News from Leading Brands

Keep up with the latest impact news from companies embracing the triple bottom line, shared via 3BL's publishing platform.

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Responsible Production & Consumption

Video: Smithfield Sow Farm 360° Virtual Tour

Smithfield Foods, Inc. is proud to announce that it has fulfilled its industry-leading commitment of providing group housing systems for pregnant sows on all company-owned farms in the United States.

Watch the virtual reality video that transports viewers to a company sow farm.

Health & Healthcare

Protecting the Food System from Hazards, Threats, and Vulnerabilities

Food safety risk assessment has been historically associated with the identification of hazards in food using Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), and food defense, now identified as Threat Analysis/Critical Control Points (TACCP) by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI.) An additional risk assessment, Vulnerability Analysis/Critical Control Points (VACCP), has been added to the mix to assess the risk of vulnerability to food fraud, following international incidents of intentional adulteration. For instance, in 2008, melamine was added to infant formula to artificially increase the protein content, resulting in infant deaths and serious illness, and leading to massive recalls. This article highlights the similarities and differences among the three assessments.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Arbor Day Foundation Awards Finalists Announced

The Arbor Day Foundation has announced finalists for its bi-annual recognition program with the winners to be announced prior to National Arbor Day on April 27, 2018. Since 1972, the Foundation has presented awards for work at the international, national, state, and community levels to recognize conservation efforts such as tree planting and care, Arbor Day celebrations, education, community projects, and roadside beautification.

Environment

Expert Interview With Bob Daylor, Land Development Expert

Bob Daylor is a civil engineer and senior consultant for land development and land tenure issues at Tetra Tech. He has 50 years’ experience in facility planning, design, and construction and specializes in master planning and permitting projects at the water’s edge and in or near ecologically-sensitive landscapes. He holds professional registrations in civil engineering and land surveying and has held several elected and appointed city and regional planning positions.

Sustainable Development Goals

Sappi North America's Key Performance Indicators: Solid Waste

Our pulp and paper products are derived from renewable resources, made with high levels of renewable energy, and are designed to be reused or recycled. While it is difficult to identify a more sustainable industry than forest products, not all companies perform equally when it comes to operating safely and sustainably.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

JetBlue Marks the 100-Day Milestone of its 100x35JetBlue Hurricane Relief Program in Puerto Rico

JetBlue announced the 100-day milestone of its 100x35JetBlue hurricane relief initiative, which launched shortly after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico in September 2017. A nod to the island’s 100x35 mile dimensions, 100x35JetBlue outlined 100 days and 35 ways – and beyond – of caring for Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. JetBlue has completed or launched 34 of the 35 initiatives, and now transitions to initiative #35: developing a long-term plan for supporting Puerto Rico and fostering economic growth.

Environment

What’s in a Name? The Meaning Behind "Antea Group"

Learn about Antea Group and why our name is symbolic of our core values, mission and collective strength

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Nikki Reed and Dell Turn E-Waste into New Treasures with Recycled Gold Jewelry Collection

Dell’s collaboration with Reed’s business, Bayou with Love, marks latest in the company’s efforts to put recycled materials back to work

Events, Media & Communications

WBCSD's Panorama Podcast | Mitsubishi Corp in Profile: A Century of Sustainability

Were Japanese companies like Mitsubishi Corp ahead of the curve when it came to including corporate responsibility into their business values? And how has sustainability evolved in the decades since Mitsubishi Corp first became active in this area? We speak with Julie Rogers, General Manager for Corporate Communications and Sustainability at Mitsubishi Corporation Europe and WBCSD’s James Gomme to get their first-hand insights.

Education

30 Million Reasons to Focus on Vocabulary

In 2014, PNC announced a multi-city, $10 million initiative designed to promote families’ awareness of the positive impact that talking to their children has on their vocabularies. Just as important, the initiative focuses on providing parents with the skills they need to do this effectively.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Kohler Co. Honored As "Green Master"

Kohler Co. was recognized as a 2017 Green Master by the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council and the Green Master Program at the organization's annual conference. Green Master recognizes Wisconsin businesses for their commitment to sustainability and provides benchmarks to track their progress.

Social Impact & Volunteering

What Could Your Nonprofit Accomplish This Year With the Support of Skilled Volunteers?

Join Taproot Foundation’s webinar on Wednesday, January 24 for all the tools you need to get started on Taproot+, their cost-free online platform that connects nonprofits with skilled volunteers for short-term pro bono projects.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Gender Equality Balancing Act

In January 2018, National Grid will sponsor the Leadership Conference for Women in Energy – Europe in London. It’s a timely reminder that there’s still a lot of work to do to achieve parity between men and women in senior leadership roles in energy and beyond. Alan Foster, National Grid’s UK Chief Financial Officer, explains.

Environment

Video on Floating Desalination Plant Wins Xylem Water Prize

A team of students from India recently won the Xylem Water Prize for their video on how to solve water. The competition was part of the International Junior Science Olympiad, which this year had the theme “Water and Sustainability”.

The 14th annual International Junior Science Olympiad 2017 was held in the Netherlands in December 2017. Students aged 15 and under from 50 countries competed with one another in physics, biology and chemistry.

As a sponsor of the Olympiad, Xylem launched the first Xylem Water Prize, which invited participating students to produce a video answering the question: “How do you solve water?” All submissions were evaluated for impact, clarity, creativity and innovation by an international judging panel.

