CSRwire Press Releases, Events and Reports

Fireside Chat: Canadian Corporate Leaders to share culture building strategies in the green economy

02.10.2012 - 06:40PM

A strong business plan is vital, but it is only when you capture the hearts and minds of your employees and customers that you unleash a whole new world of opportunity. Join us for a fireside chat with two highly respected Canadian entrepreneurs who have seized upon a special mix of culture and entrepreneurship to propel their companies forward in the green economy.

During the discussion you will learn:

The value of communicating a clear vision throughout your organization
Specific examples of culture building strategies
How triple bottom line thinking drives profitable decision making
The importance of partnerships in building a successful brand
How building shared values is the ultimate competitive advantage in the Green Economy

To learn more Click Here

More about TSSS

TSSS is a live an online community that promotes dialogue and problem solving among sustainability thought leaders. Our events occur 8 times each year and act not only as a learning opportunity but also as a networking forum for individuals to come together as allies and partners in efforts to promote sustainable business practices. To Learn More Click Here

Western Union and USAID Extend African Diaspora Marketplace Deadline

02.10.2012 - 06:07PM

The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU), a leader in global payment services, its Foundation, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have extended the application deadline for the African Diaspora Marketplace to March 2, 2012. The ADM is an initiative that encourages sustainable economic growth and employment by supporting diaspora entrepreneurs and other entrepreneurs who are U.S.-based and have a demonstrated relevant connection to, or experience in, Africa.

Proposals need to be submitted by 5pm EST March 2, 2012. Information about ADM II, eligibility requirements, and how to apply can be found at http://www.diasporamarketplace.net

About Western Union

The Western Union Company (NYSE: WU) is a leader in global payment services. Together with its Vigo, Orlandi Valuta, Pago Facil and Western Union Business Solutions branded payment services, Western Union provides consumers and businesses with fast, reliable and convenient ways to send and receive money around the world, to send payments and to purchase money orders. As of December 31, 2011, the Western Union, Vigo and Orlandi Valuta branded services were offered through a combined network of approximately 485,000 agent locations in 200 countries and territories. In 2011, The Western Union Company completed 226 million consumer-to-consumer transactions worldwide, moving $81 billion of principal between consumers, and 425 million business payments. For more information, visit www.westernunion.com.

About the Western Union Foundation

Through Western Union's Our World, Our Family^(R) signature program, the Western Union Foundation supports initiatives to empower people through access to economic opportunity. Recognized by the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy in 2009, the program is a five-year, $50 million commitment reflecting efforts made by Western Union employees, Agents and partners around the world. Since 2001, the Western Union Foundation has awarded more than $73.4 million in grants to more than 2010 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in 104 countries and territories. To learn more, visit http://foundation.westernunion.com.

About USAID

USAID is the lead U.S. government agency providing development and humanitarian assistance to people around the world. USAID works in 49 countries in sub-Saharan Africa to promote good governance and democracy, broad-based economic growth, high quality health care and education, and peaceful and secure communities. The agency's Global Development Alliance (GDA) links U.S. foreign assistance with the resources, expertise and creativity of the private sector as well as nongovernmental organizations. Since its launch in 2001, the Global Development Alliance has changed the way U.S. international development projects are financed and implemented. By cultivating more than 900 public-private alliances with over 1,700 individual partners, it has allowed USAID to leverage an additional $9.6 billion in resources for development. For more information about USAID and its programs around the world, visit www.usaid.gov. For more information on Global Development Alliances, visit www.usaid.gov/gda/index.html.

New York Rolls Out New Kind of Corporation

02.10.2012 - 10:00AM

New York Secretary of State Cesar A. Perales was on hand to accept filing papers from New York’s first benefit corporations, a new kind of corporation that became available in New York for the first time today. Created when Governor Cuomo signed S.79-A (Squadron)/ A.4692-A (Silver), the benefit corporation passed both houses unanimously.

This new law has the ability to transform the State and national economy by creating businesses that must create benefit for society and the environment in addition to profit. Thirteen businesses from across the State rushed to adopt the new corporate form as they build a new economy. One company even left Delaware and incorporated in New York State to take advantage of this innovative corporate form. Currently seven states, including New York, have enacted benefit corporation laws.

“The creation of benefit corporations in New York is a testament to the strength of this global movement to redefine success in business” said Andrew Kassoy, Co-Founder of B Lab, a non-profit organization that supported the legislation. “New York is the heart of global finance and now interested investors in New York have a way to make sure their money is doing much more than just making a profit.”

Benefit corporations are a new kind of corporation legally required to: 1) have a corporate purpose to create a material positive impact on society and the environment; 2) expand fiduciary duty to require consideration of the interests of workers, community and the environment; and 3) publicly report annually on its overall social and environmental performance using a comprehensive, credible, independent, and transparent third party standard. Traditional corporate law requires corporations to prioritize the financial interests of shareholders over the interests of workers, communities, and the environment.

"This legislation is a validation of the double-bottom line mission that Greyston Bakery has championed for the past 30 years and we are proud to be a part of business history in the State of New York as one of the state's first Benefit Corporations” said Mike Brady, President of Greyston Bakery, New York State’s first benefit corporation.

Investors are also interested in the new law. "We like to back entrepreneurs who have embraced solving social problems as part of the goals for their companies,” said Albert Wenger, Partner at Union Square Ventures, an investor in innovative internet businesses like Twitter, Etsy, Edmodo, and Tumblr. “We believe this creates more long term value for both shareholders and society. The Benefit Corporation legal structure is an important innovation to help maintain that dual focus as the companies scale."

California, New Jersey, Virginia, and Hawaii passed similar legislation in 2011, joining Vermont and Maryland who did so in 2010. Benefit corporation legislation has also been introduced in Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Illinois and the District of Columbia. The legislation has enjoyed strong bi-partisan support in every state.

“Congratulations to New York's first benefit corporations! The entrepreneurs lining up today send a clear message: New York is open for business in a huge new way," said Senator Daniel Squadron. "Starting today, benefit corporations will bring new businesses into our market and unlock billions in investments, all while promoting a new socially-minded approach to entrepreneurship. Today is a big day for all who believe that profitable business and social responsibility can be inextricably connected. I look forward to welcoming many new benefit corps to New York in the coming weeks and months."

“Today, businesses in New York are now empowered to embrace social responsibility and to pursue vital goals such as safeguarding workers’ rights and protecting our environment as part of their core mission. By enabling benefit corporations in New York, we are continuing our efforts to strengthen and diversify our economy while demonstrating that profit and the pursuit of social justice are not mutually exclusive,” said Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, one of the Prime Sponsors of the Legislation.

"I am very happy this legislation is going into effect in New York," said Senator Bill Larkin (R-C, Cornwall-on-Hudson), a Co-Sponsor of the bill. "This new option allows our businesses to stay competitive while promoting best-practices that are good for both the environment and society."

"Governor Cuomo has opened New York for business while reinvigorating our tradition as the nation's progressive leader. By combining these key objectives, benefit corporations allow New York State businesses to pursue goals beyond the bottom line while promoting continued investment and development in our state," Secretary of State Cesar Perales said.

The New York bill had significant business support, including companies such as Eileen Fisher; Greyston Bakery, Icestone and Uncommon Goods, all interested in creating better choices for the growing number of entrepreneurs and investors who seek to create businesses that create both social and shareholder value. Numerous business organizations, such as Syracuse First, Buffalo First, Ithaca First, Onondaga Citizens League, The JustGreen Partnership and Westminster Economic Development Initiative, Inc., also supported the bill.

“The passage of Benefit Corporation legislation is an important and much needed step forward to grow our New York State economy,” said David Levine, co-founder of the American Sustainable Business Council whose members’ organizations represent over 100,000 businesses. “New York is helping to lead the way for the country with an innovative and sustainable business strategy that will grow businesses and create jobs which will also provide social and environmental benefit.”

The bill was originally proposed by the American Sustainable Business Council and B Lab; and the citizen advocacy campaign was led by Care2.com.

For additional background on benefit corporations, including national and local legislative updates, see www.benefitcorp.net.

Background information and contacts for benefit corporations’ first day:

First Day Registered Companies:

Agrodolce for Fast Foodies, Call2Action, Clay.com, Corn Cow Inc., eco, Greyston Bakery, On Belay Business Advisors, Outlier, Sahara Reporters, Singlebrook Technology, Stephen Vardin & Colleagues, Inc., Strugatz Ventures

Initial Supporters:

B Lab is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a new sector of the economy that uses the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. B Lab drives systemic change through three interrelated initiatives: 1) building a community of Certified B Corporations to make it easier for all of us to tell the difference between “good companies” and just good marketing; 2) driving capital to impact investments through use of GIIRS Ratings and Analytics; and 3) advancing supportive public policies to accelerate growth of social entrepreneurship and impact investing. To earn certification, which is not required for registered benefit corporations, B Corps must achieve a verified minimum score (80 out of 200) on the B Impact Assessment and amend their bylaws to legally require their directors to consider the interests of stakeholders, not just shareholders, when making decisions. For more information, check www.bcorporation.net or contact Jay Katie Kerr at katie@bcorporation.net.

American Sustainable Business Council is a growing coalition of business networks and businesses committed to advancing a new vision, framework and policies to support a vibrant, equitable and sustainable economy. The Council brings the business perspective, experience and strength to stimulate our economy, benefit our communities, and preserve our environment. Today, the organizations that have joined in this partnership represent over 65,000 businesses and social enterprises and more than 150,000 entrepreneurs, owners, executives, investors and business professionals and other individuals. www.asbcouncil.org For more information contact David Levine at (917) 359-9623

Care2: With more than 17 million members and over 700 nonprofit partners worldwide, Care2 is the largest online community that empowers millions of individuals to lead a healthy, sustainable lifestyle and support important causes. Care2 is a B Corporation, or social enterprise, that generates revenues by connecting individuals with nonprofits and business that are making the world a better place. Care2 has worked with B Lab to provide thousands of signatures to advocate for Benefit Corporation legislation passed in California and New York. Founded in 1998, Care2 has collected over 80 million signatures on petitions featuring timely and important issues. Please visit the Care2 community at www.care2.com. For more information contact Sue Anne Reed at sueanne@care2team.com or 650 622-0867.

State Senator Daniel Squadron introduced the legislation. Contact Amy Spitalnick, 212-298-5565 / 516-521-0128.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver was the Prime Sponsor in the Assembly. Contact Jason Fink 212-312-1400.

Other Individuals Willing to Comment On the Bill

Mike Brady, President of Greyston Bakery 914-375-1510 x201

Albert Wenger, Partner at Union Square Ventures albert@usv.com

Andrew Greenblatt, Adjunct Assistant Professor at NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service, a Professor specializing in social ventures. 917-885-9309

Allen Bromberger, Partner, Perlman + Perlman, LLC, 212-889-0575 allen@perlmanandperlman.com

Kyle Westaway, Westaway Law, attorney in New York City and Adjunct Professor at Harvard Law School. 626-942-2380

Green Formulations and Sustainable Packaging Top Summit Agenda

02.10.2012 - 08:04AM

The North American edition of the Sustainable Cosmetics Summit (www.sustainablecosmeticssummit.com) aims to tackle some of the major sustainability issues in the beauty industry. Hosted in New York on 17-19th May, the 3-day summit focuses on green formulations and sustainable packaging. Other key topics on the summit agenda are sustainability metrics and marketing innovations. For the first time, a summit will showcase popular techniques to measure the environmental footprint of personal care products.

With research showing raw materials and packaging comprise the highest environmental impact of personal care products, the summit hones in on these key areas. Dedicated sessions and plenary workshops cover green formulations and sustainable packaging. An update will be given on the palette of green ingredients available to formulators, whilst the gamut of sustainable packaging options will be highlighted.

Titled Sustainability Best-Practices, the opening session highlights the various ways cosmetic companies are measuring and reducing their environmental and social footprints. Joby Carlson from the Sustainability Consortium will give an update on Life-Cycle Assessment methodologies for cosmetics. Susan Arnot Heaney, Global Director of Corporate Responsibility of Avon, will show how the company’s raft of sustainability programs is improving corporate efficiency. The company is reducing its environmental impact by investing in green buildings, undertaking sustainable sourcing and decreasing material usage.

Natura Cosmetics, the leading Brazilian cosmetics company, will share its experiences in carbon management tools. To meet its goal of becoming carbon neutral, it is implementing a number of techniques to measure, reduce, and offset its carbon emissions. Harriet Hentges from Ahold USA will give a retailer perspective on sustainability and how it relates to personal care products. Other papers will discuss the use of sustainability metrics to measure environmental footprints and performance indicators.

The growing use of plant-based feedstock for cosmetic ingredients is highlighted in the Green Formulations session. Jari Alander from AAK compares the environmental footprint of vegetable oil-based ingredients with those derived from petrochemicals. Evonik discusses the application of green chemistry principles in novel processing techniques for cosmetic ingredients.

Other papers tackle some of the major formulation issues associated with sustainable (natural & organic) cosmetics. Details are given of new emulsifiers and surfactants for natural personal care products. Judi Beerling, head of technical research at Organic Monitor, discusses the alternatives to parabens in cosmetic formulations in a dedicated workshop. Ms. Beerling will go through the various options available to formulators looking to replace this contentious group of preservatives. Other speakers will cover the challenges of formulating functional natural skin care products, novel actives from developing countries, and natural ingredients for anti-ageing.

With growth in the North American sustainable cosmetics market slowing, brands are exploring new growth openings. The Marketing & Distribution Innovations session looks at two popular growth routes: new distribution channels and new country markets (exports). The opportunities in TV shopping channels are outlined, whilst a leading Australian organic skincare brand discusses the potential of the Asian market. Although the size is a fraction of the North American market, the Asian market for natural & organic personal care products continues to show double digit growth. The burgeoning middle-class in countries, such as China and India, are creating demand for ‘chemically-clean’ cosmetics. The natural food retailer PCC Natural Market will share its experiences in selecting and merchandising natural personal care products. Other papers cover mobile technology and consumer behavior towards green cosmetics.

The final session of the conference reviews the range of sustainable packaging options available to cosmetic brands. The opening speaker looks at the influence of materials and design on the environmental footprint of cosmetic packaging. Other papers cover novel re-usable materials, upcycling & recycled packaging, eco-design, and the potential of bioplastics. Procter & Gamble and Hain Celestial will share their experiences in tackling the packaging conundrum. Following on from the last session, Dr. Ramani Narayan, Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University, will give a practical workshop to cosmetic companies looking at adopting sustainable packaging solutions on day three of the summit.

Organized by Organic Monitor, the program of this seventh edition has been devised to help personal care companies overcome some of the major technical issues associated with green formulations and encourage sustainable packaging. The summit delves deeper into environmental footprints than previous editions. ‘By placing emphasis on metrics, we want to show how environmental impacts can be measured and quantified for positive change’, states Amarjit Sahota, President of Organic Monitor.

About the Sustainable Cosmetics Summit
The aim of the Sustainable Cosmetics Summit is to encourage sustainability in the beauty industry by bringing together key stake-holders and debate major sustainability issues in a high-level forum. The North American edition will take place at InterContinental New York Barclay hotel on 17-19th May 2012. More information is available from
www.sustainablecosmeticssummit.com

About Organic Monitor
Organic Monitor is a UK-based specialist research, consulting & training company that focuses on the global organic & related product industries. In 2011, we celebrated 10 years of encouraging sustainable development. Since 2001, we have been providing a range of business services to operators in high-growth ethical & sustainable industries. Our services include market research publications, business & technical consulting, seminars & workshops, and sustainability summits. Visit us at www.organicmonitor.com

Further Information
For more details on Sustainable Cosmetics Summit America, including conference program, please contact:

Ms. Marie-Theres Wimmer
PR & Marketing Executive, Organic Monitor
Tel: (44) 20 8567 0788
Fax: (44) 20 8567 7164
Email: press@organicmonitor.com

Corporate Responsibility + Social Media: Are They Aligned in your Organization?

