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Rubicon Global Announces B Corporation Certification

05.21.2012 - 11:00AM

Rubicon Global, North America’s leading provider of sustainable waste and recycling solutions announces it is proud to stand among 515+ Certified B Corporations. B Corporations are a new kind of company that uses the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. Rubicon Global joins a league of corporations that believe business is the most powerful way to create change. Other Certified B Corporations include Patagonia, Seventh Generation, and Etsy.

“Rubicon Global’s mission and values are closely aligned with the goals of B Corp because we believe there is a better way to do business”, said Nate Morris, CEO of Rubicon Global. “We know that creating transparency, accountability, and sustainability in our industry will benefit our customers as well as the environment.”

Certified B Corporations meet higher standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. The performance standards are comprehensive and transparent. They measure a company’s impact on its employees, suppliers, community, and the environmental. Rubicon Global earned 103.2 points on its 2012 B Impact Assessment with governance and the environment as “Areas of Excellence”. The company will continuously work to improve its B score and will go through an assessment review every two years.

"Rubicon Global represents the future of waste and recycling and we are proud to have them join our community of Certified B Corporations," says B Lab co-founder Andrew Kassoy. "Their innovative approach, which promotes sustainability, transparency, and economic efficiency, is helping America's top companies reduce landfill tonnage and protect our communities."

To view Rubicon Global's B Impact Assessment and learn more about B Corporations, please visit www.BCorporation.net/RubiconGlobal.

About B Corp
Certified B Corporations 1) meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance; 2) legally expand their corporate responsibilities to include consideration of stakeholder interests; and 3) build collective voice through the power of the unifying B Corporation brand. As of January 2012, there are over 515 Certified B Corporations from over 50 industries, representing a diverse multi-billion marketplace.

About B Lab
B Lab is a nonprofit organization dedicated to using 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) accelerating the growth of the impact investing asset class through use of B Lab’s GIIRS impact rating system by institutional investors; and 3) promoting supportive public policies, including creation of a new corporate form and tax, procurement, and investment incentives for sustainable business.

About Rubicon Global
Rubicon Global is North America’s leading provider of sustainable waste and recycling solutions. We provide comprehensive waste stream solutions that allow companies to reduce operating expenses, implement recycling programs, and save money through waste and recycling initiatives. Rubicon Global was founded in 2008 with the mission to optimize our customers’ waste streams through cost saving measures while creating environmentally sound solutions to 21st century challenges. Rubicon Global is dedicated to improving economic efficiency and decreasing landfill tonnage. Rubicon Global strives to challenge the status quo and redefine the concept of waste and recycling in the global community. Through innovative technology, industry knowledge, and strategic relationships Rubicon Global seeks to transform the waste and recycling industries. For more information, visit www.RubiconGlobal.com.

Behold Studio Announcement of B Corp Certification

05.18.2012 - 08:00AM

Behold, independent design and consultancy studio, is proud to announce official B Corp certification status – joining a community of over 515 Certified B Corporations from over 50 industries. B Corporations are a new kind of company, which uses the power of business to solve social and environmental problems.

As a proactive, innovative company, our aim is to minimize the potential harmful effects on the environment while considering social and economic well-being. Moving forward as a B Corporation allows us to align our values and visions with a community of like-minded businesses and professionals.

Principal and Creative Director, Adam Zepeda, states, “Our certification as a B Corporation allows us to demonstrate and maintain the company’s drive for quality in all of our activities and services. It enables us to set targets by which our efforts towards sustainable environmental improvement can be measured on a regular basis while continuously seeking to improve on our day-to-day practices.”

Our certification as a B Corporation follows our recent partnership with 1% for the Planet (1%), pledging a portion of sales to support non-profit organizations focused on sustainability. “Behold is a great addition to the network. By signing on to 1%, it shows they’re really walking the walk in their sustainability efforts,” says Terry Kellogg, 1% CEO. “They’re using generosity as a tool with which to build their business and enabling valuable environmental work along the way. We’re excited to welcome Behold to the 1% family.”

About Behold
Behold is a young, interdisciplinary design and consultancy studio holding experience in the disciplines of brand and identity development, publication, environmental design, packaging, art-direction, and graphic design. http://beholdstudio.com

About 1% for the Planet
Started in 2002 by Yvon Chouinard, founder and owner of Patagonia, and Craig Mathews, owner of Blue Ribbon Flies, 1% for the Planet is a growing global movement of over 1,350 member companies in 44 countries that donate one percent of their sales to environmental organizations worldwide. Each day, more than one new business joins the 1% for the Planet movement. As a network, the 1% community has become a frontrunner in funding the work of environmental groups around the world. To learn more about 1% visit www.onepercentfortheplanet.org

Etsy Announces B Corporation(TM) Certification

05.09.2012 - 12:30PM

Over the last seven years, Etsy has been building the global platform for independent, creative businesses — driving a new, people-powered economy. Today we are proud to announce our certification as a B Corporation™. B Corporations are a new kind of company that uses the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. We are excited to join a community of more than 500 B Corporations from over 60 industries, such as consulting, solar energy, and law. Etsy will be among the biggest, in good company with Patagonia and Seventh Generation. Certified companies are rated on rigorous standards of transparency, accountability and performance.

Etsy took this step because we believe that business has a higher social purpose beyond simply profit. As CEO Chad Dickerson explains, “we believe becoming a Certified B Corporation is one of the most important things Etsy has ever done. It helps us keep an eye on the mindful, transparent, and humane values we aspire to. The B Corp assessment gives us a framework for measuring our success against rigorous values and responsible practices as we scale as a company.”

Albert Wenger of Union Square Ventures, a long time Etsy investor, adds, “Etsy is a prime example of the Internet-based networks and marketplaces that are reshaping our economy and society. We believe that the best long term stewards of these networks will focus on value creation for all participants instead of solely on shareholders. B Corp provides a measurement framework and ultimately a legal foundation perfectly supporting this much more comprehensive outlook.”

Etsy welcomes the challenge to build upon our current conscientious practices, which include offering loaner bicycles to employees, hiring local small food businesses that incorporate in-season ingredients, donating office compost to a Brooklyn community farm, and regulating office energy consumption.

"We're thrilled Etsy is joining the growing community of Certified B Corporations,” says B Lab co-founder Andrew Kassoy. “Their business model, which supports a community of micro-enterprises at scale, is an example of the kind of business that is redefining success and building local, living economies.”

About Etsy
Etsy is the marketplace we make together. We enable people anywhere to easily build and directly exchange with independent, creative businesses. As of May 2012, Etsy has 15 million members and 875,000 sellers in over 150 countries. In 2011, our sellers grossed more than $525 million in sales.

Boston College Offers Corporate Governance Program For Directors, Senior Executives

05.08.2012 - 12:43PM

Corporate governance has grown increasingly important and challenging as directors respond to the dynamic economic, political, cultural and regulatory environment in which today’s companies operate. To help business leaders respond to this challenge, the Boston College Law School and the Center for Corporate Citizenship at the Carroll School of Management are presenting the second annual Directors' Intensive Program on Corporate Governance, June 20, on the Boston College campus.

Board directors are being held more accountable than ever before and are expected to understand and fulfill their fiduciary duties with the rigor and wisdom necessary to both ensure legal compliance and promote sustainable, long-term value. The Directors’ Intensive Program on Corporate Governance is designed to help directors and executive leaders perform their duties of oversight at the highest level.

The program provides perspectives and knowledge from leading practitioners and scholars about current and emerging issues and practices in corporate governance. It will be relevant to both new and continuing directors, as well as those executives responsible for supporting the board and for leadership decision-making for their firms.

Noted experts from business, law, finance, and academia, will contribute to the program, including keynote speaker Frank Partnoy, bestselling author of "Wait! The Art and Science of Delay" and "F.I.A.S.C.O., Blood in the Water on Wall Street", and Robert Khuzami, director of the Division of Enforcement of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. A full list of speakers is available on the Center for Corporate Citizenship website.

The Directors’ Intensive Program on Corporate Governance will offer valuable support to corporate leaders who recognize that the best companies achieve excellent performance and reputation by effectively managing risk that may emerge from a shifting operating and regulatory context, and create sustained value over the long-term by aligning business strategies with changing circumstances. Topics in this full-day program will include:

Emerging regulation of directors’ duties, especially under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Protection Act of 2010 and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Managing intellectual property rights in the U.S. and across international borders
Managing labor pools in a global economy
Balancing the long- and short-term views on building enduring shareholder value
Benefits and risks of pursuing corporate interests through participation in the political process post the Citizens United Supreme Court decision

The Directors Intensive Program on Corporate Governance will be held in Fulton Hall at the Boston College Carroll School of Management, Chestnut Hill, Mass., June 20, 2012, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Registration fee includes program admission, course materials, continental breakfast, lunch, breaks, and closing reception.

The Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship at the Carroll School of Management is a membership-based research organization committed to helping business leverage its social, economic and human assets to ensure both its success and a more just and sustainable world. As a leading resource on corporate citizenship, the Center works with global corporations to help them define, plan and operationalize their corporate citizenship. Through the power of research, management and leadership programs, and the insights of its more than 400 corporate members, the Center creates knowledge, value and demand for corporate citizenship. www.BCCorporateCitizenship.org

6th Largest Organic Program in the World Supports Ethikus' Shop Your Values Week Movement – Anvil Knitwear Joins SYVW

05.04.2012 - 02:46PM

Furthering their commitment towards making the earth a better place to live and work, Anvil Knitwear has signed on to become a sponsor of Shop Your Values Week.

SYVW is a citywide “do good” event presented by ethikus encouraging consumers to shop with their hearts in 2012 by pledging to shop locally, ethically, and sustainably. Over 200 local and sustainable businesses have signed on to participate in SYVW by offering incentives to anyone who takes the online pledge (www.shopyourvaluesweek.com). These incentives range from free samples and storewide discounts, to free admission to special events across NYC.

“We’re excited to have Anvil Knitwear on board with SYVW,” said Jeff Hittner, Co-founder of ethikus. “Whether it's creating programs for kids to track the journey of their t-shirts from cotton farm to their homes, or building an eco clothing line that includes shirts made from recycled plastic bottles and organic cotton, Anvil is actively working to build a more sustainable business for all involved.”

Anvil Knitwear has generously donated 750 Sustainable shirts (see image) to ethikus in support of the SYVW movement. Anvil Knitwear ’s Sustainability line contains around 3 plastic bottles per shirt, are made up of 50% organic combed ring spun cotton, and 50% post-consumer P.E.T recycled polyester.

“Anvil is excited to align with Shop Your Values Week, promoting sustainable businesses in our New York City community”, says Heather Stefani, EVP of Marketing at Anvil Knitwear. “As a brand that operates with a deep and continued commitment to respecting the environment, we understand the challenges businesses face in their efforts to be sustainable. It’s therefore important to support others doing right by our planet. We salute the team at Shop Your Values Week for their continued work at pushing this message.”

Ethikus team members will be scattered across the greater NYC area handing out these sustainable shirts during SYVW (May 3rd-10th) – encouraging people to take the online pledge, upload photos of them in their new sustainable SYVW swag to fb.me/ethikus, and remember to shop with their hearts.

