SOURCE:Northern Trust
Our Manila partners marched alongside Philippine Financial Industry Pride member companies in the annual pride march, supporting the theme “Rise Up Together”. The yearly event is held to empower the local #LGBTQIA+ community and create a safe space for its members.
Connect with Northern Trust on LinkedIN
Click here to learn more about CSR at Northern Trust
KEYWORDS: Northern Trust Manila partners, Employee Engagement, csr, LGBTQIA, equality
SOURCE:World Environment Center
Nominations are now being accepted for the World Environment Center’s (WEC) 2019 Gold Medal for International Corporate Achievement in Sustainable Development. The Gold Medal Award is presented annually to a global company that demonstrates deep, organization-wide commitment to sustainability in its business practice and beyond.
Submissions of the 2019 WEC Gold Medal Award Nomination Form must be received by Wednesday, August 15, 2018. Self-nominations are welcome. WEC membership is not required as a criterion for submitting a nomination nor for receiving the award.
Now in its 35th year, the WEC Gold Medal Award is the most prestigious recognition of a global company's contributions to sustainability, as embodied by the winning company’s global engagement and ongoing commitment to sustainable development. An independent jury of international experts in business and sustainability selects the Gold Medal awardee.
Ecolab was the recipient of the 2018 Gold Medal Award, recognized for its commitment to global water conservation thought the integration of sustainable in its innovation processes and product development, and thorough development of publicly available tools that focus on demonstrating the full value of water and revealing water-related risks that businesses can use to make better informed decisions.
Previous recent recipients of the WEC Gold Medal Award include: HP (2017), CH2M (2016), SC Johnson (2015), Unilever (2013), IBM (2012), Nestlé (2011), Walmart (2010), The Coca-Cola Company (2009), and Marks & Spencer (2008).
About the World Environment Center
WEC is an independent, global non-profit, non-advocacy organization that advances sustainable development through the business practices and operations of its member companies and in partnership with governments, multi-lateral organizations, non-governmental organizations, universities and other stakeholders. WEC’s mission is to promote business and societal value by advancing solutions to sustainable development-related problems. It manages projects for companies across their global operations, builds executive level learning and competency in incorporating sustainable development principles across a number of business sectors, and recognizes performance excellence through an annual awards program. WEC is headquartered in Washington, D.C., with regional offices in China, El Salvador and Germany.
# # #
If you would like more information on the Gold Medal Award or the nomination process, please contact Smitha Konduri at skonduri@wec.org
KEYWORDS: World Environment Center
SOURCE:Avery Dennison
With many of Avery Dennison’s solutions made from paper, maintaining a sustainable paper supply is vital to our business success and achieving our long-term sustainability goals. In fact, we’re aiming to use 100% FSC-Certified paper for all of our products by the year 2025. A passionate proponent of environmentally, socially, and economically sound management of our forests, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a key partner in our journey to leaving the planet in better condition than we found it. And they are in very good company.
Read more about Avery Dennison’s firm commitment to our planet and its people, visit: sustainability.averydennison.com
To learn more about the Avery Dennison Foundation and Corporate Social Responsibility, visit www.averydennison.com/foundation
For more information about Avery Dennison, visit www.averydennison.com
Stay up-to-date on all the latest from Avery Dennison. Connect with us on Social Media.
KEYWORDS: Avery Dennison, NYSE:AVY
SOURCE:Walmart
BENTONVILLE, Ark., July 25, 2018 /3BL Media/ – Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have made a commitment to provide support through cash and product donations of $50,000 to organizations in response to the severe weather that impacted Marshalltown, Iowa. As a part of this commitment, Walmart is working closely with local officials and governmental entities to help meet the needs of those affected.
“Our leadership is on the ground actively helping our associates, customers and the Marshalltown community after this devastating storm,” said Arch Allison, Walmart market manager. “In the coming days we will continue to work with non-profits, first responders, local officials and governmental organizations to identify needs and provide additional support.”
Walmart operates 68 retail facilities in Iowa, which includes 58 Supercenters, nine Sam’s Clubs and one Distribution Center, all supported by nearly 17,486 associates across the state.
Walmart has a long history of providing aid in times of disasters, helping communities prepare and recover by donating emergency supplies, such as food and water, home and personal products. In addition to last year’s hurricane response of more than $38 million, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation have donated more than $60 million since 2005 in cash and in-kind donations in response to disaster events.
About Walmart
Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) helps people around the world save money and live better - anytime and anywhere - in retail stores, online, and through their mobile devices. Each week, nearly 270 million customers and members visit our more than 11,700 stores under 65 banners in 28 countries and eCommerce websites. With fiscal year 2018 revenue of $500.3 billion, Walmart employs approximately 2.3 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://corporate.walmart.com, on Facebook at http://facebook.com/walmartand on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart.
About Philanthropy at Walmart
By using our strengths to help others, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation create opportunities for people to live better every day. Walmart has stores in 28 countries, employing more than 2.3 million associates and doing business with thousands of suppliers who, in turn, employ millions of people. Our philanthropy helps people live better by supporting upward job mobility and economic development for the retail workforce; addressing hunger and making healthier, more sustainably-grown food a reality; and building strong communities where Walmart operates and inspiring our associates to give back.
