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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Education

Bridging Gaps in Biotechnology, From High School to College

Three years after Enrique García-Rivera left his home school in Puerto Rico for an Amgen Scholars summer at the University of California, San Francisco, he found himself in an unexpected place: He was coaching a high school biotechnology club in Massachusetts, helping them with the Genes in Space challenge for NASA. He walked the teenagers through different types of DNA reactions that could theoretically be altered by zero-gravity.

Research, Reports & Publications

Citi Releases 2017 Global Citizenship Report

Citi today released its 2017 Global Citizenship Report, highlighting efforts made in the last year to responsibly provide financial services that enable growth and progress. This report includes numerous examples of how, through our core business and with our philanthropic efforts, we are helping address complex and pressing issues such as global warming and social inequality.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Project HOPE Names Merck Corporate Volunteer of the Year

Project HOPE honored Jahn Moeller, a registered nurse from Queensland, Australia, as Volunteer of the Year, and Merck, as Corporate Partner Volunteer of the Year, celebrating a six-decades long partnership that has built health capacity worldwide.

Sustainable Development Goals

CVS Health Releases 11th Annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report

CVS Health today released its 11th annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report, detailing its latest efforts to shape the future of health care, reduce environmental impacts and exemplify corporate leadership in fulfilling the company’s purpose of helping people on their path to better health.

Environment

Biofuel-powered, Laser-loaded Boeing Plane of the Future Visits FedEx Hub

Powered by 100 percent biofuel, FedEx's Boeing 777 ecoDemonstrator celebrated Earth Day with a stop at the shipping giant's Memphis hub.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Sustainably Grown® Certification Earns More High Marks

In its “ABC’s of Food Labels,” U.S. non-profit Green America has awarded SCS Global Services’ Sustainably Grown® certification program four and a half stars, among the highest rankings earned by any of the popular global sustainable agriculture ecolabels. This is just the latest recognition received by Sustainably Grown, which covers a comprehensive set of environmental, social, economic, safety and quality attributes related to the production of fresh fruits and vegetables, herbs, nuts, cut flowers, and ornamental plants. Additionally, Sustainably Grown certification is well aligned with consumer demand, according to a recent nationwide study of U.S. shoppers. The research was conducted by Category Partners, one of the leading third-party fresh produce analytics firms in the U.S.

Education

Tetra Tech Promotes STEM Around the World

Tetra Tech’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Program aims to help students at all levels—from kindergarten to graduate school—develop an interest in these four technical fields. Tetra Tech employees around the world complete classroom visits, conduct science activities, provide mentorships, and participate in a multitude of programs, including activities that focus on water, science careers, and motivating girls and young women to pursue STEM careers.

Research, Reports & Publications

NRG Energy Demonstrates Leadership With 2017 Sustainability Results

Today, NRG Energy, Inc. published its 2017 Sustainability Report. In this report, the company announces new sustainability achievements and milestones and provides, for the first time, the company’s principles on climate change.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Cacapon Institute Honored With Arbor Day Foundation’s Headwaters Award

The Arbor Day Foundation has announced today that Cacapon Institute of West Virginia have been awarded the Foundation’s inaugural Headwaters Award which celebrates innovative programs — in rural or urban areas — that support the improvement of water quality and quantity through forestry activities.

Diversity & Inclusion

INTERVIEW: Valerie Maldonado Senior Engineer Process Developer for MARS

A few weeks ago, MARS INC. contacted me, asking me to interview four of their Women in STEM.* Over the next few weeks, their interviews will be posting one by one. This interview is with Valerie Maldonado, Fruity Confections CBU Mars Wrigley Confectionery here in the US.

Research, Reports & Publications

John Lewis Partnership Corporate Responsibility Report 2017/18

John Lewis Partnership has released its latest Corporate Responsibility Report which provides an update on activities and progress made over the last year in support of the Partnership’s three overarching aims; Source and sell with integrity, Deliver more with less and Unlock Partner potential.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Republic Services Drivers Honored with National Driver of the Year Awards

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Avery Dennison Makes CSR Investment in Southeast Asia

With many of Avery Dennison’s solutions made from paper, maintaining a sustainable paper supply is vital to our business success and achieving our long-term sustainability goals. In fact, we’re aiming to use 100% FSC-Certified paper for all of our products by the year 2025.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Smithfield Foods’ Senior Director of Hunger Relief, Dennis Pittman, Honored with “Innovation in Action” Award

Dennis Pittman, who serves as Smithfield Foods’ senior director of hunger relief, last week received the Frank Timberlake “Innovation in Action” Award from the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, a Feeding America Food Bank based in Charlotte, N.C.

Each year, the Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina hosts an awards luncheon for partners in the community who have gone above and beyond to support their mission to end hunger in the 19 counties they serve throughout North Carolina and South Carolina. Dennis has been recognized for his leadership of Smithfield’s Helping Hungry Homes® initiative and his years of work to support the fight against hunger.

