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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Research, Reports & Publications

TD Releases First Standalone Environmental, Social and Governance Report

In a world of rapidly accelerating change and shifting customer expectations, TD believes that it is incumbent on organizations to reimagine responsible business practices to ensure they are helping to make a positive impact on the communities where they do business.

Education

Consumers Energy Powers Future STEM Careers by Inspiring Students through Robotics Programs

This year’s season is over for high school robotics teams across Michigan, but Consumers Energy is still bringing the energy to their cause.

Consumers Energy sponsored last month’s FIRST Championship for high school teams in Detroit. Why? Because we feel we can’t do enough to promote this fun and life-changing program in schools. Our charitable foundation last year contributed more than $450,000 to support STEM programs, including FIRST teams across the state, because we see the need for students to fill demanding jobs with our company and others in Michigan.

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: Econ 101

We need to understand both microeconomic sustainability (what it takes for a single business, like Interface, to become sustainable) and macroeconomic sustainability (what a sustainable economic system would look like).

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Smithfield Foods Contributes $250,000 to Richmond Afterschool Youth Learning Program

The Smithfield Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Smithfield Foods, Inc., has donated $250,000 to NextUp RVA, an afterschool system for middle school students in Richmond, Virginia which serves to support academic and social development in students through hands-on learning activities. This is the third year the company has contributed to NextUp RVA, and funding for this year will focus on the program’s Sports and Wellness track. Smithfield’s substantial contribution to NextUp RVA is part of the company’s recently announced charitable grant program that aims to address the unique needs of Smithfield’s local communities.

Environment

AEG Joins UN Sports for Climate Action Framework

AEG, the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company, today announced its pledge to support the United Nation’s (UN) Sports for Climate Action Framework (Framework).

Environment

Walmart on Track to Reduce 1 Billion Metric Tons of Emission From Global Supply Chains by 2030

Walmart Inc. (NYSE: WMT) today issued its inaugural Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report, which details the company’s goals, progress and achievements for fiscal year 2019 toward its commitment to increase economic opportunity for associates and local communities, build sustainability in supply chains and activate climate change initiatives.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

FCA US Earns Spot on DiversityInc’s 2019 Lists of “Noteworthy Companies for Diversity” and “Top Companies for Veterans”

The editors of DiversityInc magazine have named FCA US LLC to the magazine's 2019 list of "Noteworthy Companies for Diversity" and to the specialty list of “Top Companies for Veterans.”

This is the 11th year the Company has earned a place among the magazine’s top 50 or most noteworthy companies for diversity since the benchmarks were established in 2001. It is the third consecutive year that FCA US earned a position on the magazine’s top companies for veterans list, which was established in 2017.

Innovation & Technology

Podcast: Combining Technology & Creativity…for Social Good

Technology can help humanity achieve sustainable positive social change at scale. According to emergent technology expert Sally Eaves, however, it’s not just the technology: It’s how we choose to use it. On this episode, Sally shares how she is working to bring about the convergence of humanity, technology, creativity and education. Her work with underserved populations around the world is truly inspiring, as is her vision for the future of tech.

Environment

Inogen Member Spotlight--Subba Rao, Chola MS Risk Services

Subba Rao, Inogen member from India, discusses new/emerging EHS regulations and how EHS has become a challenging but exciting field to be in.

Research, Reports & Publications

U.S. Geological Survey Measures Water Levels near Nestlé Waters North America Spring Site in Osceola Township, Michigan

At the request of Nestlé Waters North America (NWNA), the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has begun monitoring, collecting, and publishing surface water and groundwater data near NWNA’s White Pine Springs site in Osceola Township, Michigan. The USGS is conducting the data collection through a joint funding agreement with NWNA and is being coordinated by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). The White Pine Springs site is one of the spring sources used to produce NWNA’s Ice Mountain® Brand 100% Natural Spring Water.

Media & Communications

Trump Administration Continues Attempts to Unravel US Environmental Protections Put in Place Over Many Years – Now, Shareholder Proxy Resolution Actions on Climate Issues Also in Focus for Investors

We should not have been surprised: in 2016 presidential candidate Donald Trump promised that among his first steps when in the Oval Office would be the tearing up of his predecessor’s commitment to join the family of nations in addressing climate change challenges. In 2015 in Paris, with almost 200 nations in agreement, the United States of America with President Barack Obama presiding signed on to the “Paris Agreement” (or Accord) for nations and private, public and social sector organization to work to prevent further damage to the planet.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Building A Stronger Community Food System in North Minneapolis

General Mills is committed to ensuring our hometown communities are food secure by supporting vibrant community food systems. That’s why we partnered with Greater Twin Cities United Way to launch the Full Lives Program, which supports a healthy and equitable community food system by increasing food access in North Minneapolis. A $1 million philanthropic grant from the General Mills Foundation enabled 14 projects across 11 organizations to increase the strength of the North Minneapolis community food system as a whole.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Part II: How Billionaire Greed Ruined a Perfectly Good Strategy Called Corporate Sustainability. 3 Possible Pathways Forward

In Part 1 of this essay I explored how billionaire greed disrupted the progress of corporate sustainability and ultimately our democracy. I explored how the “religion” of capitalism should never have been positioned by a corporate backed media, at the behest of the “elite”, to solve some our planet’s biggest environmental and social challenges.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Child Patient Alexandra Raises $150 for Aflac Cancer Center

Alexandra is not only a brave patient—she's also a stellar saleswoman. The 10-year-old sold gum at $0.25 per piece and raised a whopping $150 for the Aflac Cancer Center! Yesterday, she handed over her check as staff came to cheer and support her, just as they have throughout her brain tumor battle. Thank you, Alexandra!

