ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

That is the Last Straw – Why Giving Up the Use of Straws is Good for You – and the Planet

Jun 30, 2017 11:15 AM ET

You may have seen a few campaigns on social media recently about major corporations like Bacardi pledging to eliminate straws from all company functions. Why? It’s bad. Bad for the environment, but even worse for you.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

LG Washing Machines Lead the Industry With 10 New Models Awarded ‘ENERGY STAR® Most Efficient 2017’ Distinction

Jun 30, 2017 11:00 AM ET

LG washers now lead the industry with 10 new models awarded the coveted “ENERGY STAR® Most Efficient 2017” distinction (for clothes washers larger than 2.5 cubic feet) from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Including among the list are two LG large-capacity models, which stand alone as the only top-load models to achieve this recognition, along with eight super-efficient front-load models.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Pizza Hut Surpasses 100 Million Pounds of Food Donated Through Harvest Program

Jun 30, 2017 10:30 AM ET

Pizza Hut and community-based hunger relief organizations are celebrating a major milestone: surpassing 100 million pounds of food donated by Pizza Hut to feed those in need locally and across the country. Since 1992, Pizza Hut restaurants have donated food to hunger relief organizations nationwide through its Harvest Program, a program originated by the company 25 years ago in partnership with Food Donation Connection (FDC).

Events, Media & Communications

Bloomberg’s New European Headquarters Nears Completion

Jun 30, 2017 10:30 AM ET

Opening this autumn, Bloomberg’s new European headquarters in the heart of the City of London is the first wholly owned and designed Bloomberg building globally. Conceived in collaboration with Foster + Partners, it reflects founder Mike Bloomberg’s long-held belief that workspaces should foster collaboration, innovation and productivity.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Cargill Mexico, CIMMYT Reward Country’s Best Food Security and Sustainability Projects

Jun 30, 2017 10:25 AM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

Sustainability Reports Data Analyst Internship Available at Governance & Accountability Institute

Jun 30, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Founded in 2006, Governance & Accountability Institute is a New York City-based company that specializes in research, communications, strategies and other services focused on corporate sustainability and corporate ESG performance (“Environmental, Social, Governance”) issues. G&A is offering the opportunity for an internship for a qualified student interested in learning more about these topics.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Lifting Entrepreneurs Out of Poverty with Matter to a Million

Jun 30, 2017 9:50 AM ET

Thousands of HPE employees like me are huge believers in Kiva and the Matter to a Million program as a simple, inspiring way to provide financial access to the underserved. In fact, more than 52% of employees have participated since the program first launched in 2014.

Sustainable Development Goals

Joining Forces to Build the Market for Sustainable Aviation Fuels

Jun 30, 2017 9:50 AM ET

When SkyNRG was founded in 2009, sustainable aviation fuel was not yet allowed for use in commercial aircraft operations. This shift in recent years, where corporate sustainability has become business as usual, means more companies are interested in flying sustainably with SkyNRG’s biofuel.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Arrow Electronics Names Winner of 2017 Cherry Creek Arts Festival “Five Years Out” Art Challenge

Jun 30, 2017 9:30 AM ET

Arrow Electronics selected Peter Clouse’s “Not Ashamed” (shown above) as the winner of this year’s Cherry Creek Arts Festival’s Five Years Out Art Challenge.

Diversity & Inclusion

Sands Academy Introduces Elevate Series for Managers and Supervisors

Jun 30, 2017 9:15 AM ET

In conjunction with the Learning and Development courses offered to all Team Members, Sands Academy has established the Elevate Series. The series focuses on providing the tools for leaders to set the example for their Team Members and building relationships to ensure success within their teams. The Elevate Series offers four classes that are mandatory for all Supervisors and Managers with one that is mandatory for all Directors to offer support in various areas.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Potential of Gender Equity for Business and Society

Jun 30, 2017 9:15 AM ET

We believe that corporations have an important role to play in achieving gender equity.

Research, Reports & Publications

Gildan Releases Its 2016 CSR Report

Jun 30, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Gildan Activewear Inc. (GIL; TSX and NYSE) has released its 2016 corporate, social and environmental responsibility (CSR) report on the Company’s dedicated CSR website genuinegildan.com.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Consumers Energy Foundation Provides Grant to Help Fund Art for Pedestrian Tunnel

Jun 30, 2017 9:05 AM ET

The Consumers Energy Foundation has donated $10,000 to the city of Walker to help with the maintenance and addition of art work to the pedestrian tunnel under Lake Michigan Drive.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Local Dog Park, Pet Shelters and Social Service Agencies Benefit from Purina's Annual Employee Volunteer Day

Jun 30, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Demonstrating an ongoing commitment to enriching the lives of pets and people, 1,400 Purina employees blanketed the greater St. Louis area last month during "PetCare Pride Day," the company's annual volunteer day. In its 16th year, PetCare Pride Day reached more than 20 non-profit organizations in Missouri and Illinois.

