CSRWire News

CBRE Group, Inc. Among 2020 100 Best Corporate Citizens

3BL Media has named CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBRE) to its 2020 100 Best Corporate Citizens list, which recognizes outstanding environmental, social and governance (ESG) transparency and performance among the 1,000 largest U.S. public companies. CBRE is the only real estate services firm on this year’s list.

“We are proud to be acknowledged for our achievements in environmental, social and governance issues,” said Bob Sulentic, CBRE’s president and chief executive officer. “Responsible business practices are especially important during these difficult times, and CBRE is focused on continuing to make measurable progress in these critical areas.”

The 100 Best Corporate Citizens list is based on more than 140 corporate disclosure and performance factors related to climate change, employee relations, environment, finance, governance, human rights, and stakeholders and society. The 1,000 largest U.S.-based public companies by market value are evaluated by Institutional Shareholder Services using a methodology developed by 3BL Media.

Earlier this year, CBRE was ranked #13 on the 2020 Barron’s 100 Most Sustainable Companies list, named to the 2020 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index and was the top-ranked real estate company on Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Company roster for the second year in a row.

More information about CBRE’s corporate responsibility programs can be found at www.cbre.com/responsibility.

About CBRE Group, Inc.

CBRE Group, Inc. (NYSE:CBRE), a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company headquartered in Los Angeles, is the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm (based on 2019 revenue). The company has more than 100,000 employees (excluding affiliates) and serves real estate investors and occupiers through more than 530 offices (excluding affiliates) worldwide. CBRE offers a broad range of integrated services, including facilities, transaction and project management; property management; investment management; appraisal and valuation; property leasing; strategic consulting; property sales; mortgage services and development services. Please visit our website at www.cbre.com.

Media Contact
Corey Mirman
+1 (212) 984-6542
corey.mirman@cbre.com
CBRE Corporate Communications

3BL Media has named Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE:SWK) to its annual 100 Best Corporate Citizens ranking, recognizing outstanding environmental, social and governance (ESG) transparency and performance among the 1,000 largest, U.S. public companies. This is Stanley Black & Decker’s first appearance on the list, with the company ranking #45 overall and #6 in the Capital Goods Industry.

"Now more than ever, the business community must take action and come together and focus on creating a better world for all stakeholders," said Stanley Black & Decker’s President and CEO Jim Loree. "We stand ‘For Those Who Make The World,’ our Purpose statement adopted just over three years ago. The ‘Those’ is intended to reinforce our commitment to inclusivity for all people and we stand in solidarity for justice, inclusion and equality. We know that our team and each and every one of us can contribute and be a force for good. This recognition acknowledges the wonderful progress our teams have made in this regard, but we know there is more to do to understand, acknowledge and take action for the African American community and other marginalized groups.”

The 100 Best Corporate Citizens ranking is based on 141 ESG transparency and performance factors in eight pillars: climate change, employee relations, environment, finance, governance, human rights, stakeholders and society, and ESG performance. Using a methodology developed by 3BL Media, all Russell 1000 Index companies are researched by ISS ESG, the responsible investment research arm of Institutional Shareholder Services.

“Achieving the transformational targets in the Paris Agreement and UN Sustainable Development Goals in this decade means we need all companies to embed ESG issues into their business,” said Dave Armon, CEO of 3BL Media. “The best corporate citizens of 2020 are leaders, demonstrating how transparency, ambitious goals, robust strategies and accounting for all stakeholders builds business and social value.” 

Stanley Black & Decker’s purpose – For Those Who Make the World – helped launch a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy that tied the company’s purpose with the United Nations’ 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. While the company always had a deep commitment to CSR, the strategy, born in 2017, was reflective of the company’s broader ambition to help create a more sustainable world. 

The strategy focuses the company's efforts on three key pillars: empowering makers, innovating with purpose and creating a more sustainable world. By 2030, Stanley Black & Decker plans to enable 10 million creators and makers to thrive in a changing world, innovate our products to enhance the lives of 500 million people, and, be carbon positive in its global operations, meaning its carbon capture is greater than its carbon emissions. Stanley Black & Decker also aims to build a culture where inclusiveness is a reflex, not an initiative and all employees feel valued, heard and positioned to succeed.

To learn more about the company's CSR strategy, visit www.stanleyblackanddecker.com/social-responsibility.

For access to the complete 100 Best Corporate Citizens of 2020 ranking and methodology visit: https://100best.3blmedia.com/ 

About Stanley Black & Decker:

Stanley Black & Decker is a purpose-driven, $14 billion revenue industrial organization. Stanley Black & Decker has 60,000 employees in more than 60 countries and operates the world's largest tools and storage business, the world's second-largest commercial electronic security services company, a leading engineered fastening business as well as Oil & Gas and Infrastructure businesses. The company's iconic brands include Black & Decker, Bostitch, CRAFTSMAN, DEWALT, FACOM, Irwin, Lenox, Porter Cable and Stanley. Stanley Black & Decker is a company for the makers and innovators, the craftsmen and the caregivers, and those doing the hard work to make the world a better place. Learn more at www.stanleyblackanddecker.com.

About the 100 Best Corporate Citizens Ranking:

The 100 Best Corporate Citizens debuted in 1999 in Business Ethics Magazine and appeared annually in Corporate Responsibility Magazine for many years. 3BL Media has managed the ranking since 2018. To compile the ranking, each company in the Russell 1000 Index is ranked according to its transparency and performance on 141 environmental, social and governance factors.

About 3BL Media:

3BL Media delivers purpose-driven communications for the world’s leading companies. Our unrivaled distribution, leadership and editorial platforms inspire and support global sustainable business. Learn more here.

NortonLifeLock (NASDAQ: NLOK), a global leader in consumer Cyber Safety, has been named to the annual 100 Best Corporate Citizens ranking from 3BL Media, recognizing the company’s outstanding environmental, social and governance (ESG) transparency and performance.

NortonLifeLock’s commitment to corporate responsibility is a critical anchor of the company’s mission and operating philosophy. The company galvanizes its people, passions and powerful technology to support social and environmental priorities that foster a safer and more sustainable future for consumers, their digital information and the world.

“When NortonLifeLock transitioned to a pure-play, standalone consumer cyber safety company last year, we saw an opportunity to evolve and build upon our commitment to sustainability and social responsibility,” said Kim Allman, Head of Corporate Responsibility and Government Affairs at NortonLifeLock. “To be recognized for our ESG efforts by the 100 Best Corporate Citizens ranking reaffirms our unwavering commitment to a diverse and inclusive workforce, bettering the environment, and generating positive societal impact.”

The 100 Best Corporate Citizens ranking measures the performance of the 1,000 largest, U.S. public companies against 141 ESG transparency and performance factors in eight pillars: climate change, employee relations, environment, finance, governance, human rights, stakeholders and society, and ESG performance. Using a methodology developed by 3BL Media, companies are researched by ISS ESG, the responsible investment research arm of Institutional Shareholder Services.

To compile the ranking, corporate data and information is obtained from publicly available sources only, rather than questionnaires or company submissions. Data and information used in the 2020 edition of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens ranking is from March 6, 2019 to March 13, 2020.

“Achieving the transformational targets in the Paris Agreement and UN Sustainable Development Goals in this decade means we need all companies to embed ESG issues into their business,” said Dave Armon, CEO of 3BL Media. “The best corporate citizens of 2020 are leaders, demonstrating how transparency, ambitious goals, robust strategies and accounting for all stakeholders builds business and social value.” 