Responsible Production & Consumption

U.S. Shortfin Squid Fishery Achieves MSC Certification

The U.S. Northeast Northern Shortfin Squid fishery in the Northwest Atlantic has been certified sustainable against the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) fisheries standard. The assessment was executed by independent conformity assessment body SCS Global Services and requested by Lund’s Fisheries, Inc. and The Town Dock.

Environment

Michael Mann: Agency and Urgency

Back in 1999, a team of scientists published a graphic depiction reconstructing northern hemisphere temperatures for the previous 1000 years. The steep increase from the 1900s on inspired the scientific community to give this visual a clever nickname: the hockey stick graph.

Events, Media & Communications

Leading Utilities’ CEOs Present Long-Term Plans to Investors at 7th CEO Investor Forum

CECP’s Strategic Investor Initiative (SII) hosts the seventh CEO Investor Forum in Chicago, with long-term plan presentations by the CEOs of American Electric Power (AEP) and Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) to institutional investors. The event will also feature an Executive Workshop for investor relations, corporate social responsibility, and sustainability professionals to strategize together on the development of long-term investor facing plans at their companies. Previous CEO Investor Forums have featured the CEOs of nearly 30 companies, such as Allstate, IBM, Unilever, and Voya Financial.

Environment

Embracing the Complexity of Waste

Following publication of GRI's draft reporting standard for waste, Judy Kuszewski explores why changing perceptions of waste and embracing circularity offers companies many benefits.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Nespresso Launches ‘Reviving Origins’ to Bring Back Lost Coffees

Nespresso today launched Reviving Origins, a new program to restore coffee farming in regions where it is under threat. Through its AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program, Nespresso is working with farmers in regions that have been blighted by conflicts, economic hardships or environmental disasters.

Nespresso is investing CHF 10 million over the next five years to revive the coffee industries in selected countries with the aim of encouraging rural economic development. The Reviving Origins program is part of Nespresso’s overall commitment to invest CHF 500 million from 2014 - 2020 in its sustainability program, The Positive Cup.

Environment

Tetra Tech Designs Innovative Irrigation System in Lakewood, California

As part of the Los Cerritos Watershed Management Plan, the City of Lakewood, California, selected Tetra Tech to provide preliminary engineering, design services, and construction support services for the stormwater and runoff capture project in Bolivar Park.

Bolivar Park currently uses potable water for all irrigation needs. The City is implementing a smart regional stormwater best management practice that results in water quality improvements in the Los Cerritos channel, enables stormwater infiltration, and provides an alternate water supply for the park’s irrigation needs.

Innovation & Technology

Philippines Taps Innovative Wastewater Technology to Retrofit Infrastructure, Fulfill Tightened Environmental Regulations

Manila Water Company, Inc. (MWCI) has entrusted Black & Veatch to train its professionals and water industry partners in the finer points of biological nutrient removal (BNR) in wastewater treatment.

Dr. James Barnard, a Global Practice and Technology Leader for Black & Veatch’s water business, and Dr. Andrew Shaw, Associate Vice President at Black & Veatch, led the knowledge transfer session. Dr. Barnard was the 2011 winner of the prestigious Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Hormel Foods Recognized as a Best for Vets Employer for Seventh Consecutive Year

Hormel Foods Corporation today announced it has been recognized on the 2019 Best for Vets Employers ranking by Military Times. This is the seventh consecutive year the company has made the list, which evaluates many factors that make a company or organization a good fit for military veterans.

Diversity & Inclusion

Salute to Veterans: Wells Fargo’s Commitment to Career Success

As I write this, I am preparing for my next tour of active duty in the Army Reserves. I will spend most of May, National Military Appreciation Month, with thousands of reservists participating in an exercise to increase our lethality, readiness and survivability.

Diversity & Inclusion

Arrow Electronics Sponsors New Nonprofit Advancing Women in Electronics Industry

Arrow Electronics is a founding sponsor of Women in Electronics, a new nonprofit created to support women in the electronics industry. The organization expands leadership skills, accelerates personal and professional development and builds strategic networks to advance inclusion among electronics employers. Women in Electronics hosts national conferences, regional events and online networking opportunities for more than 200 members and fosters leadership development through virtual resource sharing and discussion groups.

Research, Reports & Publications

FedEx Multiplies Opportunities Around the World: 2019 Global Citizenship Report

FedEx multiplies opportunities using our vast network, which reaches more than 99 percent of the world’s GDP. The 2019 Global Citizenship Report showcases how our networks connect people and possibilities, creating growth for customers, good for our community, potential for our people and efficiencies for the environment.

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