SOURCE:Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

DESCRIPTION:

During an on-court halftime presentation in the Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics game on April 13, 2013, Orlando Magic honored Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, among other organizations, for efforts in supporting literacy throughout Central Florida through the Magic’s Baskets for Books program. 

HMH's Nikki Reynolds and Jim Diamond were joined by Orlando Magic’s Vice President of Community Relations Linda Landman-Gonzalez, Community Ambassador Bo Outlaw, player Nick Anderson, and children from ABC Learning Tree, a learning and development center which has benefited from the program (pictured).

HMH worked hand-in-hand with Orlando Magic all season, supporting literacy throughout the region. For every point made by the Magic at each home game, one HMH book was donated to the Early Learning Coalition of Orange County, Florida. Based on the points scored at home games this past season, HMH’s Orlando Community Investment Council stuffed over 6,000 books into over 900 backpacks for 15 childcare development centers throughout Central Florida.

Furthermore, Magic player Glen “Big Baby” Davis and Magic Community Ambassador Bo Outlaw built a reading corner at Mount Sinai Child Development Center using 500 children's titles donated by HMH. “Story Time” featuring HMH's iconic children's book character Curious George was held there by Magic players E’Twaun Moore and Kyle O’Quinn, along with Bo Outlaw and Head Coach Jacque Vaughn.

Read more about HMH's Community Investment Council initiative

Tweet me:.@HMHCo and @Orlando_Magic Join Forces to Support Baskets for Books http://3bl.me/2vnz36

Contact Info:

Emma Doherty
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
+1 (617) 351-5473
emma.doherty@hmhco.com

KEYWORDS: Education, Events, Conferences & Webinars, HMH, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Orlando Magic, Baskets for Books, book donation, Glen “Big Baby” Davis, Bo Outlaw, literacy

SOURCE:Ceres

DESCRIPTION:

May 15, 2013 /3BL Media/ - Christopher Rowe, Senior Vice President, Prudential Investment Management sat down for an interview at the 2013 Ceres Conference, which took place May 1^st and 2^nd in San Francisco, CA. 

Ceres is an advocate for sustainability leadership. Ceres mobilizes a powerful coalition of investors, companies and public interest groups to accelerate and expand the adoption of sustainable business practices and solutions to build a healthy global economy. Ceres also directs the Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR), a network of 100 institutional investors with collective assets totaling more than $10 trillion.

For more information, visit http://www.ceres.org/

Contact:

Brian Sant

sant@ceres.org

(617) 247-0700 ext. 123

Tweet me:Interview w/ Christopher Rowe, of Prudential Investment Management, at #Ceres13 http://3bl.me/z7m4wq #CSR @3blmedia @ceresnews

KEYWORDS: 3bl Media, Corporate Social Responsibility, csr, Corporate Citizenship, Leadership, sustainability, CERES, Carbon, Economy

SOURCE:SAP

DESCRIPTION:

SAP has expanded its foray into corporate sustainability with the release of a carpooling application called TwoGo.

The cloud-based software uses Nokia’s Here mapping technology and has been in use internally at SAP since July 2011, according to the announcement released Monday. SAP and its employees have derived about $5 million in benefits from the application thanks to lower fuel usage, employee travel reimbursements and other savings, SAP said.

TwoGo has benefited SAP’s corporate culture as well, helping to rack up thousands of days’ worth of “networking time” among employees who have used the service, according to SAP.

While there are other ride-sharing applications in the market, TwoGo automatically matches up employees who are looking to share rides based on their preferred timing, location and other factors, rather than making users go through lists to find ride partners that fit their schedules, SAP said.

It’s also possible for TwoGo users to create carpools with workers at other companies, provided they are also TwoGo users. TwoGo is also usable in conjunction with calendar software that has compatibility with Apple’s iCal, SAP said.

Continue reading IDG New Service article on SAP's carpooling app here >>

*Orignial article on PCWorld.

Tweet me:#SAP expands its work in corporate #sustainability with release of carpool app #TwoGo. http://3bl.me/tsgb9s

Contact Info:

SAP

KEYWORDS: SAP, Carpooling, TwoGo, ride share, carpooling app, sustainability

BMW i, SAP, HP among over 2,000 attending Conference & Expo showcasing product/service solutions as examples of brand innovation for sustainability

SOURCE:Sustainable Brands

DESCRIPTION:

SAN FRANCISCO, May 16, 2013 /3BL Media/ – Sustainable Brands® recently revealed plans for an expanded Solutions Expo at SB’13 in San Diego, CA running June 4 – 6^th. Presented by BMW i, the Solutions Expo will feature an array of new tools, innovative product ideas and resources that are driving brand innovation for sustainability. Brand leaders looking for inspiration and support in innovating their brand portfolios for enhanced environmental and social benefit will find the Solutions Expo as a target for all their needs.

The Sustainable Brands Solutions Expo represents a one-of-a-kind, curated set of ideas and solutions ideally suited to enable the better brands of the future to reduce risks and costs, and improve reputation and relationships, all while growing their businesses. Nearly 80 exhibiting companies and cause-related organizations will showcase knowledge and resources needed to fuel sustainable product development, manage and measure environmental impacts, create shared value within the supply chain, and create higher employee engagement, all with an eye to connecting innovation for sustainability to more and greater forms of business benefit. A selection of exhibitors includes: Ecopia, GreenBlue, Cradle to Cradle, AoSA and Ecologic Brands showcasing a variety of new materials and packaging solutions; Pure Strategies, Pré and others featuring LCA measurement tools and sustainability assessment practices; Energy Points, Windmade and credit 360 sharing energy resource management tools and reduction/offset solutions; and innovations from SAP, Futerra and HP. In addition, BMW i will be showcasing their series of electric cars and offering test drives of select vehicles.

