ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

Timberland’s Earth Week Events Drive Impact and Meaningful Change

May 5, 2017 2:20 PM ET

Global outdoor lifestyle brand Timberland recently concluded its second annual Earth Week Celebration at its Stratham, New Hampshire headquarters. During Earth Week, educational events were held each day to foster a better understanding of Timberland’s environmental footprint as well as the footprint of each employee in their personal lives.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Quick Consult: Engaging the C-Suite

May 5, 2017 2:05 PM ET

Getting time on the c-suite’s calendar can be next to impossible. Yet time and again Taproot has seen that pro bono programs are most successful when the highest levels of leadership are bought in. If leadership doesn’t understand how it works or see its value, it could easily end up on the chopping block as resources and priorities shift year over year.

If you want to ensure the sustainability of your pro bono program, get the c-suite involved. Here are three tactics to help you get the right folks on board. Which tactics you use and what will work best differs company to company, but regardless the benefit of buy-in from leadership is big – and worth exploring.

Education

AEG Hosts Arroyo Seco Weekend Job Shadow Day

May 5, 2017 2:00 PM ET

AEG welcomed more than 30 students from Pasadena’s John Muir High School to its global headquarters in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 26 for the first Arroyo Seco Weekend Job Shadow Day. As part of AEG’s community outreach initiative with Pasadena Unified School District in conjunction with Arroyo Seco Weekend in Pasadena, Calif. in June, students were exposed to the company’s many facets of the sports and entertainment industry and received advice on future career paths.

Innovation & Technology

Maven Gig Delivers the Shared Economy in an EV

May 5, 2017 2:00 PM ET

GM’s car-sharing brand Maven recently expanded to include Maven Gig, an enabler for the sharing economy. This new platform provides the Chevrolet Bolt EV to freelance gig drivers who do not have access to a vehicle. The service supports people maximizing their earning potential, while helping add more electric vehicles to the streets.

Health & Healthcare

SCA Proud Participant in New Research Study Highlighting Possible Hygiene Risks on Surfaces in Hospitals

May 5, 2017 1:45 PM ET

Today is World Hand Hygiene Day, which is a campaign by the World Health Organization (WHO) to promote hand hygiene in health care settings.

Events, Media & Communications

Video: Bring Out the Leaders in Your Employees

May 5, 2017 1:30 PM ET

Your employees crave opportunities that help them pursue their interests, while building both hard and soft skills. So, why should you care?

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Éléonore Recognized for 2016 Safety Record

May 5, 2017 1:25 PM ET

Goldcorp’s Éléonore mine has been recognised for its outstanding safety record in the 2016 calendar year with the John T. Ryan National Safety Trophy for Metal Mines. The award is in recognition of the Éléonore mine who achieved 2,592,938 hours worked during 2016, with a reportable injury rate of 0.15, the best among Metal Mines in Canada.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Breaking the Cycle of Food Waste

May 5, 2017 1:15 PM ET

Sodexo partners with our K-12 school partners and external organizations to share our industry experience and best practices to drive fundamental change on the issue of food waste. Over 4.7 million pounds of food has been donated by Sodexo through our partnerships with Food Recovery Network and Campus Kitchens Project.

Diversity & Inclusion

How I Became a Techie: Michael Sapos

May 5, 2017 1:10 PM ET

When I was a young boy, I spent hours, even days, playing with erector sets, which consisted of little metal beams, nuts, and bolts (and later, pulleys, gears, and small electric motors). Basically, you could construct anything your mind came up with, tear it apart, and create something new and completely different. And you didn’t have to make something stationery — with the little motors, you could create things like windmills or planes. I’ve built automobiles, towers, homes, and more.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Comcast NBCUniversal Honored Among NBIC Best Corporations for Inclusion

May 5, 2017 1:05 PM ET

Only companies achieving industry leading results across all diverse segments are eligible to receive the designation from the NBIC. At Comcast NBCUniversal, our commitment to diversity and inclusion reaches across our business and our culture. In addition to building a diverse and inclusive workforce, we are committed to creating opportunities for diverse businesses in our supply chain, creating programming that reflects our customers, and investing in non-profit organizations that strengthen our diverse communities.

Environment

Ingersoll Rand Locations Worldwide Participated in Earth Day Activities Demonstrating How They Put Sustainability in Action

May 5, 2017 12:15 PM ET

Ingersoll Rand employees joined more than one billion people around the globe to celebrate Earth Day on April 22, the largest civil observance in the world. This year, our facilities worldwide hosted local activities and encouraged all employees to put sustainability in action.

