Highlights from Benevity's #NVW Twitter Chat

SOURCE:Benevity

DESCRIPTION:

National Volunteer Week (NVW) takes place annually—but it's just one out of every 52 weeks. So, how do you ensure that employees are encouraged to make a difference and take the opportunity to volunteer through their workplace all year round?

On April 17, Benevity invited Spring Lacy and Amy Sulzman of Prudential Financial, as well as TELUS, Volunteer Canada and Realized Worth, to chat about the importance of engaging, impactful and employee-first volunteer programs and more in Benevity's #NVW2018 Twitter Chat.

In this Twitter chat recap, Benevity shares highlights and key takeaways aimed to support giving and volunteering throughout the entire year. 

Tweet me:How to create authentic volunteering programs that matter year-round, with actionable takeaways from last week's Twitter chat hosted by @benevity http://bit.ly/2HxqZ0z

KEYWORDS: benevity, twitter chat, csr, TELUS, Prudential, Volunteer Canada, Realized Worth

Global platform continues to lead conversation on financial health and inclusion

SOURCE:MetLife Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

NEW YORK, April 26, 2018 /3BL Media/ – MetLife Foundation announced today its fourth year as sole sponsor of Multipliers of Prosperity, an award-winning online thought leadership platform developed in partnership with WSJ. Custom Studios. The online site facilitates a global conversation on the financial health of low- to moderate-income people, and showcases the innovative and important solutions being implemented by both nonprofit and private sector financial services providers.

According to the World Bank’s most recent Global Findex, more than two billion people lack access to basic financial tools like bank accounts, credit and insurance products. While access is arguably the first step to financial health, research conducted by the Center for Financial Services Innovation shows that 57 percent of American adults struggle with their financial health, despite having bank accounts. To improve their financial health, people need products and services that enable them to better manage their day-to-day cash flow, establish a financial cushion in case of emergency and be positioned to achieve their goals – whether to purchase reliable transportation, fund their children’s college education or take a family vacation.

Multipliers of Prosperity provides an in-depth look at the world of financial inclusion and health, and introduces readers to important organizations making breakthroughs that lead to a positive difference in the lives of millions of customers.

“Financial protection enables people to navigate life’s challenges and opportunities. At MetLife, building financial protection for individuals, families and communities has always been a priority,” said Michel Khalaf, president of the U.S. Business and EMEA for MetLife and a member of MetLife Foundation’s Board. “The solutions developed by those organizations reaching low- and moderate-income communities are encouraging. We are proud to support the work of the Foundation’s partners as they leverage fintech, product and channel innovations and customer service to truly impact the financial health of millions of people around the globe.”

Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation, added, “Multipliers of Prosperity puts a spotlight on the efforts of our grant partners and others in the financial health field that significantly advance financial inclusion and health in both developing and developed markets. We’re proud to share the insights from our partners and hope to inspire others to adapt and adopt these ideas, multiplying the effect of this work.”

Over the next few months, Multipliers of Prosperity will feature a mix of videos, articles, original photography and interactive storytelling. The platform has been enhanced to make it easier for visitors to explore content on the latest financial health and inclusion insights, programs and strategies from organizations around the world. Visit Multipliers of Prosperity at http://multipliersofprosperity.com.

MetLife Foundation is also the sole sponsor of The Financial Inclusion Challenge for the fourth year. The competition, which expanded this year from Asia to include the U.S., is led and managed by The Wall Street Journal and recognizes innovative, sustainable and scalable strategies that help low- and moderate-income populations improve their financial health. Finalists in the U.S. Challenge will be invited to attend a live event on May 9 in New York where the winner will be selected. To learn more about the Financial Inclusion Challenge, visit: http://financingthefuture.wsj.com/us/financial-inclusion.

About MetLife

MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), through its subsidiaries and affiliates ("MetLife"), is one of the world's leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to help its individual and institutional customers navigate their changing world. Founded in 1868, MetLife has operations in more than 40 countries and holds leading market positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit www.metlife.com.

About MetLife Foundation

MetLife Foundation was created in 1976 to continue MetLife’s long tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Since its founding through the end of 2017, MetLife Foundation has provided more than $783 million in grants and $70 million in program-related investments to organizations addressing issues that have a positive impact in their communities. In 2013, the Foundation committed $200 million to financial inclusion, and our work to date has reached more than 3.5 million low-income individuals in 42 countries. To learn more about MetLife Foundation, visit www.metlife.org.

Tweet me:.@MetLife Foundation announces sponsorship of #MultipliersOfProsperity for a fourth year, continues to lead conversation on #FinancialHealth and #FinancialInclusion http://bit.ly/2HoMxjU @WSJ

KEYWORDS: metlife foundation, The wall street journal, WSJ. Custom Studios, Multipliers of Prosperity, Financial Health, Financial Inclusion

SOURCE:Duke Energy

SUMMARY:

• Savings potential of $4,800 for a typical residential solar array

• Program resulted from collaborative solar law in North Carolina

DESCRIPTION:

CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 26 /3BL Media/ -- Duke Energy's $62 million solar rebate program – which will help North Carolina customers with the upfront cost of installing solar panels on their property – was approved this month by the North Carolina Utilities Commission (NCUC).

The program is part of 2017's Competitive Energy Solutions for North Carolina law – also known as House Bill 589 – which includes new Duke Energy programs to benefit customers. See the NCUC ruling on the rebate program.

Customers can start signing up for the program this summer. They can keep up with the latest developments here.

"The Competitive Energy Solutions law for North Carolina will encourage solar ownership for customers while we pursue a balanced and affordable energy mix for all customers," said David Fountain, Duke Energy's North Carolina president. "It also allows Duke Energy to secure solar energy from independent facilities at a market rate – also a benefit for customers."

North Carolina is second in the nation for overall solar capacity. Currently, in North Carolina, Duke Energy has more than 6,000 customers who have private solar systems – with a total capacity of just over 50 megawatts. The program expects to increase North Carolina's private solar market by 200 percent over the next five years, providing an economic boost for the state's solar installation business as well.

"Duke Energy's North Carolina customers have never had a better opportunity to take control of their energy future with solar than with this rebate program. We're eager to work with those customers to take advantage of the incentive," said Jay Radcliffe, CEO of Renu Energy Solutions of Charlotte. "The federal tax credit is still in place. In nearly a decade of installing solar, now is the best time I've seen for customers to save."

Rebate Details
Under the program, residential customers will be eligible for a rebate of 60 centsper watt for solar energy systems 10 kilowatts (kW) or less. For example, a typical rooftop array of 8 kW would be eligible for a $4,800 rebate. Installed systems 10 kW or greater would be eligible for a maximum rebate of $6,000.

Nonresidential customers would be eligible for 50 cents per watt. Nonprofit customers (such as churches and schools) would be eligible for an enhanced rebate of 75 cents per watt for systems 100 kW or less. Installed systems 100 kW or greater would be eligible for a maximum rebate of $50,000 for nonresidential customers, or $75,000 for nonprofit customers.

Customers will also have a solar leasing option. Instead of owning the system, customers can lease solar panels from another company. Much like leasing a car, a third-party leasing agency owns the system while the customer has a contract to use the output of the solar panels.

"We structured our program to give customers as much flexibility as possible to pursue renewable options," added Fountain. "Of course, customers have to determine if solar energy fits their needs."