Included in the Solutions Expo are over 25 social causes and cause-related organizations who are seeking purpose-driven brand partnerships.  On-stage presentations and interactive demonstrations on the Expo floor by organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, The Sierra Club, EDF, WWF, National Wildlife Federation, 1% for the Planet, among others, will enable people to connect face-to-face and discuss business relationships that enhance and scale impact and awareness. “Purpose-driven partnerships that deliver real impact are formed when non-profit organizations connect with brands for mutual benefit,” states KoAnn Skrzyniarz, Founder of Sustainable Brands. “For those brands committed to leading in sustainability, partnerships with cause-related organization offer authentic ways to communicate brand commitment and activate purpose in a truly meaningful way.”

In addition, creative environmental and social entrepreneurs looking to contribute to a sustainable economy will be showcased on the Expo floor and stage, where some will compete for top honors at the 4^th annual SB Innovation Open presented by Target. Among hundreds of entries submitted from across the globe, 10 finalists will pitch their business plans to an esteemed panel of judges including representatives from Target, Ashoka’s Changemakers, Mindful Investors, Energy Points plus others. Business plan pitches run back-to-back on Tuesday afternoon, June 4^th beginning at 2pm.

Fueling the activity on site will be screenings of critically acclaimed documentary films showcasing visionary leaders such as Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos and Yvon Chouinard, Founder of Patagonia in the film The Naked Brand, written and directed by Jeff Rosenblum and Sherng-Lee, plus vivid environmental photography in the film Chasing Ice, produced and directed by Jeff Orlowski.

The Solutions Expo at SB’13 runs Tuesday, June 4 – 6^th concurrent with the Sustainable Brands 2013 Conference in San Diego, CA at Paradise Point Resort. Public Expo hours are Tuesday, June 4th and Wednesday, June 5th from noon until 5pm. Thursday, June 6^th from noon until 4pm. Additional activities open to Expo-only attendees, include the Conference Opening Night Program Monday evening and film screenings Tuesday evening. Attendees are encouraged to register early.

Limited Exhibitor Space Still Available

Product and service providers looking to establish key contacts with today’s brand innovators are encouraged to inquire about available exhibit space. Innovative tools and technologies in the following areas will be given priority for available Expo space: new materials/packaging solutions, supply chain management, waste to resource solutions, carbon and water efficiency and offset solutions, stakeholder engagement tools, LCA measurement tools, behavior change resources, as well as brands with exceptional examples of consumer facing innovation. Visit www.SustainableBrandsExpo.com to learn more and request to be contacted.

About Sustainable Brands

Sustainable Brands® is the premier global community of brand innovators who are shaping the future of commerce worldwide. Since 2006, our mission has been to inspire, engage and equip today’s business and brand leaders to prosper for the near and long term by leading the way to a better future. Digitally published news articles and issues-focused conversation topics, internationally known conferences and regional events, a robust e-learning library, and peer-to-peer membership groups all facilitate community learning and engagement throughout the year. Sustainable Brands is hosted by Sustainable Brands Worldwide, a division of Sustainable Life Media headquartered in San Francisco, CA. 

Contact:

Katherine Arnett

Saatchi & Saatchi S

415.871.2005

katherine.arnett@saatchis.com

Tweet me:Solutions Expo at #sb13con to Spotlight Industry Leading Tools and Resources http://3bl.me/53mxt4 @SustainBrands

KEYWORDS: SB '13, sustainable brands, Resources, tools, Expo, BMW i, SAP, HP

SOURCE:Canadian Business for Social Responsibility (CBSR)

DESCRIPTION:

May 22, 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EST (Webinar) - REGISTER
May 22, 12:45 PM - 3:30 PM EST (In-Person) Toronto - REGISTER

May 16, 2013 /3BL Media/ - A study by BBMG, GlobeScan and SustainAbility finds that nearly 9 in 10 consumers globally (86%) say "ingredient transparency is extremely important or very important" when making purchase decisions for food, beauty and household products.  

 
Furthermore, they find that consumers are asking: How was it made? Where was it made? Who made it? Was it made under safe conditions? Fair conditions? Was it verified? Who verified it? How do we know? What do my friends and family think?
 
Consumers globally believe they have the right to know what products are made of and they want companies to ensure their products are safe and effective across multiple markets and product categories. Consumers are expressing interest in what goes in, on and around their bodies.
 
Next Wednesday, May 22nd, join CBSR as BBMG, GlobeScan and SustainAbility present their recent study Re-Thinking Consumption to learn how "Aspirational" consumers are balancing social and environmental values with material desires to shape the future of sustainability.

You will have an opportunity to ask questions about the study and the implications during the webinar and the in person discussions to understand what this means for your team and your company. Feel free to send your questions for the speakers in advance to ksenia@cbsr.ca
 

Agenda:

1:00 - 2:00 pm - Regeneration Roadmap Consumer Study Overview (Join this session either in-person or via webinar)

Speakers:

• Chris Coulter, CEO, GlobeScan   
• Lorraine Smith, Director, SustainAbility    
• Raphael Bemporad, Founding Partner, Chief Strategy Officer, BBMG    

2:00 - 3:30 pm - Roundtable Discussion (in-person only)  

Join an intimate roundtable discussion, where you will have an opportunity to articulate your challenges and successes as we move forward to engage this vital stakeholder.

Click here to see the full Agenda
 
This event is FREE for CBSR members. Members must register to secure a spot.

Tweet me:Aspirational Consumers Raise the Bar on #Transparency - Learn more: May 22 w/ @ItsBBMG @SustAbility & @GlobeScan http://conta.cc/10YcBk4

KEYWORDS: Corporate Social Responsibility, Ethical Consumersim, Event, Branding, Marketing, Engagement, cbsr, Canadian Business, Aspirationals, Consumers, Transparency, csr, sustainability, Sustainable, consumption

SOURCE:CVS Caremark

DESCRIPTION:

Many patients today worry about whether they will have continued access to affordable and quality health care - given the increasing demand for services due to an aging population, longer lifespans, U.S. health care reform and the growing prevalence of chronic diseases. Their concern is a real one and is compounded by the shortage of primary care providers and the high costs of medications and health care services.

