ESG News from Leading Brands

Health & Healthcare

Aflac was #ThereWhen | The Hollist Family

Jun 28, 2017 9:15 AM ET

When Aflac employee and policyholder Japen Hollist’s son, P.K., was hospitalized following a life-threatening injury, Aflac was #ThereWhen they needed it most.

Research, Reports & Publications

Consumers Energy Reports Out on Sustainable Energy Mix

Jun 28, 2017 9:15 AM ET

As featured in the Consumers Energy Sustainability Report 2017: We’re well into our second century of powering Michigan. And we’ve got plans to take care of your family for centuries to come. We’ve leaned mostly on fossil fuels in the past, but the future is looking more green.

Research, Reports & Publications

AkzoNobel – Creating Life’s Essentials

Jun 28, 2017 9:10 AM ET

As featured in the digital 2016 AkzoNobel Report: Our latest company film, highlighting how we create everyday essentials to make people’s lives more liveable and inspiring.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Sands for Singapore Assists in Deaf Awareness and Gift Preparation

Jun 28, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Since 2013, Sands for Singapore has been supporting the local deaf community by working closely with one of Marina Bay Sands’ designated charities, Singapore Association for the Deaf (SADeaf). The property has been privileged to support the association’s Sign Language Interpretation Fund, helping to triple the number of sign language interpreters that serve the deaf community.

Events, Media & Communications

Carter Work Project Twitter Party

Jun 28, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Please join us on Thursday, June 29, for a Twitter Party celebrating Habitat’s Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project, which will be held this year at sites throughout Canada in early July. President and Mrs. Carter and hundreds of volunteers will build alongside 150 future homeowners, all in celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary.

Energy

Barclays | Green Growth

Jun 28, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Barclays continues its commitment to the renewable energy sector with a refinancing package of £47m for Tirgwynt onshore wind farm in mid-Wales.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Showing Up Matters

Jun 28, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Job descriptions for corporate responsibility practitioners commonly include references to supply chain, community engagement and sustainability reporting. Now, add lobbying to the list.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Congressman Helps Sleeping Bag Factory ‘Exxel’ at Creating U.S. Jobs

Jun 28, 2017 9:00 AM ET

The chief executive officer of Exxel Outdoors swam against the tide of manufacturers moving their businesses overseas – a calculated risk that has led to continued success over the last 17 years at a sleeping bag factory in rural Alabama. Helping smooth the way was Congressman Robert Aderholt of Alabama’s 4th District. The longtime U.S. representative co-sponsored and supported legislation that has helped companies like Exxel better compete in the global market, resulting in expanded production and more jobs in the States. Recently, we caught up with Aderholt after he toured the Exxel factory and asked him about the importance of American made.

Sustainable Development Goals

USAID CEGAH, Indonesia | Strengthening Indonesia’s Community of Accountability

Jun 28, 2017 9:00 AM ET

MSI, A Tetra Tech Company, was selected as the prime implementer of the CEGAH (meaning prevent in Indonesian Bahasa) project, an anti-corruption program, funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), designed to strengthen Indonesia’s community of accountability by providing integrated capacity building efforts for the judiciary, executive, and independent agencies; civil society; media; and the private sector at both the national and subnational levels.

Innovation & Technology

Data Centers: Planning for the Edge

Jun 28, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Massive projected surges in data transmission are expected to challenge current network capabilities in the U.S., making where analytics and compute take place increasingly important. With network data expected to grow from 1 trillion gigabytes (1 zettabyte) in 2016 to 180 zettabytes in 2025, what are the implications for data centers and their future infrastructure requirements?

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

VIDEO | Mohawk Group's ReCover Partner Spotlight: Boise Valley Habitat for Humanity

Jun 28, 2017 8:45 AM ET

Hear from the Boise Valley Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Idaho about their experiences with Mohawk Group's ReCover program and how carpet donations have benefitted their business and the surrounding community. The ReCover carpet reclamation program offers a seamless, sustainable solution for finding new life for used carpet. Through a network of local partners across the United States, we work together with our customers to make sure old carpeting is diverted from the landfill.

Environment

Barret Werk: Bamboo Bikes

Jun 27, 2017 8:00 PM ET

"I guess the grass is itself a child, the produced babe of the vegetation." Perhaps Walt Whitman had this week's guests on Sea Change Radio in mind when he wrote those words, as we talk to two entrepreneurs who, in very different ways, are using nature's bounty for innovative purposes.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

KeyBank to Provide a Total of $7.3 Million in Financing for Estee Senior Apartments in Upstate NY

Jun 27, 2017 6:30 PM ET

KeyBank’s Community Development Lending & Investment (CDLI) team will provide a total of $7.3 million in financing to Liberty Affordable Housing, Inc. to support the new construction of 37 energy efficient affordable housing units for seniors ages 55 or older in Gloversville, NY. Specifically, KeyBank will provide a $2.6 million construction loan and up to $4.7 million in LIHTC equity financing.