Earlier this year, Duke Energy announced two other solar programs as a result of the law. The programs are awaiting approval from the NCUC.

Shared Solar – Will allow customers to subscribe to the output of a nearby solar facility and provides an alternative for customers who do not want, or can't have, a solar array on their property.Green Source Advantage – Will allow large customers to secure solar power to offset the amount of power purchased from Duke Energy. This is an expanded version of a pilot program Duke Energy Carolinas provided.

Duke Energy
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is one of the largest energy holding companies in the United States. Its Electric Utilities and Infrastructure business unit serves approximately 7.5 million customers located in six states in the Southeast and Midwest. The company's Gas Utilities and Infrastructure business unit distributes natural gas to approximately 1.6 million customers in the Carolinas, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Its Commercial Renewables business unit operates a growing renewable energy portfolio across the United States.

Duke Energy is a Fortune 125 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. 

The Duke Energy News Center serves as a multimedia resource for journalists and features news releases, helpful links, photos and videos. Hosted by Duke Energy, illumination is an online destination for stories about people, innovations, and community and environmental topics. It also offers glimpses into the past and insights into the future of energy.

Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Contact:
Randy Wheeless 
Office: 704.382.8379 | 24-Hour: 800.559.3853 
Randy.wheeless@duke-energy.com 
Twitter - @DE_RandyW

Tweet me:.@DukeEnergy $62M #solar rebate program approved for NC with options for residential, business and #nonprofit customers http://bit.ly/2HsuPMm #renewableenergy #sustainability

KEYWORDS: Duke Energy, energy rebate, North Carolina, shared solar

In Georgetown, Texas, residents have seen an evolution now that the city is powered by 100 percent renewable energy.

SOURCE:Wells Fargo & Company

DESCRIPTION:

The energy is greener in Georgetown, Texas.

Karen Soeffker started serving “green ice cream” in her toy store — and sales went up.

Tweet me:In #Georgetown, Texas, residents have seen an evolution now that the city is powered by 100 percent renewable energy. http://bit.ly/2r0Qtwj

KEYWORDS: Wells Fargo, Green, environment, Renewable, renewable energy, Texas, NYSE:WFC

Company announces 100% renewable commercial offerings, continued passion for renewable mission

SOURCE:Green Mountain Energy

DESCRIPTION:

HOUSTON, April 26, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Every month is Earth Month for the customers of Green Mountain Energy Company. By choosing cleaner electricity and carbon offset products, Green Mountain’s customers avoided more than 8.6 billion pounds of CO2 in 2017.

Since its inception in 1997, Green Mountain customers have collectively avoided a total of 63 billion pounds of CO2. That’s like taking 6.8 million cars off the road for a year, or planting 7.5 million trees.

“For more than twenty years, Green Mountain has been dedicated to changing the way power is made,” said Mark Parsons, General Manager, Green Mountain Energy. “By providing a variety of renewable energy options, our customers are able to support clean energy year-round, easily reducing their carbon emissions and environmental footprints.”

Doubling down on its mission, all of Green Mountain’s commercial offerings will be 100% renewable moving forward, making it the first electricity supplier for commercial businesses to take this step.

Going 100% renewable can significantly decrease a business’s carbon footprint. With their commercial offers, Green Mountain’s green experts partner with commercial customers to help find the right solution tailored to meet their economic and sustainability goals, improving the planet and customers’ bottom lines.

Both of these announcements bolster the company’s pillars, which Green Mountain has rolled out amongst its Earth Month announcements. The four pillars – responsible, ethical, accessible, and pioneering – reinforce the organization’s vision to create a shift towards renewable energy sources by inspiring people to take action for the planet.

###

Green Mountain Energy Company
Green Mountain Energy Company is the nation’s longest serving renewable energy retailer and believes in using wind, sun and water for good. The company was founded in 1997 with a simple mission: to change the way power is made. Green Mountain offers consumers and businesses the choice of cleaner electricity products from renewable sources, as well as a variety of carbon offset products and sustainable solutions for businesses. Green Mountain customers have collectively helped avoid more than 63 billion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions. To learn more about Green Mountain, visit greenmountainenergy.com.

Media Contact:
Alex Angelina, Green Mountain Energy
alex.angelina@greenmountain.com

Tweet me:.@GreenMtnEnergy customers have collectively avoided 63 billion pounds of CO2 since 1997 http://bit.ly/2HtgoYt

KEYWORDS: Green Mountain Energy, earth month, Clean Energy

SOURCE:Comcast Corporation

DESCRIPTION:

On Saturday, April 21, we celebrated our 17th Comcast Cares Day – and surpassed our millionth volunteer since this amazing company tradition began in 2001. Giving back to the communities where we live and work is at the core of our Comcast NBCUniversal culture, and Comcast Cares Day is our way of recognizing our employees’ commitment to improving communities each and every day.

To mark this major milestone, we tracked down our one millionth volunteer – and her name is Kyeshia Bates, a Comcast employee for seven years who works on our fulfillment team just outside of Detroit.

Kyeshia had signed up to spend her Comcast Cares Day at Michigan’s largest LGBTQ community center, named Affirmations, where about 50 volunteers cleaned the facility and spruced up the surrounding grounds.

To her surprise, she was met there by David L. Cohen, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer for Comcast Corporation. During a brief morning ceremony, David announced a gift of $25,000 would be provided to Affirmations in her honor from the Comcast Foundation. He also presented Kyeshia with an all-expenses paid trip for four to Universal Studios in Los Angeles for a long weekend, and a certificate to commemorate her recognition as the one millionth volunteer.

Kyeshia represents so many of the more than 100,000 employees, their friends and families, and our nonprofit partners who participate in Comcast Cares Day every year and are committed to making change happen in their communities.

“A million volunteers – that’s something you can pause for a second and say ‘wow we’ve really done something as a company, to bring a million volunteers out into the community,’” David said.

Tweet me:.@Comcast, #DavidLCohen celebrate one millionth #volunteer on #ComcastCaresDay http://bit.ly/2Hxf72v @ComcastNBCUCI

KEYWORDS: NASDAQ: CMCSA, Comcast NBCUniversal, David L. Cohen, Kyeshia Bates, Comcast Foundation, comcast cares day

How Jessica balances life as an active Military Reservist and a Raw Materials Specifications Specialist at Nestlé USA

SOURCE:Nestlé

DESCRIPTION:

by Brittan Maisch, Employer Brand Digital Manager

For most of us, balancing life and career can be a challenge. Now imagine that you’re not just balancing one career, but two: life as a First Sergeant in the Air Force, being called up for disaster response, along with a civilian career working to perfect ingredients at Nestlé. What happens when a hurricane hits?

Jessica has lived this incredible challenge and is a perfect example of why, at Nestlé, we love hiring and working with veterans and military personnel. We believe that skills learned in the military can be incredibly valuable in the civilian workplace — not to mention the integrity and perseverance gained from military service.

I recently spoke to Jessica, an active Military Reservist for the U.S. Air Force and Raw Materials Specifications Specialist at Nestlé in Ohio, about her experiences in the workforce and see how a Nestlé career has fit with her commitment to serving her country.

What led you to joining the military?

I always knew that I wanted to join the military. My senior year in high school a friend of mine was killed in service, and I especially felt called to join to honor him and his service. I joined immediately from high school and have been a Reservist for my full 12-year career. I’ve held civilian jobs and have been deployed four times, so juggling work, service, and family is challenging at times. I’m higher ranking so there’s a more commitment than the typical one weekend a month.