About Anvil Knitwear
Anvil Knitwear, Inc., an American Brand since 1899, is a leading manufacturer of sportswear and accessories primarily serving the imagewear and private label markets. Anvil offers a wide variety of styles from their American Tee Collection to a complete line of t-shirts made of sustainable fibers including certified organic cotton and recycled PET bottles. Anvil Knitwear is the largest purchaser of organic cotton in the United States, and is helping traditional cotton farmers' transition to growing organic cotton through Anvil's 'Double It' program. Anvil was recently ranked the 6th largest organic program in the world by the Organic Exchange. For more information, please visit www .anvilknitwear .com.

About Shop Your Values Week
Shop Your Values Week is a week-long citywide sustainable shopping and business initiative that seeks to encourage consumers to shop with their hearts by pledging to shop locally, ethically, and sustainably. Currently 216 local and sustainable businesses have signed on to participate in Shop Your Values Week. These businesses are offering a wide range of incentives such as free samples, storewide discounts, and free admission to special events across NYC free to anyone who takes the online pledge at www .shopyourvaluesweek .com.

Ethikus Presents Shop Your Values Week to Encourage Consumers to Shop with Their Hearts

05.03.2012 - 11:48AM

Recently, silicon-alley startup Ethikus set out to make it fun and easy for New Yorkers to align their purchases with their values, and support NYC stores and restaurants that ‘do good.’ The effort began in September with a pilot program in the East Village that successfully connected conscientious consumers with local stores and restaurants that were giving back to the community, employees, and the environment.

Ethikus realized that to really advance sustainable consumption, they would have to amass the purchasing power of thousands of concerned New Yorkers in a short period of time. They had to create a movement towards sustainable consumption – that movement has become Shop Your Values Week, and it’s moving fast!

“New Yorkers always strive to be the best at things,” said Jeff Hittner, Co-founder and CEO of Ethikus, “and SYVW is a great example of how the city is leading the fight for an ethical, sustainable, and local economy by putting their hearts where their money is.”

Shop Your Values Week is a citywide “do good” event encouraging consumers to shop with their hearts by pledging to shop locally, ethically, and sustainably. As of today, 211 local & sustainable businesses have signed on to participate in Shop Your Values Week by offering incentives to anyone who takes the online pledge. These incentives range from free samples & storewide discounts, to free admission to special events across NYC.

By signing the pledge, participants agree to the following:

● Pledge to shop with their hearts from May 3rd – 10th in NYC.

● Receive discounts at participating stores across NYC & free admission to special events.

● Help make NYC the flagship example of a local, sustainable, and ethical economy.

Yesterday Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer announced that he fully supports Shop Your Values Week’s initiative towards aligning the moral compass for a better world. Stringer will be in attendance for the May 2nd VIP Kick-off Party.

"New York is a world-class city when it comes to the quality of our local businesses," said Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. "Our local businesses owners work hard to support their employees, the community and our environment, and the Shop Your Values initiative helps us support these businesses, by aligning our purchases with our values. I urge all New Yorkers to support the stores and restaurants participating in this effort, so we can maintain our City's position as a leader in sustainability and locally-focused economic growth."

Council Speaker Christine Quinn also endorsed her support for Shop Your Values Week today. “At the Council we understand that small businesses are the backbone of our City and that we must work to ensure that more and more New Yorkers are shopping locally,” said Council Speaker Quinn.

“New Yorkers always strive to be number one in everything we do and now we need to lead the charge and set the standard high as America’s most healthy and sustainable local economy. I applaud all the businesses involved and the Shop Your Values Week campaign for their efforts to incorporate sustainability and community concerns into their business models and hope that more of our city’s businesses will follow their lead.”

Shop Your Values Week also has several community partner organizations that have helped bring this movement to fruition. Some of the major contributors include Meatless Monday, Just Food, BSR, Eco Biz NYC, Green Map NYC, Fab NYC, Solar One, Realty Collective, Social Innovators Collective, Nona Brooklyn, M &M Pest Control, Green Mountain Energy, ThinkEco, Just Food, GrowNYC, Epicurean Management, 14 th Street Y, IOBY, Brooklyn Food Coalition, Eat Well Guide, Restaurant Opportunities Center of NY, COMMON, and the Bard MBA in Sustainability.

Shop Your Values Week will be running from May 3rd - 10th, 2012. More information can be found at http ://www .shopyourvaluesweek .com.

About Ethikus:

Ethikus surveys and maintains a database of local NYC establishments based on their day-to-day practices in community engagement, employee care, product sourcing and environmental mitigation. With Ethikus, conscientious consumers can find and choose local businesses that share their values, from composting to energy efficiency, employee healthcare to community donations, and more. The intention of Ethikus is to inspire a movement towards sustainable consumption on a large scale by removing the primary barriers to better purchasing decisions - lack of information, perceived higher prices and complacency.

Achieve True Alignment Between Business Goals And Responsible Corporate Citizenship

05.02.2012 - 04:11PM

We are moving beyond an era where CSR departments exist as a separate function in corporate organisations. The emerging trend is towards deep integration of CSR within organizations and true alignment of corporate responsibility with the business goals companies aim to achieve.

A tokenistic approach to sustainability and CSR is not good enough and is ultimately detrimental to the long term prospects of corporate organisations. Corporate history is littered with the examples of companies whose extreme short sightedness has been matched by an equally rapid down fall. Enron's now infamous "house of cards" and the morally bankrupt Goldman Sachs are prime examples.

"We can’t afford it right now."

"We don't see a business case."

"It's not one of our current strategic objectives."

"There aren't the resources to devote to such initiatives."

All of the above are common excuses for a failure to implement effective CSR and sustainability initiatives. A leading executive from a retail company told me off the record a key supplier's reluctance to engage on CSR meant they lost their status as a preferential supplier.

The evidence of is now stacking up that a strong CSR program and long term business success go hand in hand. Don't take my word for it. Let's look at the facts and figures:

The US forum for sustainable and responsible investment states SRI is worth at least $3 trillion to the US investment marketplace. Social and environmental risk in your portfolio is no longer a marginal consideration.
According to research by GlobeScan in January 2012, 74% of sustainability experts believe that environmental/social activism will increase significantly in the coming year. Strong NGO partnerships built on trust will be vital this year.
The Dodd Frank Act, according to The US Chamber of Commerce, will affect hundreds of thousands companies, at a cost of $9 billion-$16 billion. Early and effective response guarantees lower cost of compliance.

The IBM Institute for Business Value recently surveyed business leaders worldwide and found that more than two-thirds are focusing on corporate social responsibility activities to create new revenue streams. More than half of the surveyed business leaders believe that their companies' CSR activities are already giving them an advantage over their top competitors.

Ethical Corporations Responsible Business Summit USA provides expert solutions on the latest sustainability and CSR challenges from leading edge corporates with an outstanding reputation including Patagonia, GAP INC, Timberland, Life Technologies Corp, Campbell's Soup, Intel and HP.

We've spent months talking to corporate organisations, NGOs, civil society, regulators and government to come up with these top CSR issues for 2012.

For a more indepth look at the conference, including the 25+ speakers we have onboard, atteendes, agenda, networking opportunities and exclusive discounts, download the brochure.

Caux Round Table 2012 Global Dialogue

04.12.2012 - 04:25PM

The Caux Round Table announces its 2012 Global Dialogue at Mountain House in Caux, Switzerland, for July 29, 30 and 31.

Registration is available on the Caux Round Table’s website at www.cauxroundtable.org

The market economy in the West is facing a deepening crisis. Our free market system is drifting on the tides of fate without much of a leadership, ethical or values rudder. Debt, materialism and self-interest have increasingly dominated life in the West and financial intermediation and business have, in large part, become decoupled from long-term or societal value creation. As a result, the fabric of society is being seriously stressed, thereby bringing the sustainability of the soft, welfare state into question.

If the free market system is to survive and prosper, major reform and change is clearly needed. But where will the needed leadership for change and reform come from?

Governments, multilateral bodies, and regulators clearly have a critical role to play, but more enlightened business leadership holds the real key. Will business leaders see the light and lead beyond their corporate walls in addressing the threats to the future of the free market system? Will business leaders rise to the challenge and deliver the new business models and behaviors necessary to chart a new paradigm for responsible enterprise and shared prosperity in the emerging, new world order?

Recognition and concern is certainly growing. The Financial Times recently published a series of commentaries on the theme “Capitalism In Crisis;” the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos in January was filled with angst over the future of capitalism, and UK Prime Minister David Cameron has joined earlier calls by French President Nicholas Sarkozy for a “moral capitalism.”

Yet there are few, if any, recommendations for real action. The Financial Times, for example, merely opined that “Since Adam Smith, intelligent defenders of free markets have known that capitalism works best when people’s free choices are also governed by moral values.”

This has been the position of the Caux Round Table for 26 years, since its first meeting at Mountain House in Caux, Switzerland. Since then, the Caux Round Table has moved forward strategically and intellectually with principles and management tools to make such a moral capitalism more of a reality.

Participants at the Global Dialogue will contribute their views and experiences on large global challenges facing not only business decision-makers, but all national and international leaders and their constituents.

Four major recommendations for reform of global capitalism will be discussed at this Global Dialogue. They will include:

The role of governments
Repositioning of finance and banking
New rating agencies and valuation methodology
Revision of financial theory

The preliminary agenda is available on the Caux Round Table’s website at www.cauxroundtable.org.

2012 'Rockstars of the New Economy' Named, Including Better World Books, Revolution Foods, Sungevity, Sustainable Harvest, Lumni USA and Warby Parker

03.21.2012 - 10:32AM

Today B Lab named the 2012 ‘Rockstars of the New Economy’, companies recognized for their ability to achieve both high growth and high social and environmental impact. Six businesses nationally were honored, including online bookseller Better World Books, food services provider Revolution Foods, solar company Sungevity, coffee importer Sustainable Harvest, and ‘Best Emerging Artists’ college access financier Lumni USA and eyewear company Warby Parker.

“Rockstars inspire us; they make us think, “That’s awesome! I want to do that.”, says Jay Coen Gilbert, co-founder of B Lab, the nonprofit that honored these ‘Rockstars of the New Economy’ and certifies B Corporations. “These Rockstars will inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs to define their success not just by their financial growth, but also by their social impact.”

Better World Books has grown revenues 6x in the last 5 years, reaching $55 million in 2011, and has donated over 5 million books to those in need to“create a better world, one book at a time.” Learn more at http ://bcorporation .net /betterworldbooks.

Revolution Foods has grown revenues 100x in the last 5 years, reaching $50 million in 2011. The company has served more than 30 million healthy meals to public school students across the country, fighting childhood obesity and ensuring students come to class ready to learn. Learn more at http ://bcorporation .net /revolutionfoods .

Sungevity has expanded their staff by 3x in the last year, reaching 300 employees in 2011. The company has installed over 3,500 houses with solar, generating more than 8,500 kW and leading the way in the “rooftop revolution,” aiming to put solar on individual houses worldwide. Learn more at http ://bcorporation .net /sungevity.

Sustainable Harvest has grown revenues by 5x in the last 5 years, reaching $76 million in 2011, and has channeled more than $200 million to rural, coffee farming communities in the last 15 years, improving the lives of the 2,000 families with whom they work. Learn more at http ://www .bcorporation .net /sustainableharvest .

