Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

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







Editors Pick

Energy

Converting Waste Into Renewable Energy

Responsible landfill management involves the proper handling of landfill gas and liquids, which are byproducts of the decomposition of waste. It requires considerable science, engineering and technology to manage an evolving waste stream in a manner that is protective of the air, land and water for generations to come. It also involves a relentless commitment to innovation.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Moving the Circular Economy from Concept to Business Strategy and Operations – The Conference Board

“The circular economy is not an entirely new concept, but it is presently at a major inflection point. Its intellectual roots emerged from early ideas and practices of recycling and pollution prevention, life cycle analysis, eco-efficiency assessments and analysis of materials flows. In response to current sustainability challenges and business opportunities circular economy proponents are now attempting to transition it from a diverse set of individual methodologies aimed at addressing specific problems to a more integrated and systematic set of ideas to transform business strategies and operations.”

Diversity & Inclusion

Comcast NBCUniversal Screens DreamWorks Pictures' 'Thank You For Your Service' in Washington, DC and Philadelphia

Comcast NBCUniversal is grateful for those who serve our nation, and is proud of the thousands of members of the military community who call Comcast their home. The importance of supporting the military community is woven into the fiber of our company, starting with our company leadership. Comcast NBCUniversal leaders including founder Ralph Roberts, a World War II U.S. Navy veteran; Comcast’s Vice Chairman, Neil Smit, a former U.S. Navy SEAL; and NBCUniversal’s Vice Chairman, Ron Meyer, a Marine Corps veteran, exemplify our authentic commitment to our military community throughout the Comcast NBCUniversal family.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

BNY Mellon Recognized for Climate Action Leadership

As a global leader in the corporate response to climate change, BNY Mellon has been awarded a position on this year’s Climate A List by CDP, the non-profit global environmental disclosure program.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Pro Bono Challenge Spotlights: YWCA Chicago

YWCA Metropolitan Chicago impacts more than 200,000 individuals annually through programs focused on safety and wellness, education and training, and economic sustainability. They provide career, financial management, digital literacy and business services to help youth and adult members achieve financial stability and obtain training to enter high-growth fields.

Environment

7 Basic Steps for Conducting a Successful Materiality Assessment

Materiality is a hot topic in the corporate sustainability world, with CSR teams working hard to meaningfully convey the opportunities and successes of their initiatives to both internal and external stakeholders.

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: Dreaming Big

So how about you? Do you have an idea for a biomimetic innovation that could help solve our next challenge of climate change? If so, we’d love to see you enter the Biomimicry Global Design Challenge.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Mike Bloomberg Is Our Saint of Rational Self-Interest

“The world is turned upside down,” says Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire businessman, UN Special Envoy for Cities and Climate Change, three-term former New York City mayor, public health and immigrant champion, lover of cities and enemy of gun violence, climate quant, and sugar daddy many times over to his philanthropic causes.… It’s hard to succinctly describe what Bloomberg does. I counted, with absolutely no confidence that I was even skimming the surface, more than 20 organizations and initiatives he is currently engaged with as founder, chair, or major funder.

Energy

Major Businesses Call on International Trade Commission to Reconsider Solar Tariff

In a letter sent today, major businesses are calling on the head of the International Trade Commission to reconsider its recommendation to impose a tariff or trade restrictions on imported solar products, citing the potential impacts on U.S. businesses and homeowners.

Responsible Production & Consumption

General Mills Works to Make the Cocoa Sector More Sustainable

General Mills is working to make the cocoa sector more sustainable and to reduce child labor. In 2013, the company made a commitment to sustainably source its ingredients, with the goal to sustainably source 100 percent of its top 10 ingredients by 2020. Those top 10 ingredients include cocoa, oats, wheat, corn, dairy, fiber packaging, vanilla, palm oil, sugar cane and sugar beets, which represent over 50 percent of its annual raw material purchases.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

How to Make the Business Case for Pro Bono at Your Company

Those of us who have experienced pro bono service understand that it is a powerful way to drive social change. Pro bono can equip social good organizations with the expertise and support they need to serve more beneficiaries, become more efficient, and deliver on their missions more effectively.

Sustainable Development Goals

Bringing Transparency to Climate Change Actions

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Congrats to the Best Environmental Stewardship Finalists!

Congratulations to the 2017 Best Environmental Stewardship Finalists! The Best Environmental Stewardship Corporate Citizenship Award recognizes businesses that innovate and help create a more sustainable future. Read on to learn more about the significant, positive impacts these businesses have had in communities, locally and globally.

Media & Communications

The Power of She: The Fair Trade Difference

Most of the people who make Athleta clothes are women. Which is kind of fitting when you think about it. It’s also what drove us, back in January, to partner with Fair Trade USA to create more than 40 Fair Trade Certified styles. Because our mission is to empower women and girls to achieve their limitless potential.

