SOURCE:Las Vegas Sands

DESCRIPTION:

More than 1,900 Las Vegas Sands Team Members and community volunteers participated in the Sands Cares Global Hygiene Kit Build with Clean the World to assemble recycled hygiene supplies from hotel properties around the world for distribution to service organizations that aid vulnerable populations.

“Building hygiene kits for Clean the World has united our Team Members around the world toward a common goal of taking discarded products from hotel properties and getting them to people who desperately need them,” said Ron Reese, senior vice president of global communications and corporate affairs. “It’s an incredible effort by our Team Members and communities, and one that has great meaning for us every year.”

Through the series of kit builds in all four regions around the world, Las Vegas Sands properties have created 500,000 kits over the past four years to support Clean the World’s mission to promote good health and well-being around the globe by improving access to soap and other hygiene products. The Sands Cares kit build events also provide much-needed financial support to propel Clean the World’s mission. For each kit assembled, Las Vegas Sands contributes $1 to the Clean the World Foundation to accelerate its mission in two critical areas: ongoing hygiene education and disaster response.

Las Vegas Sands has partnered with Clean the World in its hygiene mission since 2011. During that time, Clean the World has recycled 240 tons of waste from Las Vegas Sands properties into more than 2.1 million bars of soap – material that otherwise would have gone to a landfill.

For detailed information on Sands Cares, visit Sands.com to download our latest Corporate Social Responsibility report.

Tweet me:#Volunteers from @LasVegasSands assemble over 100,000 Global Hygiene Kits for @CleantheWorld in 2017 http://bit.ly/2IKTd7N #SandsCares

KEYWORDS: Las Vegas Sands, Clean the World, fighting homelessness

SOURCE:Cone Communications

DESCRIPTION:

According to the National Park Service, Americans use 500 million plastic straws every day – this small but plentiful waste adds up and is one of the most common items found on beaches. Now, one beverage icon is joining a handful of brands in the fight against single use straws, with plans to phase out the item from its stores by 2020.

Based on this ambitious goal, Starbucks hopes to eliminate one billion straws a year from its 28,000 stores worldwide. As an alternative, the company has designed a straw-less lid made of a recyclable plastic that, unlike lightweight, single use straws, can easily be captured in the recycling process. The lid will be introduced to Seattle and Vancouver consumers this fall with pilots in other global stores starting in 2019. Other options being considered include paper or compostable straws that can be used for cold drinks. As an industry leader, Starbucks has the influence to persuade other brands to reconsider their approach to packaging and plastic waste. 

To continue reading, please click here.

Tweet me:.@Starbucks Combats Single Use Straws http://bit.ly/2uoBRcs

KEYWORDS: single-use straws, Starbucks, Cone Communications, Plastic

SOURCE:Scotiabank

DESCRIPTION:

THE Scotiabank Leadership Academy is in its fifth year working with Families in Action (FA) with a programme to help young people develop leadership skills. During the five-day programme they would learn to network with each other, learn to handle conflict and hone their leadership skills.

The programme this year would include a session on community and social responsibility where they would learn to not only develop themselves, but how to help other people in their communities.

The programme for 2018 was launched on Monday at All Saints Memorial Hall, Queen’s Park West.

Click to continue reading

Tweet me:.@ScotiabankViews Leadership Academy is in its fifth year working with Families in Action (FA) with a programme to help young people develop leadership skills learn more here: http://bit.ly/2zukUSS #CSR

KEYWORDS: young people, Scotiabank, csr

SOURCE:Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

DESCRIPTION:

This year, The Wendy’s Company Annual Frosty 5K raised $110,000 for the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

The event was held on July 15 in Columbus, Ohio and had more than 800 participants. The race started and ended downtown at Huntington Park, home of the Columbus Clippers. Runners and walkers took the course through downtown, across the Scioto Mile and finished in the outfield of the minor-league stadium.

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is Wendy’s charity of choice. The organizations share a heritage as both were founded by Dave Thomas. The Foundation has one mission: to dramatically increase the number of adoptions from foster care. There are more than 150,000 children waiting to be adopted in North America.

The Foundation provides grants to adoption agencies across the United States and Canada. Agencies use those funds to hire adoption recruiters who work with children in foster care. The adoption program is called Wendy’s Wonderful Kids and focuses on children over the age of 9, sibling groups and children with special needs. Since its inception, the program has found loving, adoptive homes for more than 7,200 children.

The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is grateful for the partnership it has with the Wendy’s Family and their commitment to believing that Unadoptable is Unacceptable.

THANK YOU!

If you could not participate in the race, you can still support this critical mission. Visit davethomasfoundation.org/donate to show your commitment to a family forever waiting child.

Tweet me:You're never too old for family: 800+ ran @Wendys #Frosty5k in Columbus, OH raising $110,000 for #fostercare #adoption http://bit.ly/2LokizU @DTFA

KEYWORDS: Dave Thomas, foster care, adoption, Recruiter, forever family, Wendy’s, Frosty, 5k, Charity, Race, run, walk, never too old for family

SOURCE:Alliance Data

DESCRIPTION:

Changing technology, societal, and environmental conditions are disrupting and subsequently influencing how organizations – from FORTUNE 500 corporations to local food pantries – operate. As Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock, Inc., described earlier this year in his annual letter to CEOs, organizations must explicitly convey their strategy for long-term growth and value creation, as financial performance is no longer the only measurement of a company’s strength, but instead the overall societal impact of an organization is paramount.