Lumni USA has financed its first class of 30 American, low income students with their innovative and scaleable financing model to make higher education available based on merit, not financial background. Over the last five years, the Lumni family of companies expanded from $1.5 million in assets under management to $25 million, reaching 2,500 students globally in 2011. Learn more at http ://www .bcorporation .net /lumniusa.

Warby Parker has grown to 50 employees in its first 18 months and has helped distribute over 100,000 pairs of glasses to those in need living in emerging markets, increasing the individual’s productivity at work by 35 percent and boosting their income 20 percent. Learn more at http ://www .bcorporation .net /warbyparker .

These Rockstars are highlighted in the 2012 B Corp Annual Report, recently published by the nonprofit B Lab which certifies B Corporations as having met rigorous, transparent standards of social and environmental performance.

B Lab is a nonprofit organization dedicated to using 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) accelerating the growth of the impact investing asset class through use of B Lab’s GIIRS impact rating system by institutional investors; and 3) promoting legislation creating a new corporate form that meets higher standards of purpose, accountability and transparency. Learn more at bcorporation .net, benefitcorp .net, and giirs .org . For more information contact Katie Kerr, katie@bcorporation.net, 610-296-8283.

Symantec Corporation Named One of the World's Most Ethical Companies for 2012

03.19.2012 - 08:00AM

Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq: SYMC) has been named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute, a leading international think-tank dedicated to the creation, advancement, and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability. The complete list of rankings can be found at http://www.ethisphere.com/wme/.

“Ethics and compliance requires participation by employees at all levels of the organization. At Symantec, we’ve devoted resources and energy to building a strong ethical corporate culture and we continually assess our programs and evaluate what we can and should be doing better,” said Enrique Salem, president and CEO at Symantec. “Receiving this award for the fifth consecutive year is an endorsement that we are doing things right. It sets an expectation for our employees and other stakeholders that we will continue to work on building a culture of ethics and integrity and exercise good business judgment.”

At Symantec, ethics and integrity are the foundation of the company’s business success. The company strives to demonstrate innovation and leadership in corporate governance, compliance, sustainability, and corporate responsibility, with the goal of continuously improving ethics and compliance programs and policies. Learn more about our global corporate responsibility initiatives at http://www.symantec.com/corporate_responsibility/.

In its sixth year, the World’s Most Ethical Companies list highlights companies exhibiting a strong commitment to ethical leadership and compliance practices. The companies chosen go beyond making statements about doing business “ethically” and translate those words into action, introducing innovative ideas to benefit the public and compelling their competitors to follow suit. They incorporate ethics into business practices and have been able to thrive despite an ever-changing global regulatory environment. Ethisphere reviewed nominations from companies in more than 100 countries and 36 industries and the methodology includes reviewing codes of ethics, litigation, and regulatory infraction histories; evaluating the investment in innovation and sustainable business practices; analyzing activities designed to improve corporate citizenship; and studying nominations from senior executives, industry peers, suppliers, and customers.

“Symantec recognizes that a strong ethics program is a key component to a successful business model and over the last five years we have really watched this come to life as they continually scrutinize their ethical standards to keep up with an ever-changing regulatory environment,” said Alex Brigham, executive director of the Ethisphere Institute. “Each year the competition for World’s Most Ethical Companies intensifies as the number of nominations submitted for consideration grows. Ethisphere congratulates Symantec on being one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies for 2012.”

In addition, Symantec was also recently recognized in Brazil by the Great Place to Work Institute as one of the “Best Companies to Work For,” and also by ComputerWorld magazine as one of the “Top IT and Telecom Companies” in the country.

About Symantec

Symantec is a global leader in providing security, storage and systems management solutions to help consumers and organizations secure and manage their information-driven world. Our software and services protect against more risks at more points, more completely and efficiently, enabling confidence wherever information is used or stored. More information is available at www.symantec.com.

NOTE TO EDITORS: If you would like additional information on Symantec Corporation and its products, please visit the Symantec News Room at http://www.symantec.com/news. All prices noted are in U.S. dollars and are valid only in the United States.

Symantec and the Symantec Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Symantec Corporation or its affiliates in the U.S. and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Forward-looking Statements: Any forward-looking indication of plans for products is preliminary and all future release dates are tentative and are subject to change. Any future release of the product or planned modifications to product capability, functionality, or feature are subject to ongoing evaluation by Symantec, and may or may not be implemented and should not be considered firm commitments by Symantec and should not be relied upon in making purchasing decisions.

Johnson Controls Named One Of 'World's Most Ethical Companies' For Sixth Consecutive Year

03.16.2012 - 12:39PM

Johnson Controls, a global diversified company in the building and automotive industries, has been named one of the “World's Most Ethical Companies” for the sixth consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. Ethisphere is dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability.

"Johnson Controls is honored to be named one of the world's most ethical companies. This honor is a tribute to our 162,000 employees around the world, recognizing their commitment to customer satisfaction, sustainability and integrity," said Jerry Okarma, vice president, secretary and general counsel for Johnson Controls.

This is the sixth year Ethisphere has published the WME rankings. Ethisphere reviewed hundreds of companies and evaluated a record number of applications utilizing its propriety methodology through in-depth research and multi-step analysis, naming the companies that surpassed their industry peers to this year's World's Most Ethical Companies list. The 2012 list features companies in more than three dozen industries, including 40 companies headquartered outside the United States.

“A strong ethical foundation is a competitive advantage, and Johnson Controls recognizes the important role corporate responsibility plays in improving its bottom line,” said Alex Brigham, executive director of the Ethisphere Institute. “As more and more organizations strive for this honor each year, Johnson Controls’ inclusion as a World’s Most Ethical Company for 2012 demonstrates its industry-leading commitment to ethics and dedication to integrity.”

The methodology for the WME ranking includes reviewing codes of ethics, litigation and regulatory infraction histories; evaluating the investment in innovation and sustainable business practices; looking at activities designed to improve corporate citizenship; and studying nominations from senior executives, industry peers, suppliers and customers.

Read about the methodology and view the complete list of the 2012 World’s Most Ethical Companies at www.ethisphere.com/wme.

About Johnson Controls

Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. Our 162,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Our commitment to sustainability dates back to our roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through our growth strategies and by increasing market share we are committed to delivering value to shareholders and making our customers successful. In 2011, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #1 company in its annual “100 Best Corporate Citizens” list. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com.

About Ethisphere Institute

The research-based Ethisphere® Institute is a leading international think-tank dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability. Ethisphere Magazine, which publishes the globally recognized World’s Most Ethical Companies Ranking™, is the quarterly publication of the Institute. Ethisphere provides the only third-party verifications of compliance programs and ethical cultures that include: Ethics Inside® Certification, Compliance Leader Verification™ and Anti-Corruption Program Verification™. The Institute’s premier membership group, the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance™, is a business ethics forum that includes more than 100 leading corporations, universities and institutions that collectively leverage their experience, expertise and innovative ways to address emerging compliance challenges. More information on the Ethisphere Institute, including ranking projects and membership, can be found at http://www.ethisphere.com

Rockwell Automation Named One of World’s Most Ethical Companies for Fourth Time

03.16.2012 - 07:00AM

For the fourth time, the Ethisphere Institute has recognized Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK) as one of the “world’s most ethical companies.” The Ethisphere Institute is a leading international think-tank dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability.

In announcing its sixth annual selection of the world’s most ethical companies, Ethisphere’s 2012 list highlights organizations, including Rockwell Automation, that show leadership in promoting ethical business standards.

“Each year the competition for the world’s most ethical companies intensifies as the number of nominations submitted for consideration grows,” said Alex Brigham, executive director of Ethisphere. “This year’s winners know that a strong ethics program is a key component to a successful business model, and they continue to scrutinize their ethical standards to keep up with an ever-changing regulatory environment.”

Through in-depth research and a multi-step analysis, Ethisphere reviewed nominations from companies in more than 100 countries and 36 industries. A record number of nominations and applications this year is evidence of both the award’s growing prominence and companies’ desire to be acknowledged for their high ethical standards.

"A defining element that sets Rockwell Automation's workplace apart from others is our culture of ethics, responsibility and accountability. At every level of the company, our 21,000 employees worldwide have an unwavering dedication to doing the right thing,” commented Keith D. Nosbusch, Rockwell Automation chairman and CEO. “Our global commitment to responsible business practices is absolute. For us, honesty, fairness, quality and responsiveness are guiding principles and integrity is an underlying value in every business transaction.”

In Rockwell Automation’s most recent Global Voices Employee Engagement Index, ethics-related scores were the highest of all categories and were above the available normative scores by large margins. Employees noted they clearly understand expectations for ethical behavior, they would report a violation or issue, and they knew where and how to report such behavior.

The company has earned a world class reputation for its ethical business practices. The Ethisphere Institute has recognized Rockwell Automation on three previous occasions. Additionally, the Society of Financial Service Professionals recently honored Rockwell Automation with its 2011 Wisconsin Business Ethics Award. The company is also a past winner of the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award and an International Torch Award Finalist.

The complete list of the Ethisphere Institute’s 2012 World’s Most Ethical Companies can be viewed at http://ethisphere.com/wme. To learn more about Rockwell Automation’s corporate responsibility practices and programs, please click here http://www.rockwellautomation.com/about_us/responsibility.html.

Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the world’s largest company dedicated to industrial automation and information, makes its customers more productive and the world more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis., Rockwell Automation employs over 21,000 people serving customers in more than 80 countries.

The research-based Ethisphere^® Institute is a leading international think-tank dedicated to the creation, advancement and sharing of best practices in business ethics, corporate social responsibility, anti-corruption and sustainability. Ethisphere Magazine, which publishes the globally recognized World’s Most Ethical Companies Ranking™, is the quarterly publication of the Institute. Ethisphere provides the only third-party verifications of compliance programs and ethical cultures that include: Ethics Inside^® Certification, Compliance Leader Verification™ and Anti-Corruption Program Verification™. The Institute’s premier membership group, the Business Ethics Leadership Alliance™, is a business ethics forum that includes more than 100 leading corporations, universities and institutions that collectively leverage their experience, expertise and innovative ways to address emerging compliance challenges. More information on the Ethisphere Institute, including ranking projects and membership, can be found at http://www.ethisphere.com.

B Lab Releases First 'Best for the World' List of Businesses Creating Most Overall Positive Social and Environmental Impact

03.07.2012 - 10:15AM

Today B Lab released the first ‘Best for the World’ lists recognizing companies creating the most positive overall social and environmental impact. The ‘Best for the World’ companies score 50% higher than nearly 2,000 other sustainable businesses, and in the top 10% among more than 500 Certified B Corporations, in the most comprehensive and independent assessment of overall corporate impact. B Lab also released separate lists of the ‘Best for the Environment’, ‘Best for the Community’, and ‘Best for Workers’.

“These companies are leading a global movement to redefine success in business,” said Jay Coen Gilbert, co founder of B Lab, the nonprofit organization that certifies B Corporations and governs the independent third party standard used to generate the comparable assessment of corporate impact. “These companies are the best in the world at being the best for the world,” Coen Gilbert added.

The ‘Best for the World’ lists are featured in the just released 2012 B Corp Annual Report. Businesses recognized for their extraordinary performance include:

- For Overall Impact: Better World Books, Global Green Energy Corp, Green Building Services, Larry’s Beans, Method Home Products, Moving Forward Education, Namaste Solar, New Resource Bank, Next Street, Partnership Capital Growth, Piedmont Biofuels, PREM Group, Re:Vision Architecture, RecycleBank, South Mountain Company, Southern Energy Management, SQA Pharmacy Services, The Redwoods Group, and Virginia Community Capital.