This year, NortonLifeLock also reaffirmed its commitment to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), which unites over 10,000 companies across 161 countries in the determination to reverse detrimental human effects on society and the planet. As the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, companies that sign on to the UNGC commit to supporting their 10 principles on protecting human rights, upholding ethical labor conditions, protecting the environment, and combating corruption.

For information on how NortonLifeLock is delivering on its commitment to corporate responsibility, read the company’s 2019 Corporate Responsibility Report: https://www.nortonlifelock.com/us/en/corporate-responsibility/corporate-responsibility-report/

For access to the complete 100 Best Corporate Citizens of 2020 ranking and methodology visit: https://100best.3blmedia.com/

About NortonLifeLock
NortonLifeLock Inc. (NASDAQ: NLOK) is a global leader in consumer Cyber Safety. NortonLifeLock is dedicated to helping secure the devices, identities, online privacy, and home and family needs of nearly 50 million consumers, providing them with a trusted ally in a complex digital world. For more information, please visit www.nortonlifelock.com.

About the 100 Best Corporate Citizens Ranking
The 100 Best Corporate Citizens debuted in 1999 in Business Ethics Magazine and appeared annually in Corporate Responsibility Magazine for many years. 3BL Media has managed the ranking since 2018. To compile the ranking, each company in the Russell 1000 Index is ranked according to its transparency and performance on 141 environmental, social and governance factors.

About 3BL Media
3BL Media delivers purpose-driven communications for the world’s leading companies. Our unrivaled distribution, leadership and editorial platforms inspire and support global sustainable business. Learn more here.

Today, General Mills announced it has been recognized as one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by 3BL Media for its outstanding environmental, social and governance (ESG) transparency and performance among the 1,000 largest, U.S. public companies. For the third consecutive year, General Mills received the top ranking amongst its food and beverage peers for its actions, and third in the overall rankings.

"For General Mills, being a good corporate citizen is part of our DNA and central to who we are," said Mary Jane Melendez, chief sustainability and social impact officer at General Mills. "Anytime we’re recognized for the role we play to make the planet and communities in which we live and work better, it’s an honor. There is always more work to be done, but we are motivated by our progress and commitment to be a force for good."

General Mills’ sustainability mission centers on promoting environmentally and socially responsible practices across its value chain to protect the resources and people upon which the company depends. To achieve this mission, General Mills is focused on initiatives to support climate resilience, regenerative agriculture, healthy watersheds, thriving ecosystems, and protecting human rights and animal welfare.

The 100 Best Corporate Citizens ranking is based on 141 ESG transparency and performance factors in eight pillars: climate change, employee relations, environment, finance, governance, human rights, stakeholders and society, and ESG performance. Using a methodology developed by 3BL Media, all Russell 1000 Index companies are researched by ISS ESG, the responsible investment research arm of Institutional Shareholder Services. To compile the ranking, corporate data and information is obtained from publicly available sources only, rather than questionnaires or company submissions.

“Achieving the transformational targets in the Paris Agreement and UN Sustainable Development Goals in this decade means we need all companies to embed ESG issues into their business,” said Dave Armon, CEO of 3BL Media. “The best corporate citizens of 2020 are leaders, demonstrating how transparency, ambitious goals, robust strategies and accounting for all stakeholders builds business and social value.” 

Clients and third-party organizations continue to recognize General Mills globally for its ethics, climate leadership and commitment to be an employer of choice. The company’s recent notable U.S. and global recognition includes:

• Dow Jones Sustainability Index: North America and World Indices

• CDP Climate Change and Water Security A Lists

• Fortune Magazine’s World Most Admired Companies

• Forbes & JUST Capital’s America’s Most Just Companies

• Newsweek Magazine’s America’s Most Responsible Companies  

• Working Mother 100 Best Companies and Best Companies for Multicultural Women

• NAFE’s Top Companies for Executive Women

• Best Place to Work for LGBTQ Equality

• Black Enterprise Magazine Best Companies for Diversity

• Military Friendly Employer

The complete list, methodology and detail surrounding the 100 Best Corporate Citizens can be found here: 100 Best 2020 Methodology, and for more information on General Mills’ commitments and progress, visit the company’s website.

About General Mills 
General Mills is a leading global food company whose purpose is to make food the world loves. Its brands include Cheerios, Annie's, Yoplait, Nature Valley, Häagen-Dazs, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Old El Paso, Wanchai Ferry, Yoki, BLUE and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, General Mills generated fiscal 2019 net sales of U.S. $16.9 billion. In addition, General Mills’ share of non-consolidated joint venture net sales totaled U.S. $1.0 billion.

About 3BL Media
3BL Media delivers purpose-driven communications for the world’s leading companies. Our unrivaled distribution, leadership and editorial platforms inspire and support global sustainable business. Learn more here.

June is Pride Month for the LGBTQ Community and allies alike. And it’s a great time to celebrate The Hershey Company’s deep commitment to diversity and inclusion and our support of LGBTQ employees who make our company a great place to work.

We should all take pride in the fact that at Hershey, we recognize that the diversity of our workforce is a source of strength, innovation and fresh thinking. It makes us stronger and contributes to our success. We believe that the best ideas come from diverse groups of people working together.

That's why it is so important that we hire people from a broad range of backgrounds who want to be part of our culture. We understand that diversity creates energy, enthusiasm and empathy that enables us to better represent and serve the broad consumer population who depends on us to make snacks and treats that they love. Our LGBTQ employees are an important part of this tapestry of amazing people who make Hershey great.

While we embrace all forms of diversity across our company through Business Resource Groups (BRGs) including African Americans, Asian, Latino, women, veterans and people with disabilities, it is our Prism BRG that brings together LGBTQ employees and allies to support our culture of diversity, celebrate our unique qualities and partner with other BRGs to create a total culture and an environment where our people can truly be remarkable.

This amazing Hershey work culture is why for three consecutive years we have been ranked on the DiversityInc Top 50 list for our diversity leadership. And our most recent ranking, just announced a few weeks ago, also acknowledged our leadership in supporting LGBTQ employees.

So join us in celebrating our similarities, our unique differences and all that makes our beautiful Hershey employee tapestry great.

Celebrate with pride.

Originally published on Linked In

The past few weeks have been traumatizing and painful. The unjustified killing of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and the blatant examples of racism have now forced many to understand what the Black community has known and experienced our entire lives. I’m no different. 

I’ve been called the N-word multiple times. My family has been unjustly pulled over by cops at gunpoint. I’ve been accused of shoplifting. I’ve been asked to justify my reason for being in a place where I belonged. My son doesn’t enjoy the same privileges and freedom as his white teenage friends. For example, I won’t allow him to jog, ride his bike, or take a walk alone in our neighborhood because I fear for his life. I know that the next Black person killed could be my son, my husband or me. I am outraged, sad, scared, and tired.

I am also encouraged that so many are now trying to understand the Black experience in America. I’m hopeful that by working together we can drive the systemic changes necessary.

I’m incredibly proud to lead the efforts of Diversity and Inclusion at Johnson & Johnson. Our company continues to be committed to driving change. Today, Johnson & Johnson announced a $10 Million commitment over three years to help create a more just and equal America. Our focus will be in three key areas:

• Educating about race through an expanded partnership with the National Museum of African American History and Culture

• Supporting organizations focused on social justice

• Improving healthcare disparities

What can you do?