Education

GM, NWF Triple Their Reach in Driving Environment-Focused STEM Education

May 5, 2017 11:50 AM ET

General Motors and the National Wildlife Federation have now reached 11,800 children across the country in science, technology, engineering and math projects since launching their Eco-Green partnership in 2015. The program has tripled its reach over the last year.

Innovation & Technology

Arrow SAM Car | Always Forward

May 5, 2017 11:30 AM ET

Former INDYCAR drivers Sam Schmidt and Mario Andretti announced today they will go head to head in a race next month at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

RBSEU Makes 16 Year History – Paul Polman and Lise Kingo Join Summit

May 5, 2017 10:55 AM ET

Ethical Corporation has now surpassed the largest number of C-Suite speakers and attendees ever in its 16-year history at The Responsible Business Summit Europe.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

HP Receives 2017 ENERGY STAR® Award for Excellence in Energy-Efficient Product Design

May 5, 2017 10:45 AM ET

HP has received a 2017 ENERGY STAR® Award for Excellence in Energy-Efficient Product Design for its outstanding efforts to improve the availability of energy-efficient products in the marketplace. Excellence in Product Design is awarded to companies that demonstrate leadership in the design and manufacture of ENERGY STAR certified products.

Research, Reports & Publications

Bloomberg Publishes 2016 Impact Report

May 5, 2017 10:45 AM ET

Bloomberg published its eighth Impact Report, which highlights the integration of sustainability into our products, communities and operations, as well as the progress we’ve made towards our 2020 targets.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Whole Planet Foundation Funds New Partner in Ghana

May 5, 2017 10:30 AM ET

In April 2017, Whole Planet Foundation signed a contract with a new microfinance partner in greater Accra called ID Ghana. To gain insight into the bustling Makola market in Accra, it may be helpful to read this 2015 article in the New Yorker profiling Ghanaian business owners.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Atlas Copco USA’s Water for All Program Helps Navajo Special Education School Access Clean Water

May 5, 2017 10:30 AM ET

Energy

Microgrids Boost Energy Resilience and Independence at Military Installations

May 5, 2017 10:15 AM ET

The Department of Defense (DoD) has committed to deploying 3 gigawatts of renewable energy throughout military installations by 2025. Military bases all over the world have taken a proactive approach in achieving these goals, with many implementing solar photovoltaic (PV) generation. Energy initiatives aside, increased deployment of distributed energy resources (DERs) such as solar PV can integrate with comprehensive microgrid solutions that can help meet DoD goals and ultimately boost energy resilience and independence, especially vital for mission-critical facilities.

Green Infrastructure

Bechtel Engineers a New Sustainability Agenda

May 5, 2017 10:05 AM ET

GreenBiz editor in chief Joel Makower spoke with Tam Nguyen, the global head of sustainability for Bechtel. He lets us into the engineering firm's efforts around green infrastructure in the Philippines, the SDGs and building resilient communities.

Environment

Everglades Legislation Passes Florida House

May 5, 2017 10:00 AM ET

For more than a year, we have been beating the drum about the need to come up with a solution for the water problems of South Florida. Too much tainted water from Lake Okeechobee is being diverted down the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee Rivers, leading to big problems on both coasts. Last month, the Florida Senate passed an important bill that would fund the creation of a reservoir south of Okeechobee to store much of this excess water and relieve pressure on the rivers and their estuaries. Yesterday, the Florida House Passed the bill, as well, which means that we are one signature away from making this project a reality.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Aflac's Cause Marketing is Model for Companies That Seek Purpose with Profit

May 5, 2017 9:25 AM ET

Today on CauseTalk Radio, Megan and I talk to Buffy Swinehart, Senior Manager, Cause Marketing for Aflac, on the company's Duckprints campaign to fight childhood cancer.

Health & Healthcare

How Foundation Leaders Can Create Impact in the Uncertain U.S. Health Landscape

May 5, 2017 9:15 AM ET

What could changes in health care policy mean for the work of foundations focused on health?

Environment

Replenishing California’s Underground Savings Account for Future Droughts

May 5, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Sustainable Conservation and a diverse group of private- and public-sector leaders, including General Mills, joined forces to promote a creative way to boost water supplies in California that benefits farmers, local communities and the environment.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Lead the Way in Responsible Business

May 5, 2017 9:05 AM ET

The Responsible Business Awards are back for 2017 to celebrate and reward the leading sustainable and responsible businesses from around the globe. These global awards benchmark and celebrate the world’s leading CSR and sustainability initiatives.