Highlights from Domtar's 2015 Sustainability Report

SOURCE:Domtar

DESCRIPTION:

Domtar Corporation (NYSE: UFS) (TSX: UFS) designs, manufactures, markets and distributes a wide variety of fiber-based products, including communication papers, specialty and packaging papers, and absorbent hygiene products. The foundation of our business is a network of world-class wood fiber-converting assets that produce papergrade, fluff and specialty pulp. The majority of our pulp production is consumed internally to manufacture paper and consumer products. Domtar is the largest integrated marketer and manufacturer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America with recognized brands such as Cougar®, Lynx® Opaque Ultra, Husky® Opaque Offset, First Choice®, EarthChoice® and Xerox® Paper and Specialty Media. Domtar is also a marketer and producer of a broad line of absorbent hygiene products marketed primarily under the Attends®, IncoPack® and Indasec® brand names. In 2014, Domtar had sales of $5.6 billion from some 50 countries. The Company employs approximately 9,800 people. To learn more, visit www.domtar.com. 

Tweet me:.@Domtarcorp has reduced its #safety #incidents by 52% since 2008. Read more: http://3bl.me/q2a5sp

Contact Info:

Paige Goff, Vice President, Sustainability & Business Communications
+1 (803) 802-8101
Paige.Goff@domtar.com

KEYWORDS: Reports, Domtar, Domtar's 2015 Sustainability Report, employee safety

Green Builder Media's December 22, 2015 Vantage Enewsletter

SOURCE:Green Builder Media

DESCRIPTION:

WERS Program In Action WERS Program Helps Homebuilder Save Thousands on Building Permit Fees

Solar and Wind Liberated In an amazingly bipartisan move, Congress just ensured the steady growth of wind and solar through 2021.

Passive Solar and Earth-Bermed Homes Have a Chance This Time Around Some energy-saving ideas from the 1970s are much more viable now, thanks to new products and systems.

Laser Egg Measures Air Pollution, And Its Inventor Hopes to Share Thousands of Data Points to Map the Problem Priced at about $80, this gadget has become popular in polluted cities, notable Bejing. But will it do anything other than confirm the obvious?

Agrihoods -- Homes with Locavore Eating At least once a generation, urbanites give living on or next to a farm—now dubbed an "Agrihood"—a shot. And then we forget.

Upcoming Events in Sustainability

Tweet me:WERS Program in Action in this week's Vantage from Green Builder Media http://bit.ly/1kfmYkp

KEYWORDS: Environment and Climate Change, Energy, Green Builder Media

Documentary Recalls Chrysler Corporation’s Role in Roosevelt’s Great Arsenal of Democracy

SOURCE:FCA US LLC

DESCRIPTION:

December 28, 2015 /3BL Media/ - In recognition of the 75^th anniversary of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s historic “Arsenal of Democracy” radio broadcast (December 29, 1940), FCA US LLC has released Automakers and the Arsenal of Democracy, a short documentary, which chronicles the role of the Chrysler Corporation as one of the primary military suppliers for the Allied war effort.

Narrated by FCA US historian Brandt Rosenbusch, the nearly 6-minute feature provides viewers with an unprecedented look at the Chrysler Corporation’s wartime production, which included trucks and tanks; aircraft parts and components; guns, ammunition, rockets and bombs; a variety of other goods and materials that were a vital part of military operations.

Click the following link to view Automakers and the Arsenal of Democracy: https://youtu.be/1sCUIrsw9DI

Honoring Those Who Serve - Past and Present
FCA US LLC is proud to support the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, both at home and abroad. The Company currently has numerous employees on active military leave; active or inactive reservists; and veterans. Further, the FCA US has numerous military related programs emphasizing community growth, support and gratitude throughout the U.S. and the world, including:​

• Annual monetary donation to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation program
• Support towards the construction of the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C.
• Financial support of the United Service Organizations (USO)
• Donation of Jeep® vehicles to selected Operation package recipients

As a partner with our U.S. Armed Forces, FCA US has played a vital role in keeping America safe and free. We continue to support the men and women who serve in their fight to enable and preserve democracy for the rest of the world.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Additional Resources
FCA US LLC is pleased to be able to assist vehicle restorers, collectors and scholars with information from the corporate archives. Visit http://www.fcanorthamerica.com/ and click on Our Company to explore a comprehensive look at the intriguing evolution of an American automaker, as well as request Historical Services’ assistance with build cards, photographs, owner’s manuals and general information.

About FCA US LLC
FCA US LLC is a North American automaker with a new name and a long history. Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, FCA US is a member of the Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V. (FCA) family of companies. FCA US designs, engineers, manufactures and sells vehicles under the Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram and FIAT brands as well as the SRT performance vehicle designation. The company also distributes the Alfa Romeo 4C model and Mopar products. FCA US is building upon the historic foundations of Chrysler, the innovative American automaker first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925; and Fiat, founded in Italy in 1899 by pioneering entrepreneurs, including Giovanni Agnelli.

FCA, the seventh-largest automaker in the world based on total annual vehicle sales, is an international automotive group. FCA is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “FCAU” and on the Mercato Telematico Azionario under the symbol “FCA.”