How did Nestlé become part of your story?

I’m a military person through-and-through, so I love structure. Working for a complex, impactful organization attracted me to Nestlé. When I was doing my research and learned that Nestlé is the largest food company in the world, and was leading the charge on nutrition improvements in the industry, I was really impressed. I was looking for a well-organized and stable company, and the potential to broaden my horizons, and I knew I would find that here.

The sense of teamwork and not being afraid to break down barriers is really important in the military, and it’s something I’ve tried to do here, too. I make it a point to be close to our teams and stakeholders to figure out best processes, really understand their priorities, and see if there’s anything else I can provide.

Click here to read the full interview

Tweet me:What's it like going from ingredients at Nestlé to #HurricaneRelief in Houston in two days? Learn how Jessica balances life as an active Military Reservist and a Raw Materials Specifications Specialist at @NestleUSA: http://bit.ly/2FhBZNC

KEYWORDS: VTX:NESN.VX, Nestle

DOE’s ‘Better Buildings Challenge SWAP’ features L’Oréal and General Motors

SOURCE:General Motors

DESCRIPTION:

Our vision includes a world with zero emissions. While we have made great progress in improving energy efficiency at our global operations, we can’t get there alone. It’s important that we work together both internally and with other energy efficiency leaders to identify new opportunities for improvement and realize our goals.

That’s why we were excited to participate in Season Four of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) “Better Buildings Challenge SWAP.” In the recently launched online video series, the DOE matched us with the global cosmetics giant L’Oréal USA to help each company gain new insights, save money and improve energy performance.

The SWAP concept is simple and we have used it internally for more than a decade. Each company swaps energy management teams that then tour the other’s facility to identify ways to reduce energy use and improve productivity.

What can a makeup manufacturer and a personal mobility company teach other? A great deal more than you would think. From transitioning to LED lighting, shutting down equipment that’s not in use and managing compressed air to sharing employee engagement programs that empower local teams to drive improvements, both companies were winners in Season Four.

“Once we got past the difference in footprint and scale at L’Oréal’s North Little Rock plant in Arkansas, we quickly found areas for improvement along with best practices we could take back to Detroit,” said Al Hildreth, Global Energy manager and lead for the GM SWAP team. “At a million-unit-a-day production rate, the L’Oréal team demonstrated that manufacturing complexity doesn’t have to impede efficiency.”

At our Detroit-Hamtramck plant, where the Chevrolet Volt and Impala, Cadillac CT6 and Buick LaCrosse are built, we shared how sustainability is core to our operations.

“We really benefited from General Motors’ fresh perspective and their expertise in performing energy ‘treasure hunts,’ which are standard practice in GM’s plants,” said Carlos Ruiz Rabago, senior vice president of Manufacturing North America, L’Oréal. “I can’t wait to create a similar program at L’Oréal to continue to push our sustainability forward.”

Here are some of the other best practices we shared:

Always be monitoring.

As the saying goes, if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. Nowhere is that more true than in energy efficiency. At Detroit-Hamtramck, we have an Energy Management System that allows us to track our use of steam, electricity, natural gas and water around the clock, from anywhere. The powerful tool allows us to identify problem areas and keep track of what’s working.

Share with others.

Best practice sharing and working with our communities pays off. For example, our Detroit-Hamtramck facility is heated by steam we buy from a nearby waste-to-energy plant. In return, we’re able to send back the condensate. Our ability to share resources creates savings for everyone.

Don’t see things for what they are, but what they could be.

There are resources all around us, if we’re willing to see them. At Detroit-Hamtramck, we have our own pond system to collect rainwater that we use in our cooling towers and to make high-purity paint-shop water. We also have an on-site 30 KW solar array that, coupled with a neighboring 516 KW array owned by DTE Energy, provides 10 percent of our fixed facility electricity demand.

While we’re still evaluating all that we learned at L’Oréal and as part of the “Better Buildings Challenge SWAP,” we are sure a number of ideas will make it to our global operations. That is why we enjoy being part of the program. We get to share our best practices and learn from other plants that are implementing impactful energy efficiency measures.

For more on Season Four of the “DOE Better Buildings Challenge SWAP,” click here.

To learn how sustainability is part of General Motors’ business model and core to our operations, view our Sustainability Report.  Visit L’Oréal USA to see how the company is making sustainability personal.

Tweet me:What happens when a makeup manufacturer audits an automobile plant for #EnergyEfficiency? Find out in #SWAPPED18 w/ @LOrealUSA & @GM https://bit.ly/1MTdV4o

KEYWORDS: GM, General Motors, L'Oreal USA, DOE, swap, Better Buildings, NYSE:GM

SOURCE:America's Charities

DESCRIPTION:

Did you know that in Central Florida, 1 in 6 people are food insecure? Yes, in America! Over 40% of families in Central Florida are classified as “working poor”. The “working poor” are one crisis away from homelessness.

Christian HELP works with unemployed and the underemployed because both people groups are at risk for homelessness and this affects everyone. Our mission is to help prevent homelessness by finding people jobs while providing for them materially and spiritually.

Through our Care Management Program a personal plan is developed with each job seeker. They are coached up into employment or into upward mobility and career growth.

While they are working with a Care Manager, they received groceries from our food pantry. Christian HELP’s food pantry distributes over 800,000 pounds of groceries to families every year.

Individuals, Churches and Businesses can help keep the homeless numbers down by supporting Christian HELP in its efforts to stand in the gap for folks who are making all the right steps towards self-sufficiency.

In fact, during March, April and May, any donation made will be matched up to $100,000.00!

Please visit www.christianhelp.org to find out more!

Support Christian HELP through your employee giving program:

As a donor, you can support Christian HELP by donating to them through your employer’s workplace giving program. Payroll pledges made through employer-sponsored charitable giving programs represent a cost effective and near effortless way to support your favorite charities.

As Christian HELP's workplace giving partner, America’s Charities can help your company design and implement a program centered on supporting their work - through workplace giving campaigns, employee fundraising, cause-focused signature programs, volunteerism, donation drives, matching gifts, Dollars-for-Doers, In-Kind Giving and other employee engagement and philanthropic initiatives. Click here to request a demo and learn how we can help you do this.

Tweet me:.@AmerCharities: The “working poor” are one crisis away from #homelessness! By supporting @Christian_HELP through #WorkplaceGiving you can help the unemployed and underemployed avoid homelessness and hunger https://impact.ac/2r1n6Lb

KEYWORDS: America’s Charities, workplace giving, employee giving, Corporate Social Responsibility, charity vetting, payroll deduction giving, Fundraising, Christian HELP, Hunger, homelessness, Poverty, Access to employment

What drives us - and what we've driven: Our CR Report 2017

SOURCE:ReportAlert

DESCRIPTION:

It was a great way to wrap up the year: winning the German Sustainability Prize in December of 2017 for our holistic sustainability management approach. The deciding factor for the jury was our partnership-based supplier management and how our core business is contributing to sustainable development. With services such as cloud computing and "plug & play software" we help our customers save energy and resources and reduce their carbon footprint.

There is lots to tell about our activities in 2017, which is the task of our current CR report. New in this report: We will be keeping you up to date about important activities and developments on our home page.

