World’s Most Sustainable Office Building

Oct 3, 2017 3:55 PM ET

Opening later this month in the City of London, Bloomberg’s new European headquarters is the world’s most sustainable office building, as designed. The building achieved an ‘Outstanding’ rating against the BREEAM sustainability assessment method, with a 98.5% score. This is the highest design-stage score ever achieved by any major office development.

Environment

Announcing the Next Step in Our Circular Economy Journey—Starting With Orlando to Increase Recycling Rates Nationally

Oct 3, 2017 3:15 PM ET

For the past three years, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation has been on a journey to help the private sector and communities realize the value and implement the principles of the circular economy in the United States.

We’ve hosted tours and conferences, released research and case studies—but today, I’m excited to announce the next step in our circular economy journey: the city location for our Beyond 34: Recycling and Recovery for a New Economy project.

Innovation & Technology

Q&A About Data Science Code of Ethics With Lilian Huang of Data for Democracy

Oct 3, 2017 2:35 PM ET

A new initiative from Bloomberg, BrightHive, and Data for Democracy is looking to create shared values on the ethics of data science. In September, at Bloomberg’s 2017 Data for Good Exchange (D4GX), the group announced a project called the “Community Principles on Ethical Data Sharing” (or CPEDS), which is designed to develop a set of guidelines for data scientists related to data sharing and collaboration on data-driven projects.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Bacardi, Sus Marcas y Socios Distribuyen $215,000 USD a la Cruz Roja, UNICEF, Construyendo y Otras Organizaciones en México

Oct 3, 2017 2:30 PM ET

Como parte de su compromiso con la ayuda en desastres, Bacardi brindará fondos para alivio inmediato y reconstrucción a largo plazo a organizaciones no gubernamentales que están trabajando para restaurar algún sentido de normalidad en las zonas afectadas. Bacardi donará un total de US$100,000 para labores de asistencia a los damnificados. La mitad de esta aportación está siendo entregada a la Cruz Roja y UNICEF ($25,000 USD a cada uno), mientras que los otros $50,000 USD se donarán a otras organizaciones enfocadas en la reconstrucción.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Booz Allen Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer Susan Penfield Named to National Board of Directors for SEED SPOT

Oct 3, 2017 2:20 PM ET

Diversity & Inclusion

‘We Want Equal Opportunity’

Oct 3, 2017 2:00 PM ET

Wells Fargo team members like Stacey Milbern look forward to raising awareness and celebrating inclusive workplaces during National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October.

Innovation & Technology

GM Outlines All-Electric Path to Zero Emissions

Oct 3, 2017 2:00 PM ET

General Motors announced today how it is executing on a major element of its vision of a world with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion, recently announced by GM Chairman and CEO Mary Barra.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Scotiabank is Proud to Support One Million Kids and Counting … and it's Only the Beginning

Oct 3, 2017 1:50 PM ET

Scotiabank has reached the important milestone of supporting one million kids and counting, through its commitment to kids' community hockey across Canada, since 2008.

Energy

Ecocentricity Blog: David and Goliath

Oct 3, 2017 12:30 PM ET

Think about the energy that you use each day. Utility-generated electricity, gasoline-fueled mobility, and heat from natural gas are probably the largest sources, and each is powered by fossil fuels. If you wanted to “cut the cord” on these energy needs, how could you possibly do it?

Environment

Cynthia Figge to Speak at SB New Metrics '17

Oct 3, 2017 12:30 PM ET

CSRHub Co-Founder and CEO, Cynthia Figge, will be speaking at Sustainable Brands New Metrics ’17 Conference, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, held on November 13-15, 2017. Cynthia will speak at the plenary on Nov. 14th on “From Disclosure to Performance: Building the Virtuous Loop”.

Education

Picking Up ‘STEAM’

Oct 3, 2017 12:30 PM ET

When Grayson Fast, a student at Horizon Middle School in Aurora, CO, first started working on a school project aimed at designing an artificial limb for a local military veteran, she knew it would have a significant impact on the recipient’s life – but she didn’t realize it would gain national attention and alter the future of custom prosthetics for people with disabilities.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Visa Named Among Leading Companies for Political Disclosures

Oct 3, 2017 12:15 PM ET

Visa’s commitment to transparency in political disclosures has led to the company being named a “Trendsetter” on the 2017 CPA-Zicklin Index of Corporate Political Disclosure and Accountability, one of the most comprehensive rankings of the political disclosures and accountability practices of leading public companies in the U.S.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

DC Scores Names Volkswagen Group of America Executives to Its Board of Directors

Oct 3, 2017 12:00 PM ET

DC SCORES took another big step towards expansion by bringing eight corporate leaders onto its Board of Directors. These leaders, and the 14 Board members they are joining, are charged with growing DC SCORES sustainably and responsibly to serve every child in DC in need of a team.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Case Study: Sustainability Reporting Helps Direct Focus and Generate Savings

Oct 3, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Read how LM Wind Power is using the GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards to create positive change, drive continuous improvement and generate savings.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Chase Operation Homefront, and the Scott Brothers Present Mortgage-Free Home to Military Family

Oct 3, 2017 12:00 PM ET

JPMorgan Chase & Co., Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit that builds strong, stable, and secure military families, recently partnered with TV personalities, entrepreneurs, and authors, Drew and Jonathan Scott, and Asian Real Estate Association of America Education Foundation to present and award a military family with a mortgage-free home donated by Chase.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Chatbot Partners with Viacom’s LISTEN Campaign to Combat U.S. Addiction Crisis

Oct 3, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Stndby, an innovative new messaging platform, customized for the LISTEN campaign, launched today to connect those struggling with drug and alcohol addiction to essential resources for prevention, treatment and recovery. By texting “LISTEN” (547836) on their mobile devices, users can begin a safe and anonymous online dialogue with Stndby’s chatbot to receive personalized help, including information about nearby treatment and rehabilitation facilities, addiction support group meetings, and other means of assistance.

The product’s unveiling dovetails with the efforts of LISTEN, a national campaign by global media company Viacom, to break down the shame and stigma attached to addiction and kick-start a conversation focused on solutions.