PepsiCo's environmental sustainability programs saved the company more than $375m since its goals were established in 2010, according to Pepsi's 2014 sustainability report.

Women in Manufacturing has received a $100,000 grant from the GE Foundation.

It has been roughly four decades since industrial robots - with mechanical arms that can be programmed to weld, paint and pick up and place objects with monotonous regularity - first began to transform assembly lines in Europe, Japan and the U.S. Yet walk the floor of any manufacturer, from metal shops to electronics factories, and you might be surprised by how many tasks are still performed by human hands - even some that could be done by machines.

Harnessing data is crucial: Two-thirds of companies participating in a 2012 MIT Sloan survey said using analytics gave them a competitive edge. Most factories could use the boost.

Retailers should see a moderate increase in holiday sales in the stores and online this year, according to Deloitte's annual retail holiday sales forecast.

A number of major companies - from PepsiCo to Walmart to U.P.S. - have recognized that corporations have a responsibility to address the causes of climate change before it is too late. We do not have to wait for an international treaty or new regulations to act.