Some highlights in 2017 include:

• Digitalization for climate protection: On November 14, 2017, our Bonn headquarters were all about climate protection. During the World Climate Summit, we entered into dialog with our stakeholders under the motto "The impact of ICT on climate change – curse or blessing", to identify the opportunities that digitalization offers for climate protection, which have been underestimated up to now. Together with the Global e-Sustainability Initiative and numerous experts, we discussed the possibilities and challenges of ICT for climate protection. Along with partners, we presented products and solutions for an integrated and therefore sustainably designed life and work environment - for example, regarding the subjects of e-mobility, Smart City and logistics.
• A place on the climate protection podium. In 2017 we qualified for the A list in CDP's international climate protection ranking for the second time. CDP commends companies that are very transparent and detailed in reporting their CO₂ emissions. Deutsche Telekom is one of only 120 enterprises worldwide that made it onto the A list.
• Our Social Charter is now the Code of Human Rights & Social Principles: Protecting human rights is an important issue to us. We once again expressly demonstrated our commitment to this principle and revised our Social Charter in 2017.
• Parking space search 2.0: We aim to make cities more sustainable. The free PARK AND JOY app is one example of this commitment. Finding a parking space faster is not only easier on drivers' nerves. It also improves the traffic flow and helps save CO₂ emissions. The app navigates drivers to available parking spaces. In Hamburg, 100 parking spaces have already been equipped with sensors, with another 11,000 slated to follow by the end of 2019. Bonn, Duisburg, Dortmund, Darmstadt and Moers are also planning to introduce PARK AND JOY in 2018.
• Energy revolution, powered by 5G: Switching to alternative energy requires intelligent power grids that transport both energy and data. We were able to prove that 5G is a suitable transmission technology for achieving this goal in the spring of 2017 in a practical test. In cooperation with Stromnetz Berlin, a Berlin-based energy provider, and telecommunications company Ericsson, we examined use cases in the power grid within the scope of the 5Grid project. The project showed how highly flexible communications networks could soon be available thanks to 5G, which could accelerate the shift toward alternative energy in Europe.
• In our midst: One focus of our social commitment is the integration of refugees, to whom we want to offer career perspectives. A total of 340 refugees were working at Deutsche Telekom in 2007 – primarily as apprentices, interns or as part of the "Internship PLUS direct entry" pilot initiative. To permit prospective employees to get to know the company in an informal setting, we introduced the Applicant Days, which was not about finding candidates with perfect prior experience and degrees. The event did, however, enable us to fill the majority of our internship positions in 2017.

These are just some examples of our social and ecological commitment. Our comprehensive online report for 2017 contains lots of additional interesting information. Our non-financial statement, which is part of our annual report, also provides information on sustainability topics. And the supplemental brochure "DIGITALIZATION – CREATING ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES" (available in May) will provide a quick overview of our commitment.

Our reporting activities have a long tradition. We have been providing information about our commitment and important progress for 20 years. In 2017 our report was honored for the third time with the Platinum Econ-Award. "The excellent quality stems from an intelligent combination of experience, knowledge, a pronounced service mentality and strong topicality," said the jury.

We would like to engage in dialog with you about our reporting activities. You can provide feedback and ask questions about selected topics in the report. Deutsche Telekom experts are on hand to respond to your questions and comments.

The CR Report is available at www.cr-report.telekom.com.

Contact for enquiries:
https://www.telekom.com/en/contact-forms/corporate-responsibility

Read the Report

Tweet me:.@deutschetelekom releases their 2017 #CorporateResponsibility Report. Find out what drives their commitment to social and ecological change http://bit.ly/2I0hLej via @ReportAlert

KEYWORDS: Deutsche Telekom, ReportAlert, sustainability, refugees

SOURCE:Subaru of America

DESCRIPTION:

CAMDEN, N.J., April 27, 2018 /3BL Media/ –Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) today conducted a grand opening of its new home in Camden, NJ. Following several years of sustained business growth, Subaru of America announced plans in 2014 for a new headquarters campus to be located in Camden. Next month, more than 550 employees will begin to occupy the new building at a time when the company is celebrating nine consecutive years of record sales and 10 years of consecutive growth. The new facility, at 250,000 square feet, plus an adjacent new training center will more than double the size of the automaker’s previous headquarters and bring employees from four sites onto one campus.

“We are very happy to mark the conclusion of our fabulous new headquarters,” said Thomas J. Doll, President and CEO, Subaru of America, Inc. “Our move to Camden is the next chapter in the long-term future of Subaru in the Delaware Valley. We have called this place ‘home’ for 50 years and we are thrilled that we will continue to be a part of the local community we have supported for so long.”

The Subaru of America headquarters grand opening featured speeches by Brandywine Realty Trust President and CEO, Gerard Sweeney, Camden Mayor Francisco “Frank” Moran and Subaru of America President and CEO, Thomas J. Doll. A display of the automaker’s 50^th Anniversary edition models and specially wrapped Outback vehicles framed a visual ceremony that centered on the theme of ‘Love Promise’ which is the company’s pledge to support its communities and customers nationwide.

To further fortify the company’s commitment to its community, Subaru will donate 50 cherry trees to the City of Camden. In Japanese culture, cherry blossoms represent both the fragility and the beauty of life and are symbolic of new beginnings.

Subaru of America was founded in 1968 in Philadelphia and has been based in the Delaware Valley for 50 years. Subaru has had its corporate headquarters in New Jersey since 1969 and had been in its Cherry Hill location since 1986. It also operated out of two offices in Pennsauken, a space at Executive Campus in Cherry Hill, NJ, as well as a distribution and training center in Florence, NJ. The company developed the all-new $118 million corporate headquarters in order to bring together much of its local workforce and provide them with a leading working environment, which it hopes will help spur even more growth.

“It’s amazing to witness Camden’s historic transformation and it’s an honor to be a part of it,” said Congressman Donald Norcross. “We’ve seen tremendous job growth in the City of Camden, along with major improvements in schools and public safety. We’re not declaring victory here just yet, but it’s encouraging to see new businesses, parks and schools opening every week. It’s been just a few years since we watched a Subaru car breaking ground at this new site, and it’s great to officially have the company continuing the tradition – that started in Pennsauken 50 years ago – of calling Camden County home.”

The Subaru of America campus, located adjacent to Campbell Soup Company’s world headquarters, is the first new corporate headquarters in Knights Crossing, a master plan urban town center community, being developed by Brandywine Realty Trust. The entire Knights Crossing development, upon completion, will consist of 1.4 million square feet of innovative office, full-service amenities, ample public greenways and will ultimately be served by two sources of public transportation.    

“Our aspiration for Knights Crossing was to create an intentionally- planned community of commerce that would attract the region’s finest companies,” said Gerard H. Sweeney, President and CEO of Brandywine Realty Trust, “Together with our partners at Campbell Soup Company and the City of Camden, we created a masterplan that reflects effective place-making and has captured the imagination of our partners at Subaru, solidifying their commitment to Camden and their employees’ productivity, health and  comfort.” 

A second building, called the National Service Training Center (NSTC), will open late-Summer 2018. The building will house service training, along with a service engineering shop and other product engineering. The Eastern Regional Sales office and Philadelphia Zone office will occupy a second floor at the building. Service training is currently being performed at a nearby facility in South Jersey. 

