Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

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

Recent Alerts

Corporate Responsibility

Tetra Pak to Improve Supply Chain Transparency Through Sedex Partnership

Tetra Pak has informed all of its key suppliers that they will be expected to file ethical performance reports on the Supplier Ethical Data Exchange (Sedex), as part of its commitment to improve supply chain transparency.

Environment

Bill Baue: Sustainability In Context

The environmental impact of any business enterprise depends on the specific environmental conditions and challenges that exist where that enterprise is doing business. So a dairy in Vermont, where the water tables are high but solar energy is more intermittent, will have a different set of environmental factors to consider than a dairy in dry and sunny Arizona. In other words, sustainability planning is context-specific.

Environment

Creating a Minimal Footprint with Renewable Energy

In this method, energy consumption from purchased electricity is calculated in terms of fuel inputs to account for different fuel efficiencies during power generation and efficiency losses in power transmission. The equivalent energy value is represented in terms of sources as per power supplier-provided data. Our Westbrook Mill does not buy power, and the mill energy profile reflects sales of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). The 2013 conversion of the Cloquet pulp mill to dissolving pulp, a higher-purity pulp requiring more energy to produce, increased the energy intensity of that site. At the same time, Cloquet achieved higher use of renewable fuels, reducing natural gas, purchased electricity and fuel oil.

Philanthropy

Subaru of America Continues to “Love Pets” Through Several October Initiatives

This October, Subaru is rolling out its "Subaru Loves Pets" initiative, part of the brand's Love Promise philanthropic platform, dedicated to supporting causes that are meaningful to its customers. While the initiative is year-round, specific months highlight key causes. October focuses on Subaru's commitment to pet safety and well-being, and the brand will work with several dedicated and highly regarded animal welfare organizations that help share a call-to-action for animals in need.

Research & Reports

MGM Resorts International Invests in Solar Energy

MGM Resorts International – in partnership with NRG Renew, the nation’s largest solar energy developer – installed a 20-acre, 6.4MW solar photovoltaic array on the rooftop the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in 2014. The project is but one way MGM Resorts demonstrates its dedication to environmental sustainability. In its first year of operation, the solar array offset the peak electricity demands of the property by as much as 20 percent. That’s enough energy to power 1,000 average-sized homes for a year.

Responsible Production & the Circular Economy

BCSFA Publishes First Sustainability Progress Report

Salmon farmers in British Columbia are taking further steps towards increasing the availability of information on farming practices and key areas of public interest by publishing a Sustainability Progress Report, released today at GOAL 2015 in Vancouver. The report, a first for salmon farmers in B.C., includes information on all three pillars of sustainability: environmental, social and economic.

Volunteering & Community

Volunteer Programs: Developing and Managing an Effective Employee Volunteer Program

Our forthcoming Community Involvement survey finds that among companies that measure, more than 90% of companies with employee volunteer programs see higher employee engagement.

Events

3BL Media Webinar Focuses on ROI of Community Involvement Programs

Corporate social responsibility and sustainability executives trying to make the business case for community involvement activities should attend the next 3BL Media “Best Practices” webinar, Nov. 17 at 11 a.m. ET.

Environment

China’s Cheap Steel Has High Cost to the Environment

Xi Jinping, China’s President visited Britain in the same week that Tata Steel announced job cuts at its U.K. steel plants. Global steel price is at its lowest level in more than a decade, so it is no surprise that the U.K.’s production is becoming economically unviable

Events

Do You Work for a Community-Minded Company? Check Out The Civic 50!

Does your company care about the communities where it does business? Join us Oct. 30, 2015 for a free webinar about participating in The Civic 50, an initiative of Points of Light that honors the 50 most community-minded companies in the nation each year as determined by an annual survey.

Energy & Infrastructure

Celebrating ENERGY STAR Day and Our 20-Year Partnership with ENERGY STAR

In honor of ENERGY STAR Day, GM is looking back on its 20-year partnership with the U.S. EPA’s energy efficiency program.

AI & Technology

Get in the (Engagement) Loop: Gamification for Workplace Giving Programs

Tap into your team’s passion for giving – and have a little fun while you’re at it. We’ve put together a list of motivational (but often overlooked) features for corporate giving and matching programs that increase participation by creating an Engagement Loop.

