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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Awards, Ratings & Rankings

The Arbor Day Foundation Honors Plant-for-the-Planet With Spirit of Arbor Day Award

The Arbor Day Foundation has announced today that Plant-for-the Planet has been awarded the Foundation’s Spirit of Arbor Day Award which recognizes an organization or community that fulfills the Foundation's mission of inspiring people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees through programs and activities that have been implemented within the past five years. The award will be presented at Plant-for-the Planet’s global youth summit in Monaco on Friday, March 9, 2018.

Research, Reports & Publications

Parker Publishes New Sustainability Report - A Viewpoint on Social Responsibility

Parker Hannifin Corporation, the global leader in motion and control technologies, today released its 2017 Sustainability Report, “A Viewpoint on Social Responsibility.” The report highlights team member-driven initiatives which are helping to strengthen communities, conserve resources and make a positive environmental impact at the local level.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Benevity to Provide $100,000 in Double Donation Matching for Women's Causes

Benevity Founder and CEO contributes $100,000 of his personal funds to three organizations addressing unique challenges facing women: YWCA, Canada Learning Code and Dress for Success.

Innovation & Technology

CornellTech@Bloomberg: Fresh Perspectives From Women in Venture Capital

Venture capitalists from some of NYC’s leading VC firms joined Bloomberg, Cornell Tech, and Tech:NYC at Bloomberg’s New York headquarters on Wednesday to discuss how to close the gender gap in the technology industry.

Diversity & Inclusion

30 Years Later: Women Business Owners Continue Fight for Equality

Today, the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) released “Spotlight on H.R. 5050: The Bill that Changed Everything for Women Business Owners.” This white paper, sponsored by The PNC Financial Services Group, reflects on the provisions that transformed the course for women business owners and highlights the current areas for improved policy and better women involvement. The white paper includes anecdotes of NAWBO leaders who played a role in H.R. 5050, as well as assessments of the current status of women business owners from NAWBO leaders and luminaries in the women business owner community including SBA Administrator Linda McMahon and NWBC Chair Carla Harris

Responsible Production & Consumption

The History of Plastic Straws

Jacob Briars, Bacardi’s global brand ambassador, shares why plastic straws were originally created and why they are no longer serving the same purpose in society. Join the Bacardi No (Plastic) Straws Pledge and commit to adding "no plastic straw, please" to your every drink order.

Diversity & Inclusion

NAFE Names American Express One of the 2018 “Top 70 Companies for Executive Women”

American Express has been named one of the 2018 NAFE Top Companies for Executive Women by the National Association for Female Executives, to recognize American corporations where women have significant clout to make the decisions that affect their company’s future and its bottom line. The NAFE Top 70 Companies, released today, is featured in April/May issue of Working Mother. The full report on this year’s winners are listed here.

Research, Reports & Publications

CECP's Giving in Numbers in Action

How does your company make decisions about social investments? Is it an ad-hoc approach or strategic and measurable? CECP's Giving in Numbers report - the largest, most robust, industry-leading and internationally-recognized research of corporate social engagement - offers an in-depth review of how leading companies are effectively harnessing their resources to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. Since 2001, the Giving in Numbers Survey has collected data on corporate social strategy programs globally to provide professionals with the benchmarking and reporting tools necessary for making decisions about their company’s social strategy.

Research, Reports & Publications

WATCH: Andrew Plepler, Bank of America, Global Head of ESG

Andrew Plepler, global head of ESG at Bank of America, discusses how the Ceres Roadmap for Sustainability provides the company with a comprehensive framework for corporate sustainability leadership.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

LIXIL to Provide UN-Habitat with Sanitation Facilities for Kalobeyei Refugee Settlement

LIXIL Corporation, a global leader in the housing and buildings industry, announced today it has been awarded a contract by UN-Habitat to provide its Green Toilet System – a waterless and sustainable sanitation solution - for the Kalobeyei refugee settlement in Turkana County, Kenya. Designed for areas without access to water and sewage systems, the Green Toilet System will improve access to clean and safe toilets in the settlement and help refugees become more economically self-reliant by converting waste into fertilizer for crops.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Walmart | How Sustainable Business Practices Help the Bottom Line

At Walmart, investments in sustainability and efficiency in our own operations – and those made by our suppliers – have enabled us to save money, while striving to support jobs and help reduce impact on the environment.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

VMware's Supplier Diversity Initiative Recognized by OMNI50 List for "Multicultural Business Practices"

VMware has been named an Omni Top 50 Organization for Multicultural Business Opportunities for its commitment to supplier diversity.

Environment

Sappi North America Joins the Recycling Partnership to Improve Recycling Efforts in Communities Across the Country

Sappi North America, a leading producer and supplier of diversified paper and packaging products, has joined on as a new funding partner of The Recycling Partnership, a national nonprofit that applies corporate funding to improve recycling efforts in communities across the country. In doing so, the company will be working to help transform recycling nationwide, increase materials recovery, and reduce the creation of greenhouse gases that add to climate change.

