Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

Keep up with the latest news from 3BL’s clients.







Editors Pick

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

KeyBank Provides $4.4 Million in Financing for Multifamily Affordable Housing in New York

KeyBank Community Development Lending & Investment (CDLI) has provided a $4.4 million Fannie Mae loan to Mt. Vernon Associates, LP, to renovate Greencourt Apartments, a 76-unit, multifamily affordable apartment complex in Mount Vernon, NY, with 59 units reserved for tenants earning no more than 60% AMI.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

A Message From the Chair of the Board of Trustees

As I look back on this past year, I am struck by the energy and power generated by the concern for trees. Our members, corporate partners, and planting partners are joining together with the Arbor Day Foundation every day and making great positive changes through our stewardship programs. Our vision of being a worldwide leader in the recognition and use of trees as a solution to global issues is being realized through these united efforts.

Energy

Schneider Electric VIDEO: Accelerating the Energy Transition: 4 Dimensions for Progress

While the 2015 Paris Agreement was the theoretical call for action to limit worldwide temperature to well below 2 degrees, there is a need for implementing this call with concrete action.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Time to Align Corporate Retirement Funds with Company Values

Now that millennial-aged employees represent the majority of the workforce, it’s increasingly important that corporate management teams finds ways to engage these employees in the company. Creating defined contribution plans which connect to millennial core values – like solving human, social and environmental problems through their work and investments – can spur employee engagement, spark innovation and provide companies with a competitive edge in their pursuit of the “best and brightest” employees.

Health & Healthcare

Novartis Foundation Aims to Improve Cardiovascular Health as the Better Hearts Better Cities Initiative Gains Momentum Announcing New Partners and Confirming São Paulo as the Third City

Less than a year since its launch, the Novartis Foundation urban initiative, Better Hearts Better Cities, has made significant progress in mobilizing a broad network of partners and developing a framework for action to improve cardiovascular health across the selected cities.

Environment

21CF Named Industry Leader in Environmental Sustainability by Latest CDP Report

In its latest analysis of US companies’ action on climate change, the nonprofit CDP recognized 21st Century Fox as a national leader in environmental sustainability. The annual report evaluates the strength and effectiveness of corporate sustainability efforts, and this year, it awarded 21CF an overall performance score of A-, a higher score than any of its media peers. The honor arrives as 21CF celebrates the 10-year anniversary of launching its corporate sustainability program, committing to addressing its environmental impacts and inspiring its global audience to take action.

Research, Reports & Publications

Just Released: Voluntary Renewable Energy in the Northeast United States

Focusing on voluntary renewable energy in the Northeast United States, this brief explains the current and potential value of voluntary renewable energy to meet state goals in the region, and identifies key barriers to renewable energy development to meet voluntary and corporate demand and potential opportunities and solutions for overcoming them.

Innovation & Technology

Sustainability Shines in Belgium

On November 24th, Avery Dennison celebrated another milestone in our sustainability program with the official inauguration and start of the wind turbine recently installed at our Turnhout, Belgium site. The launch comes after nearly nine years of planning, passion, perseverance and persistence that involved Avery Dennison management, employees and contractors. I

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

KeyBank Provides $8.2 Million in Financing for Construction of New York Affordable Housing Property

KeyBank Community Development Lending & Investment (CDLI) has provided an $8.2 million credit enhancement for the construction of Roosevelt Residences, located in Utica, NY. The project is being developed by Norstar Development USA, L.P., and the Municipal Housing Authority of the City of Utica, NY.

Innovation & Technology

Podcast | UPS Longitudes Radio: Moving Urban Logistics Forward (Part 3)

In the final episode of a three-part series, Peter Harris and Thomas Madrecki of UPS discuss a surprising avenue to pursue in addressing urban logistics: the balance between efficiency and self-disruption. Listen to the podcast, then subscribe to Longitudes Radio so you’ll be among the first to know about new episodes.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Community Support

On a brisk Saturday morning in November, volunteers and area organizations in Austin, Minnesota, were busy getting everything ready for an event to help others in the community. Tables were being set up, groceries were being placed into bags and barber chairs were being brought in for haircuts.

