Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Social Impact & Volunteering

How to Plant 500,000 Trees: One at a Time

May 3, 2017 11:10 AM ET

Charlotte, N.C., likes to be known as the City of Trees, but keeping that name requires a lot of work because development and aging trees are threats to the city's tree canopy. So the city decided in 2011 to cover half of Charlotte with trees by 2050. Doing that requires planting 500,000 trees.

Environment

News Brief: EPA Update, Ozone Depleting Substances Regulation

May 3, 2017 11:10 AM ET

The EPA finalized updates to Section 608 of the Refrigerant Management Regulations, effective January 1, 2017. These changes affect professionals who interact with refrigerants as well as owners/operators of refrigerant containing equipment. Antea Group has a quick summary of these updates as well as links to various resources.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Utilities Need to Explore New Approaches in Attracting Next Generation of Workers

May 3, 2017 11:10 AM ET

Eighty-three percent of utility respondents to the 2017 Strategic Directions: Smart City/Smart Utility Report survey identified workforce management as a major challenge for their operations over the next 10 years. As the number of energy jobs continues to grow, utilities would be wise to address the workforce issue today in order to mitigate the widespread impact and fallout. But how should the industry approach staffing these utilities jobs? And how do they attract and retain new staff?

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: Buzzwords

May 3, 2017 10:30 AM ET

When it comes down to it, I fear that for many people “sustainable” has become synonymous with “less bad.” That’s not enough, friends.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

De Beers Backs Project to Help Fight Hunger

May 3, 2017 10:00 AM ET

De Beers has joined forces with one of its major contractors to help combat hunger in one of the host communities near its Venetia mine in South Africa.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

How Letting Go of Our “Perfect Kids” Led Us Right to Them

May 3, 2017 10:00 AM ET

In December 2016, as we gathered with family at a local restaurant to celebrate one of our son’s birthday, I realized something: exactly a year prior we had attended IMPACT training across the street. IMPACT is a program developed by the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Family and Children Services that works to prepare families for the joys and challenges of fostering and adopting.

While reflecting on IMPACT, a particular question stuck in mind: “What does your perfect child look like?” It was a question we thought about as we started this journey and it lead us down an unexpected path.

Diversity & Inclusion

Building Future Leaders

May 3, 2017 10:00 AM ET

“The best part of the Future Leaders Program is the focus on our development. Through on-the-job experiences, relationships, and formal training, the program is shaping us to become leaders at GSK. Through it all, the program not only reinforced my passion for developing my sales and marketing capabilities, but also revealed exciting career opportunities I didn’t know were there.” (Amber, Future Leaders Program Graduate)

Sustainable Development Goals

VIDEO | Cargill's Four Priorities for a Sustainable Future

May 3, 2017 9:25 AM ET

Cargill's purpose is to nourish the world in a safe, responsible, sustainable way. Learn more about our four key priorities for a sustainable future: addressing climate change, land use, water resources and farmer livelihoods. It's part of our commitment to nourish the world and protect the planet.

Environment

Unreasonable Impact: Real-Time, Local Air Quality Data At Your Fingertips: Q&A With BreezoMeter

May 3, 2017 9:20 AM ET

The average adult breathes 3,000 gallons of air every day. But in some areas of the world, this essential human function could prove to be lethal. According to the World Bank, air pollution now ranks as the deadliest form of pollution, and approximately 90 percent of the world lives in places that fall short of the World Health Organization’s air quality standards.

Green Infrastructure

Bechtel Innovation and Sustainability: Two Sides of the Same Coin

May 3, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Global stressors — from water scarcity to modern-day slavery — are reinventing traditional business models across heavy industries that support a more secure, sustainable future. As one of the largest engineering, procurement and construction companies in the world, Bechtel is uniquely positioned to be part of this transformation.

Environment

Big News From Walmart on Climate Action

May 3, 2017 9:15 AM ET

Walmart is not just a superstore, it’s the tenth largest economic entity in the world, slightly larger than the economy of Spain.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Weleda & Whole Foods Market Partner to Support School Gardens in NY, NJ & CT

May 3, 2017 9:00 AM ET

Weleda, Europe’s leading skincare brand and Whole Foods Market, America’s healthiest store, have aligned their values to offer a travel kit of skin and body care products worth $25 for only $5. All proceeds from the sale of the kits will benefit Whole Kids Foundation - specifically school gardens in the three participating states - NY, NJ, CT.

Environment

JetBlue Offsets 1.7 Billion Pounds of CO2e Since 2008

May 3, 2017 8:45 AM ET

Although we use new engine technology, smarter flying techniques, and renewable jet fuel, there are still some greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that we can’t reduce. For these, we offset.

