ESG News from Leading Brands

Environment

Walgreens, Unilever Campaign Aims to Bring Clean Water to Kenya

Aug 25, 2015 11:00 AM ET

Innovation & Technology

Freeport-McMoRan Invests in Women’s Economic Empowerment Programs

Aug 25, 2015 10:50 AM ET

Freeport-McMoRan has advanced investments in women’s economic empowerment programs, such as “Dreambuilder-Women’s Business Creator,” an online entrepreneurship skills training program that has reached more than 3,600 women in Latin America with more than half from communities in Chile and Peru near Freeport-McMoRan operations.

Events, Media & Communications

Ecolab and Trucost Expand Water Risk Monetizer to Include Revenue-at-Risk Assessment

Aug 25, 2015 10:45 AM ET

The Water Risk Monetizer, industry’s first publicly available financial modeling tool that enables businesses to factor current and future water risks into decision making, now provides users with insights into how water scarcity impacts revenue. The tool’s new assessment helps water-dependent businesses better understand the full value of water to their operations and identify revenue at risk based on current and projected water scarcity.

Responsible Production & Consumption

BJ’s Wholesale Club Appears on WTVR-CBS Richmond for Farm to Club Segment

Aug 25, 2015 10:35 AM ET

David Hicks, general manager of the BJ’s Wholesale Club in Richmond, Virginia, recently appeared on WTVR-CBS to prepare a healthy salmon with cucumber salsa dish. Hicks incorporated fresh vegetables from BJ’s Farm to Club program and shared details about the local growers in Virginia.

Events, Media & Communications

What Does it Take to Become a Quality of Life Change Maker?

Aug 25, 2015 10:10 AM ET

I recently had the opportunity to hear a true agent of change share a compelling case for the need to redefine what it means to be successful in today’s world. Arianna Huffington, Chair, President and Editor-in-Chief, The Huffington Post Media Group, shared a detailed roadmap for positive lifestyle change during her keynote speech at the inaugural Quality of Life Conference. She had just come from the funeral of Sheryl Sandberg’s husband, Dave Goldberg, and she posed the question: “Why is it that our eulogies are so different from our resumes?” People’s resumes often bear little resemblance to their eulogies. We are not spending our days aligned with the values people will remember us for.

Education

Guest Post by Sam Gary: Attending the 2015 U.S. Amgen Scholar Symposium

Aug 25, 2015 9:20 AM ET

It’s the homestretch, but instead of cars racing to the finish line, there are over 200 young scientists scrambling to collect significant data worthy of publication.

Rewind to a week ago and these same Amgen Scholars were basking in the California sun on UCLA’s campus, enjoying a tremendous weekend of lectures, graduate/medical school admissions advice, and networking at the Amgen Scholars Summer Symposium.

Diversity & Inclusion

Five Easy Questions That Unlock Employee Engagement

Aug 25, 2015 9:00 AM ET

It’s heard from every corner of the earth, but what exactly is employee engagement? Employee happiness, motivation, compatibility with the company’s mission — engagement involves all of these complex ideas. But many organizations are adverse to employee engagement because they see it as an enigma that’s impossible to tackle.

Energy

MGM Resorts International Joins American Business Act on Climate Change Pledge

Aug 25, 2015 8:00 AM ET

“Innovating our resorts to operate more efficiently, while also offering a remarkable guest experience, is a top priority for our company,” said Cindy Ortega, Chief Sustainability Officer of MGM Resorts International. “Joining the American Business Act on Climate Change, as well as our previous pledge to the U.S. Energy Department’s Better Buildings Challenge, is another step in our promise to guests, employees and our surrounding communities to employ sustainable best practices at all of our resort destinations.”

Events, Media & Communications

STAR India Will Air 'Girl Rising' Documentary on Girls' Empowerment with Help of Bollywood Stars

Aug 25, 2015 8:00 AM ET

On Saturday, August 29, STAR India's flagship channel Star Plus will air Girl Rising, an acclaimed documentary from Academy Award nominee Richard E. Robbins that raises awareness of gender inequality and advocates for women's empowerment. The film is the centerpiece of the Girl Rising campaign, which promotes women's rights around the world, and this broadcast will be the first time the film has been shown in India.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

NS Invests $2.1 Billion

Aug 25, 2015 7:05 AM ET

Environment

John Dewar & Sons Helps Power Thousands of Scottish Homes

Aug 25, 2015 7:05 AM ET

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

H&M Conscious Foundation Gives €1 Million Grant to Pioneering Ideas Closing the Loop for Fashion

Aug 25, 2015 5:55 AM ET

On August 25, the H&M Conscious Foundation launches the first ever Global Change Award − one of the world’s biggest challenges for early stage innovation and the first such initiative in the fashion industry. By catalysing green, truly ground-breaking ideas the aim of the challenge is to protect the earth’s natural resources by closing the loop for fashion.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Cafeteria Makeover at Bruce-Monroe Elementary to be Revealed

Aug 24, 2015 6:30 PM ET

On the first day of school at Bruce-Monroe Elementary School at Park View in Northwest D.C., CBS EcoMedia, The Heart of America Foundation and UnitedHealthcare will today unveil a newly renovated cafeteria and health and wellness center.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Slavery and Supply Chains. What Companies Need To Be Concerned With

Aug 24, 2015 5:30 PM ET

As the complexity of supply chains grows, when companies expand into new markets, understanding what suppliers you work with is essential for making socially responsible decisions. The increase of many new opportunities lies outside in other global markets and with every opportunity comes with it the potential of working with many different suppliers, therefore increasing your supply chain.