Richard Lemons, co-chair of the Austin Poverty Taskforce, the organization that coordinated the event, said he was humbled and overwhelmed as he entered the high school gym where Austin’s first Community Connect event would be taking place. “I was moved by how many people cared and were giving their time to help out,” he said.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Tackling Modern Slavery With Transparency: GRI to Support the Reporting Community

GRI is inviting leading reporting companies to join a Corporate Leadership Group (CLG) on Modern Slavery to engage in cutting edge dialogue about the challenges and opportunities of transparency on this urgent sustainability issue in consultation with diverse stakeholders such as investors, media, human rights and legal experts and governments.

Health & Healthcare

Serving Those Who Served

With the help of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is hoping to wage a war on lung cancer by increasing veterans’ access to lung cancer screenings across the country.
Sponsored by the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, the project brings together a leading team of lung cancer experts and the VA to develop the VA-Partnership to increase Access to Lung Screening or VA-PALS. The goal is to develop early-detection programs for lung cancer, a malignancy with an 80 percent cure rate when caught early.

The initiative aims to create lung cancer screening programs at 10 VA medical centers throughout the U.S. to increase veterans’ access to lung cancer screenings with innovative technology designed for early detection.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

How Much Is Enough to Make a Difference When Donating?

While it often feels like one individual’s actions doesn't have an impact on the big picture, the truth is that we all have the power to make a difference and influence change. In fact, the majority of giving (at least 71% of total annual donations) is from individuals. Through our work at America’s Charities, we empower individuals and organizations to support causes they care about, and we do this to bring more resources to the nonprofits that are changing our world.

Social Impact & Volunteering

TeamCITGO Aruba Participates in Beach Cleanup

This past November, TeamCITGO Aruba participated in the annual Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association (AHTA) Beach Cleanup from Baby Beach to the dog cemetery in San Nicolas. The event was the first volunteer outreach for the new volunteer organization and 95 TeamCITGO volunteers filled approximately 175 trash bags with trash from the beach area. Trash was then transported to the event’s central drop off point at Seroe Colorado to be properly disposed of.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

CBRE Group, Inc. Named to Forbes JUST 100

CBRE Group, Inc. announced that it has been named one of America’s Most JUST Companies by Forbes and JUST Capital.

Forbes and JUST Capital evaluate U.S.-based public companies based on measures of corporate citizenship, including employee relations, quality of goods and services, client service, environmental impact, community support, diversity and ethical conduct. Nearly 1,000 companies are considered for inclusion in the JUST 100.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Bloomberg and Carney Announce Growing Support for Climate-Focused Financial Taskforce

On the two-year anniversary of the Paris Agreement, 237 companies with a combined market capitalisation of over $6.3 trillion have publicly committed to support the Bloomberg-led Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). This includes over 150 financial firms responsible for assets of over $81.7 trillion.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Changing Lives ‘From the Inside Out’

Brandon Madrid wasn’t sure how he could get the training he needed to find and advance in a career. He had previously enrolled in college, but financial struggles, a full-time job providing maintenance for an apartment complex, and ongoing kidney dialysis made it impossible for him to continue.Then, he saw an online ad for BankWork$®, and he enrolled in the fall of 2016. Today, he is a teller for Wells Fargo in Denver and pursuing a degree in finance. “BankWork$ has given me more assurance for my future,” Madrid said.

