Monitoring what goes in -- and what comes out of -- our oceans

SOURCE:Aramark

DESCRIPTION:

• One of our Higher Education clients has distributed nearly 2,000 reusable to-go containers to customers and has replaced plastic straws with compostable straws to reduce the amount of plastic on campus.
• We work with a national park that has increased diversion rates 20% over the last season and we are collecting recycling from all the other hotels along the park road to maximize recycling efforts. We have also eliminated bottle water at the park.

• 90% of our frozen finfish and 100% of our canned tuna purchases meet the Seafood Watch recommendations for sustainable seafood.
• By the end of 2018, we expect to have transitioned all salmon and shrimp products to Seafood Watch Best Choice and Good Alternative categories.

Created by Certified Master Chef James Corwell, Ahimi® was developed in response to the near extinction of tuna in our oceans. The product is vegan, non-GMO, and made with just five simple ingredients - tomatoes, filtered water, soy sauce, sesame oil, and sugar.

The game-changing product will be served in a range of innovative poke bowls developed as part of a collaboration between the two companies. Initially, the menus featuring Ahimi® will be offered for a limited time at select corporate cafes and college campus dining halls, managed by Aramark.

 As consumers continue to embrace plant-forward eating, Aramark has stepped up to the plate and expanded its menu selections in collaboration with industry-leading partners, like Ocean Hugger Foods, to ensure it is providing the choices that meet individual lifestyle and dietary preferences. Today, 30 percent of main dishes served across Aramark’s dining operations in Healthcare, Higher Education and Business Dining are vegetarian or vegan, with increases in the amount of fruit, vegetable and whole grain ingredients used.

Visit www.worldoceansday.org to learn more.

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About Ocean Hugger Foods, Inc.

Ocean Hugger Foods, Inc. offers healthy, delicious and sustainable plant-based alternatives to your favorite seafood dishes. Founded by Certified Master Chef James Corwell, the company’s mission is to alleviate the pressures on our vulnerable oceans and endangered species through culinary excellence. Learn more at https://oceanhuggerfoods.com or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

About Aramark

Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) proudly serves Fortune 500 companies, world champion sports teams, state-of-the-art healthcare providers, the world’s leading educational institutions, iconic destinations and cultural attractions, and numerous municipalities in 19 countries around the world. Our 270,000 team members deliver experiences that enrich and nourish millions of lives every day through innovative services in food, facilities management and uniforms. We operate our business with social responsibility, focusing on initiatives that support our diverse workforce, advance consumer health and wellness, protect our environment, and strengthen our communities. Aramark is recognized as one of the World’s Most Admired Companies by FORTUNE, as well as an employer of choice by the Human Rights Campaign and DiversityInc. Learn more at www.aramark.com or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Tweet me:World Oceans Day: @oceanhuggerfood has paired up with @Aramark to bring Ahimi®, the world’s first plant-based alternative to raw tuna, into corporate and higher education cafes. http://bit.ly/2GfEEvI

KEYWORDS: responsible sourcing, vegan, higher education, NYSE:ARMK, sustainable seafood, world oceans day, Aramark

Nine West Eyewear Provided Access to Free Eye Glasses and Eye Exams with New Optical Offering for Teens

SOURCE:VSP Global

DESCRIPTION:

NEW YORK, JUNE 8, 2018 /3BL Media/– GLAM4GOOD, the award-winning empowerment platform and non-profit organization, in partnership with Nine West Eyewear hosted 150+ students at New York City’s High School of Fashion Industries on Wednesday, June 6^th with an inspiring panel discussion and mentoring initiative focused on preparing students for college, job interviews and presentations.

Titled #VISIONQUEST, the event focused upon an interactive, experiential curriculum which the GLAM4GOOD Foundation has built around self-esteem, confidence, fearlessness and the power of presentation to enhance and promote entrepreneurship in high school teens.

The event included an engaging panel of fashion industry visionaries which was moderated by GLAM4GOOD Founder & CEO, Mary Alice Stephenson. The panelists included style expert Stacy London; Dee Ocleppo Hilfiger, Creative Director of Judith Leiber and Founder of Dee Ocleppo; Adam Glassman, Creative Director of O, The Oprah Magazine;Mara Hoffman, Founder, President & Creative Director of Mara Hoffman; and Ty Hunter, fashion guru and motivational speaker.

The discussion touched on themes of confidence, the power of social media, the importance of having a future vision as well as discussing their first jobs, how they deal with rejection, and using meditation as a means of maintaining a positive disposition. The panelists each shared personal stories and specific ideas with the students, encouraging them to empower their dreams and plan for their aspiring futures.

“These teens are the future of our industry,” said style expert and GLAM4GOOD Board Member, Stacy London. “It’s crucial that we enable them to ask questions and listen to each other in a supportive and collaborative environment. GLAM4GOOD makes an incredible impact in the lives of so many through these events and I am always thrilled to be a part of them.”

Following the panel, students were invited to participate in a GLAM4GOOD #SHOPPINGSPREE4FREE where the students could “shop” and select work and interview appropriate fashion and accessories from dozens of designer brands, as well as receive eye exams and optical eye wear as well as sunglasses from Nine West Eyewear, all free of charge.

“GLAM4GOOD is honored to empower these inspiring students at the High School of Fashion Industries with a thoughtful discussion on how to activate their dreams and a well-deserved wardrobe refresh to help them achieve their goals,” said Mary Alice Stephenson, fashion and beauty expert and the Founder & CEO of GLAM4GOOD. “We know this event provided them with the tools and inspiration to seize their future.”

“We are delighted and grateful to be part of GLAM4GOOD and Nine West Eyewear’s #VISIONQUEST event, which emulates the spirit of our school and Mary Alice Stephenson’s mission to educate, mentor and inspire,” said Daryl Blank, Principal of the High School of Fashion Industries. “#VISIONQUEST’s esteemed panel and positive messages of empowerment and entrepreneurship make it the ultimate event for our students to complete their school year and prepare for what lies ahead.”

Coinciding with the event, Nine West Eyewear gifted optical frames to the students from their new, first-ever optical offering designed specifically for pre-teen and teen girls. The new styles are spirited and youthful and feature a smaller fit with on-trend details such as faux pearls, metal studs and heart details. Additionally, Nine West Eyewear enlisted the VSP Global “Eyes of Hope” Mobile Eye Care Program to come to the High School of Fashion Industries for the day to provide access to free eye exams and fit students for prescription glasses. The eye exams were provided by local VSP network eye doctors and most prescriptions were able to be fulfilled on-site.

The #SHOPPINGSPREE4FREE garnered support from some of the world’s most influential brands and retailers – including Mara Hoffman, Lulu Frost, American Eagle Outfitters, Drew Barrymore’s Flower Beauty, Eloquii, FabFitFun, Fallen Jewelry, FUN SOCKS, H&M, J.Crew, Kendra Scott, Marchon Eyewear, Nine West Eyewear, A Peace  Treaty, Rachel Roy, Saturdays NYC and StilaCosmetics, as well as donations from the personal closets of model Hailey Baldwin and actress Frieda Pinto– GLAM4GOOD’s charitable efforts will help students put their best foot forward as they prepare to enter college or the job force, providing new workwear, sportswear, accessories, and beauty/hygiene essentials.

The GLAM4GOOD Foundation is a non-profit organization that creates and celebrates social impact, and empowerment through beauty and style. The GLAM4GOOD Foundation harnesses the healing power, joy, and attention that fashion and beauty bring to raise awareness, bolster self-esteem, promote healing, honor courage and provide life-changing makeovers, clothing giveaways and confidence-bolstering fashion and beauty initiatives for everyday heroes and people in need. GLAM4GOOD is proud to be the fashion and beauty industry’s go-to partner for corporate social responsibility and philanthropic initiatives. If you wish to support this initiative or contribute to future GLAM4GOOD giving events, please contact info@glam4good.com.

NINE WEST defines timeless, feminine style, translating key trends into smart, covetable collections of shoes, handbags and accessories. Founded in New York City in 1978, NINE WEST has a growing global presence in 65 countries and counting. Specializing in footwear, handbags, small leather goods, and accessories including watches, eyewear, cold weather, hats, scarves, belts and girl’s footwear. Visit www.ninewest.com for further information.

