Volunteers in Las Vegas will prepare supply kits for Clean the World and the American Red Cross

SOURCE:Las Vegas Sands

DESCRIPTION:

LAS VEGAS, August 28, 2018 /3BL Media/ – Las Vegas Sands is collaborating with social enterprise Clean the World and humanitarian organization American Red Cross for a property-wide hygiene and comfort kit build to support disaster and social relief efforts. This will be the company’s first build with American Red Cross and its fifth annual effort to build a total of 80,000 hygiene kits worldwide that will improve the health and well-being of populations in need with Clean the World.

More than 500 of volunteers will come together at The Venetian, The Palazzo, and Sands Expo on September 22 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. to assemble 35,000 hygiene and comfort kits. Volunteers will work together to build 15,000 hygiene kits for Clean the World and 20,000 comfort kits for the American Red Cross. The kits will be filled with basic hygiene amenities including soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion/bath gel, a toothbrush, toothpaste, a washcloth, and an inspirational notecard. The hygiene kit’s soaps are collected from Clean the World’s hospitality partners, including LVS properties around the world, and then recycled through Clean the World’s soap sanitation and processing equipment.

Through Sands Cares, the company’s global corporate giving program, LVS is committed to making the communities where they operate a better place to live by providing resources and solutions to the issues most important. By taking an active approach on community preparedness, the company is dedicated to providing aid during times of disaster and emergencies. In continuing to support community resiliency throughout Southern Nevada, Las Vegas Sands Team Members will engage in various volunteer efforts with the Red Cross of Southern Nevada that will include assembling comfort kits— provided to victims of home fires, or other disasters, that might be left without basic hygiene needs—and organizing and participating in a company-wide blood drive. Another vital part of a resilient community is fulfilling the need for blood. In the U.S., someone needs blood every two seconds.

“Our partnership with Las Vegas Sands will provide hope to those impacted by disasters and hope for those who are in need of life-saving blood. We are grateful for Las Vegas Sands’ community efforts and know that their simple acts of kindness can make a big difference in the lives of one very strong Las Vegas community,” said Alan Diskin, executive director of the American Red Cross.

In 2017, LVS and Clean the World came together to provide a source for hygiene relief to those experiencing homelessness in Las Vegas, the company’s headquarters. Sands Cares Fresh Start Mobile Showers Powered by Clean the World was launched to provide access to a private shower, hygiene supplies, and other resources to the homeless community. The traveling hygiene unit is the first of its kind in the Southern Nevada community and has provided more than 5,000 showers and hygiene kits to users. 

“Each year, we look forward to coming together not only as a company, but as a larger community to bring awareness and help, whether it’s through access to a simple necessity such as soap or in-kind support,” said Ron Reese, senior vice president of global communications and corporate affairs at Las Vegas Sands. “We have a responsibility to all of the communities where our Integrated Resorts are located worldwide to ensure we are doing our part to help improve the way of life for all members of the community. Our continued partnership with Clean the World has allowed us to become ambassadors in hygiene education and most importantly, has shown us just how much of an impact of our efforts make when we work together to find how our own resources and abilities can be of service to the issues that our community members are most vulnerable to.”

The global hygiene kit build will take place between August and December 2018 at LVS properties in Macao, Singapore, Bethlehem and Las Vegas. After the completion of this year’s build events, LVS properties will have created a total of 500,000 hygiene kits since its partnership with Clean the World to bring awareness of its mission to promote good health and well-being around the globe through improved access to soap and other hygiene products.  The global kit build events also provide financial support to Clean the World – for each kit assembled, LVS contributes $1 to the Clean the World Foundation to accelerate its mission in two critical areas, ongoing hygiene education and disaster response.

“Many families cannot afford the basic hygiene products each of us take for granted. The annual Las Vegas Sands Global Hygiene Kit build has allowed us to distribute over a half a million life-saving kits to individuals and families experiencing homelessness in local communities,” said Shawn Seipler, founder and CEO of Clean the World.  “Overall, Las Vegas Sands has contributed over $2 million to our mission, allowing us to expand our programs both in the United States and in Asia. Through the generous support of partners like Las Vegas Sands, we are able to dramatically reduce the spread of hygiene-related illnesses and save millions of lives globally.”

For the past seven years, LVS and Clean the World have collaborated to promote its hygiene mission. Clean the World has recycled over 605,000 pounds (302 tons) of waste from LVS properties into more than 2.6 million bars of soap – material that otherwise would have gone to landfill.  LVS’ support of Clean the World is part of the company’s global corporate giving program, Sands Cares. For more information about Sands Cares and key initiatives, please visit www.sandscares.sands.com.    

About Las Vegas Sands Corp.

Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE: LVS) is the world's pre-eminent developer and operator of world-class Integrated Resorts that feature luxury hotels; best-in-class gaming; retail; dining and entertainment; Meetings, Incentives, Convention and Exhibition (MICE) facilities; and many other leisure and business amenities.  We pioneered the MICE-driven Integrated Resort, a unique, industry-leading and extremely successful model that serves both the leisure and business tourism markets.

Our properties include The Venetian and The Palazzo resorts and Sands Expo in Las Vegas, Sands Bethlehem in Eastern Pennsylvania, and the iconic Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Through majority ownership in Sands China Ltd., LVS owns a portfolio of properties on the Cotai Strip in Macao, including The Venetian Macao, The Plaza and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Sands Cotai Central and The Parisian Macao, as well as the Sands Macao on the Macao Peninsula.

LVS is dedicated to being a good corporate citizen, anchored by the core tenets of delivering a great working environment for 50,000 team members worldwide, driving impact through its Sands Cares corporate giving program and leading innovation with the company’s award-winning Sands ECO360 global sustainability program. To learn more, please visit www.sands.com.

About Clean the World

Clean the World is a social enterprise dedicated to the mission of saving millions of lives around the world while simultaneously diverting hotel waste from landfills. Clean the World operates soap recycling centers in Orlando, Las Vegas, Hong Kong, and Punta Cana and leads a “Global Hygiene Revolution” to distribute recycled soap and hygiene products from more than 5,000 hotel and resort partners. The organization benefits children and families in countries with a high pre-adolescent death rate due to acute respiratory infection (pneumonia) and diarrheal diseases (cholera) – which are two of the top killers of children under the age of five. Since 2009, more than 45 million bars of Clean the World soap have been distributed in over 127 countries. Clean the World has served over 10 million individuals through its soap distribution and hygiene education programs. In addition, Clean the World provides hygiene kits to relief organizations throughout North America. More information: CleantheWorld.org. 

