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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Social Impact & Volunteering

Major Leaguers Alex Bregman and Jake Marisnick Offer Tips and Encouragement to Autistic Youth in Harlem

New York baseball fans weren’t too pleased with Jake Marisnick late last week after he threw out the potential tying run at the plate for the final out in the Houston Astros’ win over the Yankees, but the jeers turned to cheers the following morning when he and teammate Alex Bregman shared their love of the game with a group of autistic kids at a ballfield in Harlem.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Technology for Human Rights: UN Human Rights Office Announces Landmark Partnership with Microsoft

The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Tuesday announced a landmark five-year partnership with Microsoft Corp. As part of the agreement, Microsoft will provide a grant of $5 million (USD) to support the work of the UN Human Rights Office. This represents an unprecedented level of support from a private-sector organization.

Sustainable Development Goals

Twelve Trillion Reasons to Be a More Sustainable Company

The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) define a world that promises a flourishing future for human civilization on spaceship Earth. Some companies already embrace the SDGs as their aspirational environmental and social goals. Other companies hesitate, in case attaining some or all the goals’ 169 associated targets by 2030 would be at the expense of company success. There are 12 trillion reasons why their hesitation is unjustified.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

3 Ways to Move Your Company Toward the Circular Economy

It’s no secret that Earth’s natural resources are diminishing at an increasing rate. According to the Global Footprint Network’s estimate, human demand on our planet’s ecosystems is projected to exceed what nature can regenerate by about 75 percent in the next three years. Considering we only have one Earth, we need to reinvent how we use its resources before it’s too late.

Social Impact & Volunteering

A Whole Lot of Good: Making the Case for More Pro Bono and Skills-Based Volunteering in the Workplace

Let’s get real: It’s fairly easy for us to pull up to our desks each morning, put our heads down, and not look up till it’s time to go home in the evening. After all, in our rapidly-changing, quickly-moving, information-overloading world, there’s a lot of work to get done.

Responsible Production & Consumption

GM Drives Demand for Sustainable Natural Rubber

Through an automotive industry-first commitment to sourcing sustainable natural rubber in its tires, General Motors is helping drive the industry toward net-zero deforestation and uphold human and labor rights. The company will develop a set of purchasing requirements, with the intent that the entire automotive industry will join in the movement and together help transform the rubber supply chain.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Finalists Named for Virginia’s 2017 Cox Conserves Heroes Program

Cox Communications and The Trust for Public Land are recognizing volunteers who are creating, preserving or enhancing shared outdoor spaces. Finalists for Virginia’s Cox Conserves Heroes program were announced today, and the public is being asked to vote now through Tuesday, June 6.

Energy

Infrastructure Week 2017: Pathways to Sustainability and Reliability Converging

As an industry, we can no longer merely ponder renewable energy’s march on the power grid. It's here, and customers are increasingly demanding it.

Events, Media & Communications

Northern Trust Participates in “On the Table 2017” to Raise Awareness of Mental Health and Addiction

On the Table 2017 is an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust, working in partnership with The Kennedy Forum to engage thousands of people in conversations about mental health and addiction.

Health & Healthcare

World Malaria Day

Malaria is a major public health problem, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Transmitted to humans by mosquito bites, this disease kills a child every two minutes in this part of the world.

Media & Communications

Encouraging News & Opinion Coming Out of Ceres Gathering in San Francisco -- Progress in Corporate Sustainability Continuing!

Water scarcity, resource depletion, climate change impacts... these were top-of-the-agenda items at the annual Ceres Conference convened last week in San Francisco. These of course are pressing challenges for the domestic and global business communities, for investors and various stakeholders. While there are many aspects to these issues to consider, the takeaway from the conference is that the focus on sustainability is good business (and good for business).

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Michael Bloomberg On Climate Change, the Power of Government, and Why He's Still Hopeful About the Future

In the last few months Bloomberg has doubled down in particular on his initiatives to fight climate change, with a new book (Climate of Hope: How Cities, Businesses, and Citizens Can Save the Planet), a new role at the UN, and a global “covenant” among mayors that he’s leading.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Impact at Work: Communities in Schools San Antonio Project Spotlight

Common Impact has partnered with JPMorgan Chase since 2014 on the Virtual Service Corps (VSC), a skills-based volunteering program where employees utilize their talents and expertise virtually to support JPMorgan Chase’s nonprofit grantees in building capacity to serve the community. Recently, a team of JPMorgan Chase technologists supported Communities In Schools of San Antonio (CIS-SA), a San Antonio-based nonprofit dedicated to keeping kids in school and helping them succeed in life. The JPMorgan Chase volunteers worked with CIS-SA to assess their technology infrastructure and create a set of recommendations for improvements.

