ESG News from Leading Brands

Media & Communications

Harvard Business Review – Increased Focus on Corporate Sustainability, Convening CEOs for Critical Conversations on the Theme

Dec 18, 2017 12:15 PM ET

Harvard Business Review is one of the most powerful of external influences for the corporate C-suite. Ideas, concepts and themes appearing in the pages (digital and print) of HBR create important initiatives in American companies. HBR editors are focusing these days on corporate sustainability in various dimensions.

Environment

To Boldly Go to the Next New Frontier, Look Down

Dec 18, 2017 12:00 PM ET

We support the recent Noble Research Institute announcement. To date, General Mills has invested almost $3 million to support soil health research and practices. Together with The Nature Conservancy, Soil Health Partnership, Soil Health Institute and other industry leaders, we are striving to implement practices on more than 50 percent of U.S. farmland.

Innovation & Technology

Podcast | UPS Longitudes Radio: You Want to Return That Bad Gift … What’s Next?

Dec 18, 2017 11:10 AM ET

In this episode of Longitudes Radio, Toby Moore, the leader of Optoro, the reverse logistics company, explains how an innovative returns approach creates return customers. Listen to the podcast, then subscribe to Longitudes Radio so you’ll be among the first to know about new episodes.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Smallholder Farmers Alliance and Timberland Anticipate Haiti’s First Cotton Harvest in 30 Years

Dec 18, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Last August, Haiti’s Smallholder Farmers Alliance and global outdoor lifestyle brand, Timberland, planted cotton seeds at a trial site near Gonaives, with the intention to bring cotton growing back to Haiti after a 30 year hiatus. Four months later, the cotton plants are thriving and at various stages of maturing.

Media & Communications

Jack Daniel's and the Armed Services YMCA Kick Off Seventh Year of "Operation Ride Home"

Dec 18, 2017 11:00 AM ET

For the seventh year, the Jack Daniel Distillery and the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) have kicked off their “Operation Ride Home” campaign that provides financial assistance to active duty junior-enlisted military and their families to travel from their place of military service to “home” for the holidays.

Environment

The Importance of EHS & Sustainability Stakeholder Engagement: 3 Insights From the 2017 Edelman Trust Barometer Survey

Dec 18, 2017 10:55 AM ET

Antea Group’s insights on the 2017 Edelman Trust Barometer Survey as it relates to the success of an organization and its EHS programs

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Northern Trust Employees Volunteer with Sun United Way and The Salvation Army

Dec 18, 2017 10:45 AM ET

Thank you Valley of the Sun United Way and The Salvation Army for allowing us to volunteer for your Christmas Angel program by distributing toys to children and families in need!

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Financial Services for Real People: Using Behavioral Science to Boost Financial Health in Latin America

Dec 18, 2017 10:15 AM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Help Us Continue Life-Changing Work

Dec 18, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Emily was adopted from foster care when she was just a year old. Today, she is 6 and thriving as a member of her forever family. Often times, children linger in foster care for years before their forever family is found. The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption works each and every day to dramatically increase the number of adoptions from foster care. Our work is changing the attitudes of Americans who are now considering foster care adoption more and more, who believe that every child is worth of a family and love and who believe that children are in foster care through no fault of their own.

Innovation & Technology

Arrow Electronics-Sponsored Student Team Takes 2nd Place at World Robot Olympiad

Dec 18, 2017 9:55 AM ET

A team of two German 15-year-old students sponsored by global technology-solutions provider Arrow Electronics won second place in the Open Junior category at the 2017 World Robot Olympiad (WRO) finals in San Jose, Costa Rica last month.

Research, Reports & Publications

Bechtel Build 100 Blog | Summary of the 2017 Bechtel Sustainability Report

Dec 18, 2017 9:45 AM ET

Bechtel summarizes their 2017 Sustainability Report.

Research, Reports & Publications

VIDEO | Aflac Releases Its 2017 Survey on Corporate Social Responsibility

Dec 18, 2017 9:40 AM ET

Last week, Aflac Chief Brand and Communications Officer Catherine Blades, and Reputation Institution Chief Research Officer Stephen Hahn Griffiths, discussed the findings of Aflac’s 2017 Survey on Corporate Social Responsibility with 31 television and radio stations across the country. This annual, scientific survey collects the thoughts and expectations of 1,000 consumers and investors regarding business ethics and responsibility.

Green Infrastructure

WELL Story: Air at Haworth Kerry Center, Shanghai

Dec 18, 2017 9:10 AM ET

The air we breathe can have a profound effect on our health, wellness and productivity. Air pollution is a growing concern across the world, and as a result it is more important than ever to ensure that our indoor air quality is optimized to support human health. We sat down with the project team that worked on the WELL Certified Haworth Kerry Center in Shanghai to discuss how they implemented design and construction strategies to address the WELL Air concept.