About the Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

Contact

Kristin Koca

Kristin.koca@sands.com

702-414-3218

Tweet me:#Volunteers from @LasVegasSands will prepare hygiene kits for @CleantheWorld and the American @RedCross http://bit.ly/2MDgKOZ #SandsCares

KEYWORDS: Las Vegas Sands, Sands Cares, Clean the World, The American Red Cross, hygiene kits

SOURCE:PYXERA Global

DESCRIPTION:

Stan Litow’s new book, The Challenge for Business and Society: From Risk to Reward published by John Wiley & Sons, presents a fact-based assessment of the role that corporations have played in society both historically and currently and perhaps most important, offers a road map for a more promising future.

The genesis of Stan’s book was the current round of criticism of business, some justified and some not, from both the left and the right as being the cause of all societal ills from income inequality to the shredding of the social safety net and stable employment. Stan uses the lens of history and fact, as well as his deep experience across sectors of the economy, as opposed to rhetoric, to provide a clear assessment of how the private sector, government, and civil society might work together to address some of the most daunting, critical challenges facing society, and do so, in a more scalable and sustainably effective way.

Read More on PYXERAGlobal.org.

Tweet me:Valuable insights on balancing business growth with societal needs for genuine shared benefit from Stan Litow in his new book, The Challenge for Business and Society: From Risk to Reward. Read an excerpt here: https://bit.ly/2BhtOEe #CSR

KEYWORDS: IBM, PYXERA Global

SOURCE:Duke Energy

SUMMARY:

Enhanced reporting part of industry initiative to improve sustainability reporting for investors.

DESCRIPTION:

CHARLOTTE, N.C., August 28, 2018 /3BL Media/ -- Duke Energy, a recognized leader in transparent environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting, is participating in an innovative industrywide approach to better communicate progress on ESG and sustainability issues.

The current template, available here, includes updated data about Duke Energy and incorporates feedback from company investors.

As part of an ongoing initiative by the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) and its member companies, a reporting template was developed in 2017 to help provide investors with more uniformity and better consistency for ESG/sustainability metrics. Duke Energy helped pilot the initiative and was among the first companies to utilize the template for disclosure in December 2017.

"We're committed to transparency and engagement with investors, customers and other stakeholders," said Mike Callahan, Duke Energy's vice president of investor relations. "Our investors are increasingly focused on ESG and sustainability matters. We're providing them with the information needed to better incorporate ESG into their investing strategies."

Duke Energy is executing a strategy to deliver a cleaner, more sustainable energy future for customers. The company's ESG/sustainability efforts earned it a place on the Dow Jones Sustainability North American Index for the 12th consecutive year in 2017. Highlights of Duke Energy's efforts include:

• Since 2005, Duke Energy's carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions decreased by 31 percent, sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions decreased by 96 percent and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions decreased by 75 percent.
• By 2030, the company plans to reduce CO2 emissions 40 percent from 2005 levels.
• Since 2007, Duke Energy has grown its renewable generation portfolio and now has more than 6,400 megawatts of wind, solar and biomass capacity – owned or under contract.
• The company is teaming up with customers to reduce customer energy consumption by 15,000 gigawatt-hours by 2020, which is equivalent to the annual usage of 1.25 million homes.
• Electric customers continue to benefit from rates below the national average in all customer classes and all service areas.
• The company met its goal to recycle 80 percent of its solid waste a year earlier than planned.

Duke Energy's ESG/sustainability template with updated information is also available at duke-energy.com/investors. Duke Energy also publishes an annual Sustainability Report that summarizes its efforts to advance energy efficiency, develop renewable energy, reduce emissions and more. The 2017 report is available online at sustainabilityreport.duke-energy.com.

More information about the EEI initiative is provided here.

Duke Energy
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK) is one of the largest energy holding companies in the U.S., with approximately 29,000 employees and a generating capacity of 49,500 megawatts. The company is transforming its customers' experience, modernizing its energy grid, generating cleaner energy and expanding its natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy future for the people and communities it serves.

The company's Electric Utilities and Infrastructure unit serves approximately 7.6 million retail electric customers in six states – North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. Its Gas Utilities and Infrastructure unit distributes natural gas to approximately 1.6 million customers in five states – North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. Its Commercial Renewables unit operates a growing renewable energy portfolio across the U.S.

A Fortune 125 company, Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2018 "World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' 2018 "America's Best Employers" list.

More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center includes news releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials. Duke Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations, community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

Contact: 
Candice Knezevic 
24-Hour: 800.559.3853

Tweet me:.@DukeEnergy enhances #ESG reporting as part of industry initiative to improve #sustainability reporting for investors.

KEYWORDS: Duke Energy

By Steve Mizera

SOURCE:Comcast Corporation

DESCRIPTION:

Like so many school districts around the country, it’s back-to-school time here in Santa Rosa, Calif. I look forward to this week every year, the excited buzz of students filling the halls and classrooms and the celebration of a new school year. But this year is a little different. With more than 800 families in our district displaced as a result of last October’s wildfires, we just won’t know until those school doors open how many students will be back this year. Many families spent the summer evaluating if they will stay in Santa Rosa and rebuild, or move. Those are decisions that will have a long-term impact on our community.

Last year’s wildfires were devastating for our area. As one of the most destructive wildfires in state history, they destroyed at least 8,400 homes and buildings and killed 22 people. In our district, about 800 students and 90 staff members lost their homes. The fires also destroyed one of our elementary schools and a high school farm.

When faced with unimaginable tragedy, this community came together, and we truly felt the support that came in from around the world. Comcast NBCUniversal, with over 500 employees in the local area, was intimately aware of the devastation and jumped in to help. After the fires, together we decided to build a support center that didn’t then exist in our community. We envisioned a center that could provide crisis counseling, academic support and school nurse services, as well as be a place for children to go after the school day ends, and during summer and holidays.

On Comcast Cares Day in April, over 500 volunteers broke ground on the new Santa Rosa Integrated Wellness Center. These essential services can make a real difference for families in our area, even those beyond our district boundaries. It will take years to rebuild homes, and likely years to recover from the traumatic impact on our community. Children feel that impact and require extra care.

Tweet me:On #ComcastCaresDay, over 500 volunteers broke ground on the new Santa Rosa Integrated Wellness Center, which provides essential services to families affected by #wildfires http://bit.ly/2C3CTB8 @ComcastNBCUCI

KEYWORDS: NASDAQ:CMCSA, comcast, Santa Rosa Integrated Wellness Center, wildfires

Dell works with nonprofits worldwide to give underserved youth better access to technology, creating a culture of inclusion and lifelong interest in STEM learning.

SOURCE:Dell

DESCRIPTION:

Technology is transforming every industry, from agriculture to automotive, fashion to finance. The future belongs to those who can use technology to solve problems and drive human progress. That’s why Dell views access to technology not as a luxury but as a necessity.