To learn more about Walmart’s giving, visit http://giving.walmart.com/foundation
KEYWORDS: Walmart, Iowa Tornado Relief, Marshalltown, NYSE:WMT, walmart foundation
SOURCE:Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG)
KEYWORDS: IMDS, AIAG, Automotive Industry Action Group, Automotive, Automotive Manufacturing, OHCL, GADSL, GLAPS, General Motors Company, FCA US LLC, Harman International Automotive Division, Ford Motor Company, Hyundai Motor Europe, Toyota Motor North America, Texas Instruments, IMDS 12.0, thermoplastics, Recycling, IPC 1752, Conflict Minerals, cobalt, India ELV, Chemistry Manager
SOURCE:Comcast Corporation
We’re excited to be named among the top companies for our culture of giving back.
Thanks to the feedback of our employees, for the first time Comcast NBCUniversal was ranked #4 in the country by PEOPLE magazine and Great Place to Work for our ongoing commitment to create real and lasting impact in the communities where we live and work.
The 2018 Companies That Care list highlights the top US companies that demonstrate outstanding respect, care and concern for their employees, their communities and the environment.
Supporting each other and the people and communities that we serve has always been fundamental to our culture, and is at the core of what we stand for as a company. To learn more about all of our efforts, check out our 2018 Corporate Social Responsibility and Diversity and Inclusion reports.
Tweet me:.@Comcast named one of the #50CompaniesthatCare by @people and @GPTW_US http://bit.ly/2NO0uqh
KEYWORDS: NASDAQ:CMCSA, comcast, Comcast NBCUniversal, People, 50 Companies That Care
SOURCE:National Diversity Council
LOS ANGELES, July 26, 2018 /3BL Media/ - The Council for Latino Workplace Equity (CLWE), an initiative under the National Diversity Council, will host its Fourth Annual National Latino Leadership Conference on October 10 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles Downtown. This year’s theme is “Latino Leadership: Power of the Past, Force of the Future.”
“It is with great pride that we honor this year’s Top Latino Leaders,” said Angeles Valenciano, CEO of the National Diversity Council. “The honorees embody the diversity within the Latino culture and are exemplary individuals paving the way for the Latino community and redefining an inclusive workplace for all.”
These honorees stand tall because their roots keep them firm and their wisdom has allowed them to branch out into the world and contribute towards the nation’s success, Valenciano added. “Join us as we celebrate the accomplishments of this remarkable group of leaders from across the country.”
The CLWE seeks to recognize individuals that demonstrate leadership excellence and have earned high visibility in the Latino community while operating with the highest integrity. The 2018 Top Latino Leaders were selected based on their contributions to promoting a culture supportive of Latino talent and leveraging this talent for organizational success.
To see the 2018 Top Latino Leaders, please visit http://clwe.org/tophispanicleaders/2018/
The 2018 Top Latino Leaders
Benny Agosto Partner Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Aziz | Omar Aguilar Chief Investment Officer and Senior Vice President Charles Schwab Investment Management | Michael Alicea Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources Nielsen |
Elizabeth (Liz) Archuleta Coconino County Supervisor Coconino County | Xavier Becerra Attorney General The California Republic | Nellie Borrero Senior Managing Director, Global Inclusion & Diversity Accenture |
Debra Canales Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer Providence St. Joseph Health | Enrique Cerna Retired Executive Producer KCTS 9 Public Television in Seattle, Washington | Anna Dapelo-Garcia Administrative Director Patient Access Services Stanford Health Care
|
Rosanna Durruthy Head of Global Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging | Isaura Gaeta Vice President and General Manager of Systems Engineering Group, Platform Engineering Group (PEG) Intel Corporation | John Garcia Vice President, Government Relations Kaiser Permanente |
Jesús Gomez Director of Engineering – Western Star Trucks & Mexico Engineering Daimler Trucks North America | Karl Gouverneur Vice President, Corporate Solutions, Digital Workplace and Head of Digital Innovation Northwestern Mutual | René Hernández Associate General Counsel Travelers Insurance |
Joseph Herrera Corporate Vice President Human Resources AEG Staples Center | Maria Hinojosa President The Futuro Media Group | Mark Madrid Executive Director/CEO Latino Business Action Network |
Maria Martinez EVP & Chief Customer Experience Officer Cisco | Ofelia Melendrez-Kumpf US Field Vice President Long Beach Office McDonald’s USA | Maria Moats U.S. Audit and Assurance Leader PwC |
Gina Orozco-Mejia VP, Gas Operations SoCalGas | Grace Puma Executive Vice President, Global Operations Pepsico | Amelie Ramirez, M.D. Professor of Epidemiology and Biostatistics The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio |
Pablo Ribas Senior Vice President & GM - US Middle Market American Express | Larissa Rodriguez Senior Director, Sales, National Accounts Frito-Lay | Emma Rodriguez-Ayala Partner Faegre Baker Daniels LLP |
Gisel Ruiz Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Sam’s Club | Rogelio Sáenz Dean of the College of Public Policy University of Texas at San Antonio | René Salazar, M.D. Assistant Dean for Diversity and Professor of Medical Education Dell Medical School |
Maria Elena Salinas Independent Journalist, Principal MES Multi-Media, LLC | Thomas Santiago SVP and Global Real Estate Head WarnerMedia | Lucino Sotelo Vice President, Marketing W.W. Grainger |
Myrna Soto Partner ForgePoint Capital | Nina Tassler Producer, Author, Activist // Former Chairman, CBS Entertainment
| Hector Tobar Journalist and Author
|
Linda Valdez-Thompson Executive Vice President DFW International Airport | Carlos Vale Head of Diversity Recruitment - Global Groupon Global | Peter Villegas Vice President & Head of Latin Affairs The Coca-Cola Company |
Geisha Williams CEO & President PG&E Corporation |
Registration is available by visiting www.clwe.org Individual tickets are currently available for $249. Corporate sponsorships start at $1,500. For more information about the event and to register, please visit: http://clwe.org/programs-events/latino-leadership-conference/2018-national-latino-leadership-conference/
About the Council for Latino Equity Council
The Council for Latino Workplace Equity is a resource and platform to foster workplace equity for Latino talent. Its highlights the pertinent issues concerning Latinos in the workplace in order to advance equal opportunities and incite change within organizations.