Zero-Landfill, LEED Certified

Consistent with the Subaru manufacturing plant in Indiana, and its Love Promise ethos, the new Subaru offices will be “zero landfill” meaning nothing from the offices will be sent to a landfill, with waste either being reduced, reused or recycled. The automaker’s recycling/zero-landfill efforts include an ISO 14001:2015-compliant Environmental Management System or “EMS.” This certification ensures SOA commits to world-class leadership in environmental performance. The new headquarters building is expected to be LEED certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. Green measures include the use LED lighting throughout the building, reclaimed wood wall décor, as well as carpeting manufactured with partially recycled content. Further, SOA has partnered with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to design an HQ landscape that includes the use of native plants that are drought-tolerant and bird-friendly, thus enabling a reduction in irrigation.

SOA will also transfer its “Love Garden” from Cherry Hill to Camden, where employees grow produce for donation to local food banks.

Commitment to Camden 
Subaru has had a long-standing commitment to Camden, providing support to the city for over 30 years. The company frames many of its Camden initiatives under an umbrella program called Subaru Camden Works which focuses on enhancing the quality of life within Camden through beneficiary programs such as Camden Schools Foundation, Center for Family Services, Habitat for Humanity, Hopeworks 'N Camden and Respond Inc. Since 2016, 10 Camden organizations have shared approximately $1.6M in Subaru investments. Beneficiary programs also include Girls Inc, Kipp Norcross and Whittier Schools, four Habitat homes, Cathedral Kitchen, Joseph’s House, Covenant House and the Remarkable Grads Program which recognizes high school students who graduate despite great obstacles.

To help employability, SOA has donated more than $200,000 in equipment to Respond Inc. to establish the organization’s automotive training program. The program trains participants for jobs in the automotive repair industry, and Subaru’s donation provides the equipment needed for participants to learn the necessary skills to gain access to good-paying careers in this field.

In 2017, SOA held 72 volunteer events in Camden where 495 employee days contributed 2,234 hours to projects. Subaru volunteers delivered 5,000 award winning science books to Camden schools over the past two years and contributed supplies and stuffed approximately 2,000 backpacks for the Center for Family Services, as well as serving 5,000 meals at Cathedral Kitchen in 2017.

“We welcome Subaru, and their more than 550 employees to the community as today’s opening signifies the promise of a prosperous time in Camden’s history,” said Camden Mayor Frank Moran. “I am also pleased that a community-conscious, Fortune 500 company like Subaru will now call Camden home. I commend Subaru, Brandywine Realty Trust, NJEDA and all the partners involved as this project will be impactful and transformational for our City. The new headquarters will be a nice complement to Campbell Soup at Knights Crossing and will be a catalyst for attracting additional development to Camden.”

About Subaru of America, Inc.
Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Subaru Corporation of Japan. Headquartered at a zero-landfill office in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 620 retailers across the United States. All Subaru products are manufactured in zero-landfill production plants and Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is the only U.S. automobile production plant to be designated a backyard wildlife habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. SOA is guided by the Subaru Love Promise, which is the company’s vision to show love and respect to everyone, and to support its communities and customers nationwide. Over the past 20 years, SOA has donated more than $120 million to causes the Subaru family cares about, and its employees have logged more than 40,000 volunteer hours. As a company, Subaru believes it is important to do its part in making a positive impact in the world because it is the right thing to do.

For additional information visit media.subaru.com. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Tweet me:.@Subaru_USA celebrates new headquarters in #CamdenNJ with grand opening ceremony and #donation of 50 cherry trees to the city http://bit.ly/2KkZaug #SubaruLovePromise #CityInvincible #SubaruLovestheEarth

Contact Info:

Diane Anton
Subaru of America, Inc.
+1 (856) 488-5093
danton@subaru.com

Jaclyn Bingold
MWW PR
subaru@mww.com

KEYWORDS: NYSE:FUJHF, Subaru of America, camden nj, zero landfill, Camden Works

PG&E Corporation and Wells Fargo CEOs present their companies' long-term strategic plans to investors

SOURCE:CECP: The CEO Force for Good

DESCRIPTION:

SAN FRANCISCO, April 27, 2018 /3BL Media/ — Recognizing the  importance of engaging stakeholders and sharing company information in a regular, transparent way, on April 19 the CEOs of Wells Fargo and PG&E Corporation shared their company’s long-term plans to an audience of more than 100 major institutional investors at the first CEO Investor Forum (CIF) held on the West Coast by CECP’s Strategic Investor Initiative (SII).

Addressing topics of risk and value creation, both companies shared their long-term strategies to transform their sectors and bring prosperity to their communities and their businesses. Key insights and speakers from the sessions include:

Geisha Williams, CEO and President, PG&E Corporation: Building on PG&E’s mission to deliver safe, affordable, reliable, and clean energy, PG&E shared a plan to build the sustainable energy network of tomorrow, touching on the grid, environment, transportation, and clean energy. With sustainability and risk management as the foundation of the company’s operations, PG&E is pursuing innovative solutions for transforming the energy system on a large scale.

Tim Sloan, CEO and President, Wells Fargo:  From a corporate philanthropy standpoint, Wells Fargo is almost doubling its commitment to helping to solve societal challenges, increasing its investment from $286 in 2017 million to $400 million in 2018, with a 2% of after-tax income goal going forward. At the conference, the company announced a$200 billion sustainable finance commitment, more than 50% of which will be focused on cleantech and renewable energy. Reflecting its focus on stakeholder engagement, Wells Fargo has articulated its six goals are customer service and advice, team member engagement, innovation, risk management, corporate citizenship, and shareholder value, noting that they will only get to the 6th when they do first five well.

“CECP's 4^th CEO Investor Forum demonstrates that CEOs want to tell, and investors want to hear long-term plans on the West Coast as well as the East,” said Daryl Brewster, CEO, CECP. “Leading companies and investors are looking to move from merely talking about short-term financials to the comprehensive communication of long-term plans and the commitment to creating sustainable value."

The CIF also featured Charles Penner, Jana Partners, who shared his thoughts on their recent engagement with Apple, which sought to spotlight a company that is in a position to solve a vast societal challenge of the use of electronic devices by children and youth. The concern about the overuse of technology is not new, but this conversation connects the issue to the bottom line; unmasking the hidden risk for the tech sector. Representatives from BlackRock, Brown Flynn, KPMG,NASDAQ, SASB, and the Tellus Institute also shared their thoughts on the transformation in sharing information to move capital in sustainable directions.

Earlier this year, nine members of SII’s Board of Advisors, led by Vanguard Chairman Bill McNabb, sent an open letter to CEOs of major companies. The letter poses seven questions every CEO should answer when presenting publicly-disclosed, investor-facing long-term plans related to three themes: growth, strategy, and risk.

“SII’s Investor Letter outlines the expectations about the breadth and depth of information investors crave from companies, but aren’t getting on a consistent basis,” said Mark Tulay, Director of CECP’s Strategic Investor Initiative. “As we continue to see wider adoption of answering these questions in public fora like the CEO Investor Forums, we will achieve our aim to shift trillions of dollars of ‘patient capital’ to reward companies that can mitigate risks and leverage opportunities.”

According to CECP: The CEO Force for Good, 86% of CEOs say they are pressured by Wall Street to focus too much on delivering short-term results; often at the expense of long-term strategy. To address this, CECP created SII to leverage CECP’s network of business leaders to fundamentally change the conversation between CEOs, boards of directors, and investors, from merely short-term profits to sustained long-term corporate performance. The CEO Investor Forums are a part of SII’s effort to promote sustainable value creation and encourage the development and communication of multi-year strategies that include strategic priorities, significant stakeholders, and material environmental, social, and governance (ESG) risks.

