ESG News from Leading Brands

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

On National Day of Service, Jonathan and Drew Scott Urge Support of Habitat Hammers Back Hurricane Recovery Initiative

Sep 12, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Jonathan and Drew Scott are urging support of Habitat for Humanity’s response to Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma in a new public service announcement out today. Through the Habitat Hammers Back initiative, the global housing nonprofit is assisting families in Texas and has begun assessing damages in Florida and the Caribbean.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Timberland Supports WWII Veterans and Honor Flight New England

Sep 12, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Recently, employees of outdoor lifestyle brand Timberland took a few hours away from their desks to participate in an in-house service event in support of Honor Flight New England. Honor Flight’s mission is to transport America’s veterans to Washington, D.C. to visit and reflect at the memorials dedicated to honoring their service and sacrifices.

Innovation & Technology

Implementing a Successful Public-Private Partnership | Part 3: Determine How to Execute

Sep 12, 2017 11:35 AM ET

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

Determine how to execute: The partnership must develop a clear vision, differentiated strategy, and detailed execution plan to drive long-term success. This includes defining outcomes for the PPP that are informed through stakeholder input, establishing an effective governance structure with clearly defined and transparent operating practices, and agreeing upon roles and accountabilities in advance.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Merck Donates $1 Million to Hand in Hand Hurricane Relief Fund

Sep 12, 2017 11:25 AM ET

Today, Merck announced a donation of $1 million to the Hand in Hand Hurricane Relief Fund to support Hand in Hand: A Benefit for Hurricane Relief television fundraiser. The one-hour special will include a host of celebrities who are supporting Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma disaster relief. The special will air live on Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. EST and re-air at 8 p.m. PST.

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar's Human Rights Policy

Sep 12, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Energy

Black & Veatch and Renewable Energy Test Center Launch New Energy Storage Bankability Service

Sep 12, 2017 11:00 AM ET

Black & Veatch, a leading engineering, construction and consulting company, and Renewable Energy Test Center (RETC), an engineering services, and certification testing provider for photovoltaic and renewable energy products, today announced the launch of a new energy storage bankability service. The bankability service reflects the growing need for advanced testing and assessments of products, processes and technologies supporting the fast-growing photovoltaics (PV) and energy storage markets.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

CBRE Group, Inc. Earns Place on Dow Jones Sustainability Index for Fourth Consecutive Year

Sep 12, 2017 10:35 AM ET

CBRE Group, Inc. today announced that it has been included on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) North America for the fourth year in a row. This prestigious index recognizes corporations that demonstrate leadership in environmental, social and governance performance.

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: Ahead of Their Time

Sep 12, 2017 10:30 AM ET

What other companies were focused on being responsible environmental stewards at that time (Before Ray Anderson had his epiphany)? Well, it turns out that the answer is … at least one.

Education

CITGO Lemont Refinery Recognized for STEM Contributions in Local Schools

Sep 12, 2017 10:30 AM ET

During the May board meeting, School District 113a recognized the CITGO Lemont Refinery for its support of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) initiatives in their schools.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

New Report Ranks Largest Global Food Companies on Water Risk Management as Climate Change Impacts Accelerate

Sep 12, 2017 10:20 AM ET

Climate change is making water one of the biggest risks to the $5 trillion food industry, whether from epic flooding or prolonged drought. A new report released today by the sustainability nonprofit organization, Ceres, calls on major food companies to reduce the impacts of a warming climate—on both the global water supply and on their bottom lines—by adopting far stronger practices to use limited fresh water resources more efficiently.

Diversity & Inclusion

LATINA Style Recognizes Sodexo for Its Outstanding Career Advancement Opportunities

Sep 12, 2017 10:15 AM ET

Sodexo, world leader in quality of life services, announced today its recognition in the 2017 LATINA Style® 50 Report. For the past 20 years, the LATINA Style 50 Report recognizes companies whose mission of diversity and inclusion have been reflected in the way they recruit, promote, provide benefits, and create programs for the betterment of their employees.

Environment

Counting Our Carbon

Sep 12, 2017 10:15 AM ET

For the first time, Domtar’s Transportation and Logistics team estimated the greenhouse gas emissions from shipping pulp and paper products to our customers. The results: an estimated 349,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in 2016.

Education

Keep America Beautiful, Environmental Research & Education Foundation to Collaborate on Food Waste Education in K-12 Schools

Sep 12, 2017 10:15 AM ET

Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, and the Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance scientific research and education for sustainable solid waste management practices, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that outlines an agreement to join efforts on quantifying food waste in K-12 schools. In addition, the MOU outlines the organizations’ aim to provide tools and resources that help reduce school-based food waste.

Health & Healthcare

A Sense of Community is the Heart of Resilience

Sep 12, 2017 10:05 AM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

North Market is More Than a Grocery Store

Sep 12, 2017 10:00 AM ET

General Mills’ $250,000 donation to Pillsbury United Communities toward the development of North Market aims to help provide access to healthy food in north Minneapolis.

The nonprofit grocery is expected to open this November. It will be the first full-service grocery store in North Minneapolis to open in more than 10 years.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Cementos Progreso Joins the CSI to Scale Up Its Sustainability Commitments

Sep 12, 2017 9:55 AM ET

Responsible Production & Consumption

VIDEO | Lichen: Mohawk Group Partners with Morehouse College to Reduce Water Consumption

Sep 12, 2017 9:50 AM ET

To fulfill a portion of the Living Product Challenge Petal Certification for the Lichen carpet plank collection, Mohawk Group reached out to a historic Atlanta college to engage in an innovative and symbiotic "handprinting" partnership.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

HP Reinvents Technologies to Lower the Impact of Printing

Sep 12, 2017 9:35 AM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

Hormel Foods Surpasses Water Reduction Goal and Has Record Year of Giving

Sep 12, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Hormel Foods has launched its 11th annual corporate responsibility report. The report is available online and includes information related to the company’s corporate responsibility performance in fiscal 2016.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Bechtel VIDEO | Raising Standards of a Sustainable Supply Chain

Sep 12, 2017 9:25 AM ET

Interview with Héctor García Salgó, Regional President of Bechtel in Latin America

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

We Are Still In: How Businesses Reshape Political Advocacy in Washington

Sep 12, 2017 9:05 AM ET

In June, after months of debate and tense speculation, President Donald Trump did something that would have unprecedented impact in the U.S. business community: He announced he would be pulling the United States’ support for the Paris Accord.

Environment

Land Restoration Through Agroforestry in Brazil

Sep 12, 2017 9:05 AM ET

A new Brazilian Forest Code obliges farmers to restore degraded lands on conservation set-asides required on all rural properties, known as Permanent Preservation Areas and Legal Reserves.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Los Angeles Chargers and Spanos Family Announce $500k Donation Towards Hurricane Harvey Relief

Sep 12, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Subaru Gives 50 2018 Outbacks to Meals on Wheels

Sep 12, 2017 9:00 AM ET

The Subaru Loves to Care campaign is a major pillar of the Subaru Love Promise initiative, founded in 2011 to support and nurture ailing local communities in the United States. Subaru has already raised and spent more than $100 million for charity and still hasn't stopped giving this year.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Arrow Electronics Honored with Corporate Social Responsibility Awards

Sep 12, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Arrow Electronics was recently honored with two 2017 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Awards from PR Daily.