Marchon Eyewear, Inc. is one of the world’s largest manufacturers and distributors of quality eyewear and sunwear. The company markets its products under prestigious brand names including: Airlock, Calvin Klein, Chloé, Columbia, Diane von Furstenberg, Dragon, Etro, Flexon, G-Star RAW, Karl Lagerfeld, Lacoste, Liu Jo, Longchamp, Marchon NYC, Marni, MCM, Nautica, Nike, Nine West, Salvatore Ferragamo and Skaga. Marchon distributes its products through a global network of subsidiaries and distributors, serving over 80,000 accounts in more than 100 countries.  Marchon is a VSP Global company, which connects its 88 million members to affordable, accessible, high-quality eye care and eyewear. Its industry-leading businesses combine to bring quality eye care insurance, high-fashion frames, customized lenses, ophthalmic technology, and connected experiences to increase access to eye care around the world.

# # #

LINK TO DOWNLOAD IMAGES: https://marchon.box.com/s/zvlpqfywi84x1xk34ql5s6g6rbfwpd22

IMAGE CREDITS – AS NOTED IN FILE NAME: © 2018 Samantha Deitch/BFA.com -OR- © 2018 Sioux Nesi

MEDIA CONTACTS:

Emma Oldenkamp, Marchon Eyewear, Director of PR | eoldenkamp@marchon.com | +1 516-859-3692

DONATIONS & PARTNERSHIPS - GLAM4GOOD:

Mary Alice Stephenson, Founder and CEO | maryalice@glam4good.com

SOCIAL MEDIA: @GLAM4GOOD | #GLAM4GOOD | #NineWestEyewear

KEYWORDS: glam4good, VSP, VSP Global, nine west, marchon, Mara Hoffman, Lulu Frost, american eagle outfitters, Drew Barrymore’s Flower Beauty, Eloquii, FabFitFun, Fallen Jewelry, FUN SOCKS, H&M, J.Crew, Kendra Scott, A Peace Treaty, Saturdays NYC, Stila Cosmetics

SOURCE:MetLife Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

by MetLife Foundation

Since the company’s founding in 1868, MetLife has strived to strengthen the communities where we work, not only through the core business of protecting life and health but also through philanthropic support for health, education, housing, and, more recently, through MetLife Foundation’s focus on financial inclusion. Philanthropic support is not limited to financial resources. In fact, one of the biggest assets MetLife possesses is the skill and passion of MetLife employees around the world. And one of the most exciting trends in the company is the rise of skills-based volunteerism: opportunities for MetLife employees to take the professional expertise they have developed and apply it for social good.

Visit the Multipliers of Prosperity website to read the full article.

Tweet me:Multipliers of Prosperity: Skills-based #volunteerism is on the rise @MetLife Foundation, where MetLife employees are leveraging their experience for #socialgood. http://bit.ly/2LpFGnU #FinHealth #FinancialInclusion

KEYWORDS: metlife foundation, Financial Health, Financial Inclusion

SOURCE:Merck & Co., Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

At Merck for Mothers, we believe that actionable research is essential for taking on maternal mortality. On behalf of our team and many partners, we are pleased to share Evidence for Impact, our first Research Compendium. The publications included in this compendium advance our collective understanding of the problem of maternal mortality, inform the design and implementation of programs aiming to improve women’s health, and strengthen the global health community of practice to save women’s lives.

This document includes links to more than 100 publications we have supported over the past six years – including independent evaluations, peer-reviewed articles, program reports and policy briefs. The questions these publications explore and the answers they uncover have been invaluable for informing our work. We hope they continue to spur innovation and steer us all toward more effective approaches for reducing maternal mortality globally.

View “Evidence for Impact” here.

​About Merck for Mothers
Merck for Mothers is a 10-year, 500 million dollar initiative that applies Merck scientific and business expertise – as well as its financial resources and experience in taking on tough global healthcare challenges – to end preventable maternal mortality worldwide. To achieve this, Merck for Mothers is providing transformational and sustainable solutions focused on improving the quality of maternal health care women receive at health facilities and increasing women’s access to family planning.

Merck for Mothers focuses on helping countries reduce maternal mortality and improve maternal health with the overall aim of supporting United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.1, which calls for a global reduction in the maternal mortality ratio to fewer than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030. For more information, visit www.merckformothers.com.

Tweet me:READ: @MerckforMothers has launched a research compendium outlining the problem of #maternalmortality & programs aiming to improve #womenshealth globally http://bit.ly/2JBvEmx #SDGs @Merck #maternalhealth

KEYWORDS: Merck, merck for mothers, maternal health, Maternal Mortality, women's health programs

by Gena Pirtle, Veteran & Workforce Programs Manager, Corporate Affairs

SOURCE:Cisco Systems Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

There’s hardly a more scrutinized stage to demonstrate Cisco’s best-of-breed network technology than at Cisco Live, our largest customer event of the year. Over 26,000 attendees will converge at the Orlando Convention Center from June 10-14 to check out Cisco’s latest solutions and meet with some of the best and brightest in the industry.

The folks responsible for keeping the network running smoothly are the unsung heroes of this large-scale event — the Network Operations Center (NOC) team, who work tirelessly throughout the week to pull off an exceptional customer experience. This is their time to shine, ensuring uninterrupted wireless network connectivity and top-notch customer service.

Since 2011, the NOC has relied on a group of stellar students hand-picked from Cisco Networking Academy colleges and universities from across North America as an extension of their on-the-ground staff to help with the network deployment for Cisco Live. The “Dream Team” works alongside Cisco engineers, gaining valuable real-world experience that, as a result, has often led to employment opportunities at Cisco and with our ecosystem partners.

To be selected, students must be nominated by their instructor, demonstrate both technical and professional aptitude, and have a passion for a career in IT. This year, over 60 Dream Team hopefuls submitted video applications for the chance to land a coveted spot. Ten finalists, along with a returning Team Captain and two instructors, make up this year’s team.

Representing diverse backgrounds and experiences, these student ambassadors get the full Cisco Live experience. Here’s a glimpse into what they have planned for the week to come:

• Executive Meet & Greets with Cisco leaders (including Chuck Robbins, CEO; Guillermo Diaz, CIO; Francine Katsoudas, EVP of Human Resources; Gerri Elliott, EVP of Sales & Marketing; and Tae Yoo, SVP of Corporate Affairs)
• Cyber Talks with Cisco Talos & Learning@Cisco
• Tech Tours: Technical Solutions Clinic (Cisco TAC) & DevNet Zone
• Cisco TV broadcast interviews & Social Media Hub engagement
• Full conference staff badge to attend keynotes, technical sessions, and the Customer Appreciation Event
• Free Cisco certification voucher for an onsite exam of choice

This year, Cisco Gold Channel Partner, CDW, is the official sponsor of the NetAcad Dream Team, which is a true reflection of their commitment to investing in the development of talented engineers.

They have been tapping into the Networking Academy for many years to grow their early-in-career talent pipeline. In fact, about 30% of all CDW’s Associate Consulting Engineers hired in 2017 were alumni of the Cisco Networking Academy program. While in Orlando, CDW will host the Dream Team for a dinner, career discussions, and at their customer appreciation event.

The Dream Team is currently on location in Orlando and ready to embark on an amazing journey. Be sure to follow them all week on Twitter using the #NetAcadDreamTeam and #CLUS hashtags!

Social Impact at Cisco Live

Talent Bridge: Dream Team Opportunity

Cambrian College Student Makes Dream Team

Dream Team Thrives at Cisco Live

Dream Team Puts IT Talent To Work

NBA: Tapping into NetAcad to Develop Talent Pipeline

Tweet me:All eyes are on the @CiscoNetAcad Dream Team @CLUS http://bit.ly/2l00reO @CiscoCSR #tech #socinn

KEYWORDS: cisco csr, cisco networking academy, cisco live

SOURCE:BNY Mellon

DESCRIPTION:

Increasingly, employees with pensions think about how environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors affect their investments. BNY Mellon’s Marvin Vervaart, Asset Owner Segment Head for Europe, Middle East, Africa, and pension fund manager Gert-Jan Sikking, Senior Advisor Responsible Investment for PGGM, a Dutch cooperative pension fund manager, discuss the trend and how it benefits society, our business and our stakeholders.

Marvin: What is driving the increasing demand for ESG data and analysis in Europe?