In order to stay competitive in an evolving global marketplace, companies need to have a more integrated view of how they do business. By focusing on defined critical factors affecting a company’s performance, and operating with the long view in mind, an organization can ensure its sustainability through this disruptive environment. In our effort to support Alliance Data’s stakeholders’ expectations, we evolved our corporate responsibility strategy to better reflect our company’s operations today:

Ethics: The best way to ensure stakeholders’ trust and foster long-term success is by always keeping ethics at the forefront of everything we do. Growth with integrity, ethical decision-making and transparency is essential for a sustainable organization. Almost 85% of our associates consider Alliance Data a socially responsible company.

Excellence: We engage with more than 100 million customers across the world through our clients, and we don’t take this responsibility lightly. We reaffirm our commitments as a leader in data-driven marketing and loyalty programs to ensure the secure and responsible use of data, adhere to responsible banking practices, and display an unwavering commitment to service.

Associates: We can’t do any of the work we do for our clients without our committed associates. We strive to cultivate an inclusive, healthy workplace where associates can develop and are rewarded for their contributions. By empowering people to contribute to the organization’s long-term success, our company as a whole benefits. Making the 2018 FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work for list validates our efforts here and only serves as more motivation to continue to get this right.

Communities: Giving back to our communities is an integral part of who we are. It is our responsibility as a successful company to invest in and strengthen our communities. By investing in the long-term vitality of our communities through programs making a measurable impact, we help create a future where business and local economies can flourish. Last year, we invested more than $14 million globally.

Environment: In recent years we’ve seen the strain that our natural environment is under, creating an array of societal and economic problems. We strive to respect our environment through sustainable operations and investments in global conservation efforts, recognizing the importance of aligning our business strategy with those commitments. Using resources efficiently, engaging suppliers, clients and associates, and rigorously tracking performance allows us to continue improving our environmental approach in the future. In fact, we have already reduced our greenhouse gas emissions by almost 24% since 2015.

Our corporate responsibility strategy guides how we operate as a business, so it makes sense to leverage our business expertise in technology and data analytics for social good. We have committed to investing $20 million in Data for Good initiatives by 2020. This commitment allows us to do what we do best, leverage data. By engaging our associates and empowering them to use their expertise for good, we not only help to strengthen our communities, but we create a more innovative and purpose-driven company. To learn more about our long view approach and how Alliance Data is making the world better, read our 2017 Corporate Responsibility report here.

Tweet me:.@AllianceData's #DataforGood strategy leverages their expertise to make a positive #socialimpact. See their #2020goals to create a more innovative and purpose-driven company http://bit.ly/2Lnlwes

KEYWORDS: NYSE:ADS, Alliance Data, data, sustainability, stakeholders

Eight grader Emma Ruccio of Connecticut honored for scoliosis diagnostics tool

SOURCE:Arrow Electronics

DESCRIPTION:

Eigth grader Emma Ruccio from Connecticut was presented with the Arrow Electronics Innovation in Electronics Award at the National Invention Convention and Entrepreneurship Expo (NICEE), a first-of-its kind forum where student inventors showcase their critical thinking skills and compete for prizes and recognition.

Ruccio, who was diagnosed with scoliosis at age 11, was recognized for her scoliosis diagnostics tool, Got Your Back 2.0. The invention uses infrared images and processing to provide easy at-home monitoring of spine curvature, reducing costly office visits and harmful radiation exposure.

The award is the first in a series of Innovation in Technology awards launched by Arrow to honor the world’s brightest innovators and emerging technologies, transforming ideas into real and influential achievements that will help people and the communities in which Arrow works. To learn more about NICEE and Arrow Electronics' Innovation in Electronics award, visit https://bit.ly/2LcwoPE

Tweet me:Eighth grader Emma Ruccio wins Innovation in Electronics award from @ArrowGlobal for #scoliosis diagnostics tool http://bit.ly/2zPFRYu @STEMIECoalition @niceeinvents #FiveYearsOut #NICEE2018

KEYWORDS: Arrow Electronics, National Invention Convention and Entrepreneurship Expo (NICEE)

SOURCE:ReportAlert

DESCRIPTION:

Teck has released its second annual Economic Contribution Report, providing information about the economic benefits generated by its activities, including payments to suppliers, employee wages and benefits, and payments to governments. The report builds on Teck’s commitment to transparency and voluntary disclosure.

“Our operations and activities generate significant economic value and help to support opportunity, jobs and growth in communities around the world,” said Don Lindsay, President and CEO, Teck. “Our people are proud of the contributions of our company and our industry, and are committed to transparency around how economic contributions are distributed for local, regional and national economic and social development.”