As a pharmacy innovation company, CVS Caremark is continuously developing new ways to lower costs and improve health outcomes. One solution, we believe, comes down to reinventing pharmacy in order to better serve patients beyond just filling prescriptions. We are focused on creating a place where patients can expect to receive expert care and counsel from pharmacists, and immediate and affordable access to nurse practitioners or physician assistants who can provide care for many of their basic health needs.

As we endeavor to reinvent pharmacy, we are focused on:

• Advancing people's understanding about the importance of medication adherence as a key driver of improved health outcomes, while helping people avoid risks associated with not taking medications as prescribed.
• Understanding the patient/pharmacist relationship, which is evolving as patients rely more on pharmacists to counsel them, not only on their medications but on other health care concerns, too.
• Providing patients with increased access to quality and affordable care through MinuteClinic®, our retail-based medical clinics.
• Offering free or affordable health services to those who are uninsured or underinsured.
• Ensuring the quality and safety of our products and dispensed medications.
• Inviting timely feedback from patients and customers so we can improve their experiences with CVS Caremark.

Learn more in Reinventing Pharmacy, Creating Sustainable Solutions, CVS Caremarks' latest CSR report.

Tweet me:Lowing costs, improving health outcomes http://3bl.me/qqffxn @CVSCaremarkFYI helping people on their path to better health #csr

KEYWORDS: csr, Corporate Social Responsibility, cvs, cvs caremark, pharmacy, community health, the path to better health

SOURCE:Sigma-Aldrich Corporation

DESCRIPTION:

AUSTIN, May 16, 2013 /3BL Media/ - In order to help Girlstart in its mission to increase girls’ interest and engagement in STEM, Sigma-Aldrich today announced it is awarding Girlstart a $35,000 grant to support Girlstart’s innovative, nationally-recognized, informal STEM education programs.

The grant will help fund Girlstart’s summer camp and after school programs over the next year, including new programs for high-need Round Rock schools. Girlstart’s programs serve a diverse group of 4^th through 8^th grade girls in Central Texas as well as select communities throughout the United States via an ongoing summer camp initiative launched in 2011.

Girlstart’s programs have been recently recognized by Change the Equation and SEDL for their effectiveness in engaging girls in STEM education and improving their abilities in STEM-related subjects. Partnering with the likes of NASA, the National Science Foundation, and Google Science Fair, Girlstart continues to integrate technologies utilized by STEM professionals – including smartphone app developing, video editing software, 3-D printing, and video game design – in educating young women and addressing the gender gap currently existing in the nation’s STEM workforce.

“We’re honored to have Sigma-Aldrich’s support in bringing STEM education to our growing summer camp and after-school programs,” said Tamara Hudgins, executive director of Girlstart. “The grant from Sigma-Aldrich will help us meet the ongoing need we have to inspire students to pursue STEM studies, prepare for STEM careers, and develop the innovations that will continue to shape and improve our lives.”

“As a company that recognizes the value of science and the role it plays in our world, Sigma-Aldrich is thrilled to help Girlstart expand its programming,” said Jeffrey Whitford, Global Citizenship Manager at Sigma-Aldrich. “We look forward to an ongoing partnership and to engaging our employees with dynamic volunteer opportunities that help Girlstart participants connect the learning environment with real world challenges.”

For the upcoming school year, Girlstart will expand its school programs to 40 different Central Texas schools – nearly double the number offered just two years ago. Girlstart After School is an intensive intervention where Girlstart provides free STEM education programs every week throughout the school year at partner schools, as well as wraparound services to support STEM in each partner school. Girlstart After School involves sequential, informal, hands-on and inquiry-based activities across the STEM acronym.

Sigma-Aldrich is a leading Life Science and High Technology company whose biochemical, organic chemical products, kits and services are used in scientific research, including genomic and proteomic research, biotechnology, pharmaceutical development, the diagnosis of disease and as key components in pharmaceutical, diagnostics and high technology manufacturing. Sigma-Aldrich customers include more than 1.3 million scientists and technologists in life science companies, university and government institutions, hospitals and industry. The Company operates in 35 countries and has nearly 9,000 employees whose objective is to provide excellent service worldwide. Sigma-Aldrich is committed to accelerating customer success through innovation and leadership in LifeScience and High Technology.

More information on Girlstart is available at girlstart.org, and more information on Sigma-Aldrich Global Citizenship is available at www.sialglobalcitizenship.com.

# # #

Tweet me:.@SigmaAldrich supports @Girlstart and its nationally-recognized summer camp & after-school #STEM Program http://3bl.me/4ebhkf

Contact Info:

Phil West
Orange Cone Agency
+1 (512) 769-3838
phil.west@orangeconeagency.com

KEYWORDS: Education, Sigma-Aldrich, girlstart, STEM, STEM Education, summer camp, csr, Corporate Social Responsibility

SOURCE:CSX Corporation

DESCRIPTION:

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 16, 2013 /3BL Media/ -- The Association of American Railroads (AAR) last night named CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX) employee Rick McNey the winner of its annual John H. Chafee Environmental Excellence Award for outstanding environmental awareness and responsibility.

"Rick and his team have demonstrated a steadfast commitment to environmental awareness, protection and conservation - setting an example for CSX and the entire freight rail industry," said Skip Elliott, vice president - public safety, health and environment, CSX. "Getting the right results the right way is a core value at CSX and this prestigious award recognizes Rick's tireless work to serve our customers while preserving environmental resources."

McNey is manager of maintenance at the 150-acre Curtis Bay Pier in Baltimore, Md. McNey oversees all mobile and stationary equipment at the facility, which operates 24 hours a day, receiving, processing, and loading a variety of bulk products. Under his leadership, CSX reduced emissions and energy consumption at the pier and implemented strict environmental stewardship practices to further safeguard the sensitive watershed adjacent to the facility.