Through our Youth Learning program, Dell is working with nonprofit partners worldwide to give underserved youth better access to technology and education. Going beyond access, we’re also creating a culture of inclusion, wherein science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning is seen as being for everyone — boys and girls, rich and poor. And we’re teaching youth of all backgrounds how to be persistent and work though challenging problems.

In FY18, Dell provided grant funding, volunteers and technology to 49 Youth Learning partners in 15 countries. This year, our Youth Learning initiatives directly impacted more than 468,000 youth enrolled in Dell-funded programs, and indirectly impacted another 1.1 million people who used the technology we donated to the programs. Overall, we’ve directly impacted 2.6 million youth since FY14. This puts us 66 percent of the way toward our 2020 Legacy of Good goal of helping 4 million youth.

We have also evolved our strategy to focus on programs that can reach a high number of students, therefore increasing the positive impact we and our partners can have around the world. Further, in the U.S. we are working with our partners to incorporate more STEM learning during the school day. This will help us reach more youth than we can through optional after-school programs alone. In addition to improving digital literacy, we are working to increase kids’ involvement with computer science and applied sciences.

Fostering innovation through hands-on learning in India

While most children living in India’s rural areas are enrolled in school, according to the ASER Centre’s 2017 Annual Status of Education Report (Rural), many are not acquiring foundational skills like reading and basic arithmetic that can help them progress in school and in life. For example, only 43 percent of students aged 14–18 can do a division problem and just 54 percent can read and understand most written instructions. To address these challenges, in FY18 we expanded our partnership with Sikshana Foundation, enabling them to bring their Sikshana Technology in Education Program (STEP) to 27,000 students at 362 schools in the States of Karnataka and Maharashtra. STEP is a competency-based program that transforms the way students learn. Students use Dell laptops and tablets for teacher-led, interactive lessons, with fun challenges that help them learn information and communications technology (ICT) skills, and apply these skills to their curriculum-aligned project work. Most students have had little exposure to technology, and the program helps to address the digital divide.

STEP also digitizes the education system so schools can track students’ progress in real time and aggregate data at the school, district and state levels. And it trains teachers to use a technology-based curriculum. Dell team members volunteer for STEP by mentoring students at school, hosting students at Dell for trainings and providing curriculum guidance.

“We are working with children for their future, to enable them to learn and get closer to being what they want to be,” said Ganesh Sarma, a Dell volunteer with STEP. “There are very few things that give me as much happiness as investing time in a child’s future.”

In FY18, Dell partnered with NITI Aayog — a Government of India think tank — and our Youth Learning partner, Learning Links Foundation, to support Atal Tinkering Laboratories (ATL) in 13 government schools. ATL fosters curiosity, innovation and STEM learning through hands-on experimentation. Most participating students hadn’t used technology previously and are from low-income communities, and several have made the finals in various national innovation competitions. These include Harshita, a ninth-grade student from Bengaluru, who worked with two of her classmates to develop the prototype for an IoT device for the visually impaired. Students from Chhattisgarh created a system for converting the kinetic energy produced by gym equipment into electrical energy stored in batteries for future use, and it was recognized as one of the top 30 innovations.

Raising digital literacy rates in Ethiopia

Ethiopia ranks 174 out of 188 countries on the United Nations’ 2016 Human Development Report, making it a critical area for educational investment. Ethiopia’s Ministry of Education has prioritized ICT training as a key pillar for improving education. It has launched an initiative to bring technology learning to 1.2 million students over the next three years. As our first large-scale Youth Learning program in Ethiopia, we are equipping over 400 schools with Dell computers. We are also providing grant funding for our longtime partner Camara Education to deliver more than 16 million hours of ICT education training to over 3,000 teachers and school leaders. This is a transformational program, bringing the power of technology to 400,000 youth aged 6–18 who currently lack access to technology at home or at school.

Developing a culture of inclusion in the U.S.

In the U.S., Dell partners with many nonprofits that cultivate inclusion and teach persistence in STEM studies, especially among young women. One of these is Girls Who Code, which is closing the gender gap in technology by introducing middle and high school girls to coding and helping them feel confident they belong in technology fields.

In FY18, Dell supported Girls Who Code’s mission to create free after-school clubs in every state. The clubs teach sixth- through 12th-grade girls to use their coding skills to address real-life problems in their communities. We also participate in Girls Who Code’s seven-week Summer Immersion Program, inviting the program’s 11th- and 12th-graders on field trips to Dell as part of their immersive instruction in web, robotics and mobile development. The club not only provides experience, but also a safe place to learn how to fail.

This story shares one example of how Dell is committed to driving human progress by putting our technology and expertise to work where it can do the most good for people and the planet. More at legacyofgood.dell.com.

Tweet me:.@Dell works with #nonprofits worldwide to give underserved youth better access to #technology, creating a culture of #inclusion and lifelong interest in #STEM learning. http://bit.ly/2wrVOQ0 @Dell4Good #LegacyOfGood

KEYWORDS: Dell, Dell 2020 Legacy of Good Plan, Girls Who Code, Learning Links Foundation, Sikshana Foundation, Camara Education

SOURCE:World Environment Center

DESCRIPTION:

August 28, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Nominations are 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 29, 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 

Tweet me:Tomorrow is the last day! Apply Now! Nominate your company for the #WECGoldMedal 2019 Award for International Achievement in Sustainable Development by August 29th! #Sustainability #sustainabledevelopment pic.twitter.com/ClKL2gSxwT http://bit.ly/2BUOaDp

KEYWORDS: World Environment Center

Avery Dennison believes in supporting the communities where our employees live and work. We look for local needs and opportunities for our employees to volunteer time and resources to making their communities stronger.

SOURCE:Avery Dennison

DESCRIPTION:

“On our Habitat for Humanity build days, we put values like teamwork, excellence and innovation into action. Our community and our team are stronger for it.”

Avery Dennison believes in supporting the communities where our employees live and work. We look for local needs and opportunities for our employees to volunteer time and resources to making their communities stronger. Across the United States, there is an ongoing need for safe, affordable housing. Avery Dennison has partnered with Habitat for Humanity to give 150 employees the opportunity to build homes for people in need. Through the remainder of 2018, employees will  climb ladders, hammer nails and paint walls through volunteer events coordinated by Habitat for Humanity.

The first Avery Dennison/Habitat for Humanity build took place in June in Greenfield, Indiana. Despite the strong summer heat, employees ventured out into the community to work on this project. “I had never been involved in a house build before, and it was a great experience,” said Bill Young, finishing manager, Label and Graphic Materials North America. “The family who will receive the house belongs to a local Greenfield church. During our break from building, some of the church members were kind enough to provide lunch. Spending time with them was the best part of the day.”

