ESG News from Leading Brands

Diversity & Inclusion

Asia Society Names Medtronic Top Employer

May 25, 2017 10:40 AM ET

Being honored as a top employer requires employees who help to create a unique culture every day. That kind of impact at Medtronic was given the spotlight in May when the Asia Society, a leading educational organization, awarded Medtronic with multiple awards including “Best Employer for Promoting Asian Pacific American Women” and “Best Employer for Marketing and Support to the Asian Pacific American Community.”

Environment

Aramark Sets The Stage For Summer Travel Season

May 25, 2017 10:35 AM ET

As travelers embark on family vacations and cross-country trips this summer, Aramark (NYSE: ARMK), the award-winning food and hospitality partner for national and state parks and other leading leisure and cultural attractions, is rolling out new programs, enhancements and celebrations at the country’s premier travel destinations to help guests relax and enjoy themselves.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

After Nine Years in Foster Care, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids Finds a Home for Cody.

May 25, 2017 10:00 AM ET

By the age of 13, Cody had spent 3,372 days in foster care and been placed in eight different foster homes. That’s more than nine years being moved house to hose, not feeling settled and wishing for consistency. It’s hard to not give up hope in a case like this, but EVERYTHING changed for Cody on April 25 when he was adopted!

Innovation & Technology

Blackbaud Increases Corporate Volunteer Engagement with New AngelPoints Updates

May 25, 2017 10:00 AM ET

MicroEdge + Blackbaud is pleased to announce exciting new updates to its AngelPoints employee giving & volunteering technology solution that will help companies improve the way they engage their employees in volunteerism!

Health & Healthcare

Powerful Partnership: NRG Joins Forces with American Diabetes Association® to Enhance Employee Wellness

May 25, 2017 9:50 AM ET

Sustainable Development Goals

De Beers Group Gathers Business Leaders to Discuss a Legacy Boost for Community

May 25, 2017 9:35 AM ET

Ways of bringing about positive changes to the host community of De Beers’ Venetia mine were on the agenda at a business breakfast.

Research, Reports & Publications

The MetLife Foundation is Building Financial Capability

May 25, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Carnival Corporation CEO Arnold Donald Tops List of Global Minority Business Leaders

May 25, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Carnival Corporation & plc the world’s largest leisure travel company, today announced that CEO Arnold Donald was named the top-ranked global executive for his strong leadership and commitment to improve diversity and inclusion in the workplace and for serving as an inspiring role model.

Events, Media & Communications

How to Make Volunteering Work for All Your Employees [Webinar]

May 25, 2017 9:20 AM ET

No two employee volunteers are created equal. And that’s a good thing! But as a corporate volunteer program manager, pleasing everyone may seem like a daunting task. That’s why VolunteerMatch and Bright Funds are teaming up on a free webinar to fill you in on a little-known fact: engaging employees through unique volunteer opportunities are easier than you think!

Social Impact & Volunteering

Arrow Electronics’ Employees and Partners Spruce Up Phoenix Ronald McDonald House

May 25, 2017 9:15 AM ET

In April, as part of Arrow Electronics’ annual Logistics & Operations Management Conference, 100 Arrow employees and 40 vendor partners spent an afternoon volunteering at Roanoke House, the oldest Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) facility in Phoenix, Arizona.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Crewmembers Earn Free Travel for Charity of Their Choice

May 25, 2017 9:05 AM ET

For every 50 hours of volunteer time logged – whether through a JetBlue organized event or their own independent volunteer activity – JetBlue donates two round-trip travel certificates to that crewmember’s chosen charity.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Seeding New Landscapes: The Kernza Story

May 25, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Kernza is the product of years of plant breeding at The Land Institute, an independent, nonprofit research institute in Salina, Kansas. The Land Institute, a recent McKnight grantee, envisions developing an array of perennial grain crops that could be planted in mixtures to mimic native prairies. If the effort is successful, Midwest agriculture could feed consumers while generating clean water and healthy soil.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Engaging Employees in CSR Activity Creates Alignment with Corporate Values

May 25, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Spirits company Bacardi Limited has tied sustainability efforts to the resources required to make its products, including water, and has earned first place in the “Corporate Social Responsibility” category of Ragan’s 2016 Employee Communications as a result.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

84 Lumber’s Longstanding FSC® Certification Typifies the Company’s Commitment to Sustainability

May 25, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Customers no longer view sustainable building materials as a specialty option. Rather, for many builders and homeowners, they’ve become mandatory.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Kimberly-Clark’s Howard Sharfstein Named Sustainability “Pro” of the Year

May 25, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Kimberly-Clark announced that Howard Sharfstein, the company’s Associate General Counsel for Environment, Energy, Safety and Sustainability, has received a Crystal Tree Award as Kimberly-Clark’s first-ever Sustainability Pro of the Year. The award is the company’s highest internal recognition for individuals whose work helps drive social and environmental impacts that make our communities and workplaces better for future generations.