In 2017, Teck distributed economic benefits including:

• $10.3 billion in economic contribution across all areas where we operate
• $7 billion in payments to suppliers
• $1.6 billion in payments to different levels of government where we operate
• $1.5 billion in wages and benefits for employees

For more information and to download Teck’s 2017 Economic Contribution Report, visit the Teck website at: https://www.teck.com/responsibility/featured-topics/economic-contributions/

About Teck
Teck is a diversified resource company committed to responsible mining and mineral development with major business units focused on copper, steelmaking coal, zinc and energy. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, its shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols TECK.A and TECK.B and the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TECK. Learn more about Teck at www.teck.com or follow @TeckResources.

Investor Enquiries
Fraser Phillips
Senior Vice President, Investor Relations & Strategic Analysis, Teck
604.699.4621

Media Enquiries
Chris Stannell
Senior Communications Specialist, Teck
604.699.4368

Read the Report

Tweet me:Building on their commitment to transparency, @TeckResources releases their second annual Economic Contribution Report. Learn how they help support opportunity + growth in communities around the world: http://bit.ly/2uin42R via @ReportAlert

KEYWORDS: Teck Resources, ReportAlert, Transparency

SOURCE:Goldcorp

DESCRIPTION:

Goldcorp is committed to creating sustainable and lasting value in all communities where we operate. In Perito Moreno, Argentina, near our Cerro Negro mine, we are working to enhance the skills of local youth. Together with the local municipality, we facilitate various skills-building programs for youth in the area.

Children between 5 and 13 participate in our Sports Program, where they are encouraged to develop positive values and attitudes through games and sports designed to promote their growth and learning. To date, more than 600 children and youth have participated in the program.

Additionally, children and youth of Perito Moreno have access to a School Reinforcement Program, where tutors are available to support them in school subjects such as language and mathematics. This program currently has 30 participating students.

Following high school, if students decide to continue studying, Cerro Negro offers Excellence Scholarships to facilitate opportunities for higher education and training. The Excellence Scholarship has been awarded to eight students, and 33 other scholarships have been awarded to young people in Perito Moreno.

We understand the importance of youth education in society, and through these initiatives, we aim to facilitate the growth of the community by promoting skills development among its young citizens. Youth empowerment helps build strong communities and helps us create sustainable value.

Tweet me:In Goldcorp's Cerro Negro mine, they are working to enhance the skills of local youth. Together with the local municipality, they facilitate various skills-building programs for youth in the area. Read more here: http://bit.ly/2uF2BVj

KEYWORDS: NYSE:GG, Goldcorp, Cerro Negro mine

Aramark recognized as a National Partner for Investment in City Year

SOURCE:Aramark

DESCRIPTION:

July 16, 2018 /3BL Media/ - City Year, an education organization committed to the success of students and schools, announced today its partnership with Aramark (NYSE: ARMK), a global leader in food, facilities and uniforms, to redesign City Year’s uniform to better reflect City Year AmeriCorps members' critical role as Student Success Coaches in high-need schools. With this new investment, Aramark is recognized as a National Partner and continues to serve as City Year’s official Apparel Partner, providing significant in-kind support valued at $1.2 million to outfit 3,000 AmeriCorps members with the new uniform, including City Year’s signature red jacket.

“On behalf of our 270,000 associates around the globe, we congratulate Michael Brown and the entire City Year organization for the tremendous impact they have made on students and schools over the past 30 years.” said Eric Foss, Aramark’s Chairman, President and CEO. “Aramark and City Year share a passion for service and a commitment to local communities. We take great pride in helping City Year bring their important work to life.”

Aramark’s mission of enriching and nourishing lives is connected to their philanthropic investments in various areas including education. By partnering with City Year to redesign its uniform in time for City Year’s 30th anniversary, Aramark plays a pivotal role in the work of City Year AmeriCorps members, who serve full-time as tutors, mentors and role models in more than 300 high-need schools across the country. 

“The City Year uniform represents a big idea—that from year to year, school to school, city to city, and generation to generation, there is an unbroken chain of idealism expressed by the young people who serve with us,” said Michael Brown CEO and co-founder of City Year. “When our students see someone in the City Year jacket, they know that person is someone they can trust—and Aramark’s partnership with us on the launch of this new uniform helps that connection happen.”

City Year’s highly trained AmeriCorps members will wear their new uniform as they serve more than 200,000 students across the country. According to research by Policy Studies Associates, schools partnering with City Year—as compared with similar schools without City Year—were up to two-to-three times more likely to improve on math and English assessments.

Aramark has been an important partner for City Year for the past 11 years, serving as City Year’s official uniform supplier, providing in-kind advertising support on college campuses for AmeriCorps members and sponsoring City Year locations in Los Angeles and Philadelphia. 

Aramark also partners with City Year’s Care Force, which engages corporations and their employees in high-impact volunteer events to help improve schools and communities. During last year’s Aramark Building Community Day, City Year staff and corps served side-by-side with 463 Aramark employees at signature site locations to serve more than 2,778 hours impacting 17,300 community members.  Since 2008, Aramark employees and City Year Care Force have partnered at nearly 100 projects to revitalize and make a meaningful impact in dozens of local communities around the world.  