02.09.2012 - 05:12PM

#SMWCSR

Skepticism is high. Trust is down. Consumers are increasingly using social media to guide their purchasing decisions. Job candidates are increasingly evaluating prospective employers using a complex combination of social media, mission, brand purpose and reputation. How can business leverage the power of millions to solve social and environmental problems while staying true to their mission? And how can your internal communicators help? How can your stakeholders communicate and collaborate in meaningful ways? How can social media be a true channel for a true dialogue between company and stakeholder?

Speakers: Sloane Berrent (VP of Digital at Lippe Taylor), Kelly Fisher (Assistant Manager, Philanthropy at Toyota), Dave Stangis (VP, CSR, Sustainability and Community Affairs at Campbell Soup Co.), Aman Singh (Editorial Director, CSRwire), Susan McPherson (Director of Global Marketing at Fenton)

Investors Challenge 10 Electric Power Companies on Climate Change and Air Pollution Risks

02.09.2012 - 03:54PM

Leading U.S. investors today announced they have filed shareholder resolutions with Southern Company, FirstEnergy, Ameren and seven other electric power providers, pressing them to disclose their plans for managing the risks associated with climate change and pending clean air regulations.

Most of the resolutions press companies for information that will help investors assess the companies’ readiness for complying with the Environmental Protection Agency’s Mercury and Air Toxics Standards, which goes into effect in 2014. Electric utilities will need to replace aging coal-fired power plants with cleaner generation sources like natural gas or renewables, or retrofit older plants with pollution control technology, to comply with the new standard.

“Leading electric utilities are expanding energy efficiency programs, adding renewable energy generation, and switching from coal to natural gas to diversify their strategies for providing cleaner electricity,” said Mindy Lubber, president of Ceres and director of the Investor Network on Climate Risk, which helps coordinate the resolutions. “Investors want to know which companies are ahead of the curve in making this shift, which will help them comply with the new mercury standard and eventual climate regulations.”

The New York State Comptroller’s Office filed resolutions with DTE Energy, CMS Energy and Ameren--each of which relies on coal for more than three quarters of its power generation--asking the companies to assess actions to build shareholder value and reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and air pollution via comprehensive energy efficiency and renewables programs for customers. The Comptroller filed a similar resolution last year with FirstEnergy, which recently announced that it would retire six old coal-fired plants in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Maryland in order to reduce emissions.

Other resolutions filed in the electric power, homebuilding and natural gas sectors in recent years have achieved significant improvements as detailed in Proxy Power: Shareholder Successes on Climate, Energy & Sustainability.

“Reducing pollution is not just an imperative for the world, it’s a necessary step for companies to remain at the cutting edge of this industry,” said New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli. "Working with Ceres, we are urging companies to find ways to be transparent, sustainable and profitable in the context of our current regulatory environment."

Ameren received an additional resolution from the shareholder advocacy group As You Sow, asking it to report on plans to reduce company exposure to coal-related costs and risks, including progress toward achieving goals to minimize commodity risk, emissions other than GHGs, costs of environmental compliance, and construction risk. Duke Energy and FirstEnergy, and Empire District Electric Company, received similar resolutions.

"Due to a changing regulatory landscape and increased market pressures from low-cost natural gas and alternative energy sources, electric utilities reliant on coal are exposed to significant financial risk," said Corinne Bendersky, As You Sow’s Energy Program Manager. "We want companies to report on plans to minimize coal-related risks, demonstrating to investors that they are prepared to meet these challenges and protect shareholder value."

Other resolutions filed include:

The New York City Comptroller John C. Liu filed resolutions with GenOn and Dynegy asking the companies to report on plans for setting GHG reduction goals.
FirstEnergy and Southern Company also received resolutions from Green Century Capital Management asking them to report on plans for managing the environmental financial, legal, and reputational risks associated with coal ash disposal. Ameren received a similar proposal from the Midwest Coalition for Responsible Investment.
The New York State Comptroller filed a resolution with Duke Energy (which is merging with Progress Energy) seeking disclosure on actions the company could take to expand energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.

The resolutions filed with electric power companies are part of a broader investor initiative challenging companies to address climate and sustainability risks. The resolutions were filed by some of the nation’s largest public pension funds, foundations, and religious, labor and other institutional investors. Many of the investors are members of Ceres’ Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR), which has 100 members managing over $10 trillion in assets.

Thus far in the 2012 proxy season, investors coordinating with Ceres have filed 86 resolutions with 69 companies, including businesses with direct exposure to climate change, such as oil and gas companies, and companies with indirect but significant exposure through their supply chains or products, such as food, clothing and telecommunications firms. For the complete list, see www.ceres.org. These resolutions are a subset of the hundreds of sustainability-focused resolutions filed this year.

Ceres is an advocate for sustainability leadership. It leads a national coalition of investors and public interest groups working with companies to address sustainability challenges such as global climate change and water scarcity.

Just Bare(R) Chicken Adds American Humane Certified(R) Farm Program Endorsement

02.09.2012 - 11:40AM

In October 2011, Just BARE Chicken passed the rigorous American Humane Certified^® (AHC) standards for the raising and handling of farm animals, joining the list of American Humane Association™ (AHA) certified producers. Beginning this month, the American Humane Certified seal will start appearing on labels of the Just BARE line of fresh, all natural chicken. The line consists of hand-trimmed boneless, skinless chicken breast fillets; breast tenders; boneless, skinless chicken thighs; drumsticks; and whole chicken.

The decision to become certified was made in direct response to consumers’ desire for increased transparency. Julie Berling, director of brand advocacy and marketing for Just BARE, explained, “More and more, consumers are looking for brands that can prove their claims and are willing to open their operations up to third-party audit and review. In fact, verification of animal welfare was rated very/extremely important by 91 percent of the brand’s target consumers.^1”

The American Humane Certified^® Farm Program Facts

The American Humane Certified seal signifies that an independent, third-party audit verified.

Just BARE’s animal care, handling and processing practices met or exceeded the more than 200 rigorous requirements of the American Humane Association. The American Humane Certified Farm Program was the nation’s first third-party audit program for farm animal welfare, and is presently one of the fastest-growing. It is based on the accepted values of the Five Freedoms created by Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC) and adopted by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), as well as input from animal science experts, veterinarians and other animal husbandry specialists.

American Humane Certification is built around a comprehensive set of science-based standards and sound research. Its standards are reviewed regularly by the American Humane Certified Scientific Advisory Committee, which considers legislation, government welfare codes, scientific research, veterinarian advice, recommendations of the FAWC, and the practical experience of the farming community.

“Only a few small changes were required for the brand to achieve certification,” said Berling. “This came as no surprise, since the respectful care and handling of our chickens has been a priority for our company since it was founded in 1926.” She continued, “For us, the real benefit of Just BARE becoming an American Humane Certified brand is the access to expert research on animal welfare and the added consumer trust and confidence third-party certification provides.”

In a 2010 survey of about 200 consumers, nearly two out of three said they placed a high level of trust in third-party animal welfare certification as long as it was done by a recognized and reputable association. And the AHA meets that criterion. Since its start in 1877, it has been at the forefront of nearly every major advance in the care and protection of animals.

“We’re pleased to add Just BARE to our roster of American Humane Certified brands,” said Kathi Brock, senior director of the American Humane Association’s Farm Animal Program. “Just BARE chicken represents a higher standard of premium, natural chicken, with a demonstrated commitment to the welfare of animals and that of the planet.”

Just BARE Chicken Attributes/Traceability

The chickens raised for Just BARE are never given hormones, antibiotics or animal by-products. Additionally, there are no unwanted solutions, additives, binding agents or preservatives added. It’s 100 percent all natural chicken and nothing else. The chickens are vegetable and grain fed and raised cage-free by independent, local family farmers in Minnesota. And every package is traceable to the family farm where the chicken was raised by entering the Family Farm Code on the outside of the package on the brand’s website at JustBareChicken.com.

¹Animal Welfare Study, Dish on Chicken Consumer Panel. October 2010.

ABOUT JUST BARE^®

Just BARE is a brand of all natural chicken with no antibiotics, no added hormones, no animal by-products and no unwanted additives. Just BARE is distributed nationally by St. Cloud, Minn.-based GNP Company™ (formerly Gold’n Plump Poultry), a family-owned provider of premium chicken products to retail, deli and foodservice customers throughout the Midwest and in other parts of the country. The company employs nearly 1,600 people and partners, with approximately 350 family farmers in Minnesota and Wisconsin to produce wholesome, high-quality chicken. For more information on the Just BARE line of poultry products and tips on minimalist cooking, visit JustBareChicken.com.

ABOUT AMERICAN HUMANE ASSOCIATION™

Since 1877, the historic American Humane Association has been at the forefront of virtually every major advance in protecting children, pets and farm animals from cruelty, abuse and neglect. Today it’s also leading the way in understanding human-animal interaction and its role in society. As the nation’s voice for the protection of children and animals, American Humane Association reaches millions of people every day through groundbreaking research, education, training and services that span a wide network of organizations, agencies and businesses. You can help make a difference, too. Visit American Humane Association at www.americanhumane.org. For a list of American Humane Certified producers, visit TheHumaneTouch.org.

IKEA Plugs-In Four EV Charging Stations In East Palo Alto, California

02.09.2012 - 11:00AM

IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, today officially plugged-in four Blink Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations at its East Palo Alto, California store as part of its partnership with ECOtality, Inc. (NASDAQ:ECTY), a leader in clean electric transportation and storage technologies. This initiative represents the eighth such project for IKEA in the United States. Installation also is planned at one other IKEA store in the Western U.S. To charge an EV at IKEA East Palo Alto, drivers pull into a designated parking spot, swipe their Blink InCard (RFID card), plug the charger into the EV, and then shop and eat at their leisure in the IKEA store while the vehicle is charging. Drivers can get a Blink InCard at www.blinknetwork.com.

“IKEA has a never-ending job of asking what we can do today for a better tomorrow,” said Jill Matherson, IKEA East Palo Alto store manager. “Hosting electric-vehicle charging stations at IKEA East Palo Alto is one way to help accomplish this goal – and we could not have done it without the support of our partners ECOtality and PG&E."

ECOtality is the project manager of The EV Project, a public-private partnership funded in part by a federal stimulus grant from the U.S. Department of Energy made possible by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to provide the necessary infrastructure to support the deployment of EVs. ECOtality is overseeing the installation of approximately 14,000 commercial and residential charging stations in 18 cities and major metropolitan areas in six states and the District of Columbia. IKEA stores are in four of those states.

“The Blink Network is about making the EV lifestyle fit the lifestyle of drivers nationwide,” stated Jason Smith, ECOtality’s San Francisco Bay Area Manager. “We are excited to install Blink charging stations at the East Palo Alto IKEA as this is ideally suited to offer EV drivers the opportunity to charge at a highly desirable destination location.”

IKEA, drawing from its Swedish heritage and respect of nature, believes it can be a good business while doing good business and aims for its operations to minimize impacts on the environment. Globally, IKEA evaluates all locations regularly for energy conservation opportunities, integrates innovative materials into product design, works with Global Forest Watch to maintain sustainable resources, and flat-packs goods for efficient distribution. Specific U.S. sustainable efforts include: recycling waste material (paper, wood, plastic, etc.); incorporating environmental measures into the construction of buildings in terms of energy-efficient HVAC and lighting systems, recycled construction materials, skylights in warehouse areas, and water conserving restrooms; and operationally, phasing out the sale of incandescent light bulbs and facilitating recycling of customers’ compact fluorescent bulbs. IKEA also is installing electric vehicle charging stations at nine stores in the Western U.S.

Located on 10.5 acres at US-101 and University Avenue, the 290,000-s.f. IKEA East Palo Alto opened August 2003 and employs approximately 300 coworkers. In addition to 10,000 exclusively designed items, IKEA East Palo Alto presents 50 different room-settings, three model home interiors, a supervised children’s play area, and a 250-seat restaurant. Other family-friendly features include a ‘Children’s IKEA’ area in the Showroom, baby care rooms, preferred parking and play areas throughout the store. Also, IKEA completed installation of a solar energy system atop the store this summer.

IKEA strives to be ‘The Life Improvement Store,’ and since its 1943 founding in Sweden, has offered home furnishings of good design and function, at low prices so the majority of people can afford them. There are currently more than 330 IKEA stores in 40 countries, including 38 in the U.S. IKEA incorporates sustainable efforts into day-to-day business and supports initiatives that benefit children and the environment. For more information, go to IKEA-USA.com.

Three Hershey Plants Achieve 'Zero Waste to Landfill'

02.09.2012 - 09:59AM

The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) today announced that three of its manufacturing facilities in Pennsylvania have achieved “Zero-Waste-to-Landfill“ (ZWL) status as a result of the company’s ongoing efforts to enhance sustainability through recycling and waste management. Two of the facilities are in Hershey, Pa., and the third is in Hazleton, Pa.

“We are proud of our role as stewards of the environment and of our progress in eliminating waste from our operations,” said Terence O’Day, Senior Vice President of Global Operations at The Hershey Company. “We achieved ZWL at these facilities through a rigorous process of eliminating waste, recycling and converting waste to energy. Our employees understand the importance of sustainability across our company and are working together to reach our reduction goals.”

Zero Waste to Landfill means that routine manufacturing waste has been eliminated from landfill disposal. The company’s Hazleton plant achieved ZWL status this month. The West Hershey plant became a ZWL facility in October 2011. In addition, the $200 million to $225 million expansion of the West Hershey facility, announced in June 2010, is a Zero-Waste-to-Landfill construction project and the new addition will be ZWL upon completion later this year. In 2010, the Reese plant, also located in Hershey, Pa., achieved ZWL status. These plants recycle approximately 90 percent of the waste generated from operations and the remainder is converted to energy at nearby waste-to-energy incinerators located in Bainbridge, Pa., and Harrisburg, Pa.

The Hershey Company continues to improve its recycling and energy efficiency programs at all of its U.S. plants. The company has added biogas capturing equipment at four of its U.S. facilities: Stuarts Draft, Va.; Lancaster, Pa.; Hazleton, Pa.; and Robinson, Ill. The equipment captures biogas produced through onsite wastewater treatment and converts it to energy, decreasing the company’s reliance on fossil fuels.

The Hershey Company has a long history of environmental sustainability programs as part of its commitment to social responsibility. Company founder Milton Hershey started the company’s first recycling center in Hershey in 1937, long before recycling and reducing waste were common practices. Last year, Hershey unveiled two sets of solar arrays at facilities in Hershey, Pa., that generate an estimated 318 megawatt-hours (MWh) per year and will eliminate hundreds of metric tons of greenhouse gases each year. In 2009, the company committed to reducing its green house gas emissions by 15 percent by the end of 2011 based on 2008 emission levels and is on track to achieve this goal by the end of the year.

About The Hershey Company

The Hershey Company (NYSE: HSY) is the largest producer of quality chocolate in North America and a global leader in chocolate and sugar confectionery. Headquartered in Hershey, Pa., The Hershey Company has operations throughout the world and approximately 12,000 employees. With revenues of more than $6 billion, Hershey offers confectionery products under more than 25 brand names, including such iconic brands as Hershey's, Reese's, Hershey's Kisses, Hershey's Bliss, Hershey's Special Dark, Kit Kat, Twizzlers, Jolly Rancher and Ice Breakers. Hershey also offers premium and artisan chocolate products under such brands as Scharffen Berger and Dagoba through the Artisan Confections Company, a wholly owned subsidiary. The company is focused on growing its presence in key international markets such as China and Mexico while continuing to build its competitive advantage in the United States and Canada.

