Twitter employs only 49 African Americans despite diversity pledges
Twitter employs just 49 black people out of a total US workforce of 2,910, according to its latest filing to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The tiny number of African American staff – 35 men and 14 women – represents just 1.7% of Twitter’s US staff. The stark lack of black employees comes despite the company’s repeated pledges to make its staff better reflect the diversity of its 302 million users. Gender and racial diversity is weak across Silicon Valley tech firms, with Facebook found to have hired an additional seven black people (including just one black woman) out of an overall headcount increase of 1,231 in 2013. Arisha Hatch, managing director at campaign group Color of Change, said tech companies seem to treat lack of diversity “as a public relations issue”. A Twitter spokesperson said Twitter’s ethnic make-up had changed since the 2014 filing, but refused to provide any more up to date figures. (Guardian)
Nestlé steps up to improve maternity leave
Nestlé is expanding maternity leave benefits for workers globally. The multinational food company will offer 14 weeks of paid leave for primary caretakers, longer than most of its competitors and up from just six weeks. Parents can also take 12 additional weeks of unpaid leave. The company, which employs 339,000 people in 197 countries, will also offer one paid week of paternity leave to new fathers who are not primary caretakers. Flexible working arrangements have also been introduced to allow a new parent to phase back into work. The policy will go into effect in 2016. Nestlé joins Vodafone, Johnson & Johnson and Blackstone, all of whom have introduced extended benefits this year. In an interview, Nestlé CEO Paul Bulcke highlighted breastfeeding as a key reason to offer mothers more leave: “We support breastfeeding as the best way”, he said. “We should allow mothers who are employees to live up to that.” (Huffington Post)
Innovation
Adidas and Parley for the Oceans showcase sustainability innovation at UN Climate Change Event
The first innovative footwear concept born from Adidas’ collaboration with Parley for the Oceans was showcased this week at the United Nations in New York. The concept footwear is made almost entirely from recycled garbage pulled from the ocean and illustrates the joint commitments of Adidas and Parley for the Oceans, of which Adidas is a founding member, to protect the world’s oceans. The shoe was unveiled at a UN-hosted event that saw environmentalists, creatives, scientists and entrepreneurs join to discuss the dire state of the oceans and climate change. “We are extremely proud that Adidas is joining us in this mission and is putting its creative force behind this partnership to show that it is possible to turn ocean plastic into something cool,” Parley founder Cyrill Gutsch said. Although the shoe is not for sale, Adidas is aiming to incorporate recycled plastics into its shoes by early next year. (Adidas; Huffington Post)
Responsible Investment
100 philanthropic organisations have pledged to divest from fossil fuels
One hundred philanthropic trusts, foundations and family offices, with over $5 billion in assets, have now committed to the Divest Invest Philanthropy pledge, which involves organisations pledging to divest from fossil fuels and to divert at least a portion of this to the low carbon economy. Eighteen philanthropic organisations made their commitment public yesterday, joining existing signatories, including the Rockefeller Brothers’ Fund and Ben & Jerry’s Foundation. Amongst the new signatories are the Ashden Trust and Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust. In a letter, the new signatories make the financial and ethical case for divestment, noting both the “serious humanitarian and economic consequences” of climate change and the risk of “stranded assets” due to increased regulation and falling renewables costs. (Blue and Green Tomorrow)
Strategy
M&S Energy launches £400,000 fund for community energy projects
M&S Energy will offer up to £400,000 for community energy projects with the launch of the M&S Community Energy Fund launched yesterday. The energy arm of the UK retailer also announced it is now supplying 100% of its electricity from renewable sources. The M&S Community Energy Fund will offer funding to not-for-profit organisations that want to use renewable energy for the benefit of their local community. The fund will aim to add to the 5,000 community energy groups currently active in the UK. “To mark M&S Energy’s electricity going 100% green, we want to help more communities in the UK generate renewable energy and become environmentally and financially sustainable,” said Jonathan Hazeldine, head of M&S Energy. In May this year, M&S announced it had committed to 100% renewable energy by joining The Climate Group’s RE100 initiative. (Edie)
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