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fetch Is the Match Maker for Companies and Startups Committing to the SDGs

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SOURCE:Cone Communications

DESCRIPTION:

In 2017, the Business Commission released research showing that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) could create economic opportunities of up to $12 trillion a year and up to 380 million new jobs by 2030. And, as more businesses begin to unlock those trillions of dollars through new markets, investments and innovation by aligning their operations with the SDGs, they can now turn to a new digital platform for pioneering startup solutions.

Dutch-based digital platform, fetch, believes “innovation is the key driver to building a sustainable future and an agent to fulfilling the SDGs.” The platform matches companies with sustainability and social-driven startups using a unique match-making portal which showcases market-ready startup innovations. Businesses can access a multitude of solutions on fetch – each categorized by industry or SDG – and pick the right solutions that align with their corporate sustainability goals. Alison Azaria, founder of fetch, explains the need behind the platform saying, “Through my experience in working with corporates and feedback from startups, I saw a gap and a channel missing in connecting the two together.”

To continue reading, please click here.

Tweet me:.@fetchres is the Match Maker for Companies and Startups Committing to the SDGs http://bit.ly/2jvWIof

KEYWORDS: fetch, Cone Communications


Today, May 5th, is World Hand Hygiene Day!

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Think hygiene. Act to prevent. Care for patients. Sepsis can be prevented.

SOURCE:Essity (Formerly SCA)

DESCRIPTION:

World Hand Hygiene Day is May 5th. This day reminds us that hand hygiene is important today, and every day. And it is especially important in healthcare settings where hand hygiene reduces the risk of patients contracting infections and developing sepsis. Download our Infographic to share with staff!

Tweet me:Today is World Hand Hygiene Day! Learn more about how to prevent sepsis in healthcare! http://bit.ly/2HUyUFs #WHHD2018 @Essity_US @torkusa

KEYWORDS: tork, Essity, OTC:ESSYY

Work Better - Aim high - Build the Future

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Hydro-Québec, a world leader in hydropower generation, publishes its Sustainability Report 2017

SOURCE:ReportAlert

DESCRIPTION:

The company generates, transmits and distributes electricity to more than 4 million customers in the province of Québec. It also exports its clean, renewable power and commercializes its unique expertise and innovations on world markets. Hydro-Québec carries out its activities in a spirit of sustainable development, and its sustainability vision goes well beyond the environment. The company contributes to the province’s economic vitality and encourages stakeholders to participate in its decisions. Hydro-Québec is leading the energy revolution.

2017 highlights:

  • 99.8 %– Hydro-Québec’s energy portfolio comprises mainly renewable energies: 99.8% hydropower generated by the company, as well as purchased hydro, wind, solar and biomass energy.
     
  • 8.36 million metric tons– Thanks to Hydro-Québec’s exports, 8.36 million metric tons of Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) were avoided. Our GHG emissions have decreased by 91% since 1990.
     
  • 34.4 TWh –Thanks to an effective sales strategy, smooth operation of our generating and transmission facilities and high runoff, our net electricity exports reached a historic volume of 34.4 TWh and contributed $780 million to net income.
     
  • $127 million in R&D– Innovation is at the core of Hydro-Québec’s activities. IREQ—the company’s research centre—develops state-of-the-art technology in multiple fields related to power systems and renewable energy.
     
  • 50% ­– Proportion of women on the board of directors. At the end of the year, Hydro-Québec’s board of directors was made up of 16 members – 8 women and 8 men– from different parts of Québec and with a variety of professional backgrounds.
     
  • 100+ projects– Hydro-Quebec’s network is present in every region of the province and so are our activities. We endeavor to encourage stakeholders to participate in our decisions through our public participation process. In 2017, over 100 projects were subject to this process. A total of 1,100 construction or refurbishment projects were underway in 2017.
     
  • A $6-billion contribution to the Québec economy – Hydro-Québec’s contribution to the Québec economy is outstanding, with 4% of the gross domestic product: billions of dollars invested as well as thousands of jobs created and maintained. Last year, $2.1 billion was paid to its shareholder, the Québec government, in the form of a dividend, and 92% of its goods and services were purchased in Québec.

The Sustainability Report 2017 is the sixteenth such report produced by Hydro-Québec.

For more information, do not hesitate to contact us.

Read the Report

Tweet me:.@hydroquebec releases their 2017 #Sustainability Report. Discover how Hydro-Québec is leading the #energy revolution via @reportalert http://bit.ly/2HAyrrG

KEYWORDS: ReportAlert, Hydro-Québec

What Leadership Looks Like

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Bloomberg proudly celebrates Asian Pacific Heritage Month

SOURCE:Bloomberg

DESCRIPTION:

Throughout May, Bloomberg is highlighting the Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and allies who are making an impact at our company and across the business community. Diverse perspectives and skill sets strengthen our bottom line and reinforce our commitment to an inclusive workplace.

Take a look at what leadership looks like at Bloomberg

To learn more about Bloomberg Impact, and 2017 Diversity & Inclusion highlights, click here

 

Tweet me:What Leadership Looks Like: Bloomberg proudly celebrates Asian Pacific Heritage Month @bloomberg #diversityandinclusion #asianpacificheritagemonth #BPAC2018 http://bit.ly/2jqIWmW

KEYWORDS: Bloomberg, Asian Pacific Heritage Month

Making Moments of Good

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SOURCE:General Mills

DESCRIPTION:

From a donation that helped make a dream come true for a high school marching band to thanking military service members with care packages, General Mills, Cheerios and Walmart just wrapped up “Moments of Good.” 