For more than 100 years, The Hershey Company has been a leader in making a positive difference in the communities where its employees live, work and do business. Corporate Social Responsibility is an integral part of the company’s global business strategy, which includes goals and priorities focused on fair and ethical business dealings, environmental stewardship, fostering a desirable workplace for employees, and positively impacting society and local communities. Milton Hershey School, established in 1909 by the company's founder and administered by Hershey Trust Company, provides a quality education, housing, and medical care at no cost to children in social and financial need. Students of Milton Hershey School are direct beneficiaries of The Hershey Company's success.

Sustainable Cosmetics Summit

02.09.2012 - 08:26AM

Sustainable Cosmetics Summit - Change the face of the beauty industry by sustainable development!

For the third successive year, Organic Monitor is hosting the North American edition of its Sustainable Cosmetics Summit in New York City. Taking place at the Intercontinental New York Barclay on 17-19 May 2012, focal themes of this seventh edition are green formulations and sustainable packaging.The major technical issues of formulating green cosmetics (natural & organic) are covered in a dedicated session and interactive workshop.With the use of case studies, the gamut of sustainable packaging options is reviewed. As in previous editions, case studies will be given of cosmetic & ingredient companies at the cutting edge of sustainable development.

Organized by Organic Monitor, the Sustainable Cosmetics Summit is a series of international summits that focuses on the leading issues the beauty industry faces concerning sustainability, natural, organic, fair trade and ecological products. The aim of the summit is to encourage sustainability in the beauty industry by bringing together key stake-holders and debate these major issues in a high-level forum.

More info on: www.sustainablecosmeticssummit.com

Looking for Eco-Love This Valentine's Day? Take It Outside

02.08.2012 - 01:11PM

(Marketwire) - Turning on your date this Valentine's Day could be as simple as turning off the lights. A new survey by Timberland shows more than three-quarters of Americans find eco-minded tendencies attractive in a mate. But don't take it too far; being eco-extreme - especially on a first date - just might leave you single this Valentine's Day.

2012 COULD BE THE YEAR OF THE ECO-LOVER

Timberland, a company dedicated to protecting the outdoors and outfitting people in eco-conscious gear, surveyed more than 1,000 men and women to find out how important green behaviors are when it comes to finding - and keeping - true love. Here are highlights from the Timberland Eco-Love Survey:

Take the environment for granted and you could be flying solo: Nearly half (46%) of Americans say they would question whether to date someone who littered. Although littering is the overwhelming deterrent, refusing to recycle (15%), leaving the lights on when not at home (14%) and being a climate change denier (14%) could also be date deal-breakers.
Attracting a green-minded mate: More than three-quarters (77%) of Americans find eco-minded behaviors an attractive quality in a mate. Specifically, spending time outdoors (57%), being eco-minded around the house (50%) and practicing conscious consumption (30%) are the top eco-qualities Americans say make a person attractive.
When eco-lovers cross the line: Everything in moderation, though - putting the environment before romance at all costs could be a turnoff. Nearly half of Americans (46%) indicated that dates who insisted they order environmentally responsible food (such as organic or locally-grown) or picked them up on a bicycle (43%) might be shown the door.
What to wear when you land the date: Sport sustainable style. Nearly one-third (30%) of Americans are attracted to people who consider the environmental impact of the products they buy, including clothing.
Love blossoms best in the great outdoors: More than half (54%) of Americans said an outdoor adventure, like a hike or walk in the park, is an ideal date, while nearly one-quarter (23%) selected tree planting or other projects to improve the environment.

"Timberland's mission is to equip people for their outdoor experiences in ways that are easier on the environment," explains Jim Davey, Vice President of Global Marketing at Timberland. "But apparently, eco-conscious gear can equip you for a better love life as well."

GREENING YOUR LOVE LIFE

Just in time for Valentine's Day, Timberland is teaming up with the dating experts at OkCupid to create the Green Guide to Dating and Love, full of dos, don'ts and creative ideas for finding and keeping your one green love. "One of the keys to a successful relationship is connecting with your mate on common interests," said Sam Yagan, CEO and Co-Founder at OkCupid. "The Timberland Green Guide to Dating and Love is a fun resource for those who love the outdoors and want unique ideas for putting an eco-spin on the same-old cocktails or coffee dating routine."

Check out The Timberland Green Guide to Dating and Love and the full findings of Timberland's Eco-Love Survey.

About Timberland
Timberland, a wholly owned subsidiary of VF Corporation, is a global leader in the design, engineering and marketing of premium-quality footwear, apparel and accessories for consumers who value the outdoors and their time in it. Timberland markets products under the Timberland®, Timberland PRO®, Mountain Athletics® and Timberland Boot Company® brands, all of which offer quality workmanship and detailing and are built to withstand the elements of nature. The company's products can be found in leading department and specialty stores as well as Timberland® retail stores throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, South America, South Africa and the Middle East. Timberland is committed to doing its part to address environmental challenges and to minimizing its impact. From product design to manufacturing and shipping, the company is constantly finding new ways to be a little lighter on the environment. The Timberland Earthkeepers^® Collection incorporates recycled PET bottles in linings, recycled rubber in soles, leather from silver and gold-rated tanneries and organic content throughout the apparel line. Timberland's dedication to making quality products is matched by the company's commitment to "doing well and doing good" - forging powerful partnerships among employees, consumers and service partners to transform the communities in which they live and work. To learn more about Timberland, please visit www.timberland.com.

Investors Challenge 18 Oil and Gas Companies On Climate Change, Hydraulic Fracturing, and Sustainability Risks

02.08.2012 - 12:12PM

Leading U.S. investors today announced they have filed shareholder resolutions with Exxon-Mobil, Chevron, Chesapeake Energy, ConocoPhillips and 14 other oil and gas companies, pressing them to disclose their plans for managing environmental and workplace challenges such as hydraulic fracturing, greenhouse gas emissions and worker safety.

“The common thread of these resolutions is stronger management focus on environmental and social challenges that will have real bottom line impacts,” said Mindy Lubber, director of the Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR) and president of Ceres, which helps coordinate the filings. “These investors are telling companies they expect to see real progress on climate change, clean energy and other sustainability fronts, despite the policy paralysis in Washington.”

Most of the resolutions with oil & gas firms are associated with financial risks from hydraulic fracturing—called “fracking”— for natural gas. Resolutions filed with EOG Resources, Chevron, Penn Virginia, Anadarko Petroleum, Range Resources, Chesapeake Energy, Noble Energy, Ultra Petroleum, Exxon Mobil, and Stone Energy seek detailed financial accountings of how the companies are addressing the risks associated with community concerns, regulatory changes and drilling moratoriums.

“As community opposition and regulatory risks for fracking operations grow, investors are likewise concerned about how businesses are managing their exposure to these risks,” said Larisa Ruoff, Green Century Capital Management, which filed resolutions with Chesapeake Energy, Chevron, EOG Resources, Noble Energy and Ultra Petroleum, and coordinates efforts to press companies on fracking risks along with the Investor Environmental Health Network.

The resolutions come as public opposition to the controversial extraction technology continues to grow. They follow other resolutions filed in recent years that have achieved significant improvements in the homebuilding, electric power and other industries, as detailed in Proxy Power: Shareholder Successes on Climate, Energy & Sustainability.

“Shareholder resolutions that promote transparency and disclosure are potent weapons to ensure that companies are operating safely and in the long-term interest of investors,” said New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, whose office manages the $146.9 billion Common Retirement Fund. "Oil and gas companies that are held by the Common Retirement Fund must operate in a manner that promotes long-term sustainability, especially when dealing with natural gas, a critical part of our nation’s energy supply.”

Other resolutions filed this year with oil & gas firms request that they:

Set greenhouse gas reduction goals or report on climate change risks to the company (ConocoPhillips, Exxon-Mobil). The Exxon-Mobil resolution builds on similar a resolution filed last year that received 26.5% shareholder support. Companies that voluntarily disclose their greenhouse gas emissions and carbon reduction strategies have been found to have higher stock value, according to a recent study from the UC Davis Graduate School of Management.
Link executive compensation packages to company environment, social and governance performance. They also request that companies add board members with specific environmental expertise. Resolutions were filed with Cabot Oil and Gas, Chevron, Range Resources, Southwestern Energy Company, Occidental Petroleum. Linking executive pay to company performance on accident risk mitigation or greenhouse gas emissions reductions helps to ensure that management gives these issues the attention they deserve, and reduces incentives for excessive risk taking.
Report on business and environmental risks from oil sands extraction in Canada (filed with Exxon-Mobil). Investors want the company to report on possible long-term risks to the company’s finances and operations posed by the environmental, social and economic challenges associated with the oil sands, including environmental regulations, lawsuits and growing public opposition to oil sands development.

The resolutions filed with oil and gas companies are part of a broader investor initiative challenging companies to address climate and sustainability risks. Thus far in the 2012 proxy season, investors coordinating with Ceres have filed 86 resolutions with 69 companies, including businesses with direct exposure to climate-related business trends such as electric power and coal, and companies with less direct though still significant exposure through their supply chains or products, such as food, clothing and telecommunications firms. For the complete list, see http://www.ceres.org/files/press-files/shareholder-resolutions-tracked-by-ceres/.

Microsoft Employees Raise Record-Breaking $100 Million for Nonprofits in 2011

02.08.2012 - 08:23AM

Microsoft Corp. is delighted to announce the results of its 2011 employee giving campaign: our U.S. Microsoft employees raised $100.5 million (inclusive of the company match) for more than 18,000 U.S.-based community organizations doing work in the U.S. and around the world last year. With this milestone, Microsoft employees have now raised more than $946 million for nonprofits and community organizations since the company’s giving program started in 1983.

Each year, every full-time employee at Microsoft in the U.S. receives a $12,000 corporate matching gift that matches volunteer time ($17 per hour) or dollar-for-dollar charitable contributions to eligible nonprofits. Microsoft’s Employee Giving Program is designed to honor the diversity of our workforce by supporting a broad spectrum of organizations and institutions doing work domestically and internationally. Microsoft matches employee gifts to all eligible organizations with a 501(c)(3) public charity status and educational institutions. In 2011, Microsoft employees in the United States committed 426,671 volunteer hours to nonprofit organizations in the United States; this is 73,000 more hours than in 2010, which brings the total number of volunteering time to 1.7 million hours since tracking started in 2006. The matched volunteer hours committed by employees in 2011 raised $7.2 million for nonprofits.

“Last year, Microsoft U.S. employees broke their annual giving record, raising more than $100 million for community organizations,” said Brad Smith, executive vice president, Legal and Corporate Affairs, Microsoft Corp. “The money and time donated by our employees is one way we aim to play our part in creating opportunities for people in the U.S. and around the world. This new fundraising record is a great start to the 30th year of our Employee Giving Program.”

Entering the 30th year of the Employee Giving Program, Microsoft employees have had an unprecedented impact in their communities. Below is a snapshot and tribute to some of the Microsoft employees who have made a significant impact in their communities.

Creating Opportunities for Youth

Twenty-four-year-old James Liao started his career at Microsoft in July 2011 as an associate consultant in the Sales, Marketing and Services Group in Charlotte, N.C. Within his first six months at Microsoft, Liao earned his entire corporate match and raised $12,000 for Dream Corps, a youth education nonprofit, through dedicating more than 700 volunteer hours. Dream Corps recruits volunteers around the world to promote reading among children in rural China by opening libraries and developing reading programs.

“My passion is to use technology to improve children’s lives,” Liao said. “I joined Microsoft because it shares the same passion I do to make a positive difference in the world through the magic of software and IT services.”

For the past six years, Liao has been using his technology skills to help Dream Corps achieve its mission. He has developed a virtual collaboration site for internal staff, supports the organization’s external website and oversees social media activities to help Dream Corps engage a virtual community of supporters.

Creating a Passion for STEM

In 2011, over a dozen of Microsoft employees volunteered for TEALS (Technology Education and Literacy in Schools), a Puget Sound nonprofit that places technology professionals in elementary and high school classes to teach science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects. The volunteers work as part-time teachers to support school districts that are unable to meet STEM teaching needs because of budget cuts or a lack of qualified teachers.

Twenty-eight-year-old Michael Hawker, program manager, Servers and Tools Business, has been with the company for just over three years. “I’ve really enjoyed working in the classroom and helping kids see how technology can make a difference in their lives,” Hawker said. “In the end, the program is helping students be more well-rounded technical graduates who can use these skills as they enter college.”

With support of Microsoft employees, TEALS has tripled in size since its inception in 2010. During the 2011–2012 school year, TEALS was in place at 13 schools, reaching more than 800 students.

A Long-Standing Helping Hand

The United Way of King County has long been a top beneficiary of Microsoft employee giving. In 2011, employees contributed more than $2 million to the United Way, which helps a number of nonprofit organizations.

“We are fortunate to have such an innovative and dedicated corporate citizen like Microsoft in our region,” said Jon Fine, president and CEO of United Way of King County. “For 30 years now, Microsoft employees have partnered with United Way to focus their passion and talents on building a healthy community. Together, we are working on critical issues such as ending homelessness, preparing kids to succeed in school and making sure families have nourishing food to put on the table.”

A Global Effort

Microsoft employees also focus on global projects. Employees contributed more than $80,000 in donations and volunteer time to Jolkona, a microgiving nonprofit started by Adnan Mahmud, a Microsoft program manager. A snapshot of the impact Microsoft employees have made through the Jolkona platform can be found below:

Covered the cost of 11 children’s education in India for one semester
Provided 24 months psychology support to orphans in Bolivia
Provided life-saving diarrhea treatments to 27 children in India
Fed 15 orphaned children for one week each in Uganda
Fed a family of six facing Somali famine crisis for 21 weeks
Trained four women in bio-intensive farming in Kenya

Boys and Girls Club

In 2011, Microsoft employees contributed 2,183 volunteer hours and more than $472,000 to 80 Boys & Girls Clubs of America nationwide. Since 2005, Ross Heise, a senior content publisher in Windows, has volunteered for more than 1,220 hours for the Boys & Girls Clubs in the Puget Sound region. Specifically, he applied his technology skills to help build a website for the club’s football league.

Healing Hearts With Art

This year, Art with Heart received more than $16,000 from Microsoft employees. Joe Michaels, senior director of Business Development with MSN/Bing, has raised more than $4,000 of the total to support 327 teens facing crisis through art-therapy books. The organization’s mission is to improve the lives of high-risk youth with therapeutic tools and programs that promote mental health and well-being. According to the organization, 17 million children in the U.S. require special healthcare or are suffering from mental health disorders, but only 20 percent receive the services they need.

Microsoft Employees Give Back

Microsoft’s U.S. employees raised more money for nonprofits in 2011 than any year in the company’s history.

2011 Giving Campaign by the Numbers

U.S. employees raised $100.5 million, including corporate matching, for more than 18,000 charitable organizations in 2011.
U.S. employees volunteered 426,671 hours in 2011, an increase of more than 20 percent from 2010.
Microsoft saw 64 percent employee participation through the Employee Giving Program (more than 35,500 employees). Participation is defined as an employee donation of more than $25 or volunteering at least 10 hours with an organization.
In October, when the company has its annual employee Giving Campaign, Microsoft employees raised $55 million dollars of the $100.5 million raised in 2011, which is equivalent to $31.85 for every second of every minute of every hour of every working day of the campaign.
The online auction (an internal tool developed specifically for the Giving Campaign by Microsoft volunteer employees) raised more than $670,000 this year, compared with $465,000 in 2010. There were over 1,000 items bid on over the course of the auction. Items included reserved parking spots, a cookbook autographed by Bill Gates and the chance to box against an executive.