Gert-Jan: Our pension fund clients and underlying pension participants are asking for socially responsible investing and as one of Europe’s largest pension fund asset and fiduciary managers, we must anticipate and respond to this demand. Our pension fund clients are always interviewing pension participants about their investment preferences and recent research shows a large majority of pension participants think the responsible investing of their pension money is important. Even 20 percent are willing to give up financial return for investments with a positive social and/or environmental impact. While PGGM does not make investments that sacrifice financial return, this clearly demonstrates how important socially responsible investing is to our client base.

Legislation is another influence. France recently required investors to disclose how they factor ESG criteria and carbon-related aspects into investment policies. Dutch regulators are considering increased ESG scrutiny. The European Union (EU) overall recently approved the Directive on Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision (IORP II), which requires pension providers to evaluate and disclose ESG risks.

Marvin: How did you determine what ESG issues to focus on for your investment portfolio?

Gert-Jan: The key is that issue areas must be investible. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are critical to society, but not all are investible on an institutional scale. With this in mind and in conversation with clients, we came up with four priority ESG focus areas where we think we can have significant impact: climate change, water, healthcare and food security.

Marvin: You recently presented at the BNY Mellon Client Advisory Board the PGGM tiered approach to socially responsible investing. Can you briefly summarize that approach and where you have partnered with BNY Mellon to deliver value?

Gert-Jan: We have three pillars for evaluating investments. The first is exclusionary screens like human rights violations and conventional arms financing. The second is engagement with companies and proxy voting. PGGM is a shareholder in 3,500 companies globally and we actively engage with them where there can be further improvement on ESG factors. BNY Mellon acts as an agent for us and works in close cooperation with the ISS Proxy Voting service to vote on our behalf.

The third pillar is investing with a positive societal impact, where the focus is on the upside opportunity in ESG investing. We first analyze the effect that ESG factors, such as corporate governance issues, have on investments in the portfolio. In addition, we look for investments aligned with the four focus themes of our pension fund client; we call them “Investment in Solutions.” Long-term, the goal of our client PFZW (the Dutch pension fund of the healthcare sector) is to invest $20 billion by 2020 across climate, water, food security and healthcare themes while continuing to generate strong financial returns. We see great potential to collaborate with BNY Mellon on this pillar in particular.

Marvin: Can you elaborate further on the collaboration opportunity with BNY Mellon and what you hope we can accomplish together?

Gert-Jan: Our joint interest with BNY Mellon is in the data behind these investment decisions. I am excited about our collaboration to develop tools that better measure impact and standardize impact reporting. We are also exploring ways to more efficiently analyze ESG data, including leveraging blockchain technology and fintech expertise. These projects are in the early stages but I am confident in what we can accomplish together.

Learn how BNY Mellon’s CSR strategy delivers for financial markets, communities and the world at large in the 2017 CSR Report.

Tweet me:European investment funds increasingly consider #ESG factors. @BNYMellon discusses the trend with a Dutch cooperative pension fund manager. http://bit.ly/2svTPJe

KEYWORDS: Pension Funds, BNY Mellon, NYSE:BK

SOURCE:Amgen Foundation

DESCRIPTION:

The word “creativity” may not be traditionally associated with scientific research, but for Elisa D’Arcangelo, it sums up some of the aspects she most values about being a biomedical engineer. As a tissue engineer, she must come up with creative solutions for growing tissue in the lab that can help shape new therapies for cancer and other diseases.

It’s part of why she has been passionate about biology from a young age – that biology’s complexity necessitates creative problem solving. “There is always another level of complexity behind every biological phenomenon,” she explains. “There is always another why and how to ask, and answering these questions makes us better at improving our lives."

As an Amgen Scholar at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden in 2011, D’Arcangelo learned from the first day in the lab the importance of thinking creativity and independently as a researcher: “I remember the first day I was left alone in the lab,” she says. “I had just spoken to my supervisor who had instructed me to do this and that, and I have to say I understood only the broad strokes of it. I remember thinking: ‘and now what?’”

With the help of other students and researchers, D’Arcangelo was able to forge ahead, but it was a quick lesson she has never forgotten. “Being an Amgen Scholar and getting to experience research in the context of a new lab and a new project definitely instilled in me a sense of academic leadership: the will and discipline to figure something out, where to get the information and resources I needed, how to actualize ideas, and materialize tangible progress.”

That lesson carried through her undergraduate career at University College Dublin and to her work now as Ph.D. student at the Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Toronto, Canada. “Tissue engineering labs are exceptionally interdisciplinary and creative environments,” she says. “To build a tissue, one must understand its key contributing parts and how they interact within a single environmental space.”

Traditionally, tissue engineering efforts have been geared toward growing healthy tissues for organ replacement. Now, it’s being used in novel ways to de-risk the process of drug discovery. “Tissue engineering is contributing to the identification of cancer therapeutic agents by devising procedures and devices for growing cancer tissue in controlled lab conditions,” D’Arcangelo explains.

She has created a new method to observe and record how tissue architecture evolves in lab-grown, multi-component tumor tissue. “The model deepens our understanding of how individual tissue components reshape their environment and will point to new therapeutic strategies,” D’Arcangelo says. Already, other scientists have begun using the model: “Hopefully, it will develop a life of its own, with other researchers finding novel ways to use and improve it.”

After completing her Ph.D., D’Arcangelo plans to pursue postdoctoral research while also exploring positions outside academia. “I enjoy having independence and creative license as a researcher and hope to work on projects that have a clear path to translation or are clinically motivated,” she says.

A guiding principle for D’Arcangelo is to strive to remain actively in charge of her career path. “Every new research position, regardless of whether in industry or in academia or elsewhere, must bring you closer to your passions. Don’t be content with the next-best or most commonly chosen path, but instead step out of your comfort zone.”

Tweet me:.@AmgenFoundation shares #AmgenScholars alumni Elisa D’Arcangelo's big impact in #bio story: http://bit.ly/2JtYTnO

KEYWORDS: Elisa D’Arcangelo, Amgen Scholars, Amgen Foundation, Amgen, biology, STEM Education, science education, Karolinska Institute, Sweden, University College Dublin, University Of Toronto, Canada, AMGN:AMGN

Businesses, local governments and citizens challenged to conserve and restore land

SOURCE:World Wildlife Fund

DESCRIPTION:

WASHINGTON, June 11, 2018 /3BL Media/ - As part of the Global Climate Action Summit, WWF, together with a broad coalition of partners, today issued the 30X30 Forests, Food and Land Challenge: calling on businesses, states, city and local governments, and global citizens to take action for better forest and habitat conservation, food production and consumption, and land use, working together across all sectors of the economy to deliver up to 30% of the climate solutions needed by 2030.

Hosted in San Francisco from September 12-14, the Summit will bring together thousands of people from around the world to drive ambition to the next level. It will be a moment to recognize the extraordinary achievements of states, regions, cities, companies, investors, and citizens taking climate action and to catalyze bold new commitments and action.
 
Collectively, the global food system, unsustainable forest management, infrastructure development, and other activities related to land use are a major driver of global climate change, accounting for more greenhouse gas emissions than the total emissions from all cars, trucks, trains, planes and ships in the world. Forests, grasslands, and other habitats pull carbon out of the atmosphere, but when they are cleared, they release carbon and their capacity to reabsorb it is diminished. In the soil and in healthy ecosystems, carbon is a building block of life; in the atmosphere, it heats the planet.
 
“To curb climate change, we must address the second-greatest source of emissions: our use of land,” said Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, head of WWF’s global climate and energy practice. “By taking concrete action, businesses and local leaders also can encourage national governments to more aggressively reduce carbon emissions using every resource available, including trees, grasses and soil.”
 
California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr., a Summit co-chair, recently underlined the actions California is taking to deal with forest losses. Forests serve as the state’s largest land-based carbon sink, drawing carbon from the atmosphere, but even a single wildfire can quickly undermine those benefits.
 
“Devastating forest fires are a profound challenge to California,” Governor Brown said recently when issuing a sweeping Executive Order to increase the ability of forests to capture carbon. “I intend to mobilize the resources of the state to protect our forests and ensure they absorb carbon to the maximum degree.”
 
