CSRwire Press Releases, Events and Reports

Winners Announced in Dow’s Sustainability Innovation Student Challenge

2009-11-04 09:44:19 -0500

The Dow Chemical Company recently recognized the inaugural winners of its Sustainability Innovation Student Challenge - an awards competition established to encourage and promote solutions to the world's most pressing social, economic and environmental problems. Graduate students and their professors from around the globe were recognized at a ceremony held at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. "Sustainability is the cornerstone of our continuing success at Dow," said Neil Hawkins, Dow's vice president of Sustainability and Environment, Health and Safety. "We are rewarding students and universities who recognize the importance of innovation and excellence in solving challenges, because they will certainly contribute to a more sustainable future. Innovations that help Dow reduce its own footprint, and that enable our customers to deliver sustainable solutions to their marketplaces, will drive progress," said Hawkins. Among the winning students and universities:

Can Bayram, Cynthia Pierre, Zachary Lindemann, Yann Manibog, Eric West and Suelyn Yu - Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois, USA
Melissa Bailey, Stanley Eosakul, Konstantinos Tsioris, and Noah Wilson-Rich - Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts. USA
Katie Cychosz, Ian Dailey, Eric Graham, Shally Madan, Siddharth Sinha, Elizabeth Uhlhorn, Rachel Arndt, Rebecca Cheney, Jamie Cohen, Allison Craddock, Stephanie Etkin, Caitlin Greeley, Brendan Moriarty, Nicholas Posavetz, and Christopher Gaines - The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Judith Sykes, Ulf Narloch and Sina Bonyadi - Cambridge University in Cambridge, UK
Yan Ning, Zhao Chen, Cai Zhipeng, Fan Xiaobing, Bi-Jie Li, Bing-Tao Guan, Chang-Liang Sun, Zhenqiang Xu, Feng Wang, Ting Yang, and Huanghuang Yan - Peking University in Beijing, China
Boutros Fouad Sarrouh - The University of Sao Paulo in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Award winners were selected using a peer review process by the participating universities with guidance from high-level criteria provided by Dow. Some of the project highlights included:

Building a community-based sustainable food system
Energy efficient low-income homes in South Africa: evaluation of international support mechanisms
New generation transportation fuels based on coal, natural gas and biomass: toward sustainable and green
Biotechnological production of xylitol using sugarcane bagasse - evaluation of operational parameters and economical feasibility

Graduate student teams selected for their research and innovations received $10,000 for use at the students' discretion. In addition, The Dow Chemical Company Foundation donated $20,000 in financial support directly to each university to offset costs of managing the selection process and travel for students to the recognition event. Attendees were also treated to a special presentation and exchange of dialogue with John Warner, Chief Technical Officer and Chairman of the Board of the Warner Babcock Institute of Green Chemistry and co-author of the book Green Chemistry: Theory & Practice. "It was The University of Michigan's great pleasure to host this year's recognition event," said Professor Donald Scavia, Special Counsel to the President on Sustainability at The University of Michigan. "Our students continually amaze us with their talents and leadership on this important topic, and it was enriching to meet future leaders from universities around the world with equally impressive accomplishments." About Dow Dow is a diversified chemical company that combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company delivers a broad range of products and services to customers in approximately 160 countries, connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. In 2008, Dow had annual sales of $57.5 billion and employed approximately 46,000 people worldwide. The Company has 150 manufacturing sites in 35 countries and produces approximately 3,300 products. On April 1, 2009, Dow acquired Rohm and Haas Company, a global specialty materials company with sales of $10 billion in 2008, 98 manufacturing sites in 30 countries and approximately 15,000 employees worldwide. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

Novartis Honors Six Energy Saving Programs as Important Investments into a Sustainable Future

2009-11-04 09:36:21 -0500

Six projects - from Austria, Germany, Switzerland and the USA - recognized by this year's Novartis Energy Excellence Awards
Substantial energy savings and reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions achieved by record number of project submissions

Novartis has announced the winners of its annual Energy Excellence Awards (EEA), which recognizes associates who contribute to the reduction of the group's greenhouse-gas emissions. This year's theme was "When it comes to energy, saving is an investment", highlighting that energy efficiency, often resulting in cost savings, is important for the sustainable development of Novartis. Novartis employees from all around the world submitted a record 69 energy-saving projects for the EEA 2009. Together, these will account for annual energy savings of 1060TJ, equivalent to more than six percent of the group's total energy consumption. Respective greenhouse-gas emission reductions will add up to 131kt of carbon dioxide. "The huge increase in submissions this year - 50 percent more than last year - demonstrates the sense of individual and collective determination within our organization to act responsibly on climate change," said Thomas Wellauer, Head Corporate Affairs and Member of the Executive Committee, who will present the Awards at a formal ceremony at the Basel Campus in December. A judge panel of eight highly experienced energy and environmental experts began evaluating submissions in September. They selected six winning projects - from Austria, Germany, Switzerland and the USA - demonstrating outstanding initiatives for effective heat recovery, Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) free cooling, renewable energy application, energy-efficient processes and energy management. About the Energy Excellence Awards Novartis is fully committed to ambitious energy targets in line with the Kyoto Protocol - that is, reducing emissions up to 2012 by at least five percent below the 1990 level. The Novartis EEA is a global program that recognizes associates who contribute to improving the company's energy efficiency and reducing environmental emissions. The judge panel is made up of external international specialists from NGOs, academia and business organizations, together with three Novartis experts. Key criteria for winning an Award include supporting business growth objectives while reducing C02 emissions, minimizing energy costs and utilizing renewable energy sources. About Novartis Novartis provides healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Focused solely on healthcare, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, cost-saving generic pharmaceuticals, preventive vaccines, diagnostic tools and consumer health products. Novartis is the only company with leading positions in each of these areas. In 2008, the Group’s continuing operations achieved net sales of USD 41.5 billion and net income of USD 8.2 billion. Approximately USD 7.2 billion was invested in R&D activities throughout the Group. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ approximately 99,000 full-time-equivalent associates and operate in more than 140 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com.

Grand Opening of Shop Green Mall Today.

2009-11-04 08:15:06 -0500

Today is Shop Green Mall's Grand Opening! Only certified green products, businesses and services are found at Shop Green Mall. The mission of the Mall is to strengthen the green business economy by recycling our money within the community. http://shopgreenmall.net. FREE Retail Space Now through November 30th, certified green business can have FREE floor space in the Mall, which is usually rented by square "byte-age." The Mall was built to offer Premium Retail Space for green products and services on the internet, and drive traffic to their stores in droves. Without burning fossil fuel. Just in time for the holidays. Shoppers can find a magnificent range of unique merchandise and gifts at Shop Green Mall, including baby clothing, food, unique mens, womens and teen fashions, cleaning products, jewelry, home décor, office and school supplies, pet products, air purifiers, water filters, high-tech rain barrels, and much more. Check out GameWhys, the perfect stocking stuffer, where children and grown-ups explore how we live and who we are. It's family entertainment as you save an ice cap, and save a forest. Shop Green Mall also features green business services such as advertising, printing, web and multimedia design, meeting facilitation and wind-powered web hosting. All of the retailers in the Mall are certified green by Green America (formerly Co-op America), a leader in the green movement for over a decade. Hunt things down quickly and easily with Shop Green Mall's sophisticated search engine and get your holiday shopping done energy efficiently. Hang around and network at the Mall. Join our online social networking communities to share ideas, and enjoy great resources for making your life more safe from chemicals, and more sustainable for good karma. Building a strong green economy. "I founded Shop Green Mall to showcase the goods of Green America members and other earth-friendly businesses that were seeking retail space, and places to shop," says Nancy Hoffmann — a pioneer in the field of green communications, Shop Green Mall creator, and founder of the design firm, TomatoDesign.Net. "It's for the millions of people like me who want to put our money where our consciousness is." Come and mosey around the Mall. The Mall is a wonderful place to find great holiday gifts for everyone on your list, that say you care enough to protect their health, by helping to protect natural resources. Enjoy perusing the goods and services, and meeting new friends as you look around. http://shopgreenmall.net. Shop without a footprint. The Green Mall is on a wind-powered server, so it's 100% eco-friendly. You can showcase your inventory or shop to your heart's content without leaving a trace of carbon. Sign up for FREE retail space, good through November 30th, 2009 and showcase your goods and wares today. URLs: http://tomatodesign.net http://shopgreenmall.net Tweet: http://twitter.com/TomatoDesign Blog: http://tomatogreening.wordpress.com

Ethisphere Magazine Enlists Seven Leading Chief Executives and Chairmen to Highlight Importance of Business Ethics

2009-11-03 13:35:33 -0500

Focus on Long-Term Benefits of Ethics: Productivity, Profitability and Retention of Customers and Employees The Ethisphere Institute, a think-tank dedicated to the research and promotion of best practices in business ethics and compliance, announced today that it enlisted prominent CEOs and directors to contribute to the Q3 2009 issue of Ethisphere Magazine. The latest issue of the Magazine features the seven leading executives, whose organizations accounted for just under $100 billion in combined revenue in 2008, sharing their insights on how an ethical culture and leadership can result in positive and lasting impacts internally and externally. Sharon Allen, Chairman of the Board of Deloitte LLP, served as Guest Editor for the issue. "Ethisphere is proud to feature these company leaders and we commend them for making the time and effort to share their experiences and advice with others in their positions," said Alex Brigham, Executive Director of Ethisphere. "More than ever before, chief executives and boards share responsibility for the ethics and compliance efforts of their company. These leaders understand the importance of ethics and compliance as business issues and have made implementing, communicating and upholding high standards their utmost priority." For their contribution, each executive wrote about the role of ethics in various business functions, including customer relationships, organizational culture, tone from the top, employee engagement and more. Guest contributors to the Q3 edition include:

Sharon Allen, Chairman of Deloitte
Charles L. Harrington, Chairman and CEO of Parsons Corporation
Chad O. Holliday, Jr., Chairman of DuPont
Don Knauss, Chairman and CEO of Clorox
Robert W. Lane, Chairman of John Deere
Thomas L. Monahan, Chairman and CEO of Corporate Executive Board
Barry Salzberg, CEO of Deloitte

"We're going through some pretty stressful times…and we're not out of it yet. It's more important than ever that company leadership reinforces the importance of ethics in a time like this," said Holliday. Knauss agreed, adding, "The line doesn't stop at internal controls and ethics policies. In order to truly develop trust with their customers, companies must walk the walk. At the end of the day, when a company models that behavior inside and out, when they walk the walk, then they establish a solid foundation of trust." Harrington cited any short-term sacrifices made in order to maintain a record of integrity are well worth it. "The end results," he insists, "are virtually always long-term gains: gains in reputation as a company that doesn't cut ethical corners; gains in attracting employees who already have their own personal commitment to integrity and want to work for a company which is similarly committed; and gains in attracting the right kind of suppliers, subcontractors and teaming partners with whom to work." Each executive's article in its entirety is now available in the Q3 issue of Ethisphere Magazine and online at www.ethisphere.org. Other highlights of the upcoming edition of Ethisphere Magazine include a feature story on how ethics can measurable affect an organization's brand and value, a spotlight on conducting business in Nigeria and commentary on the SEC's recent proposal of greater ethics disclosure in proxy filings. 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. The Institute's associated membership group, the Ethisphere Council, is a forum for business ethics that includes over 200 leading corporations, universities and institutions. The Ethisphere Council is dedicated to the development and advancement of individuals on its membership council through increased efficiency, innovation, tools, mentoring, advice, and unique career opportunities. Ethisphere Magazine, which publishes the globally recognized World’s Most Ethical Companies Ranking(TM), is the quarterly publication of the Institute. More information on the Ethisphere Institute, including ranking projects and membership, can be found at http://www.ethisphere.org.