Environment

Unlocking Sustainability Through Analytics at SunTrust

One student at Georgia Tech changed his whole view about #climatechange after taking Beril Toktay's class in the Ray C. Anderson Center for Sustainable Business.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Merck’s Ken Frazier Named to The Bloomberg 50 and as BioPharma Dive’s Executive of the Year

BioPharma Dive recently issued its annual “Dive Awards.” Heading their list? Merck’s own Ken Frazier, as Executive of the Year. From Merck’s growing immuno-oncology presence to the company’s research productivity and strong share price, Ken has played a leading role in “returning [Merck] to the science-focused juggernaut that is dominating the lung cancer space today,” the website notes in a lengthy profile of Merck’s Chairman and CEO.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Essity Discloses Its Footprint in WWF’s Environmental Paper Company Index

Essity has shown its commitment to transparency by participating in the Environmental Paper Company Index 2017 (EPCI). The Group receives an overall score of 78.7% and 94% out of a maximum of 100% for its responsible fiber sourcing. The EPCI is a WWF tool that promotes transparency and continual improvement in the global pulp, paper and packing sector towards sustainability.

Health & Healthcare

Good Health for All People in Colombia

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Should We Be Talking About Financial Health Instead of Inclusion?

In this Gateway interview, Carrie shares with us some of the latest thinking on financial health and why MetLife Foundation has shifted its focus from financial inclusion to financial health.

Energy

Balancing Modern Power: The Convergence of Natural Gas and the Electric Market

One might think the proliferation of renewables would spell the demise of natural gas, but market leaders know that gas-fired generation will continue to play an important role even as an influx of renewable energy reshapes the American power landscape.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Nestlé Purina Honored as One of the Best Places to Work in 2018, a Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award Winner

Nestlé Purina PetCare Company has been honored with a Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award, recognizing the Best Places to Work in 2018. The Employees’ Choice Awards program, now in its 10th year, relies solely on the input of employees, who elect to provide feedback on their jobs, work environments and companies via Glassdoor.

Latest Campaigns

  1. Kingfisher Around the World
    The SCS Kingfisher certification mark is showing up on an increasing number of products around the world. It differentiates companies that are making...
  2. Recognition of our Company
    As the leading sports and live music company in the world, we recognize our responsibility to provide industry leadership and to conduct our business...
  3. Subaru Love Promise: Pets
    Subaru believes all pets deserve a loving home and we are the largest corporate donor to the ASPCA®. Subaru is proud to help make the world a better...
  4. Aflac Stories
    Get a closer look at the people, products and stories that make Aflac the company we know today.
  5. People
    As a family-owned business, Bacardi values the importance of creating a warm and welcoming workplace. We do so by fostering an environment where...
  6. AEG's Commitment to Social Impact and Volunteerism
    AEG embraces its responsibility to enrich the lives of people in the communities around the world where we do business, and to use business to create...
  7. Cascale Events
    Cascale organizes and participates in a series of events, leveraging its position as a global convener of close to half the sector to bring together...
  8. Climate Stabilization
    SCS is working to advance climate accounting and reporting based on the latest climate science to help stabilize climate below temperature thresholds...
  9. Food Systems and Livelihoods
    Illustrate how resilient food systems and economic empowerment enable long-term food security. Cover climate-smart agriculture, local market access...
  10. Katrina 20th Anniversary
    This year marked the 20th anniversary of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Katrina, one of the worst, deadliest and most costly natural disasters to ever...
  11. Collaboration and Partnership
    Cascale shares updates on its strategic partnerships with industry stakeholders geared toward shifting the industry into one that gives back more than...
  12. Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG)
    The business landscape is reorienting itself and you can almost hear priorities shifting toward change-readiness and the bigger picture. And in this...
  13. Sustainable Products and Innovation
    Ongoing research into innovative solutions enables CNH’s brands to manufacture products that respect the environment while satisfying customers’...
  14. Aflac Stories
    Get a closer look at the people, products and stories that make Aflac the company we know today.
  15. FedEx | Delivering for Good
    Doing what we do best for those who need it most. When disaster strikes, and there’s not a moment to lose, our people mobilize the FedEx global fleet...