ESG News from Leading Brands

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Statement from GRI on the Passing of Ernst Ligteringen

Jun 16, 2017 12:00 PM ET

It is with great sadness that GRI has learned of the passing of our longest-serving CEO, Ernst Ligteringen in London. Ernst’s legacy will extend far beyond what he has done for our organization. In part due to his efforts, sustainability reporting has become a commonplace practice for many organizations, leading to greater transparency and in turn the ability to transform the world

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Brownies Can Feed You, Create Jobs and Help Alleviate Poverty?

Jun 16, 2017 11:30 AM ET

Greyston Bakery’s unique partnership with Whole Planet Foundation has served to advance both organizations’ social initiative. In addition to supporting job creation at the Bakery, a percentage of brownie and cookie sales benefit Whole Planet Foundation, a non-profit proud to be supported by a conscious company who doesn’t hire people to bake brownies but bakes brownies to hire people.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

HP VIDEO | Rosette’s Story: Reinventing Impact in Haiti

Jun 16, 2017 11:05 AM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Behind the Scenes with the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

Jun 16, 2017 11:00 AM ET

With more than 25 years of stories to tell, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption hit the road to highlight some of the families who have adopted through our signature Wendy’s Wonderful Kids program.

Diversity & Inclusion

Trans*forming Workplace Cultures

Jun 16, 2017 10:55 AM ET

Over the past few years, the trans* agenda has really made its way to the fore. Of all the LGBT+ communities it has historically been the least discussed and understood, and even as recently as 5 years ago, references to binary and non-binary gender identities were unheard of. However the rise in inclusion within popular culture has really helped increase awareness of the trans* community and the challenges it can face.

Events, Media & Communications

Why Influencing Skills are Vital to EHS & Sustainability Leadership

Jun 16, 2017 10:45 AM ET

Debbie Kalish, Program Manager with Ingersoll-Rand describes how she sells her vision for sustainability success through her organization.

Innovation & Technology

3 Military Technologies Benefiting People Every Day

Jun 16, 2017 10:25 AM ET

Technology transferring from military to civilian use is nothing new. Discover how the convergence of these two worlds is benefiting everyday people.

Energy

Unreasonable Impact | Turning Carbon Waste Into Usable Fuel

Jun 16, 2017 10:05 AM ET

Unreasonable’s CEO Daniel Epstein is joined at the fireside by Dr. Jennifer Holmgren, CEO of LanzaTech and an alumnus of the Unreasonable Impact accelerator.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Subaru of America and Lambs Farm Plant a New Set of Skills in Non-Profit Participants

Jun 16, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Subaru of America, Inc. today announced support of Lambs Farm, a premier non-profit organization whose mission is helping people with developmental disabilities lead productive, happy lives. The support is part of the Subaru Loves to Care initiative and Subaru funded the development of Lambs Farm’s first-ever sustainable garden, located outside of the organization’s Magnolia Cafe & Bakery, providing a “farm-to-table” experience with the restaurant as well as providing healthy produce to the participants.

Innovation & Technology

Arrow Electronics SAM Car Technology Featured at 2017 No Barriers Summit

Jun 16, 2017 10:00 AM ET

The No Barriers organization was co-founded by Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind person in history to conquer Mount Everest. The innovative group focuses on unleashing the potential of the human spirit to help people contribute their absolute best to the world.

Research, Reports & Publications

New CEO Guide to the Sustainable Development Goals Highlights Competitive Advantage for Sustainable Businesses

Jun 16, 2017 9:50 AM ET

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) today launched the CEO Guide to the SDGs - a new resource aimed at galvanizing engagement from global business leaders in relation to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Social Impact & Volunteering

Mercedes-Benz U.S. International Assists in House Construction

Jun 16, 2017 9:25 AM ET

Building a world-class vehicle demands attention to detail, commitment and plenty of hard work. That same energy and passion is being applied by employees of the Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama to our partnership with the not-for-profit organization "Habitat for Humanity". They are helping to build houses for homeless families in Alabama.

Environment

Xylem’s Ozone Treatment Provides Cleaner Water in Vietnam

Jun 16, 2017 9:15 AM ET

The Vietnamese government has ambitious goals for providing cleaner drinking water to its citizens. With Xylem’s ozone treatment technology now installed at a plant in Ho Chi Minh City, 1.5 million people have access to cleaner water.