President of Tanzania and the Abbott Fund Dedicate Modern Emergency Medical Department

2009-11-03 11:14:50 -0500

For the first time, emergency room services meeting international standards will be a part Tanzania's public health system, thanks to the opening of a new Emergency Medical Department building and extensive training being conducted at Muhimbili National Hospital. At a ceremony yesterday, President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete of the United Republic of Tanzania joined representatives from the Abbott Fund in dedicating the new facility. The building renovations, new equipment and staff training are being supported by a grant from the Abbott Fund, the philanthropic foundation of the global health care company Abbott. The initiative is part of a broader partnership between the Government of Tanzania and the Abbott Fund to strengthen the country's health care system. "The opening of this emergency center will help to save lives in Dar es Salaam and across the region, and will lead to fundamental differences in emergency care training in the future," said President Kikwete. "We are grateful for this latest step in our long and very successful partnership with the Abbott Fund." Emergency medicine is not a specialty that is typically offered as part of medical training in most parts of Africa. As a result, patients admitted to public hospitals for acute conditions generally receive limited care until a specialist is available to provide treatment. With the opening of the new Emergency Medical Department, state-of-the-art urgent care will be available to patients. A comprehensive training program will upgrade emergency care expertise for staff at Muhimbili, with the long-term goal of training future physicians in the specialty of Emergency Medicine. "The new Emergency Medical Department provides resources and procedures that significantly improve urgent medical care at our hospital," said Professor Leonard Lema, executive director, Muhimbili National Hospital. "Our broader goal is to utilize this department as a training ground and create a residency program in emergency medicine at Muhimbili. This will help elevate the level of emergency care expertise in other hospitals in Tanzania." The $3 million project is an extension of the Abbott Fund's partnership with the Government of Tanzania to improve health care infrastructure and systems in Tanzania. The Abbott Fund has invested more than $60 million to date in one of the largest public-private partnerships in Africa aimed at enhancing access to health care on a national scale. Today, one in three people with HIV taking antiretroviral therapy receive services at a facility that has benefited from Abbott Fund support. "Throughout our partnership in Tanzania, we have worked with the government to identify critical needs in the health care system and develop solutions that will have the greatest impact in improving people's lives," said Catherine Babington, president, the Abbott Fund. "Through this new facility and a strong focus on staff training, our goal is to significantly improve emergency medical care in Tanzania." To quickly strengthen local expertise, emergency room physicians and nurses from academic centers in the U.S. are working side by side with staff at Muhimbili and mentoring them in standard emergency room procedures and equipment use. Training focuses on basic life support, adult cardiac life support, pediatric life support and advanced trauma life support. The staff also is learning how to use new diagnostic equipment, including point-of-care testing that can provide rapid insights into underlying disease and the overall health status of patients. In addition, MRI and CT scanning equipment also will be available. To date, more than 500 health workers have received training in emergency care at Muhimbili. Dr. Alwyn Mziray, a native Tanzanian trained in emergency medicine in the U.S., has returned to Tanzania to lead the project and co-manage the new center. About the Abbott Fund in Tanzania The modernization of the Emergency Medical Department at Muhimbili is the latest effort in an ongoing partnership between the Abbott Fund and the Government of Tanzania to strengthen the country's health care system. In 2007, the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GBC) honored the Abbott Fund with an Award for Business Excellence for National Action for its public-private partnership with the Government of Tanzania. Key results to date include:

Improving laboratory services on a national scale by modernizing all 23 regional-level hospital laboratories in Tanzania. Nearly half of the labs have already been built or renovated, with the full program anticipated to be completed by the end of 2010.
At Muhimbili National Hospital, the Abbott Fund built a new outpatient center that serves about a thousand patients each day and integrates HIV care with other services, and renovated, automated and computerized the central pathology laboratory.
Conducted more than 15,000 health care worker trainings.
Provided HIV counseling and testing for more than 300,000 people, and donated 1 million rapid HIV tests to the Tanzanian national HIV testing initiative.
Helped more than 150,000 children and families by providing access to health services, education and training, and pioneering legal protection for orphans and widows affected by HIV/AIDS.

About Abbott and the Abbott Fund

www.abbottfund.org

www.abbott.com

Walmart's Sustainability Leader to Discuss Company Efforts and New Initiatives at November 18 World Environment Center Forum

2009-11-03 11:07:51 -0500

The World Environment Center (WEC) today announced that Walmart’s Senior Vice President for Sustainability, Matt Kistler, will be the featured speaker at the next Washington Sustainability Forum on November 18, 2009 at the Sofitel Hotel in Washington, D.C. Mr. Kistler will address a variety of topics related to the company's sustainability initiatives. These include the recently announced worldwide Sustainability Index and how it will help create a more transparent supply chain, drive product innovation and ultimately provide customers with information they need to assess products’ sustainability. Mr. Kistler will also discuss sustainability initiatives occurring across Walmart operations and geographic regions. His remarks will be followed by an extended question and answer session. "Walmart is accelerating the implementation of sustainable development around the world through commitments from its top management to the day-to-day actions of its associates," stated Dr. Terry F. Yosie, WEC’s President & CEO. "From its supply chain initiatives to the millions of consumers it serves on a daily basis, Walmart is a company that clearly illustrates how the sustainability agenda has become a major business and societal priority." WEC is an independent, global non-profit organization whose mission is to assist companies implement sustainable development in their business strategies and operations in partnership with national governments, non-governmental organizations, universities and other stakeholders. WEC conducts no advocacy activities and takes no positions on public policy issues. WEC’s Washington Sustainability Forum enables senior representatives of business and other organizations to share a conversation with global leaders on important aspects of sustainable development. For more information please go to www.wec.org.

SC Johnson Report Shows Responsibility Supports Resilience

2009-11-03 09:31:43 -0500

Companies earn consumer trust when they share how they impact the environment around them1. As a leader in environmental responsibility, SC Johnson is pleased to release its 2009 Public Report today. The company continues to move forward in its quest to do the right thing and to earn the trust of its consumers by openly sharing information. The report highlights the company's commitment to and progress against its sustainability objectives. This report marks the privately-held company's 18th year of publicly sharing information. "This progress reflects SC Johnson's firm commitment to investing in a sustainable future," said Chairman and CEO Fisk Johnson. "While we celebrate our progress against our goals, we know there is much more to do. We must move faster in finding new sustainable approaches that will head off a global resource crunch. It is not just the responsibility of businesses, it is the responsibility of everyone to find ways to restore and sustain our resources. I'm hopeful our progress will help other companies and people make responsible changes." Celebrating Doing What’s Right SC Johnson has a wide variety of efforts to drive global development and growth that benefit the people around us and the planet we all share. From exceptional philanthropy, volunteerism and education to new business models that bring economic growth to the world's poorest communities, the company is helping to create stronger communities for families around the globe. Highlights of the report include:

The company continued to lead the industry by increasing its transparency and further demonstrating our commitment to doing what's right with the voluntary launch of an innovative ingredient disclosure initiative which openly communicates product ingredients, including fragrances, dyes and preservatives.
SC Johnson continued to make strides using its patented Greenlist™ process, with use of "Better" and "Best" rated materials increasing to 47 percent of total materials.
Through cogeneration with landfill gas, wind power and biofuels, approximately 36 percent of SC Johnson's total electricity usage worldwide came from renewable energy.
SC Johnson cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at its worldwide factories by 27 percent during the last eight years, including all its United States operations by 17 percent since 2005. These reductions - achieved three full years ahead of the company's 2011 target - are the equivalent of taking approximately 11,100 U.S. cars off the road for one year2.
SC Johnson continued to educate about malaria, dengue and other insect-borne diseases, including joining the Global Business Coalition on HIV/Aids, tuberculosis and malaria, and working as part of the Clinton Global Initiative.
The company's base of the pyramid efforts in Kenya and other countries continued, and it has kicked off a supply chain initiative with Rwandan pyrethrum farmers and the Borlaug Institute at Texas A&M.
SC Johnson continued to provide valued support to the communities where we operate, with our 10-year cumulative giving surpassing $180 million.
The company sets aside 5 percent of pre-tax profits globally for corporate giving - nearly four times the average - and works with partners, such as Conservation International. Around the world, our subsidiary companies contribute an average of 2 percent of pre-tax profits and partner with local foundations.

It's Not Enough

About the Public Report

http://www.scjohnson.com

www.scjohnson.com

New SC Johnson Ad Inspired by Family

2009-11-02 18:45:13 -0500

SC Johnson, a Family Company, has released a new ad titled "Soul" as part of its ongoing campaign featuring the values of the company and emphasizing the company’s commitment to sustainability. The company pulls from its own history as a family-run company for more than 120 years, to share what's important to the families that use our products. "We are inspired by the families around us in the world we live," said CEO and Chairman Fisk Johnson. "We are driven by the commitment to do what's right - it's not just a business obligation, it's a family one." The company and its iconic brands including Windex®, Pledge®, Ziploc®, Glade® and Scrubbing Bubbles® is led today by the founder's great-great-grandson, Fisk Johnson, the fifth generation to lead the company. As a family-run company, SC Johnson has the ability to focus on the future - doing what's right for families all around the world - and not on the next earnings report or market drop. With 83 percent of the public believing that stricter laws and regulations are needed to protect the environment1, SC Johnson believes the issue is everyone's responsibility. "Business, government and the general public all have the responsibility to do what's right," said Fisk Johnson. "At SC Johnson we have a history of being ahead of government regulation. We look for more creative ways to make a bigger difference in the world. This isn't just a business obligation, it's a family one." With 77 percent of Americans recycling and doing what they can to protect the environment2, SC Johnson is doing their part just like families and consumers around the world. Among the ways the company is making a bigger difference:

The use of wind power at the Bay City, MI facility will cut an additional 29,500 tons of CO2 annually
Cogeneration using methane gas from a local landfill powers the largest global factory, Waxdale in Racine, WI
Greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) have been cut 27 percent since 2000
Building greener products like the biodegradable Nature's Source™ line of cleaners for families who prefer products with more natural ingredients and Ziploc® evolve™ sandwich and storage bags that are made with 25 percent less plastic
Voluntarily committing to use safer surfactants in household products, for which the company received the U.S. EPA's Safer Detergents Stewardship Initiative award
Surpassing industry guidelines and launching an innovative and expansive ingredient communication program that includes sharing dyes and fragrances

The ad will run on several cable networks, including Animal Planet, ABC Family, Discovery Health, The Weather Channel, Hallmark, HGTV, National and various print publications. To view the new ad and to learn more about SC Johnson's environmental history, visit www.scjohnson.com SC Johnson is a family-owned and managed business dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, and insect control. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE™, OFF!™, PLEDGE™, RAID™, SCRUBBING BUBBLES™, SHOUT™, WINDEX™ and ZIPLOC™ in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN ™, BAYGON™, BRISE™, ECHO™, KABIKILLER™, KLEAR ™, and MR. MUSCLE™. The 123-year old company, with more than $8 billion in sales, employs approximately 12,000 people globally and sells products in more than 110 countries. www.scjohnson.com 1Pew People and Press survey, "The environment and the Economy" survey, May 2009. Visit http://people-pres.org for more information 2 Pew Research "Networked Families" survey. Visit www.pewinternet.org for more information.

Green-e Climate Certifies The CarbonNeutral Company's Renewable Energy-Based Carbon Offsets

2009-11-02 18:26:33 -0500

Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) today announced that Green-e® Climate, the nation's leading certification and verification program for retail greenhouse gas emission reduction (carbon offset) products, has certified "The CarbonNeutral Company Offset (China)" product, sourced from clean energy from a hydropower station in Yunnan Province, China. The CarbonNeutral Company is the first international provider of Green-e Climate Certified offsets, and the company's offset product has met or exceeded Green-e Climate's strict standards for project verification and measurement, consumer transparency, and truth-in-marketing claims. The CarbonNeutral Company has now been granted the use of the Green-e Climate Certified logo. "We are pleased The CarbonNeutral Company can now offer its customers an offset product certified by Green-e Climate," said Jane Valentino, manager of Green-e Climate. "These offsets are sourced from international renewable energy projects that have met some of the highest standards in the industry, and combined with the company's commitment to transparency and quality, are an excellent choice for consumers who want to offset their contribution to climate change by supporting clean energy projects that wouldn't have otherwise been built." The offsets are sourced from renewable energy projects certified by the Voluntary Carbon Standard, an independent nonprofit organization registered under Swiss law. By purchasing these offsets, business and consumers will aid the development of new renewable resources that wouldn’t have otherwise been built, leading to a reduction in the rise of emissions from fossil-fuel electricity generation worldwide. Green-e Climate is a consumer-protection program requiring greenhouse gas emission reductions to be verified according to strict project-level certification programs that ensure the reductions have taken place, are permanent, and come from projects that would not have happened under a "business as usual" scenario. Sellers of certified offsets must provide customers with a product content label that explains where the reductions were sourced from, including the locations and types of projects. Sellers must also undergo a yearly audit to ensure their supply of offsets matches their sales, and comply with Green-e Climate's consumer disclosure and truth in advertising requirements. About Green-e Climate and Center for Resource Solutions Green-e Climate is the nation's first certification program for greenhouse gas emission reductions sold to consumers on the retail market. This consumer-protection program strengthens the voluntary market by providing credible oversight of and transparency to retail offset products. Green-e Climate is a program of the Center for Resource Solutions, a nonprofit that creates policy and market solutions to advance sustainable energy. Learn more about Green-e Climate at www.green-e.org/climate. About The CarbonNeutral Company The CarbonNeutral Company (www.carbonneutral.com) is a world leading carbon offset and carbon management business, working with over 300 major businesses and thousands of small and medium sized companies. Over the last ten years, it has purchased carbon credits from over 200 projects across six continents. CarbonNeutral® is the registered trademark of The CarbonNeutral Company and is the leading brand mark and quality standard for action on climate change. Permission to display the CarbonNeutral mark is only given to clients when CO2 emissions have been measured and reduced to net zero through a program implemented in accordance with The CarbonNeutral Protocol. This Protocol assures quality of offset projects, carbon footprint assessments and communication and is regularly reviewed by an Independent Advisory Group. The "audit trail" includes an annual independent verification of CarbonNeutral programs-from contracts with carbon offset partners through to contracts with clients and everything in between. The CarbonNeutral Company has two regional operating headquarters in New York and London, as well as an office in Singapore, and a network of affiliates in Japan, Canada, France and UAE. The CarbonNeutral Company is a founding member of The International Carbon Reduction and Offset Alliance (ICROA), which provides leadership and a unified voice advocating for rigorous industry standards www.icroa.org.