Sustainable Development Goals

Updates to SDG Compass – Call for Business Tools

GRI, the UN Global Compact and WBCSD are inviting submissions to an inventory, which is part of the SDG Compass, to support organizations in measuring their contributions to the Sustainble Development Goals.​

Social Impact & Volunteering

Reminder: Take the Social Value Canada Survey

In late 2016, the SROI Canada Network and the Social Impact Analysts Association merged to become Social Value Canada (SVC). SVC is positioning itself to be the national hub for Canadians to connect, learn and exchange ideas about social impact, social value creation and measurement methodologies.

Innovation & Technology

Bloomberg's Data Initiative: Big Data for Social Good in 2018

Big data has become ubiquitous in recent years. Whether it is data-driven marketing, sports analytics, political campaigns, or national security threats, data has become central to any type of informed analysis and plan of action. Consequently, the arrival of Big data has also spawned a data industry and the emergence of data professions – data analysts, data architects, data scientists, and chief data officers.

Research, Reports & Publications

CLP Creates Value for Stakeholders

At the heart of the CLP Group's success in the Asia Pacific power sector is its value creation process, which draws on various inputs and through its business activities converts them to outputs that create positive value for its stakeholders.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Waste Not, Want Not

It is not conservative to say that food waste is a huge issue. It affects each and every one of us, or will at some point in the near future. The rumblings of experts say that our current worldwide population will increase more than 35 percent by the year 2050.

Both the opportunity and need to reduce our world’s food waste have never been greater than they are now. Starting right in the United States, reducing food waste can deliver significant environmental, social and economic benefits.

Environment

Party Like It’s 2017

I’ve had the privilege of sharing Andrew Winston’s company twice, and he’s simply brilliant. I hope you read and enjoy his writing.

Education

Arrow Electronics Supports Accenture’s “Hour of Code”

Arrow Electronics’ employees supported an Hour of Code event at Accenture’s Denver office last month that was attended by local students and their families. Arrow provided 20 laptops for the event, and employees volunteered to coach students through the event’s interactive coding modules.

Environment

It's Not Your Imagination, Dallas Is Getting Hotter — And Here's Why

Traditionally, economic growth and environmental sustainability have been at odds. In Texas, we tend to adopt a "growth first" attitude, and then worry about environmental and lifestyle impacts later. But the 2017 Dallas Urban Heat Island Management Study from the Texas Trees Foundation provides reasons why we need to rethink how we handle the region's growth, building a better balance between the gray and green infrastructures.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Time for an Employee Giving Program Pulse Check

When it comes to annual check-ups we make it a priority to visit the doctor, dentist or even a vehicle inspection. Although many of us put it off as long as we can, or even avoid it all together. Why? Fear of bad news, fear of being judged, fear of costs, fear of change…the list goes on. But check-ups are necessary and good for us. The same holds true with your employee giving program. No better time than now to get started.

Education

Hands-on Learning Leads to an IT Career

To prepare for CCNA certification Nurayy Guerler, 32, studied networking hardware with her hands at SFZ Förderzentrum Academy in Chemnitz, Germany, a vocational training center for people with visual impairments. Though Nuray is legally blind, she is now a successful IT trainer at an engineering office.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Essity Inspires Sustainability in Local Communities

Each year, Essity employees at facilities throughout the United States take time to give back locally – all sites contribute in a way that is special to their own communities. Here are some of the ways different groups took to the streets to connect with communities and celebrate Essity’s commitment to sustainability during the last quarter of 2017:

Latest Campaigns

  1. 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...
  2. AEG's Commitment to Sustainable Operations
    AEG's sustainability initiatives are designed to reduce our consumption of the planet’s limited resources. Through our comprehensive sustainability...
  3. Tapestry I The Power of Our People
    We aim to foster a culture of purpose and fulfillment at Tapestry by embedding equity, inclusion and diversity throughout our organization, and...
  4. AEG Celebrates Inclusion
    At AEG, we embrace inclusion and strive to create a workplace where our employees feel welcomed, valued and respected for the viewpoints, ideas...
  5. 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...
  6. License to Operate
    Corporate governance, risk management, operational integrity, and regulatory compliance are demanding challenges that companies face in today’s ever...
  7. Goals That Inspire: Positive Social Impact
    Through our Goals That Inspire we strive to make a positive difference in our communities by relying on our ability to understand their needs and then...
  8. Enriching Women's Lives
    60 years ago, Mary Kay Ash created an unparalleled opportunity for women to define their own successes and control their own futures. Her vision of...
  9. International Paper | HEALTHY & ABUNDANT FORESTS
    Vision 2030 Goal: Lead forest stewardship efforts globally
  10. 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...
  11. PotlatchDeltic 2024 Corporate Responsibility Report
    PotlatchDeltic’s 2024 corporate responsibility accomplishments include: Forests: Planted nearly 29 million seedlings and protected 7,880 miles of...
  12. Climate Stabilization
    SCS is working to advance climate accounting and reporting based on the latest climate science to help stabilize climate below temperature thresholds...
  13. Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games
    The vision of Paris 2024 Paris 2024 will see a new vision of Olympism in action, delivered in a unique spirit of international celebration. We will...
  14. KeyBank's Community Investment
    In states where Key has a presence, there are approximately 1.7 million low- to moderate-income (LMI) households. Many LMI individuals don’t have bank...
  15. PSEG People & Communities
    PSEG is committed to improving the lives of our customers, our employees and the diverse communities we serve throughout New Jersey and Long Island...