“Climate change is already disrupting and destabilizing our global food and agricultural systems,” said Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever. “By eliminating habitat loss and degradation from our supply chains, we can prevent the emission of billions of tons of greenhouse gases. Businesses like ours have a responsibility and an opportunity to help the nations of the world meet and exceed the goals of the Paris Agreement.”

Businesses, state and local agencies, multilateral organizations, scientists, and other stakeholders can meet this challenge by taking concrete action to:

1. Halve food loss and waste and consume conscientiously.
2. Sequester one gigaton of carbon per year in forests and other natural and working lands.
3. Enable better production of food and fiber by unlocking finance, providing tools to increase transparency, fostering public-private collaboration and protecting local rights.

Because Indigenous Peoples and local communities are among the most effective guardians of natural habitats and most directly harmed by the loss and degradation of forests and waterways, engaging and protecting these constituencies and their tenure rights will be critical to meeting the 30X30 Challenge.

“Given the large but unrecognized contributions indigenous peoples are making by protecting huge areas of the world’s forests, we are central to the climate solution,” said Cándido Mezua, an Embera leader from Panama and secretary for international relations for the Mesoamerican Alliance of Peoples and Forests (AMPB).“Governments and the private sector should embrace our approach to sustainable development, partner with us in the planning, and allow us to share in the prosperity that results.”

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About the Global Climate Action Summit: The Global Climate Action Summit takes place from September 12 to 14, 2018 in San Francisco under the theme ' Taking Ambition to the Next Level'.  To keep warming well below 2 degrees C, and ideally 1.5 degrees C - temperatures that could lead to catastrophic consequences - worldwide emissions must start trending down by 2020.  The Summit will showcase climate action around the world, along with bold new commitments, to give world leaders the confidence they can go even further by 2020 in support of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.  The Summit’s five headline challenge areas are Healthy Energy Systems; Inclusive Economic Growth; Sustainable Communities; Land and Ocean Stewardship and Transformative Climate Investments.  Many partners are supporting the Summit and the mobilization in advance including Climate Group; the Global Covenant of Mayors; Ceres, the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group; BSR; We Mean Business; CDP, formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project; WWF; and Mission 2020. For more information on the Summit visit www.globalclimateactionsummit.org. #StepUp2018

About World Wildlife Fund
WWF is one of the world’s leading conservation organizations, working in 100 countries for over half a century. With the support of more than 5 million members worldwide, WWF is dedicated to delivering science-based solutions to preserve the diversity and abundance of life on Earth, halt the degradation of the environment and combat climate change. Visit www.worldwildlife.org to learn more and keep up with the latest conservation news by following @WWFNews on Twitter. 

MEDIA CONTACT

Melanie Gade
202.495.4143melanie.gade@wwfus.org

Katie Walsh
202-495-4441kathryn.walsh@wwfus.org

KEYWORDS: WWF, World Wildlife Fund, forests, Global Climate Action Summit, sustainability, food production, land use

SOURCE:General Motors

DESCRIPTION:

DETROIT and TOKYO, June 11, 2018 /3BL Media/ - General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) and Honda (NYSE: HMC) announced an agreement for new advanced chemistry battery components, including the cell and module, to accelerate both companies’ plans for all-electric vehicles. The next-generation battery will deliver higher energy density, smaller packaging and faster charging capabilities for both companies’ future products, mainly for the North American market.

Under the agreement, the companies will collaborate based on GM’s next generation battery system with the intent for Honda to source the battery modules from GM. The collaboration will support each company’s respective and distinct vehicles. The combined scale and global manufacturing efficiencies will ultimately provide greater value to customers.

“This new, multiyear agreement with Honda further demonstrates General Motors’ capability to innovate toward a profitable electric portfolio,” said Mark Reuss, General Motors Executive Vice President of Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain. “GM’s decades of electrification experience and strategic EV investments, alongside Honda’s commitment to advancing mobility, will result in better solutions for our customers and progress on our zero emissions vision.”

GM and Honda already have a proven relationship around electrification, having formed the industry’s first manufacturing joint venture to produce an advanced hydrogen fuel cell system in the 2020 timeframe. The integrated development teams are working to deliver a more affordable commercial solution for fuel cell and hydrogen storage systems.

“In addition to our ongoing joint development and production of fuel cells, this battery component collaboration will enable us to take a new step toward the realization of a sustainable society,” said Takashi Sekiguchi, Chief Officer for Automobile Operations and Managing Officer of Honda.

General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM), its subsidiaries and joint venture entities produce and sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang and Wuling brands. GM has leadership positions in several of the world's most significant automotive markets and is committed to lead the future of personal mobility. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.

Honda Motor Co. (NYSE: HMC), Honda designs, manufactures and markets automobiles, motorcycles, power products and aviation products worldwide. A global leader in powertrain and electromotive technologies, Honda produces nearly 28 million engines annually for its three product lines. Honda and its partners build products in more than 60 manufacturing plants in 27 countries, employing more than 208,000 associates globally.

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Tweet me:.@Honda & @GM partner on next-gen EV battery development https://bit.ly/2Jx4rhx

KEYWORDS: Honda, GM, General Motors, electric vehicles, EV, battery technology, batteries, NYSE:GM

New Resource for Nonprofits Engaging Pro Bono Tech Experts

SOURCE:Taproot Foundation

DESCRIPTION:

SAN FRANCISCO, June 11, 2018  /3BL Media/ -- Pro bono service has the potential to shift technology adoption and implementation in the social sector. The Taproot Foundation, in collaboration with VMware Foundation, released a new supplement to Transforming Technology Pro Bono that will ensure nonprofits can maximize the impact technology pro bono can have on their organizations.

“Technology underscores everything at a nonprofit – from basic operations to innovative services,” says co-author and Taproot consultant Ava Kuhlen. “Successful technology pro bono projects require seeing the nonprofit as the customer. This means investing in discovering what the nonprofit needs and then designing a sustainable solution together that the nonprofit needs, uses and maintains.”

“VMware takes a customer-centric approach to accelerate its customers’ digital journeys,” says Jessamine Chin, VMware Foundation Director. “We see the growing gap in nonprofit digital transformation. To meet this need, our people can contribute their professional talents to co-create innovative solutions with nonprofit staff – driving positive social change.”

According to NTEN’s 10^th Annual Nonprofit Technology Staffing & Investment report, the average technology budget of nonprofits is 5.7% of each organization’s total operating budget. With over 40% of organizations reporting a regular use of paid technology consultants and only 28% often or regularly using technology volunteers, there is an opportunity for pro bono service to help fill the gap.

Transforming Technology Pro Bono was designed to address technology challenges by introducing concepts that break down some of the common barriers to successful technology pro bono projects. This additional supplement focuses on the initial phases of the Solution Development Framework, which is inspired by the Systems Development Life Cycle methodology commonly used in the technology sector to improve the quality of software.

Key highlights include:

• A deeper dive into the Discover and Design phases of the Solution Development Framework, which are critical, yet commonly skipped, practices.
• A Discover guide for defining an end state and uncovering organizational challenges and opportunities.
• A Design guide to analyze and prioritize projects and gather requirements.

By investing in how pro bono volunteers and nonprofit staff can effectively undertake the Discover and Design phases of a technology pro bono project, Taproot and VMware aim to maximize the impact of tech pro bono and develop sustainable solutions to meet the needs of nonprofits around the globe.

Download the new supplement to Transforming Technology Pro Bono.

Transforming Technology Pro Bono is offered as part of Taproot’s initiative to support nonprofits in solving critical social issues by more strategically using technology pro bono. Find out more about Taproot’s initiatives here.

About the Taproot Foundation
Taproot Foundation, a national nonprofit, connects nonprofits and social change organizations with skilled volunteers who provide their expertise pro bono. Taproot is creating a world where organizations dedicated to social change have full access—through pro bono service—to the marketing, strategy, HR, and IT resources they need to be most effective. Since 2001, Taproot’s skilled volunteers have served 6,000 social change organizations providing 1.6 million hours of work worth over $180 million in value. Taproot is located in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles and is leading a network of global pro bono providers in over 30 countries around the world. www.taprootfoundation.org

VMware is a registered trademark or trademark of VMware, Inc. in the United States and other jurisdictions

Tweet me:NEW RESOURCE: @TaprootFound and @VMWfoundation release follow up tool to Transforming Technology Pro Bono http://bit.ly/2kV3rsz helping #nonprofits address #tech challenges through #probono support.