Vivendi Announces Request for Proposal for Vivendi Create Joy Fund

2009-11-02 13:06:33 -0500

Vivendi, a world leader in communications and entertainment, today announced the fourth cycle of its Vivendi Create Joy Fund, a corporate social responsibility initiative providing funds to innovative projects focused on bringing joy and opportunities to young people in need. Proposals will be accepted from November 1, 2009 through November 30, 2009 at createjoy.vivendi.com. Now in its second year, the Vivendi Create Joy Fund has supported over 20 projects in the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Africa in Morocco, Burkina Faso and Mali. Housed within the Sustainable Development section of the corporate website, the newly launched Vivendi Create Joy website allows organizations to review objectives and criteria and to submit proposals. The site also highlights current and past partners and showcases beneficiaries of the initiative. For more information or to submit a proposal, please visit createjoy.vivendi.com. About the Vivendi Create Joy Fund Since 2008, the Vivendi Create Joy Fund has supported over 20 NGOs in the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Africa. The Fund brings joy and opportunities through entertainment and communications to young people in need. See www.createjoy.vivendi.com About Vivendi A world leader in communications and entertainment, Vivendi controls Activision Blizzard (#1 in video games worldwide), Universal Music Group (#1 in music worldwide), SFR (#2 in mobile and fixed telecom in France), Maroc Telecom Group (#1 in mobile and fixed telecom in Morocco), Canal+ Group (#1 in pay-TV in France) and owns 20% of NBCU (leading U.S. media and entertainment group). In 2008, Vivendi achieved revenues of €25.4 billion and adjusted net income of €2.7 billion. With operations in 77 countries, the Group has about 43,000 employees. www.vivendi.com

MetLife Foundation Awards $125,000 Grant to Liz Lerman Dance Exchange

2009-11-02 12:56:23 -0500

Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, an internationally recognized contemporary dance company, has been awarded a MetLife Foundation grant for $125,000 to create the MetLife Foundation Healthy Living Initiative at Liz Lerman Dance Exchange. This national program is designed to meet the growing demand for the skilled integration of art and artistic methods into the medical and health/wellness fields. Arts integration improves the quality of the healthcare experience for patients, their families, and the health professionals who serve them. Accredited healthcare institutions with arts programs have reported benefits such as shorter hospital stays, less medication, and fewer complications. The MetLife Foundation Healthy Living Initiative at Dance Exchange incorporates three activities to expand access to arts programs for patients nationwide, including: artistic work with patients in healthcare settings, training of health professionals and caregivers in innovative artistic tools, and professional development for teaching artists who work with patients and caregivers. "We are proud to partner with the Dance Exchange on this innovative arts in healthcare effort," said Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation. "Our partnership on the Healthy Living Initiative is an extension of our commitment to making arts accessible to all and promoting dance as an art form that can enrich all our lives through creativity and excellence." "This generous support from MetLife Foundation will add a new chapter to our ongoing exploration of the question "Who gets to dance?'" said Liz Lerman, Founding Artistic Director of Liz Lerman Dance Exchange and author of Teaching Dance to Senior Adults. "Sometimes art achieves what therapy, medicine, or the best care of health professionals cannot. Sometimes art even achieves something that's beyond the best intentions of the artist." About Liz Lerman Dance Exchange Liz Lerman founded Liz Lerman Dance Exchange in 1976. Its unique brand of dance/theatre breaks boundaries between stage and audience, theater and community, movement and language, tradition and the unexplored. Through explosive dancing, personal stories, humor, and a company of performers whose ages span six decades, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange stretches the expressive range of contemporary dance. Its work consists of formal concerts, interactive performances, specialized community residencies, and professional training in the art of community-based dance. An artist-driven organization, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange employs a collaborative approach to dance making, administration, and implementation. Representing the multiple artistic voices of Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, current choreographic projects include explorations of coal mining, sustainable energy, genetic research, radical prayer, human rights, particle physics and geology. For more information, please visit www.danceexchange.org. About MetLife Foundation MetLife Foundation was established by MetLife to continue the company's long tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. The Foundation supports programs that improve education, promote health, encourage parental involvement and family engagement, help revitalize neighborhoods and stress accessibility and inclusion. The Foundation contributes to arts and cultural organizations across the United States, with an emphasis on increasing opportunities for young people, reaching broad audiences through inclusive programming, and making arts more accessible for all people. For more information about the Foundation, please visit its web site at www.metlife.org.

Despite Economic Downturn, Consumer Hunger For Green Has Not Been Satisfied

2009-11-02 12:45:32 -0500

While the worst recession since the Great Depression has tempered consumer demand for green products, the desire for green is still present, says global market research firm, GfK Custom Research North America, who is a presenting sponsor of the 3rd Annual Good and Green®...The Green Marketing Conference, on November 17th and 18th in Chicago, Illinois. Join GfK in Chicago where experts from GfK Roper Public Affairs & Media and GfK Roper Consulting will address several pressing questions facing the environmental marketing community, including the degree to which the economy is affecting green consumption and what consumers expect from businesses vis- à-vis the environment in this climate. The following are details on the presentations: "Green Consumers, Red Economy"- Holly Heline Jarrell, Group Managing Director GfK Custom Research North America

An examination of issues facing environmental marketers including: Does the economic downturn represent a bump in the road or an insurmountable obstacle for eco-friendly brands? Which consumers are pulling back from green, whose commitment is holding firm, and which consumers will lead us to a greener place beyond the downturn?
An introduction to the GfK Roper Green Gauge® consumer segmentation, which provides an environmental marketing roadmap to changing green audiences in the US.

"Idealism or Realism? What Do Consumers Actually Expect of Companies?" - Annie Weber, Senior Vice President, GfK Custom Research North America and Tim Kenyon, Senior Market Analyst

A look at how companies can balance the impact of the economy on their own businesses with the need to be good to the community, green with the environment and still run financially-successful businesses. And a discussion on consumer expectations of companies, as well as other stakeholders, when it comes to environmental and CSR issues.

For more information or to register for the conference visit: www.goodandgreen.biz About GfK Custom Research North America Headquartered in New York, GfK Custom Research North America is part of the GfK Group. GfK Group offers the fundamental knowledge that industry, retailers, services companies and the media need to make market decisions. It offers a comprehensive range of information and consultancy services in the three business sectors of Custom Research, Retail and Technology and Media. The no. 4 market research organization worldwide, GfK Group operates in more than 100 countries and employs over 10,000 staff. In 2008, GfK Group sales amounted to EUR 1.2 billion (1.6 Billion USD). For further information, visit our website: www.gfkamerica.com.

The Makers of Clorox(R) Clean-Up(R) to Award $50,000 to Kids Programs Through New Power A Bright Future Grant Program

2009-11-02 12:03:19 -0500

During these tough economic times, budget cuts are an unfortunate reality. That means important kids' programs everywhere, despite dedication and hard work, are getting scaled back or even eliminated. Clorox® Clean-Up®, the only all-purpose cleaner powered by Clorox® Bleach, is here to help. Through its new Power A Bright Future grant program, the Clorox® Clean-Up® team will award five grants of $10,000 each to applicable kids' programs - in hopes of enriching kids’ lives across the country. From November 2-29, 2009, the Clorox® Clean-Up® team invites individuals to nominate non-profit kids' programs for a Power A Bright Future grant by submitting a photo and short essay about the project for consideration. Each winner will receive a $10,000 grant to help the project grow and flourish. Winners will also be featured within an advertisement in an issue of People magazine. "Moms are very important to us and we want to help them in every way possible - from helping them clean their homes to helping provide an enriching after-school program for their kids," said Selin Alkan, Associate Marketing Manager at The Clorox Company. "These important programs have the power to shape lives and bring about positive change for kids everywhere, and the Clorox® Clean-Up® team is thrilled to be able to help." A panel of influential children's advocates including representatives from the National Education Association Health Information Network, Mom Central Consulting and Extraordinary Mommy.com will review all submissions and select 50 finalists based on criteria that includes: impact of program on kids; quality of the entry; and fitting within the contest theme of helping kids' programs . From December 7th - January 17th 2010, the public will have the opportunity to vote online (www.facebook.com/cloroxcleanup) for their favorite kids' program. The final five will be announced by the last week of January. As a thank you for voting, consumers will receive a Clorox ® Clean-Up® coupon the first time they vote. "No matter what, today's kids absolutely deserve a brighter future," said Stacy DeBroff, founder of Mom Central Consulting. "Non-profit organizations that are focused on our youth can use all the help they can get. There is no more important investment than those involving children. By participating in this program, local children's programs have the opportunity to expand current programming, reach more children and, above all else, enrich and change lives." For more information about the Power A Bright Future grant program, including official contest rules and entry guidelines, log on to (www.facebook.com/cloroxcleanup). The Clorox Company The Clorox Company is a leading manufacturer and marketer of consumer products with fiscal year 2008 revenues of $5.3 billion. Clorox markets some of consumers' most trusted and recognized brand names, including its namesake bleach and cleaning products, Green Works® Natural Cleaners, Armor All® and STP® auto-care products, Fresh Step® and Scoop Away® cat litter, Kingsford® charcoal, Hidden Valley® and K C Masterpiece® dressings and sauces, Brita® water-filtration systems, Glad® bags, wraps and containers, and Burt's Bees® natural personal care products. With 8,300 employees worldwide, the company manufactures products in more than two dozen countries and markets them in more than 100 countries. Clorox is committed to making a positive difference in the communities where its employees work and live. Founded in 1980, The Clorox Company Foundation has awarded cash grants totaling more than $73.4 million to non-profit organizations, schools and colleges. In fiscal 2008 alone, the foundation awarded $3.7 million in cash grants, and Clorox made product donations valued at $5.3 million. For more information about Clorox, visit http://www.thecloroxcompany.com/

Sustainable Stock Exchanges Event

2009-11-02 11:26:21 -0500

On 2 November 2009, this unique event at UN headquarters in New York will explore how the world's exchanges can work together with investors, regulators, and companies to enhance corporate transparency, and ultimately performance, on ESG issues and encourage responsible long-term approaches to investment. Co-hosted by the Principles for Responsible Investment, the UN Global Compact, and United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), this one-day conference brings together representatives from exchanges, institutional investors and external stakeholders. In the wake of the global financial crisis, a growing number of investors and policy makers see an urgent need to promote better risk management, good governance and enhanced transparency in order to protect long-term returns. This includes addressing emerging environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues, which are increasingly being seen as drivers of long-term performance and stability, both on the micro and macro levels. A number of exchanges are already implementing ESG strategies, such as enhancing listing rules and disclosure requirements, setting up ESG indices and launching new exchanges for ESG-related asset classes such as carbon. Some of the questions to be discussed at the event include:

What are the emerging trends in responsible investment and corporate responsibility and how are these relevant to exchanges?
What are leading exchanges doing now around ESG issues?
What is the role of exchanges and regulators in enhancing ESG transparency and raising corporate standards?
What opportunities exist in developing ESG indices and new exchanges for ESG-focused investments?