More information about the Council for Latino Workplace Equity is available at www.clwe.org.
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Media Contact: Laura Alvarado laura.alvarado@nationaldiversitycouncil.org
KEYWORDS: National Diversity Council, Angeles Valenciano, DiversityFIRST, Top Latino Leaders
SOURCE:GRI
There is no doubt that businesses are key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since 2013, representatives from countries, businesses and NGOs have gathered once a year in New York to for the high-level political forum on sustainable development (HLPF). We collected some key takeaways from the forum about how the private sector is helping advance the achievement of the SDGs.
During the 2018 meeting in July, 47 countries in total presented their voluntary national reviews (VNR). These country-driven analyses are an evaluation on progress and a reflection on experiences, successes, challenges and lessons learned, regarding the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.
Private sector and SDG implementation
If we are to reach the SDGs, there is a need for action from all types of actors. So GRI welcomes the development that close to 40 percent of the countries mention the contribution of the private sector to national SDG strategies. Almost all countries included the private sector into the review process and consulted business representatives for the preparation of their national report. This highlights the fact that it has now become common practice for governments to include all stakeholders, which comprise businesses, into assessing SDG progress.
The reports of five countries – Ecuador, Greece, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates and Uruguay, contain a specific section on the private sector, and how it is helping further the SDGs. Scores others have included examples of sustainable business conduct and sustainability practice. Another welcome development is the increasing recognition of the role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in sustainable development, with 40 percent of countries also taking measures to empower SMEs in the realization of specific SDGs.
One country, Colombia, has started analyzing business data, looking to understand the overall impact and contribution of the private sector in the country to the SDGs. It engaged in efforts to facilitate the collection of SDG-related business data that is reported according to the GRI Standards and included this information in their national report.
Final notes
While the focus of the reviews is quite diverse – as are the SDGs – 13 countries provide information on SDG target 12.6, related to sustainability and reporting. This target seeks to “encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and integrate sustainability into their reporting cycles.”
As the HLPF is wrapped up, there is a need to reflect on how to continue incorporating the efforts of businesses of any size and anywhere in the world, to accelerate the transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies.
Click here to find out how your organization can contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals through reporting.
KEYWORDS: GRI, global reporting initiative, GRI Standards, HLPF, sustainable development, SDGs
SOURCE:Voya Financial, Inc.
WINDSOR, Conn., July 26, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), announced today the launch of its new Financial Wellness Experience, the latest addition to the company’s suite of financial wellness offerings that includes access to guidance and personal financial planning services. The experience is another example of Voya’s focus on purposeful innovation, with the goal of developing meaningful tools and resources that support individuals on their journey to and through retirement.
“At Voya, our approach to financial wellness is centered around workplace solutions that can help individuals find the right balance between living for today while preparing for their future,” said Charlie Nelson, CEO of Retirement and Employee Benefits for Voya Financial. “We believe that improving financial wellness is good for both the employee and employer. Offering support in this area can lead to a healthier, less-stressed and more-productive workforce that appreciates its employer and the benefits available to them.”
Developed from insight and consumer feedback through user testing, the experience provides participants with a resource center for educational articles, life-stage tips, and planning tools and calculators so they can learn and take action. After completing a brief financial assessment, participants will receive a personalized summary of where they stand along with a customized dashboard that includes meaningful steps for improvement. This personalized approach is important given that the financial wellness needs of individuals may differ across generations and socioeconomic demographics. Voya’s initial findings show that of those who complete their assessment, more than eight out 10 users go on to further explore the dashboard to learn more about enhancing their financial picture.[1]
Financial pillars for success
According to industry research, [2] a significant amount (40%) of Americans say they do not have the funds to cover a $400 unexpected expense — adding to one’s financial stress and concern. Findings from Voya’s Financial Wellness experience reinforce this point, with nearly half (49%) who completed the online assessment acknowledging that they do not have three months of living expenses to cover an emergency.
In recognizing that many workers do not have a complete understanding of their financial picture; Voya has identified six pillars that it believes are essential to successful financial outcomes and serve as the core of the experience. These include: 1) protection; 2) spending and saving; 3) emergency funds; 4) retirement; 5) debt; and 6) other savings goals. Based on one’s assessment, individuals can see how they measure up within each pillar based on a color-coded scoring display, highlighting where they are on track and where they might be in need of improvement.
“Saving for retirement is one of the most important financial goals, but it’s never done in a vacuum — and we know that more immediate life events and competing priorities can often impact one’s ability to save,” noted Christine Lange, senior vice president, Retirement Digital Solutions for Voya Financial. “As part of our commitment to making a secure financial future possible for all Americans, we believe in a holistic wellness approach — ranging from self-directed digital planning tools to meeting with financial professionals who can offer advice and guidance.”
The new Financial Wellness Experience integrates into Voya’s industry-leading myOrangeMoney®online, interactive educational experience while embracing a holistic approach to financial security. [3]It also further supplements Voya’s curriculum of financial wellness seminars, educational campaigns and phone-based support. In addition, the experience includes personal financial planning services and special services for those leaving their employer.