Follow FCA US news and video on:
FCA Content On Demand (COD): www.fcacod.com
Company blog: blog.fcanorthamerica.com
Company website: www.fcanorthamerica.com
FCA360: 360.fcanorthamerica.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ChryslerGroup
Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/chryslergroup/
Media website: media.fcanorthamerica.com
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/fcacorporate
Instagram: www.instagram.com/FiatChrysler_NA
Streetfire: www.streetfire.net/uploaded/chryslervideo.htm
Twitter: www.twitter.com/FiatChrysler_NA
Twitter (Spanish): www.twitter.com/fcausespanol
YouTube: www.youtube.com/pentastarvideo

Tweet me:"Arsenal of Democracy" Recalls Chrysler Corporation's Role in WWII http://3bl.me/p5mgax

Contact Info:

Kevin E. Frazier
FCA US LLC
+1 (248) 512-2678
Kevin.Frazier@fcagroup.com

KEYWORDS: Education, Arsenal of Democracy, roosevelt, WWII, american history, World War II, world war two tank, arsenal democracy, Chrysler, Chrysler Corporation, Albert Kahn, arsenal, tank arsenal, M4 General Sherman, M4, General Sherman

SOURCE:Amgen Foundation

DESCRIPTION:

Jonathan Stoltzfus

Host Institution: University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), 2007

Undergraduate Institution: Messiah College

Hometown: Harrisonburg, Virginia

Graduate Institution: Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

Graduate Degree and Research Area: PhD, cell and molecular biology, 2013

Jonathan Stoltzfus’s summer as a UCSF Amgen Scholar in 2007 confirmed his desire to become a scientist and catalyzed his career. As an early-career scientist in academia, he is now bringing to aspiring scientists the research opportunity he had as an undergraduate.

In 2006, as a rising junior in college, Stoltzfus got his first taste of independent scientific research when he journeyed to a rural part of Zambia, a landlocked country in southern Africa. His experiments at the Malaria Institute at Macha focused on how malaria—caused by a parasite that ravages red blood cells—affected children; and shadowing his adviser during rounds in the community hospital gave Stoltzfus a firsthand look. “Seeing children in comas and suffering from cerebral malaria drove home the purpose of my own experiments in the lab,” he recalls.

In Zambia, Stoltzfus’s day-to-day experiences doing research were frustrating. Electrical outages would thwart his experiments, and the scientists had to wait endlessly for supplies they needed.

By the end of the summer, Stoltzfus knew he liked research but wanted to try it in a well-equipped lab. The opportunities for cutting-edge hands-on research back home at Messiah College in Pennsylvania were few. That’s why Stoltzfus was thrilled to be accepted into the Amgen Scholars Program.

In the UCSF lab of Creg Darby, Stoltzfus studied the bacterium that causes the plague, Yersinia pestis, using the tiny worm Caenorhabditis elegans, a creature common to scientific laboratories. Working with then graduate student Kevin Drace, Stoltzfus was allowed to pursue his project with intellectual freedom, plenty of resources, and top-notch mentorship. “Kevin encouraged me to ask the why and how questions about my project and to begin to learn how to answer my own questions and design my own experiments,” he says.

Stoltzfus went on to conduct postbaccalaureate research at the National Institutes of Health and earned a PhD at the University of Pennsylvania in four years. Since 2013, Stoltzfus has taught biology at Hollins University, a small liberal arts institution. Working with worms, Stoltzfus develops original research questions and encourages undergraduate students to tackle them to find answers as part of their laboratory courses or in dedicated research time.

Mentoring those undergraduates is an important focus for him. The style of mentorship that Stoltzfus received as an Amgen Scholar influenced how he in turn mentors students like Adeiye Pilgrim, a recent Hollins graduate. “I got excited by being able to do things on my own in the lab and make mistakes,” Adeiye says, adding that Stoltzfus’s mentorship and the environment he created in his lab solidified Adeiye’s desire to pursue research as a career, she adds.

“I really enjoy mentoring young scientists to think critically and carefully about scientific problems,” Stoltzfus says. “Watching them blossom as they gain confidence in their technical skills and understanding of the field is amazing and one of the best parts of my job.”

Editor's note: since reporting for this story, Jonathan has started a postdoctoral research position in the Department of Biology at the University of Pennsylvania.

To learn more, please visit the Amgen Scholars Program 2014 Annual Report.

----------------

To learn more about the Amgen Scholars Program, please visit our website and check out the #AmgenScholars hashtag on Twitter. Visit AmgenInspires.com and follow @AmgenFoundation to stay up to date with all STEM-related news from the Amgen Foundation.  

Tweet me:Former #AmgenScholars, Jonathan Stoltzfus, gives back by being a #mentor. Learn more about his journey: http://bit.ly/1OJmRve

KEYWORDS: Education, Health, Jonathan Stoltzfus, Hollins University, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, PhD, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Amgen Scholars, Mentoring, mentor, Amgen Scholars Program, Amgen Foundation, University of California, UCSF, Messiah College, Harrisonburg, virginia, Scientist, STEM, STEM Education, Malaria Institute at Macha, zambia, Malaria, National Institutes of Health, biology, Adeiye Pilgrim

SOURCE:Republic Services

DESCRIPTION:

Republic Services' Greenville, South Carolina division recently volunteered to help complete the construction of a new home in partnership with Habitat for Humanity.  Habitat for Humanity is a non profit organization that builds homes for those in need in many communities, including Upstate South Carolina. They have more than 1,400 local affiliates in the United States and more than 70 national organizations around the world. Habitat has helped 6.8 million people improve their living conditions since its  founding. Republic Greenville employee and volunteers had the opportunity to help complete the final phases of the build and meet the owner who will be moving in on February 1, 2016. Republic is proud to "give back" to the communities we serve.