SII will hold its fifth CEO Investor Forum on September 20, 2018, in New York. Confirmed speakers include Mauricio Gutierrez, President & CEO, NRG Energy, Inc. and Martin Schroeter, Senior Vice President, IBM Global Markets, IBM Corporation. Additional speakers will be announced soon.

The Wells Fargo and PG&E Corporation presentations can be viewed as a webcast (registration required). The Strategic Investor Initiative is supported by sponsors including Bloomberg, LP, the Ford Foundation, and the Heron Foundation (www.cecp.co/SII). KPMG and NASDAQ provided support for the 4^th CEO Investor Forum.

# # #

ABOUT CECP: THE CEO FORCE FOR GOOD

CECP is a CEO-led coalition that believes that a company’s social strategy — how it engages with key stakeholders including employees, communities, investors, and customers —determines company success.  Founded in 1999 by actor and philanthropist Paul Newman and other business leaders to create a better world through business, CECP has grown to a movement of more than 200 of the world’s largest companies that represent $7 trillion in revenues, $18.6 billion in societal investment, 13 million employees, and $15 trillion in assets under management. CECP helps companies transform their social strategy by providing customized connections and networking, counsel and support, benchmarking and trends, and awareness building and recognition.

ABOUT THE STRATEGIC INVESTOR INITIATIVE

The Strategic Investor Initiative is a coalition of thought leaders committed to the long-term movement. Collectively, SII is developing a new platform for leading companies to create, convey, and deliver long-term plans to long-term investors. SII’s vision is to spark the movement of trillions of dollars of capital to companies demonstrating performance excellence over the long-term. SII provides tools and resources designed to introduce and support market behaviors that ultimately deliver sustained long-term value for all stakeholders.

Tweet me:"Being Strategic is About More Than Quarterly Results," Say West Coast CEOs at @CECPTweet's 4th CEO Investor Forum. Read key takeaways and learn more about the event here: http://bit.ly/2qYLX1m #ESG #LongTerm

KEYWORDS: long-term investment, long-term plans, CEOs, sustainable value creation, long-term value creation, NASDAQ, CECP

You can't drive blindly when running a business.

SOURCE:UPS

DESCRIPTION:

A common problem with supply chains is they become unwieldy beasts. Each individual element and component within the network knows what they are doing, but the big picture often becomes obscure.

This leaves success in the supply chain down to luck and inevitable inefficiencies.

You simply can’t operate a successful supply chain blindly.

More and more supply chains are utilizing cutting edge strategies and technology to increase their supply chain transparency.

Furthermore, pressures from consumers continue to mount. You cannot afford to lose visibility and get left behind. It will cost you in more ways than one.

Without visibility, we see the silo mentality, which is extremely dangerous for a modern supply chain.

Synchronizing success 

Synchronization among different facets boosts success and efficiency, yet without visibility, it is impossible.

To make synchronization possible, you need to enable everyone within the entire system to see what is truly going on elsewhere, allowing them to adjust and flex according to the various needs and demands.

With visibility, you also open up greater opportunities for competitive advantage.

So how do you do this? It comes down to a number of factors.

Culturally, there needs to be an attitude of openness and transparency for the overall good and health of the supply chain. Practically, you need the technology that provides the data and the insights and appropriately trained and skilled employees to act quickly.

You also need to foster collaboration among departments and the multiple steps in the process.

Let’s look at the primary reasons why supply chain visibility and transparency need to be top priorities in your business in 2018:

(1) Minimize Risks and Costs

Profit margins in 2018 are getting increasingly tight. Brexit and difficulties surrounding supply and exchange rates are making profit margins even tighter than they’ve been in recent years. This is an incredibly tough field to profit in.

By increasing both visibility and transparency, you’re not making your profit margins any tighter than necessary – and you’re not exposing yourself to unnecessary risk. Success at the moment is reliant on flexing and adapting to the market changes around you.

That’s only possible if you can see what is going on outside your immediate sphere of influence.

It may take time and effort to actively prioritize supply chain visibility, but this can be seen as an excellent opportunity for a great return on investment. Open up visibility, and you reduce unnecessary cost and minimize risk. The trick here is to use those who are already experts in creating visibility.

Don’t be afraid to contact external consultants for such important and mission-critical topics.

(2) Identify Successes, Root Out Inefficiencies

How do you measure your business success? Are you sure your indicators are reliable? Tracking your success is crucial on several levels.

Yes, you want to ensure a healthy profit, but understanding your success should also be about growth and opportunity.

With increased visibility, you can more clearly identify exactly where your successes lie and where you need to make changes to support the overall business. Heading after goals successfully is only possible when you have a good eye on the playing field and all the players.

Communication is the key to visibility and transparency in this regard. Visibility and transparency only work when the information garnered is used appropriately.

Technology can be the tool that makes this happen, but to improve your overall performance, strategic decisions need to be taken when opportunities present themselves.

(3) Locate Weaknesses and Anticipate Problems

The most successful businesses and supply chains are those which successfully identify and plan for problems before they become stumbling blocks. They identify where their weaknesses are so they can plug any gaps before they impact the overall business.

By turning a blind eye to weaknesses, you store up problems for the future.

Visibility and transparency should expose both these weaknesses and potential problems, which opens up opportunity – opportunity to solve them. This puts you ahead of the game and ready to rise to challenges as they present themselves.

Given that the 2018 customer is unlikely to hang around while you handle problems, you need to preempt them and prevent the customer from ever seeing a problem rear its head.

This applies on both a macro and micro level.

At the micro level, errors in individual orders get flagged before the customer experiences a late delivery.

On the macro level, you know exactly how to respond if you have a warehouse fire on the other side of the world.

Visibility and transparency in this way is all about knowledge. Gain the knowledge about every facet of your supply chain and you then have the power to plan and to act. Performance is improved and mistakes are reduced. In turn, this has a positive effect on efficiencies and on reducing costs.

This also provides a boost to your business reputation. Following this action, you should see reliable growth.

The trick here is to combine two things: technology and insight. You can’t have the second without the first. Knowing which technology to use and how to deploy it is often the first hurdle.

However, the real challenge comes in analyzing the data and insights your technology should bring. This requires advanced skill.

Prioritizing visibility and transparency

Managing supply chains is about handling the constant bombardment of clashing priorities, so knowing that visibility and transparency are crucial is not the same as acting on these principles. However, the effects are evident throughout the business and in bottom-line success.

Our endless pursuit is one of efficiency and informed decisions. That is only possible when visibility and transparency are given the necessary attention.

Visibility and transparency are musts rather than choices for the health and success of the overall business.

This article originally appeared on All Things Supply Chain and was republished with permission.

Tweet me:If your company hasn't made #transparency and #sustainability a priority before, 2018 is the year to get started before you're driving blind http://bit.ly/2EXMlC8

KEYWORDS: UPS Longitudes, NYSE:UPS, UPS

SOURCE:ReportAlert

DESCRIPTION:

Citi today released its 2017 Global Citizenship Report, highlighting efforts made in the last year to responsibly provide financial services that enable growth and progress. This report includes numerous examples of how, through our core business and with our philanthropic efforts, we are helping address complex and pressing issues such as global warming and social inequality.