Contact Info:

Taproot Foundation
pr@taprootfoundation.org
@taprootfound

KEYWORDS: Taproot Foundation, VMware Foundation

A top female exec in the energy industry shares her initial doubts about a career in the field, explains why she’s so glad she took the leap and urges others to do the same.

SOURCE:Schneider Electric

DESCRIPTION:

Tweet me:READ: @SchneiderNA #CEO #AnnetteClayton on "Why Women Should Reconsider a Career in #Energy" via @MediaplanetUSA @SchneiderElec #womeninleadership #womeninenergy

KEYWORDS: media planet, Schneider Electric, women in leadership, women in engineering

Black & Veatch Expert: growth of California solar power shows complexity in electric market

SOURCE:Black & Veatch

DESCRIPTION:

OVERLAND PARK, Kan., June 11, 2018 /3BL Media/ – California energy regulators recently passed a new building code requiring most newly constructed, low-rise homes constructed after 2019 to have built-in solar-powered energy systems, making that state the first to adopt such a mandate. That decree was part of other additions to the building code aimed at bolstering energy efficiency. Ryan Pletka, an innovation and strategy executive at Black & Veatch, a global leader in engineering and power solutions, details key things you should know:

WHAT’S THE ISSUE:  As part of the California Energy Commission’s unanimous decree, which makes use of the state’s most prominent resource by turning sunlight into power, builders must either make new single-family homes or multifamily buildings of up to three stories available with solar photovoltaic systems or build a shared solar-power system serving a collection of homes. Rooftop panels either may be owned outright and rolled into a home price or be made available for month-to-month leasing. Several U.S. cities, including San Francisco and Santa Monica in California along with South Miami in Florida, already have residential rooftop solar power mandates.

WHY NOW: Beyond simply reflecting the trend toward wide-scale adoption of renewable energy and bringing solar energy into the mainstream like never before, California’s edict promotes on-site generation and clean energy while launching the state closer to its goal of cutting its carbon footprint in half by 2030. California’s regulatory commission says the new standards will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by an amount equivalent to taking 115,000 fossil fuel cars off the road. By 2020, the nation’s most-populated state strives for its new houses to be “net-zero energy,” meaning they’d produce as much energy as they use.

HOW HOMEOWNERS WIN: Hardwiring a green energy requirement into the state’s building code is expected to drive down the cost of solar through economies of scale and efficiencies gained through new construction versus retrofits. While equipping new homes with solar energy systems will add thousands of dollars to the state’s already high home prices, regulators say homeowners could recoup that cost over time in energy savings; the California Energy Commission estimates the solar and energy efficiency standards will add about $40 to an average monthly housing payment but save consumers $80 on monthly heating, cooling and lighting bills. With California’s relatively sunny weather and high electricity rates, homes built under the new standards will use about 53 percent less energy than those under the 2016 guidelines. Finally, a decentralized network may be more resilient than centralized electricity systems vulnerable to physical and cyber threats, especially if residential solar is paired with energy storage.

WHAT’S THE POTENTIAL FALLOUT: The new mandate will make homes pricier, perhaps negatively impacting real estate agents, homebuyers and developers. The higher prices also may exacerbate the state’s thorny shortage of affordable housing.  The counter argument is that solar will be a relatively small additional upfront cost and will pay for itself over time.  While more options are becoming available, some homeowners still object to the aesthetics of rooftop solar. Although conventional wisdom might suggest that large residential solar installers could benefit most from the mandate, homebuilders ultimately are likely to gain the skills needed to design and install the solar systems themselves.

WHAT ABOUT RATES: As for whether the migration to solar means higher utility bills for homeowners not required to have solar power, that’s a matter of dispute. What is known is that under the state’s net metering rules, consumers with solar power get credit for the electricity they produce, cutting their utility bills. But they’re still linked to the grid, and there are still costs to maintain reliable service to those customers regardless of where the energy comes from.

WHAT OTHER STATES SHOULD KNOW: While California often leads the way in environmentally-tailored energy policies, the state’s favorable solar economics are unlikely to translate directly to many other states, at least in the near-term. California, followed by Arizona, has nearly half of all U.S. solar electricity generating capacity for a reason: There’s abundant, intense sunshine and fairly high electricity rates that justify the solar decree as part of the state’s energy efficiency matrix,  Most states  do not have the same favorable combination, and many states pondering such a tilt toward solar may stay on the sidelines and closely watch the California-wide decree as a test case. It’s possible that traditionally progressive, environmentally-minded states, notably in the nation’s Northeast or Northwest, may emulate some elements of California’s mandate, perhaps more in the interest of lessening their carbon footprint than for economics. And the cost of solar continues to drop, perhaps offering another incentive for other states to adopt it on a mass scale in the future.

COULD OTHER UTILITIES FOLLOW SUIT: Perhaps, though utilities in other states have a number of challenges or significant things to consider before following in California’s step. Utilities elsewhere have varied relationships with their regulators and consumers. And while solar power has gone mainstream in California, that renewable energy spurs questions in other states about cost recovery or subsidization. If consumers elsewhere are generating their own power, their states may not have regulatory mechanisms that make utilities neutral from a cost and rate standpoint, raising the specter that some utilities or other ratepayer classes come out on the losing end of a policy in the spirit of California’s. On the technical side, it remains murky about whether California utilities will need to invest in infrastructure upgrades to manage such things as bi-directional electricity flow to accept excess power that a solar-powered home may send back to the grid. Combined with increasing adoption of electric vehicles and other distributed energy resources, it may well be that traditional concepts about distribution design may need to be wholly rethought. 

WHAT’S INTERESTING: The proliferation of solar power into the mainstream in California illustrates growing complexity in the electricity market. A century or so ago, a utility’s chief worry was managing its customers’ power load and balancing generation accordingly. Now, a panoply of distributed energy options for consumers has added complexity, turning homeowners beyond being just buyers and consumers but into the realm of generators and sellers.

About Ryan Pletka 
Ryan Pletka, a registered professional engineer, is associate vice president of innovation and strategy at Black & Veatch, a global leader in engineering and power solutions. Pletka was a founding member of that company’s Growth Accelerator team, which, among other things, identifies new trends, evaluates emerging technologies, develops new business models, and establishes partnerships with internal and external entrepreneurs. Focus areas include energy, artificial intelligence, distributed infrastructure, remote sensing, and climate change. Prior to that, Pletka worked in renewable, distributed, and advanced energy technologies for nearly 20 years.

About Black & Veatch 
Black & Veatch is an employee-owned, global leader in building critical human infrastructure in Energy, Water, Telecommunications and Government Services. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people in over 100 countries through consulting, engineering, construction, operations and program management. Our revenues in 2017 were US$3.4 billion. Follow us on www.bv.com and in social media.

Black & Veatch Media Contact Information:

JIM SUHR | +1 913-458-6995 P | +1 314-422-6927 M | SuhrJ@bv.com

24-HOUR MEDIA HOTLINE | +1 866-496-9149

KEYWORDS: Black & Veatch

Tata Consultancy Services and Discovery Education Are Offering “Ignite My Future in School” to Cultivate Career Readiness in Students and Provide World-Class Professional Development to Educators in Southern Georgia

SOURCE:Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)

DESCRIPTION:

CORDELE, Ga. and NEW YORK, June 12, 2018 /3BL Media/ – Tata Consultancy Services, (TCS), (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS) a leading global IT services, consulting and business solutions organization, and Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital education content and professional development for K-12 classrooms, announce the South Georgia launch of their Ignite My Future in School initiative, in collaboration with Georgia Public Broadcasting. Teachers from multiple school districts will receive professional development, educational resources and year-round support to integrate computational thinking into core subjects such as math, sciences, arts, and social studies. In turn, students will learn foundational skills for 21^st century careers – across industries – through this transdisciplinary approach.

Congressman Sanford Bishop stated, “A strong well-prepared workforce will power our economy and spur innovation in critical sectors. We owe it to our students to help them stay ahead of the curve and prepare them as early as possible for their future careers. I believe that by providing our teachers with additional tools and resources to educate and empower our students we are setting them up for success.” He continued, “I’m excited that teachers from Chattahoochee-Flint Regional Education Service Agency (RESA) and Sumter County are taking advantage of this exciting initiative. I’d like to thank Tata Consultancy Services, Discovery Education and Georgia Public Broadcasting for their contributions for making this possible.”

