ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

Scotiabank Impact Story: Helping Create a New Generation of Renewable Energy Workers

Dec 7, 2017 2:25 PM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

The ROI of Health and Well-Being: Business Investment in Healthier Communities

Dec 7, 2017 2:15 PM ET

The World Economic Forum estimates a cumulative economic output loss of $47 trillion over the next two decades from noncommunicable diseases, like cancer, diabetes, and mental health. As businesses acknowledge the importance of health in the workplace, they are also beginning to recognize the relationship between their employees' health and the communities where their employees and customers live.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Smithfield Foods Video: Helping Hungry Homes Overview

Dec 7, 2017 2:05 PM ET

Since its inception, our Helping Hungry Homes program has addressed the issue of hunger in America by donating nearly 100 million servings of protein to food banks across the country.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Imagine What Is Possible When We’re Giving Back Together

Dec 7, 2017 2:00 PM ET

“At VMware, we believe that each person has something unique to contribute. Thus, everyone can be a Citizen Philanthropist,” says Jessamine Chin, director of the VMware Foundation. “With those unique contributions, each person has the ability to effect positive change in the world.”

Environment

Sami Grover on Planes, Trains and Automobiles of the Future

Dec 7, 2017 1:20 PM ET

As many of us prepare for the hectic holiday hustle of planes, trains and automobiles, we might be thinking about how our travel plans are going to increase our carbon footprints.

Research, Reports & Publications

Gen Z: The Next Conscious Group of Consumers

Dec 7, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Ninety four percent of Gen Z believe companies should take actions to address critial issues that may not be relevant to everyday business operations, according to the 2017 Cone Gen Z CSR Study: How to Speak Z.

Education

Girl Scouts Target GM’s Waste for Their Sustainability Project

Dec 7, 2017 1:00 PM ET

GM is a believer in the circular economy where people design items so they stay in use. The company and its suppliers work often with the next generation of leaders to help them see items not as they are, but what they can become – key to ensuring sustainability remains top of mind long into the future.

Environment

Indonesia and Japan Committed to Realizing Low-Carbon Development

Dec 7, 2017 11:05 AM ET

At the recent climate-change conference in Bonn, Germany, ministers of the environment for both Indonesia and Japan reiterated their commitment to create sustainable economic growth and low-carbon development.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Duke Energy Joins Industry Initiative to Enhance Sustainability Reporting for Investors

Dec 7, 2017 11:05 AM ET

Duke Energy, an industry leader in transparent environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting, is now helping pilot an innovative industry-wide approach to better communicate progress on ESG and sustainability issues.

Energy

Whirlpool Corporation in Ottawa Going Wind Power

Dec 7, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Whirlpool Corporation has completed installation of wind turbine near Ottawa, OH plant that is expected to generate energy quantities equivalent to the amount needed to power 300 - 400 American homes.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Timberland and #500Employers Commit to Recruiting National Service Alumni

Dec 7, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Yesterday, the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) reached a major milestone, announcing that more than 500 public and private-sector companies have now joined its Employers for National Service initiative, which connects graduates of its programs with potential employers. Global outdoor lifestyle brand Timberland joined the Employers for National Service initiative in October, ensuring any verified alumni of AmeriCorps or Peace Corps who apply for corporate job opportunities at Timberland will be guaranteed consideration.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Brothers Will Grow Together Thanks to Adoption

Dec 7, 2017 11:00 AM ET

The foster care adoption process can seem long and unending, but it is always worth it. Isaac and Teague spent nearly 1,400 days in foster care. That’s almost four years! Today they are home, together and excited to celebrate the holiday season with their forever family. Their mom shared, “It was a long journey with lots of ups and downs but these boys needed us and we needed them.”

Social Impact & Volunteering

Bringing Power to Puerto Rico

Dec 7, 2017 10:30 AM ET

When Wayne Hirschmann – Supervisor, Field Service, Technical Support, and Troy Erickson – Service Application Specialist, boarded the Kohler plane bound for Puerto Rico, they didn't know where they would be staying, exactly what they would be doing or when they would be coming home.