Tweet me:.@RepublicService Greenville, SC division recently volunteered with @Habitat_org | Read: http://3bl.me/45ap4m

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Business & Trade, Republic Services, Habitat for Humanity

Highlights from Domtar's 2015 Sustainability Report

SOURCE:Domtar

DESCRIPTION:

Domtar Corporation (NYSE: UFS) (TSX: UFS) designs, manufactures, markets and distributes a wide variety of fiber-based products, including communication papers, specialty and packaging papers, and absorbent hygiene products. The foundation of our business is a network of world-class wood fiber-converting assets that produce papergrade, fluff and specialty pulp. The majority of our pulp production is consumed internally to manufacture paper and consumer products. Domtar is the largest integrated marketer and manufacturer of uncoated freesheet paper in North America with recognized brands such as Cougar®, Lynx® Opaque Ultra, Husky® Opaque Offset, First Choice®, EarthChoice® and Xerox® Paper and Specialty Media. Domtar is also a marketer and producer of a broad line of absorbent hygiene products marketed primarily under the Attends®, IncoPack® and Indasec® brand names. In 2014, Domtar had sales of $5.6 billion from some 50 countries. The Company employs approximately 9,800 people. To learn more, visit www.domtar.com. 

Tweet me:.@Domtarcorp avoided nearly 68,000 metric tons of #greenhousegas emissions in 2014 from efficient transportation: http://3bl.me/kbe663

Contact Info:

Paige Goff, Vice President, Sustainability & Business Communications
+1 (803) 802-8101
Paige.Goff@domtar.com

KEYWORDS: Reports, Technology, transportation, Domtar, Domtar's 2015 Sustainability Report

SOURCE:America's Charities

DESCRIPTION:

By Jim Starr

The world of philanthropy is changing – in the workplace and at home.  Donors want more charitable choice.  They want their hard-earned dollars invested in effective, reputable charities that are tackling major issues of critical importance.  They want to amplify the impact of their charitable donations.  And more and more people want to support a cause, not just an institution.  We’ve paid attention and are happy to announce that we just launched new Cause Funds that allow a donor to do all those things and more. Our new Cause Funds are the latest in America’s Charities offerings to donors who want to make a significant difference both inside and outside of the workplace.

The four new Cause Funds are:

• America’s Charities Animals Cause Fund: https://www.charities.org/funds/animals
• America’s Charities Cancer Research and Advocacy Cause Fund: https://www.charities.org/funds/cancer
• America’s Charities Children Cause Fund: https://www.charities.org/funds/children
• America’s Charities Hunger Relief Cause Fund: https://www.charities.org/funds/hunger

Our new Cause Funds were designed for you—the people who want to support effective, reputable charities that are tackling major issues of critical importance, including cancer research and advocacy, hunger relief, children health and advocacy, and animal rights and research.  Each donation to a Cause Fund is divided evenly among the nonprofits that comprise the Fund, so donors can amplify their impact by supporting an entire cause with a single contribution. America’s Charities Cause Funds also provide participating nonprofits with an additional platform to gain visibility and increase their fundraising potential.

And not a moment too soon! Our new Cause Funds are just in time for the charitable giving season. According to Network for Good, in 2014 nearly 30 percent of digital giving occurred during the month of December, with 12 percent in the last three days of the year. America’s Charities new Cause Funds support donors with their impact investments, particularly Millennials, who are more inclined to support a particular cause as opposed to an individual organization, according to the 2014 Millennial Impact Report.

So what are you waiting for? Check out our new Cause Funds, https://www.charities.org/funds, to contribute to real and meaningful work that improves our world. You can give with confidence because you know their hard-earned dollars are supporting America’s Charities members, each high-performing, diverse in its program and service offerings and thoroughly vetted.

Now it’s your turn: What other charitable choice would you like to see from America’s Charities? Leave a comment here on our post! 

Tweet me:Give Once, Support Many with @AmerCharities New Cause Funds http://bit.ly/1mwth54 #SocialResponsibility

KEYWORDS: Philanthropy, Business & Trade, Cause Funds, America's Charities, Employee Engagement, Fundraising, cause marketing, corporate philanthropy, workplace giving, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

SOURCE:Northern Trust

DESCRIPTION:

Northern Trust enforces a workforce policy that does not tolerate discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religious choice and many other personal characteristics. In addition, we do not tolerate forced labor, child labor or violating the rights of indigenous people. Our guiding principles embrace inclusion and diversity of culture, thought, experience and other attributes of individuals’ backgrounds, and we hold in highest regard the dignity of, and respect for, all partners in our workplace. We support the principles set forth by the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights and strive to treat all individuals equally.

Human Rights and Workforce Principles

Our human rights and workforce principles apply to all our global operations and clearly state our support for the protection of minority groups’ rights, women’s rights and workers’ rights. They expressly reference our conformance with the International Labour Organization’s standards, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and other public policies. Partners worldwide also may exercise freedom of association with regard to collective bargaining and trade agreements as permitted by applicable regional laws.

One component of our human rights principles applies these standards to our suppliers/vendors as well as our partners who receive training on anti-discrimination, diversity and inclusion and sexual harassment. We also provide training specifically on cultural change, which is especially helpful for expatriates and partners on short-term assignments abroad and global relocation. The principles encompass stakeholder involvement, public reporting, auditing, third-party auditing and quantifiable targets or goals.

A number of senior-level company officers are responsible for the execution of our human rights and workforce standards, and several partners work to implement them. These beliefs commit us to providing fair and equal wages to partners regardless of gender, as well as competitive compensation and benefits to our workforce.