Environment

Why Restoring Pollinator Habitat is the 'Single Most Important Conservation Movement of Our Time’

Jun 27, 2017 6:30 PM ET

When you're sitting at your breakfast table sipping your morning coffee and fruit juice, as you take a bite of your granola, take a moment to thank the birds, bees, butterflies and other pollinators that made your breakfast possible.

Research, Reports & Publications

A Letter from Sappi Limited's Global CEO Steve Binnie

Jun 27, 2017 6:00 PM ET

Sappi Limited's global CEO Steve Binnie discusses the state of sustainability at Sappi.

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar Inc | Doing More To Restore Natural Resources

Jun 27, 2017 5:00 PM ET

Caterpillar is working actively with stakeholders to find collaborative and innovative solutions to restoring our planet’s natural resources. One of these collaborations, a summit of experts and leaders in engineering, construction, finance and environmentalism, resulted in a white paper on natural infrastructure restoration and ways to catalyze its development and expansion.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

BASF, Cargill, P&G and GIZ Collaborate to Drive Production of Sustainable Certified Coconut Oil in the Philippines and Indonesia

Jun 27, 2017 4:05 PM ET

BASF, Cargill, Procter & Gamble (P&G), and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH have joined together in a development partnership under the develoPPP.de programme by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The partnership will help establish a sustainable certified and transparent supply chain of coconut oil in the Philippines and Indonesia.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Habitat for Humanity Awarded $4.8 Million to Fund 350 AmeriCorps Member Positions

Jun 27, 2017 3:35 PM ET

The Corporation for National and Community Service has awarded Habitat for Humanity $4,887,750 in funds to support 350 AmeriCorps National member positions for 2017-2018. The funds will support Habitat AmeriCorps members who will serve in 36 states and in Washington, D.C.

Research, Reports & Publications

Invested in Change: BNY Mellon Highlights Notable Corporate Social Responsibility Achievements

Jun 27, 2017 3:00 PM ET

In BNY Mellon’s 233-year history, change has been a constant. Inspired by bold ideas and a legacy of innovation, employees working in 35 countries and more than 100 markets collaborate with stakeholders to help create a sustainable world where people can succeed and economies can thrive.

Research, Reports & Publications

UPS Commits to More Alternative Vehicles, Fuel and Renewable Power

Jun 27, 2017 3:00 PM ET

UPS’s 15th annual Sustainability Report provides a complete update on the company’s sustainability efforts, including a new goal to reduce absolute greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 12 percent by 2025 across global ground operations, a goal developed using methodology from the Science Based Targets initiative.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Family Recipe: Aaron Ewen Keeps it Consistent

Jun 27, 2017 2:45 PM ET

Meet Aaron Ewen. Aaron works for First Sun Management Corporation, a Wendy’s franchise organization based in South Carolina. Before Aaron was promoted to district manager, he was a general manager and his franchise organization named his Wendy’s “restaurant of the year” in 2016, which is pretty impressive because, in Aaron’s words, “The Clemson location is the only Wendy’s that I have had the honor of running.”

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Talent Acquisition in the 21st Century and the Role of CSR

Jun 27, 2017 2:30 PM ET

We are witnessing an unprecedented technological explosion unfold, and the number of industries and occupations with a shortage of skilled talent is growing as well. As a direct result, companies are doing more to brush up on their talent acquisition processes and finding ways to attract truly top talent. One of the best things about this is that corporate social responsibility (CSR) is getting its due attention.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

JetBlue’s Soar with Reading Initiative Lands in Fort Lauderdale

Jun 27, 2017 2:15 PM ET

JetBlue and Random House Children’s Books today launched the seventh annual Soar with Reading™ initiative, which provides age-appropriate books to children who need them most. This summer the program lands in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with JetBlue installing four custom vending machines throughout the city to distribute 100,000 books, free of charge.

Diversity & Inclusion

Visa Celebrates San Francisco Pride

Jun 27, 2017 2:05 PM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Ecocentricity Blog - Front Six: Sensitizing Stakeholders

Jun 27, 2017 2:00 PM ET

So remember, it’s never okay for someone to say, “I can’t do much – I’m just one person.” That is categorically false. None of us are just one person, but rather parts of our families, friend groups and communities.