Diversity & Inclusion

Beyond The Yellow Ribbon

Dec 7, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Hormel Foods was recognized by the Minnesota Department of Military Affairs for making the support and care of service members, veterans and their families a priority. Our veteran employees share what the the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon distinction means to them.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Nominations Open for 2018 CR Magazine 11th Annual Responsible CEO of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Awards

Dec 7, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Nominations are now being accepted for CR Magazine’s 11th annual Responsible CEO Award and Lifetime Achievement Award, given to corporate leaders committed to a progressive environmental, social and governance (ESG) agenda.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Essity Pledges Responsible Sourcing of Fiber in Vancouver Declaration

Dec 7, 2017 9:25 AM ET

The Vancouver Declaration is a public promise made by companies across the globe to work towards more sustainable sourcing of forest products. It also acts as an endorsement of FSC as our supplier of choice for certification of forest products. The Vancouver Declarations have also been signed by other sustainable companies, such as IKEA and H&M.

Environment

Domtar Sustainability Monthly Minute | November - December 2017

Dec 7, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Turkey is at the top of many menus this time of year. But when the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded in 1973, only 1.5 million wild turkeys were living in North America. Today, that number is nearly 7 million. Watch Tom Kain, procurement forester at Domtar's Kingsport, Tennessee mill explain how responsible forest management protects the habitat of this unique species.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Amplifying Your Corporate Community Investment Program

Dec 7, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Large grants allow charities to implement programs and projects that are mission critical to advance their causes. However, as the landscape of community investment changes, so too does the opportunity to increase both the social and business ROI of grants. Find out how Benevity helps companies achieve better business and social outcomes by aligning their community investment and employee engagement strategies.

Sustainable Development Goals

Ashoka and Schneider Electric Foundation Support Social Entrepreneurs to Tackle European Fuel Poverty

Dec 7, 2017 9:10 AM ET

In the past decade, fuel poverty has become a major challenge in Europe, where 50 to 125 million people are considered to be living in fuel poverty. One of the most serious consequences of fuel poverty is related to health. Insufficient heating affects the living conditions and health of households. Then, the poor insulation of houses, combined with inappropriate secondary heating, affects greenhouse gas emissions.

Social Impact & Volunteering

How This Woman Spread Her Wings Through Volunteering

Dec 7, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Each year, HP employees around the world volunteer in their local communities. I recently applied for a Time Off Community Support Grant from the HP Foundation, which allows HP employees to take a full week of paid time off to dedicate concentrated, meaningful time to a charitable organization.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Natural Gas Market: Strengthening Foundations for Long-Term Growth

Dec 7, 2017 9:00 AM ET

The dominant sentiment within the natural gas industry is that the current low price environment is likely here to stay. Throughout the value chain, industry players who were once awaiting a market recovery are now taking a different, but more holistic, view on planning for the future: a view that is focused on optimizing current assets, rightsizing workforces and incorporating cost-cutting measures.

Research, Reports & Publications

For Power Industry, Innovation Is Key

Dec 7, 2017 9:00 AM ET

For Power Industry, Innovation is Key. For electric utilities, innovation will be key to helping the industry evolve and prepare for the future.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Mohawk Group’s Lichen Wins Interior Design Best of Year Award for Modular Carpet

Dec 7, 2017 8:45 AM ET

Mohawk Group’s Lichen modular carpet, which merges leading concepts in biophilic design and sustainability, took home a coveted Best of Year Award from Interior Design magazine over the weekend in New York.

Health & Healthcare

Individuals Working Together to Eliminate Trachoma

Dec 7, 2017 8:30 AM ET

Every day, thousands of individuals work in different capacities toward the global elimination of trachoma, a neglected tropical disease (NTD) and the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness. From manufacturing the antibiotic used to help treat trachoma, to distributing medication in affected communities, to performing surgery on those suffering from trichiasis, the blinding stage of trachoma, the roles in the fight to eliminate this disease are wide-ranging.

Health & Healthcare

Healthy for Life® 20 By 20 Year Two Report

Dec 7, 2017 7:35 AM ET

In 2015, Aramark and the American Heart Association teamed up to launch an innovative initiative called Healthy for Life 20 By 20 to improve the health of Americans 20 percent by 2020.