ESG News from Leading Brands

Events, Media & Communications

How Has CSR Trended So Far in 2017?

Sep 5, 2017 5:25 PM ET

To date, 2017 has been a roller coaster ride for companies dedicated to commitment to corporate social responsibility. Membership data compiled this summer by CECP – the CEO Force for Good shows that despite a dip in public advocacy for progressive environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues immediately following the election of President Donald Trump, the movement of “brands taking stands” has dramatically resurged.

Innovation & Technology

Collaboration on Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Sep 5, 2017 4:55 PM ET

Boeing is an industry leader in fostering sustainable aviation fuel development around the world. Biofuel represents a significant, untapped opportunity to reduce aviation emissions, meet the industry’s environmental goals and support long-term sustainable growth.

Social Impact & Volunteering

20,000+ Young People Are Leading the Way to Make Their Communities Healthier With Get HYPE Philly!

Sep 5, 2017 4:00 PM ET

Philly students go back to school – and back to Get HYPE Philly! This is the third year of our GSK IMPACT Grant with a collective of 10 nonprofits that are engaging youth as leaders in underserved Philadelphia neighborhoods to promote health through urban agriculture, healthy eating, physical activity and entrepreneurship.

Events, Media & Communications

Artists and Entertainers’ Hurricane Harvey Relief Telethon to Support Habitat for Humanity’s Recovery Efforts

Sep 5, 2017 4:00 PM ET

Habitat for Humanity’s response to Hurricane Harvey will get a boost as one of six beneficiaries of “Hand in Hand: A Benefit for Hurricane Harvey Relief” telethon that will air nationally on Tuesday, Sept. 12, from 8-9 p.m. EDT. The telethon will feature some of the nation’s biggest stars coming together to raise funds for those affected by Hurricane Harvey. Funds raised for Habitat for Humanity will go directly to support the organization’s response to Harvey.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Kohler Associates Experience Water Scarcity, Explore Global WaSH Issues.

Sep 5, 2017 4:00 PM ET

Kohler associates explored solutions for UN Sustainable Development Goal #6 (access to clean water and safe sanitation) by experiencing water scarcity firsthand.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Who's Afraid of MIFID 2?: Fixing Wall Street’s Broken Plumbing

Sep 5, 2017 3:15 PM ET

The European Union (EU) has sweeping reforms of financial markets coming into force January 3, 2018. They will affect Wall Street firms in many ways, covering all transactions of EU securities wherever traded worldwide. Whether the firm is on the buy-side: portfolio managers, mutual funds, institutional investors, or on the sell-side: broker-dealers, investment advisors, researchers, consultants, MIFID II will affect business models, research, trading, reporting and order execution.

Innovation & Technology

Five Years Out: The European Space Agency’s Rosetta Spacecraft

Sep 5, 2017 2:40 PM ET

In September of 2016, the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Rosetta probe successfully ended its 12-year journey with a planned landing on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Implementing a Successful Public-Private Partnership | Part 2: Determining When and How Long to Engage

Sep 5, 2017 2:30 PM ET

How does a company or organization develop and sustain successful public-private partnerships to achieve large-scale impact?

Determine when, and how long, to engage: Successful public-private partnership programs are strategic multi-year, multi-phased engagements, not single transactions. It’s important to provide flexibility in the level and length of engagement. But, to have large-scale impact, a core set of partners should be committed for the long-term.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Qualcomm Announces $1 Million Donation to Hurricane Harvey Relief

Sep 5, 2017 2:15 PM ET

Our thoughts are with all those who have been displaced and severely impacted due to the catastrophic effects of Hurricane Harvey, and we are strongly committed to supporting relief, response, and rebuilding efforts.

Education

Introducing the Rural Spark Project: A Chance for Rural Students to Have Bright Futures in STEM

Sep 5, 2017 2:00 PM ET

For students growing up in rural communities, access to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs can be limited. Poor retention of teachers and lack of technology are just two factors that often times leave rural schools unable to provide the same type of STEM education that students in urban or suburban districts receive. To address this issue, Astellas USA Foundation launched the Rural Spark Project through a multi-year grant with Project Lead The Way (PLTW) over the next three years.