Congressman Austin Scott added, “As a father of three, I value a strong education system that is prepared to meet the diverse needs of its students and address the changing dynamics of our nation’s economy. Now, more than ever, we should be empowering our teachers to teach and our students to learn the skills and methods of thinking that they will need in their future careers. I thank all the educators participating in this ‘Ignite My Future in School’ event, and I look forward to seeing the positive role it will play in shaping our students’ futures.”

In addition to the aforementioned districts, educators from Marietta City Schools, Berrien, Madison County, Wilcox, and Thomas County will have the opportunity to apply computational thinking through hands on training modules during the Day of Discovery at South Georgia Technical College in Cordele, GA.  

Ignite My Future in School aspires to bridge the talent gap by developing relevant skills for 21^st century job opportunities in the new digital economy. “Educators play the pivotal role of preparing young people for their future, and for careers that have not yet been invented. Through Ignite My Future in School they can provide foundational skills that help build relevance and resilience in a Business 4.0 era,” said Balaji Ganapathy, Head of Workforce Effectiveness, TCS.

Schools within these districts have the unique opportunity of learning and applying computational thinking through an annual free day of professional development for educators. Also, TCS and Discovery Education have launched the digital platform, IgniteMyFutureInSchool.org to provide teachers nationwide with an exclusive, cost-free, virtual professional development experience that includes lesson plans, curriculum resources, eLearning courses, and webinars. These resources are aligned to national standards, as well as the recently launched K-12 Computer Science Framework.

On a National level, Ignite My Future in School has a goal of engaging 20,000 teachers and one million U.S. students by 2021. As a first step towards this objective, TCS and Discovery Education partnered with U.S. school systems in Metropolitan Washington D.C, Georgia, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wisconsin as early adopters of this transdisciplinary approach. Since September 2017, the program has engaged over 3,300 educators from every state and impacted more than 185,000 students.

About Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS)

Tata Consultancy Services is an IT services, consulting and business solutions organization that has been partnering with many of the world’s largest businesses in their transformation journeys for the last fifty years. TCS offers a consulting-led, Cognitive powered, integrated portfolio of IT, Business & Technology Services, and engineering. This is delivered through its unique Location Independent Agile delivery model, recognized as a benchmark of excellence in software development.

A part of the Tata group, India's largest multinational business group, TCS has over 394,000 of the world’s best-trained consultants in 46 countries. The company generated consolidated revenues of US $ 19.09 billion for year ended March 31, 2018 and is listed on the BSE (formerly Bombay Stock Exchange) and the NSE (National Stock Exchange) in India. TCS' proactive stance on climate change and award-winning work with communities across the world have earned it a place in leading sustainability indices such as the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), MSCI Global Sustainability Index and the FTSE4Good Emerging Index. For more information, visit us at www.tcs.com.

To stay up-to-date on TCS news in North America, follow @TCS_NA. For TCS global news, follow @TCS_News. 

About Discovery Education
As the global leader in standards-based digital content for K-12 classrooms worldwide, Discovery Education is transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content, professional learning, and the largest professional learning community of its kind. Serving 4.5 million educators and over 50 million students, Discovery Education’s services are available in approximately half of U.S. classrooms, 50 percent of all primary schools in the UK, and more than 50 countries around the globe. Inspired by the global media company Discovery, Inc., Discovery Education partners with districts, states, and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with customized solutions that increase academic achievement. Explore the future of education at DiscoveryEducation.com.

Stay connected with Discovery Education on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @DiscoveryEd.

Media Contacts

Ben Trounson, Tata Consultancy Services, b.trounson@tcs.com

Charmion N. Kinder, Discovery Education, charmion_kinder@discovery.com

Tweet me:.@TCS_NA, @DiscoveryEd & @mygpb bring “Ignite My Future in School” to Southern #Georgia http://bit.ly/2l6IMCe #socinn #education #STEM #teachers

KEYWORDS: discovery education, Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS), Congressman Austin Scott, Congressman Sanford Bishop, Georgia Public Broadcasting

by Lisa Di Venuta

SOURCE:Viacom

DESCRIPTION:

Viacom won five 2018 Cynopsis Social Good Awards for its civic-minded media focused on LGBT advocacy, disaster relief, and anti-bullying action, among other issues. Read about each campaign below.

Awareness Campaign/Initiative – Children’s Sector

Nickelodeon Creative Advertising – Nick SPLAT – Truth – Trivia

Cynopsis recognized Nickelodeon for Nick SPLAT Trivia, a partnership between the kids entertainment brand and nationally renowned smoking prevention organization Truth. Nick SPLAT Trivia, a lighthearted PSA in the form of a game show (complete with old-school 90s Nick graphics), educates young viewers on the ugly truth behind big tobacco.

Truth’s initiative is to get the millennial generation to take a stand against big tobacco and their profiling by using the Nick splat voice and audience.

Branded Campaign for a Digital, Broadcast or Cable TV Series

Comedy Central/Viacom Velocity – The Daily Show & Truth: Go Away Big Tobacco

On the adult front, Comedy Central’s late-night sensation The Daily Show With Trevor Noah aired a PSA, produced by Viacom’s in-house design agency, Velocity, illuminating the facts about big tobacco.

Awareness Campaign/Initiative – Human Rights

MTV – #EyesOnChechnya – Awareness Campaign/Initiative – Human Rights

MTV earned the Awareness Campaign/Initiative honor, for its social media campaign #EyesOnChechnya, a multifacteted marketing crusade that shed light on the horrific treatment of LGBT citizens in Chechnya, part of Russia. In Chechnya, gay and bisexual men are persecuted – rounded up and tortured for their sexuality. MTV is preventing the world from looking away while these atrocities continue. (You can visit the website  to learn more and take action).

Episode with a Social Good Theme

MTV – MTV’s Total Request Live (TRL): Puerto Rico Episode

MTV closed out the first season of its TRL relaunch by giving back to Puerto Rico, the U.S. island territory devastated by the 2017 hurricane season. Celebs of Puerto Rican heritage, including Jennifer Lopez, NFL star Victor Cruz, former MTV veejay La La Anthony, supermodel Joan Smalls, singer Romeo Santos and more turned out and turned up for good.

Social Good Partnership – National/International

Viacom – Viacommunity & Catchafire: Viacom’s Talent for Good

Finally, Cynopsis recognized Viacom’s Talent for Good corporate social responsibility partnership with nonprofit organization Catchafire, for helping connect star employees with folks in need of their service.

Congratulations to Viacom and its brands for entertaining, educating and giving back to its audiences—and the world at large. Click here to see the full list of nominees and honorees, including other Viacom contenders.

About Viacom

Viacom is home to premier global media brands that create compelling entertainment content - including television programs, motion pictures, short-form content, games, consumer products, podcasts, live events and social media experiences - for audiences in 183 countries. Viacom's media networks, including Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., MTV, BET, Comedy Central, Paramount Network, VH1, TV Land, CMT, Logo, Channel 5 (UK), Telefe (Argentina), Colors (India) and Paramount Channel, reach approximately 4.3 billion cumulative television subscribers worldwide. Paramount Pictures is a major global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. Paramount Television develops, finances and produces original programming for television and digital platforms. 

For more information about Viacom and its businesses, visit www.viacom.com. Keep up with Viacom news by following Viacom's blog at blog.viacom.com and Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/viacom

Tweet me:.@Viacom brands win five 2018 @CynopsisMedia Social Good Awards for its civic-minded media focused on #LGBT advocacy, #DisasterRelief, and anti-bullying action, among other issues http://bit.ly/2JFECfi

KEYWORDS: NASDAQ:VIA, Viacom, Nickelodeon, MTV, Catchafire, Talent for Good, Viacommunity, Puerto Rico, TRL, #EyesOnChechnya

SOURCE:Ingersoll Rand

DESCRIPTION:

Environmental Leader magazine recently recognized two of the people behind Ingersoll Rand’s environmental efforts – Holly Emerson, senior sustainability analyst, and Owen Smith, director of utility and grid solutions – as top Environmental Leaders in the U.S. The magazine created the distinction to recognize 75 people in the environmental space responsible for driving their companies and the industry forward.

