News from Leading Brands

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

Focus for maximum impact

Focus™ is 3BL’s premier product, a comprehensive suite of proprietary tools and expertise to optimize your impact programs with precision and purpose.

Discover Focus

Smarter impact communications

Power your message with data, insights and confidence

Find out more at 3BL.com

Energy

Trying to Reduce Overall Energy Use? We Have One Area That Can’t Be Ignored.

W. Scott Tew, executive director, Center for Energy Efficiency & Sustainability (CEES) at Ingersoll Rand, shares insights on energy trends and the process of moving air in big buildings, in EnergyCentral article.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Turner Broadcasting: Switched on to Volunteering

Since 2009 employee volunteers at Turner Broadcasting, have helped build schools and school buildings in Mali, Rwanda, Malawi, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Mozambique.

Environment

What Does Climate Change Mean to China's Security?

A recent report by Zheng Haibin, a professor at Peking University highlights the potential impact of climate change China’s national security. Haibin claims that climate change will endanger China’s defense and damage critical strategic infrastructure. Specifically, he called out several vulnerabilities:

Research, Reports & Publications

Upgrading Citizenship to a Whole New Level

In order to build a truly sustainable organisation, global companies these days acknowledge that the umbrella of their stakeholders extends further than ever before.

Research, Reports & Publications

Upgrading Citizenship to a Whole New Level

In order to build a truly sustainable organisation, global companies these days acknowledge that the umbrella of their stakeholders extends further than ever before.

Events, Media & Communications

FOX and EMPIRE to Build Free Music Studios for Youth Across the U.S.

As FOX prepares for the September 23 premiere of Empire's second season, the network is partnering with the nonprofit Notes for Notes for a new initiative entitled "FOX PRESENTS EMPIRE Behind the Beat." The campaign will raise money to build fully equipped music studios across the country for young people to have free access to instruments and audio equipment, as well as professional mentors to help them hone their talent. The program will inspire the next generation to create its own musical voice.

Responsible Production & Consumption

US Court of Appeals Decision on US SEC Conflict Minerals Regulation

Yesterday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit reaffirmed its April 2014 decision regarding the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Conflict Minerals Rule: the requirement to describe products as having “not been found to be DRC conflict Free” violates the First Amendment.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Giving Back and Going Back...Prepping for School in NC

Today in Durham NC, over 150 GSK volunteers handed out backpacks filled with school supplies to children at the Durham Rescue Mission’s 16th annual Back to School Party. GSK donates the supplies (over 3000 backpacks!) and helps at the event as a contribution to the health of the community where we are proud to live and work. The goal is to get kids excited about going back to school and getting a good start on the new school year. View the photos for more info or check out GSK's More than Medicine blog for other ways that we are helping in our communities.

Energy

National Grid Submits Grid Modernization Plan to Mass. DPU

WALTHAM, MA. August 19, 2015 ​– National Grid today submitted its grid modernization proposal to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities that represents the start of a conversation about how Massachusetts customers would benefit from a modern and more resilient electric grid.

Social Impact & Volunteering

The CSR Scoop - 8/19/15

This week, we’re talking about purpose. What is it? How do we channel and leverage it? Why bother? Read on to find out!

Energy

Freight and Transport Companies Rapidly Investing in Biofuels

Biofuels are emerging as a credible alternative that can help reduce the dependence on fossil fuels. Biofuels are an important key to decelerating climate change and improving global fuel security. The U.S. currently leads the world in biofuel investments. More than 13.3 billion gallons of ethanol was produced in the U.S. in 2013, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Five Upstate South Carolina Businesses to Grow with Support from Michelin Development

Five upstate businesses will be growing and creating new jobs with financial help from Michelin Development, a subsidiary of Michelin North America.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Why Being Customer-Centric is a Supply Side Strategy

In recent years Human Centred Design (HCD) became a buzzword in the financial inclusion world. It focused financial service providers on the design of products and services based on customer insights. Design firms became part of the technical provider fraternity, servicing financial service providers in the quest to improve inclusion. At the same time, the network of financial service providers broadened to include mobile network operators and retail chains, in addition to microfinance institutions (MFIs), banks, cooperatives and a myriad of microfinance suppliers. With new entrants come new ideas – and repetition of old ones. One consistent, but underrated idea, is to focus on the customer.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