Diversity & Inclusion

Patti Poppe in Record Group of Women Leading Fortune 500 Companies

Jun 16, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Innovation & Technology

This App Will Help Restaurants Donate the Insane Amount of Food They Usually Waste

Jun 16, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Americans toss out, on average, 72 billion pounds of safe, edible food each year. Around 52 billion of those pounds flow from manufacturers, restaurants, and grocery stores into landfill. Feeding America, a nationwide network of over 200 food banks, has developed a new tech platform called MealConnect to intercept some of that trash-destined food and divert it toward the one in eight food-insecure people in the United States.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Is Evaluation the Key to a Successful Collaboration?

Jun 16, 2017 9:10 AM ET

Rebekah Levin, director of evaluation and learning at Robert R. McCormick Foundation, and FSG’s Hallie Preskill discuss the benefits of evaluating collaborative efforts and how developmental evaluation helped the McCormick Foundation turn a struggling collaboration into an effective learning experience.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

How Marketing Can Encourage Saving

Jun 16, 2017 9:05 AM ET

Marketing makes us want to buy all kinds of stuff. But can marketing magic make saving more appealing, fun, or even cool? Virtually everyone would like to retire comfortably and to be free from financial worry on a daily basis. Yet, many people don’t save enough even for unexpected expenses—a proposition that’s even more challenging for low-to-medium income people. Look to a U.S. Federal Reserve Board survey published in May 2016, in which 46 percent of respondents said they couldn’t cover even a $400 emergency expense without selling something or borrowing money.

Health & Healthcare

FedEx Express Cessna Aircraft Named in Honor of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® Patient

Jun 16, 2017 9:00 AM ET

FedEx Express joined St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® to honor St. Jude patient, Calvin, the son of a FedEx team member, by emblazoning his name on a FedEx Cessna Caravan airplane. For the sixth consecutive year, the Purple Eagle ceremony took place near the driving range at TPC Southwind, home of the 60th Annual FedEx St. Jude Classic.

Sustainable Development Goals

AkzoNobel Supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Jun 16, 2017 9:00 AM ET

As featured in the 2016 AkzoNobel Report: In 2015, countries around the world adopted a set of goals to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all as part of a new sustainable development agenda. Devised by the United Nations, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set out a comprehensive list of targets to be achieved by 2030, covering all three dimensions – economic, environmental and social – of sustainable development.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Tetra Tech’s STEM Program Wins 2017 EDR PRISM Award

Jun 16, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Environmental Data Resources (EDR) presented Tetra Tech with the 2017 Property Risk, Insights, Strategy & Markets (PRISM) Award for Community Service at the second, annual PRISM Industry Awards in Charlotte, North Carolina, in May. EDR’s PRISM Awards honor high-level project work, leadership, recent business growth, innovation, and community service.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Pentair Announces Community Grant Recipients

Jun 16, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Pentair, a global company dedicated to building a safer, more sustainable world, recently announced its eighteenth consecutive year of philanthropic giving by The Pentair Foundation. In its first grant cycle of 2017, community grants totaling more than $250,000 were awarded to 14 organizations focused on providing services related to water, food and education.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Proud to be a Promethean: Inside Prometheus Real Estate Group’s Volunteer Program

Jun 16, 2017 7:05 AM ET

We noticed our client Prometheus Real Estate Group doing some pretty incredible stuff with their volunteer program (known as Our Front POrCH), including their annual “POrCH Challenge”. So, we caught up with Savannah Van Voorhis, Reputation & Cause Marketing Manager at Prometheus and asked her to share what makes Our Front POrCH shine.

Events, Media & Communications

Foreign Trade Association Becoming Amfori in 2018 to Be the Voice of Global Responsible Trade

Jun 16, 2017 5:00 AM ET

The Foreign Trade Association (FTA) announced yesterday, 15 June, during its annual conference that the association will change its corporate name to ‘Amfori’ as of January 2018. The new name will align the identity of the organisation with its new strategic vision for the future, Vision 2030.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Providing Food, Basic Needs, and Self-Sufficiency Programs in Fairfax County, VA

Jun 15, 2017 6:50 PM ET

The Lorton Community Action Center (LCAC) serves the southeastern portion of Fairfax County, Virginia. LCAC’s mission is to enhance the quality of life in our community by providing food, basic needs, and self-sufficiency programs through the generous support of our community.

Environment

Abbott's Green Efforts Are Boosting Business

Jun 15, 2017 6:05 PM ET

At Abbott, sustainability isn’t a destination, but an ongoing journey. Abbott’s ambitious 2020 Environmental Goals drive its efforts around the globe. These goals – highlighted in the newly released 2016 Global Sustainability Report – help Abbott protect the planet while boosting efficiency and reducing costs.