ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

Maven City Car Sharing Expands to Serve Western Customers

Nov 17, 2016 12:05 PM ET

Maven, General Motors’ personal mobility brand, is expanding to the western United States, adding the Denver, Los Angeles and San Francisco markets. In 10 months, Maven has launched three products and has grown to 13 U.S. cities: Ann Arbor, Michigan; Baltimore; Boston; Chicago; Denver; Detroit; Los Angeles; Jersey City, New Jersey; New York City; Orlando, Florida; San Diego; San Francisco; and Washington, D.C.

Research, Reports & Publications

CFSI Study: Payday Shrinks While Underserved Consumers Pay More for Auto Insurance

Nov 17, 2016 12:00 PM ET

Today, the Center for Financial Services Innovation (CFSI) and Core Innovation Capital (Core) released their sixth annual Financially Underserved Market Size Study. The report, which benefited from the financial support and strategic input of Morgan Stanley and with additional financial support from CFSI’S Founding Partner the Ford Foundation, reveals that underserved American consumers spent $141 billion in fees and interest in 2015, generated from a volume of $1.6 trillion in financial activity.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Modern Leadership & Social Change: A Discussion with John Gerzema of BAV Consulting

Nov 17, 2016 12:00 PM ET

In this episode of the Champions for Social Good Podcast, Jamie Serino speaks with John Gerzema (@JohnGerzema), Chairman and CEO of BAV Consulting (@BAVConsulting), and an internationally recognized theorist on consumerism and its impact on growth, innovation and strategy.

Education

Education & Opportunity in Indian Country

Nov 17, 2016 11:55 AM ET

November marks Native American Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the diverse cultures, traditions and histories of Native Americans, as well as the important contributions of Native people to our communities and country. This month also presents the opportunity to raise awareness about the unique challenges Native Americans face.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sodexo Recognized by USDA and EPA as U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champion

Nov 17, 2016 11:55 AM ET

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life services, today announced being named by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to the inaugural class of the U.S. Food Loss and Waste 2030 Champions. The recognition is awarded to U.S. businesses and organizations pledging concrete steps to reduce food loss and waste in their operations by 50 percent by 2030. It also aligns with the commitment Sodexo made last Spring for zero waste to landfill by 2025.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Parents, Governmental Leaders Meet at National Parents Meet to Celebrate Progress in the Disability Movement in India

Nov 17, 2016 11:50 AM ET

The 24th National Parents Meet in Jalandhar, Punjab was a potent mix of passion, gritty determination, and celebration. From across India, several hundred family members of people with developmental disabilities came together, along with their sons and daughters, to meet, plan, share, learn, and celebrate the hard-won gains they have made.

Events, Media & Communications

Mapping Community Impact Measurement Activities to the SDGs at the LBG Canada Calgary Regional Meeting

Nov 17, 2016 11:05 AM ET

Events, Media & Communications

Chief Executives Lay Out Concrete Plans to Put Global Climate Agreement into Action at COP22

Nov 17, 2016 11:00 AM ET

More than 100 high-level business leaders and investors meet in a show of resounding support and commitment to taking action on the Paris Climate Agreement at the COP 22/CMP 12: High-Level Meeting on Climate Change.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

UPS Delivers Magic Again This Holiday Season One Wish At A Time

Nov 17, 2016 10:30 AM ET

UPS has launched the annual Wishes Delivered campaign, created to spread goodwill and share stories of people making a difference. This year, UPS employees were asked to submit their wishes for the people and communities where UPSers work and live every day.

Diversity & Inclusion

Carnival Rocks the Boat

Nov 17, 2016 10:30 AM ET

During a meeting with her senior managers in August, Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises since late 2013, got an update on the bedding at her 18-ship line.