Research, Reports & Publications

Wessanen Releases Sustainability Report 2016

May 3, 2017 5:00 AM ET

Every year Wessanen releases its integrated Annual Report including the latest Sustainability Report, highlighting the company’s approach to creating environmental and social impact.

Education

Chicago White Sox Infielder Todd Frazier Heaps Praise on High School Volunteers

May 2, 2017 7:00 PM ET

On Wednesday April 26, the Action Team hosted its third and final national conference call of the school year. Once again, the Action Team’s very own “iron man” and longtime Cincinnati Reds broadcaster George Grande hosted the call – something he has done for every one of these calls since they began in 2009. Joining George was Chicago White Sox third baseman Todd Frazier, who was excited to be joining in the call to help celebrate National Volunteer Week, ( April 23-29.)

Health & Healthcare

Canby School District 4th Grader Voted National Winner in the 2017 Sodexo Future Chefs Challenge

May 2, 2017 5:25 PM ET

In a cooking challenge designed to engage school students in creating and enjoying healthy eating habits, Madison Bigej of Canby, Oregon, was voted national winner in the 2017 Sodexo Future Chefs: Healthy Comfort Food Challenge. Madison, with her recipe for Cauliflower Tots, bested other student recipes in her home school district, then went on to outdo competing recipes among the top 40 entries from around the U.S. before securing the top spot as national winner.

Environment

The Bret Stephens Debate: 50 Shades of the Grey Lady

May 2, 2017 5:15 PM ET

Is the New York Times enabling a debate that most rational people think is long over? The latest conservative pundit to be hired by the New York Times has progressives and environmentalists concerned. Bret Stephens, a Pulitzer Prize winning "opinion journalist" from the Wall Street Journal made his first splash onto the op-ed page of the Times recently with a controversial piece entitled "Climate of Complete Certainty."

Green Infrastructure

Health in the Built Environment

May 2, 2017 5:00 PM ET

We’ve always looked for ways to make our built environment safer. But what if they could also make us healthier? Can buildings impact overall health and health-related issues such as obesity, diabetes and asthma?

Environment

Republic Services Announces Expansion of Its Twin Cities Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-Powered Fleet

May 2, 2017 4:45 PM ET

Republic Services unveiled today a new compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station and over 50 new CNG-powered trucks to serve customers throughout the Twin Cities region. The new CNG trucks are replacing older, diesel-powered trucks in the Company’s Twin Cities-based fleet.

Innovation & Technology

UPS Unveils First Extended Range Fuel Cell Electric Delivery Vehicle

May 2, 2017 4:30 PM ET

UPS (NYSE: UPS) today announced it will deploy a prototype extended range Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) in its Rolling Laboratory fleet of alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles.

Diversity & Inclusion

HP VIDEO | Reinvent Mindsets: Let’s Get in Touch

May 2, 2017 3:35 PM ET

Education

Principals go back to school to improve education for Indigenous students

May 2, 2017 3:00 PM ET

Despite the intensive time commitment while working a full-time job on a First Nations reserve, vice principal Craig Lindsay didn’t hesitate to sign up when he heard about a new course for principals at First Nations schools offered through the Martin Family Initiative (MFI). Previously called the Martin Aboriginal Education Initiative, the organization founded by former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin is dedicated to improving education for Indigenous students in Canada.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

SCE Named No. 1 Solar Utility in U.S. for Second Year in a Row

May 2, 2017 2:15 PM ET

Southern California Edison delivered more solar energy to its customers last year than any other utility in the nation, according to rankings compiled by the Smart Electric Power Alliance. The rankings were announced at the alliance’s annual Utility Conference.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Los Angeles Kings Donate $150,000 to El Segundo Aquatics Center

May 2, 2017 1:30 PM ET

AEG’s National Hockey League (NHL) team, the Los Angeles Kings, announced a $150,000 donation toward the completion of the highly anticipated El Segundo Aquatic Center in El Segundo, Calif. The Aquatics Center, which aims to put swim safety and swim sports to the forefront of the South Bay, is designed to be available for both the general public and members of the Wiseburn and El Segundo high schools.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Cultivating a Meaningful Career through Passion, Professional Development and Perseverance

May 2, 2017 1:30 PM ET

As the Director of Global Retail Environmental Health & Safety at The Estée Lauder Companies, Drena Howard’s passion for her work and leadership savvy have made her a rising star in the EHS&S profession. We spoke with her for this edition of CSR Talkback to learn more about the skills in her toolbox and how she invests in her professional development to advance her effectiveness.