LEADERSHIP -
It’s that time of year again: S&P Dow Jones Indices (S&P DJI) and Sustainability Investing specialist RobecoSAM have announced the results of the annual Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI) review.
MARKETING AND COMMS -
When your smartphone receives a message or a call while you’re driving, do you answer it? For most (64 percent of) Americans, the answer is yes – but only if they’re driving alone. Interestingly, only 36 percent look at their phone screens with passengers in the car and just 30 percent do so if there is a child in the car. But as AT&T’s latest ad demonstrates, even if you’re alone in your car, you’re never alone on the road.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
For corporations, the age of “random acts of greenness” is over. Progressive companies integrate sustainability into their everyday, core business models and throughout their value chains. It means being accountable for your entire value chain — but engaging sustainable suppliers has proven to be a challenge for many companies.
PRESS RELEASE -
For 34 years, The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) has partnered with Habitat for Humanity to help families around the world obtain decent, affordable housing. The Company is celebrating the 50,000th Habitat home that it has supported through product or volunteer contributions.
For this milestone build, Dow is partnering with Saginaw-Shiawassee Habitat for Humanity to build a new home in Freeland, Mich. From August 18 to September 9, Dow volunteers will work alongside the future homeowners, who have been working diligently with Habitat for several years to make their dreams of homeownership a reality.
Volunteers from Freeland area churches and Thrivent Financial will also lend a helping hand on the project.
PRESS RELEASE -
DETROIT – General Motors is adding 2 million water bottles from Flint, Michigan residents into its Do Your Part water bottle recycling initiative. The company partnered with Schupan Recycling to collect the bottles. The plastic is washed, flaked and turned into fleece to make three products: Chevrolet Equinox V-6 engine covers, insulation for The Empowerment Plan coats for the homeless, and air filters for 10 GM plants.
PRESS RELEASE -
SAN FRANCISCO, August 23, 2016 –A series of research studies and breakthrough innovations focused on the intersection of business and purpose will launch at SB’16 Copenhagen. The Sustainable Brands® community will gather in Northern Europe at the Radisson Blu Scandinavian Hotel in Copenhagen on September 26-28th to host these emerging insights and collaborate on how companies are developing real tools, techniques, methods and models for embedding purpose into the core of a brand and finding business success.
LEADERSHIP -
Not too long ago, in conversation with a former colleague, I explained SABMiller’s objective to “imbed sustainable development within African Procurement.” Following a slight pause, the response was, “That is quite gutsy! Not many organisations have been able to do that …”
PRESS RELEASE -
Kimberly-Clark (K-C) Australia & New Zealand (A&NZ) released its new five-year sustainability strategy. Both globally and locally, K-C’s sustainability goals have transitioned from three pillars of sustainability (People, Planet and Product) to an evolution of five key priority areas - Social Impact, Forests and Fibre, Waste & Recycling, Energy & Climate, and Supply Chain.
LEADERSHIP -
With over 20 years working in various roles at Procter & Gamble, Virginie Helias is a brand and innovation veteran. A member of the Sustainable Brands advisory board, she was recently promoted from P&G's global director of sustainability to replace Len Sauers as VP of global sustainability. We caught up with Helias to learn more about her new role, the most exciting challenges ahead and lessons she’s learned along the way.
SUPPLY CHAIN -
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) announced today it will be consulting stakeholders on a number of options aimed at providing the market with greater assurance that MSC-certified fisheries and supply chain companies meet internationally accepted norms for labor practices.
“The MSC Board recognizes the increasing importance placed on social issues when considering sustainability,” said Werner Kiene, chairman of the Board. “As a result the MSC Board has resolved to enhance the MSC sustainability certification scheme for wild fisheries by introducing a risk-based approach that assures stakeholders that labor practices throughout the MSC-certified supply chain, from ocean to consumer, meet internationally accepted norms.”
STAKEHOLDER TRENDS AND INSIGHTS -
A new report from Transparency International reveals that emerging market multinationals are far from responsible global citizens, with low transparency standards and weak anti-corruption policies that have barely improved over the last few years, if at all.
PRESS RELEASE -
At BASF, we create chemistry through the power of connected minds. By balancing economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility, we are building a more sustainable future through chemistry. As the world’s leading chemical company, we help our customers in nearly every industry meet the current and future needs of society through science and innovation.
We provide a challenging and rewarding work environment and are always working to form the best team—especially from within, through an emphasis on lifelong learning and development.
PRESS RELEASE -
Ford of Europe has achieved zero waste-to-landfill at all of its European manufacturing plants. Eliminating 6,000 tonnes of waste per year, that was previously sent to landfill, compared with 2011 – equivalent to the annual waste discarded by a town of 12,500 people, for the 1.2 million vehicles that Ford produces in Europe each year.
Innovative measures employed to achieve zero waste-to-landfill include the briquetting of grinding sludge from the Dagenham engine plant, in the U.K., so that the oil can be re-used in the production process. At the Valencia plant, in Spain, Ford pioneered generating alternative fuel from waste that could not be recycled.
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING -
Mars, Incorporated’s latest Principles in Action report captures the company’s performance on its targets for 2015, 2020, and those which are ongoing. Guided by its Five Principles of Quality, Responsibility, Efficiency, Mutuality and Freedom, the company has met and continues to pursue a wide range of sustainability, health and wellbeing, food safety, responsible marketing and workplace engagement objectives.
COLLABORATION -
Last week, The Dow Chemical Company released its 2015 Sustainability Report, which examined the company’s journey toward reaching its 2015 goals and what it’s already achieved looking ahead to 2025. I caught up with corporate VP and Chief Sustainability Officer Neil Hawkins to learn more.
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE -
With the release of its latest sustainability report on June 30th, Kimberly-Clark proudly announced that it had achieved or surpassed all of its 5-year sustainability goals. In anticipation of the company’s 150th anniversary, Kimberly-Clark introduced a new set of sustainability priorities and goals through 2022.
PRODUCT, SERVICE & DESIGN INNOVATION -
International brewing company SABMiller released its 2016 Sustainable Development Report this week, detailing cuts to environmental impacts and updates to its ‘Prosper’ sustainability ambition to align more closely with the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
PRESS RELEASE -
PAWTUCKET, RI – June 28, 2016 – Today, Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS) was recognized by the Civic 50 as the most community-minded company in the Consumer Discretionary industry. The Civic 50 is an initiative of Points of Light that sets the standard for corporate civic engagement and creates a roadmap for companies seeking to best use their time, talent, and resources to improve the quality of life in the communities where they do business. Hasbro has been recognized by the Civic 50 each year since the initiative began in 2012.
PRESS RELEASE -
Points of Light honors UPS for its community engagement and philanthropic efforts for 3rd year
CHEMISTRY, MATERIALS & PACKAGING -
On Monday, The Dow Chemical Company released its 2015 Sustainability Report, culminating Dow’s decade-long 2015 Sustainability Goals, which centered on producing solutions to global challenges including the areas of food, water and energy and continuing its commitment to operational excellence.