Environment

VIDEO | Alliance Data Reduces GHG Emissions by 21 Percent in Two Years

Since 2015, Alliance Data reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 21 percent metric tons. Check out how we fared in this short video. Our 2017 Corporate Responsibility report, which will be out in the coming weeks, will detail more of our efforts to nurture and protect our environment.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Ninety Employees Clean Up 60 Acres in 30 Degree Temperatures

Camp Westwood is a branch of the Pawtucket YMCA tucked away off the beaten path in Coventry, RI. The 60 acres of land is open from April to October each year for locals to camp, swim, kayak, or just enjoy the beautiful setting. And as our employees turned into the camp this Earth Day, we were greeted with a sign that read “Thank You National Grid Volunteers.” We hadn’t done anything to deserve the thanks yet, but we were about to earn it.

Events, Media & Communications

Final Days to Register for the 2018 Shared Value Leadership Summit

Time is running out to join business leaders committed to providing scalable solutions to society's greatest challenges at the 2018 Shared Value Leadership Summit on May 1-2 at the Conrad New York.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Renay Loper of PYXERA Global Leads Workshop at Taproot Foundation’s U.S. Pro Bono Summit

PYXERA Global is pleased to announce our participation in the Taproot 2018 U.S. Pro Bono Summit hosted by the Taproot Foundation and BMW Foundation on April 18–19 in San Francisco, CA. The Taproot Foundation’s annual event brought together leaders in the practice of Global Pro Bono to share knowledge, challenges, and experiences in an effort to better facilitate pro bono work that drives social change. PYXERA Global joined other leaders in the practice to discuss Global Pro Bono projects as they relate to technology, leadership, and food access.

Environment

Bloomberg Gives $4.5 Million to Help U.S. Keep Paris Climate Accord Commitment

Former New York City Mayor and philanthropist Michael Bloomberg says he has a responsibility to help the environment as the Trump administration has backed down from its role in the Paris climate agreement. He said on "Face the Nation" he will write a check for $4.5 million this year to fund that mission.

Energy

Headlights vs. Highlights: Season Four of Better Buildings SWAP Showcases General Motors and L’Oréal USA

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today unveiled the fourth installment of the “Better Buildings Challenge SWAP,” featuring General Motors and L’Oréal USA. In this online video series, the companies swap energy management teams to gain new insights, save money and improve the energy performance of their industrial facilities. The result is an informative, behind the scenes look at what it takes to improve manufacturing competitiveness through energy efficiency.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Will Implicit Bias Training Solve the Starbucks Problem?

A barista calls the cops on two black men waiting for a friend and Starbucks responds with implicit bias training to help employees recognize subconscious racism. Is this response good enough? Information on its own does not change attitudes and behavior. So, what’s the answer?

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

The Hundred People Behind Your Favorite Pair of Jeans - Erb Institute | Business for Sustainability

Have you ever stopped to think about how many people were involved in making the clothes you buy? Chances are you have heard about or read The Travels of a T-shirt in a Global Economy or listened to Planet Money’s piece on making a t-shirt. Both are incredibly interesting examinations of the effects of global trade on the fashion industry, developing countries and garment workers.

Innovation & Technology

VMware Celebrates 20 Years of Innovation

From virtualization to cloud computing, with a commitment to be a force for good, click here to explore VMware's interactive timeline and find out how 20 years of innovation have given rise to a better, more connected world.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Morgan Stanley Announces New Commitment to Finance $250Bn in Low-Carbon Solutions by 2030

Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) today announced a new commitment to provide $250Bn in low-carbon financing by 2030. Contributing to this commitment are the Firm’s activities in clean-tech and renewable energy financing, sustainable bonds and other transactions that enable low-carbon solutions. As companies, governments and institutions transition to a low-carbon economy, Morgan Stanley views low-carbon financing as a win-win for business and the environment.

Education

Brain Food: How What You Eat Can Help You When Studying

If you are what you eat, then what should you eat (or not eat) to help you retain information when studying for final exams? Sodexo national dietitian Beth Winthrop, who helps the company’s college and university clients create healthy, well-balanced food options for students around the United States, has offered her tips for smart eating during finals season.

Latest Campaigns

  1. Carbon Footprint
    We are accelerating our efforts to help build a low-carbon economy and avert the worst impacts of climate change. Our goal to reduce our GHG emissions...
  2. 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...
  3. License to Operate
    Corporate governance, risk management, operational integrity, and regulatory compliance are demanding challenges that companies face in today’s ever...
  4. 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...
  5. Leading ESG & Sustainability Stewardship
    The new CNH continues on its longstanding path of excellence in sustainability, which is recognized by the foremost authorities.
  6. Green Mountain Energy Commitment to Sustainability
    At Green Mountain Energy Company, we share our customers’ commitment to the environment and sustainability. We are inspired by the success that we...
  7. 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...
  8. SustainabilityHQ.com Weekly Highlights
    Highlighting the top news, commentary, and research for the week coming from SHQ. The highlights newsletter also spotlights one profiled organization...
  9. Responsible Investing
    Responsible Investing
  10. FedEx | Awards & Recognition
    We are consistently ranked among the world’s most admired brands and employers. Read more about honors and recognition for FedEx’s ongoing effort to...
  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. Growth Through Sustainability
    Trane Technologies is a global climate innovator with a clear purpose to boldly challenge what’s possible for a sustainable world. See how embedding...
  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. License to Operate
    Corporate governance, risk management, operational integrity, and regulatory compliance are demanding challenges that companies face in today’s ever...
  15. GoDaddy | Customers
    GoDaddy is the world’s largest services platform for entrepreneurs around the globe. We’re on a mission to empower our worldwide community of 20+...