“Our company values are the foundation of everything we do at Avery Dennison. They are the guiding principles that inform our actions every day,”said Alicia Procello, president of the Avery Dennison Foundation and vice president, Corporate Social Responsibility. “On our Habitat for Humanity build days, we put values like teamwork, excellence and innovation into action. Our community and our team are stronger for it.”

In addition to Greenfield, additional builds will take place later this year in Peachtree City, Georgia; Painesville, Ohio; Miamisburg, Ohio; and Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Follow us on social media to learn more about our employee journey with Habitat for Humanity as we continue to support our communities throughout the year.

Learn more about the Avery Dennison Foundation and its commitment to education, sustainability, and women’s empowerment.

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity, visit www.habitat.org.

Stay up-to-date on all the latest from Avery Dennison. Connect with us on Social Media.

Tweet me:Builds are Underway in Support of Habitat for Humanity | @AveryDennison http://www.averydennison.com/en/home/newsroom/avery-dennison-blog/Corporate-Blog/builds-are-underway-in-support-of-habitat-for-humanity.html #sustainability #ADVolunteers

KEYWORDS: NYSE:AVY, Avery Dennison

SOURCE:Booz Allen Hamilton

DESCRIPTION:

For more than 100 years, Booz Allen has been committed to the mental and physical health of their employees. Recently, the firm has enacted programs like PowerUp that offers physical, mental and career planning training opportunities. Through these efforts, Booz Allen is proud to receive Gold Level Recognition for Workplace Health Achievement Index from the American Heart Association (AHA) for taking significant steps to build a culture of health in the workplace. Booz Allen has grown from Bronze level in 2016 to Gold level for the last two years.

The AHA created the Index with its CEO Roundtable members, a leadership collaborative of more than 40 CEOs from some of America’s largest companies who are committed to applying evidence-based approaches to improve their employees’ overall health. More than 1,000 companies completed the Index assessment this year and, of those companies, 75 percent received either Gold, Silver, or Bronze recognition.

To learn more about how Booz Allen is committed to the health and wellness of its people, click here.

Tweet me:.@BoozAllen receives gold level recognition from @American_Heart for workplace health achievement. Read more: http://bit.ly/2MF1WiQ

KEYWORDS: NYSE:BAH, Booz Allen Hamilton, American Heart Association, Workplace Health Achievement Index

SOURCE:University of Michigan: Erb Institute | Business for Sustainability

DESCRIPTION:

Each year, the Academy of Management recognizes four outstanding individuals, who have made significant contributions to the field of management through their service, research, innovative teaching methods, breakthrough developments, and more over the course of their career. The 2018 Career Achievement Awards were presented at the 78th Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management.

One of four Distinguished Scholars, Erb Institute faculty member, Andrew Hoffman was awarded this honor in the Organizations and the Natural Environment Division.

Thank you Marc, we couldn’t have said it better!

Tweet me:.@erbinstitute faculty @HoffmanAndy honored with Distinguished Scholar award from Academy of Management http://myumi.ch/Lo1qN @AOMConnect ‏@MichiganRoss @UMSEAS

KEYWORDS: Erb Institute, university of michigan, Andy Hoffman, Academy of Management, sustainability, Market Transformation, Sustainable Business, Leadership, Michigan Ross, University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability

2017 Sustainability Report Details Republic’s Solutions for Our Blue Planet®

SOURCE:Republic Services

DESCRIPTION:

PHOENIX, August 28, 2018 /3BL Media/ – Republic Services, Inc. (NYSE: RSG) today released its 2017 Sustainability Report, demonstrating the Company’s commitment to providing regular reporting on its sustainability initiatives and progress. The report details the Company’s sustainability strategy and achievement of its time-bound goals set in 2014.

“At Republic, we understand that we play a critical role in helping more than 14 million customers lessen their environmental impact,” said Don Slager, president and chief executive officer. “We also recognize that as we grow the business, our responsibility as environmental stewards grows — along with our potential for even greater impact. This is a source of pride for every employee, because our customers — and the communities we serve — can count on us for solutions that are responsible, reliable and resourceful.”

In 2014, as part of its Blue Planet sustainability platform, the Company set its first public sustainability goals, including:

• Energy: Develop at least two landfill gas-to-energy projects per year through 2018. This goal was achieved in 2017.

• Recycled Commodities: Add an additional 150,000 tons or more per year of recycling capacity through 2018. This goal was achieved in 2017.

• Fleet: Reduce absolute fleet emissions by 3 percent from direct operational impacts (Scope 1 emissions) through 2018. This goal was achieved in 2017.

• Safety: Reduce OSHA recordable rates by 7 percent year-over-year. This goal is on track.

Highlights from the 2017 Sustainability Report include:

OPERATIONS

• For over a decade Republic has made investments in Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks and fueling stations, which are cleaner burning and quieter than diesel trucks. Republic’s continued investments in CNG trucks and fueling stations have enabled the Company to begin making a seamless transition to Renewable Natural Gas (RNG), which has the lowest carbon intensity of all the alternative fuel technologies on the market today, according to the California Air Resources Board.

MATERIALS MANAGEMENT

• In 2017, Republic collected over 8 million tons of recyclables and processed more than 6 million tons at 90 Recycling Centers nationwide. In addition, Republic is delivering solutions to customers in response to an industry-wide recycling crisis.

COMMUNITIES

• Last year, Republic gave $7.1 million back to the communities it serves. In addition, Republic employees, board members and suppliers gave over $4 million in funds, food, supplies and housing to support employees affected by hurricanes.

SAFETY

• Since 2009, Republic drivers have won 75 percent of the National Waste & Recycling Association’s “Driver of the Year” awards, an honor that celebrates exemplary customer service and superior driver safety records. 2017 was no exception with drivers from the Company’s Huntington Beach, Calif. and Phoenix, Ariz. divisions selected by the industry to receive this prestigious recognition.

PEOPLE

• Among many other distinctions, Republic earned 100 percent and the distinction of a “Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality” on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index for 2018.

Republic Services continues to steadily build upon its industry-leading sustainability platform while earning notable recognition for sustainability and corporate responsibility achievements, as demonstrated by inclusion for the second consecutive year in both the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) – North America and World Indices and recognition on Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable Companies list. The Company was also awarded the Gold Class Award in the 2018 RobecoSAM’s Sustainability Yearbook and named to the Ethisphere Institute’s World’s Most Ethical Companies list for the second year in a row.

To learn more about Republic’s Blue Planet sustainability platform or to download the latest Sustainability Reports, visit: http://www.RepublicServices.com/Sustainability.

About Republic Services
Republic Services, Inc. is an industry leader in U.S. recycling and non-hazardous solid waste disposal. Through its subsidiaries, Republic’s collection companies, recycling centers, transfer stations and landfills focus on providing effective solutions to make responsive waste disposal effortless for its 14 million customers. We’ll handle it from here.®, the brand’s promise, lets customers know they can count on Republic to provide a superior experience while fostering a sustainable Blue Planet for future generations to enjoy a cleaner, safer and healthier world.

