ESG News from Leading Brands

Energy

National Grid on Investing for Impact: Energy-Driven Economic Development in Upstate New York

Aug 1, 2016 11:00 AM ET

It’s no secret that Upstate New York – once recognized nationwide as a manufacturing leader – has yet to fully stake its claim in a globalized economy. What might still be a secret to some is how close the region is getting to reclaiming that leadership position. I won’t pretend to be an expert in the emerging fields getting us there: nanotechnology, advanced manufacturing capabilities, or anaerobic digesters enabling process waste to be converted into electricity, to name a few. But I can tell you, from my travels throughout our service regions, our customers understand them. In fact, they’ll tell anyone who’ll listen. At National Grid, we’ve made listening part of our mission.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The Idea Of Adoption & The Dave Thomas Foundation

Aug 1, 2016 11:00 AM ET

I’ve thought over and over again about this, and I can’t get past the idea of adopting a teen into our family. Teenagers are less likely to get adopted, often leaving the foster care system at the age of 18 with no support, no jobs, and no idea how to move through life.

Education

'Subaru Loves Learning' Initiative Kicks off to Help Educate and Inspire Students Across the Country

Aug 1, 2016 11:00 AM ET

This August, Subaru of America, Inc. will once again spotlight its “Subaru Loves Learning” initiative, part of the brand’s Love Promise philanthropic platform dedicated to supporting causes and passions that Subaru and its customers care about.

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar's Breakthrough Workshop for Women Leaders

Aug 1, 2016 11:00 AM ET

“The Breakthrough Leadership for Women workshop was by far the best course I’ve taken at Caterpillar in the nine years I’ve been here. It made me learn about myself, gave me confidence and made me really connect with women at work for the first time.”

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Improving Lives by Improving Sight

Aug 1, 2016 10:55 AM ET

Essilor International, the world’s leading ophthalmic optics company with a mission to improve lives by improving sight, has joined the Business Call to Action (BCtA) with a pledge to create 40,000 primary eye care workers in underserved regions by 2020. The company expects its broadening inclusive business models to improve health outcomes, productivity and wellbeing for more than 50 million low-income people in the next four years.

Diversity & Inclusion

Practitioner Spotlight – Chris Brossia

Aug 1, 2016 10:50 AM ET

Let's take a closer look at one of Antea Group's most valuable resource--its people! Next up is health and safety consultant Chris Brossia, who talks to us about what he loves about health and safety, his first job, how he describes his job to strangers, and what he would do with a month off.

Energy

Clean Power Helps Build Chevrolet Electric Car

Aug 1, 2016 10:35 AM ET

Efficient vehicles aren’t the only thing produced at GM’s Orion Assembly plant in Michigan. The home of the Chevrolet Bolt EV also generates more than half of its energy from renewable landfill gas – a feat that got the attention of the U.S. EPA’s Green Power Partnership that tracks such activity. The facility now ranks as the eighth largest user of green power generated onsite in the U.S. among Green Power Partnership Partners.

Environment

CSRHub's Bahar Gidwani to Speak at NAEM's 2016 Sustainability Management Conference

Aug 1, 2016 10:05 AM ET

Innovation & Technology

eHighway: The First Public Road Use

Aug 1, 2016 10:05 AM ET

Trucks equipped with electric pantographs are traveling a public road for the first time. Siemens has installed an overhead line for electric and hybrid trucks in Sweden.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Northern Trust Maintains Inclusion in FTSE4Good Index

Aug 1, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Northern Trust announced today that it continues its inclusion in the FTSE4Good Index, a series of benchmark and tradable indices for investors who seek companies with a focus on ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) related practices.

Environment

Newest Class of Fulbright-National Geographic Fellows to Tackle Global Issues Through Digital Storytelling

Aug 1, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Beginning this fall, the 2016-2017 class of the Fulbright-National Geographic Digital Storytelling Fellowship will embark on global journeys to study significant social and environmental issues--from the need for community-based food systems in India to the effects of climate change on rural communities in Northern Africa--and share their findings with the world through National Geographic's media assets.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Cormack Family Funds New Children International Community Center and Youth Center in Colombia

Aug 1, 2016 6:05 AM ET

Dave Cormack, the president and chief executive officer of the healthcare software provider Brightree, and his family were lead donors in the construction of the new Cormack Family Community Center and Youth Center in Cartagena, Colombia. The centers were inaugurated earlier this summer and will benefit nearly 12,000 children and youth.