• Educate yourself on Black history and racism. Get comfortable with talking about race and our differences. Start with the NMAAHC Talking About Race digital platform.

• When racism or injustice happens, no matter how small, speak up and stop it. Silence is consent.

• Stop saying you “don’t see color.” When you don’t see color, you don’t see me and my experiences.

• Listen to your Black friends and understand their experiences. If you only have one Black friend, expand your circle. This will help you to better understand people different than you and enrich your life.

• Diversify your social media feeds. Follow Black voices and publications to increase your understanding of being Black in America.

• Teach your children what you learn about the Black experience and systematic racism. Make the next generation better humans.

• Donate money and time to organizations fighting racism and injustice.

Thanks for having an open heart and mind to learning about the Black experience in America and joining with us to create a more equal and just America.

Originally published by Adobe 

The Dieline Awards, known as a benchmark of impeccably designed consumer packaged goods, is one of the largest packaging design competitions in the world. With thousands of entries from 23 different countries, the awards continue to evolve and shape the design community, highlighting the impactful trends in the industry.

“This event brings together a global community of like-minded people — brand owners, influencers, consumers, marketers, agencies, in-house creatives, graphic designers, photographers, students, and enthusiasts — to celebrate the year’s best packaging and inspire tomorrow’s work in the industry,” says Sebastian Shaw, head of strategic development for 3D and immersive development  for enterprise offerings at Adobe. “It’s important to foster these types of events that build genuine relationships in the creative community and drive innovation. It’s one of the main reasons we’re behind this event.”

Here’s another: Advancements within the CPG industry, especially the beverage sector, have an immense value, particularly when it comes to sustainability and designing for circularity. Today’s design process is driven by desktop software, but many creatives still turn to physical mock-ups and traditional photography to show their work. Adobe is committed to innovating this process, developing Adobe Dimension to give designers the ability to easily visualize 2D packaging designs in a 3D environment.

3D scenes showcase what the packaging looks like in context, so stakeholders can get a better idea and give feedback to refine the design even before having to make a physical mock-up. Once designs are finalized, Dimension can take this to the next level, providing an easy way to make a photorealistic render and skip a final photoshoot altogether.

Digital workflows have another added benefit. Creatives can develop designs quickly and remotely — saving time, cost, and CO2e emissions associated with shipping prototypes or traveling to locations. Once created, 3D assets are ready to be used in marketing materials, websites, e- commerce pages, and virtual showrooms — anywhere you’d typically use a photo.

The power of what we drink

Water is the world’s most consumed and popular drink; tea is second. Next comes beer. In a $1.4 Trillion industry, growth is a constant and big shifts are not often seen. But one notable opportunity may change that. Traditionally, 99% of all beverage sales are offline. With online sales taking off among consumers, retail off the shelf may have to give way to online beverage sales.

Change can be good: Emerging trends such as virtual photography offer the ability to transform digital advertising in this industry and make personalization achievable — and most of all affordable. Plus the materials used in beverage packaged goods will need to be suited for transport, bringing the plastic vs aluminum can debate to the forefront.

Annual consumption of plastic bottles is expected to top half a trillion by 2021. Even more startling, over 90% of the material isn’t recycled and all the plastic ever made in this world still exists.

Shifting to circular materials — things that will never go to landfill because they are highly reusable or recyclable (glass is better than plastic, but aluminum is far more toward circular). In the US, aluminum recycling is prevalent with 75% of aluminum produced is still in circulation.

When it comes time to buy, 23% of consumers are looking for choice and selection. Graphic designers have to make their products stand out and appeal to what interests buyers. Check out what the top designers are doing to distinguish their product.

Click here to learn more and see some of the 2020 Dieline Award Winners

Schneider Electric Receives the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label Award for Profitable Environmental Protection

Schneider Electric today announced that it has been awarded the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution label for its EcoStruxure™ Microgrid Advisor and NEO Network™ solutions from the Solar Impulse Foundation. These solutions received the recognition following an assessment performed by external independent experts and based on verified standards for economic profitability and ecologic sustainability.

A leader in digital, energy, and sustainability, Schneider Electric is committed to accomplishing the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals by addressing sustainability megatrends through its core business and solutions and has itself committed to achieving carbon neutrality across its extended supply chain by 2030. EcoStruxure Microgrid Advisor and NEO Network are two of the digital solutions in the Schneider Electric portfolio helping to advance these aims. 

The Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label certifies that a product, service or process contributes to a circular economy, capable of economically and ecologically creating jobs and reducing emissions in one of six areas: water, energy, construction, mobility, industry, and agriculture. All labelled solutions join the Foundation’s 1000 Solutions program, which aims to encourage the adoption of more ambitious environmental targets and fast-track the implementation of these solutions on a large scale. 

“The need to respond to environmental crises like climate change is urgent. Businesses are actively seeking the tools and solutions to advance their decarbonization and economic efforts,” said Steve Wilhite, Senior Vice President, Schneider Electric. “The work of the Solar Impulse Foundation and its 1000 Solutions program is critical to help identify and accelerate clean, economically-feasible innovations. We are pleased that both EcoStruxure Microgrid Advisor and NEO Network have been awarded the Efficient Solution Label and recognized as market-leading.”

EcoStruxure Microgrid Advisor is a cloud-based, demand-side energy management platform that allows users to collect, forecast, and optimize the operation of distributed energy resources, giving users control over how and when to consume, produce, and store energy. It enables the microgrid to become more sustainable, more reliable, and more cost-effective. NEO Network is a community of organizations advancing reliable, and cost-effective renewable energy and cleantech solutions around the world. The platform simplifies the cleantech buying process by connecting members to trusted experts, viable projects and technologies, and exclusive market intelligence to enable and accelerate transaction decisions. To date, more than 280 corporations have joined NEO Network globally.

To receive the Solar Impulse Efficient Solution Label, EcoStruxure Microgrid Advisor and NEO Network were thoroughly assessed by a pool of independent experts to measure the quality, performance, and ethical standards of each solution. This assessment was based on five criteria covering three main topics of Feasibility, Environmental, and Profitability. The 1000 Solutions portfolio will be presented to decision-makers in business and government who seek to reach carbon neutrality by Bertrand Piccard, Chairman of the Solar Impulse Foundation, following the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

“I am convinced that implementing clean and efficient technologies has become today the only way to fulfill economic growth,” said Piccard. “Digital innovation plays a crucial role to enable a profitable energy transition. With their ambitious sustainable commitments, Schneider Electric is showing the way. Their technological solutions, labelled by the Solar Impulse Foundation as credible, profitable, and ecological, are a proof of it.”

EcoStruxure Microgrid Advisor and NEO Network join a growing portfolio of Schneider Electric labelled solutions, including Villaya containerized microgrids, Homaya pay-as-you-go off-grid solar solution, and EVLink load management system for smart EV management. The Foundation also previously announced that Schneider Electric CEO Jean-Pascal Tricoire is a co-signatory to a commitment for sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, calling on governments and leaders to rebuild from a crisis using an equitable and environmentally responsible economic model. 