Green Infrastructure

Kohler Co. Announces Wind Power Investment

Kohler Co. today announced a 15-year agreement to purchase 100 megawatts of wind power per year from the Diamond Vista wind farm located near Salina, Kansas. Enel Green Power North America will construct the project this year and will be the long-term owner and operator of the nearly 300 MW wind project. Enel acquired Diamond Vista from Kansas-based renewable energy developer Tradewind Energy.

Innovation & Technology

Bridging the Digital Divide

The My.Future digital platform lets Boys & Girls Club members and non-members of all ages use computers, smartphones, and tablets to play, learn, and socialize. Put simply, it's a digital version of what members experience every day and takes the Club beyond its own walls. Through the platform, which is made possible through a partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal, users can share the great things they’ve made and amplify their voices. Whether they’re making lyrics, videos or apps, they’ll be able to share the things they create and connect with their peers across the country.

Innovation & Technology

Student Innovation Led to Wearable Tech for Visually Challenged

Like many people, Harshita rides the bus every day. Unlike others, however, when on one ride home she noticed a visually challenged person having difficulty crossing the street, she was inspired to find a way technology could help.

Environment

Post-Secondary Students in BC and MB Recognized for Their Efforts to Build a Greener Canada

Students at the University of British Columbia Okanagan are tackling food insecurity on campus through an initiative called Project Roots. The program repurposes food waste to increase students’ access to affordable and healthy meal options.

Similarly, students at Brandon University are increasing food security in the city of Brandon through Green Futures. The community garden project, run by students and volunteers, provides fresh produce to local food banks and food box programs.

Thanks to these initiatives, Enactus University of British Columbia – Okanagan and Enactus Brandon University have been named 2018 Scotiabank EcoLiving Green Challenge Regional Champions. The teams were picked by Canada’s largest experiential learning platform, Enactus Canada, and program supporter Scotiabank.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

All I’m Askin’ for Is a Little C.L.A.R.I.T.Y.

Clarity helps us achieve our goals more efficiently. It seems so simple and, to be frank, that’s the annoying part about it. Somehow it’s the simple things that we let drop. It’s important for each of us to articulate exactly where we’re coming from, what our viewpoint is and what information we think we’ve heard. Sometimes we try to interpret messages we get from people. I’ve spent a ridiculous amount of time reading into messages to try to understand the meaning, and even with that investment, I’ve been woefully wrong. The key here is that it’s not a one-way street. Sometimes those conversations are hard and it takes courage to have them — while other times, they’re easy and a relief to stakeholders or fellow colleagues because everyone knows the deal.

Energy

Renewable Energy and Greenhouse Gas Policy: Guidance for State Policymakers and Regulators

Center for Resource Solutions (CRS) has released Corporate and Voluntary Renewable Energy in State Greenhouse Gas Policy: An Air Regulator's Guide, a comprehensive guide with accompanying fact sheet that examines the relationship between voluntary renewable energy purchases—such as those by corporate buyers—and state greenhouse gas policy. By examining where these markets and policies intersect and the best ways state regulators can ensure the grid benefits for clean energy purchasers, the guide and associated fact sheet offer real-world solutions for ensuring the integrity of the voluntary renewable energy market through sound policy and regulation.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

CITGO Receives Partner of the Year Award From Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Bend

The CITGO Corpus Christi Refinery proudly accepted the Partner of the Year award at a Partner Appreciation ceremony, presented by the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Bend on the evening of Feb. 22. The Partner of the Year honoree is selected based on overall commitment to the organization in the prior year. In addition to CITGO, other award recipients joined Boys & Girls Club board members at the event.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Game-Changing Women Leaders at Bloomberg

At Bloomberg, we’re doing our part in pressing for progress for equality from all angles. Click here to hear personal journeys of three women leaders at Bloomberg and how it has shaped their worldviews and careers. These women are the Bloomberg MAKERS 2018 Awardees exemplifying disruptive leadership and what it means to empower, advocate, and cultivate women for success.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Consumers Energy: Replacing Coal Plants with Sustainable Alternatives

As an important part of Consumers Energy's transition to clean energy sources, and commitment to build a sustainable future for our company, the people of Michigan and the environment we share, we retired our seven oldest coal-fired generating plants on April 15, 2016.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Millions of Volunteers Join Iconic Community Improvement Nonprofit to Champion Clean, Green and Beautiful Communities

The 20th anniversary of Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup, the nation’s largest community improvement program, officially kicks off on the first day of spring – Tuesday, March 20 – with thousands of cleaning, greening and beautification events scheduled across America through the spring, summer and fall. Many Keep America Beautiful affiliates in warmer regions have already started their Great American Cleanup campaigns.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Bristol-Myers Squibb Named One of the 2018 “Top 70 Companies for Executive Women”

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company has been named one of the 2018 Top Companies for Executive Women by the National Association for Female Executives. This honor recognizes American corporations where women have significant influence and impact to make the decisions that affect their company’s future and its bottom line. Bristol-Myers Squibb has earned a place on this prestigious list for 15 years.

Education

In STEM, All Girls Can Be Tech Superheroes

There is an incorrect assumption that digital natives are digitally literate. Although they have grown up with technology, they do not necessarily have the skills to support our digitally-fueled economies. Beyond using apps, they struggle to create financial formulas in Excel or navigate a computer’s file management system — essential skills in today’s workplaces.

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...