The indicative agenda is available here. Register here

Overstock.com Announces Partnership With Wounded Warrior Project

2009-11-02 11:11:24 -0500

Overstock.com, Inc. (Nasdaq: OSTK) announced today their corporate partnership with Wounded Warrior Project. From November 1 through Veterans Day 2009 a wounded warrior, family or warrior caregiver will be profiled and share their story through video on Overstock.com. "The goal of Wounded Warrior Project is to help make this generation of wounded warriors the most successful and well-adjusted in our nation's history," said Overstock.com Chairman and CEO Patrick Byrne, "At least 10% of our employees have or have had family members in the military. Overstock.com felt it was our turn to give back to those men and women who serve our country in Iraq and Afghanistan. Whether or not you agree with the war; here's an opportunity to give valuable assistance to American soldiers." Overstock.com hopes to raise $30,000 by November 11th, Veteran's Day, by allowing customers to donate a dollar or more to the Wounded Warrior Project at checkout. To learn more visit www.overstock.com/woundedwarriorproject In addition to the November awareness campaign, Overstock.com customers can purchase Wounded Warrior Project apparel. All net proceeds go directly to Wounded Warrior Project. "We are grateful to Overstock.com and its team of enthusiastic employees that have clearly demonstrated a passion for our mission and organization," said Steven Nardizzi, Executive Director of Wounded Warrior Project. "The level of support throughout their organization is extremely impressive and, more importantly, will have a very positive effect on the warriors we are privileged to serve." About Wounded Warrior Project The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project is to honor and empower wounded warriors. Its purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public's aid for the needs of severely injured service members, to help severely injured men and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. To get involved and learn more, visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org. About Overstock.com Overstock.com, Inc. is an online retailer offering brand-name merchandise at discount prices. The company offers its customers an opportunity to shop for bargains conveniently, while offering its suppliers an alternative inventory distribution channel. Overstock.com, headquartered in Salt Lake City, is a publicly traded company listed on the NASDAQ Global Market System and can be found online at http://www.overstock.com. Overstock.com regularly posts information about the company and other related matters on its website under the heading "Investor Relations." Overstock.com® is a registered trademark of Overstock.com, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the amount of donations the Company may raise for the Wounded Warrior Project. Our Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2008, our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, or any amendments thereto, and our other subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission identify important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections, estimates or forward-looking statements.

Schering-Plough Announces Sponsorship of Rabies-Control Projects in India

2009-11-02 11:01:16 -0500

Schering-Plough Corporation (NYSE: SGP) today announced it has initiated sponsorship of two projects in India to reduce the incidence of human and animal rabies through improved educational awareness and mass vaccination of dogs. The company will donate $200,000 and rabies vaccine from Intervet/Schering-Plough as well as share expertise with partners to support successful implementation of the projects in ten villages surrounding Bangalore and Pune, India. "Our company has a commitment to reducing the prevalence of rabies in vulnerable places around the world, and these new initiatives in India demonstrate continuing support of eradication efforts," said Schering-Plough Chairman and CEO Fred Hassan. "As with the Afya Serengeti project that Schering-Plough supports in Africa, educating people about rabies and how to prevent it is the most effective weapon against the disease." Using the "Adopt a Village" concept, education about rabies prevention and treatment will be aimed at the entire community and adapted for everyone from small children to adults and village leaders. With guidance from the nonprofit Global Alliance for Rabies Control, the programs will involve medical and veterinary professors, experts in the field of rabies along with medical students from area universities. Special accommodations will be made to educate people in their own dialects, with sensitivity to their customs. "Our goal is to provide a sustainable solution for communities in developing countries to prevent rabies that takes into account how people interact with community dogs and other animals in their environment," said Deborah J. Briggs Ph.D., executive director, Global Alliance for Rabies Control. "Rabies remains a neglected disease of the poor and disenfranchised, and we believe projects such as these being developed in India will serve as models that can be replicated in other vulnerable areas. The grim truth is that every day more than 150 people die of rabies. More than 100 of them are children and every one of the deaths should have been prevented." Separate but similar projects will be implemented in two geographic areas of India. The Global Alliance for Rabies Control will supervise projects in four selected villages outside the city of Bangalore: Ramohally, Hulluvenahally, Chandrappa circle and Prasanachari palya. The Alliance will partner with a number of India-based groups to ensure maximum impact. Partners from India include the Rabies in Asia Foundation; the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS); Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) and the Veterinary College, Bangalore. The Alliance will also develop educational materials for teaching children worldwide about rabies prevention. The Bombay Veterinary College, Mumbai, will take the lead role for projects in six major villages in Pune district, namely Narayangaon, Khodad, Arvi Pimpalgaon, Yedgaon, Alephata and Vadgaon Anand. The college will be supported by K.N.P. College of Veterinary Science, Shirval, and Karuna Animal Health Foundation, Narayangaon. Intervet India, the Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health business located in the Pune region, will be contributing technical support for the project as an extension of its current rabies prevention efforts. Rural Indian villages are especially vulnerable to rabies, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). India reports the highest incidence of human rabies accounting for an estimated 20,000 of the 55,000 deaths reported worldwide each year. Three-quarters of the deaths in India occur in rural areas with the highest rates among the poor, particularly children under the age of 15. The new programs in India will start with surveys to learn how well rabies prevention is understood in the selected villages and to assess the status of rabies among the villages' dog and other animal populations. Researchers will also track the numbers of reported cases and human and animal deaths due to the disease. The next phase of the program will involve massive campaigns of public education, focusing on effective rabies prevention practices for humans and animals as well as appropriate treatment after exposure to the disease. Education is urgently needed because WHO research shows most deaths occur when people bitten by, or exposed to, a rabid animal do not seek or receive appropriate treatment. In most countries where canine rabies is prevalent, victims of dog bites lack understanding of the importance of seeking appropriate medical treatment from a qualified health facility. Proper wound cleansing and immunizations, done as soon as possible after contact with a suspect animal, can prevent the onset of rabies in virtually 100 percent of exposures, the WHO has found. If left untreated, the fatality rate after rabies infection is 100 percent. The education campaigns will draw attention to the importance of vaccinating community dogs. Improving community understanding of the life-saving value of administering canine vaccines is crucial; the WHO has determined that the most cost-effective strategy for preventing rabies in people is to eliminate rabies in dogs through animal vaccinations. This will especially benefit children, who typically have closer contact with dogs than adults and are less inclined to report injuries sustained from playing or other interaction with the animals. The final phase of the Indian projects will involve a comprehensive evaluation of whether the education and vaccination efforts produced measurable improvements in the incidence of rabies in people, dogs and other animals. About Schering-Plough Schering-Plough is an innovation-driven, science-centered global health care company. Through its own biopharmaceutical research and collaborations with partners, Schering-Plough creates therapies that help save and improve lives around the world. The company applies its research-and-development platform to human prescription, animal health and consumer health care products. Schering-Plough's vision is to "Earn Trust, Every Day" with the doctors, patients, customers and other stakeholders served by its colleagues around the world. The company is based in Kenilworth, N.J., and its Web site is www.schering-plough.com. Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health is a leader in research and dedicated to the development, production and marketing of innovative, high-quality animal-health products for all major farm and companion animal species. For more information about Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health visit: www.intervet.com and www.intervetusa.com. About the Global Alliance for Rabies Control The Global Alliance for Rabies Control is the foremost non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating rabies throughout the world. The mission of the Alliance is to promote rabies awareness and control. The organization contributes to support rabies control programs and educational initiatives. The Global Alliance for Rabies and Control was established to bring together public and private expertise in the field of rabies, including medical, veterinary, wildlife and animal welfare agencies, to utilize a 'one medicine' approach to establish rabies prevention programs. The Alliance coordinates the World Rabies Day campaign and works alongside its partner institutions and organizations. (www.rabiescontrol.net) SCHERING-PLOUGH DISCLOSURE NOTICE: The information in this press release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements related to expectations or forecasts of future events. Schering-Plough does not assume the obligation to update any forward-looking statement. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from Schering-Plough's forward-looking statements, including market forces, economic factors, product availability, patent and other intellectual property protection, current and future branded, generic or over-the-counter competition, the regulatory process, and any developments following regulatory approval, among other uncertainties. For further details about these and other factors that may impact the forward-looking statements, see Schering-Plough's Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including Part II, Item 1A "Risk Factors" in the Company's third Quarter 2009 10-Q, filed October 29, 2009.

Abbott Saving 1 Billion Gallons of Water Annually

2009-11-02 11:00:06 -0500

Abbott announced today that it is saving 1 billion gallons of water annually since launching a comprehensive, global effort in 2004 to preserve natural resources through reducing use of water in the production of its nutrition and other health care products. In 2004, the company set out to achieve a reduction in water use compared to its 2004 baseline by the end of 2011, when normalized to sales. Abbott has nearly reached its goal of a 40 percent reduction in water use two years ahead of time as its manufacturing water use has decreased 37 percent, normalized to sales. The company has also achieved a seven percent reduction in absolute terms, while at the same time increasing production at many of its plants as demand for its products has grown. "Abbott is committed to using water and other natural resources in a responsible and sustainable manner," said Corlis Murray, vice president, Global Engineering Services, Abbott. "Water is essential to our ability to provide our customers with the health care products from Abbott they depend on, but the quality of water we return to the environment is also important." Abbott's global water use policy includes a commitment to:

Increasing water use efficiency at its manufacturing sites worldwide
Understanding and mitigating risks of water stress and scarcity
Educating communities where it operates on water conservation.

Increasing water use efficiency Abbott is incorporating water-saving design and technology into new and existing facilities. For example, Abbott's plant in Sturgis, Mich. is utilizing more efficient water scrubbers to control dust emissions, resulting in the saving of 8.5 million gallons of water per year. The company's Casa Grande, Ariz. plant has installed water-efficient fixtures, low water use landscaping and implemented a "Leak Tag" program which ensures leaks are detected and fixed promptly. In addition, after being sent to the local water treatment plant for cleaning, some water is now returned to the community for uses such as in landscaping and golf course irrigation. Abbott's nutritional plant in Singapore was built from the ground up with several environmental objectives in mind, including water conservation. The plant uses water-efficient fittings, irrigation systems and cooling towers. As a result, the company received the Green Mark "Gold" certification from the Singapore Building and Construction Authority. Understanding water stress and scarcity Abbott is using the World Business Council for Sustainable Development's "Global Water Tool," which is helping its 40 major manufacturing plants throughout the world assess their local water needs. It compares Abbott's water uses with external data, creates performance metrics and geographic mapping, facilitates communications with internal and external stakeholders on water challenges, and fosters water conservation and efficiency. Following water stress assessments, a number of Abbott plants have already achieved major reductions in consumption including Casa Grande (an 11% reduction since 2007) and Campoverde, Italy (a 14% reduction during the same period). Educating communities In Arizona, Abbott and its non-profit foundation, the Abbott Fund, have partnered with Project WET, the state's leading water education program for teachers and students. The program engages people of all ages in learning about water resources and conservation. "Only through knowledge and understanding do people actually begin to apply new concepts in their lives and adopt new behaviors," said Kerry L. Schwartz Director, Arizona Project WET. "By teaming with Abbott, Arizona Project WET is making a difference in developing a culture of water conservation in Arizona." Safeguarding the environment and preserving natural resources are an important part of Abbott's mission to improve people's health and the company's efforts to be a leader in global citizenship. In addition to water conservation, Abbott has identified increased use of cleaner and renewable energy, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and limiting the impact of product packaging as environmental priorities. The company has set measurable goals in each of these areas to track its progress. All of Abbott's various health care businesses are examining their manufacturing processes and needs, as well as their product packaging, to develop environmentally friendly and sustainable approaches to help the company meet or exceed these goals. Abbott was recently named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index and Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index for the fifth consecutive year. Abbott was one of just two U.S.-based companies in the pharmaceutical industry category to be listed on both indices. The Dow Jones Sustainability World Index ranks Abbott among the top 300 of the world's largest 2,500 companies, based on an assessment of economic, social and environmental performance. About Abbott Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company employs more than 72,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries. Abbott's news releases and other information are available on the company's Web site at www.abbott.com.