About the Solar Impulse Foundation

The Solar Impulse Foundation is a not-for-profit organization, based in Lausanne, Switzerland, with an office in Arlington, VA, USA. The foundation was started by Bertrand Piccard, who serves as chairman, after completion of his round-the-world flight in the solar-powered plane called Solar Impulse. The flight proved that innovation and technology exist now as the logical choice for an economy that creates jobs, modernizes infrastructure and encourages business to support a future that protects our environment. Learn more at www.solarimpulse.com.

About Schneider Electric

At Schneider, we believe access to energy and digital is a basic human right. We empower all to do more with less, ensuring Life Is On everywhere, for everyone, at every moment. We provide energy and automation digital solutions for efficiency and sustainability. We combine world-leading energy technologies, real-time automation, software and services into integrated solutions for Homes, Buildings, Data Centers, Infrastructure and Industries. We are committed to unleash the infinite possibilities of an open, global, innovative community that is passionate with our Meaningful Purpose, Inclusive and Empowered values.

www.se.com

Northern Trust announced on June 15, 2020 it would provide US$20 million over 5 years to expand access to resources that address essential human needs—food, housing, healthcare and education—to bridge the gap that threatens the broader prosperity of our society.

“Recent events, including numerous acts of racial discrimination and violence against countless black people, are a symptom of greater systemic oppression and discrimination,” Northern Trust Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael O’Grady said. “Such incidents are a stark reminder that we have a long way to go as a society, and we all have a role to play to push for positive change.

“Racism, and all other forms of discriminatory behavior, will never be tolerated at Northern Trust. Within our company, we are redoubling efforts to create a more inclusive and equitable workplace,” he said. “In our communities, the issues are more complex and consequential. It’s plain to see the continued effects of long-standing practices, policies and attitudes that discriminate against blacks, other people of color and women. Now, more than ever, is the time to redirect our philanthropic strategy to address the obstacles and inequities created by race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, environment and socioeconomic status. Too often, these inequities create gaps in the opportunities people have for reaching their full potential.”

The strategy will be activated globally and tailored to local needs and specific demographics. For example, in Chicago, it will focus on organizations serving young people on the South and West Sides of the city. In London, the focus will be on youths living in underserved communities. And in India, efforts will support organizations that seek to empower women and support children with disabilities.

“We will continue to listen, learn and work closely with our communities to address their specific needs, and concentrate our efforts through philanthropic contributions, community investments and employee volunteer service,” said O’Grady.

Northern Trust’s philanthropic strategy aligns with its efforts to deploy banking services focused on underserved communities hard-hit by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including its recently announced commitment to provide US$100 million in low-cost funding to assist Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), which provide loans, investments, financial services and technical assistance to underserved populations and communities.

About Northern Trust
Northern Trust Corporation (Nasdaq: NTRS) is a leading provider of wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking to corporations, institutions, affluent families and individuals. Founded in Chicago in 1889, Northern Trust has a global presence with offices in 22 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., and across 22 locations in Canada, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. As of March 31, 2020, Northern Trust had assets under custody/administration of US $10.9 trillion, and assets under management of US $1.1 trillion. For more than 130 years, Northern Trust has earned distinction as an industry leader for exceptional service, financial expertise, integrity and innovation. Visit northerntrust.com or follow us on Twitter @NorthernTrust.

Northern Trust Corporation, Head Office: 50 South La Salle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603 U.S.A., incorporated with limited liability in the U.S. Global legal and regulatory information can be found at https://www.northerntrust.com/united-states/terms-and-conditions.

This is the third year that nonprofit Green America released its Green America Wireless Scorecard, which measures clean energy usage and reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions within the wireless industry... and this is the third year in a row that T-Mobile came out ahead of its competitors!

T-Mobile earned an A- grade for Clean Energy Commitment, while Sprint jumped up two full spots in the rankings – meaning the companies claimed the top two spots. Each company received a separate score because the rankings were based on 2019 data derived when they operated independently.

“Before the merger, T-Mobile and Sprint were individually making great progress toward ambitious sustainability goals, but now, as a combined company, the New T-Mobile is poised to do even bigger and better things!” said Janice V. Kapner, T-Mobile's Chief Communications Officer. “We are really proud of our track record when it comes to protecting the environment and we appreciate that Green America continues to recognize us as the clear leader in sustainability for the wireless industry.”

T-Mobile at the Top

T-Mobile has a history of pushing the competition forward through industry-leading firsts and its green energy use is no different. In 2018, the Un-carrier became the first major U.S. telecom to sign the RE100 commitment to power its entire business with 100% renewable energy by 2021. In less than two years, the company has made huge strides toward achieving this aggressive goal by signing eight major energy contracts that are either online or under contract to open in 2020. T-Mobile remains the ONLY major U.S. wireless company signed onto RE100 and the ONLY one to have its carbon-reduction goals approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative.

Sprint Jumps Up the Rankings

Sprint previously ranked fourth on the scorecard in 2018 and 2019, but now claims the second spot on the list with a grade of B-. The jump is thanks to its commitment to source 100% renewable electricity across all operations (retail stores, offices, call centers and network sites) by 2025. And Sprint signed virtual power purchase agreements (VPPAs) for two wind energy projects set to come online in 2020 and 2021. Sprint also formed a partnership with Direct Energy Renewable Services and is now powering its 800-plus locations in Virginia with 100% renewable energy.

Supercharged Un-carrier is Bigger, Better AND Bringing More Green Energy to the Grid!

The combined T-Mobile and Sprint has committed to not just being a bigger company, but also a better company, too! Bringing two networks together and building the world's most transformative 5G network requires a lot of energy — a challenge that the Un-carrier knows presents an enormous opportunity. T-Mobile is transmitting more data per energy unit than ever before and renewable energy is helping the company become more carbon efficient. So, as the company continues to grow, it plans to bring even more green energy to the grid.

Now that the merger is complete, T-Mobile will assess its expanded footprint and announce a new RE100 target date in the coming months.

For more information on T-Mobile’s sustainability and environmental efforts, visit the T-Mobile Sustainability Page.

About T-Mobile US, Inc.

T-Mobile U.S. Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is America’s supercharged Un-carrier, delivering an advanced 4G LTE and transformative nationwide 5G network that will offer reliable connectivity for all. T-Mobile’s customers benefit from its unmatched combination of value and quality, unwavering obsession with offering them the best possible service experience and undisputable drive for disruption that creates competition and innovation in wireless and beyond. Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Sprint. For more information please visit: http://www.t-mobile.com.

CONTACT:

Originally published by The Mosaic Company

Constant progress is the hallmark of Mosaic’s sustainability journey. From our earliest sustainability disclosure in 2010 to our first quantified targets in 2015, we’ve been on a path of progress – committed to engagement, transparency, accountability, and improved performance in the areas that matter most to us and our constituents.

Our latest milestone – the launch of our 2025 Environmental, Social and Governance Performance Targets – is another important step forward. Beyond driving value for our company, the 2025 targets are a vehicle for maximizing our positive impact on society. Aligned to our focus areas of People, Environment, Society and Company, the targets support our company’s broad thinking about sustainability. We believe that for our business to thrive in the long-term, we must be good stewards of the natural, human and social resources we rely upon to execute our mission to help the world grow the food it needs. It is both our responsibility and our opportunity.