The campaign, from January through March, allowed Walmart and Cheerios to create one million special moments for people shopping in the retailer’s U.S. stores and within their surrounding communities.  

It kicked off with a video about a donation to the Louisburg, Kansas, marching band as it prepared to appear in the 2018 Rose Parade in Pasadena, California.

Another memorable video in the campaign highlighted a surprise mob group song that broke out as shoppers in checkout lines were presented with grocery gift cards at a Walmart near Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Moments of Good was inspired by Cheerios’ “Good Goes Round” and “One Million Acts of Good” programs, which launched last year. Our Walmart Integrated Shopper Marketing team partnered with Walmart and the brand to help develop the ideas. 

The videos created for the campaign are featured on Walmart.com and the Cheerios YouTube channel.

“It was rewarding to see how happy the Moments of Good events made shoppers at Walmart and in cities across the U.S. during this campaign,” says Nicole Greibrok, marketing communications assistant manager, Cheerios. “We know that these acts of good are contagious and inspire people to do even more acts of good in their communities on their own.” 

Tweet me:From a donation that helped make a dream come true for a high school marching band to thanking military service members with care packages, @GeneralMills, @Cheerios, and @Walmart are creating #MomentsOfGood http://bit.ly/2vRQmss

KEYWORDS: General Mills, good goes round, NYSE:GIS, cheerios, Walmart

Are We Making Progress? Recent News About “Apparel Fashion & Sustainability” -- Investor Initiative to Help Make East Asian Factory Workers Safer & Better Paid…

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G&A's Sustainability Highlights (05.03.2018)

SOURCE:Governance & Accountability Institute, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

In monitoring the growing abundance of news stories and commentary about “supply chain,” “globalization” or “trade” topics and issues, our editors often see the focus is on apparel, clothing, textiles, fashion, etc.  Companies in the developed economies widely source apparel footwear and related items in the developing and under-developed nations – and what happens there can quickly make news that travels around the globe.

Example:  The focus five years ago about this time was on the East Asian nation of Bangladesh and the Rana Plaza vertical factory tragedy in the capital city of Dhaka (or Dacca) that killed more than 1,000 garment industry workers.  The labels of leading western nation marketers were scattered about the debris and ashes -- and those familiar brand images as well as images of the collapsed building and details of the tragedy helped to focus attention on worker conditions in the East Asian region in both North America and Europe.

The Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) investor coalition is keeping the focus on worker safety as the “Bangladesh Accord on Fire and Safety” is renewed for another three years.  ICCR institutions and their investor allies organized as “The Bangladesh Investor Initiative” (with collective AUM of US$4.5 trillion) on the 5th anniversary are urging a stronger corporate response and demonstrated commitment to local worker safety and adequate wage levels.  The link to our blog commentary on recent developments and background information for companies and investors is below.

Some good news to share is that sustainability is catching on in the fashion industry.  The uber fashion magazine from publishers Conde Nast – Vogue, with more than one million readers -- just published a story about the embrace of “eco-friendly” fashion, spotlighting “the best designers of a new generation are stitching sustainability into everything they do…”

“While sustainability has long been considered a “byword for hemp-heavy bohemia,” writer Olivia Singer explains, “a new generation of designers is building brands with a more conscious approach to fashion at their core.”

Fabrics are sourced through collectives in India empowering female weavers as just one example.  In the article designers explain why sustainability is important to their brands (Richard Malone, Le Kilt, Elliss, E.L.V. Denim, Alyx, Marine Serre, Richard Quinn are featured interviews).

A number of creative approaches being adopted by the designers is explained -- just think about the contribution to global sustainability of turning recycled plastics and viscose into yarn and fringing, using organic cotton as well as recycled polyester for “new” fashions, creating ECONYL from fishnets to make swimwear, and using recycled cotton and plastics as part of the effort of making sustainability a “pillar of luxury”.

The encouraging details are in our Top Story this week – a cautionary note:  some of the fashion photos are edgy and might offend.

And of interest, G&A’s Sustainability Update Blog:  
The Bangladesh Garment Factory Workers Tragedy & Investor & Corporate Response Five Years On…

This is just the introduction of G&A's Sustainability Highlights newsletter this week. Click here to view the full issue.

Tweet me:Are We Making Progress? Recent News About “Apparel Fashion & Sustainability” -- Investor Initiative to Help Make East Asian Factory Workers Safer & Better Paid… http://bit.ly/2rivG7B

KEYWORDS: business & trade, Corporate Social Responsibility, csr, G&A Institute, GRI, Governance & Accountability Institute, G&A, SRI, SWF, socially responsible investing, Sovereign Wealth Funds, sustainability, Corporate Citizenship, esg

Consumers Energy Releases 2018 Sustainability Report

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Report provides a snapshot of the energy provider’s commitment to the triple bottom line of people, planet and prosperity

SOURCE:Consumers Energy

DESCRIPTION:

Consumers Energy has released its 2018 Sustainability Report, an annual snapshot of the energy provider’s commitment to the triple bottom line of people, planet and prosperity.

“As Michigan’s largest utility, we’re uniquely positioned to be a driving force for good, “ writes Patti Poppe, Consumers Energy’s president and chief executive officer. “We care for our customers, because they’re our friends, families and neighbors. We invest in the communities we serve, because we live here too. And we take actions to preserve and protect our natural resources, because we enjoy Michigan’s beauty just as much as you.”

