ESG News from Leading Brands

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Major Leaguers Shine a Spotlight on Action Team Captains During National Volunteer Week by Awarding $40,000 in College Scholarships to High School Student Volunteers

Apr 11, 2016 4:00 PM ET

Major League baseball players will award $2,000 college scholarships to 20 outstanding high school students in recognition of their dedication to community service and tireless efforts to encourage others to get involved with causes they believe in, it was announced today by the Major League Baseball Players Trust. Each scholarship recipient is a member of the Action Team® national youth volunteer program created and administered by the Major League Baseball Players Trust and Volunteers of America.

Health & Healthcare

Spring Awakening: Refresh Your Workplace

Apr 11, 2016 3:45 PM ET

After the doldrums of winter, spring is a time for change and renewal. That’s why it’s this time of year when many of us think about spring cleaning — getting rid of the old to make way for the new.

Energy

National Grid Launches Energy eBook

Apr 11, 2016 3:25 PM ET

How can consumers and local communities move to a clean energy supply chain while maintaining healthy local economies and solving for climate change? Today, National Grid's US President Dean Seavers launched, "The Democratization of Energy: Climate Change, Renewables, and Advancing the American Dream," an eBook that discusses the ways in which we can transition our nation to a decarbonized economy while ensuring delivery of reliable and affordable energy.

Events, Media & Communications

4 Key Steps to Share Your Brand's Philanthropic Story [Infographic]

Apr 11, 2016 3:15 PM ET

There are a plethora of simple ways to get started via (not only) social media but dedicated web pages, links, videos, and more. Check out the infographic we created to learn how to dive into the world of digital storytelling.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Reverse Logistics for Retail Gain Wider Regulatory Acceptance

Apr 11, 2016 3:15 PM ET

Reverse logistics is a process within the retail community that describes the return of unwanted, damaged, unsold, or dated retail products back to the distribution center, warehouse, supplier or manufacturer, for the purpose of redistribution, recycling, reuse, or disposal. However, retailers can sometimes run afoul of long-standing regulations developed for industrial and manufacturing operations, if items considered hazardous are shipped. Retail employees preparing items for reverse distribution typically lack the extensive training and experience necessary to properly handle hazardous wastes and hazardous materials.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Five Public Schools Using STEM to Make a Difference in Their Communities are Named Winners of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Contest

Apr 11, 2016 3:15 PM ET

Comfortable cardboard classroom furniture for special needs students, prosthetic enhancements for veterans and a smartwatch app for pedestrian safety are among the winning projects of this year’s Solve for Tomorrow contest. Five groups of public school students from across the United States have been named Grand Prize Winners, taking home $120,000* in technology for their school.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Banorte, Líder en Estrategias de Sustentabilidad

Apr 11, 2016 2:30 PM ET

Debido a sus estrategias para la gestión de riesgos asociados al cambio climático y a su favorable desempeño ambiental, Grupo Financiero Banorte fue incluido en el Índice STOXX Global Climate Change Leaders, convirtiéndose en la única emisora de Latinoamérica en estar considerada en el mismo.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Banorte, Leader in Sustainability Strategies

Apr 11, 2016 2:30 PM ET

Grupo Financiero Banorte was included in the STOXX Global Climate Change Leaders index as a result of its strategies for managing risks associated with climate change and its favourable environmental performance, becoming the only Latin America issuer in the index.

Environment

Call for Proposals to Conserve the Chesapeake Bay

Apr 11, 2016 2:00 PM ET

As a supporter of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), CSX is encouraging organizations to apply for grants aimed to restore the habitats and water of the Chesapeake Bay.

Events, Media & Communications

Public Voting Period Opens for Hawaii Cleantech Pitch Competition

Apr 11, 2016 1:45 PM ET

The voting period for the VERGE Hawaii Accelerate pitch competition opens today, giving the public the chance to weigh in on which innovative startups will be featured at VERGE Hawaii: Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit, June 21-23, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Bechtel Receives Community Service Business Leader Award

Apr 11, 2016 1:40 PM ET

Bechtel, a leading global engineering, procurement and construction company, today announced that it received the 2016 Best of Reston Community Service Award yesterday evening from the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce and Cornerstones. Six individual and two corporate honorees were recognized for making a difference in the lives of others in the community.