Microsoft Total Giving by the Numbers

Microsoft employees have donated more than $946 million with corporate match since 1983.
Microsoft employees in the U.S. have volunteered more than 1.7 million hours of their time to causes they care about since the company began a volunteer match program in 2006.

Since 1983, Microsoft and its employees have provided more than $5.55 billion in cash, services and software to nonprofits around the world through localized, company-sponsored giving and volunteer campaigns. This includes in-kind donations.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”) is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

For more information, press only:

Rapid Response Team, Waggener Edstrom Worldwide, (503) 443-7070, rrt@waggeneredstrom.com

Note to editors: For more information, news and perspectives from Microsoft, please visit the Microsoft News Center at http://www.microsoft.com/news. Web links, telephone numbers and titles were correct at time of publication, but may have changed. For additional assistance, journalists and analysts may contact Microsoft’s Rapid Response Team or other appropriate contacts listed at http://www.microsoft.com/news/contactpr.mspx.

CVS Caremark Charitable Trust "Surprises" Non-Profits with $4.3 Million in Funding

02.07.2012 - 04:45PM

Today representatives of the CVS Caremark Charitable Trust, a private foundation created by CVS Caremark Corporation (NYSE: CVS), kicked off a “Day of Giving” by surprising several deserving non-profits, with the grant funding they had requested.

The emotional visits, hosted by several of the company’s executives, were timed to coincide with the announcement that $4.3 million has been awarded in grants to 98 non-profit organizations across the country in 2011, which includes multi-year grants from previous years.

"What a pleasant surprise to see CVS Caremark colleagues at our doorstep with a large check for the amount of funding we had requested,” said Betty Vohr M.D., Woman & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island. “We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to the CVS Caremark Charitable Trust for recognizing the positive impact non-profit organizations nationwide make in their local communities.”

The new grant recipients were chosen through the CVS Caremark Charitable Trust's annual grant cycle in which awards range from $10,000 to $50,000 for one-year support. These grants align with the CVS Caremark Charitable Trust’s efforts to improve the quality of health and well-being of underserved populations and also align with the CVS Caremark All Kids Can, a signature program of the CVS Caremark Charitable Trust and CVS Caremark that is committed to supporting children with disabilities.

“We are so excited to help these non-profit organizations start 2012 in a positive way with much-needed funding,” said Eileen Howard Boone, Vice President, CVS Caremark Charitable Trust. “All of the non-profit organizations we support share our commitment to providing greater access to health care and medical services and improving the lives of children with disabilities. The CVS Caremark Charitable Trust is honored to work with all of its non-profit partners to help people on their path to better health.”

Non-profits that received a surprise visit and grant check during today’s Day of Giving include:

Keogh Health Connection (Phoenix, AZ)
University of Miami (Miami, FL)
Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition (Chicago, IL)
Health Care Centers in Schools, Inc. (Baton Rouge, LA)
Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center (Worcester, MA)
Children’s Hospital Medical Center of Akron (Akron, OH)
Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island (Providence, RI)

Funding from the CVS Caremark Charitable Trust supported the following key areas:

Children with Disabilities

More than $3 million in funding was awarded in new and multi-year grants to organizations that support programs designed to help improve the quality of life for children with disabilities. The grants will support services and programs such as screenings, testing, early intervention, tracking developmental milestones, promoting inclusion, communication devices, recreation and fitness, legal advocacy, innovation, and parental education.

Uninsured and Underserved

Programs which provide communities greater access to health care and medical services and underserved populations were another focus area of funding. New grants totaling approximately $1.3 million will finance a wide range of initiatives and programs, including purchasing new information technology systems, focusing on improved patient care, disease control and management, mobile health clinics, and school-based clinics.

The complete list of new non-profit organizations awarded CVS Caremark Charitable Trust grants as part of today's Day of Giving include:

Alabama

The Arc of Shelby County, Inc.

Arizona

Banner Health Foundation
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale
Keogh Health Connection

California

Central Valley Children’s Services Network
Direct Relief International
Family Health Centers of San Diego, Inc.
Public Counsel
Vista Community Clinic
Warmline Family Resource Center

Connecticut

Education Connection
Project Access of New Haven, Inc.

District of Columbia

Girl Scout Council of The Nation's Capital
SOME, Inc.

Florida

American Diabetes Association Inc., Tampa-Orlando Area
Broward Children's Center, Inc.
Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Inc.
Health Council of South Florida, Inc.
University of Miami

Georgia

Auditory-Verbal Center, Inc.
Visiting Nurse Health System, Inc.

Illinois

El Valor Corporation
Family Health Partnership Clinic
Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition

Hawaii

Waikiki Health Center

Indiana

Turnstone Center for Disabled Children and Adults, Inc.

Kansas

Arc of Sedgwick County, Inc.
Families Together, Inc.

Kentucky

Children’s Hospital Foundation

Louisiana

Health Care Centers in Schools, Inc.

Massachusetts

Cerebral Palsy Council of Greater New Bedford, Inc.
CLASS, Inc.
Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center
Lowell Community Health Center, Inc.
Mattapan Community Health Center, Inc.
Partners Healthcare System Inc. (Mass General Hospital)
Reach Out and Read, Inc.
Tufts Medical Center Parent, Inc.
UMASS Memorial Health Care, Inc. Children's Medical Center
Women of Means, Inc.

Maryland

The Benedictine School for Exceptional Children, Inc.
University of Maryland, Baltimore Foundation, Inc.

Michigan

Oakland School Education Foundation

Minnesota

Fremont Community Health Services
Gillette Children’s Specialty Health Care
Portico Healthnet

Missouri

Ozarks Medical Center
St. Louis Children’s Hospital Foundation

North Carolina

May Institute, Inc.
Voices Together

New Jersey

ARC of New Jersey, Inc.
Homefront Inc.
Trinitas Health Foundation

Nevada

Communities in Schools of Nevada
Goodwill Industries of Southern Nevada, Inc.

New Hampshire

Families First of The Greater Seacoast

New York

Autism360 Inc.
Brooklyn Public Library
Harlem United: Community Aids Center, Inc.
March of Dimes Foundation
Soaringwords

Ohio

Children’s Hospital Medical Center of Akron

Pennsylvania

Community Care Behavioral Health Organization
Misericordia University
Pennsylvania Assistive Technology Foundation

Puerto Rico

Universidad Central Del Caribe, Inc.

Rhode Island

Children's Friend and Service
The Highlander Charter School
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Ocean Community YMCA
Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School
Thundermist
Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island

South Carolina

Camp Good Times, Inc.
Medical University Hospital Authority

Tennessee

East Tennessee Technology Access Center, Inc.

Texas

Brighton School, Inc.
Houston Ear Research Foundation
Peoples Community Clinic, Inc.

Virginia

National Alliance on Mental Illness

Wisconsin

Madison Community Health Center, Inc.
Milwaukee Center For Independence

West Virginia

Children's Therapy Clinic

To follow Day of Giving activities, search for #CVSTrustGivingDay on Twitter. For more information on the CVS Caremark Charitable Trust please visit http://info.cvscaremark.com/community/our-impact/charitable-trust.

About the CVS Caremark Charitable Trust

The CVS Caremark Charitable Trust, Inc. is a private foundation created by CVS Caremark Corporation (NYSE: CVS). CVS Caremark is the largest pharmacy health care provider in the nation. The Trust's mission is to provide funding for health care, education and community involvement initiatives in CVS Caremark communities. General information about CVS Caremark is available through the Investor Relations portion of the Company's Web site at http://investor.cvs.com, or through the Web site's press room at www.cvs.com/pressroom.

New Evidence That Chevron Used U.S. Professors to Defraud Ecuador Court In $18 Billion Environmental Lawsuit

02.07.2012 - 12:50PM

Chevron is refusing to deny that it defrauded Ecuador's courts by altering a key document to induce U.S. academic "experts" -- including a prominent professor at Rice University in Houston -- to endorse fake testing methods to hide the presence of massive quantities of cancer-causing toxins at the company's former well sites in Ecuador's Amazon rainforest.

"We have smoking gun evidence that proves Chevron used U.S. professors as part of a failed plan to hide the presence of massive amounts of life-threatening toxic contamination from the courts of Ecuador," said Karen Hinton, the U.S. spokesperson for the 30,000 Ecuadorians who brought suit against the oil giant.

The U.S. professors hired by Chevron to defraud the Ecuador court, Hinton said, are Dr. Pedro J. Alvarez currently the chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rice University, and Dr. Douglas Mackay, an adjunct professor at the University of California, Davis.

Alvarez was called on to disavow the report in a letter sent by Aaron Page, a representative for the rainforest communities that was also copied to David W. Leebron,

the President of Rice. Other letters were sent to Mackay and Dr. Robert Hinchee of Integrated Science and Technology, Inc., who also signed a statement based on the altered report.

The three professors, in a joint statement in response to the letters apparently approved by Chevron's legal team, defended their report but curiously refused to address the fraud issue or the documents that show they based their opinion on an altered report. See here.

Despite Chevron's scheme to hide the contamination, the Ecuador court in 2011 found the company liable for dumping billions of gallons of toxic waste into the rainforest. The court relied on scientific evidence from the plaintiffs, third-parties, and even Chevron itself, which bungled its own plan early in the trial by submitting soil and water samples that showed illegal levels of contamination.

The Ecuador court found that Chevron's deliberate dumping of toxic waste poisoned streams and rivers relied on by local inhabitants for their drinking water, decimated five indigenous groups, and caused dramatically higher rates of leukemia. The $18 billion judgment was affirmed on appeal on January 3.

Chevron operated in Ecuador under the Texaco brand from 1964 to 1992.

The documents, which were ordered released by a U.S. federal court in Colorado during a discovery proceeding, suggest that Chevron's legal team concocted a plan to guarantee the company would find only "clean" soil samples from dozens of contaminated well sites inspected by the court while "dirty" samples would be sent to a secret laboratory where they would not be disclosed.

Chevron's technical team carried out the scheme by secretly visiting dozens of company well sites in the rainforest where they would mark spots where they could find "clean" soil and water samples, usually located uphill from contaminated waste pits. The plan to defraud the court was written up in a Chevron document called the "Judicial Inspection Playbook" that contained a summary table outlining the company's sampling and testing program. See here and here.

After Chevron's secret pre-inspections, Chevron's technical experts miraculously would discover only "clean" soil and water samples during the official court inspections days later. Based on these samples, the company would "report" to the court that there were no detectable levels of contamination at a particular site despite the visible presence of oil waste.

When the obviously deceptive sampling practices came under attack by the plaintiffs, Chevron hired Professors Alvarez and Mackay to defend the company.

Their report submitted to the court concluded that there was "no foundation" for allegations that Chevron's sampling program "deliberately hides or minimizes the existing contamination."

The problem, though, is that the professors based their opinion on a doctored version of the "Judicial Inspections Playbook" that omitted the explicit instructions to lift only "clean" samples. The doctored version instead altered language in eight places to make it appear that the company was doing a valid environmental assessment at the well sites.

A document comparing the original "Playbook" with the eight changes in the doctored version given to Alvarez and Mackay can be seen here.

An illustration of how Chevron's fraudulent sampling scheme in Ecuador worked can be seen in this photo of Shushifindi 38, a Chevron well site closed in the 1980s that is still polluting soils and groundwater. During the trial, Chevron reported to the court that it found no "detectable contamination" at the site by lifting soil samples from a dense forest up-gradient from the obviously contaminated pit in the photo.

Pablo Fajardo, the lead lawyer for the rainforest communities, said the documents ordered released by the U.S. court "clearly prove Chevron engaged in a meticulous planning process to defraud the Ecuador court during the judicial inspections process, which was the central part of the entire trial."

Fajardo said: "Chevron's fraud is ongoing in that the report signed by Alvarez and his colleagues is part of the official trial record now being relied on by the appellate court. It's outrageous that Chevron does not withdraw this report."

Chevron's deceptive sampling plan is also consistent with previous statements made by an Ecuadorian contractor for the company, Diego Borja. Borja told a friend that while working for Chevron he would swap out contaminated soil samples collected during the judicial inspections with clean samples from other locations, which would be submitted to the court. Borja also said in a taped conversation that the laboratory Chevron used during the trial was not independent as the company claimed.

Chevron has long been accused of using fraudulent junk science in Ecuador. In the mid-1990s, it used a deceptive laboratory test (called the TCLP) that guaranteed it would only find a tiny fraction of actual toxins in the soil as part of a sham clean-up effort required by Ecuador's government.

In the meantime, Chevron's legal position in the historic litigation continues to weaken. Not only did the company lose the trial in Ecuador, it recently suffered a setback when a U.S. federal appellate court reversed a trial court decision that issued a worldwide injunction barring the Ecuadorians from trying to enforce their judgment. Further, the credibility of Chevron's technical experts is diminishing rapidly in light of the obvious fraud they were committing in Ecuador, said Hinton.

Chevron has stripped its assets from Ecuador in anticipation of an adverse judgment, forcing the plaintiffs to consider standard collection actions against Chevron in other countries should the trial judgment become enforceable.

Martinez To Lead The UPS Foundation

02.07.2012 - 11:00AM

Eduardo Martinez, a 35-year UPS veteran and currently the program director for The UPS Foundation, has been named president of UPS’s philanthropic arm.

Martinez, 52, will succeed Ken Sternad, who is retiring after a 35-year career with UPS that saw him direct the company’s global Public Relations function as well as The UPS Foundation.

“For the past three years, Ed Martinez has played a critical role in working with Ken Sternad to hone The UPS Foundation’s priorities and critical initiatives,” said Allen Hill, UPS’s senior vice president for human resources and chairman of The UPS Foundation. “His elevation to the post of president means our Foundation can proceed with its critical support of such things as urgent humanitarian relief and environmental sustainability without missing a beat.”

Martinez, a native of Havana, Cuba, who emigrated with his family to the United States in 1960, joined UPS in 1976 as a package handler in UPS’s South Florida operation. He advanced into management two years later and then moved through a series of operational jobs while earning a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Miami.

In 1989, after assignments in industrial engineering and as national risk manager with UPS’s truck leasing unit, Martinez was promoted to the Corporate Risk Management Department, then moved through assignments in Corporate Finance & Accounting and earned a law degree. He served as a corporate counsel in the UPS Legal Department before accepting his current position in 2007.

In addition to his corporate responsibilities, Martinez represents UPS and chairs the World Economic Forum’s Logistics Emergency Team. He also serves as vice chair of the Forum’s Global Agenda Council on Disaster Management. He is a member of the Corporate Advisory Board for The National Council of La Raza as well as the Points of Light Institutes’ Corporate Service Council. He serves as the chair of the Corporate Development Council for the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts and sits on the International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE) Global Corporate Volunteer Council.

Sternad, a native of Norwalk, Conn., earned a bachelor's degree in journalism and political science from Ohio Wesleyan University. He joined UPS as a communications supervisor in 1977 and was promoted into public relations in 1982. After a two-year assignment in UPS package operations in Baltimore, he was named head of the Corporate Public Relations Department in 1990.

In 1997, he was promoted to vice president of global public relations, assuming responsibility for worldwide media relations, reputation management and executive communications. In that role, Sternad oversaw many pivotal events in UPS’s evolution, including the company’s strategic expansion into logistics, its Initial Public Offering in 1999 and the company’s complete rebranding in 2003. He then was named president of The UPS Foundation in 2009.

