ESG News from Leading Brands

Innovation & Technology

GM Partners with Girls Who Code to Empower Future Technology and Engineering Leaders

Jan 10, 2017 12:10 PM ET

The gender gap in technology and engineering is getting worse despite the increased demand for STEM-related jobs. GM and the national nonprofit Girls Who Code (GWC) today announced a partnership to inspire and empower thousands of U.S. middle and high school girls to become future leaders in these fields.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Wendy's: It's All About Food, Family & Community

Jan 10, 2017 12:05 PM ET

By most standards, last week was busy. Not only did friends and fans tell us we won the internet with the most epic tweet of 2017 (their words, not ours), we also published our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainability year-in-review. It was eye opening and enjoyable to look back and see all that our Wendy’s family had accomplished in 2016.

Education

Opening Doors for the Next Generation of STEM

Jan 10, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Robin Andrews has dedicated her life and passion to charitable work since she was a child. Growing up on a farm in rural Indiana, Robin was inspired early by her father and grandmother, both of whom were actively involved in community service, to pursue a life of helping those in need. Now corporate secretary of Astellas USA Foundation, Robin is proof that values and interests instilled in early childhood can have an influence across a lifetime. She explains how the Foundation’s commitment to inspiring interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) with today’s youth is helping the next generation pursue jobs in STEM to build a more sustainable future.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sodexo Earns Distinction Among Canada’s 2017 Top Employers for Young People

Jan 10, 2017 12:00 PM ET

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life services, today announced its recognition among winners of Canada’s 2017 Top Employers for Young People competition.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Duke Energy Powered Up Florida With More Than $3 million in Grant Funding in 2016

Jan 10, 2017 11:45 AM ET

Duke Energy is powering Florida with more than electricity. Last year, the company donated more than $3 million to Sunshine State non-profit organizations.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Giving Back: Aiding Access to Clean Water in the San Juan Tlacotenco Community

Jan 10, 2017 11:00 AM ET

According to the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program for Water Supply and Sanitation, at least 1.8 billion people around the world drink contaminated water, and an even greater number drink water delivered through unsanitary systems. With a significant presence of employees in San Juan Tlacotenco, a community near Cuernavaca, Mexico, Baxter identified the lack of a stable and safe water supply as an opportunity to help.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sanofi China Wins Double Recognition for its Responsible Strategy

Jan 10, 2017 10:40 AM ET

Sanofi China received two awards in Beijing on December 2 for its commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): the "2016 Social Responsibility Award – Excellent Company" and the "2016 China’s Best Corporate Citizenship Award – The Company of the Year."

Health & Healthcare

Booz Allen Gets Active in Support of People Affected by Multiple Sclerosis

Jan 10, 2017 10:00 AM ET

Booz Allen Hamilton was recently awarded the Outstanding Corporate Volunteer Team award at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) – Greater DC/Maryland Chapter’s Annual End of Year Celebration last month for its outstanding efforts supporting the chapter and people affected by Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Medtronic Named One of the World’s Most Innovative Companies

Jan 10, 2017 10:00 AM ET

For the third straight year, Medtronic has been named one of the most innovative companies in the world.
The Clarivate Analytics Top 100 Global Innovator award honors the world’s most innovative companies based on the volume, success, protection and influence of their patents.

Innovation & Technology

Fighting Global Poverty Through Impact Investing & Partnerships: A Conversation with Yasmina Zaidman of Acumen

Jan 10, 2017 9:45 AM ET

Latest on the Champions for Social Good Podcast: Jamie Serino speaks with Yasmina Zaidman, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Acumen about how impact investing is working to fighting global poverty.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Celebrating 30 Years of Better Business, Better World

Jan 10, 2017 9:40 AM ET

This year we celebrated our 30th anniversary, and as we reflect back on three decades of accomplishments, we know none of it would have been possible without you--readers, partners, clients, and friends.

We are grateful to you for making our success possible and look forward to many more years of demonstrating our Better Business, Better World® commitment.

Environment

Hospital Waste Characterization

Jan 10, 2017 9:25 AM ET

A hospital’s waste stream can be complex, but understanding the makeup of your waste stream and what portion of that could be impacted by a recycling program is vital. Using some basic benchmarks, HPRC has put together an equation to help you characterize the waste stream at your hospital.

Healthcare facilities in the United States generate approximately 14,000 tons of waste per day. It is estimated that between 20 and 25 percent of that 6,600 tons can be attributed to plastic packaging and plastic products. In addition, 85 percent of the waste generated is non-infectious.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Barclays Accelerator Game Changer: Wala

Jan 10, 2017 9:15 AM ET

This is my dream job. If I wasn’t building Wala I’d be building another company, solving another problem.