To improve one’s financial well-being, Voya also believes it’s important to drive change in behaviors and action through a multi-channeled approach, with engaging experiences and solutions. Voya’s financial wellness offerings will continue to evolve based on participant engagement and feedback, pillar scores relative to retirement outcomes and the need for plan sponsors to address the broader financial needs of their employees. The company also continues to invest in its suite of digital retirement planning services. These capabilities build on new resources that were introduced in the early half of 2018, including special needs planning tools and personalized account videos.
1. Voya Financial Wellness Experience data (March 2018 – May 2018).
2. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, “Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households in 2017” (May 2018).
3. Dalbar Inc., “Communications Excellence” (2018).
About Voya Financial ®
Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), helps Americans plan, invest and protect their savings — to get ready to retire better. Serving the financial needs of approximately 14.7 million individual and institutional customers in the United States, Voya is a Fortune 500 company that had $8.6 billion in revenue in 2017. The company had $541 billion in total assets under management and administration as of March 31, 2018. With a clear mission to make a secure financial future possible — one person, one family, one institution at a time — Voya’s vision is to be America’s Retirement Company®. Certified as a “Great Place to Work” by the Great Place to Work® Institute, Voya is equally committed to conducting business in a way that is socially, environmentally, economically and ethically responsible. Voya has been recognized as one of the 2018 World’s Most Ethical Companies® by the Ethisphere Institute, one of the 2018 World’s Most Admired Companies by Fortune magazine and one of the Top Green Companies in the U.S. by Newsweek magazine. For more information, visit voya.com. Follow Voya Financial on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter @Voya.
Media:
Voya Financial
Laura Maulucci, 860-580-1278
508-353-6913 (Cell)
Laura.Maulucci@Voya.com
KEYWORDS: Voya, Financial Wellness, csr, Retirement, financial planning
SOURCE:Keep America Beautiful
STAMFORD, Conn., July 26, 2018 /3BL Media/ – National community improvement nonprofit Keep America Beautiful, as a founding member of the Ocean Conservancy’s Trash Free Seas Alliance, applauds the passage of the S. 756 Save Our Seas (SOS) Act in a bipartisan vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on July 25.
The SOS Act is an important step in the reauthorization of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Marine Debris Program, which is the U.S. government’s foray into tackling the problem of ocean plastic waste, 80 percent of which comes from land. The bill requires NOAA to work with other land- and sea-based sources of marine debris and the State Department to promote international action to address the marine debris issue.
Helen Lowman, president and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, issued this statement in response to the passage of the SOS Act:
“As a founding member of the Trash Free Seas Alliance and partner of the Ocean Conservancy, Keep America Beautiful will continue engaging public and private stakeholders through our national network of community-based affiliates to help eliminate plastic and other litter, with the goal of keeping our land and bodies of water beautiful. The passage of the SOS Act reinforces the relevancy of the work done by Keep America Beautiful and our Trash Free Seas Alliance partners to address the global concern of ocean plastics. During our 65-year history, Keep America Beautiful has worked to end littering, improve recycling and beautify America’s communities.
We believe everyone has a right to live in a clean, green and beautiful community, and shares a responsibility to contribute to that vision. Much of the current discussion about marine debris concerns the reduction and prevention of plastics reaching the oceans. Keep America Beautiful, with our more than 600-member affiliate network, millions of volunteers, and our Trash Free Seas Alliance partner organizations, is uniquely positioned to provide tools and resources to change littering behavior at the grassroots level.”
About Keep America Beautiful
Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. Celebrating its 65th Anniversary in 2018, Keep America Beautiful strives to End Littering, Improve Recycling and Beautify America’s Communities. We believe everyone has a right to live in a clean, green and beautiful community, and shares a responsibility to contribute to that vision.
Behavior change – steeped in education, research and behavioral science – is the cornerstone of Keep America Beautiful. We empower generations of community and environmental stewards with volunteer programs, hands-on experiences, educational curricula, practical advice and other resources. The organization is driven by the work and passion of more than 600 Keep America Beautiful affiliates, millions of volunteers, and the collaborative support of corporate partners, social and civic service organizations, academia, municipalities, elected officials, and individuals. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Donate and take action at kab.org.
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Larry Kaufman
Keep America Beautiful
+1 (203) 659-3014
lkaufman@kab.org
http://www.twitter.com/kabtweet
http://www.facebook.com/keepamericabeautiful
http://www.instagram.com/keepamericabeautiful
http://www.youtube.com/kabnetwork
Janessa Rivera
Keep America Beautiful
+1 (203) 659-3064
jrivera@kab.org
KEYWORDS: Keep America Beautiful, Save Our Seas Act, Ocean Conservancy, Trash Free Seas Alliance
SOURCE:Booz Allen Hamilton
Booz Allen Hamilton has been named to the Diversity Best Practices Inclusion Index, one of 73 organizations recognized by Working Mother Research Institute for high-quality diversity and inclusion (D&I) work.
Organizations named to the index have implemented programs and policies that help successfully recruit, retain and promote diverse employees—such as requiring that job candidates be interviewed by a diverse panel of interviewers and training hiring managers on inclusive interviewing techniques. Other programs widely adopted by organizations on the Index include providing learning/talent development programs specifically for Employee Resource Group leaders and holding managers accountable for D&I as part of the annual review process.
The Working Mother Research Institute also uncovered opportunities for all organizations to target their D&I effort for greater effectiveness by building on advancement programs that offer women formal mentoring and executive sponsorship.
Read the full list of organizations on the Diversity Best Practices Inclusion Index here.