Talent Recruitment and Retention 

Our partners are critical to our success, and we take our search for and retention of top talent very seriously. Talent identification, sourcing and recruiting strategies generally are targeted for specific locations using a variety of channels that include job boards, colleges, networks, associations and online social networks. Hiring decisions are based on a variety of factors, including educational background, relevant experience, past accomplishments, professional licensing where required, and strong evidence of integrity and ethical behavior. 

Recruiting plays a vital role in creating and maintaining a diverse workforce. Our goal is to continue fostering diversity at all levels of our organization since it ultimately contributes to our ability to deliver unrivaled client satisfaction and quality. If there are operational changes that lead to job elimination, we meet or exceed the notification requirements of applicable laws but also make every effort to help partners find alternative positions within the company.

Global Diversity & Inclusion

The diversity & inclusion function reports to the executive vice president and head of CSR and Global Diversity & Inclusion, a direct report to the Chairman & CEO. Our global diversity & inclusion strategy and programs are led by the chief diversity & inclusion officer – Americas, and chief diversity & inclusion officer – EMEA and APAC, both senior positions. 

The engaged leadership of our management group drives our diversity & inclusion strategy, creating an environment of awareness, action and accountability. Our annual diversity and inclusion update is presented to the board of directors for our highest-level decision makers to review. We believe in fostering an inclusive environment where people can contribute and grow, and their unique mix of attributes can serve as the catalyst for innovation through diversity of thought and perspective. To support our global business strategy, we sponsor Business Resource Councils and Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Councils to help ensure that our commitments to diversity and inclusion are embedded in the fabric of Northern Trust.

Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Councils (DIACs)

Regional DIACs are accountable for ensuring diversity and inclusion initiatives align with each region’s strategic imperatives and the organization’s overall goals.

Business Resource Councils (BRCs)

We currently sponsor 10 BRCs that support personal and professional development, providing a forum to promote cultural and civic awareness and strategic support in revenue-generating areas to an increasingly diverse client base.

Click here to read more from the 2014 Corporate Social Responsibility Report

Tweet me:Northern Trust's guiding principles embrace #inclusion and diversity of culture. Read the 2014 #CSR Report http://3bl.me/fxpd96

KEYWORDS: Diversity and Human Resources, Business & Trade, Northern Trust, Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Councils, Business Resource Councils

The UPS Alternative Fuel and Advanced Technology Fleet

SOURCE:UPS

DESCRIPTION:

With its “Rolling Laboratory” approach, UPS has invested in a fleet of more than 5,000 alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicles running on natural gas, propane, ethanol, biomethane, renewable diesel, and electricity. UPS has driven more than 500 million miles in this sustainable fleet, and is more than halfway toward its goal of driving 1 billion miles by the end of 2017.

Visit ups.com/sustainability and download the UPS 2014 Corporate Sustainability Report.

Tweet me:Learn more about the types of vehicles that make up the @UPS Rolling Laboratory of Alternative vehicles. http://bit.ly/1LYNQBr

KEYWORDS: Energy, Environment and Climate Change, UPS, alternative fuel, Renewable Natural Gas, electric vehicles, propane, transportation

by Vikas Vij

SOURCE:Justmeans

DESCRIPTION:

More than half of the world's population lives within 100 km of the coast. While human beings have always depended on the ocean for food, advancements in fishing technology and unsustainable fishing practices are now taking their toll. Fish stocks in continental shelf areas are considered to be fully or over exploited. Fishing techniques such as trawling and dredging are causing serious damage to marine habitats and organisms living on the sea floor.

Hotels and restaurants serving seafood can play an important role to counter this situation by choosing seafood that has been farmed or harvested sustainably.

To continue reading, click here

Image Credit: Flickr via radimersky

Vikas is a staff writer for the Sustainable Development news and editorial section on Justmeans. He is an MBA with 20 years of managerial and entrepreneurial experience and global travel. He is the author of "The Power of Money" (Scholars, 2003), a book that presents a revolutionary monetary economic theory on poverty alleviation in the developing world. Vikas is also the official writer for an international social project for developing nations "Decisions for Life" run in collaboration between the ILO, the University of Amsterdam and the Indian Institute of Management.

Tweet me:Hotels and Restaurants to Launch #Sustainable Seafood Week http://bit.ly/1PnPWf1 via @Justmeans #Philippines

KEYWORDS: Ethical Production and Consumption, Environment and Climate Change, Green Companies, best practices, Social Entrepreneurship, social innovation, Cause Global, Justmeans, Sustainable Seafood Week

SOURCE:CITGO Petroleum Corporation

DESCRIPTION:

LEMONT, Ill., Dec. 29, 2015 /3BL Media/ – Nearly 300 volunteers led by the CITGO Lemont Refinery and The Conservation Foundation came together this fall to remove invasive plants attacking wildlife within the Heritage Quarries Recreation Area (HQRA). Located just half a mile east of downtown Lemont, the HQRA is situated among thousands of acres of forest preserves, including more than 65 miles of hiking and biking trails, as well as access to fishing and boating along the I & M Canal and the Consumers, Great Lakes and Icebox Quarries. The ecological restoration of the HQRA will not only allow Illinois residents to continue enjoying the recreational grounds, but it will also enable Lemont teachers and students to explore the quarries through class projects interacting with plant and animal species and conducting water quality testing.

