ESG News from Leading Brands

Research, Reports & Publications

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany Publishes Corporate Responsibility Report 2016

Apr 28, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany has published its eighth Corporate Responsibility Report, covering the years 2015 and 2016. It is available online at www.emdgroup.com/cr-report.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Indonesia: LESTARI | Reducing GHG Emissions and Conserving Biodiversity

Apr 28, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Indonesia is considered a mega-diverse country, with 17,493 tropical islands containing some of the highest levels of biological diversity across the globe.

Education

Sodexo Participates in 2017 Global STEM Talent Summit for Collective Short-Term Solutions to STEM Talent Development Strategies

Apr 27, 2017 8:10 PM ET

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life services, today joined the nation’s top employers and thought leaders at the Global STEM Talent Summit (GSTS), held April 27-28, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The summit is led by STEMconnector,® the leading organization working with industry, higher education, NGOs and the public sector to provide resources and leadership that supports smart STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) investments.

Media & Communications

‘Hidden Figures,’ ‘He Named Me Malala’ and More from 21CF Win Shorty Awards for Outstanding Social Media Campaigns

Apr 27, 2017 8:00 PM ET

The Ninth Annual Shorty Awards on April 23 recognized recent social impact campaigns from 21st Century Fox for their innovative and effective use of social media to engage audiences. 21CF’s Search for Hidden Figures contest, which distributed more than $200,000 in scholarships to women in STEM, and the Stand with Malala campaign, which drove support and awareness of the Malala Fund and its fight for girls’ education, won their respective categories.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Future of Work is Flexible, and Female

Apr 27, 2017 7:45 PM ET

At SXSW 2017, one of the nation’s premier venues for new ideas, Booz Allen Executive Dee Dee Helfenstein discussed the changing workplace, the on-demand economy, and how organizations can attract and retain top talent.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Roma Boots: Taking Steps to Grow Their Business & Help Children

Apr 27, 2017 6:40 PM ET

Next week is National Small Business Week, and PayPal is excited to celebrate the millions of inspiring small businesses we work with globally. We’re interviewing small businesses to find out what inspired them to start their business, the challenges they have faced, and the advice they have for other aspiring business owners. We sat down with Samuel Bistrian, the founder and CEO, and Beatrice Pitocco, the Vice President of Sales and Marketing, of Roma Boots.

Health & Healthcare

National Rebuilding Month: Impact of Home Hazards on Early Childhood Development

Apr 27, 2017 5:35 PM ET

Early childhood development can be significantly impeded by an unsafe or unhealthy environment. Rebuilding Together affiliates nationwide gather volunteers to tackle such issues for families with young children.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

LIVESTRONG Celebrates 20th Anniversary with Launch of Honor 5K/10K

Apr 27, 2017 5:05 PM ET

In celebration of its 20th Anniversary, the LIVESTRONG Foundation – a global leader and pioneer in cancer patient survivorship – announced today the launch of The LIVESTRONG Honor 5k/10k, which will take place on September 17 in downtown Austin.

Media & Communications

IFF Appoints Andrew S. Winston to Scientific Advisory Board

Apr 27, 2017 4:30 PM ET

Innovation & Technology

Delos™ Invests in Finnish Smart Green Wall Company Naava and Introduces Cutting Edge Technology to U.S. Market

Apr 27, 2017 4:25 PM ET

Delos™, a wellness real estate and technology firm, today announces a strategic investment and collaboration with Naava, a Finnish health technology firm that specializes in the development of smart active green walls, further exemplifying Delos’ mission to transform indoor environments into spaces that promote human health and well-being.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Pro Bono Calculator: Quantifying the Value of Pro Bono

Apr 27, 2017 4:15 PM ET

Has the National Volunteer Week buzz sparked some ideas for skills-based projects, but you aren't sure where to start? Check out our Pro Bono Calculator, a step-by-step tool that quantifies the value and investment of utilizing pro bono support for your organization and your project.

Events, Media & Communications

Sustainable Brands Set to Debut Innovative Model for Conference Collaboration

Apr 27, 2017 4:00 PM ET

Sustainable Brands® is evolving the concept of the traditional conference expo into a collaborative environment packed with tools, solutions and breakthrough ideas to be generated on the spot by the attending crowd.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Northern Trust Bangalore Audit Services Visits Refuge Homes

Apr 27, 2017 3:50 PM ET

Events, Media & Communications

Astellas To Present on Challenges to Health Innovation at Milken Institute Global Conference

Apr 27, 2017 3:35 PM ET

NORTHBROOK, Ill., April 27, 2017 /3BL Media/ -- Astellas today announced that Astellas Americas President Jim Robinson will participate in a panel entitled "Getting Our Health Priorities in Order: Prevention, Research, and Treatment" from 8 – 9:15 a.m. PT Monday, May 1 at the 20th Annual Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles. The conference convenes more than 3,500 attendees from 50 countries – all senior decision-makers in their fields — to tackle the world's most stubborn challenges.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Eckrich, Operation Homefront, and Albertsons Partner to Honor Local Military Family

Apr 27, 2017 3:30 PM ET

Eckrich, the makers of naturally hardwood smoked sausage and savory deli meats, partnered with Albertsons and Operation Homefront to honor a Las Vegas military family on Wednesday.