GM’s Toledo Transmission Goes 3 for E3

Our Toledo Transmission’s 2,200 employees are busy bees. Not only do they build 5,400 transmissions every day, they’re building them in an environmentally responsible manner. Just ask the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Can Toilets Help Change Lives? Kimberly-Clark’s Commitment To Improving Access To Sanitation For Those Who Need It Most

2.5 billion people around the world are living without access to improved sanitation, and the impacts on quality of life are significant. Millions of girls miss school every month because menstruation becomes too hard to manage without proper facilities. And countless children are absent from school because of the spread of disease and infection from a lack of basic sanitation.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Fostering Healthy Communities Makes for Healthy Businesses

Businesses play a vital role in the welfare of the community, impacting the lives of employees, customers, investors and countless others. Conversely, the health of all these stakeholders has a direct impact on a company’s success. - See more at: http://3blmedia.com/News/Fostering-Healthy-Communities-Makes-Healthy-Businesses#sthash.rwaaQTBP.dpuf

Social Impact & Volunteering

JetBlue Moves People Through Employee Engagement

The following member spotlight is excerpted from the most recent issue of The Corporate Citizen, the Center’s magazine, and illustrates the importance of strategic communication in effective corporate citizenship programs. To learn more about communicating effectively, join us in New York on Oct. 6-8 for our Communications 101 course.

Events, Media & Communications

MGM Resorts Employees Mark Educator Appreciation Day 2015 with Donated Supplies

Annual event provides support to Clark County School District teachers and students by filling the Mirage Grand Ballroom with free supplies that have been donated by MGM Resorts employees.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

To Stand Up for Quality of Life is to Stand Up For a Certain Idea of Human Progress

Research, Reports & Publications

Domtar Reduces Waste to Landfill 23%

Canada-based specialty paper manufacturer Domtar reduced the waste its pulp and paper mills sent to landfill by 23 percent from 2013 to 2014, according to its 2015 Sustainability Report. The company is now more than half way to its 2020 goal of decreasing waste to landfill by 40 percent against a 2013 baseline.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Asia Waits for No One

Throughout its modern history, Asia has labored under a perception problem. Most of the world saw it as the place that produced the goods and services that ran businesses and entertained consumers throughout the world.

Social Impact & Volunteering

GM Student Corps Paints the Town – And More

DETROIT, August 19, 2015 /3BL Media/ – Pontiac High School students returning to classes this week are being greeted by a new, massive “PHOENIX PRIDE” sign that represents more than the school’s mascot. Ten of their classmates helped refurbish several areas of Pontiac this summer as members of the GM Student Corps.

Environment

Guayaki’s Sustainable Mission to Save the Rainforest Gets a Boost from NetSuite.org

Take five college friends, a strong appreciation of yerba mate, a naturally caffeinated South American beverage, and a desire to make a difference in the world and you have the seeds for Guayaki, a natural products provider and a social enterprise.

Education

Empowering a New Generation of Women Leaders in Cambodia

In 2004, I met a courageous young woman who changed my life. Her name was Veasna Chea. She was about thirty years old at the time and working with the UN Commission on Human Rights in Cambodia. Like many Cambodians of her generation, some of Veasna’s family members had been killed in the Khmer Rouge genocide of the 1970s, and she had grown up poor. But her mother was determined that her daughter receive an education.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

This Teen Captures the Imagination of Homeless Kids With His Favorite Childhood Toy

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Grant Mercer. Read his story and nominate an outstanding volunteer or organization as a Point of Light.

Latest Campaigns

  1. 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...
  2. 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...
  3. Environmental Sustainability
    As sustainability leaders, we implement our sustainability strategy across all company activities along the entire value chain, from raw materials to...
  4. Corporate Social Responsibility
    Corporate Social Responsibility
  5. Sustainability Report
    Our latest Sustainability Report highlights recent accomplishments and progress toward achieving goals in the environmental, social and governance...
  6. 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...
  7. License to Operate
    Corporate governance, risk management, operational integrity, and regulatory compliance are demanding challenges that companies face in today’s ever...
  8. 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...
  9. Leading ESG & Sustainability Stewardship
    The new CNH continues on its longstanding path of excellence in sustainability, which is recognized by the foremost authorities.
  10. 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...
  11. 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...
  12. 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...
  13. Responsible Investing
    Responsible Investing
  14. 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...
  15. 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...