Energy

Unreasonable Impact | Clean, Safe, Unlimited Energy for Everyone: Q&A with General Fusion

Jun 30, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Well Dressed

Jun 30, 2017 9:05 AM ET

There are 80 billion pieces of clothing purchased worldwide each year but rarely do consumers consider the true cost of this. From negative environmental impacts to poor factory labor practices in the developing world and growing landfills containing discarded textiles, the fast fashion industry is in need of a serious makeover.

Responsible Production & Consumption

SCS Global Services to Evaluate Only Squid Fishery Currently in the MSC Scheme

Jun 30, 2017 9:00 AM ET

SCS Global Services announced today, via the public Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) website, that the U.S. Northeast longfin inshore squid fishery has entered a sustainability assessment for MSC certification. It is the first squid fishery in the world to undergo MSC certification.

Research, Reports & Publications

Daimler Sustainability Strategy Takes the Expectations of Stakeholders into Account

Jun 30, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Specifying fields of action - We evaluate a variety of sources in order to obtain as precise a picture of our stakeholders’ concerns as possible. This involves evaluating readers’ feedback regarding this report; surveys of customers, employees, and interest groups; workshops in the specialist units; dialogs with individual stakeholder groups; and events such as the “Daimler Sustainability Dialogue.”

Responsible Production & Consumption

Annie’s John Foraker Calls on Bezos to End Food Deserts by 2027

Jun 30, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Right before the U.S. equity markets opened on Friday, June 16th my phone erupted with texts from numerous industry friends on the announcement of the Amazon acquisition of Whole Foods. I have been in this industry for decades, and, for me, this was one of the most exciting and interesting days I can remember for the organic movement, certainly since the release of the USDA organic standards in 2002.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Scotiabank – Understanding Your Customers from the Inside Out

Jun 30, 2017 8:15 AM ET

Like other employers at the Syrian Refugees Jobs Agenda Roundtable, convened by Hire Immigrants, Scotiabank has a longstanding commitment to workforce diversity. According to Maureen Neglia, Vice President of Human Resources, Global Recruitment, it has always made strategic sense. Ensuring Scotiabank has a workforce that reflects the people and communities it does business with is a logical strategy.

Diversity & Inclusion

Voya Celebrates Pride Month at Their Minneapolis Office

Jun 30, 2017 8:05 AM ET

This weekend we lit our Minneapolis office in rainbow colors in honor of Pride Month.

Research, Reports & Publications

The Crown Announces Another Record Income Return of £328.8 Million to the Public Finances

Jun 30, 2017 5:00 AM ET

The Crown Estate’s annual report and accounts for 2016/17, the organisation’s fifth integrated report, continues to show innovation in reporting and tells a coherent, concise story about how it delivers value beyond the financial.

Green Infrastructure

SCE, Greenlining Institute Partner to Develop Community-Centric Solutions for Air Quality, Climate

Jun 30, 2017 12:35 AM ET

Southern California Edison, a leader in the transformation of the energy sector, today announced a partnership with The Greenlining Institute, a leading California policy and advocacy group working on environmental and social equity, to develop community-centric solutions for healthy air and a healthy climate.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Astellas USA Foundation Donates to GrowingGreat for Garden Education Programs

Jun 29, 2017 7:30 PM ET

As part of the Science WoRx program, Astellas USA Foundation provided funding to GrowingGreat to support their “From Bean Seeds to Frijoles: STEM Learning Begins” program and donated additional funds to support three garden education programs in the Los Angeles area, with locations at Gratts Primary Center and Para Los Niños Head Start preschools in the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Hollywood and Atwater Village. The goal of the learning gardens is to bring STEM exploration to life with hands-on activities, while teaching urban gardening skills to early learners.

Environment

Better Market Information Can Help Combat Climate Change

Jun 29, 2017 5:45 PM ET

Markets do more than help nations prosper. They can help solve our most pressing problems. Case in point: climate change. Financial markets have the potential to improve our prospects for tackling climate change, but only if we make climate risks and opportunities more transparent. Public policy, technology and consumer preferences are advancing, but this backdrop is complex and dynamic.