Consumers Energy has taken significant actions to care for the people it serves, its home state and the planet. The energy provider has set a goal of reducing carbon emissions by 80 percent and no longer using coal to generate electricity by 2040. Consumers Energy’s actions to date already have reduced its carbon intensity by 38 percent and reduced water usage by 35 percent, plus avoided over one million cubic yards of landfill disposal.

Read more at www.ConsumersEnergy.com/sustainability.

Media Contacts 

Brian Wheeler, 517-788-2394

For more information about Consumers Energy, go to www.ConsumersEnergy.com.

Check Out Consumers Energy on Social Media

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ConsumersEnergyMichigan/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/consumersenergy

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/consumersenergy

Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/consumersenergy/

Tweet me:@ConsumersEnergy 2018 #SustainabilityReport provides a snapshot of the company's commitment to the triple bottom line of people, planet and prosperity http://bit.ly/2Ioj9tX

KEYWORDS: Consumers Energy, 2018 Sustainability Report, NYSE:CMS

What’s So Drastic About Plastic? Earth Month 2018

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SOURCE:VMware

DESCRIPTION:

VMware’s EPIC2 values are the foundation of its strong company culture. VMware’s mission is to leave ahead a better future—to put back more into the environment, society and the global economy than we take – and to inspire our employees, customers and partners to do the same. We are reminded of this mission as we celebrate Earth Month 2018.

This year, VMware is focused on plastics pollution; we’re striving to “Reboot the Earth” by encouraging our communities to reduce single-use plastics. A surprising and alarming statistic indicates that by 2050, the oceans will contain more plastics than fish – a problem in dire need of a solution backed by innovative thinking.

In celebration of Earth Month 2018, Nicola Acutt, VP of Sustainability at VMware, spoke with Angela Pozzi, founder of Washed Ashore, to get her thoughts on environmental conservation. Established in 2010, Washed Ashore is a non-profit that has processed tons of plastic pollution from Pacific beaches to create monumental art that is awakening the hearts and minds to the global marine debris crisis.

Did you know that over half of the world’s sea turtles have ingested some form of trash or plastic? An issue close to our hearts here at VMware, since quite a few turtles call the Palo Alto campus home. Sadly, plastic pollution is one of the most persistent environmental problems facing the world today – impacting not only ecosystems but also our own health for generations to come. Here’s how you can help aid in conservation efforts.

  • Discontinuing the use of personal-care products containing “microbeads”
  • Participating in beach cleanups
  • Purchasing a reusable to-go beverage container instead of disposable water bottles
  • Forgoing plastic straws in favor of a metal or glass alternative

VMware is a community composed of remarkable people, and we believe each one of us can make a difference. Besides, the earth desperately needs innovation – and innovation is our passion. Join us this Earth Month and join the effort to end plastics pollution!

Tweet me:By 2050, the oceans will contain more plastics than fish. @WashedAshoreArt processes #plasticpollution from Pacific beaches to create monumental art. Watch their interview with @VMware @NicolaAcutt here: http://bit.ly/2KHGmp7 #conservation #sustainability #marinelife

KEYWORDS: VMware, Washed Ashore, plastic pollution, Nicola Acutt, Angela Pozzi, earth month, earth day, marine life, Beach Cleanup, junk art


Protecting Eagles While Generating Carbon-Free Energy

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SOURCE:Duke Energy

DESCRIPTION:

Duke Energy is installing new eagle protection technology at its Top of the World Windpower Project in Wyoming to detect in-flight eagles and prevent their collision with rotating wind turbine blades.

Duke Energy is the first windpower operator in the U.S. to commercially deploy the new system, called IdentiFlight, which uses artificial intelligence and high-precision optical technology to ensure the successful coexistence of wind energy and eagles.

The system, designed by IdentiFlight International, LLC, will quickly detect an eagle flying within a onekilometer hemisphere of any one of 24 IdentiFlight monitoring units being installed at the site.

If an eagle’s speed and flight path indicate a potential risk of collision with a wind turbine, the monitoring unit will send an automatic alert to the facility’s operators. The operators then can immediately shut down the specific wind turbine in the eagle’s flight path, reducing the risk of collision.

“Duke Energy understands the importance of balancing the need to generate clean, carbon-free, renewable energy with the equally important need to protect wildlife, including the iconic bald and golden eagles,” says Tim Hayes, Duke Energy Renewables environmental director.

Adds IdentiFlight president Tom Hiester: “Duke Energy has been an amazing partner throughout the testing and development of the IdentiFlight technology, and has proven to be at the forefront of the industry in addressing this critical issue.”

More information and photos – https://illumination.duke-energy.com/articles/wind-farm-tests-technology-to-protect-eagles

To learn more about how Duke Energy is building a smarter energy future, download the 2017 Sustainability Report

Tweet me:.@DukeEnergy will be the first #windpower operator to commercially deploy IdentiFlight - an #AI system designed to prevent collisions between eagles and turbines http://bit.ly/2IhtkQP #conservation #renewableenergy

KEYWORDS: Duke Energy, IdentiFlight, eagles, Wyoming

Three Ways Human Capital Leaders Can Obtain and Retain Key Talent

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SOURCE:Booz Allen Hamilton

SUMMARY:

Video caption: Federal leaders are managing a very different workforce than in the past, and doing so at a time when there’s pressure to innovate. In this video, experts from Booz Allen and the Partnership for Public Service join Ventris Gibson — DC government’s director of human resources — to lay out the key challenges and share their advice.