Read about Booz Allen Hamilton’s commitment to diversity and inclusion here.
KEYWORDS: Booz Allen Hamilton, working mother, NYSE:BAH
SOURCE:Barclays
The Beginning with Children Mentoring programme is designed to support the personal, social, academic and career growth of high school students. Mentoring relationships with Barclays volunteers have been successfully established, dedicated to helping students achieve their full potential. The programme, now in its ninth year, has helped over 75 students from Brooklyn to graduate from high school and enroll into college, 85% of whom are from low-income families. As higher education remains the most effective vehicle to socio-economic mobility, the programme aims to break the cycle of poverty through mentoring support. It gives students a mentor who can teach them about available opportunities and assist them in overcoming the obstacles that stand in the way of them becoming the next generation of professionals.
Citizenship can take many different forms – from supporting entrepreneurs to helping young people develop their employment skills. The annual Barclays Citizenship Awards recognise those colleagues who make that difference and create opportunities to rise.
In 2018, we received over 550 nominations for the Citizenship Awards, celebrating the vast and outstanding Citizenship work of our employees and their contributions, not just to our customers and clients, but in helping to find ways in which to drive economic, environmental and social prosperity.
To see other Citizenship Award videos, click here.
Follow us on Twitter at @Barclays_cship.
KEYWORDS: Brooklyn, Barclays, Beginning with Children, Mentoring
SOURCE:ICO Impact Group
We’ve seen a massive shift towards values-based leadership over the last several years, particularly within the ranks of established corporate leadership teams.
But what role do values and operationalizing the creation of shared value play for the emerging entrepreneur, for whom it can be a matter of business life-or-death if funds aren’t quickly raised and partners don’t come alongside to support their urgent growth? Is there a role for social impact as an entrepreneur or ICO leader?
At the Women in Media LA 2018 event, hosted by World Forum Disrupt on 26 July 2018, leaders from across the spectrum of publishing, media, and communications helped consider the shifting business landscape. They shared stories of experience and influence, and talked about what it means to strategically operate in a world being continuously re-shaped and re-formed by high-profile movements including #MeToo and #blacklivesmatter.
How should CEO’s and Founders engage in conversations that are so vital and critical, yet at the same time, can be perceived as difficult, political, or even polarizing?
“We’ve seen increasing demand for social impact advice over the last 3 to 5 years, in particular, from both established brands and emerging companies. They’re seeing it’s no longer a separation. Social impact and impact storytelling lie at the heart of modern business strategy,” said Laura Plato, COO of Causecast and President of its recently launched +IMPACT Media Division, a team made up of influencers, social strategists, and filmmakers who work at the intersection of celebrity, technology, and nonprofit causes. Plato also serves as EVP for ICO Impact Group’s client AKoin, where she’s supporting a team of global partners ramping up a new cryptocurrency project designed to fuel youth entrepreneurship in Africa and the world. “AKoin -- and the way the founding partners there are galvanizing an entire group of entrepreneurs and ICOs around the ecosystem -- this is a great example of how people are awake to the fact that it’s time to do more than just go through the motions. It’s time to make movements.”
Still, while much has been written about the expectations Millennial and Gen Z consumers place on the brands they do business with, some leaders and companies remain reluctant to embrace social causes. And such reluctance can come at a real cost to a brand’s ability to grow and engage.
“The fear that advertisers and brands have of embracing irreverent, political content is holding them back from younger audiences who actually expect the content creators that they trust to have opinions and stances on a political and or social issues,” said Ana Kasparian, Host of The Young Turks. “We have to do whatever we can to encourage these brands to embrace diversified, irreverent content because they essentially will shield themselves from new people who would be interested in their products because they are afraid to try something different.”
So, do busy leaders really need to keep their values and often deeply personal desire for social change top of mind when movements can be made around and outside them? As social media movements continue to prove a juggernaut in the world of digital content, it can be tempting to simply sit to the side as a leader and wait it out.
Again, this reluctance to engage can lead to missed opportunities. Kendra Bracken-Ferguson, Chief Digital Officer at CAA – GBG, and Founder of Braintrust, points out: “Every single brand has a responsibility to be part of a conversation that affects this country because brands control the money and the advertising. They control the narratives that people see. I think it is the responsibility for brands to figure out what their social impact story and mission.”
And for leaders and entrepreneurs who do keep social impact more top of mind or have built into the core of the work they’re doing, it’s also often a matter of a bit of persistence and courage.
“You will earn a moment when people are ready to listen to you,” said Mina Seetharaman, SVP Global Managing Director, Marketing Solutions at The Economist Group. “Be ready to make the most of that moment.”
KEYWORDS: ICO Impact Group, Women in Media LA 2018, World Forum Disrupt, Social Impact
SOURCE:Schneider Electric
RUEIL-MALMAISON, France, July 27, 2018 – For the fourth year, Schneider Electric, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, announces its financial and non-financial results together for the second quarter of 2018. Each quarter, Schneider Electric publishes 21 indicators from the Schneider Sustainability Impact 2018-2020, which replaces the Planet & Society Barometer, measuring progress towards its ambitious sustainability commitments. With a total score of 4.55 out of 10 at end-July 2018, the Group has exceeded its Schneider Sustainability Impact target of 4 out of 10 for the quarter. The end-2018 target is 5 out of 10.