The UPS Foundation, which just celebrated its 60^th anniversary, is responsible for facilitating UPS involvement in local, national and global communities. In 2011, UPS and its employees invested more than $93 million in charitable giving and 1.6 million hours of volunteer service around the world.

Over the past three years The UPS Foundation has refocused its philanthropy to areas that more closely align with UPS's strengths, skills and interests. These include urgent humanitarian relief, road safety, environmental sustainability, diversity and volunteer capacity building for the non-profit sector. The UPS Foundation can be found on the web at UPS.com/foundation.

UPS (NYSE: UPS) is a global leader in logistics, offering a broad range of solutions including the transportation of packages and freight; the facilitation of international trade, and the deployment of advanced technology to more efficiently manage the world of business. Headquartered in Atlanta, UPS serves more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. The company can be found on the Web at UPS.com and its corporate blog can be found at blog.ups.com. To get UPS news direct, visit pressroom.ups.com/RSS.

CDC Development Solutions' 3rd Annual ICV Conference

02.07.2012 - 10:00AM

On April 11 and 12, 2012, CDC Development Solutions will host the Third Annual International Corporate Volunteerism Conference, which will focus on this increasing area of corporate citizenship among businesses of varying sizes, including several from the Fortune 500. Recently cited by the Wall Street Journal for its fast growth, International Corporate Volunteerism (ICV) has companies as diverse as Dow Corning, Accenture, Telefonica, GlaxoSmithKline, IBM, Ernst & Young, and PepsiCo sending employee teams into emerging markets to volunteer their professional skills on short term assignments for local nonprofits, government departments, social enterprises and NGOs. Over the past several years, companies from Fortune 500s to small businesses increased the number of employees sent abroad by seven times. Reasons cited for this increase include business benefits derived from the program – leadership and talent development, partnerships in emerging markets, product innovation, and positive media exposure. In the international development arena, ICV programs build the capacity of local organizations, while providing professional skills they would not otherwise have access to.

As part of the Third Annual ICV Conference, CSR and human resource leaders from 150 companies, from Fortune 500s to small businesses, will join the U.S. State Department, U.S. Agency for International Department (USAID) and other public sector leaders to look at how ICV is now used to address some of the world’s most pressing problems, including education, water supply, the environment, and jobs creation. The conference will look at what lies ahead in this growing area of CSR, including measurement and ROI, impact for host organizations, and creating shared value for broad business strategies from CSR, to human resource to R&D and innovation and more.

One of the interactive conference sessions will include GlaxoSmithKline’s PULSE Volunteer Partnership, which focuses on addressing a few ambitious global health challenges through their strategic initiative, ‘PULSE Pillars’, and is also furthering the discussion around cross-corporate teams. Emerging World, a leadership development consultancy, will facilitate a session on what companies can do to strengthen their programs’ learning and development proposition. Speakers from PepsiCo, IBM, Dow Corning, Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) and others will also share how their recent 2011 ICV programs contribute to business strategies in the areas of business development, product innovation, leadership and talent development, and employee engagement.

In addition, CDC Development Solutions will release its 2012 International Corporate Volunteering Benchmarking Survey, which will reveal statistics on the growth and increase in ICV investment levels, as well as the reasons that drive these investments. Other conference topics will include linking ICV to core business strategies, new and emerging ICV models and a panel of returned volunteers highlighting the impact that participation had on their professional and personal lives.

Focusing on the theme of shared value and development impact, the event will also feature a session on the Center of Excellence for International Corporate Volunteerism (CEICV) and the Global Health Fellows II Program. Launched in 2011, the CEICV is a first of its kind Global Development Alliance between IBM, USAID and CDC Development Solutions. This virtual center provides best practices and expertise from each of these organizations to companies looking to embark on ICV programs and link them to US development strategy. The Global Health Fellows II Program is implemented by Public Health International (PHI) and places health professionals in developing countries to provide health organizations with policy and technical expertise to more effectively combat pressing health challenges. The U.S. Agency for International Development administers the U.S. foreign assistance program providing economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 120 countries worldwide.

Last year’s International Corporate Volunteerism Conference drew a rare cross-section of leaders from Fortune 500s, government agencies, and some of the world’s largest NGOs and nonprofits. This year expects to draw an even larger and more diverse set of participants. Addressing the intersection of corporate citizenship and development through volunteering, the Third Annual International Corporate Volunteerism Conference is sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline, Emirates, Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC), Emerging World, USAID, Dow Corning, IBM, Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, Inc., CSRWire, 3BL Media, Devex, and the International Business Leaders Forum.

About CDC Development Solutions
www.cdcdevelopmentsolutions.org

Providing market-driven solutions, CDC Development Solutions empowers individuals, businesses and governments in emerging markets to lead economies towards self-sustainable growth. CDC Development Solutions implements International Corporate Volunteer programs for more than a dozen companies including IBM, Dow Corning, PepsiCo, Deloitte, John Deere, and Pfizer through designing and managing all aspects of these programs from on-the-ground implementation and support to strategic planning.

Contact
More information about the Conference can be found here at the Third Annual International Corporate Volunteer Conference.

Wyndham Worldwide Again Named Among Top 50 Companies for Executive Women

02.07.2012 - 09:19AM

(Marketwire) - Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE: WYN), one of the world's largest hospitality companies, has been once again named among the Top 50 Companies for Executive Women by the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE). The list recognizes organizations whose policies and practices encourage women's advancement and whose numbers at the highest levels of leadership demonstrate that commitment.

A newly released report conducted by Working Mother Research Institute showed that at the NAFE Top Companies, women hold nearly one in four positions overseeing divisions with more than $1 billion in revenue, and hold 23% of all board of director seats compared with 16% across the Fortune 500. At Wyndham Worldwide, women represent 54% of its total U.S. workforce, 35% of all director-level and above positions, and 28% of its board of directors.

"We are proud of this recognition because it speaks to our culture, which appreciates diverse backgrounds and experiences at all levels of our company, and values the ideas and contributions of each associate," says Mary Falvey, executive vice president and chief human resources officer at Wyndham Worldwide. "There is an opportunity for the entire business community to continue making strategic decisions to increase diversity in thought, background, and expertise through increased women participation in leadership positions, and champion future women leaders to maintain a strong pipeline of qualified talent."

The NAFE Top Companies also lead corporate America in recruiting, retaining and advancing women. Some findings from this year's research include:

22% of executive officers at the NAFE Top Companies are women compared with 3.6% at the Fortune 500
Women hold 19% of revenue-generating P & L jobs -- the pipeline to the CEO position
All NAFE Top Companies offer management or leadership training to women
CEOs at 92% of Top Companies review succession plans for gender equity

"The NAFE Top 50 Companies are major employers that are committed to hiring, retaining and promoting executive women," says Carol Evans, president of Working Mother Media and CEO, NAFE. "They represent a cross-section of companies that go way beyond lip service in helping succeed. Almost seven out of 10 companies require their managers to receive training on how to hire, advance or manage women. Manager accountability is the main ingredient for success."

Methodology: The 2012 NAFE Top 50 Companies application includes more than 250 questions on topics including female representation, hiring, attrition and promotion rates, access and usage of key retention and advancement programs. The application draws particular attention to the number of women at the highest ranks and those with profit-and-loss responsibility. To be considered, companies must have a minimum of two women on their board of directors as well as at least 500 employees in the U.S.

About Wyndham Worldwide

As one of the world's largest hospitality companies, Wyndham Worldwide offers individual consumers and business-to-business customers a broad suite of hospitality products and services across various accommodation alternatives and price ranges through its premier portfolio of world-renowned brands. Wyndham Hotel Group encompasses approximately 7,370 hotels and resorts with approximately 634,000 rooms worldwide. Wyndham Exchange & Rentals offers leisure travelers, including its 3.7 million members, access to approximately 100,000 vacation properties located in approximately 100 countries. Wyndham Vacation Ownership develops, markets and sells vacation ownership interests and provides consumer financing to owners through its network of over 160 vacation ownership resorts serving over 813,000 owners throughout North America, the Caribbean and the South Pacific. Wyndham Worldwide, headquartered in Parsippany, N.J., employs approximately 27,800 employees globally. For more information about Wyndham Worldwide, please visit www.wyndhamworldwide.com.

About NAFE

The National Association for Female Executives (NAFE), founded in 1972, serves 20,000 members nationwide with networking, tools and solutions to strengthen and grow their careers and businesses. NAFE magazine publishes the annual Top Companies issue and the annual Women of Excellence issue. NAFE.com provides up-to-date information, community for women in business and access to member benefits. NAFE is a division of Working Mother Media and Bonnier Corporation.

Novo Nordisk Reports Solid Financial, Social And Environmental Performance In 2011

02.07.2012 - 09:00AM

Novo Nordisk’s eighth annual integrated report, now online, reports on the company’s very positive financial, social and environmental performance for 2011. Download the Annual Report 2011 at annualreport2011.novonordisk.com.

Sales increased by 11% (in local currencies) and by 9% in Danish kroner compared to 2010.
Operating profit increased by 22% (in local currencies) and 18% in Danish kroner compared to 2010.
Significant clinical development progress was made during the year, including regulatory filing for two ultra-long-acting insulins, Degludec and DegludecPlus.
More than 835,000 healthcare providers were trained by Novo Nordisk or Novo Nordisk sponsored programmes, an increase of 123% compared to 2010.
Diversity in senior management teams increased to 62% at the end of 2011, compared to 54% at the end of 2010.
CO₂ emissions from production fell by 2% compared to 2010, for an absolute reduction of 56% compared to 2004 levels.

Novo Nordisk’s 2011 Annual Report includes a detailed account of 2011 accomplishments, an outlook for 2012, and an overview of the company’s management approach, corporate strategy and business segments. It features consolidated financial, social and environmental statements.

The Annual Report 2011 includes updated information for financial and environmental targets.

Novo Nordisk’s integrated reporting

Novo Nordisk manages its business using the Triple Bottom Line principle to ensure that decision-making balances profitability with longer-term societal interests. Material and business-critical information is reported in the Annual Report. The company reports additional information for specific stakeholder groups at annualreport2011.novonordisk.com. Novo Nordisk values feedback and welcomes questions or comments about its reporting and performance at annualreport@novonordisk.com.

About Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with nearly 90 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care. The company also has leading positions within haemophilia care, growth hormone therapy and hormone replacement therapy. Headquartered in Denmark, Novo Nordisk employs more than 32,000 employees in 75 countries, and markets its products in more than 190 countries. Novo Nordisk's B shares are listed on the NASDAQ OMX Copenhagen (Novo-B). Its ADRs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NVO).

Novo Nordisk strives to conduct its activities in a financially, environmentally and socially responsible way. The strategic commitment to corporate sustainability has brought the company onto centre stage as a leading player in today's business environment, recognised for its integrated reporting, stakeholder engagement and consistently high sustainability performance. In 2012, Novo Nordisk receive top ranking on Corporate Knight’s list of Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations. Novo Nordisk is listed in the 2010/2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Indices with a gold class rating. For more information, visit novonordisk.com/sustainability.

GTREE(TM) Set To Revolutionize Sustainable Label Offerings

02.07.2012 - 07:00AM

Following years of research, testing and development, G3 Enterprises is now offering GTREE™ – an environmentally sustainable, high-performance wine label paper which was developed for use on all bottling lines, including those utilizing high-speed and mobile bottling application equipment.

Manufactured from 100% Post-Consumer Recycled Fiber (100% PCW), GTREE™ has one of the greenest environmental footprints of any label stock currently offered. The GTREE™ label contains true recycled fiber consisting of sorted office paper that has had at least one useful life before being recycled. G3 Enterprises teamed with family-owned Monadnock Paper Mills, which is also known as a global environmental steward, to research and develop a 100% PCW label stock that could meet the rigors of bottling including tensile and tear strength, brightness, embossing and scuff resistance that is equal to or better than current paper stocks. Additionally, the GTREE™ label paper is specially designed with a unique formulation which results in increased resistance to water absorption allowing GTREE™ to maintain its premium appearance and high quality print aesthetics even when exposed to ice bucket conditions for prolonged periods.

“We are very excited to begin exclusively offering the GTREE™ label,” said Tom Gallo, Vice President of Strategic Development of G3 Enterprises. He added, “Not only will the label be visually appealing to all consumers, we know that it will easily meet the needs of both eco-conscious consumers and wineries.”

Among the many environment attributes, GTREE™ label stock is manufactured using 100% renewable electricity, is processed chlorine free, and is manufactured carbon-neutral. In addition, the fiber waste created during the manufacturing process is captured, processed and reused as compost for crops and bedding for livestock.

"The collaboration of two multigenerational family-owned businesses resulted in the development of the most cost effective, environmentally sound labels of the 21st century," said Richard Verney, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Monadnock. He added, "This is one great sustainable solution from two notable family trees."

Throughout an extensive research and field testing period, GTREE™ label has proven consistently reliable having been tested using all current labeling methods and systems and has the ability to run exceptionally well on today’s high speed bottling lines. GTREE™ is manufactured under certified ISO 9001 and 14001Quality and Environmental Management Systems.

“GTREE™ is a cost-competitive bright white, uncoated stock which offers excellent embossing and hot foil stamping performance,” said Fred Dale, G3’s Label Division’s senior manager for technical service and quality control. He added, “At G3, our commitment to quality and performance ensures that our GTREE™ label offerings meet and exceed our customers’ requirements for every application.”

For more information about GTREE™, visit www.G3Enterprises.com or come by G3 booth#443 at the Unified Wine and Grape Symposium on January 25-26 at Sacramento Convention Center.

About G3 Enterprises:

G3 Enterprises was founded by the third generation of the Gallo Family to serve the wine and spirits industry with quality packaging products and supply chain solutions. With a talented team of experts offering customers a variety of creative solutions and outstanding customer service, G3 Enterprises offers a wide range of supply chain assistance including labels, closures, transportation, warehousing, winery services and mobile bottling. For more information about G3 Enterprises Label division, visit: www.G3Enterprises.com or call 1-800-321-8747.

About Monadnock Paper Mills:

Monadnock Paper Mills is the oldest continuously operating paper mill in the United States. Owned and operated by the Verney family for the past 64 years, the company has received numerous awards for responsible environmental practices. The company is renowned for producing premium printing and packaging papers for many of the world’s leading consumer brands.

Leadership for Sustainability: 5th EuroCharity Yearbook Update

02.06.2012 - 10:35AM

The forthcoming EuroCharity Yearbook on "Leadership for Sustainability" is rapidly gaining momentum. The 5th EuroCharity Yearbook is a highly-respected, international multi-stakeholder album with a global audience of key stakeholders and distribution in over 50 countries. This timely, English-language Yearbook will be published in June this year, just in time for the Rio+20 Summit.

EuroCharity is expecting a total of 40 guest authors (leading CEOs, top policy makers and world-renown experts) and 25 participating corporations (sustainability leaders in their line(s) of business) from around the world to confirm their space in the new EuroCharity Yearbook.