For more information, visit the Republic Services website at RepublicServices.com. “Like” Republic on Facebook at Facebook.com/RepublicServices and follow on Twitter @RepublicService.

###
 

Media
Jennifer Eldridge
Media@RepublicServices.com
(480) 718-0119

Tweet me:.@RepublicService achieves initial #sustainability goals detailed in 2017 report http://bit.ly/2wmBv71 #CSR #environment #recycling #renewableenergy

KEYWORDS: Republic Services

by Marielle Walter

SOURCE:Common Impact

DESCRIPTION:

In June 2017, Mission Economic Development Agency (MEDA) reached out to Common Impact to engage the support of a skilled volunteer team in achieving an important but challenging organizational goal – one that many nonprofit organizations are similarly striving to attain. MEDA's mission is to strengthen low- and moderate-income Latino families by promoting economic equity and social justice through asset building and community development. To ensure their work would be truly impactful and align with core themes in racial justice, MEDA’s leadership aimed to create a workplace that was reflective of the community it served.

MEDA's current client population demographics are quite diverse with 84% people of color. However, their senior management team was 64% people of color (55% Latino), a figure that fueled their efforts to cultivate a more diverse base of leadership talent. The organization has a strong, diverse group of employees working as program staff and in lower-level management positions, and they wanted to provide opportunities for these individuals to develop the appropriate skill sets to successfully move into senior management and director-level positions.

Through project scoping conversations, MEDA and Common Impact identified the creation of professional development plans as an effective approach to guide their budding leaders to new levels.   Over the course of four months, a team of JPMorgan Chase employees worked with MEDA to assess their professional development systems and create training and development plans to support employee transitions into Senior Manager and Director level roles. Their ultimate goal was to support MEDA in their efforts to promote internal mobility amongst junior employees to enable their senior-level staff members to be more representative of the population MEDA serves.

The team created reusable training and development plans and compiled a comprehensive array of resources that would meet employee development needs. These new resources will help employees assess their skills, create and develop a plan to achieve professional goals, and easily access the resources to support their development along the way.

As the development plans are implemented agency-wide, they will allow for more fluid internal mobility within the agency by providing opportunities for MEDA’s diverse program staff to develop appropriate skillsets to successfully transition into leadership roles. Ultimately, MEDA’s hope is that their leadership team will be more reflective of the population they serve, allowing them to achieve even greater impact within their community. 

Tweet me:Impact spotlight: @CommonImpact teamed up with @jpmorgan employee volunteers to create professional development plans for @medasf to promote internal mobility and enable leadership to be more representative of the population the org serves http://bit.ly/2wmdDAs #probono

KEYWORDS: Mission Economic Development Agency, JPMorgan Chase, Leadership, Common Impact

Six properties in New York metro area, managed by Clarion Partners and submitted by Verdani Partners, to be recognized by Fitwel as the largest-scale contribution by one company to resident health and well-being to date.

SOURCE:Legg Mason

DESCRIPTION:

CARLSBAD, Calif., August 29, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Verdani Partners, an industry leader in sustainability consulting and ESG management has become a Fitwel Champion, expanding on its commitment to improve building occupant health and productivity on a portfolio-wide scale. The sustainability firm’s new status as a Fitwel Champion comes as the result of its sustainability management for client Clarion Partners, a real estate investment company with $46.6 billion in assets under management. Verdani has been managing Clarion’s ESG initiatives and green building certifications for four years and has recently submitted a total of six new Fitwel certifications for multifamily residential and office properties including:

• Montclair Residences (Montclair, NJ)

• 1000 Jefferson (Hoboken, NJ)

• 44 Berry Street Lofts (Brooklyn, NY)

• Printhouse Lofts (Brooklyn, NY)

• Infinity Harbor Point (Stamford, CT)

• 100-104 Fifth Ave (New York, NY)

Leveraging Fitwel’s global certification system focused on promoting human health through evidence-based design strategies, Clarion will implement Fitwel’s health and well-being roadmap in five new residential properties in the fall of 2018. This will be the largest portfolio with submissions for multifamily residential properties to date for Fitwel. Verdani secured its first Fitwel certification through another long-time client, CommonWealth Partners, at 560 Mission in San Francisco, CA earlier this year.

Fitwel is the world’s leading certification system that optimizes buildings to support occupant health. Verdani plans to leverage Fitwel to optimize buildings and support health for employees, tenants and communities across several other managed portfolios in the coming months.

“At Verdani Partners, Fitwel allows our clients access to a world-class building certification system that promotes the design of healthy and sustainable environments for their corresponding portfolios,” said Verdani Founder and Principal, Daniele Horton. “Not only does the Fitwel Champion designation reinforce our firm’s mission to provide industry-leading sustainability programs to our clients, but its evidence-based design strategies are also highly deployable by our Green Building Certifications Department. Through the adoption of this platform, we’ve seen great enhancements made to building efficiency and the quality of life for building occupants, communities and cities across the country, while at the same time improving our clients’ GRESB scores. As a global leader in full-service sustainability and ESG management, Verdani Partners is excited to partner with Fitwel in their commitment to achieving truly health-conscious work/living spaces in the built environment.”

"We are excited to partner with Verdani and Fitwel on this important initiative,” remarked Joe Leahy, Asset Manager at Clarion Partners. “Historically, achieving green building certifications has been challenging. Through the Fitwel certification process, Clarion has incorporated cost-effective, health-focused improvements that will increase residents’ quality of life while adding value to our properties. We expect that these successful pilot projects will serve as case studies for future Clarion Fitwel projects."

“The certifications Verdani and Clarion Partners are pursuing represent the greatest health impacts Fitwel has catalyzed for residents of multifamily projects to date. By potentially impacting over 1,000 residents and 20 office tenants, Clarion and Verdani are demonstrating industry leadership and setting the standard for the development and management of healthy homes and offices moving forward,” says Reena Agarwal, chief operating officer at the Center for Active Design.

###

About Verdani Partners
Verdani Partners is an industry-leading, full-service sustainability consulting firm with 100 years of combined experience in sustainable real estate and actively manages over 320 million square feet, 3,000 properties and $138 billion in asset value. Verdani designs, implements, and manages sustainability and ESG programs for mixed-use portfolios throughout the country. Verdani also manages GRESB reporting and creates annual sustainability reports for some of the nation’s top REITs. The certification experts at Verdani manage a wide range of certification systems for clients such as Fitwel, LEED, ENERGY STAR, USGBC’s ARC Platform, WELL, Green Globes, BREEAM, IREM, and more. Verdani’s corporate sustainability, green building certifications, technical service, and educational programs bring an impressive breadth of expertise to each portfolio and project. If you’d like to learn more about Verdani and the work they do, they can be reached at info@verdani.com.