- For the Environment: Brightworks, Bullfrog Power, Ecovations, gDiapers, Global Green Energy Corp., GoLite, Green Building Services, Guayaki Sustainable Rainforest Products, IceStone, Larry’s Beans, Method Products, Namaste Solar, New Leaf Paper, Patagonia, Piedmont Biofuels, Preserve, Re:Vision Architecture, Salt Spring Coffee, Southern Energy Management, and Sustainable Solutions Unlimited.

- For the Community: Agora Management Corporation, Cap Global, Care2.com, Change.org, Ecovations, FMYI, Hershey Cause, Ideal Network, Mal Warwick Associates, Moving Forward Education, New Resource Bank, Next Street, PeaceWorks Technology Solutions, Prem Group, SQA Pharmacy Services, thedatabank, The Redwoods Group, and Virginia Community Capital.

- For Workers: Change.org, Exponent Partners, First Affirmative Financial Network, First Rate, Inc., Heller Consulting, King Arthur Flour Company, Namaste Solar, Partnership Capital Growth, PeaceWorks Technology Solutions, Rally Software, Re:Vision Architecture, Relevance, South Mountain Company, Sungevity, The Caprock Group, and thedatabank, inc.

Six companies were recognized as ‘Best for the World’ in multiple impact areas: Namaste Solar (Environment and Workers); Re:Vision Architecture (Environment and Workers); Change.org (Community and Workers); PeaceWorks Technology Solutions (Community and Workers); thedatabank (Community and Workers); and Ecovations (Environment and Community).

B Lab is a nonprofit organization dedicated to using 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) accelerating the growth of the impact investing asset class through use of B Lab’s GIIRS impact rating system by institutional investors; and 3) promoting legislation creating a new corporate form that meets higher standards of purpose, accountability and transparency. To earn certification, B Corporations must achieve a minimum score on the B Impact Assessment, which measures a company’s impact on its workforce, suppliers, consumers, community, and the environment, and are legally required to consider the interests of these stakeholders, not just shareholders, when making decisions. Learn more at bcorporation.net, benefitcorp.net, and giirs.org.

"The Sustainable Business Leadership Forum: Ethics, the Professions, and Society"

02.27.2012 - 11:20AM

The Caux Round Table, Georgetown University, and the Sustainable Business Network of Washington (SBNOW), in collaboration with media partner CSRwire, will offer a two-day educational forum, featuring leading thinkers in the areas of corporate ethics, business and sustainable development at Georgetown University, March 5-6, 2012.

This unique educational opportunity will complement presentations on critical issues with moderated breakout discussions on questions, including:

What are the ethical vocations for business, the professions, and markets in the 21st century?
How can dedication to personal integrity and the common good by leaders of businesses and other institutions promote economic prosperity, political freedom, and flourishing of the community?
What roles can principled leadership and prudential stewardship of human, ecological, and financial capital play in promoting just and sustainable development in the context of global poverty and economic integration?
Which ethical, religious, professional, and other frameworks can leaders in business and other organizations use to design, implement, and evaluate practical strategies for good governance and quality growth?

Confirmed speakers include:

Raymond Baker, Director, Global Financial Integrity

Kathryn C. Brown, Esq., Senior Vice President for Public Policy Development and Corporate Responsibility, Verizon Communications

The Hon. Robert Edgar, President and Chief Executive Officer, Common Cause

The Rev. John C. Haughey, S.J., Ph.D., Senior Research Fellow, Woodstock Theological Center, Georgetown University

The Hon. Roderick M. Hills, Sr., Co-founder and Chair, Hills Program on Governance, Center for Strategic and International Studies; former Counsel to the President of the United States; and former Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission

Bruce Piasecki, Ph.D., Founder and President, AHC Group, Inc., and Member of the Board, Sustainable Business Network of Washington

Erik J. Trojian, Director of Policy, B Lab

Lisa Woll, Chief Executive Officer, The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment

Stephen B. Young, Esq., Global Executive Director, The Caux Round Table

The forum will also feature a special private screening of the Sundance Film Festival 2012 Selection, We’re Not Broke, a documentary regarding corporate tax avoidance and evasion. After the screening, there will be a discussion with Producer-directors Victoria Bruce and Karin Hayes; Executive Producer Charles Davidson; and Senior Advisor Jack Blum, Esq., Chair of the Tax Justice Network USA.

Who should attend:

Corporate directors and senior executives
Partners in professional services firms
Social entrepreneurs
Corporate counsel
Association executives
Foundation and other social profit organization executives
Philanthropic program officers
Sustainability professionals
Corporate responsibility and public affairs professionals
Ethics and compliance officers
Legislative, executive branch, and agency staff
Media professionals
Others interested in leading practices for organizational integrity and responsibility

The detailed forum schedule is available at http://tinyurl.com/crtgusbnow20120305schedule.

A discount is available for SBNOW members; Georgetown University students, alumnae, and alumni; employees of social profit or governmental organizations; retirees; and those involuntarily out of the full-time work force. For information, please contact Dr. Lester A. Myers at myersl1@georgetown.edu.

Greyston Bakery Becomes the First Benefit Corporation in the State of New York

02.16.2012 - 02:00PM

On February 10^th, Greyston Bakery became the first social enterprise to register as a Benefit Corporation in the State of New York. New York joins six other pioneering states that have passed the ‘benefit corporation’ legislation, which allows companies to demonstrate higher standards of corporate purpose, accountability, and transparency through this new corporate designation. “Benefit Corporations are using the power of business to solve social and environmental issues and it is our goal at Greyston to set an example for other social enterprises as we embrace our new corporate status," says Greyston Bakery CEO, Mike Brady.

This legislation reinforces the fact that Greyston is no ordinary bakery. Founded in 1982, Greyston Bakery currently employs more than 50 economically disadvantaged residents through an open hiring policy that offers the opportunity for real economic stability through training, fair wages, and benefits. All of the Bakery’s profits support the Greyston Foundation, which provides affordable housing, childcare, health services and workforce development to hundreds of people in the community. “All companies that registered to become benefit corporations are making history by recognizing the power of business to solve social and environmental issues," says Greyston Foundation President, Steven Brown.

About Greyston Bakery:

Founded in 1982 in Yonkers, Greyston Bakery produces quality baked goods, brownie mix-ins for Ben & Jerry’s® Ice Cream, along with other premium desserts. The Bakery is a force for self-transformation and community renewal by offering on-site training fair wages and benefits to more than 50 local residents, regardless of their work history for the past 30 years. Greyston Bakery’s profits support the Greyston Foundation’s community development initiatives, including low-income housing, childcare, health services, community gardens and workforce development.

Novartis Extends Commitment to Help Achieve Final Elimination of Leprosy

01.30.2012 - 08:26AM

New five-year commitment includes donation of treatments worth an estimated USD 22.5 million and is expected to reach an estimated 850,000 patients
Novartis will also intensify efforts to build a multi-stakeholder initiative in a final push against leprosy
The company has a long history in fighting leprosy, donating medicines and developing programs to support patients, valued at more than USD 100 million since 1986
Novartis is a part of an international effort to eliminate or control 10 neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) by the end of the decade

Novartis will continue its work with the World Health Organization (WHO) toward a world free of leprosy by extending its drug donation of multidrug therapy (MDT) medicines to treat leprosy through the year 2020. This new five-year commitment includes treatments worth an estimated USD 22.5 million and up to USD 2.5 million to support the WHO in handling the donation and logistics, and is expected to reach an estimated 850,000 patients.

“Since 2000, we have worked with the WHO to provide free treatment to leprosy patients globally, but we know that no single actor – no matter how committed to patients – can eliminate this debilitating disease alone,” said Joseph Jimenez, CEO of Novartis. “We are proud to work with governments, international agencies, nongovernmental organizations and the private sector to ensure that patients receive the treatment they need. Only with effective and coordinated action by all parties involved can we achieve our common goal of making leprosy history.”

Novartis and the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development (NFSD) have a long-term commitment to leprosy treatment and control. Prior to today’s announcement, Novartis has donated more than 48 million MDT blister packs valued at approximately USD 77 million through the WHO, helping to cure over 5 million leprosy patients worldwide.

The NFSD has been active in the fight against leprosy for more than 25 years, through implementing innovative social marketing programs to reduce the stigma attached to leprosy, developing tools to prevent disabilities, helping patients reintegrate in society, and supporting the leprosy drug donation. Since 1986, the NFSD has provided over

CHF 30 million for these programs.

Donating drugs alone, however, is not enough, and NFSD is committed to intensify efforts to build a multi-stakeholder initiative in a final push against leprosy. On January 25, the NFSD, in cooperation with the Department of Health of the Philippines, held the first Leprosy Stakeholders Symposium in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan. The groundbreaking symposium gathered all major stakeholders and partners from both government and private sectors with the goal of eliminating leprosy in areas of the Philippines where the disease is still endemic.

The extension of the Novartis leprosy commitment is a key part of a new, coordinated push by a diverse range of public and private collaborators to combat 10 Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) by 2020. Today, 13 pharmaceutical companies, the U.S. and U.K. governments, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Bank and officials from NTD-endemic countries pledged to bring a unique focus to defeating these diseases and to work together to improve the lives of the billion people worldwide affected by NTDs.

In the largest coordinated effort to date to combat NTDs, the group announced at an event at the Royal College of Physicians in London that they would: sustain or expand existing drug donation programs to meet demand through 2020; share expertise and compounds to accelerate research and development of new drugs; and provide funding to support R&D efforts and strengthen drug distribution and implementation programs. The collaborators also signed onto the “London Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases,” in which they pledged new levels of collaboration and tracking and reporting of progress.

This announcement is a part of the company’s long commitment to enhancing access to healthcare in the developing world. Novartis works to discover vaccines and medicines for neglected diseases through two research institutes: Novartis Institute for Tropical Diseases (NITD) in Singapore and the Novartis Vaccines Institute for Global Health (NVGH) in Italy. The Novartis Malaria Initiative is one of the healthcare industry’s largest access-to-medicine programs. Since 2001, Novartis has worked with a range of organizations to ensure effective delivery of our antimalarial medicine, providing more than 480 million treatments without profit.

In 2011, Novartis access-to-medicine programs reached more than 89 million patients and together with our research institutes for diseases of the developing world, are valued at USD 1.7 billion, or 3% of net sales.

About multidrug therapy (MDT) in treating leprosy
Since 1985, more than 14 million people worldwide have been cured of leprosy thanks to MDT, the treatment recommended by the WHO, shrinking the worldwide prevalence by approximately 95%. According to the WHO, in 2010 less than 230,000 new cases were reported, from a total of 130 countries worldwide. Despite these successes, leprosy control remains at a critical juncture and knowledge of the disease is becoming less common. Moving forward, early detection and continued availability of free treatment are essential.

The development of MDT changed the face of leprosy dramatically. MDT consists of three drugs (rifampicin, clofazimine and dapsone), two of which (rifampicin and clofazimine) were developed in the research laboratories of Novartis in the 1980s. Multidrug therapy has made it possible to cure patients, interrupt the transmission of leprosy and prevent disabilities. Even patients with the severest form of the disease show visible clinical improvement within weeks of starting treatment.