                                                                                                                 
About City Year
City Year helps students and schools succeed. Fueled by national service, City Year partners with public schools in 28 urban, high-need communities across the U.S. and through international affiliates in the U.K. and South Africa. Diverse teams of City Year AmeriCorps members provide research-based student, classroom and school-wide supports to help students stay in school and on track to graduate from high school, ready for college and career success. A 2015 study shows that schools that partner with City Year were up to two-to-three times more likely to improve on math and English assessments. A proud member of the AmeriCorps national service network, City Year is supported by the Corporation for National and Community Service, local school districts, and private philanthropy from corporations, foundations and individuals. Learn more at www.cityyear.org, City Year’s Facebook page, on Twitter, and LinkedIn.   

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:City Year partners with @Aramark to redesign uniform worn by 3,000 AmeriCorps members serving in high-need school. http://bit.ly/2LfiB7D

KEYWORDS: Aramark, City Year, uniforms, Schools, Volunteers, NYSE:ARMK, Americorps

SOURCE:America's Charities

DESCRIPTION:

For almost forty years, America’s Charities has been at the forefront of workplace giving innovation, helping companies and employee donors bring more resources to nonprofits that are changing our world.

When most employers were only using paper pledge forms in the late 90’s/early 2000’s, America’s Charities paved the way to the future with its award-winning PledgeFirst e-giving solution, helping dozens of America’s most-renowned companies use technology to facilitate their employee giving campaigns for a first time.

Since then, we’ve been continuously growing and innovating our portfolio of employee giving and engagement solutions, and partnered with technology leaders to further optimize the workplace giving solutions we have to offer employers.

In 2016, after partnering with the technology leader StratusLIVE, we retired PledgeFirst and replaced it with our Simply Giving solution, blazing the trail for any employer—regardless of size, budget or bandwidth—to make a real difference in the lives of their employees and communities.

As we continue working with StratusLIVE to further innovate workplace giving technology for our employer clients, we are pleased to share the latest list of enhancements to our Simply Giving solution, all of which improve donor engagement and support campaign management capabilities and functionality.

“Self-registration, one of our new features, makes it convenient for new employees or retirees to self-register on the corporate site and give towards the campaign. Jim Starr, President and CEO of America's Charities expressed, "With the wide array of employee giving programs we facilitate, this latest feature update from our partner, StratusLIVE, will speed up the go-live process and allow for more flexibility when new employees join the organization during the campaign."

New features covered in our latest release include:

• Self- Registration: provides support for individuals to create an account on the corporate site without having to be preloaded. This allows organizations to run their campaigns more quickly by having the option to not preload each employee and makes it convenient for new employees or retirees to self-register on the corporate site and give towards the campaign.
• Global Charity Information tool: delivers more details to donors, including charity logos, address, website URL, and charity description.
• Campaign builder: a new easy way to create cause-related campaigns with rich images, media, content, giving widgets, social network integration, and more.
• Multiple Corporate Campaign Support: organizations can run multiple campaigns concurrently, which enables a number of new scenarios such as fundraising for multiple cause-related campaigns, events, holidays, or disaster relief.
• Business Intelligence Cube: Quickly and easily create dashboards to produce an accurate snapshot of donors, campaigns, and fundraising success across multiple departments, which allows organizations to optimize impact, save valuable time, and increase fundraising revenue.

Giving should be a simple, rewarding experience. Ready to get started and bring our Simply Giving solution to your workplace?

>> Learn more and request a demo

Tweet me:.@AmerCharities Simply Giving #WorkplaceGiving Solution Unveils New Technology Features Enhancing Corporate Engagement https://impact.ac/2uBgVyn #HRnews #CSR

KEYWORDS: America’s Charities, workplace giving, employee giving, Corporate Social Responsibility, csr, charity vetting, payroll deduction giving, Fundraising, #SDGs

The California Conservation Corps and Edison International continue to partner on various wildfire mitigation efforts

SOURCE:Edison International

DESCRIPTION:

As the Airline Fire raged along Coalinga Hernandez Road and Airline Highway in San Benito County in early June, Paige Adam, 24, was part of the Camarillo 22 fire crew. For one week, she worked the fire, line-cutting, doing hose lays and conducting mop-up procedures in 24-hour shifts.

Adam is one of two dozen corpmembers from the California Conservation Corps’ Camarillo Center who worked alongside fire agencies to help stop the Airline Fire. For the past several months, she has been training with the Corps’ wildland firefighting crews to one day become a full-time firefighter.

“I want to get into the forest service and this is a great program to start my firefighter career,” said Adam, originally from Colorado Springs, who joined the Conservation Corps in January. “Firefighters are heroes; it’s a heroic and admirable career. These men and women are risking their lives.”

Created in 1976 by Gov. Jerry Brown, the nation’s largest and oldest Conservation Corps has been developing young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 in environmental projects and natural disaster response. The Camarillo Center is the only residential program in Southern California and its wildland firefighting program has a long waiting list of eager trainees.

Edison International has been a longtime partner with the Corps’ nonprofit foundation. Recently, Edison provided a $100,000 grant in support of the nonprofit’s wildland firefighting program and its wildfire mitigation measures.

“Edison International will continue to partner with nonprofits around solutions that will make California more resilient against the impacts of natural disasters,” said Janet Clayton, senior vice president of Corporate Communications for Edison International and Southern California Edison.