Energy

VIDEO | Don’t Struggle With Your Utility Bills This Winter

Dec 18, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Winter has officially hit West Michigan and the freezing temperatures have arrived. For many families the cost of keeping the heat on hits close to home.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Louisville-Based Texas Roadhouse Teams-up With Christian Appalachian Project to Impact Lives of Children and Families in Appalachia

Dec 18, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Christian Appalachian Project (CAP) is a nonprofit, interdenominational organization in Appalachia committed to serving people in need through self-help human service programs. They are creating a community of care through a network of programs and services.

Much of the work accomplished by CAP is made possible by the generosity, support, and service of community and corporate partners like Louisville-based Texas Roadhouse. A valued corporate partner for the past seven years, Texas Roadhouse enjoys giving back and working in the community, and has sent volunteer teams annually to complete an array of projects.

CAP and the local Texas Roadhouse leadership realized they share the same passion for making an impact in the lives of children and their families in Appalachia.

Research, Reports & Publications

Benchmarking Reporting: GRI’s New Service Reveals Trends and Opportunities

Dec 18, 2017 9:00 AM ET

GRI’s new Benchmarking Service helps you to understand how your reporting compares to what your peers are doing in your industry, country and region, and is a useful tool to showcase the ROI of sustainability reporting.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Caterpillar Foundation, Employees and Retirees Invest $11.2 Million in United Way

Dec 18, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) employees and retirees together with the Caterpillar Foundation have pledged more than $11.2 million to United Way agencies across the United States as part of its 2017-2018 campaign. This amount includes a dollar-for-dollar matching grant from the Caterpillar Foundation. The United Way has been Caterpillar’s only annual corporate-sponsored charitable solicitation for funds to its employees and retirees for more than 60 years.

Innovation & Technology

Intelligent Traffic and High-Speed Systems: The Next Generation of Transportation

Dec 18, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Thanks to a host of recent technological developments, the transportation industry is once again on the edge of a major transformation. Of course, the industry is no stranger to change. It hasn’t even been two centuries since the automobile was created and yet we’re already seeing bounding leaps in technology, creating advances like electric vehicles, ride-sharing services, self-driving cars and more. Today, the advances only continue to evolve—with a few precautions.

Environment

SCS Reaches New Carbon Offset Milestone at 125 Million Metric Tons Verified

Dec 18, 2017 9:00 AM ET

SCS Global Services (SCS) has achieved a new milestone, crossing the 125 million metric tons CO2e mark for carbon offsets verified. This achievement reflects greenhouse gas (GHG) offset projects evaluated over nearly 10 years by SCS, including projects focused on forests and land-use, agriculture, renewable energy, ozone depleting substances (ODS), and more.

Sustainable Development Goals

Building a Business Ecosystem on the Strength of Farmers

Dec 18, 2017 8:55 AM ET

Postobón SA, Colombia’s leading producer of non-alcoholic beverages, has joined Business Call to Action (BCtA) with a pledge to provide stable livelihoods for 3,000 smallholder farmers through is integrated supply chain by 2020, impacting 15,000 people in all (including farm workers and farmers’ families. To achieve this, the company aims to increase the percentage fruits supplied through its inclusive programme called Hit Social Postobón, to 40 percent by that same year.

Education

Giving Enterprise Tech New Life and Purpose to Support STEM Education

Dec 18, 2017 8:50 AM ET

Millions of people from all around the world connect on eBay. Each time that happens, something positive happens in the world. These are the stories of everyday people on eBay making an extraordinary difference in the lives of others.

Education

Wendy's High School Heisman Announces 2017 National Winners

Dec 18, 2017 8:45 AM ET

The most prestigious award in high school athletics has named Soleil Gaylord, a Mountain Runner from Colorado, and Jackson Destine, a Wrestler from Florida, as National Winners of Wendy's® High School Heisman® Scholarship. Chosen from high school seniors at more than 30,000 schools around the country, Soleil and Jackson will take home a $10,000 college scholarship.

Sustainable Development Goals

Schneider Electric VIDEO: A Meaningful Purpose for Today and Tomorrow: The Impact of Sustainable Business Development

Dec 18, 2017 8:15 AM ET

What is your company doing to turn business development into something sustainable? Increasingly, the data shows that organizations taking initiative to address climate change are positioning their business to succeed both in the market and as advocates for social change. Sustainable development isn’t just about improving the world for future generations — it’s a meaningful purpose for today and tomorrow.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Smithfield Foods: Our People Infographic

Dec 18, 2017 8:05 AM ET

A People-Oriented Company- 52,000 employees worldwide. Team Smithfield- employee program focused on strengthening company culture and building support for our social purpose.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Xylem Hungary Hosts Watermark Family Day

Dec 18, 2017 8:00 AM ET

The Xylem team in Cegled, Hungary held a Watermark Family Day and Music for Water Event as part of this year's Global Month of Service.