About the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development
The Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development is a nonprofit organization whose activities form part of the Corporate Responsibility portfolio of Novartis AG, which finances the foundation's operations. For over 30 years, the foundation's mission has been to support healthcare programs in developing countries. Its core competencies also include in-depth analysis, consulting and publications in the fields of corporate responsibility and development policy. By harnessing synergies between project work, think tank activities and the facilitation of dialogue, it elaborates innovative strategies for common development problems. In 2011, the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development invested approximately CHF 10 million, largely in Africa and Asia.

For more information on the foundation and specific projects, visit:
www.novartisfoundation.org

Disclaimer
The foregoing release contains certain forward-looking statements that can be identified by terminology such as “commitment,” “expected,” “plans,” “goal,” or similar expressions, or by express or implied discussions potential future deliveries of leprosy MDT drugs or related anti-leprosy services. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of the Company regarding future events, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. There can be no guarantee that Novartis will deliver any particular amounts of MDT or related services in the future. In particular, management's expectations could be affected by, among other things, unexpected regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; unexpected manufacturing difficulties; competition in general; government, industry, and general public pricing and other political pressures; the impact that the foregoing factors could have on the values attributed to the Novartis Group's assets and liabilities as recorded in the Group's consolidated balance sheet; and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG’s current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Novartis is providing the information in these materials as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

About Novartis
Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, eye care, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines and diagnostic tools, over-the-counter and animal health products. Novartis is the only global company with leading positions in these areas. In 2011, the Group’s continuing operations achieved net sales of USD 58.6 billion, while approximately USD 9.6 billion (USD 9.2 billion excluding impairment and amortization charges) was invested in R&D throughout the Group. Novartis Group companies employ approximately 124,000 full-time-equivalent associates and operate in more than 140 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.

Novartis is on Twitter. Sign up to follow @Novartis at http://twitter.com/novartis.

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InterSchola(TM) certified as B Corporation

01.19.2012 - 01:18PM

InterSchola, a social enterprise that sells surplus goods for school districts and other local public agencies, announced today that it has received certification as a B Corporation by B Lab. B Lab certifies B corps using a scorecard covering environmental practices, employment and purchasing policies and products' benefits to society. With its unique business model focused on returning money to schools and helping to divert goods from disposal in landfills, InterSchola received a high score from the B Lab’s evaluation and scoring system.

Founded in 2004, InterSchola’s management of surplus sales for clients has produced an entire ecosystem of used goods that do good. Maximizing the value of surplus assets previously sitting in warehouses, InterSchola’s sales of items such as school buses, work trucks, food service equipment and surplus technology have returned nearly $15 million to budget-strained school districts and other local public agencies. The redistribution of surplus goods back into the community through public sale also extends the lifecycle of these goods and diverts more than three million pounds of waste from landfills each year.

“InterSchola is honored to join the growing community of B Corps, which is made up of business leaders dedicated to a triple bottom line approach to running their businesses: people, planet and profits,” said InterSchola CEO and founder Melissa Rich. “Our public agency clients - including one-third of school districts in California, as well as schools and local agencies in five other states – value InterSchola for excellent service and also for the transparency and accountability we stand by, which are the foundation of B Corp companies. We’re delighted to formalize our commitment to these values through B Corp certification.”

To gain B Corp status, companies must participate in a rigorous assessment process, and ensure adherence to comprehensive and transparent social and environmental standards. There are nearly 500 Certified B Corps nationwide representing 60 industries, representing a diverse multi-billion marketplace. In October, California passed legislation to allow businesses to set up as Benefit Corporations, which provides them protected legal status to pursue not only profitability, but impact in environmental sustainability and social responsibility.

About InterSchola^TM

InterSchola was established in 2004 to help school districts with surplus inventory realize the value of these assets while at the same time freeing up expensive storage space and valuable staff resources. InterSchola’s unique model is designed to eliminate the headaches associated with surplus disposal by managing the public auction process from start to finish and to ensure compliance with complex regulatory codes. Items sold have ranged from pianos to portable buildings, from computers to cars, and from food service to facility equipment. InterSchola has returned millions of dollars to schools, districts and other local public agencies and has helped save countless more dollars previously spent on staff, storage and surplus disposal costs. Learn more at www.interschola.com.

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

NYU Stern's Citi Leadership & Ethics Program Appoints Jeffrey Hollender as 9th Distinguished Fellow

01.17.2012 - 09:00AM

Marking its ninth year, NYU Stern’s Citi Leadership & Ethics Program appointed Jeffrey Hollender, co-founder of Seventh Generation, one of the country’s leading providers of natural products, as its 2011-2012 Distinguished Citi Fellow in Leadership and Ethics.

Through its fellow appointments, the Citi Program enlists business leaders who exemplify how business can address some of the world’s most intractable problems, including poverty, homelessness and environmental concerns, and stimulate economic growth.

Recognized as an authority on corporate social responsibility, sustainability and social equity, Hollender has authored seven books, including How to Make the World a Better Place, a Beginner’s Guide (1995), The Responsibility Revolution: How the Next Generation of Businesses Will Win (2010), and most recently, Planet Home: Conscious Choices for Cleaning & Greening the World You Care About Most (2010).

Hollender is a co-chair of the board of Greenpeace US, and a board member of Health Care Without Harm and Verité, a leading workers’ rights organization. He is co-founder and board chair of the American Sustainable Business Council, a coalition of 110,000 business leaders committed to influencing public policy that supports socially responsible businesses and social enterprises. Currently, he works with businesses through Jeffrey Hollender Partners, a strategy consulting firm.

Most recently, Hollender joined the Bronx Cooperative Development Initiative (BCDI). BCDI aims to revitalize New York City’s northernmost borough by developing wealth in the area through cooperative business ownership, producing sustainable and innovative companies with a competitive advantage, and providing leadership that encourages vibrant and resilient communities.

In the spring, Hollender will keynote the Citi Program’s annual conference for Stern students and alumni, and throughout the academic year, he will interact informally with faculty and students. “Hollender’s record of achievements as a social entrepreneur is extraordinary. His wealth of experience and knowledge will be invaluable to Stern students, faculty and alumni,” explains Bruce Buchanan, C.W. Nichols Professor of Business Ethics and director of Stern’s Business & Society Program Area, which houses the Citi Program. “In light of the Citi Foundation’s support of enterprise development, education and neighborhood revitalization, Hollender is a perfect fit as this year’s Fellow.”

About the Citi Leadership and Ethics Program
Established in 2003, NYU Stern’s Citi Leadership and Ethics Program, made possible through the generous support of the Citi Foundation and managed by Stern’s Business & Society Program Area, represents a comprehensive effort on behalf of the School to extend its longstanding commitment to the practice of professionally responsible business. Jeffrey Hollender is serving as the program’s ninth distinguished fellow. He follows eight previous fellows: Arthur Levitt, John Biggs, Harvey Goldschmidt, Charles D. Ellis, Alice Tepper Marlin, Fred Krupp, Mary Ellen Iskenderian and Dorian Dale.

Find out more about NYU Stern’s Business & Society Program Area.

Find out more about Jeffrey Hollender.

Find out more about the Citi Foundation and their initiatives.

Global Business Media Company Womenetics Receives B Corporation Certification

01.12.2012 - 03:56PM

Womenetics, an online business platform, is proud to announce it has received designation to operate as a Certified B Corporation. B Corporations are a new kind of company which use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. B Corporations are required to create a material positive impact on society and to meet higher standards of accountability and transparency. This new designation required extensive vetting by a national organization.

“The new B Corporation certification will enable Womenetics to propel a powerful and socially responsible business movement that advances professional women as agents of change. ” says Elisabeth Marchant, CEO, Womenetics. “It allows Womenetics to continue to leverage our audience of leaders -- women with education, influence and the means -- to act for change at local, national and global levels. We seek to inspire business to advance women as leaders which we consider to be an imperative for business and economic success in today’s global economy. We are proud to have received this certification.”

For more information about the B Corp Certification, please visit www.bcorporation.net.

About Womenetics
Womenetics is a Certified B Corporation based in Atlanta, GA. A global business platform providing substantive information for and about women through relevant content online and at events, Womenetics focuses on three primary areas where women’s influence and abilities can provide the greatest opportunity for action: as business leaders, as business owners, and as agents of change around issues that impact the bottom line. Visit www.womenetics.com.

Follow us: www.twitter.com/Womentics and www.facebook.com/Womenetics

About B Corp
Certified B Corporations 1) meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance; 2) legally expand their corporate responsibilities to include consideration of stakeholder interests; and 3) build collective voice through the power of the unifying B Corporation brand. As of July 2011, there are over 500 Certified B Corporations from over 50 industries, representing a diverse multi-billion marketplace.

About B Lab
B Lab is a nonprofit organization dedicated to using 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; 2) accelerating the growth of the impact investing asset class through use of B Lab’s GIIRS impact rating system by institutional investors; and 3) promoting supportive public policies, including creation of a new corporate form and tax, procurement, and investment incentives for sustainable business.

MEDIA CONTACT: Ellen Adair Wyche, 404-233-4480/404-376-1694, eawyche@thewychegroup.com

Patagonia Registers as First California Benefit Corporation

01.03.2012 - 12:30PM

Today, Patagonia became the first company in California to elect benefit corporation status. Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard led the largest group of businesses to register on the legislation’s first effective date among the 7 states that have passed benefit corporation laws. The dozen CEOs filed their documents at 9:30 a.m. as soon as the offices of the California Secretary of State opened. Scores of other businesses have expressed interest in registering in the next few months.

“After the ‘year of the protester’, it’s inspiring that a group of business leaders are taking action to create a positive alternative,” said Jay Coen Gilbert, co founder of B Lab, a non-profit organization that supported the legislation.

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) redefine 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. Current law requires corporations to prioritize the financial interests of shareholders over the interests of workers, communities, and the environment.

“Patagonia is trying to build a company that could last 100 years,” said Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard. “Benefit corporation legislation creates the legal framework to enable mission-driven companies like Patagonia to stay mission-driven through succession, capital raises, and even changes in ownership, by institutionalizing the values, culture, processes, and high standards put in place by founding entrepreneurs.”

“It is safe to declare a successful end to the ‘beta test’ phase of socially responsible business,” said Mike Hannigan, President and Co-Founder of Give Something Back Office Supplies. “we have been giving customers their money's worth and a whole lot more for more than 20 successful years. This important legal framework marks another giant step of mission driven business towards the mainstream.”

“We rushed to be in Sacramento on January 3,” said Sandra Stewart, principal of Thinkshift Communications. “It’s what people are demanding. It’s not just a trend -- ingraining values into a legal corporate structure is key to a sustainable future.”

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

“This is California at its best, showing there is a way to create jobs and grow the economy while raising the bar for social and environmental responsibility,” said Assemblymember Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael). “With this new law, we are attracting new socially-conscious companies, investors and consumers – we’re sending a strong message that California is open for this emerging form of business.”

The California bill had significant business support, including that of more than 200 individual California businesses, 12 business associations, including the Silicon Valley Leadership Group and the U.S. Green Building Council, standards organizations like GreenSeal, and more than 3,000 California citizens through the advocacy efforts of Care2.com, 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.