Miles Bontenbal, 20, is the crew boss today as 16 corpmembers train on various wildfire mitigation efforts in the dried brush hills at Santa Rosa and Mission Oaks Road in Camarillo. In addition to brush clearance and removal, the team is working to create a buffer zone which helps to slow down an active fire.

As the young men and women use hedgers and chainsaws to cut trees and logs, they clear the area of any dried brush, potential fuel for fires. Earlier in the morning, the group held a tailgate to discuss the morning’s work, use of safety equipment and any potential hazards.

“I love being outside doing this kind of work. I can’t sit at a desk,” said Bontenbal, who joined the Corps in October 2016 and was recently promoted as a crew boss. So far, he has worked with various fire agencies on 15 wildland fires.

“The integrity side … bringing the fullest out of myself” is what attracted the San Luis Obispo native to the Corps with the hope of one day becoming a firefighter. “It’s not just a job, it’s a lifestyle,” he said.

As California’s wildfires occur year-round and become the “new normal,” the demand for the Corps’ fire crews is increasing. In the past year, the crews have worked more than 40 wildfires, often in difficult to access areas. Currently, the Camarillo Center alone has 38 firefighting corpmembers who can be activated during a fire response.

“That was one of the more rewarding times, helping to protect homes,” he said.

Today is 24-year-old Victoria Gutierrez’ third day with the Camarillo 22 fire crew. She joined the Corps seven months ago to gain structure and direction in her life. Now, her goal is to become a firefighter.

“People my age in the Corps are very focused and driven,” she said. “I want to help others, save homes, and however else I can help.”

“The California Conservation Corps is prepared for another hot and long fire season because of partnerships like the one we have entered into with Edison,” said Bruce Saito, California Conservation Corps director. “I want to thank Edison for supporting our firefighting and tree mortality reduction crew work and for helping to make our communities safer and better protected from potential fire dangers.”

Tweet me:.@EdisonIntl continues partnerships with California Conservation Corps to mitigate #wildfires http://bit.ly/2zJTdFO #firefighters #naturaldisasters

KEYWORDS: California Conservation Corps, Edison International, firefighters, wildfires, natural disasters, Disaster Response

SOURCE:Impact Travel Alliance

DESCRIPTION:

NEW YORK, July 16, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Impact Travel Alliance’s freshly published thought-leadership study, “Bringing Sustainable Tourism to the Masses," contains optimistic news and a strong framework of 32 tactics to accomplish the much-needed work ahead to integrate sustainability into all types of travel. Released by the travel industry nonprofit today, the study was written in partnership with Mandala Research and Community By Design.

“We are on the cusp of seeing the impact that sustainable travel can have on a much broader scale,” ITA Executive Director Kelley Louise said. “Our biggest hurdle is in reaching beyond the niche that sustainability currently exists within the travel industry and engaging the average traveler.”

The good news: the market is receptive to change.

“This really is a watershed moment for the travel industry, where there is indisputable evidence of travelers’ preferences for destinations and travel companies that are committed to sustainability,” said Laura Mandala, CEO of Mandala Research and former member of the U.S. Department of Commerce Travel and Tourism Advisory Board. “With 60 percent of all leisure travelers having taken a sustainable trip the time has come for more in the industry to adopt policies travelers care about.”

In the 66-page study, Impact Travel Alliance aims to empower all sides of the travel industry in its goal to mainstream sustainable tourism. The nonprofit developed three core principles, each of which has its own set of actionable ideas, in an effort to outline steps toward making attainable progress.

1) Engage partners at both corporate and grassroots levels through storytelling, community and collaboration

2) Complement traditional business activities with sustainable offers and incentives

3) Embrace technology that has changed the way consumers engage with brands

The study also outlines tactics that can be or have been used in pursuit of each principle. Tactics range from creating more awareness around greenwashing and greenhushing to investigating emerging technologies like blockchain, as well as specific marketing approaches based around transparency, authenticity and a stickiness factor. Travel businesses already employing some tactics are highlighted, such as Kind Traveler’s ambassador program; Royal Caribbean’s Save the Waves program, Booking.com’s Booking Booster program; JetBlue’s report on the ROI of Sustainability and more. Some tactics are framed as direct asks, such as to expand, amplify and invest in the Global Sustainable Tourism Council’s efforts and to invest in programs that foster innovation.

The tactics addressed are further categorized on a quadrant based on reach and implementation. Tactics with a broad reach and singular capability for implementation are named “Power Play;” those with a broad reach that take a coordinated industry effort are deemed “Mass Evolution.” Tactics that have a more narrow focus and need coordinated industry effort are called “Groundswell;” and those with a narrow focus and singular capability are named “Individual Impact.” The quadrant is meant to be used as a tool for all sides of the industry – from individuals to small businesses and corporations – to be able to identify specific action items relevant to their own organizations.

“The Thought Leadership Study is not only a report; it’s a guidebook and a call to action,” Louise said. “We’re asking our community to rally around these principles and the tactics that are the most relevant to them, and make a promise to use them to build realistic plans with finite timelines.”

The full thought-leadership study is available online at ImpactTravelAlliance.org/thought-leadership-2018.