“Many of the Environmental Leader honorees are the people behind the scenes rolling up their sleeves and making a difference,” said Scott Tew, director of the Ingersoll Rand Center for Energy Efficiency & Sustainability (CEES). “Holly and Owen are making a difference at Ingersoll Rand by ensuring that we apply the same solutions internally that we provide to customers to enable increased energy efficiency, especially as we embarked on our renewable energy journey to deepen our global Climate Commitment.”

Ingersoll Rand recently announced that it achieved its goal – to reduce its greenhouse gas footprint from its own operations by 35 percent – two years ahead of schedule. We also announced investments in renewable energy technologies through solar installations in our facilities and a power purchase agreement for wind power.

Environmental Leader recognized Holly and Owen at a celebratory networking reception as part of the Environmental Leader & Energy Manager Summit on May 17 at the Denver Marriott Tech Center.

Tweet me:.@IngersollRand leaders Holly Emerson, sr. sustainability analyst, and Owen Smith, dir. of utility and grid solutions, were named Environmental Leaders by @ELDaily http://bit.ly/2sFCCx5

KEYWORDS: NYSE:IR, Ingersoll Rand, Environmental Leader, sustainability

SOURCE:Tupperware Brands

DESCRIPTION:

Tupperware Brands Corporation, the leading global marketer of premium, innovative products across multiple brands and categories, announced that it has been listed as 80th in the Forbes 2018 list of 500 Best Midsize Employers.

For more than 70 years, Tupperware has had an unwavering commitment to empowering women, their families, and communities by instilling confidence and providing an enriching opportunity across the globe. Today, Tupperware has grown to include more than 3.1 million independent Sales Force members and 12,000 corporate associates in over 85 countries.

Tupperware offers associates competitive salary and benefits packages, training, education and confidence-building opportunities. The company has an unwavering commitment to workplace health and safety, and offers regular health screenings and preventive health packages. Tupperware’s Global Health Initiative offers associates perks such as a fully equipped gym, subsidized personal training and fitness classes, sports and chair massages and healthy meal options, as well as various other activities to encourage associates to take charge of their own health. Tupperware also offers employees opportunities to give back to their communities through board service and volunteer hours with local organizations, and recognizes markets that have made community engagement and social investing a key part of their business with the Global Social Impact Awards.

Click here to learn more about what makes Tupperware a great place to work! 

Tweet me:.@TupperwareWW Brands #celebrates being named one of America's #best midsize employers http://bit.ly/2LQQi0b @Forbes

KEYWORDS: Tupperware, Forbes America's Best Midsize Employers

2017 Sustainability Report highlights business strategy and results

SOURCE:General Motors

DESCRIPTION:

DETROIT, June 12, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Sustainability is integral to General Motors’ business strategy and core to the company’s global operations, as demonstrated in its latest Sustainability Report (gmsustainability.com) released today.

Guided by the vision of a future with zero crashes, zero emissions and zero congestion, the company is addressing societal and environmental challenges while transforming the future of mobility. By tackling these issues, General Motors has the potential globally each year to help save some of the 1.25 million lives lost in vehicle crashes; help eliminate the more than 2 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide from vehicle emissions; and reduce congestion, giving commuters back time otherwise spent in traffic.

“We are in the midst of a transportation revolution as groundbreaking technologies and evolving customer lifestyles transform our vehicles and how we use them,” said General Motors Chairman and CEO Mary Barra. “We have the right team, technology, partners, manufacturing scale and mindset to lead this revolution.”

Highlights from the 2017 Sustainability Report include:

• Delivering an electrified future — With at least 20 new, all-electric models launching globally by 2023, General Motors is poised to deliver on its vision of an all-electric, emissions-free future. In response to global demand, Bolt EV production will increase this year. The company also is positioned to lead in key EV markets including the U.S. and China, and it is partnering with utilities, communities, governments and others to accelerate the charging infrastructure while working to increase consumer acceptance.
• Furthering fuel efficiency — As General Motors moves closer to an all-electric portfolio, near-term improvements across traditional vehicles continue, including the company’s efficient fundamentals strategy with advances in engine and transmission efficiency, aerodynamics, vehicle lightweighting and other technologies to reduce fuel use and cost. Since 2016, General Motors has shed more than 5,000 pounds across 14 new-vehicle models, saving 35 million gallons of gasoline and 300 thousand metric tons of CO2 emissions per year.
• Advancing autonomous driving— We are the first automaker to use mass-production methods for autonomous vehicles (AV) and the only company to produce self-driving vehicles at scale. Orion Assembly in Michigan is set to build production versions of the Cruze AV this year, and we recently strengthened our plans to commercialize autonomous vehicle technology at large scale through a landmark deal with the SoftBank Vision Fund.
• Reshaping personal mobility — In response to increasing global populations in urban areas, the Maven suite of shared mobility solutions has expanded to capitalize on the growing popularity of car sharing and ridesharing and is reducing congestion.
• Accelerating and scaling renewable energy — Progress continues on General Motors’ pledge to source 100 percent renewable energy for its electricity needs globally by 2050. The company uses 371 megawatts of energy from renewable sources now, and by the end of 2018 renewable energy will power 20 percent of the company’s global electricity use.
• Responsible Manufacturing — Since 2010, General Motors has reduced the energy intensity of its operations by 15 percent, generating $135 million in cost savings. The company surpassed its 2020 goal to reduce the carbon intensity of its operations by 20 percent three years early.
• Driving social impact — As the U.S. lags behind other nations in its pipeline of STEM talent, General Motors is focused on more than 100 initiatives to reverse this trend. Through its support for Code.org, the company will reach 40,000 secondary students in 2018. On average, General Motors actively recruits an employee for a STEM position every 26 minutes.
• Workforce diversity — General Motors invests in leader skills development through its Women in Action Initiative, which attracted more than 6,700 employee participants. And 32 percent of top leadership positions at General Motors are held by women. 

General Motors’ integrated approach to sustainability includes stakeholder engagement and proactive and voluntary disclosure. Independent third parties have recognized the company’s progress. It has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index – North America and World Indices, was ranked in the Just 100 by Just Capital as the only automaker on the list and was named as one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens for the second year in a row.

To experience the interactive report and learn about some of the other ways General Motors is driving value through environmental, social and governance factors, visit www.GMSustainability.com   

# # #

General Motors is a global company committed to delivering safer, better and more sustainable ways for people to get around. General Motors, its subsidiaries and its joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, Cadillac, Holden, Baojun, Wuling and Jiefang brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety and security services, and Maven, its personal mobility brand, can be found at http://www.gm.com/.

CONTACT:

Carolyn Markey, GM Communications

carolyn.markey@gm.com

313-806-9124

Tweet me:2017 Sustainability Report shows how sustainability is part of @GM's business strategy and core to its operations. Read more here: https://bit.ly/1R1abuV

KEYWORDS: GM, General Motors, Sustainability Report, NYSE:GM

SOURCE:Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable

DESCRIPTION:

We are excited to announce the launch of our new Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER) LinkedIn page. In tandem with our Twitter, @BIERoundable, we will be sharing information on beverage industry sustainability, benchmarking, tools, and insights from our members.

Follow us on LinkedIn to see updates on:

• Our new tools, papers, and work product releases
• Leading global beverage company sustainability updates
• Exclusive BIER blogs and insights

We can't wait to see you there!

About BIER

The Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable (BIER) is a technical coalition of leading global beverage companies working together to advance environmental sustainability within the beverage sector. BIER aims to affect sector change through work focused on water stewardship, energy efficiency and climate change, beverage container recycling, sustainable agriculture, and eco-system services. BIER members include: American Beverage Association, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Bacardi, Beam Suntory, Brown-Forman, Carlsberg Group, The Coca-Cola Company, Constellation Brands, Diageo, Heineken, Jackson Family Wines, New Belgium Brewing, MillerCoors, Molson Coors, Pernod Ricard, Ocean Spray Cranberries, and PepsiCo. For more information, visit www.bieroundtable.com.

KEYWORDS: Beverage Industry Environmental Roundtable, linkedin, bier, sustainability

Funding to Restore Eight Cultural Heritage Sites Including Historic Kitchen Garden of Versailles and Iconic British Piers Damage

SOURCE:American Express

DESCRIPTION:

NEW YORK,, June 12, 2018 /3BL Media/ -  American Express and World Monuments Fund (WMF) today announced $1 million in funding to support preservation efforts at eight endangered cultural heritage sites included on the 2018 World Monuments Watch.

