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

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Erb Institute Partners With The Centre for Responsible Business (CRB) in India

Erb Faculty Director Joe Árvai and I took Erb on the road in November—to India! India is one of the institute’s priority emerging markets for sustainability impact, and we’ve been working with the India Centre for Responsible Business (CRB) to develop a partnership for research, teaching and business-engagement opportunities. Erb sponsored CRB’s annual “India and Sustainability Standards” conference this year, and Joe and I were asked to speak at the November 14-16 event in Delhi.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Looking Back on Giving Back in 2018

Whirlpool Corporation makes a difference in the lives of families through the products we make and the actions we take. Looking back on 2018 with sincere thanks to our employees who impact the global communities where we reside.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Introducing Bidhaa Sasa, Whole Planet Foundation’s Newest Microfinance Partner in Kenya

Whole Planet Foundation is excited to introduce Bidhaa Sasa, their newest partner in Kenya. Bidhaa Sasa sells, delivers, and finances beneficial products to low income populations in rural areas. Our team likes their client-centric approach to affordable credit, responsive customer service, and attention to internal systems.

Innovation & Technology

South Carolina’s State Board of Education Approves Discovery Education’s Math Techbook for Statewide Use

Following a comprehensive evaluation, the South Carolina State Board of Education has approved the Algebra 1, Geometry, and Algebra 2 editions of Discovery Education’s Math Techbook for statewide use as a core instructional resource through its state adoption process. South Carolina’s adoption of the Math Techbook empowers the state’s school systems to use State Board of Education approved instructional materials funding to purchase and integrate this innovative digital curriculum into teaching and learning.

Diversity & Inclusion

How YOU Can Help Close the Diversity Gap in Tech

With 3.5 million unfilled cyber security positions expected by 2021 we need a pipeline of educated and prepared workers ready to defend organizations, governments and people from ever-evolving digital threats.

As the world’s largest cyber security company, we are uniquely positioned to lead an effort to close the industry workforce gap with diverse, well-trained talent.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Treasurer of the City of Chicago to Share the Stage With Leading Mayor’s in North America at Ethical Corporation’s Responsible Business Summit New York 2019

A leading US Treasurer, Kurt Summers, City of Chicago will share the stage with the Mayors of Hoboken and New Bedford to discuss the role of cities in the fight against climate change. Treasurer Summers runs 100% of Chicago’s corporate investments through an ESG filter and will be providing valuable insight on how to deliver the city of the future.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Launches Grassroots Grants With KidsGardening to Bring Garden Benefits to More Children

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation announced the opening of its Gro More Grassroots Grants with KidsGardening, inviting schools and nonprofit organizations from across the country to apply for funds to support their youth garden programs. The Grassroots Grants initiative, now in its ninth year, will focus its support on garden and greenspace projects that connect more children with the life-enhancing and transformative benefits of gardening.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Putting our Skills to Work for Nonprofits

We support our employees who share their expertise with the organizations and causes they’re passionate about. One of these employees is Arthur Skelskie, our Senior Vice President of Corporate Services, who has been a longtime volunteer and board member for the Cooke School & Institute, an organization that serves children with special needs in grades K–12.

Environment

Biodiversity at NRG Energy

Biodiversity promotes healthy ecosystems and human interaction with nature. That’s why we designed our environmental policy to foster the protection of the natural habitats surrounding our generation sites.

Energy

Putting the Freeze on Energy Use at Crown Center Ice Terrace

The weather from November through March can often fluctuate, but the ice at the Crown Center Ice Terrace always has to be kept at 23 degrees Fahrenheit — no matter if the temperatures outside are in the teens or the seventies.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Words Matter: One Voice Can Make A Difference Documentary Profiles Courage and Leadership

In an era of increasing polarization and heightened concern for LGBT+ rights, The Words Matter: One Voice Can Make A Difference took on one of the most salient issues of our time and brought it to a worldwide audience. The Words Matter is more than just a corporate documentary — it’s a refreshingly candid examination of P&G’s own history and a lesson in leadership.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

USPS Honors Hallmark with Supplier Innovation Award

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) honored 10 companies for superior supply chain performance and delivering optimum solutions that reduce costs, enhance performance, maintain high levels of service, and provide innovative and sustainable solutions.

Innovation & Technology

Arrow Electronics Employees Gave the Gift of Lifesaving Technology this Holiday Season

Arrow Electronics employees throughout the Americas raised funds to build more Solar Suitcases for expectant mothers in remote places around the world. Through employee donations and a company match, enough funds were raised to provide off-grid electricity to three remote health clinics with the nonprofit We Care Solar.

Sustainable Development Goals

The New Model on Sustainable Development

the Caribbean’s first independent nation is on the cusp of welcoming back cotton production due to the work of Timberland and the Smallholder Farmers Alliance (SFA).

Events, Media & Communications

Circular Economy Webinar - Complimentary

With increasing pressure on natural and man-made resources, innovative companies are taking a lifecycle assessment approach and tackling circularity from as early as product development, with the goal of reaping the reputational and commercial benefits.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Arbor Day Foundation Is Pleased to Present Its 2018 Annual Report

As I reflect upon this past year at the Arbor Day Foundation, one word remains top of mind: impact. We set our sights on responding to global challenges by planting trees at an unprecedented scale. Those issues — air pollution, water quality, climate change, and deforestation, among others — heightened our resolve that if ever there was a time to plant trees, now is that time.