Many of the study’s solutions stemmed from the design-thinking session, led by Community By Design during the 2017 Impact Travel Global Summit, an event which gathers 150 of the most innovative minds in the travel industry. ITA strives to incubate ideas in this setting that can be processed and shared across the entire travel sector. The study also synthesizes a year’s worth of conversations and interactions that ITA had with its chapters around the world, peers in other organizations focused on sustainability, and with the content creators, tour operators and professionals in the travel industry.

ITA is the world's largest community for impact-focused travel professionals. Through education and advocacy around sustainable tourism, the organization aims to transform the travel industry into a force for good, and to help improve the world through business and leisure travel. ITA is an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit with a highly engaged and active global community with 30 local chapters in cities around the world. For more information, visit impacttravelalliance.org.

Mandala Research is one of the leading travel and tourism research companies in the world, and led a landmark “The Role of Sustainability in Travel and Tourism” study in 2016. The firm has pioneers the "firsts" of many niche studies in the travel industry and offers extensive knowledge of several growing demographics and trends, including African American and U.S. Hispanic travelers, cultural and heritage, wine and culinary tourism, travelers with disabilities, sustainable travel, among others. Mandala partners with subject matter experts and associations to bring the most diverse and credible knowledge to their work. Partners for the report with Impact Travel Alliance include Destination Better and The Conscious Connoisseur. For more information, visit www.MandalaResearch.com.

Media contact:
Meghan Aftosmis
Sr. PR and Media Network Coordinator, ITA
meghan@impacttravelalliance.org
(212)729-8634

Tweet me:.@impacttravelall aims to empower all sides of the travel industry in its goal to mainstream #sustainabletourism in its recent thought-leadership study http://bit.ly/2Ldtuu1 #impacttravel

KEYWORDS: Impact Travel Alliance, Sustainable Travel, Transparency, sustainability

We should be investing in disadvantaged communities in the same way we invest in our own families

SOURCE:PYXERA Global

SUMMARY:

Jacob Lief is the Founder and CEO of Ubuntu Pathways (formerly Ubuntu Education Fund), a nonprofit organization that takes vulnerable children in Port Elizabeth, South Africa from cradle to career. The organization was recognized as an honoree for the 2018 Lipman Family Prize, a social impact initiative from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

DESCRIPTION:

Bigger. Faster. Cheaper. A good way to sell fidget spinners, perhaps, but should the same mantra apply to raising children? Try to count the value of every single thing that got you where you are today—the support of your family, doctor’s visits, the encouragement of teachers—and you will find that it’s nearly impossible to measure.

Yet in my line of work, I’m asked to put a price on parenting every day. Why are your programs so expensive? Is this cost-effective? Do you really need to build another classroom? Somehow, when it comes to disadvantaged children, whether in South Africa or the South Bronx, the question quickly shifts from “How well are we serving this child?” to “How many children can we fund for X dollars?”

"Somehow, when it comes to disadvantaged children, whether in South Africa or the South Bronx, the question quickly shifts from 'How well are we serving this child?' to 'How many children can we fund for X dollars?'"

It’s time to re-humanize philanthropy.

There is no shortcut for raising a child to become a healthy and happy adult. No innovation or life hack is more effective than that old, proven recipe: stay with a child every day of her life and give her the best you can. Provide her with healthcare, a stable and supportive home, and a quality education. Help her achieve her highest potential and overcome every obstacle.

Changing a life, like parenting, is a full-time job without room for quick-fix solutions.

Yet we seem to be stuck in the echo chamber of a harmful untruth—that privileged children should have everything at their disposal to navigate life while those who are not so fortunate can grow up to be functioning adults with much less and thrive on cups of soup, malaria nets, and windup computers.

I believe this disconnect, which I have encountered in every aspect of my work after nearly two decades, is one of the biggest challenges to meaningfully improving lives around the world. It is the reason that spending $7 million on a much-needed education and health center in a South African township generates backlash from the same people who send their own children to $40,000-per-year private schools.

Continue reading on PYXERA Global.org 

Tweet me:We have to start investing in disadvantaged communities in the same way that we would invest in our own families. Read from Jacob Lief, founder and CEO of Ubuntu Pathways: https://bit.ly/2rT2vbc #GEFlive @Ubuntujakes via @PYXERAGlobal

KEYWORDS: philanthropy, Ubuntu Pathways, Integrated Community Development, Closing the Skills Gap, Gender Equality, Global Health, sustainable cities and communities, PYXERA Global

People usually think of highways as polluted eyesores, but an 18-mile stretch of road in rural Georgia is working to change that perception

SOURCE:Ray C. Anderson Foundation

DESCRIPTION:

Tweet me:People usually think of highways as polluted eyesores, but an 18-mile stretch of road in rural Georgia is working to change that perception. @TheRayHighway @USNews #RidetheRay http://bit.ly/2zVSxxp @allienkelly @harriettheray @langfordphill @ecojohnpicard @ajand

Contact Info:

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

Anna Cullen
The Ray
+1 (404) 405-2685
anna@theray.org

KEYWORDS: The Ray, solar highway, solar road, Ray C. Anderson Foundation, U.S. News and World Report

SOURCE:Albertsons Companies

DESCRIPTION:

A new framework for responsible practices in fresh produce and floral supply chains has been unveiled in a joint partnership between the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) and United Fresh Produce Association, and several of the industry's top grocers have voiced their support for the undertaking.