Some of the confirmed international guest authors to date (EuroCharity is anticipating to be receiving more confirmations in the next few days), include, in alphabetical order:

Center for Leadership in Sustainability (CLS) (United States):
The Center for Leadership in Sustainability is a registered non-profit organisation managing a diverse range of projects, including the Sustainable Leadership Forum, the Sustainable Business Incubator, and the Sustainable Haiti Coalition. www.sustainabilityleadershipcenter.org
European Business Ethics Network (EBEN) (Belgium):
Founded in 1987 as a non-profit association, EBEN is a cross-national network dedicated to the promotion of business ethics, broadly defined, in academia, business, public sector and civil society. www.eben-net.org
Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative Foundation (GRLI) (Belgium):
GRLI's vision is a worldwide network of companies and learning institutions characterised by vast action and thorough exchange of learning. GRLI's mission is to "develop a next generation of responsible leaders" through collective and individual actions. www.grli.org
Great Place to Work® Institute (United States):
The Great Place to Work® Institute is a global research, consulting and training firm that identifies, creates and sustains great workplaces by developing high-trust workplace cultures. www.greatplacetowork.com
Green Growth Leaders (GGL) (Denmark):
GGL is a global alliance of cities, regions, countries and corporations, sharing a vision of building prosperous, green economies and communities -- and a better tomorrow for their citizens. GGL represents the world's leading green growth economies and is fronted by a council. www.greengrowthleaders.org
Institute for Sustainable Leadership (ISL) (Australia):
ISL identifies and promotes the principles of sustainable leadership. These principles are derived from observations in successful firms and consistent with published research. ISL views sustainable leadership as being far broader than the "triple bottom line", and leadership as systemic, going beyond the deeds of heroic individuals. www.instituteforsustainableleadership.com
Leaders for Economic Change programme (The Netherlands):
The Leaders for Economic Change programme has been developed by CREM B.V. together with Amsterdam Bright City (a joint initiative of VU University Amsterdam and ABN AMRO Bank) and the University Student Council of the VU University. Participants are presented with an intensive teaching and training programme, focusing on learning, understanding, interaction and experience. Leaders of today, including Prof. Dr. Herman Wijffels, share their vision, inspiration and passion and hand on the torch to the participants. www.amsterdambrightcity.nl/zuidas/nl/thema?thema=1083
Leadership for Environment and Development (LEAD) (United Kingdom):
LEAD equips emerging leaders from around the world with skills for sustainable decision-making and provides them with a network of their peers to help them address sustainability challenges. www.lead.org
Narayana Hrudayalaya Foundation (India):
Dr. David Prasad Shetty, a leading cardiologist and Indian philanthropist, strives to make sophisticated healthcare available to all, regardless of their economic situation or geographic location. He founded the Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospital (NH) in Bangalore in 2001 and previously co-founded the Asia Heart Foundation (AHF). www.narayanahospitals.com
PwC Center for Corporate Responsibility, Graduate School of Management (Russia):
The Center was established in 2008 as a successor to the Program of the Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility at the Institute of Management Research at SPbSU (Saint Petersburg State University). www.gsom.spbu.ru/en/research/csr
The Sustainable Leadership Forum (United States):
The Sustainable Leadership Forum is a network of leaders; a vehicle for dialogue and conversation; and an instrument for collaboration. Its mission is "to deepen our awareness and understanding of the challenges facing the world and the development of creative and enduring solutions, and to support the leaders of the emerging sustainability revolution." www.sustainableleadershipforum.org

In addition to the above-mentioned organisations, leading sustainability-driven multinationals, innovative SMEs, visionary CEOs and best practices from around the world will be presented in this year’s prestigious, global EuroCharity Yearbook, which for the first time will be certified as a "carbon-neutral publication".

Expression of Interest: (Year)book your place among Sustainability Leaders world-wide!

To be able to secure your CEO's message, corporate profile, best practice or article in the EuroCharity Yearbook entitled "Leadership for Sustainability," please contact us at info@eurocharity.org (the deadline for expressions of interest has been extended to February 20, 2012). Following your expression of interest, your material (text and images) for the 160-page Yearbook may be submitted to us in early March.

For further information and/or clarifications, please contact EuroCharity on +30 210 927 1110 or visit www.eurocharity.eu/en/yearbook.

About the 5th EuroCharity Yearbook

Now in its fifth year, the EuroCharity Yearbook aims at highlighting critical issues and helping galvanise public opinion into positive action. EuroCharity chose this year's theme, "Leadership for Sustainability," because leadership, more than ever, is needed to create a more just, sustainable, economically viable and thriving world. In challenging times such as these, where the world is changing, and changing fast, leadership for sustainability cannot be considered a "luxury" but a necessity. Each sector of the global economy and each corporation and organisation, regardless of its size or geographic reach, needs to provide for the next generations to come.

The 5th EuroCharity Yearbook will profile leading CEOs, corporations and organisations who/that are leading the way when it comes to sustainability. It will also provide a platform to leading decision-makers, visionary entrepreneurs, royal family members active in sustainability and leadership, Nobel Laureates, top university professors, gurus and other specialists to share their views and vision in this unique, 160-page international publication.

With a global distribution and readership, the "EuroCharity Yearbook 2011: Leadership for Sustainability" is an extremely timely and important international publication that will be published and publicly presented in June 2012. Further details of the official presentation date and precise venue will be announced in due course.

4th EuroCharity Yearbook testimonials -- "The Future of Responsible Investing"

"Very interesting body of work -- great to have so many high-profile people sharing their perspectives and particular interests." – Bloomberg (EuroCharity Yearbook participant)

"I was impressed by the many big names that contributed to the book. This enhances the quality a lot and I'm glad the DJSI is in your book as well." -- Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI), SAM (EuroCharity Yearbook participant)

"Many thanks for the copy of your book -- very impressive collection of articles! Much appreciated." -- United Nations (EuroCharity Yearbook participant)

Colgate-Palmolive Releases Sustainability Report and Strategy Through 2015

02.06.2012 - 09:12AM

Colgate-Palmolive has released its online sustainability report, “Giving the World Reasons to Smile.” The new report details Colgate’s long-standing commitment, achievements, accomplishments and challenges to sustainability and social responsibility. Committed to People, Performance and Planet, the focus globally is on:

Promoting Healthier Lives

Contributing to the Communities Where We Live and Work

Delivering Products that Delight Consumers and Respect our Planet

Making Every Drop of Water Count

Reducing Our Impact on Climate and the Environment

Colgate’s strategy is supported by commitments and goals, including promoting health and wellness to reduce employee health risks by 15 percent; expanding the Company’s global flagship oral health education program, Colgate’s Bright Smiles, Bright Futures®, projected to reach one billion children by 2020; increasing the sustainability profile in Colgate products; reducing water and energy consumed in the manufacture of products by 40 percent and 20%, respectively; and requesting that all key suppliers measure and disclose climate change information and overall transparency. Details are available in the report.

A few recent sustainability performance highlights covered in the report:

Reached over 650 million children in 80 countries since Colgate’s Bright Smiles, Bright Futures®, the Company’s oral health education program, began in 1991;

Reduced per-ton manufacturing-related greenhouse gas emissions by 21 percent, water use by 44 percent, and wastewater loading by 31 percent between 2002 and 2010;

Achieved a 95 percent improvement in total recordable accident rate from 1990 to 2010; and

Expanded Colgate’s Code of Conduct certification and training program to reach 100 percent employees

“Long before many businesses began talking about sustainability and social responsibility, Colgate recognized that how we do business is just as important as what we do,” says Colgate's President and Chief Executive Officer Ian Cook. “At Colgate, sustainability is not just a project or initiative — it’s built into and about business decisions every day.”

The web site, including the 2011 sustainability report and videos of sustainability in action at Colgate, is available at www.colgate.com/sustainability.

About Colgate-Palmolive Company

Colgate-Palmolive is a leading global consumer products company, tightly focused on Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. Colgate sells its products in over 200 countries and territories around the world under such internationally recognized brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, Mennen, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, elmex, Tom's of Maine, Sanex, Ajax, Axion, Soupline, and Suavitel, as well as Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet. For more information about Colgate's global business, visit the Company's web site at www.colgatepalmolive.com. To learn more about Colgate's Bright Smiles, Bright Futures®, Colgate’s flagship global oral health education program, please visit http://www.colgatebsbf.com.

Widespread SEC Disclosure Noncompliance Triggered by Material ESG Issues

02.06.2012 - 09:00AM

Widespread corporate noncompliance with SEC requirements triggered by material ESG issues may cause many SEC filings to be materially misleading, inaccurate, or even fraudulent, finds the first independent, comprehensive technical study of how the SEC regime applies to ESG issues, conducted by CSR Insight™ LLC. Corporate noncompliance also triggers SEC liabilities and disclosure requirements for corporate boards, auditors, and registered investment advisers and funds.

More than a dozen SEC requirements potentially apply, for 10-K, 10-Q, 8-K, and other corporate SEC filings, including narrative disclosure and financial statement requirements, books and records requirements, and management certification requirements. Corporate noncompliance also triggers auditor liabilities and potential violations under the current SEC regime.

The study found a substantial likelihood of widespread corporate noncompliance with one or more of these SEC requirements, due in major part to the inadequacies of most current enterprise software systems, both internally developed and vendor-purchased. What is lacking is the integration of the full range of ESG issues and risks and the associated additional SEC requirements into ERM, GRC, risk management, performance management, and financial information systems, and necessary linkages amongst these enterprise systems. This systems integration capacity is necessary for companies to properly identify, evaluate, measure, manage, and monitor these complex, escalating issues and risks, including their nature, magnitude, probability, timing, and business and operating model impacts.

This noncompliance not only undermines investor protection and efficient capital formation, but can have potentially significant ripple or knock-on effects for other market participants and global capital market activity.

For example, corporate noncompliance creates additional SEC disclosure requirements, liabilities, and risks for corporate boards, and for registered investment advisers and funds, including registered private equity and hedge funds. Corporate noncompliance also can undermine corporate transactions, such as M&A, IPOs, and secondary capital raises.

This is the first in a series of news releases by CSR Insight™ LLC. Future releases will provide further highlights of CSRI’s analyses of SEC and global financial regulation applicable to ESG issues.

About CSR Insight™ LLC

CSR Insight™ LLC, founded in 2007, is an independent consultancy specializing in analysis of SEC and global financial regulation, global financial regulatory policy, ESG reporting frameworks, ESG capital market issues, and international corporate governance standards. CSRI has completed a unique, independent five-year Global ESG Regulatory Research Program, and has developed the first educational “Library of Congress” Knowledge Base of global ESG regulatory and market intelligence, available in 2012, designed to educate market participants, stakeholders, academia, policymakers, and regulators on a comprehensive range of key ESG regulatory, economic, industry, and capital market issues.

CSR Insight™ is a syndicated partner of CSRwire and has been a contributing member since 2008. For further information, contact CSR Insight™ at inquiry@csrinsight.com or visit www.csrinsight.com

Disclaimer

All content contained in this news release is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute advertising, a solicitation, or legal or other professional advice, and is provided with the understanding that CSR Insight™ LLC, and its authors and publishers, are not engaged in rendering legal or other professional advice, and assume no liability whatsoever in connection with any use of the content in this news release. This news release reflects the current opinions of CSR Insight™ LLC and may change without notice.

Corporate Social Responsibility Program

02.06.2012 - 08:33AM

Emphasizing the alignment of corporate social responsibility (CSR) with business strategy, the CSR program offered by HBS Executive Education helps you define priorities, integrate social responsibility throughout your business, and build social and business value. You will strengthen your ability to define and implement powerful CSR strategies that position the firm, its reputation, and its way of doing business for enduring success. In addition, you will have numerous opportunities to learn from the diverse experiences and perspectives of peers from around the world.

For more information, please click here.

InterContinental Miami goes 100% Green with Wind Power

02.03.2012 - 01:02PM

Luxury hotel InterContinental Miami today announced that it has partnered with Greenlight Energy to purchase 15,467,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of wind power in 2012. The purchase is part of a broader corporate-wide sustainability strategy and makes InterContinental Miami the largest green power purchaser in Florida to be named to the most recent 100% Purchaser’s List maintained by the EPA’s Green Power Partnership. The purchase also earns the luxury hotel membership in the Partnership’s prestigious Leadership Club.

The EPA's Green Power Partnership is an industry-government partnership that helps increase the use of green power among leading U.S. organizations. Currently, there are over 1,300 EPA Green Power Partners that are collectively buying nearly 21 billion kWh of green power annually.

Beyond the use of renewable energy, InterContinental Miami has a broader sustainability focus that covers design, operations and technologies that reduce energy, water and waste, cut carbon emissions, improve guest health and comfort, reduce operating and maintenance costs and raise guest and staff awareness of sustainability issues.

“Our decision to go green was another way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with conventional electricity”, says Robert Hill, InterContinental Miami’s General Manager. “Our Hotel has a reputation as an active member of the community and part of that social responsibility lies in making green and sustainable operating decisions that set an example for others to follow.”

InterContinental Miami has partnered with New York-based green power supplier Greenlight Energy to provide renewable energy certificates (RECs) sourced from wind farms across the U.S. Because RECs are not tied to the physical delivery of electrons, they allow organizations to purchase green power from suppliers other than their local electricity provider. RECs help overcome a major barrier to renewable energy development - the fact that the best renewable resources may not be located close to population centers.

“We commend InterContinental Miami’s environmental leadership,” says Kelly Bennett, CEO of Greenlight Energy. “InterContinental Miami not only has incredible amenities and accommodations, but now they should be known as a hotel of choice in south Florida and in the U.S. for anyone with a focus on sustainability,” adds Bennett. All of the wind supplied by Greenlight Energy is certified by Center for Resource Solutions’ Green-e Energy certification program, ensuring that the purchase is sourced from new renewable generators that meet strict environmental and consumer protection standards.

The EPA estimates that InterContinental Miami’s purchase avoids an estimated 10,665 metric tons of carbon dioxide, which is the equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions from 2,091 passenger vehicles each year or the carbon dioxide emissions from the electricity use of 1,330 average American homes for one year.

About InterContinental Miami
Celebrating 25 years as an icon of the Downtown Miami skyline, the InterContinental Miami is located at the crossroads of Miami's Business and Arts & Entertainment districts. A beacon for business and leisure travelers alike, the hotel rises 34 stories over the city with breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, Biscayne Bay and the Port of Miami. The hotel features 641 luxury guest rooms, including 34 suites; 33 meeting rooms with over 101,000 square feet of meeting and exhibition space, including a spectacular Grand Ballroom and a 196-seat theater; 3 restaurants, including Table 40, the only Chef's Table in Downtown Miami; full-service fitness center and spa at mySpa Miami; and rooftop pool deck with gardens. The InterContinental Miami is a proud corporate citizen of the Miami-Dade community, invested through its annual InterContinental Miami Make-A-Wish Ball, Chefs With A Purpose, and other charitable events. For more information or to make reservations, contact the InterContinental Miami, 100 Chopin Plaza, Miami, Florida 33131, at 305-577-1000 or by visiting www.icmiamihotel.com.

About Greenlight Energy
Greenlight Energy is the first and only woman-owned renewable energy marketing company in the U.S. Industry pioneers since 2003, our founders have transacted over 5 billion kWh of RECs over their careers with some of the world's most recognizable brands. Helping clients support renewables, reduce emissions and drive sustainability throughout their operations is core to Greenlight Energy’s mission. Rethink. Go green. For more information, call (518) 499-3555 or go to www.gltenergy.com.

GBCHealth Business Action on Health Awards

02.03.2012 - 09:23AM

** APPLICATIONS CLOSING SOON! ***

Are you looking to gain widespread recognition for your program in global health? GBCHealth’s Business Action on Health Awards highlight innovative and results-oriented corporate achievements in tackling global health challenges.

Award-winning companies will enjoy many great benefits.

An opportunity to showcase their program at GBCHealth’s conference with an audience of business and global health leaders.
Visibility on our website and social media platforms.
Placement in a major international newspaper.

Applications close February 8 - so we urge you to get started soon!

