Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Research, Reports & Publications

How the Process of Identifying Environmental, Social & Governance Issues Can Point the Way to Enhanced Shareholder Value Targets

Apr 17, 2018 5:20 PM ET

As bottom-up investors, our process starts at the company level. We subject all candidates for inclusion in our high-conviction portfolios to rigorous fundamental analysis and peer review. ESG analysis is embedded in this assessment, influencing key assumptions such as the cost of capital, revenues and expenses. From this we can seek to estimate a company’s intrinsic value.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

From Chasing Storms to Scaling Poles, Duke Energy Lineworkers Keep the Grid Running

Apr 17, 2018 4:20 PM ET

Lineworkers have jobs unlike any other – they chase storms, climb poles and know the ins and outs of the energy grid – and, with the demands of the job, are always on standby when severe weather strikes.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Keep America Beautiful and Volunteers Unite for Great American Cleanup Earth Day Events Nationwide

Apr 17, 2018 2:45 PM ET

Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, led by its network of more than 600 affiliates and other partners across the country, will rally tens of thousands of volunteers at events across the country on and around Earth Day, Sunday, April 22, as part of its annual Great American Cleanup.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Humana Offering $500,000 for Plan to Address Hunger, Isolation in Broward

Apr 17, 2018 2:30 PM ET

Broward County organizations that connect residents to healthy food are invited to apply for grants “no smaller than” $500,000 from the Humana Foundation, the charitable arm of the health insurance giant.

Research, Reports & Publications

Sappi North America Releases 2017 Sustainability Report, Receives Gold Rating From EcoVadis

Apr 17, 2018 1:00 PM ET

Sappi North America, a leading producer and supplier of diversified paper and packaging products, has released its 2017 Sustainability Report showcasing its industry leading sustainability performance. The report includes up-to-date information on the company’s progress against five year goals measuring environmental, economic and social responsibility commitments as well as providing insights into its continued technical innovation.

Social Impact & Volunteering

The Arbor Day Foundation and Comcast NBCUniversal to Plant 1,000+ Trees in California, Colorado, Florida and Texas Communities Devastated by Recent Natural Disasters

Apr 17, 2018 1:00 PM ET

The Arbor Day Foundation and Comcast NBCUniversal are pleased to announce an urban planting partnership of more than 1,000 trees focusing on repairing communities damaged by disasters in Florida, Texas, California and Colorado, all states where Comcast has a significant number of employees, customers and community partners.

Research, Reports & Publications

PNC Publishes 2017 Corporate Social Responsibility Report

Apr 17, 2018 1:00 PM ET

As a Main Street bank organized around its customers and communities, we recognize that success isn’t about whether we sold another deposit product or booked another loan. It’s about whether we helped people and institutions achieve their financial goals. It’s about whether we are helping our communities to thrive. It’s about whether our employees are achieving their career aspirations and whether we are collectively living our values in a way that makes us all proud to work for PNC. It’s about whether we are doing right by the people we serve. And we know that when we do, financial success follows.

Social Impact & Volunteering

A Lesson in Preserving the Earth

Apr 17, 2018 12:40 PM ET

Earth Day is a reminder of the responsibility I have to ensure future generations can cherish and enjoy our planet. Throughout my life, I’ve had a passion for sustainability and conservation. And as a volunteer, I’m able to do my part. I’m lucky enough to be able to focus that passion to help preserve the earth every day – and encourage others to join me along the way.

Education

100 Students Participate in Innovation Camp Today

Apr 17, 2018 12:00 PM ET

Environment

Sign up for the Antea Group Monthly Newsletter

Apr 17, 2018 11:55 AM ET

Sign up for Antea Group's monthly e-newsletter, The New Leaf, for the latest in environment, health, safety, and sustainability news and insights.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Atlanta Homeownership to Get $6 Million Boost

Apr 17, 2018 11:30 AM ET

Wells Fargo, NeighborWorks America and its network members — Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership, Inc., and NeighborWorks Columbus — announced the NeighborhoodLIFT® program will expand in the Atlanta area with a $6 million commitment by Wells Fargo to boost homeownership.

Energy

Ecocentricity Guest Blog: Energy Burden – Combining Social and Environmental Lenses for Impact

Apr 17, 2018 11:00 AM ET

This week, Michael Oxman, managing director of the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business and Professor of the Practice for the Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business talks about the the fact that Atlanta has one of the highest concentrations of energy burden among major metropolitan areas in the United States. With funding from Georgia Tech Strategic Energy Institute’s Energy and Policy Innovation Center and the Georgia Tech Center for Serve-Learn-Sustain, students and faculty from the Scheller College of Business and the School of Public Policy are conducting the study (with input from a range of stakeholders) to identify potential solution platforms.