McNey and the local team of more than 100 people are also responsible for developing numerous mechanical enhancements that improved environmental efficiency at the facility. Successful projects led by McNey include installing a state-of-the-art geothermal cooling system which reduced energy use by 40 percent; reducing water consumption by 40 percent by harvesting rain water and snow melt; using energy efficient light emitting diode (LED) bulbs; improving the efficiency of the facility's electrical network; and upgrading the pier's dust mitigation system.

"Rick's work to improve efficiency while protecting the environment is a credit to the entire railroad industry," said Edward R. Hamberger, president and CEO, AAR. "We salute the dedication that he and his team consistently display to maintaining sustainable operations that improve the quality of life for the communities we serve."

The annual Chafee Environmental Excellence Award is named for the late Rhode Island senator who devoted his career to protecting the environment. McNey is the sixth CSX employee to win this recognition.

About CSX 
CSX, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a premier transportation company.  It provides rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across a broad array of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural, and consumer products.  For more than 185 years, CSX has played a critical role in the nation's economic expansion and industrial development.  Its network connects every major metropolitan area in the eastern United States, where nearly two-thirds of the nation's population resides.  It also links more than 240 short-line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports with major population centers and small farming towns alike.  More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at www.csx.com. Like us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/OfficialCSX) and follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/CSX).

Tweet me:Congrats to Rick McNey! @CSX employee & winner of @AAR_FreightRail's Environmental Excellence Award http://3bl.me/zwy3x6

Contact Info:

Melanie Cost
1 (877) TELL-CSX

KEYWORDS: environment, environmental awareness, environmental responsibility, sustainability, railway, Railroads, the association of american railroads, aar, CSX, Conservation, John H. Chafee Environmental Excellence Award

SOURCE:Hewlett-Packard

DESCRIPTION:

by Gabi Zedlmayer

Continuing on its path to sustainable growth, Hewlett-Packard today released its 2012 Global Citizenship Report. This substantial publication describes the company’s citizenship agenda in governance, environment, and society around the world. The report succeeds in presenting information not only from a corporate macro-perspective but also from the personal observations of individual employees and external stakeholders. At HP, ‘business as usual’ means seeking positive impact socially and environmentally with our corporate and operational activity.

As HP CEO Meg Whitman shares in her video below, HP continues to set the pace in global citizenship. For example, HP is now the first major IT company to report the complete carbon footprint of its supply chain, products, and operations and have had the total reported values of our greenhouse gas emissions reviewed by Ernst & Young for accuracy and completeness.

To help our customers reduce their own footprints, HP worked throughout 2012 – building on the work of previous years – to reduce the environmental impact of our products and solutions, from single desktops to entire data centers. For example, the 2012 report describes the innovative HP Project Moonshot system, an entirely new server category, which is anticipated to use up to 89% less energy than anything else on the market.¹

As a part of our commitment to transparency, we demonstrate exceptional supply chain responsibility as the first U.S. IT company to publish a list of the smelters and refiners confirmed to be in our supply chain.  

Above and beyond HP’s corporate contributions, HP employees all over the world volunteered their time to contribute to the communities in which they live. I’m proud to say that HP employees doubled the number of volunteer hours they contributed since last year, devoting more than 1.4 million hours to volunteer projects that unite the power of people and technology to improve lives every day.

Watch the video to hear HP CEO Meg Whitman share more highlights in this year’s Global Citizenship Report.

¹ According to internal HP engineering that compares HP moonshot servers with traditional x86 server technology.

Tweet me:At @HPGlobalCitizen, ‘business as usual’ = seeking to make positive social & environmental #impact http://3bl.me/6c974v - #CSR #susty

KEYWORDS: governance, environment, society, supply chain, Energy, energy efficiency, HP, Hewlett-Packard, hp global citizen, global citizenship, Reporting, global citizenship report

SOURCE:Skype

DESCRIPTION:

Gillian Madeley is Teacher-Librarian, Literacy@School, Technology & Lead Teacher within the York Region District School Board (Ontario, Canada). She is an avid Skype Classroom user and promoter, and has recently joined the ranks of Apple’s Distinguished Educators, Class of 2013. Follow her on Twitter at @aljasngenietoo.Republished with permission.

This week’s “Faraway Friday” was a very special one thanks in part to our magical guest, and the wonderful people at Skype Classroom. Mme Leslie’s 3rd grade class was able to connect with American advertising executive Mr. Jeff Goodby from Goodby-Silverstein. He connected with us all the way from San Francisco, California! Why you might ask… none other than to share his love of reading by actually reading one of his ultimate favorite books aloud to our students: Madeline’s Rescue (written by Ludwig Bemelmans).

Mazo’s initial reaction to Mr. Goodby was one of shock as he started speaking to us in French! They were thrilled and amazed, and had so many questions… nevertheless, the questions would have to wait as everyone was eager to start the read-aloud. The students were quick to notice that Mr. Goodby’s text was quite tattered, and well used, but understood why when he explained that he used to read it to his three children (now in their 20s and 30s). They were also overjoyed when they learned that the text took place in Paris, France. Some students made connections, while others admired the beautiful illustrations depicting the incredibly rich French history.

During the actual read-aloud, Mme Leslie’s students were able to follow along thanks to Skype’s generous donation of two copies of the text! These will be added to the Mazo library collection in the hopes of sharing the story with many other friends and families!

The students were absolutely enthralled with Mr. Goodby’s choice of text. It was wonderful to see such a strong male role model sharing his love of reading. Throughout the many pauses, students were asked of their opinions, were invited to predict upcoming content, and listened as Mr. Goodby made several connections to the text (speaking of previous trips to France, and his love of reading).

The read-aloud complete, Mme Leslie’s crew was invited to ask questions. Mr. Goodby graciously responded to each and every one. The students learned that he enjoys tennis, loves the Boston Bruins, and has a cat and a dog. They were also fascinated by the fact that through his job, Mr. Goodby has met and/or worked with some pretty incredible people like Wayne Gretzky and Britney Spears (who is apparently quite petite in real life).