Energy & Infrastructure

Beam Me Up, Solar – a National Grid Connect21 Video

Volunteering & Community

Common Impact Showcases Corporate Innovation for Pro Bono Week

Common Impact, a nonprofit that pioneered corporate skills-based volunteering as a resource for strengthening local communities, showcased two new models of corporate pro bono service during Pro Bono Week (#PBW15, October 26th –30th). These models, led by Fortune 500 companies Charles Schwab and Marriott help answer two critical questions that have arisen for companies as skills-based volunteering has gained popularity in recent years: How do you truly integrate pro bono service into your company’s culture and how do you bring it to scale?

Inclusion & Opportunity

U.N. Sustainable Development Goals: Defending Women in Asia, Africa, and Latin America

Womankind Worldwide has helped more than 18 million women and their families across the globe over the last 26 years with issues of discrimination, poverty, and violence. The organization sees the newly passed U.N. Sustainable Development Goals as a path toward the future and as a way to engage all levels of government and civil society in the safety and empowerment of women and their families.

Events

Recap: Get Ready for #BSR15: Resilient Business, Resilient World Twitter Chats

With a week until the 23rd Annual BSR Conference, sustainability leaders and practitioners are getting ready to pack their bags and head to San Francisco, November 3 – 5, 2015.

Responsible Production & the Circular Economy

Can a Podcast Fight Corruption in Nigeria?

Environment

Over 2,000 People Attend Banorte’s Environmental Education Program

Banorte’s green roof educational program has successfully completed its first stage surpassing its initial goal by 13% with a total of 2,272 visitors.

Research & Reports

Domtar Uses LED Lightbulbs to Save Money and Conserve Energy

Awards & Rankings

Sustainability Nonprofit Leonardo Academy Wins “Best Companies to Work For” Award

In Business magazine recognized the nonprofit Leonardo Academy with a “Best Companies to Work For” award on October 21st. Leonardo Academy, The Sustainability Experts®, works to advance sustainability on a local, national, and global scale. The “Best Companies to Work For” competition recognizes organizations for employee benefits that create attractive workplace cultures. Leonardo Academy was the winner and top scorer in the small company category.

Health & Healthcare

Providing Appropriate Nutrition for Mothers, Infants and Toddlers

There is scientific evidence that nutrition during the first 1,000 days—starting at pregnancy and continuing through the child’s first two years—has a vital and lifelong impact. Here are some examples of how we are continuously improving and demonstrating nutritional leadership and guidance during this critical development stage.

Socially Responsible Investing

Old Mutual Investment Group on African Agriculture as an Investment

Philanthropy

SAMSUNG GIVES to Communities

Energy & Infrastructure

National Energy Month Spurs Action at GM

In honor of National Energy Action Month, General Motors is leveraging its 20-year partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR® program to find more ways to reduce the energy intensity of its facilities and decrease its impact on climate change.

Latest Campaigns

Integrated Tools

Cascale shares updates on its efforts to align the industry on a common language to describe sustainability performance to reduce duplication and...

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...

Wells Fargo Social Impact and Sustainability

Wells Fargo & Company is a leading financial services company that has approximately $1.9 trillion in assets and proudly serves one in three U.S...

Small Business Growth

We strengthen communities and help create local jobs by investing in underserved small business owners. We fund nonprofits that are focused on...

PSEG Environmental Stewardship

PSEG’s environmental stewardship is evident in programs and strategies that reflect our commitment to clean air, clean water and waste management...

License to Operate

Corporate governance, risk management, operational integrity, and regulatory compliance are demanding challenges that companies face in today’s ever...

Collaboration and Partnership

Cascale shares updates on its strategic partnerships with industry stakeholders geared toward shifting the industry into one that gives back more than...

The Ray

News and information about The Ray, Georgia's restorative, sustainable highway of the future.

Sustainable Operations

ops-related sustainability content (e.g., new electric equipment, decarb efforts, etc.)

Collective Action

Cascale shares updates on its efforts and initiatives geared toward activating its ecosystem to develop and scale solutions that drive collective...