Education

CITGO and the Ocean Exploration Trust Award Mini-Grants to Fund STEM Education Efforts in Houston

As part of the CITGO STEM Talent Pipeline program, CITGO Petroleum Corporation is partnering with the Ocean Exploration Trust (OET) to award science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) mini-grants to educators dedicated to sharing ocean exploration with students. Two Houston-area schools, Olle Middle School and South Early College High School, are receiving funding through the OET Community STEM Mini-grant program to help engage and excite students through unique STEM experiences and encourage them to seek STEM careers.

Environment

PNC’s Environmental Performance: Infographic

PNC’s Performance and Innovation Group is responsible for developing and executing on the strategy to reduce the company’s energy and water consumption and carbon emissions.

Health & Healthcare

Investing in Scale

In 2012, the Barry and Marie Lipman Family Prize named iDE as its inaugural prize winner. Each year, the top award is given to one organization that exemplifies leadership and innovation in the social sector, with a special emphasis on impact and transferability of practices. The Prize recognized iDE’s unique, market-based approach to addressing the global challenge of poor water and sanitation. Two other honorees, Komaza and MedShare, were also recognized in 2012 as game-changing organizations.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Road Fleets Demand More Sustainable, Low-Carbon Fuels for Freight

BSR's new Sustainable Fuel Buyers' Principles aim to help companies drive economic growth and emissions reductions.

Environment

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Tetra Pak Uses More than one Third Renewable Electricity​

Tetra Pak announced that it now uses renewable electricity for more than a third of its total annual consumption worldwide. This is up from 22% in 2015.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Better World Leadership: Noted Business Author Alice Korngold to Partner with the World Environment Center to Conduct Nonprofit Board Leadership Study with Leading Companies

Alice Korngold, President and CEO of Korngold Consulting, and author of two highly acclaimed books on board governance, service, and global problem-solving, is evaluating how nonprofit board service provides a unique opportunity for companies to develop their employees as leaders. The study will also show how companies can enhance nonprofit board-matching services for their employees.

Events, Media & Communications

Reporting 3.0 Conference Explores Future of Integral Information Systems in Data Blueprint Segment

With the 2017 Reporting 3.0 Conference at KPMG Headquarters in Amsterdam just two weeks away (on May 30-31), we take our next step deeper into the Program after last week’s survey of the first segment of the Conference focused on the Reporting Blueprint. This week, we explore the Conference’s second segment, focused on the Data Blueprint.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Charities Miss Out on More Than £80M a Year by Only Accepting Cash Donations

To help charities adapt to evolving consumer behaviours, Barclaycard recently led a trial of 100 portable donation boxes, the first in the market to accept both Chip and PIN and contactless donations including those made by wearable and mobile devices.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Xylem’s “Make Your Mark 30-Day Challenge” Spurs Over 4,000 Employee Volunteer Hours and Raises Community Awareness of Water and Environmental Issues

In celebration of World Water Day on March 22, Xylem launched a month-long volunteer challenge that extended through Earth Day on April 22 for Xylem colleagues across the globe to highlight the importance of water and environmental issues.

Environment

Sands China Partners with WWF for Climate Action

Sands China Ltd. is partnering with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the world's leading conservation organization, in the launch of WWF's Earth Hour 'Just One' Hotels Program. The two organizations have joined forces on a three-year campaign to raise environmental awareness and make a positive impact on the environment.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Voya Financial Announces Fourth Annual National Day of Service

Voya Financial, Inc. (NYSE: VOYA), will today hold its fourth annual National Day of Service, a companywide effort during which thousands of its employees will give back to their local communities.

Energy

Consumers Energy Proposes Program to Help Large Michigan Businesses Use 100 Percent Renewable Energy

Consumers Energy is making good on its commitment to a clean Michigan future by working with large businesses -- including the new Switch Pyramid data center in West Michigan -- that want to be powered 100 percent by renewable energy.

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. Southwire Giving Back
    Our neighbors depend on us, just as we depend on them, so we are committed to improving the quality of life in the communities in which we work. At...
  3. 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...
  4. Environmental Sustainability
    As sustainability leaders, we implement our sustainability strategy across all company activities along the entire value chain, from raw materials to...
  5. Corporate Social Responsibility
    Corporate Social Responsibility
  6. International Paper | HEALTHY & ABUNDANT FORESTS
    Vision 2030 Goal: Lead forest stewardship efforts globally
  7. Sustainability Report
    Our latest Sustainability Report highlights recent accomplishments and progress toward achieving goals in the environmental, social and governance...
  8. Social Impact at Mastercard
    At Mastercard, we’re powering economies and empowering people, building a sustainable economy where everyone prospers.
  9. 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...
  10. License to Operate
    Corporate governance, risk management, operational integrity, and regulatory compliance are demanding challenges that companies face in today’s ever...
  11. 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...
  12. Leading ESG & Sustainability Stewardship
    The new CNH continues on its longstanding path of excellence in sustainability, which is recognized by the foremost authorities.
  13. 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...
  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. GoDaddy | Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging
    Diverse teams build better products — period. At GoDaddy, we make apps and services that our worldwide community of entrepreneurs can relate to. Our...