Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

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

Focus for maximum impact

Environment

Consumers Energy Offers Appliance Recycling, Helping Michigan Residents Reduce Costs and Earn Rebates

As Michigan residents start their spring cleaning, Consumers Energy is encouraging people to turn old household items into cash through its appliance recycling program.

Innovation & Technology

Feeding America Launches MealConnect™ Technology Platform to Help Reduce Food Waste and End Hunger

For Earth Day 2017, Feeding America® is announcing the launch of MealConnectTM, an innovative technology platform that makes food donation as simple as a click. The new and free platform was developed to help reduce food waste, benefit the environment and put more food on the tables of families and individuals facing hunger in America.

Research, Reports & Publications

Walmart Highlights Progress in Creating Shared Value in Tenth Annual Global Responsibility Report

Walmart today released its tenth annual Global Responsibility Report, which looks back at the company’s progress during fiscal year 2017 in advancing the key areas of opportunity, sustainability and local communities. The report also looks ahead at the retailer’s role in helping rewire whole social and environmental systems as it strives toward a new era of trust and transparency.

Environment

Sustainability Advocate Jason Mathers Demonstrates Sustainability is Good for Business

“At first folks thought that FedEx and EDF were an odd couple. Together, we’ve demonstrated that sustainability is good for business.”

As Director of Supply Chain at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Jason Mathers helps companies cut pollution, greenhouse gas emissions—and

Sustainable Development Goals

This Earth Day, the World is Investing in the Most Valuable Asset We Have

Tamara Coger of Tetra Tech’s Environment and Natural Resources sector discusses the benefits of investing in sustainable natural resources management to people, societies, and economies around the world. All opinions expressed in this post are the author’s own.

Environment

This Earth Day, Don’t Forget to Think Small

Climate change. It’s certainly one of the biggest issues facing the planet and us, the 7 billion people who share it. Yet it’s become clearer than ever that we can’t rely on governments alone to do something about it. It’s imperative that the private sector step up as a force for Good — and we’re encouraged to see that it is. Read this article to see how companies like Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Expedia, Agrium, and EarthShare encourage employees to take small, everyday actions to make a big environmental impact.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Points of Light Celebrates National Volunteer Week with a Focus on How Service Brings People Together

ATLANTA (April 20, 2017) — Points of Light, in partnership with the PepsiCo Foundation and Got Your 6, celebrates National Volunteer Week, April 23-29, 2017, through volunteer recognition and service events across the country. This annual public awareness campaign celebrates the impact of volunteerism, and the power of service to bring people together to tackle tough challenges, create change, and build stronger, more vibrant communities.

Environment

The Disney Conservation Fund Names the Recipients of its 2016-2017 Grants

More than $7 million in grants have been awarded to leading nonprofit organizations, including the Jane Goodall Institute, National Wildlife Federation and Panthera, working across the globe to protect wildlife and provide experiences that will help inspire a lifelong love for nature in young people.

Research, Reports & Publications

Walmart Highlights Progress in Creating Shared Value in Tenth Annual Global Responsibility Report

Walmart today released its tenth annual Global Responsibility Report, which looks back at the company’s progress during fiscal year 2017 in advancing the key areas of opportunity, sustainability and local communities. The report also looks ahead at the retailer’s role in helping rewire whole social and environmental systems as it strives toward a new era of trust and transparency.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Comcast NBCUniversal Celebrates Year-Round Commitment to Volunteerism During Annual Cares Day

On Saturday, April 22nd, more than 100,000 Comcast NBCUniversal employees, and their families and friends, and community partners will participate in the 16th annual Comcast Cares Day, the nation’s largest single-day corporate volunteer effort and a culmination of the company’s year-round commitment to community service. At nearly 1,000 projects across the nation and in approximately 20 countries around the world, volunteers will be revitalizing neglected neighborhoods and parks, teaching digital literacy skills, painting murals, cleaning up beaches, installing computer labs, stocking community food banks, and much more.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Earth Week Guest Post: Reflections for New Business Leaders: Opportunity and Responsibility

In our second Earth Week guest post, a 2016 graduate of the University of Michigan's Erb Institute reflects on the essential impact her classmates will need to make as they reenter the workplace to ensure a sustainable future for their businesses and our planet.

Social Impact & Volunteering

This Florida Teen is a Rising Star

This Action Team Ambassador combines passions for baseball and helping others.


Action Team Ambassador Juan Salinas-Bentley didn’t derive nearly as much satisfaction from his baseball team’s 19-1 win over neighboring Palm Beach Lakes in February as he did from raising funds to help the financially stressed school pay the $1,485 for umpires it needed to complete this season.

Research, Reports & Publications

Aetna Releases 2016 Corporate Social Responsibility Report

Aetna, one of the nation’s leading diversified health care benefits companies, today released its 2016 Corporate Social Responsibility report. This year’s report provides an in-depth look into Aetna’s commitment to building a healthier world, community by community.

Education

New Infrastructure Promotes Education in Sinaloa, Mexico

For years, children in the northern region of Mexico’s Sinaloa state had no real place to learn. Teachers would move from one house to another, or cram their young students into a tiny room measuring 6m x 4m – with no furniture, no power, no running water and no washrooms.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies Speak Out About Gender Violence Through Partnership with PCADV

The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence (PCADV) has attained remarkable achievements in promoting safety and justice for victims of domestic violence in Pennsylvania and across the country in its 33 year history.