The Ethical Charter on Responsible Labor Practices was conceived two years ago to create “an industry-wide framework that supports the dignity of workers who are critical in bringing fresh fruits, vegetables and floral products to consumers,” according to the trade organizations. The associations’ boards approved the charter in January, with more than 40 companies formally endorsing it, including such top grocers as Albertsons, Costco, Kroger, Sam’s Club, Walmart and Wegmans, as well as numerous suppliers of fresh fruits, vegetables and flowers.

Continue reading on Progressive Grocer

Tweet me:.@AlbertsonsCos joins retailers in supporting #EthicalCharter to enhance working conditions in produce industry http://bit.ly/2mtWzU9

KEYWORDS: Responsible Labor, Albertsons Companies, Ethical Charter, worker rights, SWY:SWY, produce marketing association, United Fresh Produce Association

SOURCE:Republic Services

DESCRIPTION:

SOUTH BRUNSWICK, N.J., July 17, 2018 /3BL Media/ – Republic Services and NJR Clean Energy Ventures (CEV), the clean energy subsidiary of New Jersey Resources, today celebrated the completion of a 13 megawatt (MW) ground-mounted commercial solar project constructed on the former South Brunswick Landfill Superfund site. Comprised of more than 36,000 solar panels, the project will provide enough clean energy to power 1,360 homes annually. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s carbon calculator, it will also reduce emissions by approximately 14,000 tons, equivalent to removing 2,700 cars from the road each year.  

“We believe in leading by example in everything we do,” said Loan Mansy, area president of Republic Services. “And, this solar project reflects Republic’s ongoing commitment to environmental responsibility and our efforts to make a meaningful and lasting environmental difference in the communities we serve.”

“We are proud to join with Republic Services in making solar an important part of New Jersey’s energy future,” said Mark Valori, vice president of NJR Clean Energy Ventures. “Projects like this are made possible through a shared commitment to maximize underutilized space to provide clean energy to customers, advance New Jersey’s renewable energy goals and create a cleaner, fairer energy future for us all.”

The solar array is owned, operated and maintained by CEV and marks the completion of its 34th commercial solar project in the state. Brownfield sites, such as the South Brunswick landfill, provide an opportunity to harness energy from yesterday’s waste and convert it into renewable energy for tomorrow’s power needs. Projects like thisalso represent Republic’s continued commitment to the expanded applications of solar energy on former landfills, and complements its other solar projects in Massachusetts, Texas, Georgia and Nevada.

CEV’s total investment in New Jersey-based solar projects now total approximately $600 million, with a capacity of 194 MW. Any Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) produced by the solar array are owned by CEV. SRECs are the credits generated by solar systems that can be sold to meet utility providers’ renewable energy requirements.
 

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Media Contacts:

Republic Services
media@RepublicServices.com
480-718-0119

New Jersey Resources
mkinney@njresources.com
732-938-1031

Tweet me:.@RepublicService and NJR #CleanEnergy Ventures install 36,000 #solar panels across South Brunswick brownfield providing enough energy to power 1,360 homes annually http://bit.ly/2zIefEG #sustainability

KEYWORDS: Republic Services, NJR Clean Energy Ventures, New Jersey, South Brunswick, Brownfield

SOURCE:Ethical Corporation

DESCRIPTION:

In today’s world of cybersecurity, automation and data the resulting disruption for business is ballooning. Companies need to adhere to higher ethical standards to ensure social purpose and reputation stays intact.

Ethical Corporation has just released a new in-depth report on the future of digital on reputation tackling the most pressing issues and opportunities that digital business brings to society.

Key topics include how business needs to prioritise privacy to using data ethically and the impact of customer trust and reputation. The report features insight and case studies of the likes of; Accenture, Black Rifle Coffee, Digital Ranking Rights project.

Ethics and responsibility is an absolute must to guarantee long term success for business.

Click here to download a copy of the whitepaper briefing that tackle ethics, data and more

Media Contact:
Ed Long
Project Director
Ethical Corporation
+44 (0) 207 375 7188

Tweet me:.@Ethical_Corp has just released a new in-depth #report on the future of #digital on reputation. Download the white paper here: http://bit.ly/2LhNNq4 #ethics

KEYWORDS: Ethical Corporation, cybersecurity, Corporate Responsibility, Technology, Social Purpose, Brand Reputation

SOURCE:VMware

DESCRIPTION:

Software has the power to unlock new possibilities for people, and for the planet. And yet, not everyone is benefiting equally from automation and operational efficiency. NTEN’s 10th Annual Nonprofit Technology Staffing & Investment report showed that the average technology budget of nonprofits is 5.7 percent of their total operation budget, with only 28 percent of organizations often or regularly using technology volunteers. Pro bono service learning can help enable nonprofits with technology, processes and people, giving it what it needs to thrive and ultimately bridging the growing digital divide.