The bill was sponsored by the American Sustainable Business Council, New Voice of Business, and B Lab; the effort to pass the bill was led by a legal working group co-chaired by John Montgomery from Montgomery & Hansen LLP, Donald Simon from Wendel Rosen Black & Dean LLP, and Jonathan Storper from Hanson Bridgett LLP; 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.

First Day Registered Companies:

DopeHut, Dharma Merchant Services, Give Something Back Office Supplies, Green Retirement Plans, Opticos Designs, Patagonia, Rimon Law, Scientific Certification Systems, Solar Works, Sun Light & Power, Terrassure Sustainable Land & Resource Development, Thinkshift Communications

Initial Sponsors:

B Lab: is a nonprofit organization dedicated to using 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) accelerating the growth of the impact investing asset class through use of B Lab’s GIIRS impact rating system by institutional investors; and 3) promoting supportive public policies, including creation of a new corporate form and tax, procurement, and investment incentives for sustainable business. For more information, check www.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

New Voice of Business: is a non-profit organization that promotes economic, social and environmental sustainability in the United States. Its mission is to inform, engage, and mobilize an influential network of business people – a unified, new voice of business to advocate for a sustainable economy and encourage triple bottom line business practices. New Voice advocates for policy change that makes it easier and more profitable for business to operate sustainably. For more information please visit: www.newvoiceofbusiness.org.

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.

Assembly member Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael): represents the 6th Assembly District, which encompasses southern Sonoma County and all of Marin County. First elected in 2006, Huffman chairs the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee and also serves as Co-Chair of the Legislative Environmental Caucus.

NY Law Creates New Kind of Corporation

12.13.2011 - 04:00PM

At midnight last night a law was enacted creating benefit corporations, a new class of corporations required to create benefit for society as well as shareholders. Unlike traditional corporations, benefit corporations are required to create a material positive impact on society and the environment; consider how decisions affect employees, community and the environment; and publicly report their social and environmental performance using established third-party standards.

Continuing a national trend of strong bi-partisan support for benefit corporation legislation, the New York bill (S79-A and A4692-A), sponsored by Senators Daniel Squadron (D-25) and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver (D-64) and co-sponsored by William Larkin (R, C-39), passed both houses of the New York legislature unanimously.

“Political leaders like Speaker Silver, and Senators Squadron and Larkin understand that New York needs to attract businesses whose core purpose is to create more high quality jobs and to improve the quality of life in communities across the state,” said Andrew Kassoy, co founder of B Lab, the nonprofit organization that drafted the model legislation. “The benefit corporation bill will unlock billions of dollars in impact investment capital and enable entrepreneurs across the state to start businesses that solve some of society’s greatest challenges.”

"Benefit corporations will mean New York is open for business in an important new way. Benefit corporations will unlock billions of dollars in new investments in New York while empowering companies to do well and do good,” said Senator Squadron. “By offering this opportunity to entrepreneurs and investors, New York will bring new businesses into the state, new investors into the market and a new socially-minded approach for our entrepreneurs.”

“By bringing benefit corporations to New York, we are showing that profit and social responsibility are not mutually exclusive,” said Speaker Silver. “This law will continue our efforts to strengthen and diversify our economy while ensuring that New York remains a national leader in progressive policies that help our environment, protect consumers and bolster the rights of working men and women.”

“I am very happy to see that this bill has finally become law. It will enable businesses to grow without the infringement of state government, and will help New York become a more business friendly state,” added Senator Larkin.

The new law addresses a long time concern among entrepreneurs who need to raise growth capital but fear losing control of the social or environmental mission of their business. These entrepreneurs and other shareholders of benefit corporations now have additional rights to hold directors accountable for failure to create a material positive impact on society, to consider the impact of decisions on employees, community, and the environment, or to inform the public about the company’s overall social and environmental impact as assessed against a credible, independent third party standard.

New York is the seventh state to pass benefit corporation legislation, joining Maryland, Vermont, New Jersey, Virginia, Hawaii, and most recently, California. The legislation has enjoyed broad bi-partisan support nationally, with a vote tally of 892 ayes and 62 nays, and the signatures of both Republican and Democratic governors. The New York bill had significant support from business (partial list below), including Eileen Fisher, City Light Capital, and UncommonGoods; and from more than 2,600 New York citizens, 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.

“The passage of benefit corporation legislation is an important and much needed step forward to grow our New York state economy and create more jobs which can also provide greater social and environmental benefit,” says David Levine, co-founder of the American Sustainable Business Council whose members’ organizations represent over 100,000 businesses. “At a time when the country is looking for solutions to build the economy, New York is helping to lead the way with an innovative and sustainable business strategy.”

See below for list of supporters and individuals willing to comment on the legislation

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. For more information, check www .bcorporation .net and www .benefitcorp .net.

American Sustainable Business Council: is a growing coalition network of business networks organizations 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 10065,000 businesses and social enterprises and more than 150,200,000 entrepreneurs, owners, executives, investors and business professionals and other individuals. For more information, check www .asbcouncil .org.

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 http://www.care2.com.

Supporters of New York State’s Benefit Corporation law:

Business Organizations American Sustainable Business Council; B Lab; Syracuse First; Buffalo First; Ithaca First; Onondaga Citizens League; The JustGreen Partnership; Westminster Economic Development Initiative, Inc.

Individual Businesses City Light Capital; Eileen Fisher; Comet Skateboards; CSRHUB; Green Forestry; Green Team; Greyston Bakery; Icestone; Management Resources; Mission Markets; Peeled Snacks; RecycleBank; Runa; Singlebrook Technology; Uncommon Goods; Vendorboon, LLC

Other Individuals Willing to Comment On the Bill

David Bolotsky, Founder of UncommonGoods, a catalog and online gift store based in Brooklyn, NY. 718.210.1175

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

Tim McCausland, Vice President of Orange County Trust Company, a regional bank in the Hudson Valley. (845) 467-6011

Gary Schuster, Senior Counsel, Jacobowitz & Gubits, LLP, attorney in the Hudson Valley. 845-778-2121 Ext. 230

Kyle Westaway, Westaway Law, attorney in New York City and lecturer at Harvard Law School. 646-942-2380

Portfolio Manager's Message to Citigroup, Bank of America, & JP Morgan: "Stop Protecting Director Misconduct."

12.13.2011 - 01:28PM

Harrington Investments, Inc., (HII) a socially responsible investment advisory firm has filed shareholder resolutions calling on Citigroup, Bank of America, and JP Morgan Chase to stop indemnifying directors against civil and criminal liabilities.

“The next time one of these banks commits a crime, their directors would not automatically have their defense paid for with shareholder funds,” said John Harrington, President/CEO of Harrington Investments.

It is the fiduciary responsibility of corporate directors to ensure that publicly traded corporations have adequate oversight and legal compliance measures in place. Failure to do so is negligence and should be considered criminal neglect,” added Harrington.

“These are serious issues that need to be taken seriously. Nothing short of our national security is on the line,” concluded Harrington.

Over $270 billion of taxpayer funds were used to bail out Bank of America, Citigroup, and JP Morgan Chase following the 2009 financial meltdown. Since then they have failed to make adequate policy reforms necessary to avert ongoing controversies and not one director has been charged with corporate malfeasance.

“From ‘mistakenly’ foreclosing on foreign-deployed servicemembers (with pregnant wives), to systematically defrauding schools, non-profits and hospitals, to misleading their own customers and investors, to submitting tens of thousands of improper foreclosure affidavits, to paying themselves outrageously after imploding the US economy, the bankers seem immune to moral suasion or legal sanction,” wrote Jack Ucciferri, Research and Advocacy Director and head of HII’s Santa Barbara office.

“This ongoing lack of accountability is why we have introduced shareholder resolutions seeking to enhance director oversight by reducing knee-jerk indemnification of those directors,” Mr. Ucciferri concluded.

For the past 30 years, Harrington Investments, Inc. has been pioneering socially responsible investing and shareholder advocacy. HII manages assets for institutional and individual investors concerned with social and environmental, as well as financial performance.

Novo Nordisk Reaches a Milestone in Animal Testing

11.30.2011 - 12:40PM

As of 28 November 2011, Novo Nordisk will no longer use living animals to test the quality of the batches of medicine coming out of Novo Nordisk’s production lines. These tests have for years been required by health authorities as part of their approval of the products.

“Today’s achievement is a milestone in our ongoing commitment to animal ethics in Novo Nordisk. We have been working for more than a decade, in close collaboration with regulatory authorities around the world, to eliminate obsolete tests or develop and certify new laboratory assays that can be used instead of animals to evaluate the consistent quality of our marketed products,” says Executive Vice President and Chief Science Officer, Mads Krogsgaard Thomsen.

Novo Nordisk has a commitment to the 3R principles to 'Reduce', 'Refine' or 'Replace' the use of animal testing within the pharmaceutical industry. Therefore, a task force was established more than ten years ago with the ambitious aim to eliminate all redundant product control tests in living animals or replace them with other test methods that would guarantee the same product safety.

Live animals that have been used in these biological product control tests include mice, rats, guinea pigs, hamsters and rabbits. Over the years, the number of animals used in this area has been gradually reduced from more than 13,000 animals a year in the 90s, to 2,078 animals in 2000 and to 772 animals in 2010. The last living animals are used for a virus control on 28 November 2011, and in 2012 the number of biological product control tests performed on living animals will be zero.

In the 90s Novo Nordisk reduced the total number of animals used by almost 70%. Since then Novo Nordisk has been able to keep the numbers at approximately the same level despite increasing research activities year on year.

In 2010, the number of animals used in Novo Nordisk was 62,152. At present, some experiments on living animals are essential for all pharmaceutical companies in the processes of discovery and development of new pharmaceuticals. It is in addition a requirement from the authorities that drug candidates are tested in living animals before they can be tested in humans.

To see the video “A milestone in animal ethics,” click here.

Exponent Partners Earns B Corporation Certification

11.21.2011 - 12:00PM

Exponent Partners is proud to announce that it has achieved B (B for 'Benefit') Corporation certification. The B certification comes after a comprehensive evaluation of the company's environmental and social performance, as well as their accountability and transparency standards.

As the leading Salesforce.com implementation partner for nonprofits, Exponent Partners has deep expertise in the nonprofit sector and has helped over 170 nonprofits, B Corps, and social enterprises enhance their business operations.

Moreover, Exponent Partners' vision aligns directly with the B Corp ethos. Exponent Partners envisions a world where social change organizations maintain a powerful voice in the dialogue with commerce and government. The company seeks to equip and empower organizations that help educate our children, nurture our communities, protect our planet, and safeguard our human rights with the best possible tools, technology, and knowledge to help them make our world a better place. Says Adam Park, president and COO of Beyond 12, a national nonprofit organization that helps underserved students succeed in college, "In addition to their reputation, experience, and technical expertise, we selected Exponent Partners to build our alumni tracking and student engagement platforms because they shared our commitment to education reform. Working with a mission-based social venture played a significant role in designing and implementing a solution that is helping thousands of underserved students succeed in college."