Diversity & Inclusion

Northern Trust Celebrates Military Family Appreciation Month

Jan 10, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Our Military Appreciation and Assistance Resource Council (MAARC) recently celebrated Military Family Appreciation Month and events marking Veterans Day in the US.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

No Barriers Warriors, Wells Fargo Seek Veterans for 2017 Warriors to Summits Expedition

Jan 10, 2017 9:10 AM ET

No Barriers Warriors and Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) are seeking veterans with disabilities for the 2017 Warriors to Summits Expedition. The epic journey is designed to provide rigorous mental and physical challenges that help veterans reflect on their past, recognize where they are now, and develop a vision for their future so they may successfully transition to civilian life after military service.

Health & Healthcare

PYXERA Global Announces Global Health Corporate Champions II Cohort

Jan 10, 2017 9:05 AM ET

PYXERA Global is thrilled to announce that the second Global Health Corporate Champions cohort will include the Dow Chemical Company, WE Communications, PIMCO, and SAP. The Global Health Corporate Champions (GHCC) is an activity of U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Global Health Fellows Program (GHFP) II. The team will deploy in February 2017 to Accra, Ghana for a four-week immersive leadership experience.

Events, Media & Communications

Liba Wenig Rubenstein Named Senior Vice President, Social Impact for 21st Century Fox

Jan 10, 2017 9:00 AM ET

21st Century Fox today named Liba Wenig Rubenstein to the role of Senior Vice President, Social Impact. In this newly created position, she oversees the company’s expanding social impact programs, comprising a variety of initiatives that amplify to key constituents the company’s pro-social commitments and programming.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Marketplace Events announces partnership with Habitat for Humanity

Jan 10, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Health & Healthcare

Sodexo and Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health Win Federal Grant to Study the Health of Front-Line Employees

Jan 10, 2017 8:15 AM ET

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life services, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Center for Work, Health and Wellbeing at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health announce a new four-year grant aimed at finding new approaches to address the many ways that the workplace can affect health and safety of front-line employees.

Education

AT&T Accepting Applications for Ed-Tech Accelerator

Jan 10, 2017 7:40 AM ET

AT&T is calling on innovative ed-tech ventures to apply for the 2017 AT&T Aspire Accelerator. In its third year, the Aspire Accelerator’s mission is to support innovations that can help every student achieve a bright, successful future—exponentially and at scale. For and non-profit organizations chosen to participate in the program receive financial investment, access to expert services and mentorship.

Events, Media & Communications

Fox’s ‘Hidden Figures,’ ‘The Birth of a Nation’ and ‘This Is Us’ Named Finalists for Humanitas Prize for Outstanding Social Messaging

Jan 10, 2017 7:00 AM ET

The organization Humanitas has named the screenwriters of two films and one television series from 21st Century Fox as finalists for its 42nd Annual Humanitas Prize, a prestigious award honoring projects that contain effective social messaging and inspire compassion, hope and understanding. Among this year’s nominees are Nate Parker for Fox Searchlight’s The Birth of a Nation, Theodore Melfi & Allison Schroeder for Fox 2000’s Hidden Figures and Dan Fogelman for the pilot episode of This Is Us, produced by 20th Century Fox Television.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

US-Umweltbehörde EPA empfiehlt Zertifizierungen und Umweltgütesiegel von SCS Global Services für nachhaltige öffentliche Beschaffung

Jan 10, 2017 6:30 AM ET

Die US-amerikanische Umweltbehörde EPA hat die Innenraumluft- und Schadstoffemissionsgütesiegelprogramme von SCS Global Services (SCS) in die Richtlinien und Empfehlungen der Anforderungen für die öffentliche Beschaffung auf US Bundesebene aufgenommen (Recommendations of Specifications, Standards and Ecolabels to federal purchasers).

Health & Healthcare

Improving Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Facilities

Jan 10, 2017 12:20 AM ET

General principles have been developed based on both SCA-sponsored research and independent findings from academic research. Keeping the WHO five moments in mind, these principles are built around four areas commonly found in hospitals and recommend strategic dispenser placement as follows:

Events, Media & Communications

Shared Value Leadership Summit #3 on Inc.com's 2016 Most Innovative Conferences

Jan 9, 2017 6:00 PM ET

The Shared Value Initiative is thrilled to share that the 2016 Shared Value Leadership Summit landed the #3 spot on Inc.com’s 10 Most Innovative Conferences of 2016.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Action Team PSA Campaign Sets Distribution Record

Jan 9, 2017 3:45 PM ET

There’s no doubt word is getting out about the great work Action Team student volunteers are doing in communities across the country.

It was recently announced that one of the Action Team’s national TV and radio public service announcement (PSA) campaigns -- titled ‘Are You In?’ -- established a new Goodwill Communications distribution record for national campaigns.