TD Charitable Foundation Donates $2 Million in Grants to Support Housing Stabilization Efforts through its 'Housing for Everyone' Competition

2009-11-02 10:45:10 -0500

The TD Charitable Foundation announced today the 56 winners of its annual "Housing for Everyone" grant competition. Award winners will receive a total of $2 million in grants to support affordable housing initiatives from Maine to Florida, a $500,000 increase in program awards from 2008. Now in its fifth year, the "Housing for Everyone" grant competition drew almost 500 proposals from housing non-profits for projects that help to stabilize the housing environment in communities where TD Bank does business. Grant awards ranged from $10,000 to $100,000. The winning organizations, as well as the total grants per market, include:

Connecticut: $250,000 total donated to Bridgeport Neighborhood Trust, Inc.; Christian Activities Council; Connection Fund, Inc.; Greater New Haven Community Loan Fund, Inc.; Neighborhood Housing Services of New Britain; Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven, Inc.
Delaware: $40,000 total donated to Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County; National Council on Agricultural Life and Labor Research, Inc.
The District of Columbia: $50,000 total donated to Shelter House, Inc.; SOME, Inc.; Wesley Housing Development Corporation of Northern Virginia.
Florida: $40,000 total donated to Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches, Inc.; Urban League of Broward County.
Maine: $60,000 total donated to Bread of Life Ministries, Inc.; Rumford Group Home, Inc.; Tedford Housing.
Massachusetts: $250,000 total donated to Beverly Affordable Housing Coalition, Inc.; HAP, Inc.; Lawrence Community Works, Inc.; Lower Cape Cod Community Development; Twin Cities Community Development Corporation; Worcester East Side Community Development Corporation.
New Hampshire: $60,000 total donated to Harbor Homes, Inc.; NeighborWorks Greater Manchester; Southwest Community Services, Inc.
New Jersey: $500,000 total donated to Bergen County Community Action Partnership, Inc.; Center for Family Services, Inc.; Community Loan Fund of New Jersey, Inc.; Housing and Neighborhood Development Services, Inc.; Interfaith Neighbors, Inc.; Isles, Inc.; Jersey City Episcopal Community Development Corporation; La Casa de Don Pedro, Inc.; New Jersey Community Development Corporation, Inc.; Parkside Business and Community in Partnership, Inc.; Patterson Habitat for Humanity, Inc.
New York: $390,000 total donated to AAFE Community Development Fund, Inc.; Albany County Rural Housing Alliances, Inc.; Bridge Fund of New York, Inc.; Community Development Corporation of Long Island, Inc.; Cypress Hill Local Development Corporation, Inc.; Homeless and Travelers Aid Society; Housing Partnership Development Corporation; Housing Plus Solutions, Inc.; Metropolitan New York Coordinating Council on Jewish Poverty.
Pennsylvania: $300,000 total donated to Asociacion Puertorriquenos En Marcha; Chester Community Improvement Project; Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley; New Kensington Community Development Corporation; Mt. Airy, USA; Philadelphia VIP, Inc.
Vermont: $60,000 total donated to Champlain Housing Trust, Inc.; Regional Affordable Housing Corporation; Windham Housing Trust, Inc.

"Now more than ever there is a need to help families stay in their houses and protect our neighborhoods from the effects of foreclosure and abandonment," said Elizabeth K. Warn, President of the TD Charitable Foundation and Executive Vice President of Community Development for TD Bank. "We are pleased that we were able to increase the number of grants in the 'Housing for Everyone' competition this year and help thousands of people from Maine to Florida continue to have a place to call their home." The 2009 "Housing for Everyone" competition focused on supporting housing stabilization efforts for fiscally-responsible affordable housing organizations. Organizations were required to have tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status and to develop or maintain affordable housing, or provide housing-related programs and services to very-low, low- and moderate-income individuals or families. About the TD Charitable Foundation The TD Charitable Foundation is the charitable giving arm of TD Bank N.A., which operates as TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank®, and is one of the 15 largest commercial banking organizations in the United States. The Foundation's mission is to serve the individuals, families and businesses in all the communities where TD Bank operates, having made over $53 million in charitable donations since its inception in 2002. The efforts of the Foundation are coordinated locally through TD Bank's community relations departments and are focused on the areas of affordable housing, education and financial literacy, and the environment. More information on the TD Charitable Foundation, including an online grant application, is available at www.TDBank.com.

Leadership Skills For Change Agents

2009-11-01 00:00:24 -0400

Instructor: Bob Willard, author of The Sustainability Advantage and other books. (Toronto) Webinars will be Mondays at 5pm Pacific time (8pm Eastern) Nov 2, 9, 16, 23. This course prepares sustainability professionals at any level in the organizational hierarchy to lead an organizational change to a sustainable enterprise. It connects the dots between timeless leadership practices and how to transform an organization to a sustainability culture. At the end of this course, participants will be able to: 1. Lead the integrate sustainability into their organization, using a seven-step sustainability change process. 2. Build an effective, relevant business case to support their company's transformation to being a sustainable enterprise. 3. By able to apply effective change leadership practices during the sustainability change process, capitalize on change paradoxes, and avoid potential derailers of their initiatives. 4. Help others be more effective sustainability champions. Bob WIllard is a leading expert on the business value of corporate sustainability strategies. He has given hundreds of keynote presentations to corporate, government, university, and NGO audiences on the bottom-line benefits of sustainability strategies. He has authored three books, The Sustainability Advantage, The Next Sustainability Wave, and The Sustainability Champion’s Guidebook, plus created a DVD of his presentation, The Business Case for Sustainability. He worked 34 years with IBM Canada, is on the faculty of the Sustainable Enterprise Academy, and serves on the advisory board of the Natural Step Canada. He has a PhD in sustainability from the University of Toronto. See www.sustainabilityadvantage.com for more information about him and his resources for sustainability champions.

Commercial Kitchen Program from Project WET and Abbott offers water and money saving opportunity for Casa Grande’s businesses

2009-10-30 18:55:33 -0400

Water conservation is a high priority for all of us - that's why Arizona Project WET and the Abbott Fund, the philanthropic foundation of the global health care company Abbott, are pleased to offer a water and money saving opportunity to Casa Grande's businesses with commercial kitchens. Arizona Project WET and the Abbott Fund today announced that they are offering installation of high efficiency pre-rinse spray valves at Casa Grande commercial kitchens at no cost to businesses. Arizona Project WET, the Pinal County Cooperative Extension, Arizona Department of Water Resources, Arizona Water Company, and the Abbott Fund were onsite for the first installation at Barney's Restaurant in Casa Grande, Ariz. These new, more efficient valves use only 1.6 gallons of water per minute, compared to three gallons per minute in base models. In addition, the new valves provide stronger water pressure, which removes food faster and makes them more efficient and water friendly. Savings will be reflected in water bills - businesses can expect savings of up to 65 percent. Arizona Project WET, an Arizona Cooperative Extension program, is this state's leading water education program for teachers and students of all grade levels. The program engages people of all ages in learning about water resources and relevant issues facing their region of the state. Abbott, which has manufacturing facilities in Case Grande, supports the Arizona Project WET initiative through its philanthropic foundation the Abbott Fund and through employee volunteering in the community. The Arizona Department of Water Resources, through their RinseSmart program, will be providing the new water efficient pre-rinse spray heads. This team is initiating an intergenerational education program targeting teachers, students, residents and the business community. Please email Tasha Krecek from Project WET at Tasha@cals.arizona.edu , or call (520) 836-5221 for further information.

4th Annual Henry Schein 'Think Pink, Practice Pink' Campaign Coincides With Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2009-10-30 08:15:29 -0400

Henry Schein, Inc. (Nasdaq: HSIC), the largest distributor of healthcare products and services to office-based practitioners, once again partnered with the American Cancer Society for the fourth annual "Think Pink, Practice Pink" campaign to raise awareness and support a cure for breast cancer. As a flagship program of Henry Schein Cares, the Company's global social responsibility program, the "Think Pink, Practice Pink" campaign included a special selection of "pink" products for Dental, Dental Lab, Medical, Animal Health and Special Markets customers, a portion of the sales of which are being donated to the American Cancer Society to help fund research and care in the fight against breast cancer and other cancers. This year, a portion of proceeds from sales of the featured products also are going to the Henry Schein Cares Foundation to help improve access to care for underserved communities around the world. "The 'Think Pink, Practice Pink' campaign is a terrific partnership between our Company, our customers and our suppliers to further the important work of the American Cancer Society and help cancer patients," said Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer for Henry Schein. "This successful program has grown in scope and importance each year, and has been embraced by Team Schein Members in our facilities around the country, who demonstrate their commitment by wearing pink clothing and ribbons." This year's broad offering of "pink" products ranged from healthcare consumables and practice supplies to apparel and gift items. In its first three years, the initiative raised more than $200,000 for cancer research. In addition to the sale of pink products, Team Schein Members from the Company's various U.S. facilities wore pink clothing and received special commemorative gifts during the month. At the Company's world headquarters on Long Island, where some studies indicate that breast cancer is the number one killer of women between the ages of 35 and 55, many Team Schein Members also showed their support by participating in the "Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk" at Jones Beach. About Henry Schein Henry Schein, a Fortune 500(R) company and a member of the NASDAQ 100(R) Index, is recognized for its excellent customer service and highly competitive prices. The Company's four business groups - Dental, Medical, International and Technology - serve more than 575,000 customers worldwide, including dental practitioners and laboratories, physician practices and animal health clinics, as well as government and other institutions. The Company operates through a centralized and automated distribution network, which provides customers in more than 200 countries with a comprehensive selection of more than 90,000 national and Henry Schein private-brand products in stock, as well as more than 100,000 additional products available as special-order items. Henry Schein also provides exclusive, innovative technology offerings for dental, medical and veterinary professionals, including value-added practice management software and electronic health record solutions. Headquartered in Melville, N.Y., Henry Schein employs more than 12,500 people and has operations or affiliates in 23 countries. The Company's net sales reached a record $6.4 billion in 2008. For more information, visit the Henry Schein Web site at www.henryschein.com.

Sodexo Helps Three Schools Earn USDA Recognition for Outstanding Nutrition Environment

2009-10-30 08:00:47 -0400

Sodexo, a leading student nutrition services provider, created specially-designed menus, well-being programs and promotions, encouraged participation in physical activities and supported nutrition education initiatives to help three separate schools from public school districts in Florida and Rhode Island earn certification through the USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge. The HealthierUS School Challenge is an elite and comprehensive program to recognize healthy school environments that promote good nutrition and physical activity. Sodexo, and its student nutrition program at all three schools, partnered with both the Santa Rosa County School District in Milton, Fla. and the Pawtucket School Department in Pawtucket, R.I., to help three schools earn certification. W.H. Rhodes Elementary School in Florida earned Silver level certification status, while both M. Virginia Cunningham Elementary School and Curvin McCabe Elementary School in Rhode Island earned Gold level certification. "Sodexo is committed to doing everything we can to support the student well-being efforts of the districts we serve," said Lorna Donatone, president of Sodexo School Services. "Certification through the HealthierUS School Challenge is a tremendous accomplishment for our partner districts and we are proud to play a role in helping them achieve their goals. The best part about our work with this program is that the students are the people who benefit in the end." Sodexo's contributions to the certification process in the three schools went beyond healthy menu planning and traditional foodservice work. At the Pawtucket School Department, Sodexo created the Caught You Eating Healthy program to encourage students to make healthy choices by rewarding them when they are "caught" on camera with healthy items on their trays. At the Santa Rosa County School District, Sodexo coordinated grade-level specific nutrition education courses with health and science teachers and encouraged student participation in physical activities like the American Heart Association's Jump Rope For Heart program. Sodexo's expertise in student well-being combined with its considerable resources as a student nutrition provider to over 470 school districts across the country make it an ideal partner for districts looking to gain certification through this program. "Sodexo is traditionally known for our breakfast and lunch programs in schools, but we actually have a much larger presence in the districts we serve, including nutrition education - knowledge and skills that students will take with them beyond their school years," said Roxanne Moore, registered dietitian and Sodexo's national wellness director. "We are focused on the overall well-being of the students we serve and that goes way beyond the food they get in the cafeteria. We really want to give students the tools they need to live a long and healthy life." The elementary schools in Florida and Rhode Island join Ponderosa Elementary School from Billings Public Schools in Billings, Mont., a school that achieved Gold level certification in 2008, as the four schools Sodexo has assisted in earning the honor. Sodexo is committed to take measurable sustainable actions that ensure a brighter future in the areas of health and wellness, environmental stewardship and community development. Sodexo School Services focuses on nutrition, achievements, environment, community and activity to promote student well-being. Sodexo, Inc. Sodexo, Inc. (www.sodexoUSA.com) is a leading integrated facilities management services company in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, with $7.7 billion (USD) in annual revenue and 120,000 employees. Sodexo serves more than ten million customers daily in corporations, health care, long term care and retirement centers, schools, college campuses, government, and remote sites. Sodexo, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., is a member of Sodexo Group, and funds all administrative costs for the Sodexo Foundation (www.SodexoFoundation.org), an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $11 million in grants to fight hunger in America. Visit the corporate blog at (www.sodexoUSA.com/blog).