Gilles Vermot Desroches, Chief Sustainability Officer at Schneider Electric, commented: "We are very proud to see Schneider Electric Chairman & CEO appointed to the Board of the United Nations Global Compact. As a Group, we strive to promote human rights and international labour standards, to protect the environment and to fight against corruption, while constantly working for the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by all members. This appointment also reflects Schneider Electric's lasting commitment to Sustainable Development – a commitment that takes concrete shape through our Schneider Sustainability Impact 2018-2020 indicators. At the end of July 2018, the Group had exceeded its target score of 4 out of 10 with an overall score of 4.55, another excellent performance that confirms that the Schneider Sustainability Impact is firmly on track."
Quarter highlights
Climate:
- The "80% renewable electricity" indicator improved in the second quarter. Schneider Electric's energy needs are constantly optimized, capitalizing in full on the Group's expertise and EcoStruxure solutions. Since 2012, the Group's different sites have already achieved energy savings of 20%. At the end of 2017, Schneider Electric joined the RE100 initiative and aims to source 80% of its global electricity consumption from renewable sources by 2020. In Q2 2018, the indicator stood at 6%. Three new photovoltaic systems have already been installed at facilities in India, Thailand and China, and long-term renewable energy purchasing agreements are currently under consideration in several countries.
Circular economy:
- The "200 sites labelled towards zero waste to landfill" indicator rose to 163 sites, resulting in the recycling and reuse of the equivalent of more than four Eiffel Towers worth of metal in the first half of 2018. More than 3,400 garbage trucks worth of non-metal waste were also diverted from the landfill. The extension of the Towards Zero Waste to Landfill (TZWL) program from the previous Planet & Society Barometer is not only intended to improve performance at the different sites, but also to drive innovation within mature TZWL sites. Sites are striving beyond recycling and driving towards Circular Economy solutions within the supply chain using bold ideas such as returnable/reusable packaging and digitized solutions to eliminate waste generation altogether and bring better business and environmental value.
Health & Equity:
- The "70% score in our Employee Engagement Index" indicator increased to 67%, up two points compared to end of 2017. All drivers are progressing well, and are at the good level compared to market average. This is the sixth year in a row that this indicator has improved towards achieving 70% in 2020.
Ethics:
- The "300 suppliers under Human Rights & Environment vigilance received specific on-site assessments" indicator shows that thirty-seven suppliers were audited in Q2 2018. The aim of this indicator is to audit 300 Group suppliers over three years on the ways in which they manage human rights and the environment. The processes, team and governance were set in place in the first quarter of 2018, and the first three audits were carried out. Thirty-seven audits were completed by the end of the second quarter. These specific audits focus on the ways in which the Group can support suppliers in identifying areas for improvement and action plans to bring themselves in line with industry best practices (Responsible Business Alliance code of conduct).
Development:
- The result for the "12,000 volunteering days thanks to our VolunteerIn global platform" indicator is more than satisfactory for the second quarter. To date, 7,258 volunteering days have been completed, including 1,665 in the first quarter alone. With the launch of the new VolunteerIn digital platform, the Schneider Electric Foundation has taken on a whole new scale to drive collaborators’ engagement.
Highlights:
- Global Compact: Schneider Electric Chairman & CEO is appointed to the Board of the United Nations Global Compact.
- Schneider Electric is selected by the ISS-Oekom Corporate Responsibility Review 2018 as the leader in its sector alongside six other French industry leaders: Valeo, Peugeot, Amundi, CNP Assurances, and Sanofi. Founded in 1993, ISS-Oekom is a ratings agency that analyzes the ESG performance of companies and countries.
- Schneider Electric is recognized for its social responsibility approach in various Vigeo Eiris Euronext indices: World, Europe, Eurozone and France. Schneider Electric is also the only representative of its sector to be listed in the France index.
- Schneider Electric gains five places in the Gartner Supply Chain Top 25 ratings and is awarded 17th place in 2018 for the exemplary management of its value chain.
KEYWORDS: Schneider Electric, quarterly reporting, Schneider Sustainability Impact 2018-2020, non-financial results, Planet & Society Barometer
SOURCE:MilliporeSigma
The shortlist for Ethical Corporation's 9th Annual Responsible Business Awards has been announced. The winners will be revealed and celebrated at a glamorous Awards Dinner ceremony on 9th October in central London.
“This year we completely revamped the Award categories to reflect the evolution of responsible and sustainable business. We're pleased that new the categories shine the light on pioneering strategies that are shaping and transforming the future of business, and help address the challenges and Goals ahead of us. The 2018 Finalists represent truly amazing initiatives and innovations from across the globe. We look forward to celebrating their successes in October,” said Liam Dowd, managing director at Ethical Corporation.
KEYWORDS: MilliporeSigma, Ethical Corporation, Cyrene, Green Chemistry, responsible business awards, Merck KgaA, bio-based solvent, Innovation of the Year
SOURCE:Legg Mason
July 27, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Gables Residential continues to develop sustainable buildings often recognized by multiple levels of green certifications. Most recently, Gables was awarded Multifamily Builder of the Year in the state of Florida by the Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC). Gables was not only recognized for achieving the highest of recognitions, but also for its dedication to promoting a positive environmental, social and economic impact across the country.
Points are awarded by FGBC for each of the individual green certifying levels - bronze, silver, gold and platinum. Numerical points are given for selecting and integrating individual environmentally friendly green products, best practices and sustainable techniques from a menu of available green options.
John Akin, Chief Investment Officer, shares, “Gables continues to innovate as we build projects across the country. We have a dedicated team that focuses on researching and sourcing green opportunities that best impact how and what we build, creating long term value for our investors, residents and the community-at-large.”