This environmental restoration effort is a part of the CITGO Caring for Our Coast initiative, a series of projects designed to boost ecological conservation, restoration and education. CITGO has been funding semiannual projects within the HQRA since the fall of 2014, when approximately 200 volunteers cleaned three acres of land and harvested native species’ seeds for replanting the following spring. In April 2016, CITGO volunteers will return to the HQRA to continue replanting seeds native to the area.

“CITGO has been long committed to protecting the environment for the benefit of generations to come,” said Jim Cristman, vice president and general manager of the CITGO Lemont Refinery. “In the past year alone, the Lemont Refinery has taken part in local restoration and revitalization efforts with the Wildlife Habitat Council and the Alliance for the Great Lakes, and our environmental efforts continue with our partnership with The Conservation Foundation.”

“The large volunteer showing is a testament to how the environment can benefit from collaborative efforts,” said Dan Lobbes, director of land protection at The Conservation Foundation. “Since our founding in 1972, The Conservation Foundation, with help from volunteers, has preserved more than 33,000 acres of open space and natural land. We’re glad to partner with CITGO to restore the Heritage Quarries Recreation Area and make it even more educational and family-friendly.”

The CITGO Lemont Refinery works with many charitable organizations in the upper Midwest, assisting in environmental, education, social and health initiatives throughout the region. In addition to its work at HQRA, Team CITGO, the Lemont Refinery’s employee volunteer group, works with a variety of altruistic nonprofits such as the Wildlife Habitat Council, the Alliance for the Great Lakes, the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the United Way and the Multiple Sclerosis Society, as well as local organizations such as the MorningStar Mission in Joliet and the Bethany Food Pantry in Lemont. In 2014, Team CITGO hosted 76 volunteer events involving more than 700 employees giving more than 2,000 hours of their time.

About The Conservation Foundation
The Conservation Foundation is one of the region’s largest and oldest private conservation organizations, with more than 4,000 members and donors, and more than 500 volunteers who contribute 20,000 hours per year.

Work is focused in DuPage, Kane, Kendall and Will Counties to preserve and restore nature in your neighborhood. Find out more at theconservationfoundation.org.

About the CITGO Lemont Refinery
The CITGO Lemont Refinery employs more than 800 local residents on a full-time and contract basis in support of the local economy. In addition to producing high quality fuels for a large portion of the network of nearly 6,000 locally-owned CITGO stations across the country, Lemont refinery employees also make a major positive impact on the community. Each year, more than 2,500 volunteer hours and thousands of dollars are given in support of community programs such as Muscular Dystrophy Association, United Way and a variety of environmental and preservation programs. For more information on the CITGO Lemont Refinery, visit www.citgorefining.com/Lemont.

About CITGO
CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by CITGO Holding, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. For more information, visit www.CITGO.com.

Tweet me:.@CITGO Lemont Refinery & Conservation Foundation help IL recreation area by removing invasive plants: http://3bl.me/9zsgkr

Contact Info:

Fernando Garay
+1 (832) 486-1489
fgaray@citgo.com

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Energy, Citgo, Volunteers

Never before has there been so much alignment on action that needs to be taken to mitigate the risks of climate change. But never before has there been so much work still to do.

SOURCE:Green Builder Media

DESCRIPTION:

No doubt, the agreement reached in Paris to limit global warming, reduce carbon emissions, adopt clean technologies, and assist poor countries that have been impacted by climate change is historic. Never before has there been so much alignment on action that needs to be taken to mitigate the risks of climate change. Never before have we had such a framework for cooperation. However, the agreement isn’t the endpoint, it’s just the beginning, and now the hard work begins.

The Paris agreement simply opens a door for change, and now we must walk boldly through it. As Hans Joachim Schellnhuber, German environmental scientist and climate advisor to Pope Francis, said, “This is a turning point in the human enterprise, where the great transformation towards sustainability begins.”

Ultimately, the success of global climate action efforts won’t be measured by the signing of this agreement. Rather, it will be assessed by the ability and willingness to execute on the stated commitments of over 190 countries and countless multi-national businesses.

In the U.S., the agreement will undoubtedly encounter roadblocks. Congress’ attack effort to dismantle the agreement began even before the COP21 delegates returned stateside. “The president is making promises he can’t keep, writing checks he can’t cash, and stepping over the middle class to take credit for an ‘agreement’ that is subject to being shredded in 13 months,” said Mitch McConnell, Senate Majority Leader.

But, because the agreement is not considered a treaty under U.S. law, there is little that Congress can do to impede it. While Congress would need to approve funding to assist developing countries adapt to climate change—an important aspect of the American commitment, the 31-page document explicitly excludes emissions reduction targets and finance from legally binging aspects (such as public reporting and five-year review cycles that ratchet up the stringency of climate change policies), thereby protecting the U.S. from liability and compensation claims for causing climate damage.

Read more...

Tweet me:#Climate Talks Are Over, Now What? http://3bl.me/ce2sbw via @SaraGBM #ClimateChange

KEYWORDS: Environment and Climate Change, Carbon Footprint, COP21, Sara Gutterman, Green Builder Media

SOURCE:Ray C. Anderson Foundation

DESCRIPTION:

Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve loved games. I’m pretty sure my parents could have manipulated me into doing whatever they wanted by calling it a game. “John, I bet you can’t be silent longer than me during this five-hour car ride. Ready? Go!” Or, “John, do you think you can eat all of your vegetables in the next 60 seconds?”

...I’m encouraged by the recent trend of gamification, in particular its applications in the environmental space.

Read more.

