ESG News from Leading Brands

Social Impact & Volunteering

AkzoNobel | Restoring an Icon of Scottish Shipbuilding

Sep 16, 2016 10:50 AM ET

Restoration work has started on an iconic steamship regarded as the vanguard of 1930s Scottish engineering. TS Queen Mary is being transformed into one of the UK’s largest interactive maritime exhibits with help from AkzoNobel’s Marine Coatings business.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Making an Impact Around the Globe: Amgen France Staff Come Together to Give Back

Sep 16, 2016 10:20 AM ET

Amgen France’s annual volunteer day engages the entire staff for a day of living Amgen’s values by positively impacting the wellbeing of the local community. In January, nearly 320 staff members participated in a series of projects and fundraising events through Unis-Cité, a community service program that benefits local charities.

Diversity & Inclusion

Diversity in Advertising: Kimberly-Clark Leverages Social to Spur Greater Inclusiveness

Sep 16, 2016 10:10 AM ET

Our Kleenex “Gesture of Care” program, which we’re in our second year of, is a great example. Before the campaign launched, Kleenex was experiencing years of decline. We saw an opportunity to reposition Kleenex from a simple cold and flu wipe to an everyday gesture of care.

Research, Reports & Publications

UNHCR, Accenture Study Finds Internet, Mobile Connectivity a Lifeline for Refugees

Sep 16, 2016 10:05 AM ET

Refugees view access to a mobile phone and internet as being critical to their safety and security and essential for keeping in touch with loved ones.

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar’s Vision and Commitment to Respect Human Rights

Sep 16, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Along with helping improve the quality of life in communities around the world, Caterpillar is committed to protecting and respecting human rights, as articulated in Our Values in Action. In 2015, we created a new Human Rights Policy to further strengthen our efforts in this area.

Environment

Oil and Water Don’t Mix – Keeping Your Condensate Hydrocarbon-Free

Sep 16, 2016 9:25 AM ET

We frequently discuss the differences between oil-free and oil-injected air compressors and their uses in various industries. While oil-free compressors are essential for pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and semiconductor production, oil-injected compressors are great for operation in harsh environmental conditions like those found in oil and gas, railway and marine applications. However, one issue that is often not considered is what happens to lubricant after it’s used in an oil-injected compressor.

Events, Media & Communications

Data for Good Exchange September 25th 2016 Registration Open

Sep 16, 2016 9:05 AM ET

Diversity & Inclusion

Walmart Foundation | Investing in Creating Economic Opportunity

Sep 16, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Bechtel's Linda Miller Shortlisted for the 2016 WISE Woman of the Year Award

Sep 16, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Bechtel's Linda Miller has been shortlisted for the 2016 WISE Woman of the Year Award! Linda works on Crossrail - Europe's largest construction project - as project manager for Farringdon Station in London.

Research, Reports & Publications

Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA Publishes 2015/2016 Corporate Responsibility Report

Sep 16, 2016 9:00 AM ET

Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., USA recently issued its 2015/2016 Global Corporate Responsibility Report. The report provides an overview of the company’s corporate responsibility activities, progress and performance in the areas of Access to Health, Environmental Sustainability, Employees and Ethics & Transparency.

Research, Reports & Publications

NEC Releases Annual Report on Corporate Social Responsibility

Sep 16, 2016 1:00 AM ET

NEC Corporation announced today the release of its annual report on corporate social responsibility (CSR) during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. NEC has announced its CSR activities aiming to promote sustainable growth and increase corporate value since fiscal 2005.

Responsible Production & Consumption

HEINEKEN USA Drives Responsibility Home

Sep 16, 2016 12:55 AM ET

How many times have you heard the phrase “don’t drink and drive”? It’s a good phrase. But is it good enough? At HEINEKEN USA, it’s something we’ve been thinking a lot about. Advocating responsible consumption is a huge part of our Brewing a Better World strategy and a key priority within our global business strategy. Excessive consumption can never be part of a sustainable future for our company or our industry. And with today marking our third annual Enjoy Responsibly Day, we’d like to talk about our commitment to eliminate drunk driving.