DESCRIPTION:

The below is an excerpt from an article by Booz Allen Senior Vice Presidents Dee Dee Helfenstein and Leslie Raimondo.” To read the full article click here.

If you’re a human capital leader in the U.S. Government, you already know this: you’ve got your work cut out for you. Within the context of broader government transformation, here are three ways human capital leaders obtain and retain key talent, and meet their agency’s mission:

1. Look at Talent—Not Resumes

With talent shortages for many high-demand jobs, the government must compete with the private sector to pull in the top candidates. That’s caused agencies to start thinking differently about how they identify appropriate skillsets. When recruiting for cyber jobs, for example, some agencies are using gamification and hackathons as ways to see candidates put their skills on display.

For certain in-demand positions, agencies like the departments of Agriculture and Treasury are leveraging their existing flexibilities to offer pay incentives so they can better compete with the private sector. (Watch our experts discuss federal recruitment strategies with the Partnership for Public Service.)

2. Upskill to Fill Talent Gaps

The Office of Personnel Management and the Chief Human Capital Officers Council have identified government-wide skill gaps in four critical areas: STEM, cybersecurity, acquisition, and human resources. To fill those gaps, agencies should first focus on upskilling current employees, and relocating those displaced by reorganization efforts. For functions like cybersecurity, where skill requirements change at a rapid pace, this upskilling and development should happen quite regularly. Where possible, to get the best results from your training, put employees in a live environment where they can navigate a set of real scenarios.

3. Weave Innovation into the Fabric of Your Culture

Innovation is about bringing together diverse thinking from across an organization to solve big market, mission, and global challenges. This is often accomplished through more effective products, processes, services, technologies, or business models.

Many private sector companies have large innovation groups. We’ve helped our federal clients follow suit on a different scale. When they start with “small” innovations, they learn quickly what a large impact they can have. Booz Allen brought clients from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to our innovation center in downtown Washington, DC, and they saw what a vital part it plays in our strategy. They stood up their own pockets of innovation at CMS, and they’ve continued to grow and show results.

Whatever your strategic vision is, stay agile. It’s not only possible to make long-term plans that account for serious uncertainty—it’s imperative.

As you craft your agency’s human capital plan for the next 3 to 5 years, do so with the understanding that change is continuous, that you will always need to adjust along the way. Most importantly, keep your talent informed on your progress, and encourage them to engage and provide feedback.

Read more here.

Download the report: 12 Key Techniques For Transforming Federal Agencies.

Tweet me:Three Ways Human Capital Leaders Can Obtain & Retain Key Talent: http://bit.ly/2rkBhuU via @BoozAllen

KEYWORDS: Booz Allen Hamilton, Leslie Raimondo, Dorothy Helfenstein, government transformation, human captial

Scotiabank Donates $10,000 to Flood Relief Efforts in New Brunswick

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Donations in Support of the Canadian Red Cross can be Made at any Scotiabank Branch in Canada.

SOURCE:Scotiabank

DESCRIPTION:

TORONTO, May 7, 2018 /3BL Media/ - To support our customers, employees and all community members, Scotiabank is donating $10,000 to the Canadian Red Cross to assist with relief efforts in New Brunswick following recent flooding in the province. Our thoughts go out to the people of New Brunswick.

"It is important to Scotiabank that we be present to show our support for the province during this challenging time," says, Craig Thompson, Senior Vice President, Atlantic Region, Scotiabank. "The flooding has caused many challenges for the people of New Brunswick and through Scotiabank's donation to Canadian Red Cross, we hope some of these challenges will be eased. We recognize each of our customers has been impacted differently by the flooding and we remain committed to working with them to help accommodate their individual needs."

Donations to the relief efforts can be made at any Scotiabank branch in Canada from May 7 – June 7, 2018. Funds will go to the Canadian Red Cross. Please let the branch know your donation is for the New Brunswick Floods.

Scotiabank customers are encouraged to visit their local branch or call 1-800-4-SCOTIA should they wish to discuss their situation.

About Scotiabank

Scotiabank is Canada's international bank and a leading financial services provider in North America, Latin America, the Caribbean and Central America, and Asia-Pacific. We are dedicated to helping our 24 million customers become better off through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of more than 89,000 employees and assets of over $923 billion (as at January 31, 2018), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto (TSX: BNS) and New York Exchanges (NYSE: BNS). For more information, please visit www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @Scotiabank.

SOURCE Scotiabank

For further information: For media enquiries only: Erin Truax, Scotiabank, erin.truax@scotiabank.com, (416) 578-9659

 

Tweet me:"Our thoughts are with the people affected by the floods in New Brunswick. Customers who have questions are encouraged to visit their local branch, or call 1-800-4-SCOTIA @ScotiabankViews donates to the Canadian Red Cross in support of flood relief efforts http://bit.ly/2K0vOAb

KEYWORDS: Scotiabank, Flood Relief Efforts in New Brunswick, Red Cross, csr, Canadian Red Cross

Corporate Responsibility Magazine Announces 2018 100 Best Corporate Citizens

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SOURCE:3BL Association

DESCRIPTION:

NEW YORK, May 7, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Corporate Responsibility Magazine (CR Magazine) announced today its 19th annual 100 Best Corporate Citizens list, recognizing the standout environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance of public companies across the United States.

