ORGANIZATIONAL GOVERNANCE -
Just weeks after 12 C40 mayors signed the C40 Fossil-Fuel-Free Streets Declaration in an effort to curb air pollution and improve the quality of life for urban dwellers while tackling climate change, the mayors of 25 pioneering cities have pledged to develop and begin implementing more ambitious climate action plans by 2020 to deliver emissions-neutral and climate-resilient cities by 2050.
INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY -
Corresponding with the launch of its updated Global States and Regions Annual Disclosure report in partnership with CDP and the 2017 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP23), The Climate Group has announced new members and progress for its electric vehicles (EV100), energy productivity (EP100) and renewable electricity (
PRESS RELEASE -
UPS Provides Cycling Solutions to Help Address Urban Challenges
UPS (NYSE: UPS) today announced the launch of an eBike that will deliver packages in Pittsburgh, Pa. The electrically-assisted tricycle will help reduce carbon emissions in addition to traffic, noise and air quality challenges in Pittsburgh. The deployment is part of UPS’s Cycle Solutions and the company’s Rolling Laboratory, which tests alternative fuels and advanced technology vehicles.
INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY -
The popularity of electric vehicles is on the rise, but infrastructure constraints have largely kept a widespread EV boom from becoming reality — until now.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT -
John Viera, Global Director, Sustainability and Vehicle Environmental Matters at Ford Motor Company, recently shared his experience as one of the first sustainability business professionals in the corporate world.
Read on to learn how he applies his engineering background to his sustainability work, his unique “talents” that make him especially equipped to lead a sustainability organization, and why he’s passionate about delivering innovation to communities that need it most.
PRESS RELEASE -
As organizations around the world team up to combat the effects of climate change, companies like Target have a big role to play. Since we opened our first store back in 1962, we’ve aimed to make our products and operations more sustainable for our guests—we’re a two-time ENERGY STAR partner of the year, and the Solar Energy Industries Association’s 2016 top corporate solar installer in the U.S. We’ve also come to the table in support of the Paris Agreement and other global and local environmental efforts.
INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY -
The genius physicist Albert Einstein once said, “If you can't explain it to a six-year-old, you don’t understand it yourself.” This philosophy acts as a backbone of Pauline Dawes’ idea to truly revolutionise the trucking industry. It is very simple: By using the empty space between the wheels on trailers, the sector can cut down on the amount of journeys being made, saving money, fuel and carbon in the process.
It was while working as a director in the logistics sector, and doing an MBA at Manchester Business School, that Dawes was struck by the idea for SOMI Trailers.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY -
Think of all the delivery trucks that roam across cities every day. Whether it’s Amazon, moving furniture, even good old snail mail, most of it comes to our homes via dirty, inefficient, diesel- or gasoline-powered trucks that get barely a few miles to the gallon. Factor in both air and noise pollution from these vehicles and you have a major sustainability challenge that, as delivery services grow, is only getting worse.
MATERIALS & PACKAGING -
The global airline industry is flying high — according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the sector is forecasted to make a net profit of $29.8 billion in 2017 and air passengers are expected to double over the next 20 years. But coupled with the industry’s success are unprecedented levels of greenhouse gas emissions.
INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY -
Ford has announced a new strategy to investors that will see the auto giant leverage its unique product strengths, trusted brand and global scale to refocus and thrive in an evolving and disruptive period for the auto industry. The shift will include greater focus on accelerating the introduction of smart vehicles and services.
The investor presentation follows a four-month-deep dive into Ford’s strategy and business operations led by Jim Hackett, Ford’s new President and CEO, and the company’s senior leadership team.
PRESS RELEASE -
CVS Health [NYSE:CVS] today announced that its customers and colleagues donated nearly $4 million to support the Florida, Texas and Puerto Rico communities that were devastated by recent hurricanes, during a 10-day in-store fundraising campaign. The company also announced that it will donate more than $6 million of critical products and supplies to these communities, bringing CVS Health’s total support to $10 million.
The funds will be split evenly between Unidos por Puerto Rico, Rebuild Texas Fund and the Florida Disaster Fund to help support rebuilding efforts in these affected communities over the coming weeks and months. Products will be distributed to communities where they are needed the most.
PRESS RELEASE -
Today, UNICEF USA and UPS announced an impactful partnership with Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Empire State Relief and Recovery Effort to support the people of Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Providing relief to those in need of clean water and other basic supplies, UNICEF USA, in close cooperation with the Governor’s teams and nonprofit partners, will leverage the vast UPS logistics network to deliver supplies from various points around the world, including from the company’s Worldport global air hub in Louisville, Kentucky. One plane will carry more than 60 pallets of water from Governor Cuomo’s Empire State Relief and Recovery Effort, departing on Tuesday morning.
PRESS RELEASE -
UPS (NYSE:UPS) today announced that The UPS Foundation and UPS Airlines will expand humanitarian aid and support after devastating hurricanes and an earthquake.
INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY -
During Climate Week NYC, international nonprofit The Climate Group, a member of the We Mean Business coalition of nonprofits working with global businesses to take action on climate change, announced the launch of a new business campaign designed to fast-track the uptake of electric vehicles (EVs) and infrastructure.
ORGANIZATIONAL GOVERNANCE -
Air pollution has become a hot button issue for the UK ever since London surpassed its air pollution limits just five days into 2017, leading both the public and private sector to leap into action to reduce emissions.
COLLABORATION & CO-CREATION -
Hurricane Harvey, the strongest storm to hit Texas and Louisiana in decades, has left a wake of destruction in its path. More than 30,000 people have been driven into shelters and the storm’s aftermath has left behind some estimated tens of billions of dollars in damage. Though the storm has now been downgraded to tropical storm status, the danger is far from over if forecasts predicting the storm to move towards the Gulf of Mexico, where it will pick up strength before moving back over Texas, prove to be true.
PRESS RELEASE -
Meals on Wheels America is a household name —people know that the organization helps seniors access healthy meals without having to leave their homes. Ten million seniors nationwide struggle with hunger, so Meals on Wheels has a big (and important!) job to do. In fact, it’s the oldest and largest national organization supporting community-based programs dedicated to ending senior hunger.
INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY -
As a global transportation and logistics company, UPS is all too familiar with the myriad of challenges greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions pose to both the environment and the global economy. To reduce impacts and remain competitive in an ever-changing economic landscape, the company, since 2009, has been making moves to drive innovation and spur change within the shipping industry — including investing in alternative fuels, advanced technology vehicles and renewable energies.
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS -
After London air pollution levels surpassed allowed limits for 2017 just five days into the new year, new initiatives to improve air quality and draw attention to the city’s growing pollution problem have been popping up on the regular.
PRESS RELEASE -
SAN FRANCISO, May 22, 2017 – Sustainable Brands® kicks off its largest community gathering today with Sustainable Brands’17 Detroit at the Cobo Center in downtown Detroit. Over 2,000 business executives along with their teams from 35+ countries across the globe are attending the conference and Activation Hub. In addition, there is anticipated record breaking livestream viewership in collaboration with Detroit Public Television (DPTV).