The company is equally committed to creating a positive work experience for their employees. Since Exponent Partner’s inception in 2005, the company’s objective has been to a create a healthy, balanced, and rewarding work environment, while delivering high-value, successful solutions to nonprofits. "Working for a B Corporation supports the way I want to live and work. I can walk my daughter to school, while still being able to develop my professional skills and work with mission-driven organizations who are changing the world," said Kathy Dunne. Dunne is Manager of Implementation Services and Principal Consultant, and is one of the company’s first employees.

As a social venture dedicated to strengthening the nonprofit sector, Exponent Partners is proud to join a growing community of 450 +B Corps in over 50 industries. Exponent Partners is incorporated in California, which recently became the biggest state, and the sixth overall, to pass Benefit Corporation legislation. This legislation legally recognizes B Corps as corporations that are required to pursue a positive impact on society and the environment. Rem Hoffmann, CEO of Exponent Partners says “The benefit corporation movement is fantastically exciting for me. We are encoding social entrepreneurs’ commitment to positive social impact in the DNA of our companies. This represents a fundamental change to the basic rules of business, and I expect it will have far-reaching impact in the years to come.”

About Exponent Partners

Exponent Partners is an information technology consulting firm that helps nonprofits use information technology to carry out their missions more efficiently and effectively. We are a mission-based social venture that helps nonprofits build capacity, optimize business processes, and improve their performance using data. We work in San Francisco, CA, Washington, D.C., and New York, NY, and help innovative and progressive organizations across the United States and internationally. We are actively engaged in serving the social sector, with a particular focus on four key practice areas: human services, education, social impact and fundraising & resource development. Learn more at www.exponentpartners.com.

About B Corporation

Benefit Corporations are a new type of corporation that use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. Certified B Corporations 1) meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance; 2) legally expand their corporate responsibilities to include consideration of stakeholder interests; and 3) build collective voice through the power of the unifying B Corporation brand. For more information go to www .bcorporation .net.

About B Lab

B Lab is a nonprofit organization dedicated to using 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) accelerating the growth of the impact investing asset class through use of B Lab's GIIRS impact rating system by institutional investors; and 3) promoting supportive public policies, including creation of a new corporate form and tax, procurement, and investment incentives for sustainable business.

Berrett-Koehler Publishers Qualifies as Certified B Corporation

11.16.2011 - 09:03AM

Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc., is excited to announce that it has become a “Certified B Corporation,” joining over 450 other Certified B Corporations in the United States. B Corporations meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance. They also expand their corporate legal responsibilities to include consideration of stakeholder interests, and build a collective voice for corporate social and environmental responsibility through the power of the unifying B Corp brand.

“We are thrilled that Berrett-Koehler qualifies for this certification,” states BK president Steve Piersanti. “This is in keeping with our mission of ‘Creating a World That Works for All’ and our commitment to manage BK for the benefit of all of our stakeholder groups, including readers, authors, employees, suppliers, service providers, sales partners, and the societal and environmental communities in which we live and work.”

The B Corporation certification process is administered by B Lab, which is a nonprofit organization dedicated to using the power of business to solve social and environmental problems. Over the past several years, B Lab has certified corporations in 60 different industries as B Corporations, with combined revenues of over $2 billion.

“The certification process turned out to be quite rigorous, which I am very happy about,” says Piersanti. “The first step was our completing a 230-question ‘Impact Assessment’ that examined BK’s performance on measures of corporate accountability, transparency, compensation, benefits, employee training, worker environment, worker ownership, social benefit, community service, local involvement, diversity, job creation, and environmental practices.” The next step was B Lab’s question-by-question review of BK’s assessment responses and correction of some responses to comply with B Lab’s standards. “Then we submitted documentation in about a dozen areas to support and further detail our answers, and B Lab scored our assessment,” explains Piersanti.

“We were pleased to pass the assessment with a score of 106.8 out of a possible 200, which is well above the score of 80 that is needed to receive B Corp certification,” says Piersanti. According to the B Lab website, “across the more than 1,500 companies that have already completed the assessment, an average company scores between 60 and 100 points.” Adds Piersanti, “most of these 1,500 companies were already very socially and environmentally conscious when they completed the assessment, so it is not easy to score over 100 on the assessment.”

“In a spirit of transparency toward Berrett-Koehler’s stakeholders, we are sharing our assessment scorecard and our full impact assessment,” says Piersanti. Here are links:

http://www.bkpextranet.com/bcorpassmt.pdf
http://www.bkpextranet.com/bcorp.pdf

Piersanti admits, “despite our overall good score, there are many areas where we fell short and have room for improvement. We will work on these areas over coming months, and we hope to have made substantial progress in many areas when we complete our next impact assessment with B Lab two years from now.”

Other qualifications for B Corporation certification, in addition to passing the comprehensive impact assessment, include committing to manage the corporation for the benefit of all stakeholders (not just shareholders), committing to corporate social and environmental responsibility, and agreeing to incorporate these commitments within a two-year period into the governing documents of the corporation. “These requirements are consistent with what Berrett-Koehler has long stood for, so we were happy to make them,” says Piersanti.

2011 Global Ethics Summit

03.02.2011 - 09:09AM

Thomson Reuters and the Ethisphere Institute team up for the 2011 Global Ethics Summit.

This event will offer participants the opportunity to gain critical and timely insight into the risks and challenges of conducting business abroad.

By bringing together government and regulatory officials, FCPA attorneys and consultants and leading corporate compliance officers and other top executives, this event will offer attendees an in-depth and multi-faceted learning experience that encourages the sharing of best practices for navigating an increasingly complex and daunting global corporate landscape.

2 ways to register:

1-800-308-1700
westlegaledcenter.com

Special 15% Offer - Use Promo Code ETHICS15

Enlightened Business Summit

10.21.2010 - 08:00AM

Chip Conley was one of only 2 business leaders who spoke at TED this year (the other was Bill Gates). He received rave reviews and offered a revolutionary shift in our whole paradigm of business.

He's decided to take the next step and bring together the 40 leaders, CEOs, authors, visionaries, and provocateurs he most admires who are building this new revolution in the way business is done. They will all be available for five days of powerful insights, all on the phone. And he's doing this whole event for free, as a gift to you.

Wouldn't you like to know the secrets to truly enlightened business offered by these leaders that Chip has carefully selected?

Click here to find out more

The Summit features leaders such as Tim Ferriss, Tony Hsieh, John Mackey, George Zimmer, Christine Comaford, Tony Schwartz, Roxanne Emmerich, Stephen M. Covey, and Mihaly Csikszenmihalyi. It's designed with mainly 30-minute talks interspersed throughout the day so you can stay on top of your work while learning the best insights from the world's top business minds.

If you're like us, you recognize that conscious capitalism can become the single most powerful engine for good on our planet. But what it takes is having a great guidebook and wise advisors.

Most of us have been raised in a war-zone approach to business that actually doesn't work very well - it leads to unhappy employees, uncreative teams, burned out leaders, and stagnant sales. Recent financial crises are forcing all of us to get far more creative in harnessing the best science, insights, and wisdom for creating businesses that liberate our creative potential and truly succeed - on all levels.

That's why this event can be so valuable for you and your organization - it gives you unprecedented access to world-class advisors for transforming the way you do business.

You can participate live on as many calls as you like and interact with both the featured leaders and other participants via a state-of-the-art MaestroConference platform, which will connect you to participants from around the world. You'll also get free access to the full library of recordings.

The Enlightened Business Summit runs from Oct. 25-29th as a free offering from The Shift Network.

Click here to find out more

Please do share this invitation with friends and allies - all are welcome to participate.

The Enlightened Business Summit gives you personal access to the following inspiring leaders:

Tony Hsieh, John Mackey, Tim Ferriss, George Zimmer, Roxanne Emmerich, Tony Schwartz, Priya Haji, Stephen M. Covey, Joan Blades, Keith Ferrazzi, Christine Comaford, Bill George, Hazel Henderson, Sarano Kelley, Tim Sanders, Casey Sheahan , Vicki Robin, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Shai Agassi, Ping Fu, Lance Secretan, Tami Simon, Randy Komisar, Chip Conley, Juanita Brown, Richard Barrett, Lisa Nirell, Srikumar Rao, Bo Burlingham, Bettie Spruill, Paul Spiegelman, Marcia Wieder, Alan Gregerman, Kellie McElhaney, Chester Elton, Monika Broecker, Ari Weinzweig, Ahmed Rahim, Jeff Hayzlett, Simon Sinek, Raj Sisodia.

Series Co-sponsors:

The Shift Network, Joie de Vivre, Ode, Social Venture Network, LOHAS, MaestroConference, Berrett-Koehler Publications, Conscious Capitalism Institute, Small Giants Community, Elite Resorts and Spas, Rypple, The Shift Movie, The World Cafe, Presidio Graduate School, World Business Academy, Jossey-Bass Business Books, PEAK, IdeaTribe, Entrepreneurs' Organization, Pinwheel Performance, Bpeace, The Center for Personal Reinvention, Heartland Circle, Speakers and Authors Networking Group, Dominican University of California Green MBA, Good Business International, Renaissance Excecutive Forums, CSRwire, StartOut, New Voice of Business.

All times listed are in the Pacific time zone. All of the session will be recorded and available for download to Enlightened Business Summit participants.

EABIS Colloquium 2009 - The role of business in society

09.21.2009 - 12:00AM

The EABIS Colloquium is one of the world's largest multi-stakeholder conferences to explore Corporate Responsibility issues in management practice, research and education. The Colloquium attracts each year an audience of 300+ high level executives, researchers, professors, policy-makers and other stakeholders. The 2009 highlights include:

- Thought leadership from renowned international figures in business, academia, policy and civil society
- Exchange of best practice and case studies promoting new, innovative and socially responsible styles of management
- Networking opportunities to meet informally with leading academic researchers and practitioners to gain insights relevant to your business' circumstances
- Access to new knowledge, development and learning projects
- Gala dinner and international awards ceremony

Three days after the last EABIS Colloquium (Cranfield, Sept 2008), Lehman Brothers collapsed, unleashing a financial, economic and – increasingly – socio-political and governance crisis. The financial crisis especially has highlighted deep flaws in past approaches to the governance of the firm and of economic systems. The 2009 Colloquium will therefore focus on: "The Role of Business in Society: Challenges and Issues for Global and Corporate Governance".

> How is the role of business in society likely to change?
> To what extent can governance mechanisms foster Corporate Responsibility at Global, company and individual levels?

These are the central issues which, among others, the EABIS 2009 Colloquium will address in high-level debates:
- Social, Political and Economic Perspectives on the Failure of Governance in the Global Economy
- The Governance of the Firm and Managing Sustainable Value Creation in Markets & Society
- Future Implications for Executive Development and Learning in Business Schools, Companies and Corporate Universities

EABIS Colloquium 2009 – The Governance Conference

09.07.2009 - 08:00AM

The role of business in society: issues and challenges for corporate and Global governance

The EABIS Colloquium is one of the world’s largest multi-stakeholder conferences to explore Corporate Responsibility issues in management practice, research and education. The Colloquium attracts each year an audience of 300+ high level executives, researchers, professors, policy-makers and other stakeholders.