About Gables Residential
Gables Residential is an award-winning, vertically integrated, real estate company and privately held REIT specializing in the development, construction, ownership, acquisition, financing and management of multifamily and mixed-use communities. Gables Residential owns, develops and manages communities in high-growth U.S. markets such as Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Houston, South Florida, Southern California and metropolitan Washington, D.C. Gables also provides third party management services in the New York, Baltimore, Frederick, Tampa, Phoenix, Seattle, Charlotte, Central and North Florida markets.
Gables manages over 30,000 apartment homes and approximately 430,000 square feet of retail space and has received national recognition for excellence in development, construction, management, sales, marketing, learning and development, benefits and corporate accommodations. These achievements reflect the impact of our experienced and dedicated team members, our superior knowledge of the markets served, and our expertise in development and management.
Gables Residential is a vertically integrated operating company wholly owned by Clarion Partners, LLC, a Legg Mason company.
About Clarion Partners
Clarion Partners, LLC, an SEC registered investment adviser with FCA-authorized and FINRA member affiliates, has been a leading U.S. real estate investment manager for more than 36 years. Headquartered in New York, the firm maintains offices in key markets throughout the United States and in London, England. With more than $45.6 billion in total assets under management, Clarion Partners offers a broad range of real estate strategies across the risk/return spectrum to its more than 300 domestic and international institutional investors. More information about the firm is available at www.clarionpartners.com.
About Legg Mason
Guided by a mission of Investing to Improve Lives,TM Legg Mason helps investors globally achieve better financial outcomes by expanding choice across investment strategies, vehicles and investor access through independent investment managers with diverse expertise in equity, fixed income, alternative and liquidity investments. Legg Mason’s assets under management are $745 billion as of June 30, 2018. To learn more, visit our web site, our newsroom, or follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook.
©2018 Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC, member FINRA, SIPC. Legg Mason Investor Services, LLC is a subsidiary of Legg Mason, Inc.
All investments involve risk, including loss of principal.
All investing involves risk. Any information, statement or opinion set forth herein is general in nature, is not directed to or based on the financial situation or needs of any particular investor, and does not constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice, forecast of future events, a guarantee of future results, or a recommendation with respect to any particular security or investment strategy or type of retirement account. Investors seeking financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in any securities or investment strategies should consult their financial professional.
Tweet me:.@gables named multifamily builder of the year by @FGBCGreen http://bit.ly/2vcsVqj
KEYWORDS: NYSE:LM, legg mason
SOURCE:3BL Forum
Luxury brands and brands taking stands are topics not usually included in the same conversation. But in another sign of a world turned upside down, top tier fashion labels are now talking CSR and sustainability. From materials to packaging, from supply chain to environmental footprint, luxury consumer goods companies are updating their strategies to ensure long-term viability.
Exhibit A: Gucci, the venerable and fashion-forward Italian house, a perennial category leader, is launching Gucci Equilibrium, “a portal designed to connect people, planet, and purpose.” The company describes the project as part of “a 10-year plan to embed a comprehensive sustainability strategy into and around Gucci.” “Readers can…explore the various initiatives it undertakes to put people, as well as the planet, at the center of its business operations.” This plan echoes the classic triple bottom line approach—not typical of high fashion brands.
To support its commitment, Gucci’s parent company Kering has adopted an environmental P&L, a holistic accounting tool to make “the invisible impacts of business visible, quantifiable and comparable.” Kering underlines its goals in high-minded terms: “We believe in…driving our brands toward higher levels of economic, environmental, ethical and social performance. We see sustainability as a necessity, for sustainability and luxury are one and the same.”
A crucial part of that strategy is aligning the company with the UN SDGs and the Paris Accord. Says Marco Bizzarri, Gucci president and CEO, “These are critical times when we can all play our part in helping to deliver on the UN Global Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement.”
Now, Kering and Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) have teamed up to publish a report on climate change for the luxury fashion business. “Climate Change: Implications and Strategies for the Luxury Fashion Sector” aims to help luxury goods companies “understand their specific vulnerabilities to climate change, and provide guidance on building new and more resilient business models.” “Gucci and corporate parent Kering SA are backing companies developing techniques to grow leather from animal-cell cultures,”reports WSJ.
Other stands being taken by luxury labels involve animal welfare and raw materials, especially those involving animal skins. There’s a move away from the sometimes-sketchy supply chains that provide exotic materials, and even away from leather itself. Many top fashion companies have stopped using fur, including Versace, Armani, Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, and Hugo Boss.
Another brand looking to alternative materials is Stella McCartney, which has made a chic black handbag with chain trim from mycelium, the hairy, root-like fungal mass from which mushrooms emerge. The bag is the latest collaboration between McCartney and materials innovation company Bolt Threads, which grows synthetic silk as well as synthetic leather. McCartney and Bolt “aim to spur a fashion-business makeover that’s as critical to the industry’s health as it is to the planet’s.” McCartney, a long-time sustainability devotee, has never used leather or fur; the company's annual revenue in the UK doubled between 2011 and 2016.
High-end beauty brands are joining the CR game, too. “By capitalizing on the sustainability values of the modern customer, new brands are finding a way to make an impact in a crowded market, while older brands are discovering opportunities to renew enthusiasm for longstanding products,”reports Glossy.co. “New brands like LOLI Beauty and Ethique have embedded the circular economy concept into their core businesses through the use of biodegradable, recyclable or carbon-neutral products…. Meanwhile, larger companies like Lush have received valuable earned media for their zero-waste products—for Lush, many of those brands have existed since the company began in 1995."
With their outsize influence on culture as trendsetters, and their large ecosystems, from raw materials sourcing to finished products, luxury fashion and beauty brands are well positioned to drive social progress through corporate responsibility.