Sustainable Development Goals

Freeport-McMoRan’s Technical Training Institute Prepares Indigenous Papuans for Careers in Mining

At PT Freeport Indonesia (PTFI), located in the remote province of Papua, Indonesia, Freeport-McMoRan prioritizes the hiring of indigenous Papuans.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Year in Review: 6 Significant Moments That Shifted Business From “For Profit” to “For Purpose”

More businesses are becoming a force for good in society. Sound like an alternate reality? Check out the notable moments from the last year that brought us here.

Innovation & Technology

Blackbaud Acquires Market-Leading Corporate Social Responsibility Provider YourCause

Blackbaud, Inc. (NASDAQ: BLKB), the world’s leading cloud software company powering social good, today announced the acquisition of YourCause™, a market leader in enterprise philanthropy, corporate social responsibility and employee engagement software.

Education

Inspiring Islanders: Crossing an Ocean to Pursue Biotechnology

At the U.S. Amgen Scholars symposium at UCLA in July, an unexpected reunion occurred. When Janielle Cuala took the stage to explain her summer research at Caltech, Kristina Folta couldn’t believe her eyes: It was a friend of hers from Guam with whom she played rugby. “I was so excited to see someone else coming out of Guam and entering the STEM field,” Folta recalls.

Social Impact & Volunteering

How to Tell Your Employee Volunteering Story: The Best Example We’ve Seen

Realized Worth is always on the lookout for great examples of employee volunteering and storytelling to share with our readers. On International Volunteer Day, we shared a video produced by Emirates NBD, a leading banking group and a leader in the practice of employee volunteering in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The video was produced to encourage UAE residents to “Give in to Giving” by giving time to volunteer in the community.

Energy

RPD Energy Helps LG Electronics USA Power Five More Facilities With Renewable Energy Through ‘Purely Green’ Affinity Program

RPD Energy arranged the supply of wind energy and concurrent Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) for five LG Electronics USA facilities in Texas, Illinois and New Jersey. The LG facilities are being served under the unique Purely Green affinity program partnership launched this year by RPD Energy, Intuit, Hudson Energy (the Commercial Division of Just Energy), and EDP Renewables.

“LG applauds this innovative approach. Purely Green has removed common barriers to accessing renewable energy,” said John I. Taylor, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, LG Electronics USA. “RPD Energy and Hudson Energy created a unique structure that made it possible for LG to buy wind power on short-term contracts for these five distribution centers with economical pricing.”

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Crain's Detroit Business Newsmakers of the Year: Patti Poppe CEO, Consumers Energy

Consumers Energy Co. CEO Patti Poppe took a leadership role in Michigan in eliminating coal as an energy source, approving a strong policy on renewable energy production, adopting electric charging stations and autonomous vehicles as a major growth strategy and committing the company to a more diverse and inclusive workplace.

Earlier this year, Poppe led somewhat of a reversal of Consumers' energy policy when the company announced it would eliminate coal as an energy source, close its seven remaining coal plants, reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent and boost renewable energy production to 43 percent, all by 2040.

Environment

Water Risk: Single Largest Risk Threatening People, Planet and Profit

“Water security is the single largest investment opportunity in the years ahead. It is the foundation for healthy people, planet and profit. Water security investments ensure social and environmental returns, as well as possible financial outperformance,” states writer Thomas Schumann

Green Infrastructure

Schneider Electric and Lidl Finland to Build Finland's Largest Distribution Centre

The warehouse will have an integrated Schneider Electric EcoStruxure™ Microgrid and EcoStruxure Building Operation solution that runs on 100% renewable energy.

Latest Campaigns

  1. 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...
  2. License to Operate
    Corporate governance, risk management, operational integrity, and regulatory compliance are demanding challenges that companies face in today’s ever...
  3. License to Operate
    Corporate governance, risk management, operational integrity, and regulatory compliance are demanding challenges that companies face in today’s ever...
  4. Sustainable Products and Innovation
    Ongoing research into innovative solutions enables CNH’s brands to manufacture products that respect the environment while satisfying customers’...
  5. Corporate Social Responsibility
    Gilead Sciences Corporate Social Responsibility
  6. Corporate Social Responsibility
    Whirlpool Corporation has several CSR partners including United Way, Habitat for Humanity International, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Consulada...
  7. People: Belonging
    We have committed to making the next ten years the best yet for Bacardi, and part of that journey includes creating a unified global community of...
  8. Diversity & Inclusion
    Kimberly-Clark: Diversity & Inclusion
  9. 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...
  10. Drive for MPC
    At Marathon Petroleum, our professional truck drivers share one common vision: no accidents, no injuries, and no harm to the environment. We’re proud...
  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. People
    Empowering Team Members, focusing on safety, and strengthening our communities.
  13. Social Impact at Mastercard
    At Mastercard, we’re powering economies and empowering people, building a sustainable economy where everyone prospers.
  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. Responsible Investing
    Responsible Investing