Programme Highlights:

New EABIS Research Exchange to broker corporate knowledge needs with latest academic research activities and thinking
Interactive multi-stakeholder debates to explore critical dimensions of governance in theory and practice
Dedicated networking events for corporate participants
Presentation of 70-80 papers and case studies by top scholars and managers
Book launch events for new EABIS member publications
Gala Dinner in Barcelona's Opera House - El Gran Teatre del Liceu

Go Green Expo Atlanta

06.26.2009 - 12:00AM

Go Green Expo will host the nation's most invigorating and diverse eco-friendly event of its kind at the Cobb Galleria Center from June 26th to 29th. Featuring a wide variety of green products and services, including everything from solar panels and hybrid cars to organic food and wine, Go Green Expo is sure to have something for everyone. In addition to the various green businesses exhibiting at the show, Go Green Expo will have over 10 seminars with leaders in the green industry, local politics, and community organizations discussing subjects including innovations in transportation, emerging energy sources, conservation, eco-entrepreneurialism, & much more. There will also be an eco-film festival at Go Green Expo Atlanta; for information and updates about film dates and times visit GoGreenExpo.com. Don't miss Atlanta's ultimate eco-extravaganza! Limited booth space is still available, contact Chris Colihan-Grillo at 212-655-4505 ext. 224 or ccolihan@gogreenexpo.com today.

Go Green Expo New York

04.17.2009 - 12:00AM

Go Green Expo will host the nation's most invigorating and diverse eco-friendly event of its kind at the Hilton New York from April 17th to 19th. Featuring a wide variety of green products and services, including everything from solar panels and hybrid cars to organic food and wine, Go Green Expo is sure to have something for everyone. In addition to the various green businesses exhibiting at the show, Go Green Expo will have over 10 seminars with leaders in the green industry, local politics, and community organizations discussing subjects including innovations in transportation, emerging energy sources, conservation, eco-entrepreneurialism, & much more. There will also be an eco-film festival at Go Green Expo New York; for information and updates about film dates and times visit GoGreenExpo.com. Don’t miss New York's ultimate eco-extravaganza! Limited booth space is still available, contact Chris Colihan-Grillo at 212-655-4505 ext. 224 or ccolihan@gogreenexpo.com today.

Making Information Clear Using Visual Communications

02.18.2009 - 11:00PM

Complexity To Clarity

XPLANE cuts through the clutter. Working with organizations to distill complex stories into its essential components. With your organization and communication goals in mind XPLANE creates visualizations that communicate the value of your message.

XPLANE works with OCEG to create our acclaimed Illustration Series.

Date: Thursday, February 19, 2009
Time: 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EST

The Data Diaspora: Managing Privacy When Data Is Dispersed

01.28.2009 - 11:00PM

Increasing complexity around who and what has custody and control over personal information is resulting in a emerging "data diaspora". This new and growing business challenge will require you to change the way you manage the risks and compliance obligations of one of your most valuable assets:

* the personal information of your employees,
* your customers, and
* your customers' customers.

As your organization adopts transformational technologies such as utility computing and more prolific devices, will you change policies or use different technologies?

How will your organization approach the additional privacy risks presented by the data diaspora? Join Brian Tretick, Executive Director, IT Enablement Center at Ernst & Young for this important discussion.

Audit Fatigue: Exposing Common Myths About Compliance

01.26.2009 - 11:00PM

Ever hear the old story about how shaving your hair makes it grow back darker or thicker? In reality, the hair you're cutting isn't living so it won't have any effect on future hair growth. Just like this myth, there are many IT compliance and auditing misconceptions circulating that turn out to be false under close scrutiny.

In today's compliance-focused environment, where over half of large corporations must adhere to 10 or more regulations or standards, separating fact from fiction is a must. As a result, McAfee and OCEG are hosting an on-line panel discussion where the top compliance myths will be presented and debunked.
In this webinar, you'll learn how to:

* Prepare in advance to lessen the time and resources involved in IT audits
* Implement processes and technologies to sustain compliance
* Leverage your compliance activities to improve risk management and IT governance

Please join us to hear your security peers share their experiences and lessons learned. Panel participants were chosen from all across the compliance spectrum - from security professionals to auditors to consultants/authors. You'll benefit by hearing the perspectives of those who have fought the compliance battles - and lived to tell about it!

Go Green Expo LA

01.22.2009 - 11:00PM

Go Green Expo will host the nation's most invigorating and diverse eco-friendly event of its kind at the Los Angeles Convention Center from January 23rd to 25th. Featuring a wide variety of green products and services, including everything from solar panels and hybrid cars to organic food and wine, Go Green Expo is sure to have something for everyone. In addition to the various green businesses exhibiting at the show, Go Green Expo will have over 10 seminars with leaders in the green industry, local politics, and community organizations discussing subjects including innovations in transportation, emerging energy sources, conservation, eco-entrepreneurialism, & much more. There will also be an eco-film festival at Go Green Expo LA; for information and updates about film dates and times visit www.GoGreenExpo.com. Don't miss LA's ultimate eco-extravaganza! Limited booth space is still available, contact Chris Colihan-Grillo at 212-655-4505 ext. 224 or ccolihan@gogreenexpo.com today.

The Change We Need: Smart Policy Management

01.21.2009 - 11:00PM

The effective development and management of policies and procedures seems like a simple concept, yet the root of most failures ultimately involves policy and procedure management. As significant as effective policy and procedure management has become, many companies struggle in their attempts to establish processes and techniques to effectively and efficiently address this critical element of GRC.

Join, Carole Switzer, President of OCEG, and Brett Curran, VP GRC Practices at Axentis, Inc. to hear them share a practical and proven approach for optimizing Policy and Procedure Management based on their experience in developing and applying GRC principles and practices across a multitude of environments and industries.

In this webinar, they will cover:

* Understanding the Federated approach to policies and procedures
* Organization, ownership and standardization
* Consistency and alignment with the business
* Policies, procedures and the Extended Enterprise

20th National Conference on Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

11.16.2008 - 11:00PM

ACI's highly anticipated 20th Foreign Corrupt Practices Act conference is now taking registrations.

The program agenda will be posted on the website shortly, but here are a few of the program highlights for 2008:

* Benchmarking Session on Leading Practices for FCPA Compliance Program Standards

* An exclusive panel on the reality of having a special compliance monitor featuring Monsanto, GE Oil & Gas and Cephalon

* An enforcement update with

* New panels on:

2008 Global Corporate Citizenship Conference

09.18.2008 - 12:00AM

BCLC's annual Global Corporate Citizenship conference is designed for leading practitioners in the field of emerging market development.

Sessions will focus on facilitating public-private partnerships, humanitarian issues, sustainability, micro-finance, global food crisis, post-earthquake recovery in China, farmer development, supply chain management, water shortage and much more.

- Get questions answered.
- Develop important contacts in the international aid community.
- Learn about the benefits and strategies driving global corporate citizenship.

In addition, BCLC will invite NGO and advocacy organizations representing a variety of viewpoints about globalization to make their arguments in a moderated debate to be held in the Chamber's Hall of Flags. The debate will be followed by a panel of corporate commentators who will respond to the questions raised in the debate.

SCCE's 7th Annual Compliance & Ethics Institute

09.14.2008 - 12:00AM

On September 14-17, 2008, the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE) will hold the 7th Annual Compliance & Ethics Institute at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, Chicago, IL. The Compliance and Ethics Institute offers the most comprehensive compliance and ethics conference which includes compliance and ethics information on the hottest topics and current events with a preeminent faculty drawn from major corporations, ethics organizations, law firms, academia and the government. Session topics will cover the most challenging issues related to designing, implementing, and managing effective compliance and ethics programs. This conference provides compliance and ethics professionals with a broad array of development and networking opportunities which will help them address the challenges they face in the trenches each day.

In addition, with Government entities increasingly facing the need to implement ethics and compliance programs, the Compliance and Ethics Institute for the first time will feature a one-day track devoted to ethics and compliance issues related to government entities, particularly cities and counties. Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley will address the Compliance and Ethics Institute and discuss the significant efforts underway in the City of Chicago to develop an effective ethics and compliance program.

The Institute will feature more than 80 speakers, offering more than 50 sessions to provide you with practical advice and important insights from many of the most well know ethics and compliance professionals.

Featured Speakers include

-Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley
-U.S. District Court Judge, Honorable Judge Ruben Castillo
-Scott W. Friestad, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
-Odell Guyton, Microsoft Corporation's Director of Compliance
-Charles Elson, Chair in Corporate Governance, University of Delaware, Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance
-Cynthia Cooper, former WorldCom Chief Audit Executive and Author of Extraordinary Circumstances - The Journey of a Corporate Whistleblower,
-U.S. Attorney Mary Beth Buchanan
and many more

Fourth ISBEE World Congress 2008

07.15.2008 - 12:00AM

Hosted by the Business Ethics Network of Africa (BEN-Africa) and endorsed by the Global Compact. The International Society of Business, Economics, and Ethics (ISBEE) is the first world-wide professional association to focus exclusively on the study of business, economics, and ethics. The main theme of the 4th ISBEE World Congress is: Global Fairness - Local Integrity.

"Doing Good by Doing Good": Making the business case for social and environmental responsibility

05.09.2008 - 12:00AM

Elizabeth Bankowski - founder & Executive Director of Global Community Initiatives.

"Doing good by doing good" was a founding principle of Ben & Jerry's, similar to what Bill Gates referred to as creative capitalism in his recent speech at Davos. In her presentation, Bankowski will define CRS as business strategy derived from the Ben & Jerry's model and extend that to the recognition of this practice by mainstream companies like Wal-Mart. She will talk about the challenges of integrating CRS with business strategy and day-to-day operations, focusing on the role of those who will have this responsibility in their workplaces, as well as the need for systems and practices that assure transparency, credibility and measurement.

Responsible Supply Chain Management Training

11.21.2007 - 11:00PM

A one day training course for procurement professionals and CSR managers on social and environmental issues around purchasing, and how to take a practical approach to managing them.

Your job is to make your company's supply chain management a key factor in its ongoing success.

You need to achieve value. You need quality. You need to maintain security of supply.

Your ability to deliver on these is increasingly affected by environmental and social risks. As far as your customers are concerned, if your supplier employs under-age children, so do you. If your supplier abuses human rights, you and your brand are to blame. And if your supplier is wiped out because its bad practice leads some of its other customers to pull the plug, you might find a big hole you can't quickly fill.

Across the world, leading businesses are now actively managing these risks. They do it because they see the unarguable business case for taking responsibility for what happens in your production process. But there are lots of ways to go wrong - you can do best if you can learn from the best.

What will the training deliver?

Resolving dilemmas in situations where every choice carries a cost and a risk A business model for responsible supply chain management
Case studies - learning the lessons from those that have gone before
The tools of the trade: codes of conduct, questionnaires and audit
Getting buy-in within your organisation

'How to... Sustainability Workshops 2007'

10.11.2007 - 12:00AM

The workshop will be held in Athens and the participants will have the opportunity to get familiarised with new practical tools and techniques related to the way organisations can develop an effective Corporate Social Responsibility strategy and report.

The workshop is scheduled for October 11-12, 2007: How to... Design and Implement an Effective CSR Strategy and Report.

The particular workshop has been already organised in more than 10 countries including Belgium and Dubai among many others. CSE staff has extensive international experience in Executive training and coaching having taught over 1,500 managers in public and private-sector organisations/foundations.

For further information about these CSE workshops, contact Ms. Maria Kimina on +30 210 808 5565 or via E-mail at communication@cse-net.org. For more information on CSE, visit our official Web site at http://www.cse-net.org