Microsoft tops the ranking, followed by Accenture, Owens Corning, Intel and Hasbro. Fifteen companies are new to the list in 2018. Biggest gainers include Becton, Dickinson; IBM; Owens Corning and Biogen.

Access the 2018 100 Best Corporate Citizens here. 

"CR Magazine is proud to present the only ESG ranking list that doesn't rely on self-reporting," said Dave Armon, publisher of CR Magazine. "Each year, the 100 Best Corporate Citizens ranking measures the success of the Brands Taking Stands movement by celebrating the most successful, most transparent companies that report on their responsible practices. We congratulate those honored on this year's list for their commitment to corporate responsibility."

The 100 Best Corporate Citizens list documents 260 ESG data points of disclosure and performance measures—harvested from publicly available information in seven categories: environment, climate change, employee relations, human rights, governance, finance, and philanthropy & community support.

The list ranks the Russell 1000 Index and research is conducted by ISS Corporate Solutions.  There is no fee for companies to be assessed.

To compile this ranking, data is obtained from public records and not from private self-reports to the analysts. Many rankings ask companies to fill out surveys and questionnaires about internal operations and ours relies on what is publically available. That’s because transparency and public commitments help make a company’s sustainability program stronger.

“The 100 Best ranking demonstrates that a company is dedicating resources towards its corporate responsibility and sustainability efforts,” explains Jen Boynton editor of CR Magazine. “Public disclosure allows its stakeholders to gain greater insights into a company’s business practices.”

About the 100 Best Corporate Citizens List:
The 100 Best Corporate Citizens List was first published in 1999 in Business Ethics Magazine, and has been managed by CR Magazine since 2007. To compile the list, every company in the Russell 1000, the highest ranked stocks in the Russell 3000 Index of publicly held U.S. companies, is ranked according to 260 data points.

About Corporate Responsibility Magazine:
3BL Media is the publisher of CR Magazine (www.3blassociation.com), the leading voice of the corporate responsibility profession and the publisher of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens ranking.  Together with the Corporate Responsible Association, CR Magazine presents COMMIT!Forum, Oct. 23-25, 2018, at MGM National Harbor, just outside Washington, D.C.  The theme is Brands Taking Stands – The Long View.

About 3BL Media
3BL Media is the world’s leading communications partner for purpose-driven organizations. Through targeted content distribution, multimedia promotions and hands-on learning experiences, 3BL Media amplifies the stories, experiences and perspectives of companies, NGOs and nonprofits through an unrivaled network of corporate responsibility and sustainability professionals, influencers and audiences. Learn more here.

CONTACT:  Dave Armon, publisher, darmon@3BLmedia.com or +1.802.444.0177; or Jen Boynton, editor, jboynton@3blmedia.com or +1.628.245.2374, both of CR Magazine

Tweet me:.@Microsoft, @Accenture & @OwensCorning top the list of Corporate Responsibility Magazine's 2018 #100BestCC! See the full results here http://bit.ly/2Ih0cJx

KEYWORDS: Corporate Responsibility Magazine, 100 best corporate citizens, esg, Brands Taking Stands, sustainability, Corporate Responsibility

FCA US Honors Superior Supplier Partners at 2018 Annual Supplier Awards Ceremony

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Innovation, Sustainability and Diversity Supplier Winners Highlighted

SOURCE:FCA US LLC

DESCRIPTION:

Sixteen North American supplier partners received an FCA US LLC Supplier of the Year award at MotorCity Casino Hotel in Detroit on Tuesday, April 24. The Supplier of the Year awards recognize automotive suppliers that have shown an extraordinary commitment to the Company. 

Learn more about the Company's annual supplier awards from Chief Purchasing Officer Scott Thiele at the video here.

Here are all of the 2017 FCA US Suppliers of the Year:

Additional information and news from Chrysler Group LLC is available at: http://www.media.chrysler.com

Tweet me:.@FiatChrysler_NA recognized 16 suppliers during its 2018 Annual Supplier Conference and Awards, honoring their commitment to collaboration and innovation: http://bit.ly/2rgpVXZ [VIDEO]

KEYWORDS: automotive industry, Automotive Supplier, FCA US LLC

Keeping Our Commitment to an All-Electric Future

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SOURCE:General Motors

SUMMARY:

General Motors remains steadfast in its vision of an all-electric future. Today, Chairman and CEO Mary Barra reaffirmed the company's stance on vehicle efficiency standards with employees globally. You can read the full letter below. View the letter on Barra's LinkedIn account here: https://bit.ly/2wnOTKS

DESCRIPTION:

Team:

As you may know, discussion continues in Washington, D.C. and elsewhere about the efforts to revise current vehicle efficiency standards in the United States. I want to reaffirm General Motors’ position on this important issue as you follow media coverage in the coming days.

Throughout this process, we have been transparent about our priorities for modernizing current rules: General Motors supports establishing one national set of fuel efficiency requirements, with flexibilities that take into consideration recent industry developments such as vehicle sharing and self-driving electric vehicles.

A single, national standard would allow us to focus our resources on innovations that benefit our customers and society as we pursue our vision of a world with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion, instead of diffusing resources to meet different rules within the United States.  

Regardless of the outcome of these discussions, I assure you we have an absolute and unwavering commitment to improve fuel economy, reduce emissions and invest in technologies to drive an all-electric future. These are the right actions for our customers, our company and our environment.

In the meantime, while a zero-emissions future will not happen overnight, we are moving aggressively to get there. We are well on our way to introducing 20 new all-electric vehicle models globally by 2023.  