Environment

Georgia Welcome Center to Receive Pollinator Garden

Sep 15, 2016 6:05 PM ET

The Georgia Conservancy, Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG), the Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT), The Ray and the Chattahoochee Nature Center will all use shovels and work gloves on September 17 to install a 7,000-square foot pollinator garden at the Georgia Visitor Information Center (VIC) on Interstate 85 in West Point. The pollinator garden will be the first installed at any Georgia DOT facility.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Responsible Sourcing and Economic Support for Local Communities in North America Help Earn Sodexo Its 12th Consecutive Top Ranking on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index

Sep 15, 2016 5:45 PM ET

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life Services, is once again the top-rated company in its sector on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), giving the group 12 consecutive years of recognition in Corporate Responsibility. Sodexo was also ranked the number one consumer services companies for the third year in a row, reinforcing the success of Sodexo’s global commitments to sustainability.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Sodexo Announces Membership in the “Better Buying Lab” to Develop Sustainable Food Strategies

Sep 15, 2016 5:15 PM ET

Sodexo, world leader in Quality of Life Services, announced today that it has become a member of the Better Buying Lab, a new initiative of the World Resources Institute (WRI) that brings together the food industry and some of the brightest minds from consumer research, behavioral economics and marketing strategy to test and scale new ways to help consumers buy products that have a lower environmental impact.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Next Generation Products Certified As Living Products

Sep 15, 2016 4:50 PM ET

Humanscale, Bureo, Owens Corning and Garden Tower Project have received Living Product certification for new and redesigned products that meet the high bar of the Living Product Challenge, that is, to design and manufacture products that function as elegantly and efficiently as anything found in the natural world.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Video: Bloomberg Startup Is Full STEAM Ahead

Sep 15, 2016 4:20 PM ET

Bloomberg Startup workshops immerse under-served students in Bloomberg’s culture, products, and values. Students receive technical and leadership training from dedicated employee volunteers.

Responsible Production & Consumption

How PepsiCo is Taking Action on Palm Oil – Interview

Sep 15, 2016 4:00 PM ET

PepsiCo published the first update on its Palm Oil Action Plan. Ben Cooper spoke with Andrew Aulisi, senior director, global environmental policy at ‎PepsiCo, about the progress to date and how the company's initial actions and achievements are likely to be received by environmental campaigners.

Responsible Production & Consumption

FDA Bans 19 Antibacterial Chemicals Used in Hand and Body Soaps

Sep 15, 2016 3:40 PM ET

The FDA has banned 19 antibacterial ingredients used in hand and body soaps, citing a lack of evidence demonstrating that these ingredients are safe and more effective than ordinary soap for preventing illness. The ban specifically targets consumer products and does not apply to soaps used in hospital settings and food services. This is part of a larger effort by the FDA to push consumers toward using ordinary soap and water for sanitization.

Diversity & Inclusion

Sanofi VETS Group Comes Together for Community Hope Flag Day Run and Walk

Sep 15, 2016 2:35 PM ET

At Sanofi, Diversity and Inclusion is foundational to how we operate as a company by successfully leveraging differences in people, perspective and ideas to drive business outcomes.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

National Diversity Council Announces the 2016 Most Powerful Business Women in Texas

Sep 15, 2016 2:30 PM ET

The National Diversity Council, along with Texas Diversity Magazine, is proud to announce the 2016 Most Powerful Businesswomen award winners.

Green Infrastructure

Green Key Eco-Rating Program Version 3.0 is Now Available!

Sep 15, 2016 2:30 PM ET

The Green Key Eco-Rating Program, the lodging industry’s certification program of choice, has been renovated, and we are pleased to announce that version 3.0 (V3) is now available!

The move to V3 is all part of Green Key Global’s continuing goal of remaining the leading environmental certification body in the industry and to align ourselves with GSTC Recognition status.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Earthworm-Inspired Innovation Wins $10K Living Product Prize

Sep 15, 2016 1:45 PM ET

A University of Oregon design team has won the first Living Product Prize in the Biomimicry Global Design Challenge for the Living Filtration System, an innovation that creates healthier soils by preventing nutrients from leaving fields in runoff. Their $10,000 Living Product Prize win was announced at the Living Product Expo in Pittsburgh, PA yesterday.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

How the Banking Industry Could Shape the Future for Corporate Sustainability

Sep 15, 2016 1:30 PM ET

More and more each day, sustainability is becoming a crucial topic in the business world. To this extent, the UN Global Compact has specified four main principles for maintaining a sustainable business: human rights, labor rights, environmental protection and anti- corruption.

Energy

GM Details its 100 Percent Renewable Energy Goal

Sep 15, 2016 1:15 PM ET

GM is pledging to meet its electricity needs at all of its global operations with renewable energy – such as wind, sun and landfill gas – by 2050. The company’s global renewable energy manager, Rob Threlkeld, answers some questions about the company’s 100 percent renewable energy plans and what it will take to achieve its goal.