We are proud of this work and what it represents for our diverse constituents, and we feel simultaneously challenged and invigorated by what lies ahead. Our targets are only one of the ways we are living responsibility as one of our strategic priorities; we encourage our stakeholders to view our 2019 sustainability disclosure for more information about our leadership in this area.

Take a look at our 2025 targets. While each target was created primarily to support one focus area, there are interconnections between all of them. We choose to focus our efforts on areas with broad reaching companywide and societal impacts.

We’re strengthening our commitment to reducing our environmental impact with bold reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and water use — in addition to a dozen other critical targets.

Covid-19, the climate crisis and social inequalities are critical issues that businesses are being tasked to  help address. This brings an increasing need for business to present accurate impacts and actions that prove they’re a force for good. Now, maybe more than ever before, it’s vital that business can outline future ambitions and resilience, whilst communicating a purpose that helps address the current challenges that we face.

Therefore, Ethical Corporation by Reuters Events is delighted to announce the launch of the  Sustainability Reporting and ESG Engagement Europe, an online 2-day event series –  which is entirely free to attend.

We are humbled that our speakers and partners are going online with us and share our belief that we must do what we can to carry on communicating at this critical time.

Check out the full, comprehensive virtual offering here, all completely free to access!

Why The Virtual Sustainability Reporting and ESG Engagement Europe is essential viewing:

• It’s free for all to join: In such a difficult time, we want to unify the industry and we’ve taken the decision to allow anyone to sign up to listen live, ask questions and participate.

• A speaker faculty even better than before: You’ll learn from 50+ speakers with 20+ free sessions with presentations, panels, fireside chats, interactive workshops and Q&A. You’ll also see hours of additional live and on-demand content, including exclusives from Yorkshire Water, JLL, Net Impact Amsterdam, MOL Group and many more

• Connect with industry leaders around the world: Without the constraints of geography, we’ll have thousands of industry leaders from across the globe coming together to network and collaborate.

• Full virtual exhibition: Showcasing exhibitors, search for the latest services and technology solutions from your desk, watch demo videos and the ability to share your virtual business card.

View more info and register for the FREE virtual event here!

Best regards,
Ana

Ana Uzcanga
Project Director
Reuters Events
Phone: +44 (0) 207 375 7213

Read Announcement

As 22 states across the country see a spike in new coronavirus cases, ImpactAssets and Stop the Spread combined forces today to bring together impact investing and private and public sector resources to solve the immediate and evolving needs of this urgent public health crisis. The new partnership between ImpactAssets, a $1.1B nonprofit impact investment firm, and Stop the Spread, a coalition of 1,300+ volunteer CEOs and executives working to catalyze actions and support governmental response to COVID-19, will work in part to address the devastating health and economic impact of COVID-19 on communities of color in the U.S. 

Through this partnership, Stop the Spread will become a part of the ImpactAssets COVID Response Program and ImpactAssets will assume support for the activities of Stop the Spread. Under the ImpactAssets umbrella, Stop the Spread will continue to mobilize corporate America through the facilitation of partnerships between companies looking to retool operations to meet critical needs in personal protective equipment, testing and tracing on the frontline.

Together, the two organizations will provide thought leadership, resources and research on the leading edge of the evolving pandemic situation and its societal impacts. Stop the Spread’s subject matter expertise and pipeline of projects amplifies ImpactAssets’ ability to identify and catalyze the most promising and urgent COVID-19 solutions with philanthropic and investment capital.

“Stop the Spread has built a phenomenal movement and an impressive group of committed CEOs and executives, volunteers and subject matter experts,” said ImpactAssets CEO Margret Trilli. “ImpactAssets is honored to be the new home for this important work. Our partnership levels up our combined ability to provide crucial help to business partners as they work together to support heroes on the frontline and the most vulnerable at this critical time.”

“Stop the Spread emerged from a shared compassion of leaders around the U.S., focused on how they might lead boldly and by example in the response to COVID,” said Rachel Carlson, CEO of Guild Education and Stop the Spread Volunteer. “What started as a movement has now found a perfect organizational home in ImpactAssets, which will carry on the important work of supporting and championing critical response efforts around the U.S.” 

Urgent Action
While the U.S. has made progress addressing staggering shortages in important supplies, significant gaps remain. Communities of color are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. For example, the CDC reports that nearly one-third of infections nationwide have affected Black Americans, though Blacks represent only 13% of the US population. Likewise, nearly one-third of those who have died as a result of COVID-19 in the US are Black.  

In addition, the COVID Racial Data Tracker found that Hispanics test positive for the coronavirus at rates two times higher than Whites in 30 states, and over four times higher in eight states, while Native American communities have accounted for 60% of cases in New Mexico but only 9% of the population. In Arizona, 136 Native American have died from COVID-19, accounting for 21% of deaths but just 4% of the population. These disparities and others, resulting from the ongoing and compounding impacts of systemic racism, make this partnership absolutely critical.

Further, recent reports from the National Institutes of Health make the case that medical equipment continues to be needed for distribution right now, for national stockpiles in anticipation of future crises, and for use in other countries as they battle COVID-19. There are also dramatic projected shortages in testing and diagnostic equipment that will be required for safe ‘return to work’ decisions in the coming months.

“ImpactAssets and Stop the Spread are committed to working tirelessly to support COVID-19 relief, helping catalyze private sector response and building innovative solutions that go beyond the immediate crisis to address issues of social equity and support the communities and individuals hit hardest by the crisis at hand,” said Christian Peele, Director of Stop the Spread Operations. 

Mission Alignment
Since its founding in March, STS has played a catalytic role in corporate America’s response to fighting the COVID-19 crisis. To date, STS has been contacted by more than 400 companies, including Fortune 500 companies, startups, and regional manufacturers, and in turn, connected more than 85 partners to spur the manufacture of PPE, ventilators, and research in testing and diagnostics. Drawing on STS’s library of resources and its network, STS’ partners have gone on to supply more than 40,000 ventilators when critically needed and manufacture more than 20 million units of personal protective equipment, including N95 face masks, face shields, and more. 

ImpactAssets has been one of the nation’s leading impact investing organizations since its founding in 2010, channeling catalytic investments to more than 700 companies and funds, recently cresting $1.1B in assets under management, and establishing one of the strongest brands in the impact investing sector. The firm is allocating much needed philanthropic and investment capital to three key areas of need during the COVID-19 pandemic:

• IA Stop the Spread Fund: investing in frontline COVID healthcare and PPE needs;

• IA Preserve the Progress Fund: supporting a set of companies who have materially advanced Climate and Social Equality initiatives and whose survival is integral to preserving and advancing that progress;

• IA Business and Community Resilience Fund: providing financial and reinvention support to small businesses and individuals hit hardest by the economic downturn.

About the ImpactAssets Stop the Spread COVID Response Program
The ImpactAssets Stop the Spread COVID Response Program is the convergence of an impact investing and private sector response to solving the immediate and evolving needs of COVID-19, including the devastating health and economic impact on communities of color in the U.S. The Program harnesses the collective power of ImpactAssets’ leading impact investment and organizational capacity and Stop the Spread’s agile partnership model connecting and catalyzing private and public sector response to COVID-19. In the immediate term, combined forces are addressing acute frontline healthcare needs by helping companies access knowledge and connections to spur rapid production of personal protective equipment, ventilators and testing. Identified models of critical-needs innovation are connected to investment capital through the ImpactAssets Stop the Spread Fund, a philanthropic and impact investing fund addressing frontline COVID healthcare and personal protective equipment needs. By bringing together a powerful community of 1,300+ CEO’s and executives, supporters, donors, subject-matter experts and a 400+ pipeline of potentially promising COVID initiatives, the Program strengthens the nation’s COVID response.