Over time, we expect the cost of our electric vehicles will be comparable to those powered by internal combustion engines. Until then, we support and advocate for various government incentives that encourage more consumers to embrace EVs and, of course, the environmental benefits they contribute to our world.

And our zero-emissions journey isn’t limited to EVs: Across 14 recent new-vehicle launches, we’ve trimmed an average of 357 pounds per vehicle, saving 35 million gallons of gasoline and avoiding 312,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year.

Climate change is real. We recognize the transportation sector is a contributor, and we must be part of the solution. At General Motors, we take this challenge seriously. It’s a driving force behind our vision of a future with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion. Our technology, talent and global scale will ensure success in a low-carbon economy as we create a better world for today, and for generations to come. I have complete confidence that this is the team that will deliver on this commitment.

Mary Barra

You can read more about General Motors' sustainability initiatives here: https://bit.ly/1MTdV4o

Tweet me:A zero-emissions world is possible. Today, Chairman and CEO Mary Barra reaffirmed GM's unwavering commitment to an all-electric future with the @GM team. You can read the full letter here: https://bit.ly/2wnOTKS

KEYWORDS: General Motors, Mary Barra, Fuel Efficiency Standards, climate change, NYSE:GM

Giving Back is Part of JetBlue’s DNA

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SOURCE:JetBlue Airways

DESCRIPTION:

Giving back is part of JetBlue’s DNA and is core to our mission of inspiring humanity. At JetBlue our culture IS service. Many crewmembers have shared that opportunities to give back are important to their work/life balance. As such, in addition to the award-winning service we provide to our customers, we regularly try to find ways to work in our local communities by providing opportunities for service. In fact, our corporate responsibility initiatives have been cited as a key recruiting and retention tool for JetBlue.

Last week, our annual “JetBlue For Good” Dinner, hosted by our CEO and executive leadership, celebrated individual and team volunteer accomplishments over the past year. At this year’s dinner:

  • More than 400 crewmembers were in attendance and recognized for volunteer and community service.
  • Those in the room represented 100,000 hours of JetBlue’s overall 181,000+ volunteer hours logged in 2017.
  • These crewmembers make up just 1% of our total crewmembers, but have donated more than 55% of our company’s total volunteer hours.

We will also be giving out grants to causes that our crewmembers have supported over the past year. To date, in addition to our crewmembers volunteering their personal time, JetBlue has also donated more than $500,000 worth of in-kind donations to charities through our JetBlue For Good platform. For every 50 hours a crewmember volunteers, JetBlue donates two roundtrip flight to the non-profit organization of the crewmember’s choice. Some volunteers have racked up more than 500 hours for causes including Volunteer Firefighting, Fund for Animal Welfare and the Humane Society & SPCA, just to name a few.

JetBlue For Good is JetBlue’s platform for social impact and corporate responsibility. JetBlue For Good challenges the airline’s crewmembers to serve their communities through acts of volunteerism and recognizes crewmembers who embody the brand’s credo to Inspire Humanity. The platform aligns JetBlue’s corporate giving with crewmember’s personal passions. JetBlue For Good rewards JetBlue’s 22,000+ crewmembers for their community service both individually and on a team basis.

Tweet me:.@JetBlue celebrates individual and team volunteer accomplishments over the past year at annual #JetBlueForGood dinner http://bit.ly/2KJYlv5

KEYWORDS: NASDAQ:JBLU, Jetblue, jetblue for good

    


Sands Cares Presents INSPIRE

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Annual benefit concert will feature Grammy-winning artist Jason Mraz

SOURCE:Las Vegas Sands

DESCRIPTION:

The annual philanthropic celebration benefiting and honoring members of the Sands Cares Accelerator Program has returned, hosted by Las Vegas Sands Corp., through its charitable giving program Sands Cares, at The Venetian. All proceeds from concert ticket sales will be donated to the Marty Hennessy Inspiring Children Foundation and Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth.

Visit The Venetian website to learn more.

Tweet me:Annual #INSPIRE18 benefit concert to feature Grammy-winning artist @jason_mraz http://bit.ly/2JZEjvm @LasVegasSands #SandsCares

KEYWORDS: Las Vegas Sands, Sands Cares, The Venetian, Marty Hennessy Inspiring Children Foundation, Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY)

Gina McCarthy’s Advice for Environmental Champions: Be Persistent

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SOURCE:National Association for Environmental Management (NAEM)

SUMMARY:

Next week former EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy will keynote a gathering of top corporate environmental leaders as they discuss their work to build business systems that put environmental, health and safety protection at the core. She shared a preview of her remarks with us, along with her advice for those who are making the business case for environmental protection from within companies today. 

DESCRIPTION:

NAEM: You have said that “Now is the greatest opportunity in the last 100 years for companies to be leaders in environmental protection and stewardship.” Why do you think that is? And where do you think individual corporate EHS&S leaders fit into this bigger opportunity?

GM: In 2017 alone, extreme weather cost a total of $306 billion dollars in damage, making it the most expensive year on record for natural disasters. And earlier this year, planners began looking at they might design a seawall on the outer edge of Boston Harbor to deflect rising seas and protect the coastal area from damages associated with increasingly intense storms.

That’s real money spent to address a real threat to our health, well-being, economy and national security – and to our children’s future.
But significant resources are not just being spent to adapt and respond to a changing climate, significant resources are being spent – and will be spent over the next decades – to reduce the carbon pollution that is fueling climate change. So why aren’t we thinking about getting the biggest bang for the buck when we invest in actions that lower carbon emissions?