Research, Reports & Publications

In Its Continuing Mission to Improve Every Life, 3M Announced Today the Publication of Its 2017 Sustainability Report.

May 25, 2017 5:00 AM ET

The 2017 Sustainability Report covers what 3M accomplished throughout 2016 in addressing significant global challenges involving raw materials, water, energy and climate, health and safety, as well as education and development.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Qualcomm Continues Inspiring Underrepresented Students to Explore STEM Education by Expanding the Reach of the Qualcomm Thinkabit Lab Nationwide

May 24, 2017 7:00 PM ET

In an effort to reach beyond the more than 12,000 students, teachers and parents who have visited the Qualcomm® Thinkabit Lab™ since its opening in 2014 at the Company’s headquarters, Qualcomm Incorporated announced today the launch of the Thinkabit Lab Toolkit to be offered free-of-charge to organizations interested in creating sustainable and scalable STEM programs, such as school districts, libraries, businesses and universities across the U.S.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Billionaire Bloomberg to Fund $5m Public Health Projects in 40 Cities Worldwide

May 24, 2017 5:05 PM ET

Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire bête noire of both the sugar industry and the tobacco industry, famously fought for a ban on the sale of large-sized colas and other sweet drinks when he was mayor of New York and lost. Although that is not how he sees it.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Leading by Example: California Mom Teaches Daughters the Importance of Giving Back

May 24, 2017 5:00 PM ET

Plenty of little girls aspire to be like Disney princesses – beautiful, magical and strong. Laura Giron’s daughters, ages 10 and 11, have been taught since toddlerhood that real magic and beauty comes from giving time and compassion to people in need through volunteer service.

Environment

Volkswagen Intends to Almost Halve Environmental Impact of Production by 2025

May 24, 2017 5:00 PM ET

The Volkswagen brand has set itself new, ambitious targets for reducing the environmental impact of production. By 2025, vehicles and components are to be produced in a way which is 45 percent more environmentally compatible than in 2010, the reference year for the current Think Blue. Factory. environmental program.

Green Infrastructure

New Community Center in Detroit a Model of Sustainability

May 24, 2017 4:30 PM ET

A network of local and global businesses are collaborating with the Michigan Urban Farming Initiative (MUFI) to transform a long-vacant apartment complex in Detroit’s lower North End into a multi-functional community space that will become one of the most sustainable, energy-efficient buildings in Detroit.

Health & Healthcare

Three Quality of Lifehacks for a Healthier You at Work

May 24, 2017 4:15 PM ET

You might not think of your workplace as a health hazard, but the effects of sitting all day at the office, grabbing a handful of candy as you walk by your coworker’s desk every day, and not drinking enough water are just a few of the unhealthy habits that can take a toll on your health. Here are three Quality of Lifehacks that can make for a healthier you in the workplace and a more productive workday.

Environment

ILFI and the International WELL Building Institute™ Partner on “Crosswalk” to Align Two Ratings Systems

May 24, 2017 4:10 PM ET

The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) and the International WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™), have agreed to work collaboratively to promote the design, construction and operation of healthy and restorative buildings. The two organizations will work together to identify opportunities to align the two rating systems, coordinate events and education offerings, and promote building practices that significantly raise the standard of what buildings should be.

Media & Communications

Preparing Professionals for Career Focus on Corporate Social Responsibility, Corporate Sustainability and Sustainable & Responsible Investing

May 24, 2017 4:00 PM ET

Important elements of the Governance & Accountability Institute mission are to share knowledge, perspectives and information about the opportunities in corporate responsibility, including career paths to success, and to do the same for men and women interested in sharpening their focus in the financial community, with the continuing embrace of ESG approaches by investment firms of all types ("sustainable investing").

Diversity & Inclusion

Reinventing Mindsets to Guarantee a More Diverse & Inclusive Future

May 24, 2017 3:50 PM ET

Inclusion is a state of being valued, respected and supported – it’s about focusing on the needs of every individual and ensuring the right conditions are in place for each person to achieve their full potential. For this to function within an organization, inclusion must be reflected in its culture, practices and relationships that are in place to support a diverse workforce. In other words: if diversity is the mix, then inclusion is finding a way to get the mix to work well together.