Learn more at www.impactassets.org and www.stopthespread.org. 

# # #

Nonprofits Toxin Free USA and Clean Label Project filed a lawsuit against Nestlé USA and Nestlé Purina PetCare Company for deceptive marketing and sale of cat foods labeled as “natural” and with “no artificial preservatives.” Lab tests reveal that certain Purina cat food products contain the synthetic herbicide glyphosate and the artificial preservative ethoxyquin. The consumer protection lawsuit charges that Purina exploits consumers’ preference for pet foods marketed as “natural.”

A study conducted by The Nielsen Company found that “sales of U.S. pet foods bearing the claims ‘natural’ and ‘no artificial preservatives’ have grown dramatically” and that “many consumers perceive natural foods to have unique advantages.” National surveys consistently find that consumers believe “natural” to mean that the products are produced without synthetic pesticides or artificial chemicals.

“Chronic illness has been on the rise, not only in humans, but also in our pets. Amid increasing awareness of the links between synthetic chemicals and chronic health problems, Purina is exploiting consumers’ preference for truly natural, toxin-free pet food and must be held accountable for misleading marketing practices,” says Toxin Free USA executive director, Diana Reeves.

“There has been an increase in the humanization of pet food when it comes to marketing, but there is a disconnect between the marketing and the actual pet food contents. Consumers have a right to know the true contents of the food and products they buy for themselves and their families. This includes their pets," says Clean Label Project executive director, Jaclyn Bowen.

Glyphosate is used as an agricultural and landscaping herbicide and found in Bayer-Monsanto’s popular weedkiller, Roundup. Studies have linked glyphosate to cancer, liver and kidney disease, and other adverse health conditions. There are currently an estimated 125,000 pending lawsuits against Bayer-Monsanto alleging Roundup caused non-Hodgkin lymphoma in plaintiffs.

Ethoxyquin, developed by Monsanto in the 1950s and initially registered as a pesticide, is a synthetic antioxidant that is included in some pet foods as a preservative to protect fats and fat-soluble vitamins from turning rancid. Studies show that ethoxyquin can have adverse effects on the liver, and have toxic effects on both living cells and genetic material.

The Nestlé USA/Purina suit, filed under the D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act by the nonprofits’ counsel Richman Law Group, seeks to end Purina’s deceptive business practices by requiring that Purina remove or qualify the “natural” and “no artificial preservatives” claims on its cat food products.

Read the full complaint HERE.

 # # #

Clean Label Project is a national nonprofit with the mission to bring truth and transparency to consumer product labeling through data, science, and education.

GMO Free USA/Toxin Free USA is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit advocating for a clean, healthy food system and educating consumers about the hazards of GMOs, synthetic pesticides and other toxins.

3BL Media announced today its annual 100 Best Corporate Citizens ranking, recognizing leading environmental, social and governance (ESG) transparency and performance amongst the 1,000 largest U.S. public companies.

Owens Corning tops the ranking for the second consecutive year and is the first company ever to do so. Owens Corning is followed by Citi, General Mills, Cisco and HP.

Since 2009, only 22 companies have made the ranking each year including 3M, Abbott, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Colgate-Palmolive, Gap, General Mills, Intel, Kimberly-Clark, Microsoft, Nike, Texas Instruments and Xerox. 

Companies new to the ranking in 2020 include Estée Lauder, Hershey, Hilton, Micron Technology, Republic Services, Stanley Black & Decker and Target.

Access the 100 Best Corporate Citizens of 2020 ranking here.

"This is a decisive decade to achieve global climate and societal goals, while rebuilding an inclusive and resilient economy in the era of COVID-19,” said Dave Armon, CEO of 3BL Media, which owns 100 Best Corporate Citizens. “Corporate leadership on ESG topics is absolutely critical to a sustainable future and so is transparency. 3BL Media sets a standard for transparency through 100 Best Corporate Citizens that advances corporate accountability at this pivotal time.”

The 100 Best Corporate Citizens methodology is set by 3BL Media and based on 141 ESG transparency and performance factors across eight pillars: Climate Change; Employee Relations; Environment; ESG Performance; Finance; Governance; Human Rights; Stakeholders and Society. Due to timing, no corporate responses to COVID-19 were included.

“We believe the ESG factors considered for 100 Best Corporate Citizens are the foundation for a just response to COVID-19 and addressing systemic racism,” continued Armon. “Looking ahead to the 2021 methodology, we will incorporate additional factors that address key issues exposed during the pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement and are in conversation with our community to provide feedback.”

To compile the ranking, data and information is obtained from public sources only, rather than questionnaires or company submissions. Research is conducted by ISS ESG, the responsible investment research arm of Institutional Shareholder Services. There is no fee or costs for companies to be assessed or to verify research by ISS ESG.

About the 100 Best Corporate Citizens
The 100 Best Corporate Citizens ranking was first published in 1999 in Business Ethics Magazine and then by Corporate Responsibility Magazine from 2007 to 2019. 3BL Media has owned 100 Best Corporate Citizens since 2017 and continues the legacy of ranking the Russell 1000 Index against a set of ESG transparency and performance factors using only public data and information. Learn more here.  

About 3BL Media
3BL Media delivers purpose-driven communications for the world’s leading companies. Our unrivaled distribution, editorial and leadership platforms inspire and support global sustainable business. Learn more here.

CONTACT: Robbie Lock, Director of 100 Best Corporate Citizens, rlock@3blmedia.com or +1.802.789.8257.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE: HPE) today released its annual Living Progress Report for fiscal year 2019, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to being a force for good by equipping customers with sustainable technology solutions, upholding HPE’s own high Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards across its value chain, and prioritizing company culture to fuel business outcomes.

“Our team members’ passion, ingenuity and resilience enable us to create technology solutions to tackle the many pressing challenges facing society today,” said HPE President and CEO Antonio Neri. “Current discussions around systemic racism, inclusion, and diversity demonstrate the importance of taking bold actions to create a more equitable and sustainable future. We are proud of our progress and committed to do more as a company and in partnership with our peers, customers, and partners.”

HPE intensified focus on culture

In 2019, HPE intensified its strategic focus on culture and launched the “Work That Fits Your Life” program to support a more inclusive workplace that values team members’ experience inside and outside of the workplace. New benefits include six months of paid parental leave for mothers and fathers, career reskilling and transition support, and a company-wide shortened work day once a month on “Wellness Friday”.

HPE is investing in human capital because it wants to be a place where people can learn, develop skills and do career-defining work. HPE’s Executive Committee developed the “Work that Fits your Life” program in partnership with its Board of Directors, 54% of whom identify with one or more diverse groups.  One of the key goals of the program was to drive inclusion in the workplace. And, the company began tying diversity metrics to executive compensation to further embed inclusion and diversity into the organization.

In 2019, HPE’s employee engagement score rose 10 percent and has risen an unprecedented 18 percent since 2017, and its team members clocked their one millionth hour of company-supported volunteer time since 2016. In addition, HPE offered opportunities to engage with more technology-driven social impact activities through the inaugural HPE Accelerating Impact initiative.