The report outlines Citi’s approach to citizenship: A business model that adds value to society; taking a stand on issues that matter and driving solutions; a focus on ethical decision-making and responsible business practices; and an enhanced focus on transparency and knowledge building.

Section one of the report, “How We Do Business,” describes our commitment to responsible business practices, which are the backbone of our company’s success and are also imperative to protecting the broader financial system and the communities in which we live and work. Section two, “Solutions for Impact,” includes examples of how Citi is well positioned – through our expertise and resources - to help address complex social and economic challenges around the world.

“The ways Citi helps make our communities stronger, provide opportunities to those who need support, protect our environment and celebrate diversity are the truest reflection of our values and the progress we enable around the world,” said Citi CEO Michael Corbat. “This report highlights the innovative ways – big and small – we are demonstrating the positive impact we have on society.”

Among the many examples of Citi’s impact throughout the report, key highlights include:

• Sustainable growth: Citi continues to make progress toward its 10-year $100 Billion Environmental Finance Goal. After adjusting our methodology in 2017 from counting the fair market value of deals included in the goal to instead calculating Citi’s direct share of the project, we have contributed $57 billion toward sustainable growth from 2014-2017. This new approach is based on established finance sector league table accounting, and demonstrates our commitment to addressing climate change through business activity and a willingness to learn and adapt as the field of environmental finance continues to evolve. We also announced a new goal in 2017 to use 100 percent renewable energy to power Citi’s facilities globally by 2020 – covering more than 55 million square feet of real estate in nearly 100 countries.  
• Digital innovation: Citi launched the Tech for Integrity Challenge (T4I) – a cross-sector collaboration to encourage technology innovators from around the world to create cutting-edge solutions that promote integrity, accountability and transparency in the public sector and beyond.
• Future of work: Through the Citi Foundation’s Pathways to Progress initiative, more than 200,000 young people have moved towards their career goals as part of our global commitment to prepare a next generation workforce. In 2017, the Foundation committed $100 million to reach more than 500,000 young people by 2020 and equip them with the workplace, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills necessary to compete in today’s economy. As part of Pathways, more than 3,500 Citi employee volunteers mentored and coached youth globally.
• Affordable housing & thriving small businesses: Citi provided over $4.7 billion in loans for affordable housing projects in the U.S., covering 28,700 units in 129 cities, serving as the leading financier of affordable housing in the U.S. for the eight consecutive year. Citi invested more than $11 billion in small business lending in the U.S. To date, the Citi Foundation has invested more than $23.5 million in microfinance networks and institutions, and provided $10.5 million in cash prizes to more than 6,000 entrepreneurs through the Citi Microentrepreneurship Awards.
• Financial inclusion: Citi signed an agreement with Cardtronics, the world’s largest ATM owner/operator to make an additional 30,000 ATMs at certain retail locations available for use for free for our customers. Citi was also awarded the 2017 Euromoney Magazine inaugural award for the “World’s Best Bank for Financial Inclusion.”  

This report is in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards: Core option and aligned with the United Nations (UN) Global Compact and UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights frameworks. To learn more about Citi’s citizenship efforts across the globe and to review the 2017 Global Citizenship Report, visit http://citi.com/citizenship/.

###

Citi

Citi, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citi provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management.
 

Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @Citi | YouTube: www.youtube.com/citi | Blog: http://blog.citigroup.com | Facebook: www.facebook.com/citi | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/citi.

Contact
Citi
Jennifer Lowney, (212) 793-3141

Read the Report

Tweet me:Learn about how @Citi is addressing pressing issues like global warming and social inequality in their 2017 Global Citizenship Report: http://bit.ly/2HsPqjz via @ReportAlert

KEYWORDS: Citi, ReportAlert, affordable housing, Small businesses, GRI

Chester's Sun Village Park receives Earth Day Makeover

SOURCE:Keep America Beautiful

DESCRIPTION:

The secretaries of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Department of Transportation (PennDOT) joined City of Chester officials, residents, and Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful at Sun Village Park for beautification activities to celebrate the community’s Earth Day cleanup of the park and the positive impact of state partnership and investment.

The community has worked for two years on an ongoing project to remove trash, tires, and graffiti; paint murals; plant flowers; and complete other projects to clean and beautify the four-acre park. The project has received technical support, supplies, and other assistance from Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful through support from DEP, PennDOT, and the Adopt-a-Highway Program.

The event kicked off a weekend cleanup project at Sun Village Park as part of the statewide Great American Cleanup of Pennsylvania, going on through May 31. Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful coordinates the campaign with support from DEP, PennDOT, the Pennsylvania Waste Industries Association, and other partners. Last year the campaign brought over 132,000 Pennsylvanians together to collect more than 5 million pounds of trash and plant trees, shrubs, and flowers.

Continue reading here.

Tweet me:#FF KAB Affiliate Stories: @ABeautifulPA, along with PennDOT and Penn DEP celebrated #KeepAmericaBeautifulMonth at Chester's Sun Valley Park for #gacofpa2018 #EarthDay event. http://bit.ly/2HvS9ZD #cleanYOURblock #DoBeautifulThings

Contact Info:

Mike Rosen
Keep America Beautiful
+1 (203) 659-3014
mrosen@kab.org
http://www.twitter.com/kabtweet
http://www.facebook.com/keepamericabeautiful
http://www.instagram.com/keepamericabeautiful
http://www.youtube.com/kabnetwork

Janessa Rivera
Keep America Beautiful
+1 (203) 659-3064
jrivera@kab.org

KEYWORDS: Keep America Beautiful, Great American Cleanup, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, Great American Cleanup of PA, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, PennDOT, City of Chester, Keep Chester Beautiful, Sun Village Park

SOURCE:Avery Dennison

DESCRIPTION:

This week my @AveryDennison colleagues and I attended the @Walmart annual Sustainability Milestone meeting at Sam M. Walton auditorium in Bentonville Arkansas.  I had the opportunity to join Fabio Peyer and Shawn Lawson on-stage to discuss what's new in sustainable packaging and showcase our CleanFlake adhesive technology. https://lnkd.in/eUzCT4d

Learn more about the summit and project gigaton here: https://lnkd.in/eSUdSPE

Tweet me:.@AveryDennison leaders help discuss "what's new" in sustainable packaging at @Walmart Sustainability Summit https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:6393087370501120000

KEYWORDS: Walmart, Avery Dennison, NYSE:AVY

SOURCE:General Mills

DESCRIPTION:

Three focus areas are amplifying the legacies given to us by the founders of several of our brands.

Katie Forrest and Taylor Collins (co-founders of EPIC), Lara Merriken (founder of LÄRABAR), Annie Withey (founder of Annie’s) and Gene Kahn (founder of Cascadian Farm and Small Planet Foods) had different paths, personalities and philosophies.

However, they all shared a conviction – to be a rumble that shook the food system.

Through their food, they all wanted to create something better for people and the planet. We remain humbled and honored that these founders trust General Mills to steward their original vision to care for people and the land.

1. Big companies must take big actions to care for the land. 

We recently announced that General Mills is backing the conversion of 34,000 acres of conventional farmland in South Dakota to become certified organic by 2020.

When the transition is complete, this will be one of the largest contiguous organic row crop farms in the U.S. and the largest of its kind in South Dakota. The organic wheat grown on this land will be used in our organic Annie’s Macaroni & Cheese. Who knew a little box of Mac and Cheese could drive such meaningful change?