If you look through a health lens, you can get big health benefits for our kids and our families, as well as the health of the planet. For example, investments in clean energy don’t just reduce the carbon pollution, they lower emissions of conventional air pollutants that negatively impact our health and our productivity. So let’s think about the opportunities we have today to invest in a clean, healthy and sustainable future.

NAEM: Between the explosion of emerging regulations at the international level and the policy shifts at the EPA, environmental compliance is changing at a dizzying pace. Does this reflect fragmentation in the frameworks or is there a a larger trend at play? If so, what is the overall arc of these changes?

GM: I wish I had a good crystal ball to tell about where all the trends to regulate or deregulate are heading in the short run, never mind the long run. But I do know this: People in all countries, including the U.S., as well as people from all political parties, want clean air to breathe, clean water to drink and safe and healthy land on which to live and grow the food they need to feed their families. The partisan politics that threaten to eliminate core protections to public health and our natural resources will face a very uphill battle in the courts and the court of public opinion.

NAEM: Leadership can sometimes be a lonely journey. What advice do you have for those EHS&S leaders who are setting policy and making the business case for their programs within companies today?

GM: First, remember that broad engagement, teamwork, tenacity and patience are critical if you want to get the momentum you need to change the ways anyone does business. People are busy, resources are tight and time always seems to be flying by.

So if you want to get attention of company leadership to new ideas, policies, practices and investments that show your company’s commitment to the environment, health, safety and sustainability, you have to build momentum and be persistent.

Start by engaging your fellow workers to think about ways your efforts can make their workplace better, help them enhance their performance, and make their lives easier, more comfortable and more rewarding. Listen and learn, and then listen and learn some more. And when you and your colleagues identify actions that make sense to them and make sense from a business perspective, use the energy and enthusiasm you have sparked to push ideas up the chain. You never know, maybe they will listen and learn.

To benchmark your EHS programs, join Gina McCarthy at NAEM’s 2018 Compliance Management Conference in Austin on May 15-17.

Tweet me:Gina McCarthy's advice for corporate #environmental champions? Build a team, gather momentum, be persistent. Read more: http://bit.ly/2rrvgwl #NAEM @NAEMorg

KEYWORDS: Gina McCarthy, EHS management, Environmental Health and Safety, EHS Leaders, naem

Comcast NBCUniversal Earns No. 7 Spot on DiversityInc’s Top 50 List

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The annual list named us one the nation’s leading companies for diversity and inclusion.

SOURCE:Comcast Corporation

DESCRIPTION:

We are pleased to announce that Comcast NBCUniversal was ranked No. 7 on DiversityInc’s 2018 Top 50 Companies for Diversity List, up 12 spots from 2017.

Thanks to our senior leadership commitment, strong recruitment efforts, and supplier diversity initiatives, this is the fifth consecutive year that our ranking has improved. In particular, DiversityInc attributes Comcast NBCUniversal’s position in the top ten to our significant growth in the number of diverse leaders at every level, as well as our best-in-class commitment to Supplier Diversity.

Comcast NBCUniversal was also ranked on six of DiversityInc’s 2018 Specialty Lists:

  • Internal Diversity Councils: For the first time, we ranked No. 12 out of 15 on the Diversity Councils Specialty List.
  • Employee Resource Groups: In another first for 2018, we were included on the Employee Resource Groups Specialty List, ranking No. 10 of 12.
  • Veterans: We ranked No. 6 of 15 on the 2018 Veterans Specialty List, up from our previous No. 9 ranking.
  • People with Disabilities: For the second year in a row, we ranked No. 4 of 12 on the 2018 People with Disabilities Specialty List.
  • LGBT Employees: We appeared on the LGBT Employees Specialty List for the second consecutive year in 2018 (this list is not ranked).
  • Supplier Diversity: We ranked No. 2 of 11 on the 2018 Supplier Diversity Specialty List, up from No. 5 in 2017.

“This recognition is a testament to our philosophy that diversity and inclusion is not a program or initiative, but an integral part of our core business strategy,” said David L. Cohen, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer. “Everyone across our enterprise is accountable for ensuring we operate with diversity and inclusion in mind – from our employees who develop our diverse content and inclusive products, to our suppliers and community partners who support the diverse communities we serve.”

Learn more about our DiversityInc Top 50 Companies for Diversity rankings here.

Tweet me:.@Comcast NBCUniversal earns No. 7 spot on @DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity list http://bit.ly/2rxcdQL

KEYWORDS: NASDAQ: CMCSA, Comcast NBCUniversal, diversityinc, top 50 companies for diversity, 2018 Top 50 Companies for Diversity

How Hope, Dreams are Improving Charlotte Neighborhood

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New initiative takes cradle-to-career approach to improving lives in Renaissance West

SOURCE:Duke Energy

DESCRIPTION:

In a cozy room filled with windows, books and cheerful posters, two kindergartners practice letter sounds by playing a picture game on a carpet mat.

A few doors down, third-graders sit in rapt attention – hands rising rapidly to answer questions – while their teacher talks about the primary colors in famous abstract art. Another door opens to a science lesson where children happily bang rocks together to make sand as the classroom snake naps in its glass case.

At lunchtime, the children head to a cafeteria offering baked chicken, fresh salads, apple slices, beans and rice. The Renaissance West STEAM Academy gleams in its newness, and students know their teachers expect great things from them.

