Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

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

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Energy

A Clean Energy Revolution Is Rising in the Midwest, With Utilities in the Vanguard

Even with all the evidence that renewable energy has become less expensive than fossil fuels, it doesn't seem real until utilities start to stake their futures on it. For some Midwestern utilities, 2018 is the year that happened.

Xcel Energy of Minnesota in early December said it would go to zero carbon emissions throughout its eight-state territory by 2050, the first major utility to do so. That followed some big steps by Consumers Energy in Michigan and NIPSCO in Indiana, which issued plans to shut down coal-fired power plants sooner than previously planned while also accelerating development of wind and solar power.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

The Nonprofits Behind the Profits

Arrow Electronics is one such organization. Rather than running a traditional foundation out of the human resources department, Arrow’s philanthropy stems from brand and marketing.

Diversity & Inclusion

Black Enterprise Names Aflac to Prestigious Diversity List

Aflac, the leader in voluntary insurance sales at U.S. worksites, is once again listed on Black Enterprise’s 2018 prestigious list of the 50 Best Companies for Diversity. This marks the 12th time that Aflac has appeared on this annual list.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

A Journey to Pine Ridge

Team members from Hormel Foods and Justin’s recently took a break from their day jobs to give back to a community in South Dakota and to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Justin’s partnership with Conscious Alliance, a nonprofit organization committed to supporting communities in crisis through hunger relief and youth empowerment. A group of 16 – including representatives from Convoy of Hope, another community service partner of Hormel Foods –traveled to the Pine Ridge reservation to assemble 400 meal bags, stock food-pantry shelves and spend time with the Oglala Lakota people.

Energy

Schneider Announces Venture Capital for Energy Sustainability

The firm has committed to invest between 300 and 500 million euros in incubation projects, partnerships with entrepreneurs, and specialised funds in the coming years.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Aide and Laura’s #GardenStory: Garden Transforms Sisters Into Nature-Loving Teenagers

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation is cultivating the health and well-being of the next-generation from the ground up. We’re supporting garden programs, like the one at La Bajada Youth Farm in Dallas, Texas, to connect more children to the life-enhancing benefits of gardens.
Starting January 2, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation will support schools and nonprofit organizations across the country in bringing a garden to their community through our Grassroots Grants with KidsGardening.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Never Too Old for Family

In a recent article for Adoptive Families magazine, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption President & CEO, Rita Soronen, shares common myths and realities about adopting teens and older children.

Diversity & Inclusion

Greater Cast Diversity Appearing in Hallmark Movies

This year, Hallmark chose a movie with a largely African-American cast, Christmas Everlasting, for its coveted Thanksgiving weekend premiere.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

New GRI Draft Standard on Tax and Payments to Governments Now Open for Public Comment

The Global Reporting Initiative's draft Standard on corporate tax makes a pioneering stride in tax transparency by combining management approach disclosures on tax strategy, with country-by-country reporting of an organization’s business activities and taxes paid.

Environment

CLP Pushes Low Carbon Technology Use in a New Global Business Drive

The CLP Group has joined a new business drive in scaling up climate action and impact to help keep the climate innovation and collaboration momentum going beyond the recent United Nations climate change summit concluded in Poland.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

P&G Ranks Among Nation’s Most Effectively Managed Firms

The Cincinnati-based consumer goods manufacturer (NYSE: PG) tied with Microsoft Corp. at No. 6 among Fortune 500, S&P 500 and other large-cap companies on a new list created by the Drucker Institute designed to evaluate overall corporate effectiveness.

Sustainable Development Goals

Tetra Tech Joins USAID to Celebrate Sustainable Water Treatment Plant in Liberia

On November 28, 2018, community officials, the Liberian government, and officials from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) celebrated the dedication of the Sanniquellie City water treatment plant. As part of the USAID Liberia Municipal Water Project (LMWP), Tetra Tech designed a solar-powered water treatment plant and public distribution system, placing kiosks within 500 meters of homes to reduce the time families spend collecting water to under 30 minutes. This is one of the largest solar-powered treatment plants in Liberia and West Africa.

Media & Communications

World Environment Center Elects New Board Officers

The World Environment Center’s (WEC) Board of Directors has elected the following individuals as its Officers.

WEC’s outgoing Chair, Francisco Suárez Hernández, Director, New Business Initiatives, Coca-Cola FEMSA, commented that “he has been honored to lead the organization for the last three years and is confident in the future of our programs and governance given the strength and leadership profile of the new officers.”

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.

Latest Campaigns

  1. 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...
  2. PNC: Commitment to Early Childhood Education
    We're focusing on early learning to help children succeed. Research has shown that the first five years of a child's life is critical to long-term...
  3. AEG Celebrates Inclusion
    At AEG, we embrace inclusion and strive to create a workplace where our employees feel welcomed, valued and respected for the viewpoints, ideas...
  4. Cascale Events
    Cascale organizes and participates in a series of events, leveraging its position as a global convener of close to half the sector to bring together...
  5. Sustainability
    Leading the logistics sector towards a more sustainable future by investing in innovative green technologies, enhancing operational efficiency, and...
  6. ESG Voices: Short Podcasts Addressing the Opportunities and Challenges of ESG
    This podcast series takes a deep dive into the opportunities and challenges of ESG and what it means for businesses and communities through interviews...
  7. Local Communities
    The principals of living and working in synergy with the communities in which we operate, as well as collaborating on projects that benefit those...
  8. 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...
  9. Healthy Spaces Podcast: Season 5
    Welcome to Season 5 of Healthy Spaces by Trane Technologies, the podcast where experts and disruptors explore how climate technology and innovation...
  10. Biomimicry and Ray of Hope Accelerator
    The Ray C. Anderson Foundation has partnered with the Biomimicry Institute to create the Ray of Hope Accelerator, designed to bring commercially...
  11. 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...
  12. Goals That Inspire: Environmental Stewardship
    Through our Goals That Inspire we have established aggressive commitments with targeted and measurable metrics which will require innovation...
  13. License to Operate
    Corporate governance, risk management, operational integrity, and regulatory compliance are demanding challenges that companies face in today’s ever...
  14. Social Impact at Mastercard
    At Mastercard, we’re powering economies and empowering people, building a sustainable economy where everyone prospers.
  15. Growth Through Sustainability
    Trane Technologies is a global climate innovator with a clear purpose to boldly challenge what’s possible for a sustainable world. See how embedding...