Best Selling Children’s Author R.L. Stine Reads Scary Stories to Harlem Children: Donation of One Million Books Through First Book

2009-10-29 14:57:07 -0400

R.L. Stine, the renowned author of Goosebumps and Fear Street books and his newest series Goosebumps HorrorLand, visited PS161 in Harlem today to read "scary stories" to students to celebrate Halloween and to mark the one millionth book to be donated to children across the country, as part of KPMG LLP's Family for Literacy program. R.L. Stine told scary stories, answered children's questions and helped present the symbolic one millionth book. "I think it would be a very scary world without books, so I am a very happy to be with KPMG and First Book to celebrate the great work they have done together in getting one million books in the hands of kids," says Stine. As part of the celebration, each student attending the reading party received their very own R.L. Stine book to take home and the entire school received a donation of 900 books for library and classroom use. Since the inception of the partnership two years ago, together First Book and KPMG have delivered one million books to children in need. Local KPMG offices have held bake-sales, sold lemonade, and held other fundraisers to raise funds and awareness for the cause of literacy. KPMG's Family for Literacy program, which pairs KPMG commitment and resources with First Book's national reach and local impact, was originated by Susan Flynn and Beth Veihmeyer whose husbands, Timothy Flynn and John Veihmeyer, are the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of KPMG. "Reaching children in need with one million books is a tremendous milestone and we are forever grateful to KPMG's Family for Literacy program for bringing these resources into children's lives forever," says Kyle Zimmer, President and CEO of First Book. "With the help of the KPMG family we hope to share a million more stories in the coming year." "Encouraging children to read is absolutely crucial to their development and future learning potential," said KPMG Partner Tom Duffy, who along with his wife Debbie, handed out the first book to a child eighteen months ago. "First Book is a world-class organization with a compelling mission and together we are opening new worlds of possibility for children who need books in their lives." About KPMG KPMG LLP, the audit, tax and advisory firm (www.us.kpmg.com), is the U.S. member firm of KPMG International. KPMG International’s member firms have 137,000 professionals, including more than 7,600 partners, in 144 countries. About First Book First Book provides new books to children in need addressing one of the most important factors affecting literacy - access to books. An innovative leader in social enterprise, First Book has distributed more than 65 million free and low cost books in thousands of communities. First Book now has offices in the U.S. and Canada. For more information about the nonprofit First Book please visit www.firstbook.org.

New Monthly Index Reveals Pent-Up Demand For Green Purchases

2009-10-29 13:28:54 -0400

American consumers are ready to increase their purchases of environmental products and services as the U.S. economy emerges from recession, though premium prices for green goods remain a barrier for many, according to a new monthly tracking service. The Green Confidence Index, launched today, is a monthly snapshot of Americans' attitudes about and confidence in their leaders and institutions, nationally and locally, on the subject of environmental responsibility, as well as in their own understanding of issues and their willingness to make green purchasing choices. It is the first comprehensive monthly tracking of consumers’ green attitudes and purchasing. The Index is a partnership of three leading business information services companies: GreenBiz.com, part of Greener World Media, which also produces research reports and events on the greening of mainstream business; Earthsense, an applied marketing company that produces Eco-Insights, the largest syndicated survey of U.S. consumers' attitudes and behaviors toward the environment and sustainability; and Survey Sampling International, the world's largest provider of multi-mode survey research sampling solutions. The Index is based on a monthly survey of more than 2,500 adults who are nationally representative of the U.S. adult online population. It is calculated using responses in three areas:

Responsibility: how leaders and institutions are perceived to be addressing environmental issues (weight: 40%)
Information: the adequacy of information available to make informed decisions (20%)
Purchasing: past and future purchases of green products (40%)

The Index was set in July 2009 at 100.0. Today's release includes results from the first three months of survey results, through September 2009, when the composite Index stood at 103.8. "Americans' attitudes about how they view environmental problems and solutions are complex and dynamic," says Joel Makower, executive editor of GreenBiz.com and chairman of Greener World Media. "For years, periodic surveys have tried to capture snapshots of those attitudes. By surveying monthly, the Green Confidence Index will reveal real-time shifts and nuances marketers don't usually see." "Manufacturers and retailers are increasingly aware of 'the green gap,' where consumers' behaviors and purchases often lag behind intentions, due in part to marketplace confusion about what makes products green," according to Earthsense Chief Research Officer Amy Hebard. "As better information and clearer standards evolve, the Green Confidence Index will be a valuable monitor of progress in communications and how this translates into buying decisions." In addition to the regular monthly tracking of attitudes and habits, the Green Confidence Index tracks Americans' perceptions of companies. Each month it asks, "What company, if any, do you think of as being 'green'?" This is an unaided question, meaning no list is provided. Respondents simply name companies that are front of mind. In the inaugural report, Clorox and Walmart loomed far ahead of any other brands or companies mentioned, followed by (alphabetically) General Electric, Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, SC Johnson, Toyota, and Whole Foods. In all, more than 300 companies received at least one mention. Another question asked Americans about the environmental information they use and trust "When you need information about environmental issues to guide decisions" about shopping, investing, and voting. Americans reported that they had little use for corporate blogs and websites, which were also deemed the least-trustworthy source of information. Friends, relatives, and colleagues were the highest-rated sources, with consumer ratings and reviews the second most-trusted source. The Green Confidence Index is a subscription-based service. Top-level results of each month’s survey are published for public consumption by GreenBiz.com and distributed through news releases. More comprehensive data are available by subscription, including a monthly briefing document and a quarterly report spotlighting select trends and demographics. Annual subscriptions are $499, with charter subscriptions available at $299 through December 31, 2009. More information and a sample copy of the monthly briefing can be downloaded at www.greenconfidenceindex.com. ABOUT GREENBIZ.COM GreenBiz.com (www.greenbiz.com) is the leading online resource on the greening of mainstream business, and the flagship website of Greener World Media (www.greenerworldmedia.com), a media and business information services company. GWM also produces ClimateBiz.com, GreenerBuildings.com, GreenerDesign.com, and GreenerComputing.com, as well as the annual State of Green Business report, the Green Building Market and Impact report, the State of GreenBiz Forum, and the GreenBiz Executive Network, a peer-to-peer learning forum for senior sustainability officers at multinational companies. ABOUT EARTHSENSE Earthsense (www.earthsense.com) is an applied marketing and research company whose mission is to "make sense of our world to give confidence in the value of going green." It blends market research and database marketing principles to make consumer insights actionable. Earthsense is the creator of Eco-Insights, the largest study to focus on consumers and the environment (30,000 each wave), to help close the gap between attitudes and behaviors. ABOUT SURVEY SAMPLING INTERNATIONAL Survey Sampling International (www.surveysampling.com) is the premier global provider of sampling solutions for survey research. SSI offers access to more than 6 million consumer and business-to-business research respondents in 54 countries via Internet, telephone, and mobile. Additional client services include custom profiling, survey programming and hosting, data processing, sampling consulting, and survey optimization. Founded in 1977, SSI has an international staff of 400 people representing 50 countries and 36 languages.

IBM To Provide Employees With 100% Primary Health Care Coverage, New Wellness Rebate

2009-10-29 13:14:19 -0400

IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that it will provide U.S. employees with 100 percent coverage for primary health care, beginning in 2010. Employees enrolled in IBM plans will receive full coverage throughout the year -- no coinsurance or deductible -- for in-network primary care with their internist, family practitioner, pediatrician, general practitioner or primary osteopath. IBM will be among the first U.S. companies to cover primary care at 100 percent. The company also announced a new wellness incentive for employees to encourage changes in lifestyle to build energy, better health and vitality through all aspects of personal well-being -- emotional, mental and physical. IBM pioneered the concept of healthy living rebates for its employees in 2004 and the new rebate will be one of five $150 cash incentives available to all full-time IBM employees in the U.S. "This new approach advances IBM's advocacy of wellness, preventative and primary care -- the cornerstone of keeping people healthy and productive," said Randy MacDonald, IBM senior vice president, Human Resources. "As a result of our focus on wellness and primary care, IBM employees have become healthier and our costs are rising more slowly." IBM's expanded support for primary care will lower costs for employees by eliminating co-payment or co-insurance any time that they, or covered family members, receive care from an in-network primary care doctor. It enhances IBM's coverage for preventive or "wellness" visits, such as yearly check-ups, which began in 2006. The new benefit will apply to all IBM-self insured medical plan options, which currently cover about 80 percent of IBM employees in the U.S. Other employees participate in HMOs, which typically provide most, but not all, preventive and primary services at low or no cost after payment of premiums. Both IBM and its employees have yielded significant savings over the past several years through the company's support for wellness and preventive care. Between 2004 and 2007, IBM invested $79 million in wellness programs, saving about $191 million in health-related costs. IBM's support has also produced a dramatic increases in healthy behavior among its employees, such as physical activity and healthy eating. A recent IBM telephone survey (1) of 1,000 Americans found that one in four people have not received a "wellness" visit within the last year, despite mounting evidence that 40 percent of deaths are due to preventable causes (2). The IBM survey concludes that those who see their doctor for routine wellness visits are more informed, are happier with the care they receive, and are more involved in managing their health. Those who have not had a wellness visit within the last five years are less satisfied with the medical care they receive from their primary doctor. New Healthy Living Rebate Gives Employees $150 For Adopting Healthy Lifestyle IBM also announced a new Personal Vitality Rebate, which will encourage employees to think about good health and well-being in broader holistic terms -- not simply by checking one's weight or watching cholesterol, but also paying attention to good sleep habits, effective stress management and proper nutrition. The rebate will become part of IBM's popular wellness rebate program that rewards employees and their children for exercise, healthy eating and other healthy behaviors. Each rebate is $150 in cash, and employees can chose any two rebates to receive up to $300 in cash per year. Following the same successful model as IBM's other rebate programs, the Personal Vitality Rebate will use interactive online tools to help employees take steps over 12 weeks to build energy and vitality. The self-paced program will be securely accessed by employees and does not set targets or requirements. Rather, employees can take action on a personalized plan with activities such as monitoring sleep habits or tracking and managing daily activities that boost or drain energy. Both the 100% primary care coverage and new wellness rebate will take effect on January 1, 2010, after IBM's annual benefits enrollment period. Footnotes (1) Actual Causes of Death in the United States. Journal of the American Medical Association 2004;291:1238-1245. Ali H. Mokdad, PhD; James S. Marks, MD, MPH; Donna F. Stroup, PhD, MSc; Julie L. Gerberding, MD, MPH. (2) The IBM Health Care Survey analysis is based on the findings of a phone survey that was conducted by Braun Research among 1,000 adults ages 18 or older from June 25-29, 2009. Respondents comprised a representative sample of insured, underinsured, and uninsured. The total results reported are at the 95 percent confidence level with a margin of error of +/-2.5 percent.

Martin Eakes, National Leader in Responsible Lending, Receives Prestigious Ned Gramlich Lifetime Achievement Award for Responsible Lending

2009-10-29 12:00:07 -0400

Opportunity Finance Network (OFN) announced today that Martin Eakes, a nationally recognized expert on community development finance serving low-income people and communities, received the third annual Ned Gramlich Lifetime Achievement Award for Responsible Lending. Named in memory of the late Federal Reserve Board Governor Edward (Ned) Gramlich, the Award honors a lifetime of achievement in responsible financial services. Gramlich served as a Board Member of OFN after leaving the Federal Reserve Board. Eakes is the Chief Executive Officer of North Carolina-based Self-Help, a community development lender which he co-founded in 1980. He also leads the Center for Responsible Lending, a research and policy affiliate of Self-Help that Self-Help established in 2002. Eakes, also a MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Award winner, is a national leader in fighting abusive financial practices targeted at poor families, including predatory home loans, payday lending, and abusive checking and credit card fees. “Martin is a leader among leaders in a critical segment of the financial services industry—responsible lending,” according to Mark Pinsky, President & CEO of Opportunity Finance Network, the organization that will present the award. “He has made a transformational impact through innovative financing and policy leadership. Because of Martin, countless people and communities across the nation who were underserved by traditional lenders or preyed upon by predatory lenders now have homes and businesses, and are building wealth instead of debt.” OFN presented the award to Eakes on October 29th at the OFN Conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. Eakes addressed the audience of more than 700 CDFI practitioners from across the nation. “I am deeply honored to receive this award, all the more so because it honors the memory of Ned Gramlich, a true friend and hero of community development finance,” Eakes said. “Self-Help works to provide low-wealth individuals and communities the opportunity to succeed. This award reflects on the success of our borrowers and how lending to low-wealth families, when done responsibly, can help transform lives. OFN and its membership have always understood the need for responsible lending and the urgency of combating abusive lending practices, which makes this award even more meaningful to me." OFN established The Ned Gramlich Lifetime Achievement Award for Responsible Lending in 2007 in memory of Former Federal Reserve Governor and OFN board member Ned Gramlich. The award is the opportunity finance industry’s highest tribute and honors one exceptional person each year who has dedicated their life, and not just their career, to a shared enterprise in promoting and implementing responsible financial services for low-income and low-wealth people. Gramlich, who served on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve from 1997 to 2005, was a tireless advocate for responsible finance. He was one of very few people to warn publicly as much as nine years ago that irresponsible mortgage lending practices would likely lead to the crisis we are in now. Eakes’ achievements include1:

Since its founding in 1980, Self-Help has provided $4.5 billion in financing to 45,000 homeowners small business owners, and other nonprofits, nationwide.
Helping borrowers nationwide to build wealth through ownership of a home or business.
Strengthening underserved communities by financing nonprofits, childcare centers, community health facilities, public charter schools and residential and commercial real estate projects.
Operating a secondary market program that enables private lenders to make more loans in low wealth communities.
Establishing the Center for Responsible Lending to help push for better regulation and stem the tide of foreclosures.