Innovation & Technology

How This Mobile Tech is Reducing Pregnancy Related Deaths

Nov 17, 2016 10:10 AM ET

Pregnant women throughout the developed world expect multiple ultrasounds during their trimesters to track the progress of their baby’s growth and development.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Focus, Impact and Business Returns: The Companies Getting Community Investment Right

Nov 17, 2016 10:05 AM ET

Research, Reports & Publications

Morgan Stanley and Bloomberg Survey Finds Sustainable Investing Has Entered the Mainstream

Nov 17, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Two-thirds of asset management professionals surveyed (65%) say that they are using sustainable investing strategies to achieve competitive market-rate financial return alongside positive social and/or environmental impact.

Diversity & Inclusion

Darden Dimes Helps Employees Weather Storm

Nov 17, 2016 9:45 AM ET

Employees at the Olive Garden in Spokane, WA, were grateful for Darden’s emergency assistance fund after a severe storm. The Darden Dimes program awarded more than 2,800 grants totaling about $1.6 million to employees in 2015.

Education

Ten to Watch: Elisabeth Krow-Lucal, Ph.D.

Nov 17, 2016 9:40 AM ET

Elisabeth Krow-Lucal Ph.D. is currently working as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, where she has spent more than half of this year working to combat the Zika virus outbreak both in the U.S. and Brazil.

Social Impact & Volunteering

CITGO Lemont Refinery Honored as Grand Marshal at Romeoville Founder’s Day

Nov 17, 2016 9:30 AM ET

In honor of the CITGO Lemont Refinery’s 90th Anniversary, employees were asked to serve as this year’s Grand Marshal for the annual Founder’s Day Parade in Romeoville, Ill.

Environment

PepsiCo and the Nature Conservancy Announce "Water for the Planet:" A Water Replenishing Strategy For Latin America

Nov 17, 2016 9:30 AM ET

PepsiCo Latin America and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Latin America announced "Water for the Planet," a new collaboration that will work to replenish five different watersheds for the urban areas of Mexico City, Monterrey, São Paulo, Guatemala City and Bogotain the next seven years.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

GSK Supports a Healthy and Happy Triangle with $400,000

Nov 17, 2016 9:30 AM ET

GSK IMPACT Award winners build healthy communities by addressing care of elders, homelessness, education and other pressing issues

Energy

Community Solar on the Rise

Nov 17, 2016 9:20 AM ET

We’ve been making some headlines lately for our push into community solar – an area NRG is moving into quickly. Why community solar?
“From a customer’s perspective, community solar is a home run: companies can stabilize energy costs while helping create a cleaner local power grid,” says Miro Sutton, NRG Business Solutions. “They can essentially offset a large portion of their electricity without any physical changes to their site. It’s clean, simple and financially prudent.”

Diversity & Inclusion

Nestlé Purina PetCare Company Celebrates Veterans Day with Three-Day Celebration and Highlights Job Opportunities for Veterans

Nov 17, 2016 9:15 AM ET

Nestlé Purina is celebrating Veterans Day with three days of military-focused events for Purina associates, spotlighting job opportunities for Veterans across the U.S., and giving a total of $100,000 to split between consumers' favorite military pet charity based on online votes at PureLoveForPets.com*.

Environment

Britain Throws Away 20 Olympic Swimming Pools of Paint a Year – Let’s Recycle It

Nov 17, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

BSR Conference 2016: Barrick Gold Executive Chairman John L. Thornton

Nov 17, 2016 9:00 AM ET

In a plenary address at the BSR Conference 2016, Barrick Gold Corporation Executive Chairman John L. Thornton shared thoughts on being bold in partnerships, transparency, and innovation.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Stakeholder Comment Period Announced for Veriflora® Sustainably Grown Standard

Nov 17, 2016 9:00 AM ET

SCS Global Services announced today that its hallmark certification standard for cut flowers and potted plants, Veriflora® Sustainably Grown, has been updated, and that the 60-day stakeholder comment period is now underway. All interested stakeholders are invited to submit comments.

Environment

Food Waste Pioneers: David Rodriguez + Jonathan Bloom

Nov 17, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Health & Healthcare

Merck Foundation Announces $10 Million Initiative to Improve Access to High-Quality Diabetes Care in Vulnerable and Underserved U.S. Communities

Nov 17, 2016 9:00 AM ET