Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

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

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Energy

Imminent Game Changer for Inefficient UK Properties

From April 2018, it will be illegal to let out certain energy inefficient buildings in the UK. Under what has commonly been termed the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, or MEES, landlords will not be able to let out properties with an Environmental Performance Certificate (EPC) rated F or G. Government estimates have shown this could affect as high as 23% of the commercial real estate market, affecting as much as £165 billion of real estate.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Announcing TWITTER® CHAT: “Defending the Harvest: Reducing Food Loss” With the Rockefeller Foundation, Feed the Future and ADM Institute for the Prevention of Postharvest Loss

More than 1.2 billion people go to bed hungry or under-nourished every day, while the food that could feed them is wasted, lost along the food-chain. Such waste also rocks the security of livelihoods for the most vulnerable in the agricultural value chain and negatively impacts the environment. Eliminating food loss—using the harvest wisely—is one of the most solvable problems of our time.

Environment

A Business Sustainability Framework for Understanding Water Stewardship through Shared Value

While many companies are already engaging with climate change and an array of other environmental issues, water is quickly emerging as an impactful driver of both business risk and opportunity in the 21st century. Water is a critical input for many supply chains, providing energy and both direct and indirect materials for production as well as giving life to essential natural resources beyond the company gates.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Two Consumers Energy Leaders Have Been Named Among the Energy Industry’s “Top 40 Innovators”

Two Consumers Energy leaders – Andy Bordine and Holly Bowers – have been named among the energy industry’s “Top 40 Innovators” by Public Utilities Fortnightly, a leading national trade publication.

Education

Turn Today's HBCU Students Into Tomorrow's Leaders With Thurgood Marshall College Fund

Over the last several months, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund received over 3,500 applications for about 500 scholarships providing financial assistance to students at our 47 historically black member institutions across the country. And while we celebrate that 500 students will be able to continue to complete their academic careers over the course of the 2017-18 academic year with support from our valued corporate partners and donors, being able to help less than one out of every five students who express need is not an acceptable success rate by any means.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Sands Bethlehem Raises Money and Supplies for Hurricane Victims

During the months of August and September, major hurricanes ravaged parts of the United States and Puerto Rico, devastating many. Hurricane Harvey trampled through the southern portion of the US – yielding the most destruction in parts of Texas. Across the state, tens of thousands of individuals were left without power, food, and infrastructure. Less than a couple of weeks later, Hurricanes Maria and Irma, caused catastrophic damage in Florida and the US territory, Puerto Rico. In an effort to help those affected, Sands Bethlehem participated in several ways to raise money and supplies for the victims.

Energy

New Report Finds Increased Investment in Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Far Outweigh Costs

As automakers continue to bring new electric vehicles to the marketplace, electric utilities are grappling with the challenge of deploying adequate electric vehicle charging infrastructure to ensure that vehicles can be charged reliably. A new analysis released today by the sustainability nonprofit organization Ceres and M.J. Bradley & Associates finds that the benefits of increased investment in electric vehicle charging infrastructure outweigh the costs by more than 3 to 1.

Research, Reports & Publications

CLP Shares Sustainability Reporting Insights in WBCSD’s Reporting Matters

The CLP Group shares its Asia Pacific perspective and approach to monitoring key trends for sustainability in the latest edition of Reporting matters.

In the World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s (WBCSD) annual review of member company sustainability reports, CLP highlighted the importance of tracking the trends that are changing the business landscape and the need for incorporating the trends into a company’s strategy to maintain a sustainable business.

Sustainable Development Goals

World Business Council Releases Policy Recommendations for Climate Negotiators at the Start of COP23 in Bonn

Today at the start of COP23, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) released key policy recommendations for this year’s round of climate negotiations ahead of next year’s global stock take on progress made towards the Paris Agreement.

Diversity & Inclusion

Smithfield Foods Veteran Highlight: John Fineran

“Serving in the military has made me a better person, someone who is not afraid to speak his mind and take on challenges,” says John Fineran, 37, a territory manager assistant for Smithfield’s Hog Production Division in West Central Iowa. “That has certainly helped me in my work.”

Environment

First Nation Elders Visit De Beers Mine to Taste the Fish

The event is one of the ways the company seeks to gain traditional knowledge as part of the mine’s environmental monitoring programme. A dozen lake trout were caught from Kirk Lake by elders from Behchoko and Lutsel K’e, who were accompanied by a member of the mine’s environment team. Kirk Lake is about 20km downstream from the mine site.

Health & Healthcare

How to Avoid Scary Situations in Food Processing

The food manufacturing industry is subject to regulations and scrutiny that few other industries are: social pressure is ever-present, as news of infection or disease outbreak caused by food-borne pathogens strikes an uneasy nerve in consumers. Manufacturers can be subject to tremendous backlash if they do not take the proper steps to ensure their manufacturing facilities are appropriately equipped to prevent and mitigate the risk of food contamination.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

EMEA President, Teresa Parker, Named on Financial News’s 11th List of the 100 Most Influential Women in Finance

A leadership shakeup in January 2017 handed Parker responsibility for Northern Trust’s asset servicing, asset management and wealth businesses, as well as regulatory affairs, across EMEA.