They left the library abuzz, and were looking forward to sharing their experience with friends and family over the weekend.

Mazo is very thankful for such an opportunity, and Mr. Goodby has offered to reconnect with us again – it is tough to say who enjoyed themselves more!

Tweet me:A Canadian classroom gets a special #Skype visit from @jeffbadby for a reading of "Madeline's Rescue" - http://wp.me/p2q6gy-dJX

KEYWORDS: Education, classroom, Class, Skype, video call, Technology, World Read Aloud Day, reading, literacy, jeff goodby, Skype in the classroom, skype stories, mazo, Teachers, Social Good, teaching

SOURCE:JustGreen

DESCRIPTION:

Break out the caps and gowns because it’s that time of year again: graduation!

Whether it’s your graduation, or you’re hosting a party/celebration for the green grad in your life, we’ve got some helpful tips on how to host an eco-friendly affair.

Invitations: Opt for the e-vite instead of traditional paper invitations, or get even more creative and design a graphic invite that can be sent out via smartphone (an idea Martha Stewart herself utilized for her son’s college graduation)!

Photo Ops: If you’ll be hiring an event photographer, or playing paparazzi around the recent graduates, consider setting up an online, digital photo album after the event. Email the link to party guests, instead of printing out photos for an album. Think before you print – try to limit the number of printed photos for frames/gifts and opt for digitized options, instead. 

Party Favors & Hors d’oeuvres: Catering locally ensures that your party hors d’oeuvres are as eco-friendly as they are delicious. As we’ve covered in previous posts (linked), eating/drinking local is one way to contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions in your community, as well as a way to support the local economy. Keep in mind that almost anything comes in organic form these days, from baked goods and cakes to locally brewed beer.

For party favors, consider organic treats, sweets, or a bottle of local, organic wine.

Avoid Paper/Disposable Dining Ware: One of the biggest sources of waste from events such as graduation parties comes from those pesky paper/plastic plates, silverware, and utensils. Opt for biodegradable alternatives, or traditional re-usable dishware (which can often be rented, or may be part of a local catering service’s party package).

Encourage Carpooling: Encourage your guests to go green and cut back on carbon emissions by carpooling, biking, or walking, if the party venue is close by.

Do you have any helpful tips for how to offset the carbon footprint of your graduation party or event? Share with us in the comments, below!

As a graduation goal this year, resolve to live a more carbon neutral lifestyle! We’re here to help. Reduce your carbon footprint with help from JustGreen Lifestyle’sCarbon Offsetting program and products.

Resources:

http://www.marthastewart.com/275168/an-eco-friendly-graduation-party/@center/307033/spring-holidays

http://www.punchbowl.com/p/environmentally-friendly-graduation-party-planning

http://www.motherearthliving.com/wiser-living/green-your-life-a-green-gr...

Tweet me:Green Grads: Your Eco-Friendly #Graduation Party @JustGreenLife http://3bl.me/4cktbm

KEYWORDS: Eco-Living, Consumption & Travel, Education, Environment, Events, Conferences & Webinars, People, Social Action & Community Engagement, School Graduations, Graduation parties, Green Parties, Green party ideas, Green party, JustGreen, JustGreen Lifestyle, carbon offsets, Carbon Emissions, reduce carbon footprint, help solve global warming

SOURCE:Tupperware Brands

DESCRIPTION:

In partnership with the World Wide Fund (WWF) Indonesia, Tupperware Indonesia supported their “MyBabyTree” program and donated 5,000 Baby Mangrove for two areas simultaneously, Muara Gembong-Bekasi (Jakarta) and Lamnga Village (Aceh) in March.

The act of planting the mangrove trees is part of an effort to save the environment. These trees planted will bring these areas back to their natural function as the preserved forest and to rectify the quality of environment around the area. This act is also a part of celebrating the World Water Day.

Read more about this initiative here

Tweet me:#Tupperware Brands Indonesia and green living: donating baby mangroves. http://3bl.me/q2qcte #environment #cleanwater

Contact Info:

Tupperware Brands

KEYWORDS: Eco-Living, Consumption & Travel, Environment, Tupperware, Indonesia, water, baby mangrove, planting trees, MyBabyTrees, pollution

SOURCE:Sustainable Brands

DESCRIPTION:

"Hottest" lists have been making a comeback lately, and here we are with a few of our own! Inspired by our community's intensifying surge of new business value, creativity and the resulting solutions taking us toward a more sustainable economy, we would like to turn your attention to some key developments worth following — and acting on — in the corporate sustainability space this year. We are grouping them in four lists, and will be publishing them one at a time over the course of several days. Today we start with a look at 13 hot products that not only achieve drastic reductions in environmental and social impacts in their categories, but also have the potential to ultimately transform their entire industries. Here we go:

Click here to read more about Sustianable Brand's "13 Hot Sustainable Products to Follow in 2013"

Tweet me:Check out @SustainBrand's "13 Hot #Sustainable Products to Follow in 2013" http://3bl.me/n73znn

KEYWORDS: Green Living, Sustainable Living, sustainable brands, products, 2013, sustainable economy

Donation leads Habitat for Humanity response to restore devastated neighborhoods

SOURCE:General Motors

DESCRIPTION:

DETRIOT, May 17, 2013 /3BL Media/ – The General Motors Foundation is pledging $500,000 to Habitat for Humanity to help victims of the recent tornadoes in five Texas counties. The funds will be used to help restore neighborhoods devastated by Wednesday’s storms.

“Helping Texas residents rebuild and repair their homes is a critical priority for Habitat for Humanity International in the aftermath of the recent tornadoes,” said Selim Bingol, vice president, GM Global Communications and Public Policy and Chairman of the GM Foundation. “Through the $500,000 grant from the GM Foundation and the recently donated Chevrolet Express Vans, we are helping the organization immediately provide financial and other important resources to those in need.”