Tweet me:Encouraged by recent trend of #gamification, in particular its applications in #environmental space. http://3bl.me/v879ch @johnalanierRCAF

Contact Info:

Valerie Bennett
Ray C. Anderson Foundation
+1 (770) 317-5858
valerie@raycandersonfoundation.org

KEYWORDS: Environment and Climate Change, Business & Trade, environmental, Gamification, environmental games, Recycling, Ray C. Anderson, Ray C. Anderson Foundation, sustainability, bottle bank arcade, Star Wars, Nissan Leaf, protecting the planet, humanity, rapidification, biology, biological evolution, sustainable human development

SOURCE:Comcast Corporation

DESCRIPTION:

With the Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ scheduled to open at Universal Studios Hollywood on April 7, 2016, meet one of the members of NBCUniversal’s Creative Team bringing Hogwarts to life and learn how robotics sparked her interest in technology at an early age.  

As a sixth-grader, Erica McCay didn’t look to join the debate club or the track team. Instead, she became a “Moosette” – a member of her school’s all-girls electric go-kart racing team. It was “a loose introduction to engineering,” Erica says. “We learned how to wire a battery and operate machine tools, such as a drill press.”

Erica McCay learned the basics of engineering behind the wheel of an electric go-kart.

That experience hooked her on technology. Today Erica, who is 27, works with NBCUniversal’s Creative Team, currently managing the design and installation of animated props and special effects at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ at Universal Studios Hollywood theme park in California.

And she’s deeply committed to inspiring young people to follow in her footsteps as one of 100 Comcast NBCUniversal employees volunteering this school year to collectively mentor hundreds of students through our company’s support of FIRST.

Erica and the other employee mentors work with high school students nationwide as they organized teams to design and build robots that participated in an annual FIRST^® Robotics Competition. A New Hampshire-based nonprofit, FIRST aims to inspire children of all ages to be science and technology leaders, and Comcast NBCUniversal has supported FIRST since 2008 with team sponsorships and employee mentors.

Giving back in this way is personal for Erica since she was once a part of her high school’s robotics team.

Erica recalled that at Gunn High School in Palo Alto, Calif., the team’s mentor imparted more than words of wisdom – he lit a spark. "He instilled a problem-solving mindset, always helping us get unstuck by seeking different viewpoints and trying different solutions. (He) made me realize that I can do what I love and get paid for it – it didn’t have to be a hobby."

When Erica moved on to study mechanical engineering at the Oregon Institute of Technology, she took her four years of Gunn Robotics experience and continued to pay it forward by mentoring younger students participating in the FIRST LEGO League. She also pitched in to help guide a FIRST Robotics team at a high school in the Bay Area, and additionally accompanied one of her former mentors to Singapore to start a robotics competition there.

"Robotics is so much more than engineering," she says. "You get to learn about business, network with other teams, and really build a community."

After graduating and spending the first two-and-a-half years of her career designing sets for theatrical productions, Erica sought out a job that would enable her to create more hands-on experiences for the audience. The theme park industry was a good match, and it turned out her FIRST involvement gave her a leg up on the competition during the hiring process. "They knew I had direct experience designing and building – and could work with intense time pressures to create a finished product as part of a team."

Now two years into her job with NBCUniversal, she can’t imagine working in any other field. "I get to help people become a part of the stories they love. When you watch people go through Hogwarts in Orlando, and strangers finding common ground no matter where they’re from ... it’s awesome."

Erica also got to show off her design skills in another way. In 2014, she helped design the trophy for the Media & Technology Innovation Award, which is sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal and handed out during the FIRST Robotics Championship in St. Louis, Mo.

Says Erica of her budding career as a theme park designer: "I am in the perfect place. This is the industry I never knew I wanted to be in."

This profile originally appeared in Inside CI, a digital publication providing an insider’s look at the people and programs behind Comcast NBCUniversal’s investment in our communities. 

Tweet me:How @FIRSTweets put an aspiring @UniStudios technologist on the Hogwarts Express #WizardingWorldHollywood http://3bl.me/yftqk4

KEYWORDS: Technology, Theme Parks, robotics, FIRST Robotics, STEM, Harry Potter, Universal Studios, Women in Technology

SOURCE:Republic Services

DESCRIPTION:

The Youngstown division of Republic Services hosted a food drive to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley in “Project: Feed Our Valley.” In order to make this a success, Republic added a little “friendly competition” between the employees. One location collected 615 pounds and the other collected 640!  Combined, the Youngstown Republic Services team donated 1,255 pounds of food, which is equivalent to about 1,045 meals provided!

The Second Harvest Food Bank of Mahoning Valley provides food to those in need in the tri-county area through 148 programs provided by hunger-relief organizations, which

include church pantries, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, shelters for battered women, and after-school programs.

Click here to connect with Republic Services on Facebook!

Tweet me:Youngstown @RepublicService team donated 1,255 pounds of food, which is equivalent to about 1,045 meals provided! http://3bl.me/rgmtws

KEYWORDS: Volunteerism & Community Engagement, Philanthropy, Republic Services, Youngstown, Food Drive, Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley, Project: Feed Our Valley

By Dr. Ilham Kadri, Diversey Care President

SOURCE:Sealed Air

DESCRIPTION:

For me, the end of every year always seems to be a phenomenally busy, even chaotic, time – a period when juggling the completion of work projects with attending a host of personal engagements seems like a fine art.

However, during this time, I think it is important to find a quiet moment in the midst of the storm to pause and take stock of the trends, events and changes that shaped the past year. And, for 2015, this is no small task – both for the cleaning and hygiene industry and for all of us here at Sealed Air and Diversey Care.