Research, Reports & Publications

Marathon Petroleum Corp. Expands Safety and Greenhouse Gas Data Reporting

Marathon Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: MPC) has released its 2017 Citizenship Report, which includes expanded data on safety, greenhouse gas emissions, process safety events, waste generation and more.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

MetLife Named to Working Mother “100 Best Companies” List for 19th Year in a Row

MetLife, Inc. has earned a spot on the 2017 Working Mother magazine’s “100 Best Companies” list for outstanding leadership in programs, policies and a culture that supports working families.

Green Infrastructure

New State-of-the-Art Office Building in Brooklyn, New York

Tetra Tech provided consulting engineering services to create an innovative, flexible, and comfortable office space in Brooklyn, New York.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Burger King Shaves to Show Support for Movember

November marks the start of the hairiest month of the year: Movember. During this annual event hosted by the Movember Foundation, men across the world grow out their ‘staches to raise awareness of men's health issues, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and men's suicide. This no-shave-November, one company is helping change the face of men’s health by changing their own.

Social Impact & Volunteering

SMCAA, Whirlpool Volunteers Team up to Fight Hunger

Members of the Whirlpool Women's Network made up the majority of volunteers during a recent event at the Southwest Michigan Community Action Agency (SMCAA), where several dozen people helped pack boxes full of non-perishable food items for low-income seniors and families.

Health & Healthcare

Jens’s Story​: ​The Power of Precision Medicine, Personalized Care & A Brave Kid

Jens Hildreth is a fun-loving 8-year-old. He smiles a lot. He is on the move – a lot. And he asks questions – a lot! Sam, when is the kid’s library open? Hey Bill, when is your partner coming to the security desk? Jens seems to know everyone at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital (HDVCH) in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

How to Make Your Employees Feel Safe When Volunteering

Volunteering is typically a major component of company culture and corporate social responsibility (CSR). And encouraging your employees to dedicate their time to bettering the community can benefit your team both personally and professionally. Not only can it build teamwork and skills, but it can also allow your employees to end the day feeling good about themselves. However, not all volunteer opportunities are located in safe areas.

Energy

Duke Energy’s Plan to Strengthen South Carolina’s Energy Grid Will Create Jobs, Grow the State’s Economy

Duke Energy is investing $3 billion over roughly the next 10 years in South Carolina to strengthen the energy grid and provide a major boost to the state’s economy for years to come.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Bristol-Myers Squibb Opens New Child Development Center in Lawrence, N.J.

Most mornings Jodi Thrasher drops her two pre-school children off at the new, state-of-the-art, Bristol-Myers Squibb Child Development Center in the new campus on Princeton Pike in Lawrence Township, N.J., before reporting to work. Jodi is the Strategy and Operations Lead at the company and knowing her kids are safe, in an onsite learning environment, enables her to focus on her work – helping deliver life-saving and enhancing medicines to patients with serious diseases.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Dennis White, CEO & President of MetLife Foundation Honored by The Trust for Public Land

Last month, MetLife Foundation and its President and CEO, Dennis White, were honored with the Parks for People Award by The Trust for Public Land (TPL). The award honors public or private partners who champion the organization's land-for-people work in cities – ensuring that land is conserved and parks are created, particularly in neighborhoods of greatest need, so that residents can enjoy nature and have access to active recreation close to home.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Ingersoll Rand Awarded Leadership Status in CDP’s Annual Climate Change Report

The annual Global Climate Change Report from CDP awarded Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR), a world leader in creating comfortable, sustainable and efficient environments, leadership status with a final letter grade of A-. The report and grading award is based on analysis of the current state of corporate climate action.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

VIDEO | eBay Everyday Heroes: Reflections of Trinity Helps Tackle Hunger

According to a recent report by Feeding America, 5 million seniors over the age of 60 in the United States struggle with hunger. Inspired by this need, Reflections of Trinity sells goods on eBay to stock its food pantry.

Latest Campaigns

  1. Communities and People
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  2. 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...
  3. Sustainable Products and Innovation
    Ongoing research into innovative solutions enables CNH’s brands to manufacture products that respect the environment while satisfying customers’...
  4. 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...
  5. License to Operate
    Corporate governance, risk management, operational integrity, and regulatory compliance are demanding challenges that companies face in today’s ever...
  6. 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...
  7. 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...
  8. 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...
  9. 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...
  10. Investing in our Communities
    We invest in sustainable community outcomes that improve lives.
  11. Sustainable Products and Innovation
    Ongoing research into innovative solutions enables CNH’s brands to manufacture products that respect the environment while satisfying customers’...
  12. FedEx Cares | Overall
    FedEx Cares is our global community engagement program and one way that we live out our purpose of connecting people and possibilities. Our goal is to...
  13. 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...
  14. Coach Foundation | Dream It Real
    To help break cycles of inequality, we empower the next generation to reach their full potential through higher education.
  15. Accelerating access to healthcare technology
    We believe technology can help close the world’s health gaps. By putting people first, we find new ways to advance health while reducing costs. And...