Eakes is a native of North Carolina, and has been honored by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation as a MacArthur Fellow for his work. Other awards include the Credit Union National Association Wegner Award, National Consumer Law Center’s Father Robert F. Drinan Leadership Award, and the Annie E. Casey Foundation National Families Count Award. About Self-Help Headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, Self-Help operates branch offices in seven North Carolina cities, as well as one office in Washington, D.C., that conduct mortgage and small business lending. Self- Help also operates three full-service credit unions in eastern North Carolina, to provide consumer loan products and services to mostly rural manufacturing communities. About Opportunity Finance Network: Opportunity Finance Network (OFN), the leading national network of more than 160 financial institutions, creates growth that is good for communities, investors, individuals, and the economy. To date, the opportunity finance industry has financed more than $25 billion in underserved markets in all 50 states, yielding more than 200,000 jobs, 500,000 housing units, and 5,000 community facility projects. More information is available at: www.opportunityfinance.net.

2009 Net Impact Conference

2009-10-27 14:58:38 -0400

The 2009 Net Impact Conference will bring together the players behind the sustainable global enterprise movement, including sustainability and corporate responsibility practitioners, social entrepreneurs, and nonprofit leaders. What inspires them to challenge the status quo? What obstacles do they face? And what approaches have led them to success in changing the rules of the game? Retreat to beautiful Ithaca, New York, with more than 2,000 professionals, MBAs, and other students to explore what it really takes for individuals and organizations to be changemakers, innovators, and problem solvers. Join us November 13 - 14 in Ithaca, NY at The Johnson School at Cornell University to:

Hear personal perspectives from cutting-edge leaders like Jeffrey Immelt, CEO of GE, and Seth Goldman, President and TeaEO of Honest Tea
Connect with professionals and students with similar interests at intimately-structured networking events
Gather best practices from over 350 speakers prepared to answer your difficult questions

The unparalleled energy of the Net Impact Conference will leave you inspired and equipped to make real change in your social or environmental impact career.

Deloitte/LEAD Canada Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Training

2009-10-22 16:05:39 -0400

Deloitte & Touche LLP and LEAD Canada cordially invite you to join us to learn about the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards for sustainability reporting. GRI standards offer an accurate, comparable, and repeatable way to measure your business’ environmental and social performance. Here’s what the course will cover: Context, drivers, and best sustainability reporting practice Key steps involved in GRI’s reporting process Use of GRI’s materiality and reporting principles Role, prioritization, and engagement of stakeholders Linkages between GRI and Global Compact Application-level assessment and external assurance The course size is limited to 15 participants to maximize learning. Participants will receive their course completion certificates directly from GRI. Discover how a comprehensive sustainability reporting strategy can help not only to increase transparency and accountability, but also to identify areas for improvement and mitigate risk. Who should attend Managers responsible for their organization’s environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. What’s included Registration fees include course handouts, refreshments, and lunches. Information and registration To request further information and/or register for courses, please e-mail mehrdad@prizmasolutions.com. Please indicate selected course, full name, job title, billing address, payment preference, and highlight your eligibility for any discounts. About LEAD LEAD is the first and most experienced GRI-certified training provider in North America. GRI certified LEAD as its Training Partner in Canada and the USA. LEAD’s GRI training initiative has been endorsed by the Certified General Accountants Association of Canada (CGA-Canada), the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Shareholder Association for Research & Education (SHARE). Deloitte is a Sustaining Partner of LEAD, hosting and contributing to GRI courses.

Opportunity Collaboration

2009-10-17 00:00:24 -0400

On October 17th, the Opportunity Collaboration will bring together leaders from all over the world to create change, leverage resources and create new alliances in the fight against poverty. Registration is still open for those interested in taking action. The Opportunity Collaboration is focused on networking, collaboration, problem solving and partnering to more efficiently address poverty alleviation and economic justice. Delegates are catalytic senior leaders who, by actions and accomplishments have shown pragmatic vision, passionate tenacity, extraordinary thinking and planning, adaptive leadership, non-ideological activism and a strong ethical grounding.

Great River Energy 2008 Social Responsibility Report

2009-10-15 14:18:58 -0400

Sustainability Showcase Award

2009-10-13 18:24:16 -0400

The California Sustainability Alliance is currently accepting nominations for its 2009 Sustainability Showcase Awards. Now in its second year, the Sustainability Showcase Awards recognizes the successful sustainable policies, programs, practices and technologies implemented by leading organizations. This year, the Alliance is seeking sustainability leaders in five sectors to share their successful strategies: Commercial Building Organizations, Multi-Family Housing Organizations, Local Governments,Water Agencies, and Sellers of Other Products or Services. Winners in each category will be honored at the California Sustainability Alliance Showcase Awards Luncheon to be held in February 2010 and will be featured in showcases on the Alliance's website. Of the five winning organizations, the organization that best exemplifies a comprehensive adoption of sustainability policies and practices in all aspects of its business and operations will be announced as the grand prize winner at the awards luncheon and featured in a video documentary highlighting its successes. IT'S NOT TOO LATE!!! Send in your nominations. Nominations will be accepted until midnight, November 20, 2009. Early entry submissions will have the opportunity to have their applications reviewed with information on any amendments and revisions that may need to be made prior to the closing date. Organizations selected for the Alliance's Showcase will be announced on December 1, 2009. To learn more about the Showcase Award or download the application, go to http://www.sustainca.org/showcase/showcase2009

In Good Company CSR Conference

2009-10-07 08:56:59 -0400

Registration for this event runs from October 5 - 27 2009. The event will take place in Toronto on October 27, 2009. Breathing Strategy into Corporate Social Responsibility: The Business Case for Strategic CSR This conference will bring together some of Canada’s most inspiring business and cause leaders in an engaging dialogue focused on sharing how to: Measure the Return on Social Investments (ROSI) Design signature CSR programs that stand out Focus and align community investment programs with business objectives Develop meaningful volunteer programs and stakeholder engagement practices Measure the effectiveness of your environmental and social initiatives Attract and retain great talent and customers through strategic CSR Featured Speakers Include: Martin Connell, Co-Founder of Ace Bakery, past chair of the Canadian Center for Philanthropy Don Green, Co-Founder, ROOTS Andy Macaulay, Co-Founder and CEO, Zig Heather Reisman, Founder and CEO of Indigo Books & Music Gavin Thompson, Director of Corporate Citizenship, Microsoft Canada Bob Willard, Environmental Expert and bestselling author of The Sustainability Advantage This is a not for profit event. Proceeds are shared amongst the non-profits and charities being profiled during the conference. CSRwire subscribers are able to receive an additional 25% off their ticket price by typing “csrwire” into the discount code field on the event registration page. Very limited Seating, get your ticket today!

Doing the Right Things

2009-10-05 15:19:45 -0400

Practical Tools and Methods for Change Agents: The ISIS Agreement

2009-10-01 00:00:24 -0400

Instructor: Alan AtKisson, author of The ISIS Agreement and Believing Cassandra (Stockholm) Webinars will be Mondays at noon Pacific time (9pm Europe), Oct 5, 12, 19, 26

Corporate Responsibility 2008 Report

2009-09-30 09:01:23 -0400

2009 Global Corporate Citizenship Conference: Focus on Emerging Market Development

2009-09-25 13:37:59 -0400

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center 2009 Global Corporate Citizenship Conference is designed to be high impact with rich networking opportunities among and between leading corporate citizens and their nonprofit and government partners engaged in emerging market development. Attend the 2009 Global Corporate Citizenship Conference: Focus on Emerging Market Development if you want to PARTNER with business, government, or non-governmental organizations to tackle new, innovative and creative ideas for private sector involvement in overseas development assistance. In a day-and-a-half high-impact conference, you will also have the opportunity to: - Attend a pre-conference welcome reception at the Embassy of Sweden - Participate in business round tables discussions and teach ins on how to effectively work with governmental and MLO partners - Hear from leaders in the corporate development community and learn best practices across sector - Network with business, government, and NGO leaders who share your interests The Conference will: 1) Highlight the incentives and obstacles affecting private sector involvement in overseas development. 2) Showcase best practices for private sector engagement in emerging markets. 3) Present areas for collaboration through public-private partnerships. * Join us on September 30th for a special pre-conference welcome reception at the spectacular Embassy of Sweden located in the historic Georgetown Waterfront on the Potomac River. Sweden currently holds the presidency of the European Union. View resources from the 2008 Global Corporate Citizenship Conference including photos, videos, participants, speaker biographies, agenda, and more at: http://bclcglobal.uschamber.com

Carbon Capture and Storage 2009

2009-09-22 00:00:23 -0400

The 2009 Carbon Capture and Storage World Summit, set for September 22 – 24, 2009 in Washington DC, will provide the latest in policy and funding information, as well as technology and industry updates. “Program development is underway," said Conference Producer Valerie King. "We're looking forward to providing an environment in which industry leaders can meet, network and discuss the important issues facing policy and funding." Key topics to be discussed include business concepts and technology for the steel, coal and concrete industries. One pre-conference seminar will be held prior to the conference on Tuesday, September 22 and several networking opportunities and interactive panel discussions will also be provided. At a time when clean energy is more prominent than ever, Carbon Capture and Storage 2009 conference is the event to network with key leaders across several industries and receive a comprehensive overview on carbon capture and storage.

Corporate Social Responsibility: Strategies to Create Business and Social Value

2009-09-21 14:37:09 -0400

Facing the challenges of a deepening global recession and limited financial resources, many companies are charting a new course. As business leaders navigate this evolving terrain, they must satisfy the demands of customers, employees, investors, and governments—and develop new strategies that address the economic, social, and environmental impact of their business practices. Corporate Social Responsibility: Strategies to Create Business and Social Value provides the strategic clarity you need to align corporate social responsibility (CSR) with business strategy and manage successfully through the downturn.

EABIS Colloquium 2009 - The role of business in society

2009-09-21 00:00:23 -0400

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

Ethical Sourcing Forum – North America 2010

2009-09-16 22:03:46 -0400

Visualize. Rethink. Solve! These crucial elements of sustainability decision-making form the basis of the next Ethical Sourcing Forum in New York on March 18-19th, 2010. Join Intertek Sustainability Solutions as we host the ninth annual ESF-North America The Ethical Sourcing Forum is a unique industry event that brings together members of the global sustainability community in order to address emerging sustainability and ethical supply chain challenges. ESF North America 2010 is where you will find applied innovation and the latest solutions-development processes that yield social and environmental progress while advancing core business objectives. Business the world over is changing as players learn to visualize a new future and rethink the strategy needed to get there. Visualize. Rethink. Solve! Learn how these decision-making elements can drive sustainability success! Register now and sponsor emerging sustainability leaders!