Verdani Partners is a third-party consultant to Clarion Partners, LLC, a Legg Mason company.

About Clarion Partners
Clarion Partners, 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 has offices in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, London, Los Angeles and Washington, DC. With more than $46.6 billion in total assets under management, Clarion Partners offers a broad range of both debt and equity real estate strategies across the risk/return spectrum to its more than 300 domestic and international institutional investors. More information is available at www.clarionpartners.com.

About Fitwel
Named one of Fast Company's 2017 Top 10 Most Innovative Companies in Social Good, Fitwel is the premiere global health certification system for optimizing building design and operations. Generated by expert analysis of over 3,000 academic research studies, Fitwel is implementing a vision for a healthier future where all buildings and communities are enhanced to strengthen health and wellbeing. Fitwel was created as a joint initiative led by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention together with the General Services Administration. The Center for Active Design, an international non-profit that uses design to foster healthy and engaged communities, was awarded the exclusive operating license in 2016 with the mandate to expand Fitwel globally to the private sector. Twitter: @active_design + @fitwel

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 $749 billion as of July 31, 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.
 

Contact:
Verdani Partners
(213) 281-5990
info@verdani.com

Tweet me:.@VerdaniPartners becomes @Fitwel Champion http://bit.ly/2BVLJRl

KEYWORDS: NYSE:LM, legg mason

Visit Recycle-Bowl.org to Register Your School in National K-12 Recycling Competition

SOURCE:Keep America Beautiful

DESCRIPTION:

STAMFORD, Conn., August 29, 2018 /3BL Media/ – Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s iconic community improvement nonprofit organization, announces the launch of the eighth annual Recycle-Bowl youth recycling competition. Registration for this incentive-based recycling competition is open to all public and private schools in the United States.

Recycle-Bowl engages and educates students to reduce, reuse, repurpose and recycle through a fun and friendly four-week competition, which begins on Oct. 15 and culminates on America Recycles Day, Nov. 15. Students from kindergarten through 12th grade get the opportunity to make a positive impact in their respective communities, while having collaborating with their peers. Champions are crowned in five categories: School Division, Community Division, District Division, Waste Reduction and Food Scrap Collection.

Last year more than 1,000 elementary, middle and high schools in 42 states around the country participated in this fun and exciting race to collect the most recyclable material and learn about waste reduction and environmental responsibility through in-school recycling. An impressive 2 million pounds of material were collected for recycling by the more than 550,000 participating students, teachers and administrators.

During the four-week program, participating schools track and report how much recyclable material they collect. At the close of the competition, the school in each state (and the District of Columbia) that collects the most recyclable material per capita will be crowned state champion with a national champion chosen from among the statewide winners. Schools that participate in past Recycle-Bowl competitions have been measured as recycling 10 percent more than schools that don’t participate.

“Inspiring young people to recycle at school reinforces the importance of recycling everywhere, whether in school, at home or on the go,” said Keep America Beautiful Youth and Education Program Manager Kathryn Joblon. “And while students are becoming better recyclers, Recycle-Bowl also provides teachers an opportunity to integrate additional math, science and sustainability lessons through the competition.”

Educational recycling resources and activities are also provided online at Recycle-Bowl.org.

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.

###

Tweet me:#School is in session. Time to #register for @kabtweet's 2018 #Recycle-Bowl ... the four-week K-12 #recycling #competition that culminates on #AmericaRecyclesDay (Nov. 15). http://bit.ly/2PQsKdV #BeRecycled #DoBeautifulThings

Contact Info:

Larry Kaufman
Keep America Beautiful
+1 (203) 659-3014
lkaufman@kab.org

Noah Ullman
Keep America Beautiful
+1 (203) 659-3008
nullman@kab.org
http://www.twitter.com/kabtweet
http://www.facebook.com/keepamericabeautiful
http://www.instagram.com/keepamericabeautiful
http://www.youtube.com/kabnetwork

KEYWORDS: Keep America Beautiful, Recycle-Bowl, #DoBeautifulThings, #BeRecycled, #education, #recycling

What does success look like? For farmers, a successful season should look like a bountiful harvest translated into a bountiful profit.

SOURCE:PYXERA Global

DESCRIPTION:

What does success look like? For farmers, a successful season should look like a bountiful harvest translated into a bountiful profit.

Visiting with a rice farmer in Bihar state in India at the end of harvest, it was easy to see that it had been a good year for rice. Awaiting threshing, bundles of rice were organized into stacks twice as tall as the farmer with the length and width of a small building. The farmer was pleased that yields had been good. However, the farmer knew that success had yet to be achieved.

Threshing would be done by hand; with men and women beating the bundles on the ground to separate the rice from the straw. Over the several weeks needed to thresh the crop, losses due to rodents and weather-induced deterioration would be large. Using the practices and technologies available, probably a quarter of what had been produced would be lost. Much of the success of growing an abundant crop would not result in income for the farmer or food supplies for the farmer’s family or consumers. Post-harvest loss (PHL) is a thief.

The Paradox of Post-Harvest Loss Reduction
Managing PHL is a challenge endemic to agriculture. Farmers invest significant time and resources to producing an attractive field of grain or an orchard of trees brimming with fruit. But to become available to consumers that produce must be harvested, stored, and transported in systems that may operate over many months and miles.
 

Continue Reading on PYXERAGlobal.org.

Tweet me:Reduce post-harvest food loss by framing it as a market-development opportunity, rather than a technical problem. Read the perspective of professors Steve Sonka, Rajshree Agarwal, and Sonali K. Shaw: https://bit.ly/2wpGDH4 #PHL #GEFLive @PYXERAGlobal

KEYWORDS: PYXERA Global

From the 2017 CSR Report

SOURCE:Northern Trust

DESCRIPTION:

The foundation of Northern Trust's responsible investment principles is that we act in a manner to protect our clients’ financial well-being.

Northern Trust offers investment capabilities with sustainable objectives in equity, fixed income and real assets. The approach and objective of a sustainable investing strategy is multi-dimensional, and may apply differently to different asset classes. While sustainability factors may be broad in nature, we focus on certain key issues and approaches in our investment framework. 

Our comprehensive Sustainable Investing Philosophy encompasses responsible investing factors such as our bespoke ESG pooled fund policies, our engagement policy for our European index funds, corporate governance and internal engagement principles and our custom proxy voting policy with ESG guidelines.