It is easy being green

Not by coincidence, 2015 has been a year of renewed sustainability commitments and the advent of the Circular Economy (read a great blog about it here: http://sealedair.com/blog/bubble-wrap-today-circular-economy-model-sealed-air). For those of us in the Hygiene industry, green cleaning is not exactly a recent phenomenon. However, this year there has been a resurgence of interest in eco-friendly cleaning. This is perhaps in large part due to recent scientific breakthroughs which have seen the development of products which combine environmentally friendly-credentials with performance and efficiency. New, professional-grade products such as Diversey Care’s SURE™ range not only ensure that we as an industry are helping safeguard people from the effects of harsh chemicals, but also that we are protecting the environment for the sake of future generations – all without compromising performance.

Robotics: the future is here

This increased focus on green cleaning brings me to another key trend which shaped the industry in 2015 – namely, robotics. Advances in technology have created a host of new avenues to achieve more sustainable cleaning, and the emergence of increasingly advanced robotics as truly product-efficient, water-saving and waste-reducing solutions has been a hugely significant example of this.

The acquisition of Intellibot Robotics earlier this year by Diversey Care underscored our belief in an increasingly ‘robotic’ future, particularly in the field of floor cleaning. These machines now sit at the core of Diversey Care’s ‘The Internet of Clean’ program – a concept that applies tech innovations such as connectivity, big data, remote control, distance monitoring, augmented reality, and of course robotics, to our overall offering. Read more about it in my previous blog: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/connected-cleaning-reimagining-way-our-industry-operates-ilham-kadri?trk=mp-reader-card.

Reaffirming commitments to gender diversity

2015 was a year in which a number of initiatives were launched throughout our industry which showcased and confirmed a real commitment drive forward the gender diversity agenda.

It has been proven time and time again that a more gender diverse workplace – one which inspires men and women alike to reach their full potential – is far better positioned to benefit all involved both creatively and financially. I have also long believed that the treatment of women is a very accurate barometer of progress. Therefore, as a forward-looking, modern and ambitious industry, we have a real responsibility to ensure that gender diversity is actively championed.

It has been so encouraging to see programs which aim to promote more inclusive workplaces, and celebrate the men and women who are pursuing this, take centre stage this year – from ISSA’s Hygiea Network, which is committed to developing female cleaning industry professionals at all levels and experience, to Sealed Air’s own WIN (Women’s Initiative Network), which aims to ensure that Sealed Air attracts, retains and advances the professional development of women.

To me, these initiatives prove – not for the first time– that our industry takes its moral obligations seriously, and is at the forefront of driving positive change in the world.

It has been a remarkable year for our industry and I am very proud of having played my part personally in its progress.

With a 2015 full of technological advances and progressive moves to improve working cultures, I am excited to see what new developments 2016 holds for our industry – and looking forward to seeing what role Sealed Air and Diversey Care plays in them.

I welcome the challenges and opportunities we have before us in 2016.  Join us as we continue on 

Tweet me:.@Sealed_Air's Ilham Kadri reflects on the year's progress in sustainability commitments http://3bl.me/kghtp9

KEYWORDS: Environment and Climate Change, Ethical Production and Consumption, Sealed Air, Diversey Care, Dr. Ilham Kadri

SOURCE:Arrow Electronics

DESCRIPTION:

DENVER, Colo., December 29, 2015 /3BL Media/ - In January 2015, Arrow Electronics’ Value Recovery business added its North American processing facilities to the company’s existing Asset Disposal and Information Security Alliance (ADISA) certification programme. Since then, ADISA has carried out eight audits at Arrow Value Recovery sites in EMEA and the USA, and all have passed without exception.

Founder of ADISA, Steve Mellings picks up the story, “Arrow has been very clear that its service offering is truly international, and the company’s approach to ADISA certification certainly shows the confidence of that approach. As part of their certification programme, we treat all their sites as a single entity—so if one site fails, the whole company fails meaning the pressure on the individual teams at Arrow is high.”

The ADISA Audit programme includes scheduled full audits and, more importantly, a series of completely unannounced audits that includes random forensic analysis of up to 10 different devices on each visit.

Scott Venhaus, Global Director of Compliance at Arrow adds, “Having ADISA certification as part of Arrow’s Value Recovery global compliance program demonstrates that we are serious about protecting data. Our global compliance program incorporates best practices of today’s leading industry standards, including ADISA, while creating a flexible platform that allows Arrow to keep pace with global change.”

For more information, read the full press release. 

About Arrow Electronics
Arrow Electronics (www.arrow.com) is a global provider of products, services and solutions to industrial and commercial users of electronic components and enterprise computing solutions. Arrow serves as a supply channel partner for more than 100,000 original equipment manufacturers, contract manufacturers and commercial customers through a global network of more than 460 locations in 56 countries.

Contact
Meghan Macdonald
Manager, Communications Services
mmacdonald@arrow.com
 

Tweet me:.@ArrowGlobal passed a grueling set of audits of its IT Asset Disposal services http://3bl.me/nxt3bm

KEYWORDS: Environment and Climate Change, Environmental Business, ITAD, IT ASSET Disposition, Arrow Electronics, ADISA certification

SOURCE:Northern Trust

DESCRIPTION:

“In the financial service sector, environmental sustainability take many forms. From best-in-class facilities management to innovative employee engagement activities we take this work seriously. In 2014, we are proud to report a more than 10% decrease in our overall emissions per full-time employee, based on base year 2011. The efforts of professionals around the globe working to eliminate and mitigate negative environmental impacts from our operations made this decrease possible.”