The new public school, loaded with extra resources from donations, is key to the Renaissance West Community Initiative, an ambitious effort to lift families out of poverty and into better lives. It’s located in what was once one of Charlotte, N.C.’s most troubled neighborhoods, the former Boulevard Homes housing development on West Boulevard.

RWCI’s holistic cradle-to-career approach attacks the factors that can keep families poor, from lack of education, skills, child care, affordable housing and transportation to crime, mental health and substance abuse issues. A variety of agencies, including housing, social services and medical, as well as nonprofits and business leaders have footprints planted firmly in the effort.

“It’s a generational approach and it’s going to take a while, but we now have the infrastructure to make a difference for the families in the Renaissance West community,’’ said Duke Energy Controller Bill Currens, an RWCI board member. “My hope is that this becomes a model for other communities in Charlotte – that we can provide a strong foundation that will lead to financial stability and success for these families – and then replicate it.”

The $90 million revitalization plan started with the demolition of the decaying Boulevard Homes public housing project, a community gripped by poverty and crime. The Renaissance, an attractive, modern brick apartment and townhome complex with 334 units of mixed-income housing, replaced the old buildings.

Some tenants pay the market rent rate of $1,000 a month. Others, who qualify for public assistance, pay what they can afford. Subsidies come with stipulations: Tenants must work, go to school or be in training for at least 30 hours a week to live there, said Amanda Golmont, development officer for RWCI.

Another portion of the complex contains 110 apartments and a senior center. Across the street and on the other end of life, the newly opened Howard Levine Child Development Center provides early education to give children a strong foundation for school. A community center offers job training, GED classes, personal finance counseling, computer literacy courses and other opportunities for adults.

The STEAM academy opened in August 2017 and is the home school for about 450 children from The Renaissance and other neighborhoods. About 90 percent of them started the school year academically behind.

It’s a pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade school for this first year. The middle school wing will open in August 2018 when this year’s fifth-graders transition to sixth grade. They’ll stay at the STEAM academy through eighth grade, with the total enrollment expected to grow to about 1,000 students.

“Our children face many obstacles that children in other neighborhoods may not,” said Mack McDonald, CEO of RWCI. “This allows us to remove one major obstacle – access to a quality education – and offer the early learning experiences that will prepare them for lifelong success.”

The carefully chosen staff includes young and veteran teachers committed to working with disadvantaged children. Danielle Rutter, a fourth-year teacher, incorporates learning games as she works with one or two children at a time in the school’s literacy center.

“I love these students so much, and you really build relationships by working in small groups,” Rutter said. “And what’s great is that we get to be another adult in their lives who cares about them and can be a mentor.”

Throughout the building, other teachers echo hope for their students’ success and talk about the strategies they use to help them achieve. In the sparkling new gymnasium, “Coach” Clay Sanders incorporates a character lesson into each gym class he teaches.Sanders, 35, worked in banking and insurance before deciding he had a greater calling – teaching. He also runs an after-school sports program two days a week.

“It’s challenging, and some of the kids don’t have a lot of structure at home, but I really like finding solutions to problems,” Sanders said. “And everything you give, you get that back tenfold when you see the progress these kids make.”

Makaila Davis, 8, a third-grader, likes her school. “People are better and nicer to each other and they respect their teachers.”

Her life’s goal? To become a doctor: “So I can help people get better and help them be smart.”

Duke Energy In Action Month
May is Duke Energy In Action Month, when employees throughout the company’s six-state service territory volunteer their time for dozens of causes. Community service and employee volunteerism are central parts of the company’s mission. Employees and retirees in 2017 volunteered 109,000 hours of service.

The Duke Energy Foundation focuses its giving on education programs and initiatives that span the kindergarten-to-career spectrum, with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills, childhood reading proficiency and workforce development.

On May 18 at Renaissance West, Duke Energy volunteers will serve as breakfast buddies and work in a variety of projects at the school and the child development center.

Tweet me:.@DukeEnergy partners with Renaissance West #STEAM Academy in Charlotte, NC during #DukeEnergyInAction Month http://bit.ly/2wlJOmj #volunteering #communitydevelopment #education

KEYWORDS: Duke Energy, Duke Energy In Action Month, Renaissance West STEAM Academy, charlotte, North Carolina

        

Advancing The Power of Science Behind Immuno-Oncology

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SOURCE:Pfizer

DESCRIPTION:

Pfizer’s advances in oncology demonstrate the Power of Scientific innovation to help improve lives, particularly the power of Immuno-oncology (I-O). Immuno-oncology uses the natural ability of the body’s immune system to recognize and fight tumors. This past year, Pfizer continued to advance its work in I-O because we recognize the urgency of finding anti-cancer alternatives to help patients who need them.

For the past 11 years, our scientist Christina Eng has spent her career exploring new ways to target and fight cancer using the science of I-O. By combining our understanding of the science of the immune system with the science of immunotherapy, we hope to change the way cancer is treated and help improve the lives of patients around the world in need of alternatives to traditional cancer treatments.

Watch Christina’s story and learn more by visiting our Annual Review at www.pfizer.com/annual

Tweet me:.@Pfizer is using #ThePowerofScience to advance its work in #immunooncology. Learn more about this innovative approach: www.pfizer.com/annual

KEYWORDS: Pfizer, reports, annual review, Immuno-Oncology, Oncology, Cancer, Science, Corporate Social Responsibility

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