Health & Healthcare

Gilead Implements Emergency Disaster Response Procedures to Ensure Medicine Access

Sep 5, 2017 1:40 PM ET

Education

Scotiabank Financial Knowledge: Talking with Kids about Money

Sep 5, 2017 1:35 PM ET

Scotiabank’s sponsorship of the Canadian Foundation for Economic Education’s Talk With Our Kids About Money promotes financial literacy and helped reach over half a million students in 6,000 schools across Canada over the past year.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

HanesBrands Donates More Than 1 Million Items of Underwear and Activewear to Assist Hurricane Harvey Victims

Sep 5, 2017 12:45 PM ET

HanesBrands announced today that it is donating more than five trailer loads of underwear and activewear to assist victims of flooding from Hurricane Harvey in Texas and the Gulf Coast. Hanes is partnering with nonprofit charity Delivering Good and North Carolina-based transportation company Glen Raven Logistics to get the more than 1 million items of underwear, socks, intimate apparel, T-shirts and activewear fleece valued at more than $2 million to flooding victims.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Merck’s Response to Hurricane Harvey

Sep 5, 2017 12:20 PM ET

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Voya Promotes A Lifetime of Financial Well-being

Sep 5, 2017 12:05 PM ET

Managing one’s finances can be challenging and stressful, and Voya is committed to enabling all Americans to achieve a secure financial future. We use our core competency — financial knowledge — to educate Americans of all ages, and offer tools and solutions that help them achieve financially secure futures. This year’s Corporate Responsibility Annual Report highlights the strategies and programs Voya has in place to promote a lifetime of financial well-being.

Health & Healthcare

The International WELL Building Institute™ Launches the WELL Community Standard™ to Promote Human Health and Wellness on a District Scale

Sep 5, 2017 11:45 AM ET

Today, the International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™) opens registration for the WELL Community Standard™ pilot, a companion to the pioneering WELL Building Standard™ (WELLä). Grounded in evidence-based research and developed through consultation with leading physicians, scientists and public health professionals, as well as city planners, engineers and architects, the WELL Community Standard is a district-scale rating system centered exclusively on human health and wellness.

Innovation & Technology

#TechstarsATL: Get to Know FarmCrowdy

Sep 5, 2017 11:30 AM ET

Techstars Atlanta is presented in partnership with Cox Enterprises and is part of a worldwide network that helps entrepreneurs succeed. Applications for the 2017 program’s 10 coveted spots came from 41 countries around the globe. FarmCrowdy, one of the participants, is an Agric-Tech platform focused on connecting small-scale farmers with funding from the middle-class to boost food production and provide healthy ROI.

Innovation & Technology

#TechstarsATL: Get to Know Rapid RMS

Sep 5, 2017 11:30 AM ET

Techstars Atlanta is presented in partnership with Cox Enterprises and is part of a worldwide network that helps entrepreneurs succeed. Applications for the 2017 program’s 10 coveted spots came from 41 countries around the globe. Rapid RMS is one of the participants.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Global Social Impact at Tupperware Brands

Sep 5, 2017 11:20 AM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

After Seven Years in Foster Care, Teen Boy is Adopted

Sep 5, 2017 11:00 AM ET

When Phoenix Creech was adopted on July 14th, it ended seven years of uncertainty. Phoenix had been in foster care for 2,598 days before finally being adopted by his forever family. His Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiter never gave up hope and we are so thankful she didn’t.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Finalists Named for Boston’s Cox Conserves Heroes Program, Public Asked to Vote

Sep 5, 2017 10:30 AM ET

WFXT Boston 25, in partnership with The Trust for Public Land are recognizing volunteers who are creating, preserving or enhancing shared outdoor spaces. Finalists for Boston’s Cox Conserves Heroes program were announced today, and the public is being asked to vote for the winner now through September 25th.

Health & Healthcare

WELL Story: Light at Arup

Sep 5, 2017 10:15 AM ET

Energy

Domtar Inaugurates Its Second Generating Unit at Windsor Mill

Sep 5, 2017 10:15 AM ET

Domtar is proud to inaugurate its second generating unit with a power output of 18 MW at its Windsor (Quebec) Mill.

The start-up of its second generating unit, built for $36 million, will improve the energy efficiency of the mill produced from renewable resources while reducing production costs.

Green Infrastructure

We Have to Look Beyond Electric Cars If We Want Sustainable Cities Fit for the Future

Sep 5, 2017 10:15 AM ET

The WBCSD's Peter White argues that cities need to be strategic and take a holistic public-private approach to tackling air pollution and rising greenhouse gas emissions

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Northern Trust Supports Harvey Victims

Sep 5, 2017 10:15 AM ET