Social Impact & Volunteering

5 Key Steps to Start an Employee Volunteer and Skills Giving Program

Apr 11, 2016 1:20 PM ET

This week, April 10 through April 16, 2016, is National Volunteer Week, and employees all across the country will be taking a break from their work to give back to their community alongside work colleagues. Volunteerism is increasingly becoming the core around which companies are building employee engagement strategies and programs, and serving as a catalyst for deeper partnerships with nonprofit organizations (Source: America’s Charities Snapshot 2015 report, The New Corporate DNA).

Environment

Easy Ways to Go Green in Your Home - Whirlpool Corp. Institute of Home Science

Apr 11, 2016 1:00 PM ET

Going green doesn't have to break the bank to make a difference.

Diversity & Inclusion

How I became a techie: Yoona Kim

Apr 11, 2016 1:00 PM ET

“I really enjoy learning about new technology before it’s released. It’s always so rewarding.” —Yoona Kim

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Indiana University of Pennsylvania Presents 2016 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award to World Environment Center CEO Dr. Terry F. Yosie

Apr 11, 2016 12:55 PM ET

The Alumni Association of Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) has announced that Dr. Terry F. Yosie, President & CEO of the World Environment Center, will receive the university’s prestigious Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award for 2016. The award recognizes alumni for their achievements in the arts, humanities, business, academia and public service. Dr. Michael A. Driscoll, IUP’s President, will present the award at an Alumni Association Gala on April 16.

Events, Media & Communications

Memo to the Corporate Board: Heads Up, It’s About Sustainability for the Long-Term

Apr 11, 2016 12:00 PM ET

The boards of directors of publicly-traded companies have considerable influence over the many duties and responsibilities for the corporation to attend to. Among them is oversight of risk (the two halves of risk: risk or threat and opportunity inherent therein). We put effective risk management as one of the over-arching elements of corporate sustainability and responsibility. What better way to address risk management duties at board level than to focus on the company’s ESG strategies?

Events, Media & Communications

Subaru of America Celebrates 13 Years as Title Sponsor of the 2016 Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival in Philadelphia

Apr 11, 2016 11:40 AM ET

Subaru of America, Inc. has renewed its sponsorship of the annual Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival for the 13th year, presented alongside the Japan America Society of Greater Philadelphia (JASGP).

Innovation & Technology

Tackling Youth Unemployment in Kenya with Work-Study Program

Apr 11, 2016 11:25 AM ET

Social Impact & Volunteering

I'm Just a Kid

Apr 11, 2016 11:05 AM ET

Children of all ages have dreams and that doesn’t stop just because they enter the fostercare system. Hear the dreams of the children being helped by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiters.

Innovation & Technology

LG Electronics Debuts New Energy-Efficient Performance 'High Bay' LED Lighting Technology

Apr 11, 2016 10:30 AM ET

LG Electronics USA is introducing its new energy-efficient, performance “High Bay” wireless LED system, designed for easy installation in facilities with tall ceilings like gymnasiums, for example, thanks to its advanced wireless grouping technology and light weight.

Environment

Upgrade an Industry and Cut Global Emissions in Half ... at Neutral to Negative Cost

Apr 11, 2016 10:05 AM ET

Hidden away or underground, wastewater infrastructure is an essential component to growing, sustainable communities. Around the world, this infrastructure enables cities to develop, economies to grow and communities to thrive. It is also a major source of global greenhouse gas emissions, primarily due to inherent inefficiencies

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Sustainable Brands Encouraging Business Leaders to Imagine a World of Tomorrow

Apr 11, 2016 10:00 AM ET

Sustainable Brands® is bringing together over 145 notable sustainability leaders, influential business leaders, and prominent local and government representatives this week in Detroit to visualize a future of global social and economic prosperity. At the forefront of discussion: The influence that brands have in shaping a vision for the aspirational lifestyle of the future.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The Drive to Succeed at Walmart

Apr 11, 2016 10:00 AM ET

After years of working jobs that didn’t make her happy, Andrea decided it was time to learn something new. A Walmart Foundation grant to Jobs for the Future helped her get into an academy for truck drivers, and her motivation carried this mother of two from inexperienced to accomplished.

Research, Reports & Publications

Shire Releases 2015 Annual Responsibility Review

Apr 11, 2016 10:00 AM ET

We're proud of the progress we are making. Responsibility has always been embedded in our business. It underpins our daily work, our decisions, and our relationships and remains with us as we move even further into complex and challenging areas. Our commitment to Responsibility remains steadfast.

Environment

Learn About Changes in the 2016 CDP Scoring Methodology

Apr 11, 2016 10:00 AM ET

CDP 2016 Updates - Free webinar series