This year’s Living Progress Report also, for the first time, details racial diversity statistics of its team member population, an important step in being transparent and addressing systemic bias and inequality in our society.

Improving energy efficiencies with everything as-a-service

HPE announced that it would make its entire portfolio available as-a-service by 2022, a consumption model that can bring significant energy efficiency gains and cost savings to its customers by eliminating overprovisioning and allowing customers to pay for only what they use. In addition, service-based models allow HPE to maintain chain of custody over equipment to ensure recovery and refurbishment, reducing physical waste and the consumption of raw materials. In 2019, 88% of the nearly four million assets returned to HPE’s Technology Renewal Centers were given a new life, but shifting to more consumption-based solutions is predicted to dramatically reduce the consumption of unnecessary IT assets.

Leading the transition to a low carbon economy

HPE remained on track to meet all of its 2025 climate targets, having reduced its carbon footprint by 47% in just four years. The company also introduced a new emissions reduction target for its transportation logistics footprint – aiming to reduce the footprint by 35% by 2025. It also continued to see opportunity to help customers thrive in a carbon constrained world - with efficient IT products and services representing nearly USD $7.7 billion in revenue in 2019.

Engaging supply chains as a force for good

HPE continued to hold suppliers to high environmental, social and ethical standards. In 2019, HPE’s supply chain audit and assurance improvement program touched over 133,000 workers and the company guided 51% of its suppliers on how to set their own science-based climate targets. In addition, HPE sought to promote inclusion and diversity through its supply chain by spending approximately USD $1 billion with small enterprises and minority, women and veteran-owned businesses in th­­e United States.

About Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Hewlett Packard Enterprise is the global edge-to-cloud platform-as-a-service company that helps organizations accelerate outcomes by unlocking value from all of their data, everywhere. Built on decades of reimagining the future and innovating to advance the way we live and work, HPE delivers unique, open and intelligent technology solutions, with a consistent experience across all clouds and edges, to help customers develop new business models, engage in new ways, and increase operational performance. For more information, visit: www.hpe.com.­­­

New Solar-Powered EV Charging Station on I-85 in Georgia Delivers 300% More Power

The Ray, Donovan Energy, and ABB have partnered to upgrade the solar-powered electric vehicle charging station located at the visitor information center (VIC) located off Interstate 85 in West Point, Georgia. The station was commissioned on June 3, 2020. Charging at this location is free and provided by The Ray, a nonprofit organization and 18-mile living transportation lab located along the I-85 corridor between LaGrange, Georgia, and the Georgia/Alabama state line.

This station is three times more powerful than the original 50 kW station installed in 2015 by The Ray in partnership with Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia. That station was the Southeast’s first solar-powered EV charging station, and, prior to its installation, travel between the state capitols of Georgia and Alabama was not possible for the majority of electric vehicles.

Now, The Ray has taken another innovative step forward with this ABB 175 kW Terra HP, a modular, high-powered charging system designed to minimize charging time. “At The Ray, we want to demonstrate what’s next and showcase the electrification of transportation,” said John Picard, Vice President of The Ray. “With this new charger, we can show how easy it is to store energy and rapidly recharge. Range anxiety has always been an issue with electric cars, but that’s not the case anymore as The Ray switches on the most efficient fast charger in the market.”

“From a drive-over tire pressure and tread safety check and solar panels that generate clean energy at the visitor center, to this upgraded EV charging station, to the testing of emerging technologies along I-85 like all-weather striping for machine-operated vehicles, Georgia DOT is proud to work with The Ray,” said Georgia DOT Commissioner Russell R. McMurry, P.E. “The goal is to bring sustainable and transformative innovations to transportation.”

The ABB modular system was recommended and procured by Donovan Energy, which served as the technology partner to The Ray for this electrification project. Donovan Energy, a clean energy project development and finance company based in Cincinnati, has delivered over 400 energy efficiency and building retrofit projects since 2016. One of the most important aspects of the ABB Terra HP is that it is future-proofed. As a modular system, a second 175 kW power unit can be added, and allowing the system to easily scale up to 350 kW and immediately serve the next generation of EVs. “We felt the flexible architecture of the ABB Terra HP high power solution was an ideal fit for what The Ray was looking to accomplish in this upgrade of their charging infrastructure,” said Jeff Martin, Chief Operating Officer of Donovan Energy.

"ABB is committed to deploying technology for the advancement of society in an efficient and sustainable manner," said Bob Stojanovic, Director of ABB’s EV Infrastructure business in North America. "We are privileged to have the opportunity to deploy our DC fast charging technology in a fashion that fits with The Ray's vision for innovative transportation models and connected communities."

“The debut of high-powered, 175kW fast charging on our interstate is a remarkable effort on more than one account,” said Harriet Langford, President of The Ray. “Not only does it highlight our dedication to the electrification of the transportation system, but it’s another example of how The Ray can evolve and upgrade previously piloted technologies.”

"Having EV chargers in convenient locations like rest stops are the next frontier for electric vehicle charging," said Tim Echols of the state's Public Service Commission. "The Ray, Georgia DOT and City of West Point are leading the way in bringing this important technology from theory to reality."

While most EV charging happens at home, the availability of fast-charging stations, like the one that The Ray is deploying, is an essential and strategic component to the future of our interstate system and infrastructure. Stations like the one at the VIC on I-85 allow travelers to quickly recharge and travel long distances confidently. The solar-powered EV (PV4EV) charging station is grid-connected to ensure its operability day or night and all year long. The clean energy generated by the twelve-panel Solar LIFT adds further renewable resources to the local grid that supplies power to the ABB Terra HP, ensuring that clean cars can be fueled by clean, renewable energy on The Ray on I-85.

About - The Ray

The Ray is a proving ground for the evolving ideas and technologies that will transform the transportation infrastructure of the future, beginning with the corridor of road that is named in memory of Ray C. Anderson (1934-2011), a Georgia native who became a captain of industry and was recognized as a leader in green business when he challenged his company, Atlanta-based Interface, Inc., to reimagine the enterprise as a sustainable company—one that would pursue zero environmental footprint. Chaired by Ray’s daughter Harriet Langford. Learn more at www.theray.org.

About - Donovan Energy

Based in Cincinnati, Donovan Energy is an energy project development company that approaches energy in new ways to help our customers reduce energy use and save money. As stewards at the forefront of clean energy technology, we offer solutions that decrease energy costs (procurement), finance energy projects (PACE finance), reduce energy use (LED Lighting, HVAC and Building Envelope solutions) and produce renewable energy. Our team of industry veterans powers energy savings for commercial and industrial customers, spanning education, commercial real estate, healthcare, municipal, manufacturing, nonprofit and parking. Learn more at www.donovanenergy.com.

About the Georgia Department of Transportation (Georgia DOT)

Georgia Department of Transportation plans, constructs and maintains Georgia’s state and federal highways. We’re involved in bridge, waterway, public transit, rail, general aviation, bike and pedestrian programs. And we help local governments maintain their roads. Georgia DOT and its nearly 4,000 employees are committed to delivering a transportation system focused on innovation, safety, sustainability and mobility. Through a culture of innovation and collaboration, the Department’s vision is to boost Georgia’s competitiveness through leadership in transportation. Learn more at www.dot.ga.gov

About - ABB

ABB (NYSE: ABB) is a leading global engineering company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. With a history of excellence stretching back more than 130 years, ABB’s success is driven by 144,000 talented employees in over 100 countries. www.abb.com

PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PYPL) on June 11, 2020 announced a $530 million commitment to support Black and minority-owned businesses and communities in the U.S., especially those hardest hit by the pandemic, to help address economic inequality. As part of its investment, the company is bolstering its internal programs to further increase diversity, equity and inclusion within the PayPal community.