Habitat for Humanity is assessing the impact on affordable housing in the affected areas and will assist with clean up, repairs and new construction efforts.

In addition to GM Foundation’s donation, Chevrolet donated 24 Chevrolet Express vans in 2012, creating the organization’s first-ever fleet of mobile response units. With their work behind them, some of the mobile response units are making their way from Superstorm Sandy-affected areas to Hood, Johnson, Montague, Parker and Wise counties to assist in recovery efforts. The vans are filled with tools and equipment from Lowe’s and Robert Bosch Tool Corporation

The GM Foundation’s support of Habitat for Humanity in 2013 also includes a $1 million grant for neighborhood revitalization efforts in 12 U.S. cities, including Arlington and Austin, Texas, where teamGM Cares volunteers will be deployed this year.

“From leadership giving and corporate gifts to much-needed vehicles and volunteers to assist with recovery efforts, Dan Akerson, the GM Foundation and Chevrolet are leading the way to help families rebuild their lives,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO, Habitat for Humanity International. “This latest pledge will help the residents of impacted Texas communities come home again.” 

In 2012, GM’s Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson and his wife, Karin, provided a $1 million personal gift to Habitat for Humanity’s “Leaders to ReBuild Detroit” initiative.

The GM Foundation’s support of Texas also includes a recent $100,000 grant to the Red Cross to aid emergency management officials with relief efforts in West, Texas. The GM Foundation also donates annually to the American Red Cross Disaster Responder Program to ensure the organization has funds to provide immediate relief when disaster strikes.

About the General Motors Foundation
Since its inception in 1976, the GM Foundation has donated hundreds of millions of dollars to American charities, educational organizations and to disaster relief efforts worldwide. The GM Foundation focuses on supporting Education, Health and Human Services, Environment and Energy and Community Development initiatives, mainly in the communities where GM operates.  Funding of the GM Foundation comes solely from GM.  The last contribution to the GM Foundation was made in 2001. For more information, visit www.gm.com/gmfoundation.

About Chevrolet
Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4.5 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.

About Habitat for Humanity International
Habitat for Humanity International is a global nonprofit Christian housing organization that seeks to put God’s love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. Since 1976, Habitat has served more than 600,000 families by welcoming people of all races, religions and nationalities to construct, rehabilitate or preserve homes; by advocating for fair and just housing policies; and by providing training and access to resources to help families improve their shelter conditions. For more information, to donate or to volunteer, please visit www.habitat.org, or follow us atwww.facebook.com/habitat or at www.twitter.com/habitat_org or join Habitat’s blog community atwww.habitat.org/blog.

Tweet me:GM Foundation is pledging $500,000 to @Habitat_org to help victims in #Texas http://3bl.me/sys87k @GM

KEYWORDS: GM Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, disaster relief

SOURCE:Campbell Soup Company

DESCRIPTION:

CAMDEN, N.J., May 17, 2013 /3BL Media/ – Campbell Soup Company(NYSE:CPB), and its Pepperidge Farm division were honored last night for consumer-driven innovation in product packaging at the prestigious DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation. 

Campbell’s Go® soups, the company’s first soups packaged in flexible, stand-up pouches in the U.S., received a Silver award for innovative packaging.  The soups were specifically created to appeal to a new generation of younger soup-lovers with more adventurous palates. The packaging was designed to complement the flavorful new soups, featuring greater surface area than traditional soup packages and commanding attention with eye-catching graphics and a dash of humor. In addition, the custom-made pouch features a clear gusseted bottom that helps it to stand on shelves or in the microwave, and also allows consumers to have a peek inside at the unique ingredients that make up the product.

“Our goal as part of Campbell’s innovation team is to solve consumer needs that may not be achieved through product innovation alone,” said Mary Gregg, Director of Packaging for Campbell North America R&D.  “Pouches are contemporary and incredibly relevant to younger consumers, who purchase many of their favorite foods and other products in pouches. For the new Campbell’s Go soups, we believe our custom pouches are the right package for the right product.”  

Pepperidge Farm’s packaging team was honored for a second consecutive year by the DuPont Awards.  This year, the company received a Silver award for adding a first-of-its-kind, Seal Tab® re-close feature to its Pepperidge Farm Baked Naturals® Cracker Chips bag. Created in collaboration with Sonoco Flexibles, this development was based on consumer insights that pointed to a key need—flexible packages typically lack convenient re-close features.

“For consumers who want to eat only a portion of the chips and keep the rest of the product fresh, the best option was to use a chip clip or creatively fold over the bag. We knew there had to be a better way,” said Eva Peters, Director of Packaging for Pepperidge Farm R&D. “We worked with our packaging supplier to create a unique solution built right into the front panel of the package so the consumer couldn’t miss it.” 

The packaging features a large and visible re-close tab with a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) system incorporated into the film lamination. The result is greater surface area and better adhesion that easily re-closes for the consumer and also solves a challenge for marketing—brand appeal even when the bag is re-sealed, something that alternate methods could not achieve without obscuring the brand name.

About the DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation

Now in its 25th year, the DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation is the industry's longest-running, global, independently judged celebration of innovation and collaboration throughout the value chain. Each year an esteemed panel awards diamond, gold or silver honors based on "excellence" ratings in one or all of three categories: Innovation; Sustainability; and Cost/Waste Reduction.

About Campbell Soup Company

Campbell Soup Company is a manufacturer and marketer of high-quality foods and simple meals, including soup and sauces, baked snacks and healthy beverages. Founded in 1869, the company has a portfolio of market-leading brands, including "Campbell's,""Pepperidge Farm,""Arnott's,""V8" and “Bolthouse Farms.” Through its corporate social responsibility program, the company strives to make a positive impact in the workplace, in the marketplace and in the communities in which it operates. Campbell is a member of the Standard & Poor's 500 and the Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes. For more information, visit www.campbellsoup.com.