Northern Trust believes that, by serving as an active owner on behalf of shareholders, we will help portfolio companies produce sustainable value, and that companies' long- term financial returns are connected to their strategic, environmental, social and governance performance. Sustainable investing is based on the philosophy that ESG analytics can complement quantitative or fundamental investment techniques to mitigate risks or capture new opportunities. Our definition of sustainable investing is based on the acknowledgement that the long-term financial success of our clients and shareholders is dependent upon a healthy global environment, a stable society and well-functioning/well-governed companies. We view the integration of environmental, social and governance factors as being part of our fiduciary heritage with a long-term focus. 

Read the entire 2017 CSR Report here 

Tweet me:The foundation of Northern Trust's responsible investment principles is to act in a manner to protect clients' financial well-being http://bit.ly/2LtxDdf @NTCSR #sustainableinvesting #CSR

KEYWORDS: sustainable investing, csr, Northern Trust, client well-being

The next generation in high school dining, Taste4 rolls out in 97 sites this Summer and next Fall for implementation in the 2018-2019 school year

SOURCE:Sodexo, Inc.

DESCRIPTION:

GAITHERSBURG, Md., August 29, 2018 /3BL Media/ — Sodexo, a food services and facilities management company that provides student nutrition to nearly 400 school districts throughout the U.S., has launched Taste4, a new meal concept that revamps the classics - salads and wraps, deli sandwiches, pasta, grilled favorites, pizza – and elevates school lunch for today’s sophisticated palettes.

Using extensive consumer insights on GenZ’s retail dining experiences and focus groups with students from across the country, Taste4 was developed for students by students. Results showed that having fresh food, flavorful options, and spending time with friends in a fun environment are the most important elements to the school lunch experience. From its name to the imagery and the menus, teen consumers were engaged in every phase of development. Sodexo Chefs then created a USDA compliant menu that includes world flavors, spicy comfort foods and unique, fun food combinations.

Taste4 keeps the needs and interest of student diners at its center with do-it-yourself stations, grab-n-go options and faster check-out lines leaving more time for socializing. With a focus on FRESH, FLAVOR, FRIENDS, and FUN, this highly innovative meal concept takes high school diners on a culinary journey where they have kicked-up, squeezable and shakable flavors and sauces inspired by Mexican, Asian, Mediterranean, American Regional and Heat spices from around the world.

“Taste4 is the new standard in school dining, bringing a retail focus to school cafeterias where, through a world of flavor promotion and a selection of branded concepts, each day will bring a new experience to the customers we serve,” said Richard Hill, vice president of marketing, Sodexo Schools, North America.

To date, Taste4 pilot schools have increased the number of lunch meals sold while overcoming challenges of decreased enrollment and staffing shortages. In the program launch at Putnam City North High School in Oklahoma City, Ok, an additional 570 students ate lunch each month, enjoying the variety and flavors of Taste4.

“I enjoy watching students meander around the cafeteria trying to decide what to order for lunch, because they have so many choices and I see less students bringing their own lunches from home.  It’s all about the retail appeal and custom sauces that make it more like a food establishment instead of a school cafeteria,” explained Dr. Brian Chastain, Principal, Putnam City North High School.

Taste4 includes an Adventure station that features a weekly rotation of 12 branded concepts to provide a street, retail experience. Student diners will experience something new every week for 3 months as they are treated to brands including Beale Street BBQ, Overslept, Sub Culture, Country Comfort, TaterTemptations, Chopsticks, Glorious Grilled Cheese, Canal Street Mac Attack, Fiesta, Strutters, Sunset Strips and Favorites. Artwork reflecting the diversity of the flavors and freshness of the food helps tell the culinary story of each meal. Branding is customized by school to celebrate school spirit.       

“For many of our students at East Aurora High School in East Aurora, Il., their breakfast and lunch are the two constant meals they can count on in their day,” said Principal Marina Kosak. “Sodexo provides a welcoming environment for our students while also offering a nutritional, well prepared meal. This program allows for our students to have more variety than is customary at other high schools.”

Seen as the next generation in high school dining, Taste4 rolls out in multiple schools this Summer for implementation in the 2018-2019 school year.

XXX

About Sodexo North America
Sodexo North America is part of a global, Fortune 500 company with a presence in 80 countries. Sodexo is a leading provider of integrated food, facilities management and other services that enhance organizational performance, contribute to local communities and improve quality of life for millions of customers in corporate, education, healthcare, senior living, sports and leisure, government and other environments daily. The company employs 150,000 people at 13,000 sites in all 50 U.S. states and Canada and indirectly supports tens of thousands of additional jobs through its annual purchases of $9.2 billion in goods and services from small to large American businesses. Sodexo is committed to supporting diversity and inclusion and safety, while upholding the highest standards of corporate responsibility and ethical business conduct. In support of local communities across the U.S., the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation has contributed close to $32 million over the past 20 years to help feed children in America impacted by hunger. To learn more about Sodexo, visit SodexoUSA.com, SodexoInsights.com and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter and YouTube. 

Tweet me:.@sodexoUSA Revolutionizes High School Cafeteria Experience with Launch of Innovative Taste4 Dining Concept #SodexoLoveOfFood http://bit.ly/2LDkryK

KEYWORDS: Sodexo, Taste4, Schools, dining, high school, food

SOURCE:Ray C. Anderson Foundation

SUMMARY:

The Georgia Public Service Commission (Georgia PSC) has authorized funding for Georgia Power to construct, own and operate a one-megawatt solar array on Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) property at Exit 14 off Interstate 85, which is known as “The Ray.” Georgia will be the third state in the nation to utilize the grassy shoulder of an interstate highway, called the “right-of-way” (ROW), to generate solar energy. This unique project will pilot the use of native flowering plants as ground cover in test plots within the solar array, making Georgia the first in the nation to pilot pollinator-friendly, right-of-way solar.

DESCRIPTION:

ATLANTA, August 29, 2018 /3BL Media/ - Last week, the Georgia Public Service Commission (Georgia PSC) authorized the funding for Georgia Power to construct, own and operate a one-megawatt solar array on Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT) property at Exit 14 off Interstate 85, which is known as “The Ray.” Georgia will be the third state in the nation to utilize the grassy shoulder of an interstate highway, called the “right-of-way” (ROW), to generate solar energy. This unique project will pilot the use of native flowering plants as ground cover in test plots within the solar array, making Georgia the first in the nation to pilot pollinator-friendly, right-of-way solar.

Tweet me:Georgia will be the 3rd state in US to use the highway right-of-way to generate #solar energy. The 1st to pilot one with #pollinator friendly plants. It's on @TheRayHighway #RidetheRay http://bit.ly/2Pjc11z

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, Ray C. Anderson Foundation, ROW Solar, right of way solar, Georgia Power, GDOT

SOURCE:Mohawk Industries

DESCRIPTION:

CALHOUN, Ga. Aug. 29, 2018 /3BL Media/ —This year many Georgia schoolchildren will work and play in classrooms and media spaces with a fresh look and energy due in part to Mohawk Industries and the Georgia United Credit Union School Crashers℠ program.