15% of each corporate delegate registration will contribute to StartingBloc’s work in support of its Fellows
ESF participants receive a formal StartingBloc letter of appreciation and recognition on StartingBloc’s website

The Economics of Peace

2009-09-16 15:56:16 -0400

This October, Praxis Peace Institute and RSF Social Finance are pleased to present The Economics of Peace in Sonoma, California. This unique 5-day event will address the pressing economic issues of our time and provide critical and collaborative tools for the economy of the future. The purpose of The Economics of Peace is to make visible the many emerging and innovative economic, market, financial, and exchange practices that are focused on environmental sustainability, social justice, and peace. The conference will feature lectures, workshops, and plenaries on topics such as:

Spain's Mondragón Cooperatives (the world's largest consortium of worker-owned businesses)
Regional capital markets
Complementary currencies
Local living economies
New approaches to economic policy
Cultural myths of money
Race and class in new economic thinking

World Renowned Speakers Include: James Galbraith, Vandana Shiva, David Korten, Riane Eisler, Mikel Lezamiz (Mondragón Cooperatives), Jacob Needleman, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, Sam Keen, A.T. Ariyaratne; Melissa Bradley-Burns, and Judy Wicks. Workshop Leaders and Panelists Include: John Bloom, C.J. Callen and Pilar Gonzales (Conversation on Money, Race, and Class); Charles Eisenstein (Sacred Economics); Bob Graham (Microcredit);Hazel Henderson (Ethical Markets); Richard Logie (Global Exchange Trading Systems); Terry Mollner (Common Good Investing); Daniel Pinchbeck (Evolver); Kelley Rajala, Derek Huntington, and Mary Rick (Local Living Economies); David Ransom (Social Change); Don Shaffer (Regional Capital Markets); Norman Solomon (Green New Deal); Woody Tasch (Slow Money); Andrew Kimbrell (Salmon Economics); Trent Schroyer (Sustainable Economic Cultures); Stephanie Rearick (TimeBanking); Tom Greco (Complementary Currencies) Co-sponsors Include: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, E.F. Schumacher Society, BALLE (Business Alliance for Local Living Economies), Mother Jones Magazine, New Resource Bank, the North Bay Bohemian, Green America, the Sonoma Community Center, Westerbeke Ranch, Esalen Institute, Sonoma County GoLocal, Sustaining Technologies, Yes! Magazine, and others.

EABIS Colloquium 2009 – The Governance Conference

2009-09-07 08:00:25 -0400

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

Sustainability & Social Responsibility Conference

2009-09-04 09:00:24 -0400

This one-and-a-half day program offers supply management professionals an unprecedented opportunity to hear from leading multinational companies that have already implemented successful sustainability and social responsibility programs. http://www.ism.ws/education/content.cfm?ItemNumber=19580 REGISTRATION Registration fee is $795 (USD) for ISM members and $995 (USD) for nonmembers. Team discounts and student rates are available. PRE-CONFERENCE In addition to the Sustainability and Social Responsibility Conference, ISM will hold a pre-conference seminar on November 3-4, 2009 titled “Finance for the Supply Management Professional.” Pre-conference fees are $1,295 (USD) for ISM members and $1,595 (USD) for nonmembers. Attend both programs and save $200 off the registration fee for the complete package. HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS Conference attendees can benefit from early bird ISM discounted room rate of $149 plus tax per night through October 12, 2009. The Marriott Inn and Conference Center UMUC in Adelphi, MD was named the country's first environmentally friendly hotel and conference center. The hotel has received its LEED certification from the US Green Building Council. EXHIBITING/SPONSORSHIPS For information on exhibiting/sponsorships, contact Trish True or Kathy Braase at ttrue@ism.ws or kbraase@ism.ws or call 480-752-6276 ext. 3086 or 3061.

Piraeus Bank's Annual Corporate Responsibility Report 2008

2009-09-04 08:16:24 -0400

SRI in the Rockies Conference

2009-09-01 12:35:06 -0400

This year's conference, "From Crisis to Opportunity: Investing for a Sustainable Economy," will be presented by First Affirmative Financial Network in collaboration with the Social Investment Forum. Conference attendees can benefit from "early bird" registration discounts through September 1, 2009. In 2009, SRI in the Rockies will highlight new opportunities for advisors and investors who embrace innovative investment strategies focused on environmental, social, and governance issues. More than 50 organizations have signed on as sponsors in support of this year's conference.

Sustaining Sustainability: Organizational Assessments and Systems

2009-09-01 00:00:23 -0400

Instructor: Dorothy Atwood with the Zero Waste Alliance and EPA's Local Resource Center representative for environmental management systems (Portland, OR) Discover how to build systems to sustain your sustainability initiative, so it's not dependent upon the passion of one person. Build the skeleton of a sustainability management system and get an overview of useful sustainability assessments which you can use to track your progress.

Green Awards 2009

2009-08-13 11:25:07 -0400

Launched in 2006 to critical acclaim, the Green Awards were set up to recognise and reward creative work that communicates the importance of Corporate Social Responsibility, sustainable development and ethical best practice in any sector and across any marketing discipline. In the four years since its inception, the awards have become an established event on the global eco-calendar highlighting the best examples of green marketing and sustainability communications that have made a real difference in the fight against global warming. The reception will take place in central London where we will be serving organic drinks and canapes. No bottled water will be available in support of www.londonontap.org/. As part of our support for 'No Meat on Mondays' we will only be serving vegetarian and vegan food. www.supportmfm.org/

Radical Collaboration: A celebration of the new partnership between GenGreen, 3rdWhale and Creative Citizen

2009-08-12 11:58:51 -0400

GenGreen LLC, (www.GenGreenLife.com), 3rdWhale Mobile, Inc., (www.3rdwhale.com) and Creative Citizen (www.CreativeCitizen.com) invite members of the media to join us to celebrate our new strategic partnership, “Mobilizing the Green Revolution”, with an evening of information, inspiration and connection. As leaders in the environmental movement, GenGreen and their network GenGreenLife.com, 3rdWhale Mobile and Creative Citizen are pooling their resources to create the largest database of verified green businesses and organizations in the U.S. with the goal of advancing and increasing the collective strength of our Green Movement. This event will feature the first-ever public demonstration of upcoming mobile applications for the iPhone and other devices by GenGreen and 3rdWhale to enable businesses and consumers to identify green suppliers, making it easy to locate everything from the closest farmers market to electronics recycling drop off locations. The combined GenGreen/3rdWhale database, as well as content from other partners including Mother Nature Network, CSRWire and Creative Citizen, will soon be available to users throughout North America.

A Healthy Approach to Life: Corporate Responsibility Report 2008

2009-08-06 11:00:03 -0400

Green Buildings Open House

2009-08-03 15:59:22 -0400

GREEN BUILDINGS OPEN HOUSE, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2009 10:00 am - 4:00 pm See how your neighbors are reducing their energy bills and carbon footprint through the power of the sun, wind, and smart building design. On Saturday, October 3, the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association is welcoming the public to visit local sustainable homes and buildings throughout Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware to see clean renewable energy at work. The Green Buildings Open House is presented in conjunction with the American Solar Energy Society’s National Solar Tour. Homeowners and facility managers will be showing visitors the latest in renewable energy technologies, sustainable building materials, and energy efficient appliances. Take a local tour to learn how you, too, can save by going green. To find the Green Buildings Open House sites nearest you, visit www.nesea.org.

Life Cycle Assessment 101

2009-08-01 00:00:20 -0400

Instructor: Tom Gloria, eQuilibrium (Boston, MA) August 2009. Webinars on Tuesdays at 6:00pm Pacific Time, Aug 4, 11, 18, 25 This is an introductory course on life cycle assessment. Participants will learn the steps involved and complete a simple LCA in a business simulation using an Excel spreadsheet. This is a great introductory course for: --sustainability professionals wondering if LCA would be a good field to get into --sustainability practitioners who may need to hire a firm to do a detailed LCA and need to know enough about the process to manage the project --sustainability professionals who need an introduction to LCA before taking the 'deep dive' into the certification training. Webinars of roughly an hour will be on Mondays at 5pm Pacific time. Plan to do several more hours of work a week. This class does not teach you how to use a common LCA database like SimaPro and is not sufficient to pass the LCA certification. It is a prerequisite for the LCA certification training that we hope to offer later (although experienced LCA professionals can 'test out' of this course).

State of the World Forum

2009-07-28 10:28:11 -0400

The purpose of the Belo Horizonte State of the World Forum is to launch the global 2020 Climate Leadership Campaign, a central part of which will be the launch of the Brazil 2020 Climate Leadership Campaign and the Brazil 2020 Youth Campaign. The Forum will also provide the occasion for the premiere of Globo’s national public education campaign on global warming. This Forum marks the first time that people will be coming together from around the world to strategize and start enacting a global plan of action to reduce carbon emissions by 80% by 2020 and re-align our relationship to ourselves, each other and the earth.

Resetting Responsibilities

2009-07-21 08:01:20 -0400

Walmart Sustainability Milestone Meeting to be Webcast live at Walmartstores.com

2009-07-14 16:00:20 -0400

To learn how Walmart is accelerating and broadening our company's sustainability efforts. The company also will share its plans to address consumers’ increasing expectations for more sustainable products and how measuring sustainability can drive innovation in the supply chain and in products consumers purchase.

Earn an MBA in Managing for Sustainability with the Marlboro College Graduate Center

2009-07-05 09:01:20 -0400

Earn an MBA in Managing for Sustainability The Marlboro MBA in Managing for Sustainability, currently in its launch phase, will bring the model pioneered by several West Coast MBA programs to Vermont and the Northeast for the first time. This model integrates the essential elements of traditional MBAs with process and content attuned to social and environmental responsibility, the notion of triple or multiple bottom-line performance measurement, a global perspective on commerce and economic justice, and the overall notion of sustainability. Key features include an emphasis on accounting and finance, systems thinking courses, exploration of the policy and business implications of climate change, priority for clear written and verbal communication, mentoring in personal leadership development, and international study. There are three particular groups of people for whom the Marlboro MBA is specifically designed:

Those who are convinced our society must follow a more sustainable path, and seek knowledge, skills, perspectives, and a network to help them point their business careers in that direction.
People who want to immerse themselves in the socially responsible business movement by working at one of the leaders - many of which are located in or near Vermont - or perhaps starting the next trend-setter themselves.
People who are interested in becoming a corporate social responsibility (CSR) professional for a corporation, auditing firm, consulting firm, or NGO, working to change the system from within.

At 60 credits, this full-scale, accredited MBA can be completed in two years, and does not require students to live near the campus. Its hybrid limited-residency format combines attendance of ten 3-day intensives per year with Internet-based distance education.

Sustainable Community Development: Economic Recovery 101

2009-07-01 00:02:20 -0400

Instructor: Gwen Hallsmith. Guest speaker: Hunter Lovins How are you using the insights from all the work that's been done by sustainable development professionals to address the economic crisis in your community? Do you need new ideas about how to create jobs and that build natural and social capital? How to redirect the economic stimulus package so that it doesn't just go to the tired solutions of yesterday, regardless of how 'shovel ready' they are? What opportunities are hidden in the housing crisis that can mobilize communities toward long-term, permanently affordable housing and stronger neighborhoods? Learn how you can take advantage of this moment in time to build more sustainable systems and practices in your community. We'll use the LASER Guide (Local Action for Sustainable Economic Renewal) to chart a course for your community that you’ll be able to put into action at the end of the course. The LASER Guide is co-authored by Hunter Lovins and Christopher Juniper of Natural Capitalism, Bernard Lietaer from the Access Foundation, Gwendolyn Hallsmith of Global Community Initiatives, Wayne Fawbush, who now works for the Ford Foundation, and Michael Miller of America's Development Foundation. It's a step by step workbook with a web based set of management support tools with best practices from around the world, and resources that give you practical stories and advice from people who have successfully used the strategies.

Baxter Highlights Progress Toward Sustainability Priorities in 10th Annual Sustainability Report

2009-06-18 16:31:20 -0400

Ford’s 10th Annual Sustainability Report Details Progress on Blueprint for Sustainability

2009-06-15 14:16:38 -0400

GREEN CITIES How Urban Sustainability Efforts Can and Must Drive America’s Climate Change Policies

2009-05-07 00:00:00 -0400

Improving Outcomes

2009-05-05 00:00:00 -0400

2008 Corporate Responsibility Report

2009-05-01 00:00:00 -0400

American Electric Power 2009 Corporate Sustainability Report

2009-04-28 00:00:00 -0400

2008 Global Citizenship Report

2009-04-27 00:00:00 -0400

Building a Foundation for Sustainability

2009-04-27 00:00:00 -0400

Our Commitment to the Future.

2009-04-14 00:00:00 -0400

2008 Corporate Responsibility Report

2009-03-26 00:00:00 -0400

The Four Dimensions of Sustainability White Paper

2009-03-02 00:00:00 -0500

ICMM Annual Review 2008 - Embracing Change

2009-02-25 00:00:00 -0500

Novo Nordisk Launches Fifth Integrated Annual Report Accounting for Financial, Social and Environmental Performance

2009-02-03 00:00:00 -0500

Sustainability Report 2008

2009-01-19 00:00:00 -0500

Article 13 UNGC 2008 Communication on Progress

2009-01-15 00:00:00 -0500

The Color of our World

2009-01-12 00:00:00 -0500

Verification of Certification Activities in West African Cocoa Sector: Strategy Report

2009-01-10 00:00:00 -0500

Verification of Certification Activities in West African Cocoa Sector: Final Verification Report: Ghana

2009-01-10 00:00:00 -0500

Verification of Certification Activities in West African Cocoa Sector: Final Verification Report: Côte d‟Ivoire

2009-01-10 00:00:00 -0500