The application process is simple - just log on to our online application form and tell us why your program deserves a GBCHealth Business Action on Health award: http://action.gbchealth.org/Awards/Application.php

You can find out more about the awards and the application process here: http://conference.gbchealth.org/awards.php

SAM (Sustainable Asset Management) Distinctions for Bombardier

02.02.2012 - 11:33AM

(Marketwire) - Following its fifth consecutive listing as an index component on both the Dow Jones Sustainability World and the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Indexes, Bombardier (TSX: BBD.A)(TSX: BBD.B) was awarded SAM Sector Mover and SAM Gold Class in this year's SAM Sustainability Yearbook 2012.

As the SAM Sector Mover, Bombardier ranks within the top 15% of its sector, Aerospace & Defence, and has achieved the largest proportional improvement in its sustainability performance over last year. Additionally, Bombardier received the SAM Gold Class award, ranking within 1% of the Sector Leader's score.

"These awards represent international recognition of our sustainability practices and are a testament to our performance over the past year. These results are a significant achievement in CSR at Bombardier and our commitment to continue moving forward responsibly," said Me Daniel Desjardins, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Social Responsibility Committee Chairman, Bombardier Inc.

Sustainable Asset Management (SAM) provides benchmark indicators of sustainability. SAM has been assessing and documenting th sustainability performance of over 2,000 corporations on a yearly basis since 1999, and currently holds one of the largest global databases on corporate sustainability. The world's 2,500 largest companies (based on the Dow Jones Global Total Stock Market Index) are invited to participate in SAM's Corporate Sustainability Assessment every year. The survey results determine inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes. Only the top 15% from each of the 58 SAM sectors qualify for inclusion in the Sustainability Yearbook.

The Corporate Sustainability Assessment evaluates criteria within the Economic Dimension, the Environmental Dimension and the Social Dimension. SAM assessed 19 of the total 31 companies within the Aerospace and Defence sector.

For more information about CSR at Bombardier, visit our dedicated website www.csr.bombardier.com For more information about the SAM Sustainability Yearbook 2012, visit: http://www.sam-group.com/int/sustainability-insight/the-sustainability-yearbook.jsp

About Bombardier

A world-leading manufacturer of innovative transportation solutions, from commercial aircraft and business jets to rail transportation equipment, systems and services, Bombardier Inc. is a global corporation headquartered in Canada. Its revenues for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2011, were $17.9 billion, and its shares are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange (BBD). Bombardier is listed as an index component to the Dow Jones Sustainability World and North America indexes. News and information are available at www.bombardier.com or follow us on Twitter @Bombardier.

Pre-Order Your Copy Of The 2012 Who’s Who Of CSR

02.02.2012 - 10:00AM

The Ethical Performance 2012 CSR Professional Services Directory will be published in early February, and you can pre-order your copy for £29.95 ($47, €35). This is the directory’s seventh year and the print version is the only one of its kind.

This year's 84-page full-colour edition contains details of 593 organisations worldwide that provide services in the corporate responsibility field.

With listings under 57 categories, the directory is an indispensable guide to what's on offer. So whether you're searching for consultants, academic institutions, rating agencies, ethical auditors, training providers or research organisations, you should find them here.

To order your copy, visit ethicalp.com/dirpre12a

Alternatively, you can email us on directory@ethicalperformance.com or call us on
+44 (0)1227 720 900

TEDxManhattan "Changing the Way We Eat" 2012: Issues, Impacts & Innovation

02.02.2012 - 08:00AM

On a snowy Saturday in January, more than 350 attendees, 60 viewing parties, and 9,000+ online viewers attended and tuned in to watch 17 leaders in the world of sustainable agriculture and food speak about the state of agriculture, challenges to our food system, and innovative advances in the field. Most of the speakers have several advanced degrees, awards and impressive resumes. But it was the teacher from the South Bronx, Stephen Ritz, who brought the house down and earned the only standing ovation of the day with his talk on Growing a New Kind of Green Economy.

“The South Bronx is the poorest Congressional district in the country” he said, “and my hope is that my reach will exceed my grasp.” Working with his “kids,” underserved teenage students in the South Bronx, he developed the first “indoor edible wall” in New York City. Attendance in his class has jumped from 40 percent to over 90 percent, and his students are graduating and going to college. His “kids” have been asked to help share their technology and expertise with other schools, have helped put an edible garden on the John Hancock building in Boston and spent the summer in the Hamptons building a rooftop garden. “It’s simple,” says Ritz, who is teaching his third generation of students in the Bronx. “just show your Passion.”

Be inspired. Watch Stephen Ritz’s video and start changing the way your community eats – and thinks.

TEDxManhattan, an independently organized event licensed by TED, will be releasing the remaining talks from its January 21 event in the next couple of weeks at www.tedxmanhattan.org/2012talks/. Learn from speakers that include Consumer Reports Urvashi Rangan, who oversees their Consumer Safety and Sustainability Group and discusses problems with food labeling; Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States who shares his thoughts on the feelings and lives of farm animals, and President of Stone Barns Fred Kirschenmann, whose talk teaches us that soil is so much more than just dirt.

A DVD of the talks will be released in the Spring and photos of the event can be found on Flickr. For more information, please email TEDxManhattan@gmail.com; media can contact geralyn@resourcescommunications.com or telephone her at 281. 980.6643.

The Glynwood Institute for Sustainable Food and Farming is the lead sponsor and host for TEDxManhattan 2012.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like* experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for

the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized. *TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. For more information about TED and TEDx, please visit www.ted.com.

About TED

TED is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The annual TED Conference invites the world's leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes. Their talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Follow TED on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TEDTalks, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TED.

Kohl's Cares(R) Scholarship Program Accepting Nominations February 1 - March 15 For Outstanding Young Volunteers

02.02.2012 - 08:00AM

The Kohl’s Department Stores (NYSE: KSS) Kohl’s Cares^®Scholarship Program will award more than $420,000 in scholarships and prizes, ranging from $50 Kohl’s gift cards to $10,000 scholarships, to more than 2,200 young volunteers who have made a positive impact on their communities. Nominations for kids ages six to 18 will be accepted February 1 – March 15 at kohlskids.com. Kohl’s is helping promising youth further their education at a time when college tuition continues to increase yearly – a challenge to many American families who face high unemployment and stagnant incomes.*

“Through the Kohl’s Cares^®Scholarship Program, Kohl’s recognizes young volunteers who dedicate their time, energy and passion to helping others and bettering the communities we live in,” said Julie Gardner, Kohl’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer. “During a time of economic uncertainty and high tuition costs, it’s important to support extraordinary kids by investing in their future. We encourage parents, teachers, neighbors and friends to nominate outstanding young volunteers at kohlskids.com.”

To nominate volunteers ages six to 18 for a Kohl’s Cares scholarship, visit kohlskids.com. Nominations are accepted February 1 through March 15, and nominators must be 21 years or older. Two nominees from each of the more than 1,100 Kohl’s stores nationwide will win a $50 Kohl’s gift card, and more than 200 will win regional scholarships worth $1,000 toward post-secondary education. Ten national winners will be awarded a total of $10,000 in scholarships for post-secondary education and Kohl’s will donate $1,000 to a nonprofit organization on each national winner’s behalf.

Through the Kohl’s CaresScholarship Program, Kohl’s aims to honor young volunteers who have made a positive impact on their communities. Since the program began in 2001, Kohl’s has recognized more than 15,000 kids with more than $3 million in scholarships and prizes. In 2012, Kohl’s celebrates its 12^th year of rewarding young volunteers.

In 2011, Kohl’s honored national winner Sarah Kladar, 12, who sold approximately 5,000 dishtowels and with the nearly $50,000 raised, helped financially-burdened families pay for surgery-related expenses that were not covered by insurance. Regional winner Jaimus Ready, 8, was recognized for assembling and sending more than 350 care packages to soldiers in Afghanistan filled with candy, clothing and homemade cards from local school children.

The Kohl’s Cares®Scholarship Program is part of Kohl’s Cares®, Kohl’s philanthropic program focused on improving the lives of children. Kohl’s Cares® benefits children’s health and education initiatives nationwide through its merchandise program, featuring special books and plush toys where 100 percent of net profit benefits children’s initiatives; fundraising gift cards for schools and youth serving organizations and the Associates in Action associate volunteer program. For more information or a list of past Kohl’s CaresScholarship Program winners, visit kohlskids.com.

About Kohl’s Department Stores

Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS) is a family-focused, value-oriented specialty department store offering moderately priced, exclusive and national brand apparel, shoes, accessories, beauty and home products in an exciting shopping environment. With a commitment to environmental leadership, Kohl’s operates 1,127 stores in 49 states. In support of the communities it serves, Kohl’s has raised more than $180 million for children’s initiatives nationwide through its Kohl’s Cares® cause merchandise program, which operates under Kohl's Cares, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kohl's Department Stores, Inc. For a list of store locations and information, or for the added convenience of shopping online, visit www.Kohls.com.

*Justin Pope. “College Prices Up Again As States Slash Budgets.” The Associated Press. 2011.

How to Manage Social and Environmental Risk for Oil, Gas and Mining

02.01.2012 - 10:04AM

Our 3rd annual social and environmental risk management conference provides best practice insight for oil, gas, mining and heavy industry. Robust debate, interactive discussion and problem solving with BP, Chevron, Rio Tinto, De Beers, ICMM and many more. In depth focused agenda covering, capacity building, stakeholder engagement, human rights and revisions to the IFC performance standards. A global event boasting 25+ speakers from Africa, Europe and North America. Gain months’ worth of research and valuable knowledge over a mere two days. For more information about speakers, agenda, discounts and delegate prices please click here.

Weekend in Boca V Civil Society Leadership Symposium

01.26.2012 - 10:13AM

"Innovation and Collaboration – The Keys to Non-Profit Sustainability"

March 22, 23, and 24, 2012
Wyndham Garden Hotel- Boca Raton

Presented by the Office Depot Foundation in a continuing effort to help non-profit organizations learn how to operate more efficiently and make the greatest possible impact as they serve the needs of people and communities.

In collaboration with the Sagamore Institute, the SCORE Foundation and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center.

As a participant in Weekend in Boca, you'll gain insight and knowledge from nationally prominent speakers as well as your peers from other organizations. You will have ample time to network and explore opportunities to collaborate with other non-profits. You'll hear about best practices and how to incorporate them into the important work you do every day.

There is no charge to attend the Symposium, which is open to all non-profit organization executives and staff, board members,volunteers, business and civic leaders, government officials and anyone with a strong interest in the civil society sector.

Featured speakers and panelists include:

•Joe Sibilia, CEO, CSRwire, Springfield, Mass.
•Rick Baker, former Mayor of St. Petersburg, Fla., and Author, "The Seamless City"
•Robert A. Birman, Chief Executive Officer, Louisville Orchestra, Louisville, Ky.
•Erin Carlstrom, Director of Education Programs, Feed The Children, Oklahoma City, Okla.
•Dr. Robert Corbin, Vice President of Learning Experiences, Discovery Place, Charlotte, N.C.
•Dr. Noah Manyika, President, NeXus Global Serve, Charlotte, N.C.
•David Roth, General Director, Kentucky Opera, Louisville, Ky.
•Lois Savage, President, The Lodestar Foundation, Phoenix, Ariz.

Please note: Advance registration is required. It will not be possible to register on-site at the Symposium.

Australian Global Reporting Initiative Conference on Sustainability and Integrated Reporting

01.24.2012 - 07:31PM

Australia’s opinion formers and leaders will join the sustainability conversation on 26-28 March 2012, as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), with the support of its strategic partner the Australian Government, holds its first ever Australian conference in Melbourne, Australia.

The GRI is a non-profit organization that provides all companies and organizations with a comprehensive sustainability reporting framework that is widely used around the world. The GRI’s first ever Australian conference aims to to explore, shape and advance the field of Sustainability and Integrated reporting in Australia and the Asia Pacific region.

With a central theme of Innovate – Integrate – Collaborate, the conference will communicate GRI’s thinking on integrated reporting and the latest iteration of its Sustainability Reporting Framework, the G4.

Up to 300 hundred representatives from business, government and civil society are expected to attend, making the Australian GRI Conference on Sustainability and Integrated Reporting the place to be for any organization aiming to position itself as a leader in the fast-growing field of sustainability and integrated reporting. Australian sustainability leaders who have taken up sponsorship include BHP Billiton, KPMG, Westpac, CPA Australia, ANZ, and Wesfarmers amongst others.

Head to www.australiangriconference.org for more information or to register.

Event details at a glance:

Event: Australian Global Reporting Initiative Conference on Sustainability and Integrated Reporting

Hosted by: Global Reporting Initiative

Aim: to explore, shape and advance the field of Sustainability and Integrated reporting in Australia and the Asia Pacific region.

Date: 26-28 March 2012

Location: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

Website: www.australiangriconference.org

Estimated attendance: 300 executives, directors and senior managers in sustainability, accounting, finance, policy and public affairs, as well as report writers

Webinar: Building strategic partnerships to create social change

01.24.2012 - 03:13PM

The relationship between corporations and non-profit organizations is changing. In the past, relationships were transactional—a company would simply write a check. Today, on the other hand, companies and non-profits are recognizing the value of establishing strategic partnerships and are working together to address societal issues.

However, non-profits and businesses are guided by different principles and goals. Each sector has widely different mindsets, drivers, and societal roles, which can make establishing successful partnerships challenging. Yet there is a growing understanding that creating partnerships – across business, sectors, and markets – has never been more important because there is awareness that we can’t tackle the challenges facing business and society alone.

Corporate Citizenship, a global corporate responsibility and sustainability consulting company, is offering a free webinar to explore the growing importance of building strategic partnerships to address societal issues. Jen Balazs, Senior Consultant, and Jessica Sultzer, Consultant, of Corporate Citizenship will share their experience advising companies to provide insights into:

• The changing partnership landscape,
• Why partnerships matter,
• Different types of partnerships,
• Key attributes of a partnership, and
• The elements to making a partnership effective.

Details for this complimentary webinar are as follows:

Date: January 31, 2012

Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EST

Register: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/651995249

About Corporate Citizenship
Corporate Citizenship is a management consulting company that offers clients around the world breadth and depth of experience in corporate responsibility. Since 1997, we have advised leading, multinational corporations on how to enhance and align their citizenship and traditional business activities to create strategic business value. Our clients are international and domestic companies including Unilever, Abbott, HSBC, Verizon, PSEG, State Street, and Diageo.

For more information, please visit www.corporate-citizenship.com.

Capitalism with a Conscience

01.24.2012 - 11:12AM

Wake Forest University Schools of Business will welcome Walter Robb, Co-CEO of Whole Foods Market Inc., to campus on Tuesday, January 31 to discuss “Capitalism with a Conscience.” Robb’s presentation will outline the Whole Foods Market business model that embraces both profitability and social responsibility. He will then transition into a passionate conversation about the social responsibility role of business.

Ayn Rand objectivism supporter John Allison, Distinguished Professor of Practice and retired Chairman of BB&T, will join Robb in a panel discussion moderated by Aman Singh, Editorial Director of The Corporate Social Responsibility Newswire, a provider of corporate responsibility (CSR) news and research.

“Capitalism with a Conscience: Reflections on the Whole Foods Market Journey” is Tuesday, January 31 at 4:00 p.m. in the Worrell Professional Center Auditorium, room 1312 on the Wake Forest University campus in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The event is free and open to the public.

The event is part of the Broyhill Leading Out Loud Executive Lecture Series and co-sponsored by the BB&T Center for the Study of Capitalism. Additional support and planning assistance has been provided by the Wake Forest Schools of Business Center for Retail Innovation, the Wake Forest University Center for Energy, Environment and Sustainability, and the Net Impact Chapter of Wake Forest University.