Tweet me:.@CampbellSoupCo & @PepperidgeFarm Recognized at DuPont Awards for Packaging Innovation #sustainability http://3bl.me/3qyq4m

Contact Info:

Juli Mandel Sloves
Campbell Soup Company
+1 (856) 342-3717

KEYWORDS: Campbell Soup Company, sustainability, Pepperidge Farm, Innovation, Packaging, DuPont Awards, packing innovation

SOURCE:American Cancer Society

DESCRIPTION:

The Corporate Impact Conference is just around the corner on June 12-13 in Denver, Colorado. This conference is your chance to connect with today’s leading thinkers, including Charles Duhigg, best-selling author of The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business.

Hear from Duhigg as he reveals why we do what we do in life and in business, providing a new understanding of human nature and its potential for transformation.  Discover how habits form and the impact they can have on business, as you learn to think differently about your organization and your ability to make a lasting impact.

Plus, interactive panel discussions by health and wellness leaders on topics from corporate social responsibility for business value to cause marketing and millennials will help you leave with insights and strategies on how to be as successful as possible in reducing the effects of cancer in your organization.

All of this while celebrating the American Cancer Society’s 100^th birthday. So don’t miss out. Register today!

But don’t just take our word for it. We’ve asked a few of our sponsors why they’re attending and supporting our conference and here’s what they had to say:

"The Corporate Impact Conference's mission to end cancer aligns perfectly with one of our core values: caring. Our participation is one of the ways Alaska Airlines helps ensure longer, healthier lives for our employees and our neighbors in the communities we serve."

-Alaska Airlines

“Moda Health embraces every opportunity to help people get well sooner and live well longer in the communities we serve. This conference is a perfect opportunity for us to share with, and learn from, other thought leaders in the field.”
- William E, Johnson, M.D., M.B.A, President, Moda Health

Tweet me:Corporate Impact Conference Announces Bestselling Author as Keynote Speaker @Cduhigg http://3bl.me/vspabd Register Today!

KEYWORDS: Business & Trade, Health and Wellness, Marketing, Media & Communications, People, Social Action & Community Engagement, workplace wellness, Corporate Citizenship, cause marketing, Corporate Social Responsibility, American Cancer Society, 100th birthday, Finish the Fight, Corporate Impact Conference, Impact Conference

SOURCE:Elsevier

DESCRIPTION:

Cincinnati, OH, May 17, 2013 /3BL Media/ – Levels of physical inactivity and obesity are very high in children, with fewer than 50% of primary school-aged boys and fewer than 28% of girls meeting the minimum levels of physical activity required to maintain health. Exergaming, using active console video games that track player movement to control the game (e.g., Xbox-Kinect, Wii), has become popular, and may provide an alternative form of exercise to counteract sedentary behaviors. In a study scheduled for publication in The Journal of Pediatrics, researchers studied the effects of exergaming on children.

Dr. Louise Naylor and researchers from The University of Western Australia, Liverpool John Moores University, and Swansea University evaluated 15 children, 9-11 years of age, who participated in 15 minutes each of high intensity exergaming (Kinect Sports – 200m Hurdles), low intensity exergaming (Kinect Sports – Ten Pin Bowling), and a graded exercise test (treadmill). The researchers measured energy expenditure. They also measured the vascular response to each activity using flow-mediated dilation (FMD), which is a validated measure of vascular function and health in children.

They found that high intensity exergaming elicited an energy expenditure equivalent to moderate intensity exercise; low intensity exergaming resulted in an energy expenditure equivalent to low intensity exercise. Additionally, although the low intensity exergaming did not have an impact on FMD, high intensity exergaming significantly decreased FMD, suggesting that the latter may improve vascular health in children. High intensity exergaming also increased heart rate and the amount of energy burned. Participants reported similar enjoyment levels with both intensities of exergaming, which indicates that children may be equally likely to continue playing the high intensity games.

According to Dr. Naylor, “Higher intensity exergaming may be a good form of activity for children to use to gain long-term and sustained health benefits.” These findings also support the growing notion that high intensity activity is beneficial for children’s health, and high intensity exergaming should be considered a means of encouraging children to become more active.

Notes for Editors
“The Effect of Exergaming on Vascular Function in Children,” by Andrew Mills, BSc, Michael Rosenberg, PhD, Gareth Stratton, PhD, Howard H. Carter, BSc, Angela L. Spence, BSc, Christopher JA Pugh, PhD, Daniel J. Green, PhD, and Louise H. Naylor, PhD, appears in The Journal of Pediatrics (www.jpeds.com), DOI 10.1016/j.jpeds.2013.03.076, published by Elsevier.

About The Journal of Pediatrics
The Journal of Pediatrics is a primary reference for the science and practice of pediatrics and its subspecialties. This authoritative resource of original, peer-reviewed articles oriented toward clinical practice helps physicians stay abreast of the latest and ever-changing developments in pediatric medicine. The Journal of Pediatrics is ranked 4th out of 115 pediatric medical journals (2011 Journal Citation Reports^®, published by Thomson Reuters). URL: www.jpeds.com

About Elsevier
Elsevier is a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. The company works in partnership with the global science and health communities to publish more than 2,000 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, and close to 20,000 book titles, including major reference works from Mosby and Saunders. Elsevier’s online solutions include ScienceDirect, Scopus, Reaxys, ClinicalKey and Mosby’s Suite, which enhance the productivity of science and health professionals, and the SciVal suite and MEDai’s Pinpoint Review, which help research and health care institutions deliver better outcomes more cost-effectively.

A global business headquartered in Amsterdam, Elsevier employs 7,000 people worldwide. The company is part of Reed Elsevier Group plc, a world leading provider of professional information solutions. The group employs more than 30,000 people, including more than 15,000 in North America. Reed Elsevier Group plc is owned equally by two parent companies, Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV. Their shares are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RUK and ENL.