Since the program’s inception five years ago, Mohawk has partnered with the Georgia-based credit union to “crash” select community schools and give them much-needed renovations. Each year hundreds of schools apply for facility makeovers, providing a list of their needs, and School Crashers chooses the lucky winners.

Donating commercial broadloom carpet, carpet tile, adhesive and bound area rugs (including 40 story-time reading rugs), the manufacturer fulfilled the various flooring needs of six Georgia schools: Rock Chapel Elementary, Lithonia (grand prize winner); Briarlake Elementary, Decatur; Evansdale Elementary, Doraville; Bob Mathis Elementary, Decatur; Hightower Elementary, Doraville; and Sequoyah Middle School, Doraville. Renovations were completed just in time for the beginning of the 2018-19 school year.

“Mohawk supports programs like School Crashers because they bring communities together, and that is an important component of our Believe in Better philosophy,” said Michel Vermette, president of Mohawk Group, the commercial division of Mohawk Industries. “We are committed to improving the standard of living in the communities in which we live and work. From our experience in serving the education market, we know that a student’s environment plays an important role in their learning. By partnering with School Crashers, we believe we can help create a better future for Georgia schoolchildren.”

Over the course of its five years, the School Crashers program has provided 33 deserving schools with facility improvements. “We take great pride in being active and responsible members of the communities we serve and believe giving back is not just the right way, but the only way,” said Debbie Smith, Georgia United Credit Union president and CEO. “Georgia United is a partner in education, and we want students to have the best possible environment in which to learn and play. We are grateful for our volunteers who helped make this year’s School Crashers program a success, and we would like to give special thanks to our partners—Mohawk Industries, the Home Depot Foundation, Coca-Cola and the Chick-fil-A Foundation—for their generous support.” 

To learn more about the program, please visit GUCU.org/schoolcrashers.

About Mohawk
Mohawk Industries is a leading global flooring manufacturer that creates products to enhance residential and commercial spaces around the world. Mohawk’s vertically integrated manufacturing and distribution processes provide competitive advantages in the production of carpet, rugs, ceramic tile, laminate, hardwood, stone and vinyl flooring. Our industry-leading innovation has yielded products and technologies that differentiate our brands in the marketplace and satisfy all remodeling and new construction requirements. Our brands are among the most recognized in the industry and include Mohawk, American Olean, Daltile, Durkan, IVC, Karastan, Marazzi, Pergo, Unilin and Quick-Step. During the past decade, Mohawk has transformed its business from an American carpet manufacturer into the world’s largest flooring company with operations in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Europe, India, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia and the United States.

About Georgia United Credit Union
Georgia United Credit Union is ranked as one of the top credit unions in Georgia in both size and safety with over $1 billion in assets, 160,000 members and 19 branch locations. Georgia United seeks to make members’ lives easier by offering products, services and education to help members meet their needs and achieve their goals. Georgia United Credit Union serves all state agency employees, the board of regents of colleges and universities, employees of over 500 companies and 11 county school systems.

Tweet me:.@MohawkGroup gives Georgia classrooms a fresh look for #backtoschool in partnership with @GAUnitedCU http://bit.ly/2omzJP4 #communityimpact

KEYWORDS: Mohawk Industries, NYSE:MHK

SOURCE:Sysco

DESCRIPTION:

Sysco is committed to working with suppliers to improve sustainability in our seafood supply chain through fishery improvement programs (FIPS). In partnership with World Wildlife Fund, we are working with fishermen to improve record-keeping and traceability, reduce bycatch and better manage fish stocks, helping increase the supply of sustainable seafood for current and future generations.

For more information on Sysco’s 2025 Responsibility Goals, visit www.Sysco.com/2025Goals.

About Sysco

Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. With more than 67,000 associates, the company operates approximately 330 distribution facilities worldwide and serves more than 600,000 customer locations. For fiscal 2018 that ended June 30, 2018, the company generated sales of more than $58 billion.

For more information, visit www.sysco.com or connect with Sysco on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SyscoCorporation or Twitter at https://twitter.com/Sysco. For important news and information regarding Sysco, visit the Investor Relations section of the company’s Internet home page at investors.sysco.com, which Sysco plans to use as a primary channel for publishing key information to its investors, some of which may contain material and previously non-public information. Investors should also follow us at www.twitter.com/SyscoStock and download the Sysco IR App, available on the iTunes App Store and the Google Play Market. In addition, investors should continue to review our news releases and filings with the SEC. It is possible that the information we disclose through any of these channels of distribution could be deemed to be material information.

Tweet me:In partnership with @World_Wildlife, @Sysco is working to improve record-keeping and traceability, reduce bycatch and better manage fish stocks, helping increase the supply of #sustainable seafood http://bit.ly/2PQNWAv #DeliveringABetterTomorrow #CSR

KEYWORDS: World Wildlife Fund, Sysco, seafood

SOURCE:Sappi North America

DESCRIPTION:

Significant upgrades were recently made to the headbox on the No. 12 Paper Machine at the Cloquet Mill, including improved dilution control.

The modifications will result in improved sheet flatness and roll quality. The previous headbox controlled basis weight through slice lip profi ling, where the shape of the discharge nozzle is defl ected slightly to spread the fiber evenly across the machine.

“Slice lip profiling has limited range of control and causes undesirable effects on fiber orientation,” said Technical Services Manager for Paper, Kraig Melin. “The new headbox controls basis weight much more precisely through the addition or subtraction of dilution water in narrow control zones, providing much improved fi ber orientation.”

Sappi’s Board approved the $6 million investment on December 6, 2016, setting aggressive milestones to have the project completed in just ten and a half months. The team overseeing the project met the startup target date for completion— October 23, 2017—as well as all key milestone dates along the way.

The project produced several other noteworthy successes: demolition, construction and startup were completed without a recordable safety incident.

Saleable paper was produced after just two reels, with basis weight profi les dramatically improved from baseline. Roll construction and quality were also improved, even before headbox tuning and optimization.

Melin attributes these remarkable achievements to excellent engineering work and lauds Sappi’s investment in the mill.

“The investments will improve quality as well as operational efficiency,” he said.

The investment is another example of Sappi’s 2020Vision, which seeks to balance the group EBITDA by making investments in graphic paper manufacturing in order to remain an industry leader while also exploring other opportunities to balance and diversify group EBITDA.

“The game was about to change,” Melin said. “This investment will help us stay in the game in a competitive market.”

Tweet me:After a $6M investment at its #Cloquet Mill, @SappiNA will see significant improvements to graphics papers produced at the mill: http://bit.ly/Sappi-SR17

KEYWORDS: Cloquet, Minnesota, Sappi, paper, graphics, Investment, dilution control, coated paper