Research, Reports & Publications

Teck Reports 2016 Sustainability Performance

Apr 27, 2017 3:00 PM ET

Teck Resources Limited (TSX: TECK.A and TECK.B, NYSE: TECK) ("Teck”), has released its 16th annual Sustainability Report, covering the company’s performance in 2016 and progress towards its short-term sustainability goals set for 2020.

Social Impact & Volunteering

LA Galaxy Girls’ Academy Director Joins Mayor Eric Garcetti to Speak Out Against Sexual Violence During Denim Day

Apr 27, 2017 2:45 PM ET

In support of Denim Day – a day of action to protest sexual violence by wearing denim clothing –AEG’s new LA Galaxy Girls’ Academy Director Kevin Hartman joined Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Singer Aloe Blacc and other officials yesterday morning to proclaim Denim Day throughout the city with an official presentation at City Hall in Downtown Los Angeles.

Education

Promoting Physical Safety Programs and Education on College Campuses

Apr 27, 2017 1:50 PM ET

Often a stepping stone from childhood to young adulthood, college acts as a safe environment in which students can explore life beyond high school before entering the workforce.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Impact at Work: Wheeler Mission Ministries Project Spotlight

Apr 27, 2017 1:10 PM ET

This National Volunteer Week, we’re excited to highlight a project with a talented team from Charles Schwab and its nonprofit partner, Wheeler Mission Ministries (Wheeler), whose mission is to meet the short-term and long-term needs of homeless, hungry and other people in need in central Indiana. Wheeler's Center for Women & Children operates Restored Creations, a social enterprise run by women from their various long-term programs that produces and sells hand-poured, scented, soy blend candles. We paired Wheeler with a team of Schwab volunteers to develop an interactive financial model that informs the development of a financial and operational strategy to promote sales growth for the Restored Creations Program.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Timberland Joins Forces with Over 100 Signatories to Accelerate Social Progress in Factories Worldwide

Apr 27, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Social compliance is nothing new for Timberland. The nearly $2 billion global outdoor lifestyle brand formally launched its factory compliance program in 1994 with the creation of its Code of Conduct, which established minimum standards for workplace conditions and worker rights. Today, most every major brand has its own compliance program and standard against which it audits its factories. This is good news for workers around the world, but often presents logistical challenges for factories, as each brand tends to use its own audit tool, meaning factories can be audited multiple times each year with a different set of standards, codes and protocols for each brand. The time and resources factory owners spend with multiple auditors from multiple brands often detracts from their ability to

Energy

Spring Power & Gas Launches Green-e Certified Natural Gas Offset and REC Plans for Maryland and New Jersey

Apr 27, 2017 1:00 PM ET

Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) announced that Spring Power and Gas, a retail energy provider of electricity and gas supply services for Maryland and New Jersey, launched two Green-e certified products: “Zero Gas,” a natural gas product paired with Green-e Climate certified carbon offsets; and “Wind REC,” a Green-e Energy certified renewable energy certificate (REC) product. Both are available to new Spring Power and Gas customers in MD and NJ.

Social Impact & Volunteering

NFL Cornerback Coty Sensabaugh Pays It Forward, Serving Communities in Need

Apr 27, 2017 12:30 PM ET

"I volunteer because I enjoy putting smiles on other people's faces," said Coty Sensabaugh, cornerback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Coty finds every excuse to help others – even at his own wedding, where in lieu of gifts, he and his wife, Dominique, asked guests to donate shoes or money to Soles4Souls. Accompanied by friends and family, the newlyweds traveled to the Dominican Republic and distributed more than 500 pairs of shoes to adults and children in need. Through his involvement with the group, Coty has helped collect more than 11,000 pairs of shoes.

Education

Qualcomm Cultivates Interest in STEM Education

Apr 27, 2017 12:15 PM ET

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics, known collectively as STEM, are essential for inventions that we bring to life. It’s easy to imagine that technology will always get better, faster and cheaper – but without disruptors, scientists and engineers, our culture of creative innovation would not exist. We must lead the next generation of great thinkers and inventors by showing them the possibilities that lay before them in areas such as robotics, connected cars, IoT and 5G. Our STEM education efforts are helping to do just that and more.

Events, Media & Communications

UN Global Compact Calls on Business to Shift from Incremental Change to Breakthrough Innovation on the SDGs

Apr 27, 2017 11:35 AM ET

“Time is of the essence,” urged Lise Kingo, CEO and Executive Director of the United Nations Global Compact, to an audience of more than 300 local and global leaders from business, finance, civil society, Government and the UN, at the conclusion of the UN Global Compact two-day event, Making Global Goals Local Businesses – India, in New Delhi today. The closing of the meeting focused on the opportunities for driving transformational change and using breakthrough innovation to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Research, Reports & Publications

Lockheed Martin Releases Its 2016 Sustainability Report

Apr 27, 2017 11:25 AM ET

Our 2016 Sustainability Report, “Science of Citizenship” details how we are making progress against our newest cycle of Sustainability Management Plan goals and our five newly-evolved core areas: business integrity, employee wellbeing, product impact, information security, and resource efficiency.