A new publication, Transforming Technology Pro Bono Supplement – Discover and Design, released in collaboration with the VMware Foundation and Taproot Foundation expands on initial research, which introduced the Solution Development Framework, a phased-approach to discover, design, implement, and maintain sustainable solutions that meet nonprofit needs. This supplement focuses on how to take a customer-centric approach to discover and design. Studies show that investing in these two phases with a customer can result in going to market 2x faster, 301 percent return in investment, 33 percent less development and testing time, and 50 percent fewer bugs or defects.

“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.”

Tech pro bono engagements not only have the potential to help transform the nonprofit sector, but also provide an experiential learning opportunity for technology professionals and nonprofit staff to develop as leaders. Notably, people have an opportunity to hone the talents required for the workforce of the future by navigating volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity.

The Solution Development Framework and approach can be adopted by technology professionals, nonprofit staff, corporate engagement programs, and donors to help enable nonprofits with technology to run more efficiently, ultimately better serving their respective missions. “VMware is committed to advance the conversation of tech pro bono to support nonprofits in their digital journey,” says Chin.

Tweet me:How can #probono service learning enable #nonprofits with #technology, processes and people it needs to thrive? http://bit.ly/2mpTgwW @vmware @taprootfound

KEYWORDS: VMware, Taproot Foundation, Nonprofits

SOURCE:Sappi North America

DESCRIPTION:

At Sappi North America, we are committed to operating our businesses in a sustainable manner. Together with the 2020Vision— Sappi’s global growth strategy—we use our sustainability goals program to set targets, initiate improvement actions and monitor progress.

Achieve 60% Certified Fiber​

Our certifi cation goal tracks the amount of certified fiber from wood and pulp across our three manufacturing operations.

Our 2014 base year achievement of 66 percent certified fiber reflects the mix impact of high levels of certified kraft pulp purchased for the Cloquet site after conversion of the pulp mill to make dissolving wood pulp (as well as kraft). Since then, as we swung to making more kraft pulp at Cloquet, certifi ed levels dropped. The current level of certifi ed fi ber of 54 percent also refl ects somewhat limited certifi ed wood located in economic hauling range to our two pulp mills.

Despite the variables, we’re committed to responsible sourcing. All of our wood fiber is sourced from well-managed forests and is thirdparty verified that it is from controlled and non-controversial sources.

These standards build on the strong legal framework within the US and offer additional assurances that there are no controversial sources in our wood basket.

Lower Total Energy Expenditure

Energy use and climate change remain top of mind for Sappi and our stakeholders. We’ve worked to control energy consumption, and continue to focus on this critical aspect of our operation.

Our goal is to reduce the total amount of energy expended per ton of product by 5 percent, as compared to the 2014 baseline. In 2017 we achieved a 2 percent reduction and are on track to reach this goal.

Each of our mills is equipped to use different fuel sources to help manage energy costs. With fuelswitching we can see trade-offs between emissions and effi ciency.

A 2017 increase in use of biomass, which is less efficient than natural gas, at both Westbrook and Somerset mills resulted in lower efficiency than the prior year; however, we saw significant improvements at Cloquet.

Reduce Raw Material Waste

Efficient use of raw materials improves front-end cost savings, reduces environmental impact and lowers costs associated with waste processing. To achieve these benefi ts and focus our data collection, we have separate goals for the pulping and papermaking process areas.

In our paper mills we’ve established a 5 percent reduction goal, whereas our pulp mills are targeting a 10 percent reduction in material losses (which we measure in mill process sewers before these streams enter our on-site treatment plants). At the beginning of 2017, we discovered a measurement error that impacted the historical paper mill losses, and we are therefore restating the baseline using the 2017 data.

The Cloquet Mill has achieved signifi cant improvements over the past several years, and we aim to improve across all three mills and achieve a 5 percent reduction by 2020.

We continue to make year-over-year reductions in the pulp mill losses despite having exceeded our original target. This year the mills have reduced losses even further, achieving a total reduction of 17.7 percent over the 2014 baseline. 

Read more from Sappi North America's 2017 Sustainability Report here: http://bit.ly/Sappi-SR17

Tweet me:From certified fiber and raw waste to energy, @SappiNA has aggressive #sustainability goals for its impact on the planet: http://bit.ly/Sappi-SR17

KEYWORDS: Sappi, paper, pulp, Waste, Energy, Certified Fiber, manufacturing, JSE:SAP

SOURCE:Scotts Miracle-Gro

DESCRIPTION:

As hotter temperatures feed harmful algal blooms across the country, The ScottsMiracle-Gro Foundation and its partner the Everglades Foundation continue the race for a solution through the George Barley Water Prize. Recently the Water Brothers, producers of an international water-focused TV series, traveled to the Prize testing site to document ongoing research and testing. There they talked with contestants to uncover what is causing this summer’s massive outbreaks, what the risks are, and how we can solve them.

Learn more about the Prize, sponsored by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation, here.

Learn more about our Foundation’s clean water commitments here.

Tweet me:WATCH @thewaterbros discussing solutions to the #algalbloom issue with #BarleyPrize competitors http://bit.ly/2NMX5IY @Scotts_MGro #waterpositive @evergfoundation #cleanwater

KEYWORDS: The Water Brothers, Everglades Foundation, George Barley Water Prize, algal blooms, Scotts Miracle-Gro