Click here to read more from the 2014 Corporate Social Responsibility Report

Tweet me:Northern Trust had a 10% decrease in overall emissions per full-time employee. Read more from the 2014 #CSR Report http://3bl.me/ttpc9q

KEYWORDS: Reports, Business & Trade, Northern Trust

by Ryan Steinbach

SOURCE:CSRwire

DESCRIPTION:

As I stood in front of my booth at the Net Impact Conference Expo, I watched eager MBA students stride between tables. These aren’t your typical MBA students. They’re not interested in climbing the corporate ladder or the highest-paying careers. These MBAs want to use their degrees to create a better world.

The exhibit floor was buzzing with excitement. For once, almost every booth was pitching products, services and careers that appealed to MBAs interested in corporate sustainability, social enterprise, impact investing and nonprofit management.

Continue reading on CSRwire >>

Ryan Steinbach is Associate, Operations, for Impact Business Leaders.

Ryan supports the operations and communications of Impact Business Leaders. Prior to IBL, Ryan was a Community Manager for the Center for Social Value Creation at the Robert H. Smith School of Business where he connected students, alumni and coworkers to programs, networks and resources focused on social entrepreneurship, corporate sustainability and business model innovation. Before that, Ryan worked on digital marketing for The Newberry Group, Oikocredit USA, and Calvert Foundation. Outside of work Ryan explores the social change space where he lives in Washington D.C., and is particularly passionate about business model innovation, renewable energy, and the solidarity economy. Ryan earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Maryland-College Park, majoring in Marketing and Management.

Tweet me:Innovative solutions for #MBA students interested in impact careers - 3rd party orgs http://3bl.me/7w3xyt #socent @CSRwire

KEYWORDS: Diversity and Human Resources, Education, MBA, social enterprise, impact investing, Corporate Social Responsibility, csr

SOURCE:National Grid

DESCRIPTION:

Washington, D.C., December 29, 2015 /3BL Media/ – The Alliance to Save Energy (Alliance) Board of Directors has elected four individuals who will help support the Alliance’s mission of achieving a more energy-efficient future. We are confident that with their added expertise and support, the Alliance will soar to new heights in the year ahead. The newly elected Directors, who represent top business, utility and industry entities, include:

• Jeff Hohn, VP & General Manager, Renewable Energy Division, 3M
• Randy Leslie, VP of Marketing, Distribution & Product Support, Building Efficiencies Group, Johnson Controls, Inc.
• Terence Sobolewski, SVP, CCO, Customer Organization, National Grid
• Tom Kuhn, President, Edison Electric Institute

Alliance President Kateri Callahan, elated to welcome the newest additions to the board, said, “It is the diversity of voices and perspectives that has continually set the Alliance’s board apart. We look forward with great anticipation to these four new stellar voices joining the team, and are confident that our mission to advance energy efficiency will be strengthened by their contributions.”

Honorary chair Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) said, “The combined experience of the Alliance’s new board members will surely help us move towards common sense, bipartisan energy policies that will in turn create jobs, lower pollution, and save consumers and taxpayers money.”

Jane Palmieri, Dow Chemical Company’s business president for Building & Construction and Alliance board co-chair said, “I am eager to work closely with Jeff, Randy, Terence and Tom in 2016 and beyond. I am certain that their leadership will bring a great deal of added value to the Alliance, and that their contributions will be invaluable as we continue to advance energy efficiency policy throughout the coming year.”

Jeff Hohn, vice president and general manager of the Renewable Energy Division at 3M, brings vast leadership experience with global technology companies in the electronics, solar, display (LED and OLED) and data storage industries. Hohn said, “Working with the Alliance presents a great opportunity to encourage enhanced energy efficiency including strategies within the manufacturing sector. I am privileged to join this capable board to advance our shared goal of pushing forward energy efficiency.”

Randy Leslie, vice president of Marketing, Distribution & Product Support in the Building Efficiencies Group at Johnson Controls, Inc. brings broad experience in strategic marketing, engineering services, learning and development, commercial operations and government and partnership relationships. Leslie said, “Johnson Controls continues to explore strategies that expand our energy efficiency initiatives in order to benefit the consumer, and to contribute positively to the environment. I am looking forward to working closely with my colleagues on the board to advance the cause of energy efficiency.”

Terence Sobolewski, chief customer officer of National Grid U.S., is responsible for the company's strategy on customer engagement and development, sales of gas conversion and energy efficiency programs, gas and electric procurement and supply, and customer analytics. Sobolewski said, “As one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world, we see incredible opportunity in the inextricable link between energy efficiency, demand-side management programs, and customer engagement. Looking ahead to what we hope will be a productive year for energy efficiency, I am grateful to have the opportunity to join a board that brings so much value to the clean energy discussion.” 

Tom Kuhn, president of Edison Electric Institute, has rejoined the board after recent term limitation. Kuhn brings a wealth of energy knowledge gained during his more than thirty years in the industry. Kuhn said, “Throughout my years in the energy sector, I have seen time and time again that energy efficiency is a key to saving money for consumers and for businesses. I am eager for the opportunity to renew collaboration with the Alliance’s diverse board and to help our country continue to reap the benefits of energy efficiency.”

Media contacts

Tweet me:.@ToSaveEnergy elects @nationalgridus's Terence Sobolewski to Board of Directors http://3bl.me/9ffmxx #sustainability

KEYWORDS: Energy, Alliance to Save Energy, National Grid, sustainability, BOARD OF DIRECTORS