Media contact
Becky Lindeman
+1 513 636 7140
journal.pediatrics@cchmc.org

Tweet me:New Study Recommends Using Active Videogaming (“Exergaming”) to Improve Children’s Health http://3bl.me/efenvp

KEYWORDS: Elsevier, The Journal of Pediatrics, Gaming, exergaming, children's health, vascular function, Video Games, physical activity

SOURCE:Source Intelligence®

DESCRIPTION:

The Global Conflict Minerals Symposium, coinciding with the 1-year anniversary of the ruling on August 21-22 in Los Angeles, is bringing together the greatest minds in the industry for ground-breaking discussions on current issues and the future of Conflict Minerals.

The invitation-only Symposium will provide senior corporate and compliance executives, regulatory officials from across the globe, leading academia and NGO officers with a forum to share their practical experience, insights, and vision for achieving conflict free sourcing practices globally with the implementation of effective regulations.

The Conflict Minerals Consortium wants to ensure maximum company benefit by offering a complimentary colleague registration for every paid attendee for the Symposium or for the Conflict Minerals Certification Training.

If you would like to attend the Symposium, recommend a speaker (including yourself), or suggest a topic for discussion to our diverse cross-section of speakers including Government, Private Industry, Academia and Non-governmental organizations, please submit a REQUEST AN INVITATION TO THE SYMPOSIUM OR RECOMMEND A SPEAKER

KEYWORDS: Business & Trade, Eco-Living, Consumption & Travel, Education, Energy, Environment, Events, Conferences & Webinars, Fashion & Apparel, People, Social Action & Community Engagement, Technology. Innovation & Solutions, Global Conflict Minerals Symposium, Conflict Minerals Compliance Solutions, Conflict Minerals Consortium, Corporate Social Responsibility, Corporate Ethics

SOURCE:Student Conservation Association (SCA)

DESCRIPTION:

By Jay Carter

I grew up in Hazelwood, never imagining that our national parks would be relevant to my life, much less central to my ambitions and to my hopes for my city. But as the federal sequester undercuts funding for those parks, it's time to focus on what they mean even for urban America.

I had the great fortune, while a student at City Charter High School, to be offered a volunteer opportunity with the Student Conservation Association cleaning up Schenley Park. Picking up trash may not sound like an extraordinary career move, but the following summer SCA offered me a volunteer opportunity in Allegheny National Forest, and the year after that I was working on the Appalachian Trail.

By the time I finished high school, I was building trails in Haleakala National Park on Maui. Today, as a college student majoring in geography and urban planning, I'm on SCA's national alumni council, providing policy advice to the only national organization that develops tomorrow's conservation leaders by providing high school and college students with service opportunities in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Click here to continue reading about preserving America's parks on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

*This article originally appeared in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Tweet me:.@the_sca volunteer says "It's time to preserve the power of #America's parks" http://3bl.me/m4zcxs via @PittsburghPG

KEYWORDS: Green Living, Sustainable Living, Conservation, Environmental Policy

SOURCE:Hewlett-Packard

DESCRIPTION:

Chris Librie is the Director of Environmental and Health Initiatives, HP Sustainability & Social Innovation

Hewlett-Packard has been a leader for many years when it comes to corporate responsibility - it started with our company’s founders and has been woven into the fabric of our company’s identity. What we started 12 years ago by publishing a Global Citizenship Report has now become the norm across industries and businesses across the country.   

We take great pride in our longstanding efforts to minimize our environmental impacts as we strive to solve challenges in the communities where we live and work with new and innovative solutions.

Over a five-year period, HP has reduced the energy consumption of its product portfolio by an average of 50 percent.  And we’ve been hard at work, through recycling programs that we initiated in 1987, to reduce the amount of products that end up in landfills. Since 2002 alone, HP has recycled more than 2 billion pounds (907,000 tons) of HP electronic products and supplies.

And today, I’m proud to announce yet another HP first. Within this year’s Global Citizenship Report published on May 15, we announced the detailed results of the company’s work to outline our complete global carbon footprint across the entire value chain:

• Supply chain—cradle-to-gate production, capital goods, upstream energy production, and transportation
• Operations—business travel, employee commuting, facilities, auto and air fleet, and waste generation
• Products—product use, end-of-life, buildings leased to others, and investments

This is something that hasn’t been done by any other company in our industry. HP is the first IT company to report all 15 categories of Scope 3 emissions and outline a complete carbon footprint as defined by the widely recognized World Resources Institute (WRI) standards. Not only that, but we’ve also engaged Ernst and Young to review the accuracy and completeness of our reported values. HP is already using the footprint data to refine our strategies and significantly reduce our carbon emissions worldwide. But what does this mean exactly?

We all know our data- and technology-hungry world is having a major impact on the environment through energy use. But you can’t manage what you can’t measure. What we’ve found through this detailed report is that it’s not so much the making of our products, but the use of our products that results in the most carbon emissions. So, we’re working to develop products with massive improvements in energy efficiency.

You’ve already seen our advances with the announcement of our Moonshot servers just a month ago. Engineered to address the IT challenges created by social, cloud, mobile, and big data, HP Moonshot servers use up to 89 percent less energy, take up 80 percent less space, and cost 77 percent less, compared to traditional servers.

Knowing our footprint also allows us to commit to new goals like reducing the CO2 emissions of our operations by another 20% by 2020. Achieving this goal will not only benefit our environment, but will help lower HP’s operating costs and energy-price risk, providing  significant business benefits. Our customers will also see a benefit from these actions in greater energy efficiency and lower environmental impact when they use HP products and services.

There is more to do. This work will also enable HP to identify additional areas of carbon emissions improvement in our supply chain and to set baselines that will help the company track, measure, and report on those improvements over time.

Tweet me:.@HPGlobalCitizen is leading the way in transparency, publishing its complete #carbonfootprint http://bit.ly/12GXdvv

KEYWORDS: Hewlett Packard, HP, global citizenship report, csr, Corporate Social Responsibility, supply chain, operational excellence, sustainability, social innovation, carbon footprint, Recycling, moonshot, World Resources Institute