Sustainable Development Goals

Launching the Social and Human Capital Coalition: Helping Companies Recognize the Value of People and Communities Living Well

Apr 17, 2018 10:50 AM ET

Today marks the launch of the Social and Human Capital Coalition, designed to help companies recognize, measure and value the importance of people and communities. As part of the launch, the Coalition is also opening the Social and Human Capital Protocol for public consultation until 16 June 2018.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Impact at Work: New Hope Housing Project Spotlight

Apr 17, 2018 10:15 AM ET

Today we’re highlighting a project with a talented team of volunteers from JPMorgan Chase and its nonprofit partner, New Hope Housing, Inc., whose mission is to provide low-income vulnerable families and individuals high-quality affordable housing and the tools to build a better life. In 2016, Common Impact paired New Hope Housing with a team of HR professionals from JPMorgan Chase in Houston, TX to review and enhance their current employee performance review process to improve greater consistency in deployment.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Women in Finance: Plant Your Garden and Tend It

Apr 17, 2018 10:05 AM ET

I’m grateful for the lessons in responsibility, hard work, and drive that have been ingrained in me by my parents, and early on it became obvious to me that finance could – and should – be a tool for good. By the age of thirteen I was fascinated by the possibilities of angel investing; I am now the President of Saturna Capital, a socially responsible asset manager in Bellingham, Washington.

Events, Media & Communications

Taproot Convenes Leaders From 80+ Cross Sector Companies and Organizations at 7th Annual U.S. Pro Bono Summit

Apr 17, 2018 10:05 AM ET

The social sector is rapidly evolving to meet the needs of its communities. How can corporations and their human capital step up, make an impact and address the infrastructure challenges of nonprofits? On April 18 and 19, the Taproot Foundation will convene 80+ leaders from corporations, nonprofits, philanthropies and government to explore emerging trends in pro bono at the 7th annual U.S. Pro Bono Summit in San Francisco.

Energy

Merck Advances Clean Energy Goals with Invenergy

Apr 17, 2018 10:05 AM ET

Merck, known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, and Invenergy, North America’s largest privately held renewable energy company, today announced a Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) that adds 60 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy to the electrical grid and supports

Events, Media & Communications

Sustainable Brands Attracts Global Brand Leaders to Accelerate Business-led Change

Apr 17, 2018 10:00 AM ET

Sustainable Brands® is evolving the concept of the traditional conference expo into an environment fostering inspiration and co-creation. The Activation Hub at SB’18 Vancouver, running June 4-7 at the Vancouver Convention Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia, will bring together 3,000 insightful change makers, entrepreneurs and leading companies to collaborate through the lens of Design Thinking methodology.

Environment

Research Reveals How Bark Types Affect Wood Decomposition

Apr 17, 2018 9:55 AM ET

A new study from researchers at the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) and the Kunming Institute of Botany (KIB) could help improve predictions of climate change by revealing the hidden role of bark in wood decomposition. For the first time, the scientists linked bark characteristics such as thickness, pH and density – which in life help protect the plant – to "afterlife effects" which help determine how rapidly woody plants decompose.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Consumers Energy Foundation Announces $500,000 in Grants for Kitchen Incubator, School of the Arts in Jackson

Apr 17, 2018 9:50 AM ET

The Consumers Energy Foundation today announced $500,000 for two major projects near its downtown headquarters, supporting an incubator for chefs to grow their businesses and the relocation and expansion of the Jackson School of the Arts.

Environment

Nicanoticia: Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos lanza concurso: “El Poder de Crecer”

Apr 17, 2018 9:45 AM ET

El Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos, el World Environment Center (WEC), Le Groupe-conseil baastel Itée (Baastel), y RioSlum Studio anunciaron el lanzamiento del concurso “El Poder de Crecer”. Este concurso ha sido impulsado por una coalición de organizaciones denominada La Red de Innovación e Impacto y financiado con fondos del Departamento de Estado de los Estados Unidos.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Alliance Data VIDEO | How the Best Company You've Never Heard of Made the Fortune Magazine 100 Best Places to Work For 2018 List

Apr 17, 2018 9:45 AM ET

How did the best company you've never heard of make the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For 2018 list? Watch our video and find out why we are #happyatalliancedata from our CEO and a few of our 20,000 associates.

Environment

Nicanoticia: US Department of State Launches “Power to Grow” Challenge

Apr 17, 2018 9:45 AM ET

The US State Department, together with World Environment Center (WEC), Le Groupe-conseil baastel Itée (Baastel) and RioSlum Studio announced the launching of the “Power to Grow” Challenge. The challenge has been promoted by a partnership formed by different organizations called La Red de Innovación e Impacto and funded by the US State Department.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

VIDEO | Growing Colorado Kids Farm Eliminates Hunger for Refugee Youth

Apr 17, 2018 9:15 AM ET

Over the past eight years, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation has helped create 1,000 community gardens across America. We’ve seen firsthand how gardens transform communities, but even more so, people’s lives. Here’s the story of one of those gardens, the Growing Colorado Kids Farm in Denver, Colorado.

Events, Media & Communications

Live #CiscoChat April 19th — Circular Economy: Solving for a Sustainable Future

Apr 17, 2018 9:05 AM ET

From technology to transportation, businesses in every industry are getting more and more involved in the circular economy, with the goal of creating a more sustainable future. They’re recycling, repurposing, and reevaluating their strategies, and with these changes, seeing the benefits go well beyond a greener planet.