Innovation & Technology

Black & Veatch, Renewable Energy Test Center Launch Solar Industry’s First Bifacial Module Ranking

Black & Veatch, a leading engineering, construction and consulting company and Renewable Energy Test Center (RETC), a world-class engineering services and certification testing provider for photovoltaic and renewable energy products, will launch the first bifacial photovoltaic (PV) module ranking in the solar industry.

Research, Reports & Publications

Stella McCartney Backs First Life Cycle Assessment for Man Made Cellulosic Fibers

Luxury fashion brand Stella McCartney will be able to better map the environmental impacts of its raw materials, after commissioning the first ever Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for man-made cellulose fiber (MMCF) used in production.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Fresh Start Supports CARE Complex's Mission to Help Homeless Build New Lives

One of Las Vegas Sands’ community partners in bringing Fresh Start Mobile Showers to people in need is CARE Complex. Dedicated to the elimination of homelessness in downtown Las Vegas, CARE Complex works to help clients achieve self-reliance and successfully transition out of homelessness.

Green Infrastructure

What You Can’t See Can Hurt You: Improving the Air We Breathe Indoors

Air quality is no longer something we can judge by our senses alone, especially indoors. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulates, carbon monoxide, and radon are among the chief culprits for poor indoor air quality, along with dust, mold, and bacteria. Building design, interior design, and building maintenance are key factors influencing your “micro-climate” – that is, the space in which you live and work, and specifically, the air you breathe. Optimizing your micro-climate involves smart design, purchasing, and an understanding of the air around you.

Environment

Nestlé Waters Continues to Lead as Sacramento and Livermore Factories Achieve Prestigious Water Conservation Certification

Nestlé Waters North America announced today that its Sacramento and Livermore, Calif., factories have received certification for meeting the rigorous Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Standard.

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar Test Vehicle Washing Helps Save Water

Learn more about how the facility in Qingzhou, China, identified a key opportunity to significantly reduce water consumption by redesigning the vehicle washing processes.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Disaster Relief Solutions for the Long Run

In the past months, many Benevity clients stepped up their disaster relief efforts to mobilize rapid response from their consumers, vendors, partners, the personal networks of their people and the public at large. These companies raised half a million dollars through the portals in the first two days alone, bringing much-needed funds to communities in distress. As usual, more dollars and hands are required, but where and, perhaps more importantly, when?

Environment

Sugar Maple: a Sweet Reward

Europeans were long familiar with the qualities of the maple wood. Species growing in the old world were used for the unpleasantness of pikes and lances. Imagine the happy surprise to find a maple in the New World from which fine furniture could be crafted and from which sugar could be produced in great quantity. So great, in fact, that it became an important commodity to sell or trade for merchandise in the early years of our country.

Research, Reports & Publications

The Home Depot Strengthens Forestry Protection and Improves Chemical Standards in 2017 Responsibility Report

The Home Depot® is increasing its protection of High Conservation Value Forests and tropical Intact Forest Landscapes (IFLs) by not accepting any wood products from The Amazon (South America) and Congo (Africa) Basins, unless Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Impact of Pro-Bono Volunteering

“Why not extend the benefit of volunteering to more people?" This question became the spark that inspired the Global Month of Volunteering at GSK, now underway in October. GSK has been working towards democratizing volunteering—by taking it from the 100 or so employees who can participate in PULSE (our three or six month full-time, immersive volunteer program) to our global employee population of 100,000 employees.

Latest Campaigns

  1. Aflac Stories
    Get a closer look at the people, products and stories that make Aflac the company we know today.
  2. 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...
  3. 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...
  4. Climate Stabilization
    SCS is working to advance climate accounting and reporting based on the latest climate science to help stabilize climate below temperature thresholds...
  5. Food Systems and Livelihoods
    Illustrate how resilient food systems and economic empowerment enable long-term food security. Cover climate-smart agriculture, local market access...
  6. 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...
  7. 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...
  8. 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...
  9. Sustainable Products and Innovation
    Ongoing research into innovative solutions enables CNH’s brands to manufacture products that respect the environment while satisfying customers’...
  10. Aflac Stories
    Get a closer look at the people, products and stories that make Aflac the company we know today.
  11. 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...
  12. Healthy Spaces Podcast: Season 5
    Welcome to Season 5 of Healthy Spaces by Trane Technologies, the podcast where experts and disruptors explore how climate technology and innovation...
  13. Antea Group Brand
    Antea Group Brand Content
  14. 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...
  15. Corporate Social Responsibility
    Corporate Social Responsibility