This project is a major milestone in the General Mills journey to bring more organic choices to consumers. And, it brings us closer to our public commitment to double the acreage of organic farmland we source from.

But, it’s about more than numbers. It’s about driving positive change for this planet we share. And, it is about making it easier to bring organic food to everyone who wants it. (Or as we say at Annie’s, “Organic for Everybunny!”)

As the second largest portfolio of organic brands in the U.S., we know that General Mills can drive meaningful change through our supply chain. We are pushing to do that through the conversion of land to organic, the protection of pollinator habitats, the restoration of grasslands through holistic grazing practices, and the implementation of new programs to advance regenerative agriculture.

2. To do something big, sometimes you must start by doing something small. 

Today, we also announced a small project with gigantic ambition: We are partnering with two innovative Montana farmers, Casey Bailey and Nate Powell-Palm to launch limited edition versions of our Annie’s Macaroni & Cheese and Honey Bunny Grahams.

The products represent a big innovation in the food industry. On each box we celebrate the specific farm, farmer, and regenerative farming practices that went into that very box. These small batch items will be sold exclusively at Sprouts. Together with Casey and Nate, we are going local by connecting specific farms and farmers to each box!

3. Deliver tangible mission, brand by brand. 

We are also very proud of EPIC’s partnership with the Savory Institute, to help create The Land to Market (L2M) program, which connects regenerative ingredient purveyors with conscientious consumer brands.

The L2M label enables consumers to easily identify food created using practices that enhance water, soil and climate health. This can be a bold step forward in engaging with people who want confidence in choosing products that are good to the land.

And, Cascadian Farm is partnering with Grain Millers, the largest organic oat supplier in the U.S. to promote continuous improvement within organic farming in the United States. They have committed $125,000 through 2022 to conduct soil testing, host field days, share best practices and help remove hurdles to advancing the organic movement. If you are ever near our original Cascadian Farm home farm in Skagit Valley, Washington, swing by to learn more (and have some of our world famous organic blueberry ice cream).

These actions are a great start. And yet, there is much more to be done.

We know it will take partnership to make significant change to the food system. So, we continue to learn and collaborate with others. And, together we can make food choices matter for the planet.

Partnership Matters. Soil Matters. Food Matters.

This post was originally published on the LinkedIn page of Carla Vernon, president of our Natural and Organic business. 

Tweet me:.@GeneralMills highlights three ways they're using food to create something better for people and the planet http://bit.ly/2HAXo6m

KEYWORDS: General Mills, sustainable agriculture, food matters, soil health, regenerative agriculture, NYSE:GIS

SOURCE:Bloomberg

DESCRIPTION:

April 27, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Bloomberg was yesterday awarded the ‘Corporate Workplace’ award at the annual British Council of Offices (BCO) Awards in London, which recognize excellence and innovation in workplace design.

The award, which was accepted by Catriona Henderson, Head of Facilities for Bloomberg, EMEA and Simona Bencini, Partner & Architect, Foster + Partners, was judged by a panel of industry experts from the engineering, property, architecture, construction and design sectors who praised the Bloomberg project for “taking office building sustainability to unmatched levels of excellence.”

It’s one of a recent string of awards and recognitions Bloomberg London has received for its sustainable design, including two BREEAM Awards (BREEAM Award 2018 – Commercial Project – Design and BREEAM Award 2018 – Regional Award for Western Europe). In October, the building was awarded the highest BREEAM rating of any major office development in the world at design stage, with a 98.5% score.

Alan Yates, Technical Director of BRE Global’s Sustainability Group said: “What sets the Bloomberg building apart is its relentless focus on innovation and its holistic, integrated approach to sustainable construction and design. Projects like these are really important in giving confidence to the industry to experiment.”

Bloomberg now has 36 environmentally-certified offices around the world, with more than 70% of the company’s 19,000 employees occupying a LEED or BREEAM-certified office. Every decision we make around our building design takes into consideration operational efficiency and environmental sustainability. Our buildings have been designed and constructed to reduce energy and water usage, promote better indoor air quality and reduce the environmental impact of construction materials and waste.

It’s all part of Bloomberg’s determination to lead the way in building a more sustainable world. Over the past year, we’ve helped drive critically important progress from building design to energy consumption, which is highlighted in our latest Bloomberg Impact report, issued last week: https://www.bloomberg.com/impact/.

Tweet me:Bloomberg Named Corporate Workplace of the Year at British Council for Offices (BCO) London Awards 2018 #bloomberglondon @bloomberg #sustainabledesign http://bit.ly/2vFGD8H

KEYWORDS: Bloomberg, Bloomberg London, sustainable design, bloomberg impact

SOURCE:Booz Allen Hamilton

DESCRIPTION:

Booz Allen Hamilton Data Scientist Catherine Ordun will be recognized with a DCFemTech Award at a ceremony to be held May 7 at The Washington Post. The prestigious award recognizes women in the D.C. Metro area “based on their impact on the organization they work for, the complexity of the issues they address with code or data, and their open source contributions or work in the community.” This year, 54 honorees were selected for recognition from a pool of 620 nominees. DCFemTech is a “coalition of women leaders aimed at amplifying the efforts of women in tech organizations, sharing resources, and bringing leaders together to close the gender gap.” Catherine will be the first female at Booz Allen to ever receive this award.

Meet Catherine. At Booz Allen, Catherine is a lead developer of prototype machine learning models for government organizations, including the Department of Treasury and Department of Defense. She has authored technical solutions for the Department of Veterans Affairs regarding how AI can be used for Veterans benefits assistance. She has served as a Program Conference Reviewer for the 2018 Scientific Computing with Python and International Society for Disease Surveillance conferences, and presented tutorials to the Booz Allen and University of Virginia Women in Data Science groups.  She is proud to have led her team in the recent Department of Health and Human Services opioid hackathon to the Final 3, beating out several large corporate competitors. Additionally, Catherine will be presenting at JupyterCon in August 2018.

Booz Allen is committed to empowering women like Christine Ordun to use the power of data to help solve the most difficult challenges facing society and our world.

For more information on the winners, visit: http://dcfemtech.com/awards.

To learn more about how Booz Allen is attracting more women to STEM careers, click here.

Tweet me:Congrats to @BoozAllen #data #scientist Catherine Ordun, @DCFemTech award winner! http://bit.ly/2Fmkiwk

KEYWORDS: Booz Allen Hamilton, DCFemTech, Catherine Ordun, data science, NYSE:BAH

SOURCE:Cone Communications

DESCRIPTION:

Texting while driving is still a major cause of car accidents around the world. In fact, drivers are 23 times more likely to be involved in a car accident when texting. Earlier this year Sweden passed a law making it illegal to drive with a phone in your hand, hoping to improve those staggering statistics – however they saw no change. To drive home the dangers of texting while driving, Volkswagen has created a silent yet persistent reminder for drivers. 

Volkswagen Stockholm is creating 153 phone cases made from the scratched and warped sheet metal of cars that have been in texting-and-driving accidents. Each case in the Crashed Cases series is handmade and engraved with a number that represents a serious car accident in Sweden during the first month of the new law.

To continue reading, please click here.

Tweet me:.@Volkswagen’s “Crashed Cases” Forces Drivers to Rethink Texting While Driving http://bit.ly/2r3bqYa

KEYWORDS: Crashed Cases, Phone cases, texting and driving, Volkswagen, Cone Communications