Innovation & Technology

Alabama Companies Pursue Sustainability to Attract Millennial Workforce

Aug 24, 2015 5:00 PM ET

Millennials, who will account for 75 percent of the workforce in 2025, are not motivated solely by money, but by a desire to make the world more compassionate, innovative and sustainable. These are the findings of Deloitte’s 2015 Millennial Survey. While young college graduates are moving toward large metropolitan areas all across the country for employment, one of the notable exceptions is Birmingham, Ala., which is struggling to attract young workers.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Booz Allen Passes the “Ice Bucket” Around the World for the 2015 ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

Aug 24, 2015 4:30 PM ET

Booz Allen Hamilton is proudly participating in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge again this year. We’re passing the “ice bucket” around the world, with leaders in more than 20 Booz Allen offices – including President and CEO Horacio Rozanski – taking the challenge on behalf of those battling ALS.

Events, Media & Communications

SustainabilityHQ.com Weekly Highlights August 19, 2015

Aug 24, 2015 12:35 PM ET

As more corporate enterprises launch their sustainability journey -- or enhance the journey as it matures -- the internal discussions are increasingly around: "Where do we go from here?" "What are the stakeholders' expectations?" "What are our peers doing?" "What are the best practices for our company?"

Energy

AMD's Commitment to Energy Efficiency Hits a Milestone

Aug 24, 2015 12:15 PM ET

One year ago AMD announced its25x20 initiative with the goal to achieve a 25x typical energy efficiency improvement of our APUs (Accelerated Processing Units) by 2020, from a 2014 baseline. Energy efficiency has long been a product design goal of AMD, and with the explosion of computing devices and capabilities over the last 20 years, AMD is on a path to focus on the energy and environmental footprint of computing. Energy efficiency is calculated as a ratio of work completed (i.e. performance) to how much energy is consumed completing that work.

Social Impact & Volunteering

"A Night in Vegas" Fundraiser Presented By CITGO Will Benefit Charlie's Place Recovery Center

Aug 24, 2015 12:00 PM ET

CITGO Petroleum Corporation’s Corpus Christi Refinery will continue to aid Charlie’s Place Recovery Center, one of Texas’s largest nonprofit, residential drug and alcohol treatment centers, as host of a charitable benefit on August 29 at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi.

Events, Media & Communications

International Living Future Institute Forges Partnership with 3BL Media

Aug 24, 2015 12:00 PM ET

3BL Media, a corporate communications platform exclusively dedicated to the distribution of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability news and content, announced today a partnership with the International Living Future Institute, a global leader in the green building and sustainability movement.

Environment

Carnival Corporation & plc Recognized for Environmental Practices with Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce's 'Sustainable Business Award'

Aug 24, 2015 11:15 AM ET

August 24, 2015 /3BL Media/ - Miami-based Carnival Corporation & plc was presented with the Sustainable Business Award by the Miami Beach Chamber of Commerce during the organization's quarterly meeting held on board the Carnival Victory at PortMiami.

The award recognizes Carnival Corporation & plc and its 10 worldwide brands for their leadership role in developing innovative environmental initiatives. These include the company's recent announcement to construct four new ships featuring a revolutionary "green cruising design" powered by cleaner-burning liquefied natural gas, as well as the introduction of exhaust gas cleaning technology - or "scrubbers" - designed to dramatically reduce air emissions.

Social Impact & Volunteering

United Nations Takes Over Social Media with #ShareHumanity Campaign

Aug 24, 2015 11:15 AM ET

Millennials, more than the average American, see social media as an avenue for change. With nearly three-quarters of Millennials saying they use social media as a platform to talk about issues they care about (vs. 52% U.S. average), this audience is primed to participate and raise awareness online. So how do you motivate millions of Millennials to take online action? Ask them to participate in a simple and turnkey activation to promote stories of humanity.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

JetBlue Blue Horizon for Autism Making Travel Less Stressful

Aug 24, 2015 11:00 AM ET

Environment

Did You Know That Nespresso had Reduced the Carbon Footprint of a Cup of Coffee by 20% Since 2009?

Aug 24, 2015 11:00 AM ET

Nespresso has been working to improve its environmental performance across its entire value chain, from coffee farming to end-of-life of its products. The company is continuously working on improving the energy-efficiency of its machines, the efficiencies of its operations, but also working with farmers to safeguard the environment through more sustainable practices.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Finalists Named for Louisiana’s 2015 Cox Conserves Heroes Program, Public Asked to Vote

Aug 24, 2015 11:00 AM ET