The SoHo Loft Capital Creation and Crowdfunding Event

01.18.2012 - 08:34AM

The SoHo Loft Capital Creation and Crowdfunding Conference will provide the global investing community with key insight into the direction of the U.S. capital markets during this period of regulatory transformation and the rapid progression of the developing ecosystem.

Attendees will be introduced to the Private Company Marketplace (PCM) including the private shares desks and exchange platforms, crowdfunding experts, secondary private share buyers, private stock analysts and senior executives of this market’s potential bellwether companies.

Additionally, attendees will have exclusive opportunities to network with congressional leaders, industry pioneers and demo exciting new technologies that we believe will fuel the growth of these new markets and lead us toward an era of economic prosperity.

Joel Makower at Green Spaces on "How Big Business Sustainability Decisions Affect Social Entrepreneurs"

01.17.2012 - 05:22PM

GreenBiz Chairman, Joel Makower is speaking at New York's Green Spaces on Monday evening 1/23, 7-9pm. Joel's special appearance at Green Spaces is prelude to GreenBiz Forum Tuesday 1/24 (get $100 discount with code gbf12inviteeGS). Join us at Green Spaces, with introductory remarks by Martha Shaw of Earth Advertising. To discuss how big business sustainability decisions affect social entrepreneurs, Joel will be drawing on the release of his new 2012 green business report. He will offer highlights and insights, key trends and indicators, including:

the good news and bad news about sustainable business initiatives
why cleantech is still going strong
why "big data" is a big sustainability story
why sustainable consumption may be (finally) catching on

Admission is $25. Click here to purchase. Green Spaces New York is located at 394 Broadway, 5th floor, between Walker and White Streets. Media Contact: Marissa Feinberg Co-Founder, Green Spaces 917-494-5041, marissa@greenspaceshome.com

We First Social Branding Seminar with Simon Mainwaring, Carol Cone, and Robert Tercek

01.17.2012 - 02:00PM

Simon Mainwaring, New York Times bestselling author of We First, award-winning branding consultant to companies like Nike, Toyota and Motorola, and social media contributor to Forbes, Mashable and Fast Company, is holding a two day training seminar that I know will be of interest to you.

It offers real value to your business for 3 reasons.

Firstly, it fills an urgent need in marketplace by providing world-class training in brand storytelling and social media so that you walk out with an actionable Social Branding Blueprint specific to your business that you can act on. So real value, not a talk-fest.

Secondly, every attendee gets an extra ticket to give to their favorite non-profit for free. So you get to make the contribution.

Finally, the speakers are great. Besides Simon, there’s Carol Cone, Global Vice Chairman Edelman Business + Social Purpose, and Robert Tercek, former President of Digital Media for OWN.

Just enter the code CSRWIRE when you register. This is a rare opportunity to get world-class experts building your brand's success for 2012.

Here’s the link and make sure you use the discount code. Don’t wait as places are very limited: www.WeFirstSeminar.com

Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Awards (AREA) 2012 - East Asia

01.16.2012 - 12:26PM

The Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Awards program (AREA) recognizes and honours Asian businesses for championing sustainable and responsible entrepreneurship. The enterprises’ should demonstrate their commitment, advocacy, integrity and leadership in incorporating responsible and ethical values in their businesses such as protection of environment, investing in stakeholders, empowering the community, taking care of their well-being and legal compliance into the way they operate their businesses. Covering 40 countries and territories, the Awards is held in four sub-regions of Asia, namely, Southeast Asia, Eastern Asia, South Asia, and West Asia. The East Asia chapter will see nominations from 7 countries/regions including; Japan, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and Mongolia. Nomination Deadline: Friday, 30 March 2012

Sustainable Venture Development Conference

01.13.2012 - 11:43AM

The Sustainable Venture Development Conference is a one-day event bringing together low-carbon industry leaders, investors and stakeholders to focus on identifying, building and growing sustainable low carbon businesses.

The conference will provide delegates with an unrivalled template and toolkit for the development of new ventures in the low carbon sector. Drawing on Sustainable Ventures’ proprietary methodology, the event will provide essential and in-depth analysis of the origination, delivery and early management phases of a new low carbon business.

Speakers include regulatory experts, investment professionals, coal-face case studies and providers of essential support services. The event includes evening drinks and an awards ceremony, highlighting the country’s leading low carbon entrepreneurs and corporate venturing teams.

We are pleased to offer CSRwire members a 15% discount on delegate passes. Early bird tickets are available until February 10. For more information about the event or to book tickets, please visit: www.svdconf.co.uk. Promotional code: CSR15.

Conversations with Stephen: The 2012 CSR Outlook with Aman Singh

01.11.2012 - 12:55PM

Join Stephen Jordan, Executive Director of the U.S. Chamber Business Civic Leadership Center and Aman Singh, Editorial Director of CSRwire, as well as a group of MBA graduates virtually for an intimate conversation about what happened in corporate social responsibility (CSR) in 2011 and what the field has in store for 2012. The 2012 CSR Outlook is the first in a FREE six-part forum series.

The U.S. Chamber BCLC’s Conversations with Stephen series is produced and moderated by founder and executive director Stephen Jordan. Guests engage in thoughtful, solution-oriented discussions and debates about the CSR field. The six-part 2012 series is offered at no charge as part of BCLC’s commitment to share knowledge and best practices with current and upcoming CSR practitioners.

Business Sustainability and Organization Development

12.30.2011 - 09:00AM

Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility strategies are increasingly considered key components in the creation of a sustainable business. This month's program will feature Aman Singh, Editorial Director of CSRwire.com, a widely-respected source for corporate social responsibility news, Kara Hurst, Vice President of BSR, and Victoria Zelin from Deloitte's Sustainability & Climate Change practice.

The speakers will share their point of view on the key trends in business social responsibility and describe the role of organization development in this space.

Event details:

Time: 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Where: Pfizer - Tudor Room, 235 E. 42nd St., 2nd Floor, New York, NY. Photo ID needed.

Registration: ODNNY Members - included in dues; Non-members pre-registration $25. No refunds.

To register: http://odnny.org/civicrm/event/info?id=2340&reset=1

Sustainable Foods Summit

12.09.2011 - 12:48PM

The food industry is under growing pressure to reduce its environmental and social impacts, however what practical methods are successful and what role do eco-labels play? How can sustainable ingredients contribute to the ecological / social footprint? What are the gamut of sustainable packaging options available to food and beverage companies? What are the best-practices in the industry? The next edition of the Sustainable Foods Summit aims to address such issues in a high-level forum.

The fifth edition of the Sustainable Foods Summit will take place in San Francisco on 17-18th January 2012. Major topics on the summit agenda include sustainable proteins, food security, sourcing local, raw foodism, ethical finance, ecological packaging, sustainability metrics, marketing best-practices and consumer insights.

More details here.

2012 NBPCA Annual Congress - The Power of Prepaid

12.09.2011 - 10:00AM

Watch what industry leaders are saying about the 2012 NBPCA Annual Congress http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5bCdnMZFp0 Whether you’re a member of the NBPCA or not – make your plans to attend the only event designed “by the industry, for the industry.”

With revenues going directly to support the education, lobbying and outreach programs that support the entire prepaid sector, join innovators and leaders this coming June for two days of practical expert learning and valuable networking suitable for everyone in your organization.

The agenda is currently in production and will be released soon.

Featuring an unrivalled speaker faculty including experienced prepaid-industry keynotes who will deliver valuable, directly-relevant information that you and your teams will take back to your organizations and use to grow your business.

Register today and join the hundreds of your peers who have already committed to attend the Prepaid Industry’s Official Annual Conference and Expo next June. www.PrepaidEvent.com Posted By Matt Godson

Objection Handling Workshop for Sustainability Professionals

12.06.2011 - 07:18PM

Are you able to drive your sustainability ideas forward in your organization or are you encountering resistance?

Are you achieving the best possible outcome at your meetings?

Do you ever wonder if you could have achieved a better result and why your ideas weren’t resonating with your colleagues?

Suppose you find yourself on an elevator with a senior executive and courageously decide that this is your opportunity to convince him/her to integrate sustainability into his/her core business strategies.

How would you open the conversation?
When he/she throws objections at you, how will you respond?
What’s your value proposition?

If you've struggled with any of these questions or you just want to sharpen your skills, then you don't want to miss our Objection Handling Workshop taught by international sustainability expert and author Bob Willard.

To learn more Click Here

More about TSSS

To Learn More Click Here

International Human Rights Day 2011: Getting Rights… Right…

12.06.2011 - 12:54PM

Getting Rights… Right…
How Companies are Implementing the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

To mark International Human Rights Day 2011, The George Washington University, the U.N. Global Compact U.S. Network, and the U.S. Institute of Peace will host a day-long conference on the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

These principles, approved by the U.N. Human Rights Council in June, are designed to help a broad range of stakeholders monitor the impact of business activities on human rights. These guidelines clarify the human rights responsibilities of the business community and offer recommendations on effective implementation, particularly in fragile environments.

Speakers representing business, civil society, the U.S. government and academia will focus on practical approaches to implementing the guiding principles.

To learn more about this event, click here.

Energy Investment Forum

12.05.2011 - 10:48AM

Investors and industry players from around the country connect to discuss the most important topics facing the energy sector.

Join representatives from America's foremost family offices, foundations, pensions, endowments as they network with energy's leading innovators. Discussions on upcoming and current investment opportunities cover renewable energy investing, smart grids, oil and gas, green real estate, project financing, and other investment/financing opportunities.

In light of our current geopolitical climate, this conference is a necessary forum in which energy experts can inform and collaborate with the nation's largest institutional investors.

Partnering for Global Impact

12.02.2011 - 11:32AM

Partnering for Global Impact is a new initiative to facilitate transactions in social investing and philanthropy through one-to-one meetings between investors, philanthropists and social enterprises. The inaugural event will be held in Lugano, Switzerland, July 9-10, 2012 and will feature presentations of impact investment products and services and philanthropic projects. Our focus on transactions and results is supported by industry-leading partnering systems and technology.

EBD Group’s one-to-one meeting system, partneringONE, allows attendees to identify potential partners and schedule meetings ahead of time. This efficient process and the innovative design of our meeting spaces turn networking into tangible partnerships and results.

This annual forum for investors, social entrepreneurs, foundation leaders, development agencies, families and executives from family offices offers two days of insightful panel discussions, product presentations and, most crucially, one-to-one meetings. The conference will attract major players from each group, making it an exclusive, high-level, partnership-oriented setting. Join us in Lugano to bring your impact goals to the next level.

Sustainable Facilities Forum

12.01.2011 - 04:04PM

Sustainability is fast becoming a top priority in boardrooms across Corporate America. Sustainability for many industry leading companies is more and more becoming a business imperative that informs each decision they make as the tangible commercial benefits of implementing quantifiable sustainable processes and practices to manage carbon are being realized. Nowhere else are the challenges and opportunities more apparent and pressing than on the subject of Facilities/Buildings which account for over 39% of all energy used in the United States.

The Theme of the 2012 Sustainable Facilities Forum is: “Sustainable Facilities Management and the Triple Bottom Line.”

*Research by McKinsey finds that most companies have options to reduce carbon emissions at negative cost – across the overall economy there is the potential to save as much as 12Gt CO2e, 25% of the global total annual emissions in this way by 2030. (*McKinsey & Co (2009) Pathways to a Low Carbon Economy)

The Sustainable Facilities Forum aims to act as a catalyst for Major Corporations across all sectors and industries to take advantage of these "low hanging" gains/benefits. In addition to this goal it goes without saying that Sustainable Facilities Management is an integral piece of the overall Sustainability puzzle and it can also have a solid impact on the bottom-line during these times of cut backs and austerity measures.

Event format: This cross industry Forum is by invite only for Senior Facilities Executives or those Senior Corporate Officers tasked with ensuring that their respective Organization’s structures/ facilities are built, operated and maintained in an environmentally and resource efficient manner throughout the buildings lifecycle. The event is a mix of case study conference sessions, think tanks, round tables, 1-on-1 meetings and networking functions.

Katerva Announces Grand Prize Winner of Katerva Awards

12.01.2011 - 01:38PM

New York’s WABC-TV Eyewitness News anchor Sade Baderinwa hosts announcement of most promising sustainability idea in the world.

WHAT: Press conference to announce Grand Prize winner of Katerva Awards -- the pinnacle of global sustainability recognition. Award designed by [name of artist] to be presented by Terry Waghorn. Winner selected from among eight category winners including:

Food Security – The China Study (U.S., China)
Behavioral Change – 350.org (U.S.)
Economy – worldofgood.com (U.S.)
Materials & Resources – Sanergy (U.S., Kenya)
Human Development – Solar Autoclave (U.S., Nicaragua)
Energy & Power – Barefoot Power (Australia)
Transportation – Nissan Leaf (Japan)
Urban Design – Freshkills Park (New York City)

WHERE:

Lincoln Center Institute
Samuel B. & David Rose Building, 7th Floor
165 W. 65th Street (between B’way and Amsterdam)
New York, NY 10023

WHEN:

Wednesday, December 7, 2011
1:00 p.m. – Award Ceremony Award Ceremony in the Clark Studio Theater
2:00 p.m. – Reception Reception in the Samuels Teaching Studio

CSRwire United Nations Global Compact 2011 Communication on Progress

10.24.2011 - 08:00AM

Microsoft 2011 Citizenship Report

10.04.2011 - 07:25PM

2010 Merck Corporate Responsibility Report

09.30.2011 - 09:00AM

FedEx: I Deliver a Better World - A Global Citizenship Update

07.25.2011 - 10:43AM

GE 2010 Citizenship Report, "Sustainable Growth"

07.25.2011 - 08:48AM

Bayer Sustainable Development Report 2010

07.14.2011 - 03:20PM

Coca-Cola Enterprises Committed to 2020: Shaping a Sustainable Future in Europe

06.28.2011 - 10:31AM

Delhaize Group Corporate Responsibility Progress Report

06.20.2011 - 08:58AM

Biogen Idec 2010 Corporate Citizenship Report

06.15.2011 - 09:11AM

Piraeus Bank Annual Corporate Responsibility Report 2010

06.09.2011 - 10:54AM

CVS Caremark 2010 Corporate Social Responsibility Report

05.10.2011 - 03:46PM

Delivering Real Benefits - Anglo American Sustainable Development Report 2010

05.09.2011 - 08:13AM

Cascade Engineering Triple Bottom Line Report 2010

04.27.2011 - 02:26PM

Heineken Sustainability Report 2010

04.18.2011 - 08:51AM

Maersk Line 2010 Sustainability Progress Report

04.07.2011 - 03:00PM

GlaxoSmithKline 2010 Corporate Responsibility Report

03.29.2011 - 10:00AM

General Mills 2011 Corporate Social Responsibility Report

03.24.2011 - 01:24PM

PwC Canada - Corporate Responsibility - Highlights 2010

02.16.2011 - 09:00AM

Novo Nordisk Annual Report 2010

02.10.2011 - 09:04AM

Frontier Markets. Global Partnerships. Local Solutions.

02.04.2011 - 03:39PM

Waste Management Releases 2010 Sustainability Report

01.19.2011 - 04:05PM

Acting Ethically and Responsibly for the Patient: Sanofi-Aventis 2009 Corporate Social Responsibility Report

09.08.2010 - 01:00AM

United Nations Global Compact Communication on Progress - CSRwire, LLC

09.06.2010 - 04:55PM

Dell 2010 Corporate Responsibility Report: Inspired by possibility, guided by purpose

08.31.2010 - 11:33AM

Bayer Sustainable Development Report 2009

08.30.2010 - 10:27AM