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KEYWORDS: Stella McCartney, gucci, Luxury Brands, Brands Taking Stands, john howell, 3bl Media, 3BL Forum
SOURCE:TriplePundit
This article series is sponsored by Saipem and went through our normal editorial review process.
Many companies talk about their plans to support the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 8 (SDG8), meant to promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all.
But Saipem, a global a global leader in drilling services, engineering, procurement, construction, and installation of pipelines and complex projects, onshore and offshore, does more than just talk. Based on documentation the company has released over the past few years, Saipem appears to be truly “walking the talk.”
As an international industrial group operating in 67 countries around the world, Saipem has built its SDG8 initiatives around the concepts of “local value creation” and “shared value,” terms the company uses to sum up how it creates employment, develops local skills and capacity, transfers know-how, collaborates with local suppliers and subcontractors, and enhances local entrepreneurship with its operations. That means most of Saipem’s SDG8 initiatives are directed towards:
Over the years, this local value creation approach has become a long-term strategy for a mutually beneficial engagement between Saipem and its local stakeholders—and the results are impressive.
For instance, Saipem contributed 1.73 billion pesos to the Mexican GDP, where the company has implemented the El Encino Topolobampo project, an onshore natural gas pipeline project. To measure this contribution, Saipem developed a methodology aimed at quantifying the socio-economic externalities associated with its local value creation approach. More details on the methodology are available here.
Saipem also recently enhanced its systems and processes to ensure the respect for Human and Labor Rights and to prevent modern slavery and human trafficking in its business and supply chain. As outlined in the Saipem Modern Slavery Statement 2017, the company’s Code of Ethics states the rejection of any form of discrimination, corruption, forced or child labor and the promotion of human rights. All employees and vendors must comply, and in 2017, the company implemented several initiatives to promote the respect for internationally recognized human rights.
Saipem management maintains that the company’s business model has not been limited to only meeting the expectations of stakeholders; it has also been designed to prepare Saipem for the competitive global marketplace of the coming decades. Saipem’s vision for sustainability, combined with its know-how and technology, allow the company to fully create value in all of the countries where it operates.
IMAGE credit: Flickr - Raul Jimenez (A&H)
KEYWORDS: Saipem, SDGs, sdg8, triplepundit, KATHRYN SIRANOSIAN
SOURCE:HP, Inc.
The Project Steering Committee of the Learning and Knowledge Development Facility, an initiative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), has approved HP Inc as a knowledge member of the facility.
UNIDO and HP Inc have an ongoing partnership through the HP Foundation’s Learning Initiative for Entrepreneurs, HP LIFE, programme, which provides people worldwide with access to over 25 free online courses in seven languages to build key business competencies. Through HP LIFE workshops and business coaching provided by UNIDO, young entrepreneurs develop the knowledge and skills they need to start, grow and run successful businesses. HP LIFE is also used by educators to enrich curricula and deepen the student learning experience.
HP Inc will contribute to the Learning and Knowledge Development Facility by sharing their HP LIFE platform and online courses on the LKDF portal. Additionally, HP Inc will provide its expertise on building innovative education and technology solutions for higher-education, focusing on job training via virtual/augmented reality. Additional support provided with HP Inc includes their knowledge in creating technology solutions designed exclusively for schools, scalable models that support digital inclusion and learning, and insights that help governments create effective human capital development policies and programs.
The Learning and Knowledge Development Facility is run by UNIDO and brings together companies, vocational training centres, development agencies and donors to facilitate knowledge sharing on innovative public-private development partnership approaches in industrial skills development.
For further information, please contact:
Petra Wenitzky
Industrial Development Expert (UNIDO – HP LIFE partnership)
email
Paolo Dal Santo
HP EMEA Education Business Development Manager
email
Virpi Stucki
Industrial Development Officer (UNIDO LKDF)
email
KEYWORDS: UNIDO, HP LIFE, HP Inc, Learning and Knowledge Development Facility (LDKF), public-private development partnership (PPP)
SOURCE:Booz Allen Hamilton
On social media, fake news almost always wins out over the truth. That’s one of the eye-opening findings of a recent study detailed in Science. As people increasingly get their news from online sources like Twitter and Facebook, how do you make it easier for them to spot fake news?
At Booz Allen, our Summer Games interns are up to the challenge. Last year’s team created a web browser extension that detects potential fake news articles in order to prevent the spread of misinformation on the Internet. This year, our interns are enhancing that tool, so it detects both fake news articles and user accounts across a variety of social media platforms and comment forums.
“We’re analyzing social media data to create algorithms that can identify the bot accounts attempting to spread fake news through the network,” says Nicole Schneider, one of four interns on the DC-based team. “We also added some visual enhancements to improve the user experience, such as a search function that filters specific users and accounts, and live updates that display notifications as a user scrolls through the webpage content. Building on the web browser extension, we’re writing analytical plugins. When used together, they can detect potential fake social media accounts with a high percentage of confidence.”
Intern Hannah Burke adds that online users should also feel empowered to determine for themselves whether they’re consuming information from a reliable source. “With our tool, a notification pops up if an account is potentially fake or automated, helping people to be more cautious of the content being posted by that account,” explains Hannah.
See the tool in action, here.
Learn more about how Booz Allen’s Summer Games interns are empowered to change the world.
Tweet me:.@boozallen interns use algorithms to fight fake news http://bit.ly/2uSkDVk
KEYWORDS: NYSE:BAH, Booz Allen Hamilton, fake news, Interns