Environment

Picture Earth Right Now

Jul 29, 2016 6:00 PM ET

Picture Earth Right Now features curated and recent visualizations of Earth by NASA Goddard.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Environmental Protection Agency Aligns EPCRA Chemical Compliance Rules with UN Globally Harmonized System on Hazardous Materials

Jul 29, 2016 4:35 PM ET

Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made an amendment to their Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) final ruling. The EPCRA was established in 1986 with the purpose of helping communities plan for and prevent chemical emergencies.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

B.C. Day Success Story: Homegrown Industry on Pace to Shatter Export Records, Creating Jobs in Coastal Communities and Opportunity for First Nations

Jul 29, 2016 4:30 PM ET

Recently released data from Stats Canada (January to May 2016) shows exports of farm-raised salmon to key Asian markets is on a record setting pace in 2016, with many markets already eclipsing previous annual volumes.

Education

Arrow Electronics Hosts Colorado STEM Champions

Jul 29, 2016 4:00 PM ET

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Versaic Clients Making a Difference- July 2016

Jul 29, 2016 3:35 PM ET

The summer heat does not stop our clients from making a difference. Whether an airline or a bank or a grocery store, they're on a mission with their CSR program to change the world. We have picked some of the highlights from their various giving programs to share with you- we hope their good work will inspire you in your quest for making an impact in your community!

Social Impact & Volunteering

Trevor Plouffe of the Minnesota Twins Helps His Country While Inspiring a Younger Generation

Jul 29, 2016 3:30 PM ET

Trevor Plouffe, Minnesota Twins third baseman, is all business on the field, but all smiles off of it.

Innovation & Technology

Innovative Ideas to Solve Complex Social and Environmental Problems

Jul 29, 2016 3:30 PM ET

Arming women with the skills to build a more equal society. Providing marginalized expectant mothers with valuable health advice. Ensuring new entrepreneurs are set up for success. Preparing small and medium-sized businesses for disaster recovery. Ensuring that the free educational resources of the Internet are accessible to all.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Keep America Beautiful's Volunteer Spotlight: J.D. Franklin

Jul 29, 2016 3:15 PM ET

J.D. Franklin, a volunteer for Keep Riverside Clean & Beautiful, exemplifies what it means to be a hardworking man who cares about bettering his community. J.D. has always been conscious of the need to have a beautiful environment for all, evidenced by his involvement in Keep America Beautiful's Great American Cleanup.

Diversity & Inclusion

ColorComm Conference 2016: Leading the Way – Helping Companies Create Gender Diverse Workplaces

Jul 29, 2016 1:50 PM ET

We have all attended conferences in the hopes of leaving inspired and ready to take action on the topics discussed, but sometimes the conference falls flat. We attend breakout session after breakout session just to leave thinking, “I already knew that.” However, that was definitely not the case at ColorComm’s 3rd Annual Conference, Leading the Way (#C2Miami)!

Health & Healthcare

When a Service Provider is Part of the Team

Jul 29, 2016 1:45 PM ET

This is the third in a continuing blog series based on the findings from the Sodexo 2016 Healthcare Compendium, a compilation of research that examines the increasing trend toward a focus on value in the healthcare sector. Read the full article: Lowell General Hospital: Partnering for Excellence

Innovation & Technology

Cultivating Livelihoods in Indonesia

Jul 29, 2016 1:25 PM ET

East West Seed Indonesia (EWINDO), the country’s first integrated seed breeding and distribution company, has joined the Business Call to Action (BCtA) with a commitment to integrate 17,775 seeds growers into its value chain and transfer technical knowledge to 125,000 smallholder vegetable farmers by 2020.

Education

IBM and Sesame Street Transforming Education

Jul 29, 2016 12:00 PM ET

IBM and Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization that produces Sesame Street, formed a collaboration to use IBM Watson's cognitive computing technology and Sesame’s early childhood expertise to help advance preschool education around the world. As part of a three-year agreement, Sesame Workshop and IBM will collaborate to develop educational platforms and products that will be designed to adapt to the learning preferences and aptitude levels of individual preschoolers.

Events, Media & Communications

Domtar EarthChoice July Monthly Minute

Jul 29, 2016 11:05 AM ET

How do you reduce the need for 50,000 truck trips a year, avoiding the air emissions equal burning 100,000+ gallons of fuel? Domtar's Hawesville, KY mill found a creative strategy to do just that.