Responsible Production & Consumption

How Urbanization is Driving Changes to the Global Food System

Dr. Phil Pardey, professor of agricultural economics at the University of Minnesota and director of the International Science and Technology Practice and Policy Center, discusses the implications of today's shifting population trends for the global food system.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Food and Conservation Groups Invest in Soil to Sustain Food Production

A national effort to enhance farm sustainability through soil health has additional backing from a major consumer foods manufacturer. Leaders from General Mills, The Nature Conservancy, the Soil Health Institute and the Soil Health Partnership announce a collaborative effort to advance soil health on America’s farms and ranches, paving the way for measurable economic and environmental gains for farmers, businesses and communities for generations to come.

Innovation & Technology

Transformative Technology: Understanding Sustainability Impacts and Opportunities

For more than 30 years, we’ve been at the forefront of mobile technology – and we’re just getting started. Stemming from our industry expertise and long-time commitment to research and development, we are uniquely positioned to empower designers and developers to create new possibilities for our rapidly evolving world. We are at the hub of 5G innovation, spearheading the research efforts that will create the next global wireless revolution – just as we pioneered many of the building blocks for 3G and 4G.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Nordic Stock Exchanges recommend GRI Standards

Already 35 exchanges and market regulators globally reference GRI’s sustainability reporting framework. In March, Nasdaq’s Nordic and Baltic stock exchanges joined this group, as they released an ESG guide for listed companies to better comply with investor demands on non-financial disclosure, referencing GRI as the best practice in sustainability reporting throughout the guide.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

CR Magazine Reveals 18th Annual 100 Best Corporate Citizens List

Corporate Responsibility Magazine announced today its 18th annual 100 Best Corporate Citizens List, recognizing the standout corporate responsibility and sustainability performance of public companies across the United States.

Responsible Production & Consumption

#TagYourHalf During Distracted Driving Awareness Month

Hi, I’m Staci from Our Family Lifestyle. Hi, I’m Colby from Days of a Domestic Dad.

We’ve been married for almost 23 years and have 5 children.

From the moment we met in high school, I have been making the moves and calling the shots. My Type A personality and Colby’s easy-going attitude have kept us checked and balanced in our marriage, in raising our children, and in life.

Innovation & Technology

How Business Can Lead Sustainable Growth

Today the private sector is uniquely positioned to step forward and assume a higher level of sustainability leadership. The changing policy landscape around the world presents an opportunity for companies to create a consumer-driven marketplace that is better for the environment and better for business.

Education

Domtar’s STEM Program Works to Build Future Leaders

Domtar's Plymouth Mill is hosting a series of events in honor of Earth Day. Area students will learn about the mill's science, math, engineering and math (STEM) program as employees visit schools in North Carolina and host a mill tour. Domtar is committed to developing tomorrow's leaders via STEM learning.

Environment

Shire Examines Packaging to Reduce Carbon Footprint

In 2016, we worked with third party partner, The Carbon Trust, on a lifecycle assessment to recertify the product carbon footprints of three different bags of Flexbumin 25% [Albumin (Human)] sold in the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and Asia. From plasma collection, to manufacturing, distribution, and end-of-life, the assessment looked at the whole product lifecycle to understand where the biggest carbon impacts arose.

Research, Reports & Publications

U.S. Chamber Foundation and IBM Issue New Report on Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Public Sentiment, Brand Reputation

The U.S. Chamber Foundation’s Corporate Citizenship Center and IBM today issued a new report that explores how efforts by businesses to be a positive force in communities – commonly referred to as corporate social responsibility (CSR) – influences public perception of those companies.

Latest Campaigns

  1. Fifth Third’s Neighborhood Program
    Fifth Third has a proven track record of success in community development through its neighborhood program, which creates and implements innovative...
  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. Communities and People
    Employees are our most valued resource and are at the center of everything we do. Their talent, diversity, and commitment are crucial to our...
  4. 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...
  5. Sustainable Products and Innovation
    Ongoing research into innovative solutions enables CNH’s brands to manufacture products that respect the environment while satisfying customers’...
  6. Forests
    Managing our forests sustainably and protecting water, wildlife, and species at risk.
  7. KeyBank Foundation: Helping Communities Thrive through Education, Workforce Development, and Service
    KeyBank Foundation helps build thriving communities by supporting organizations and programs that foster thriving students and a thriving workforce...
  8. License to Operate
    Corporate governance, risk management, operational integrity, and regulatory compliance are demanding challenges that companies face in today’s ever...
  9. Subaru Love Promise: Community
    Subaru is dedicated to supporting those who need it the most in our communities. From donating food to Feeding America, providing essential items to...
  10. IWBI | WELL Building Standard
    Our built environment can shape our habits and choices, regulate our sleep-wake cycle, drive us toward healthy and unhealthy choices, and passively...
  11. Scotts Miracle-Gro | Environment Improvement
    Earth's beauty and resources should be appreciated now and preserved for generations to come. Discover the stewardship initiatives underway to protect...
  12. Opportunity for All
    At Trane Technologies, uplifting our communities and workforce is the key to our continued success. We focus on broadening access to education...
  13. 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...
  14. Investing in our Communities
    We invest in sustainable community outcomes that improve lives.
  15. Sustainable Products and Innovation
    Ongoing research into innovative solutions enables CNH’s brands to manufacture products that respect the environment while satisfying customers’...