"For far too long, Black people in America have faced deep-seated injustice and systemic economic inequality. Black lives matter and we need to drive transformative change. We must take decisive action to close the racial wealth gap that sustains this profound inequity," said Dan Schulman, president and CEO, PayPal. "PayPal is uniquely positioned to help in this area, and we are committed to doing our part to address the unacceptable racial divide by advancing a more just economy and society. We've listened to leaders in the Black community about the challenges facing Black business owners and the support and investments needed to sustain Black-owned businesses and create long-term economic opportunity. The holistic set of initiatives we are implementing are designed to help address the immediate crisis and set the foundation for sustained engagement and progress towards economic equality and social justice."

The commitment includes short-term, medium-term, and long-term investments in the community:

• $10 million fund for empowerment grants to Black-owned businesses impacted by COVID-19 or civil unrest. These grants will provide direct support to business owners to cover expenses related to stabilizing and reopening their businesses. The fund will be managed in partnership with Association for Enterprise Opportunity, a leading national nonprofit expanding economic opportunity for Black entrepreneurs through its Tapestry Project. Interested businesses can apply for a grant at aeoworks.org/paypalgrant/.

• $5 million fund for program grants and employee matching gifts for PayPal's nonprofit community partners that are working to strengthen Black business owners by providing them with microloans, technical assistance, information, mentoring and access to digital solutions to speed their recovery from the impact of the pandemic. Local partners are best positioned to know the needs of their communities and these grants are intended to catalyze and further empower the necessary work they are doing to sustain Black-owned businesses. Initial organizations receiving grants through the fund include Association for Enterprise Opportunity, Baltimore Business Lending, Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives Micro Finance Group, Expanding Black Business Credit Initiative, Kiva, MORTAR, Nebraska Enterprise Fund, Opportunity Fund, Rising Tide Capital, Start Small Think Big, Walker's Legacy Foundation and Women's Opportunity Resource Center. As part of this the company will expand the PayPal Gives Employee Matching Gifts program. PayPal will match $2 for every $1 employees donate and $10 for every volunteer hour dedicated to racial and economic justice efforts in local communities, up to $500,000.

• $500 million commitment to create an economic opportunity fund to support and strengthen Black and underrepresented minority businesses and communities over the long term, and designed to help drive financial health, access and generational wealth creation. This initiative will include bolstering the company's relationships with community banks and credit unions serving underrepresented minority communities, as well as investing directly into Black and minority-led startups and minority-focused investment funds. Startups and investment funds are invited to express interest to the PayPal Ventures team here.

"AEO advocates for economic inclusion and works to create transformational change in the marketplace for small businesses," said Connie Evans, president and CEO, Association for Enterprise Opportunity (AEO). "Now, more than ever, it's critical to invest in Black-owned businesses, create a more equitable system and break through the barriers that have historically challenged Black business ownership and wealth creation."

PayPal is committing $15 million to strengthen its internal diversity and inclusion programs to foster greater awareness, build equity, and support recruiting, hiring and career advancement of Black and minority employees. This also includes increased funding for the company's employee resource groups as well as supporting community partners through pro bono work and secondments by its employees.

These initiatives build on the extensive financial health and small business empowerment programs PayPal already supports. They will add a particular emphasis on Black-owned businesses, sharpen the focus of that work, accelerate the deployment of PayPal's resources and fuel employee engagement. PayPal previously announced the company was donating $500,000 to organizations doing meaningful work to build toward racial equality, healing and reconciliation, including the Chicago Urban League, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Minneapolis African American Leadership Forum, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, National Urban League, Repairers of the Breach and The Empowerment Network.

About PayPal
PayPal has remained at the forefront of the digital payment revolution for more than 20 years. By leveraging technology to make financial services and commerce more convenient, affordable, and secure, the PayPal platform is empowering more than 300 million consumer and merchant accounts in more than 200 markets to join and thrive in the global economy. For more information, visit paypal.com.

About Association for Enterprise Opportunity
AEO is the leading voice of innovation for microbusiness and microfinance. We create economic opportunity for underserved entrepreneurs throughout the United States. We engineer transformational change through Research, Incubation, Convening & Advocacy to foster a robust and inclusive marketplace. For more information, visit aeoworks.org.

Contacts
Media Relations Contacts
For PayPal:
Josh Criscoe
jcriscoe@paypal.com 

Janine Kamwene
jkamwene@paypal.com

For Association for Enterprise Opportunity:
Molly Boyle
press@aeoworks.org

Originally published by FedEx

FedEx Logistics, Inc., a subsidiary of FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX), is providing essential supply chain services to support the fight against COVID-19. FedEx is supplying Medline personal protective equipment (PPE) from a FedEx Logistics facility located in the Panama Pacifico Free Trade Zone and Panama, to hospitals in South America, Central America and the Caribbean.

Medline is a manufacturer and distributor of medical supplies and clinical programs. To date, over 850,200 face masks have been shipped to hospitals throughout the region with help from FedEx Express, the world’s largest express transportation company.

“FedEx Logistics is helping to protect front-line workers at hospitals throughout Latin America at this critical time,” said Jeff Euler, vice president of the Americas, FedEx Logistics. “We are honored to serve these brave men and women and to be an essential part of the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The operation to get emergency supplies to hospitals began March 10 as the virus continued its global spread. To date, around 2,000 boxes, each with 300 masks, have been distributed throughout the Caribbean and another 1,000 boxes to Central America. Several more containers full of PPE are on the way to Panama for distribution to these areas and other customers in South America.

The equipment includes face masks, gloves, shoe covers and disposable clothing — everything that will help to protect doctors, nurses and hospital administrators.

FedEx Logistics receives the equipment from global manufacturers, and then packages and fulfills orders, in a Free Trade Zone that is home to many multinational companies that do business throughout Latin America, including Medline.

“FedEx Logistics was agile and acted with a sense of urgency to provide essential supply chain services, enabling us to get protective equipment to where it is needed the most,” said Oscar Chavarria, vice president, Latin America, Medline. “And FedEx Express provided a very reliable service despite many challenges in the current environment.”

In August last year, FedEx Logistics became the third-party logistics provider for all of Medline’s medical consumables and patient-care products in the Latin America region.

At Johnson & Johnson, we always have and always will #BacktheFrontline. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, we launched 30 Days of Action to channel our collective gratitude for frontline health workers into concrete ways you can act to support these fearless frontline heroes now and after the crisis peaks. They’re relentless in their commitment to providing essential health services; let’s be relentless in our commitment to them.

Follow along with us on @JNJGlobalHealth on Twitter and/or Instagram to hear from our leaders, employees and partners around the world about how YOU can meaningfully contribute.

In hospitals and labs, homes and communities, we all play a role in COVID-19 response efforts. Hear from JNJ Chairman and CEO Alex Gorsky on the impact made possible by #BackTheFrontline. We have a long way to go, but we will get there together.