The funded sites face threats from the effects of natural disaster, climate change, urbanization, and neglect, and date from prehistory to the twentieth century. They were included on the biennial Watch to identify opportunities for collaboration and positive impact. Now, grants from American Express will make projects possible at the following places:

Potager du Roi in Versailles, France; Grand Theater of Prince Kung’s Mansion in Beijing, China; the town of Amatrice, Italy; Kagawa Prefectural Gymnasium in Takamatsu, Japan; Tebaida Leonesa in León, Spain; Blackpool Piers in Blackpool, England; Matobo Hills Cultural Landscape in Matobo, Zimbabwe; and Monte Albán Archaeological Site in Oaxaca, Mexico.

“As the founding sponsor of the World Monuments Watch, American Express is committed to advocating for the protection of our most treasured landmarks around the globe,” said Timothy J. McClimon, President of the American Express Foundation. “We recognize these sites as symbols of national and local identity, and value the role that their preservation can play in attracting visitors and revitalizing communities.”

“For more than 20 years, American Express has been an unmatched champion of the world’s most treasured places.” said Joshua David, President and CEO, World Monument Fund. “Their leadership and support of the World Monuments Watch allows us to support international partners in the protection, conservation, and stewardship of sites of cultural heritage, helping to strengthen communities around the world.”

The World Monuments Watch works with local communities to bring their treasured cultural heritage sites to an international stage. Announced in October 2017 with founding sponsor American Express, the 2018 Watch includes a diverse group of 25 sites spanning more than 30 countries and territories that face daunting threats or present unique conservation opportunities.

Over the past 20 years, American Express has given nearly $18 million to help preserve 166 World Monuments Watch sites in 71 countries. It has also partnered with a number of leading organizations to help preserve sites in need, build awareness, and engage the public in preservation efforts across the world. Through these partnerships and other individual grants, American Express has granted more than $60 million to support hundreds of preservation projects.

Potager du Roi; Versailles, France

The historic kitchen garden of the Palace of Versailles was created more than 300 years ago to fulfill King Louis XIV’s vision of creating the most impressive palace in the world. The garden has been at the cutting edge ever since, introducing new microclimates and methods for producing harvests in and out of season, and developing hybrid fruits and vegetables. Today, stewards of Potager du Roi are looking for new ways to engage visitors and address maintenance challenges.

Grand Theater of Prince Kung’s Mansion; Beijing, China

The Grand Theater at Prince Kung’s Mansion is the largest and only imperial mansion theater open to the public in Beijing, China. The theater was added to the celebrated eighteenth-century residence as part of a pleasure garden, staging plays and entertaining guests. Today, the residence operates as a museum and the theater continues to be used for performances. Funds will be used to build an international, scientific conservation partnership aimed at recovering the original appearance and historic authenticity of the theater during Prince Kung’s era.

Amatrice, Italy

The hill town of Amatrice, Italy, suffered a series of devastating earthquakes in 2016, destroying the majority of the town and causing 299 deaths and approximately 400 injuries. Amatrice was included on the Watch to bring awareness to its state and the need for better disaster prevention and preparedness. Funds will be used towards restoration efforts at the Museo Cola Filotesio, whose bell tower survived but requires comprehensive stabilization and conservation.  

Kagawa Prefectural Gymnasium; Takamatsu, Japan

The beloved modern landmark was built by renowned architect Kenzo Tange in the 1960s and hosted local sports events for 50 years until its suspended roof began to leak. The facility was closed to the public in 2014 as a result of these structural issues; it also no longer meets current gymnasium requirements. Funds will be used to support local advocates in their campaign to preserve and repurpose the structure to meet a community need.

Tebaida Leonesa; León, Spain

The rural communities of the Tebaida Leonesa, a rugged, mountainous area, originated in the seventh century. Since then, the valley has preserved its cultural, natural, and immaterial values as well as much of its exceptional medieval architecture. Now, the communities face the challenges of preserving the character of their villages and landscape in the face of growing tourism and development. Funds will be used to restore the original wall paintings of the Church of Santiago de Peñalba, a tenth century masterpiece of Mozarabic architecture.

Blackpool Piers; Blackpool, England

For more than a century, generations of working-class Britons have vacationed at Blackpool and visited its three iconic piers on the Irish Sea coast of England. Today, the piers are threatened by dangerous sea-level rise as a result of climate change. Privately owned, they are ineligible to receive public funding for rehabilitation. Funds will be used to facilitate expanded dialogue between local groups and the pier owners and explore new models for their rehabilitation.

Matobo Hills Cultural Landscape; Matobo, Zimbabwe

The dramatic cultural landscape, home to one of the world’s great rock art collections, marks critical stages in human history and evolution, reaching back 100,000 years. The World Heritage Site continues to be deeply associated with cultural and religious traditions. Today, its important rock art is threatened by deforestation, the risk of fires, and other human activities. Funds will be used to work with local heritage authorities on improved documentation and conservation plans at the site.  

Monte Albán Archaeological Site; Oaxaca, Mexico

Known for its unique hieroglyphic inscriptions, the sixth-century metropolis provides insight into the ancient Zapotec civilization. Fifteen structures were affected following a September 2017 earthquake, with five showing severe damage that requires emergency structural shoring to prevent collapse. Funds will be used for a project in partnership with INAH to address the long-term stability of Monte Albán, including physical conservation, documentation, and geological assessment. The program will also emphasize training and capacity building, giving local technicians the skills they need to effectively repair and prepare Monte Albán for future natural disasters.

Visit www.wmf.org/2018watch to learn more.

Images available upon request.

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About American Express

American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. Learn more at americanexpress.com and connect with us on facebook.com/americanexpress, instagram.com/americanexpress, linkedin.com/company/american-express, twitter.com/americanexpress, and youtube.com/americanexpress.

Key links to products, services and corporate responsibility information: charge and credit cards, business credit cards, travel services, gift cards, prepaid cards, merchant services, Accertify, InAuth, corporate card, business travel, and corporate responsibility.

About World Monuments Fund

World Monuments Fund is the leading independent organization devoted to saving the world’s treasured places. For more than 50 years, working in over 100 countries, its highly skilled experts have applied proven and effective techniques to the preservation of important architectural and cultural heritage sites around the globe. Through partnerships with local communities, funders, and governments, WMF seeks to inspire an enduring commitment to stewardship for future generations. Headquartered in New York City, the organization has offices and affiliates worldwide. Visit www.wmf.org for more information, or connect with us on www.facebook.com/worldmonuments, www.twitter.com/worldmonuments, and instagram.com/worldmonumentsfund.

Tweet me:.@AmericanExpress has awarded $1 million to 8 endangered cultural heritage sites included on the 2018 #WorldMonumentsWatch. Funds make conservation efforts possible at sites dating from prehistory to 20th century #amexpreserves http://bit.ly/2JMxeSh

Contact Info:

Jocelyn Seidenfeld
American Express
+1 (212) 640-0555
jocelyn.f.seidenfeld@aexp.com

Hillary Prim
World Monuments Fund
+1 (646) 424-9582
hprim@wmf.org

KEYWORDS: NYSE:AXP, American Express, Cultural Heritage Sites, World Monuments Fund, WMF, Preservation

SOURCE:Ray C. Anderson Foundation

SUMMARY:

Not hurricanes. Not flooding. Tornadoes are bad news if you run into one, but those fatalities are low too. Lightning strikes don’t hit many people, and blizzards aren’t so bad either. So what else is there?

DESCRIPTION:

Have you ever realized how many things from your childhood will never be experienced by today’s youth? Kids today will never feel the frustration of popping in a VHS tape only to realize the previous viewer didn’t rewind it. Their first telephone won’t be answered by flipping it open. They won’t empty an entire box of cereal in desperate search for the hidden toy inside.

Side note: whatever happened to toys in cereal boxes?

Tweet me:Not hurricanes. Not flooding. Tornadoes are bad news if you run into one, but those fatalities are low too. Lightning strikes don’t hit many people, and blizzards aren’t so bad either. So what else is there? #Ecocentricity http://bit.ly/2MmqOIe

Contact Info:

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

KEYWORDS: heat wave, climate change, John A. Lanier, Ray C. Anderson Foundation, Ecocentricity