ESG News from Leading Brands

Keep up with the latest environmental, social and governance news from companies embracing the triple bottom line, shared via 3BL's distribution platform.

"AI" amongst trees

Innovation & Technology | SAP

3 Ways AI Accelerates Sustainability Efforts

While climate risk, social equity and ethical governance used to be peripheral concerns, they are now central to long-term business success.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

HRC: Making a More Inclusive and Accepting World for Everyone

Each day, while elected officials debate political and legislative solutions, HRC Foundation’s incredible staff educates the public and provides training and model policies that alter the fundamental nature of the institutions that govern our everyday lives. From policy that guides a hospital’s treatment of LGBTQ patients, to the moral truths that shape how a pastor interacts with a congregation or a community — HRC approaches LGBTQ life holistically, looking for ways that their work can make a more inclusive and accepting world for everyone, in every part of their life.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Finalists Named for Orlando’s 2017 Cox Conserves Heroes Program, Public Asked to Vote

WFTV Channel 9, and The Trust for Public Land are recognizing volunteers who are creating, preserving or enhancing shared outdoor spaces. Finalists for Orlando’s Cox Conserves Heroes program were announced today, and the public is being asked to vote for the winner now through November 20. To vote, visit CoxConservesHeroes.com and select the Orlando area. A total of $20,000 will be donated to local environmental nonprofits on behalf of the three finalists.

Black & Veatch

Research, Reports & Publications

Black & Veatch: LNG Technology, Infrastructure Requirements Push Collaborative Natural Gas Solutions

The newly released 2017 Strategic Directions: Natural Gas Industry Report by Black & Veatch examines how organizations are planning for long-term, sustainable operations that can accommodate rising supplies and deliver them to markets eager to use natural gas as a cheaper and cleaner power generation source.

Research, Reports & Publications

The World Business Council Releases New Report on How Low-carbon Microgrids Benefit Commercial and Industrial Companies

The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) releases its new guide “Microgrids for commercial and industrial companies.” Presented by ABB, CLP Group, Eaton Corporation, EDP, Enel Group and Schneider Electric, the report explains when, why and how commercial and industrial (C&I) companies can benefit from low-carbon microgrids.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

The Foundation of Northern Trust's Responsible Investment Principles, ESG Funds

The foundation of Northern Trust's responsible investment principles, as with our entire decision-making process, is that we will act in a manner to protect our clients’ financial well-being.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Hormel Foods Recognized by Forbes on World’s Best Employers List

Hormel Foods Corporation today announced it has been recognized by Forbes on its World’s Best Employers 2017 list.

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Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Firms Learn That as They Help Charities, They Also Help Their Brands

Adopting a tiger in India, donating yoga classes to disadvantaged children in Los Angeles or building homes for residents of a struggling New Jersey city might seem unrelated.

Energy

Clean Power is Already the Plan

What would a repeal of the Clean Power Plan (CPP) actually mean? The announcement that the EPA is seeking to repeal the CPP raises some valid questions about the future of clean energy and carbon emissions in the U.S. To understand the impact, let’s look at some important context.

Sustainable Development Goals

Acting Boldly for Sustainability

Sustainability —doing the right thing for people, planet and our own long-term business viability— is part of who we are at Avery Dennison. It’s an ethic that stems from our founder Stan Avery himself, who set the course and tone for our company more than eight decades ago.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Voya Financial’s Michele White Joins Board of Junior Achievement (JA) of Southwest New England

Voya Financial, Inc. announced today that Michele White, SVP and leader of the Enterprise Contact Center has joined the board of Junior Achievement (JA) of Southwest New England. JA is the world's largest organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs. Voya’s longstanding partnership with JA spans more than 15 years and Voya Financial Chairman and CEO Rodney O. Martin, Jr. serves on the board of Junior Achievement USA.

Diversity & Inclusion

Social Media Isn’t All Broken

This week on the news, I saw Congress grill social media executives. I heard about the spread of fake news and the negative things that social media has wrought. There was lots of focus on young people and how they use these forums – I even heard one report when an expert being interviewed mentioned that he was an undergraduate.

I won’t disagree that there are negatives about social media, but I do want to point out a different perspective that comes from my work.

My industry and the population we serve are often considered out of the loop on technology. But, the truth is social media has become a huge benefit in the lives of many people old enough to be that undergraduate’s grandparents.

Points of Light logo

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Volunteer Helps Build Community, One Cup of Coffee at a Time

As the first volunteer for Refuge Coffee in Clarkston, Georgia – an area that hosts the most diverse square mile in the country and is home to over 60 native-spoken languages – Karen Guess brings together people from all walks of life over the universal language of coffee and tea. She moved to the area at the same time as Refuge Coffee founder Kitti Murray, who had a dream of creating just such a communal place.

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Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Casa BACARDÍ Visitor Center Re-Opens in Puerto Rico

Casa BACARDÍ Puerto Rico has been welcoming visitors since 1961. During the weeks following Hurricane Maria, the visitor center was temporarily closed as its staff remained focused on providing relief to the community as part of the “Bacardi Contigo” (Bacardi is With You) initiative.

As part of the Bacardi ongoing commitment to Puerto Rico relief and rebuilding efforts, $5 of each tour admission will be donated to relief organizations, through the end of the year.

National Grid logo

Innovation & Technology

National Grid Develops Innovative Solution for an Island Community’s Unique Energy Challenges

National Grid, a leader in developing innovative energy solutions to meet customer and community needs, will install a 48 megawatt-hour battery energy storage system, or BESS, on the island of Nantucket, 30 miles off the Massachusetts coast, to help address some unique energy challenges.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Standardized Maintenance & Supply Chain Innovation

Through fleet automation, Republic Services’ One Fleet standardized vehicle maintenance program, conversion to compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks, and the use of renewable natural gas derived from organic waste, Republic has lowered our fossil fuel usage, which also reduces costs.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

ADVOCACY: Speaking Out on Policies That Count

As the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization, the NAACP has worked successfully with allies of all races who believe in and stand for the principles on which the organization was founded. We are represented in 2,200 branches and units all across this country in 50 states, in every large city, hundreds and hundreds of small towns, and in 60 global military installations, and always welcome new members and supporters. With over 2.2 million digital activists, we have more young people in the NAACP than any other young person’s civil rights organization in the country combined.

Diversity & Inclusion

Comcast NBCUniversal's Military Commitment: 13,000 and Growing

Veterans Day is an opportunity for the entire nation to collectively thank and honor military members and their families for living a life dedicated to service, and at Comcast NBCUniversal, we are extending this gratitude to the military community throughout the year.

Since 2010, we have hired more than 13,000 Veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses, including many who are graduates of our country’s military service academies. Our Veterans Network employee resource group has grown to more than 6,000 members nationwide, and in the last two years we’ve led more than 100 military-focused community service projects as part of Comcast Cares Day, strengthening longstanding partnerships with dozens of military and veteran service organizations making impacts.

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Environment

Duke Energy, Watershed Ecology Center Team Up to Bring Adopt-a-Stream to Spartanburg County

As one of Duke Energy’s Water Resources Fund recipients, Watershed Ecology Center developed the Adopt-a-Stream program for Spartanburg County, and is working with local volunteers and students who have become certified water quality monitors. Thanks to their efforts, Spartanburg County can now monitor and address water quality issues more quickly.

LOGO

Social Impact & Volunteering

Responding to Natural Disasters: Three Steps for Companies to Maximize Their Impact

In what has been an unforgettable year of natural disasters, companies have demonstrated that they intend to do their part to help devastated communities rebuild. The private sector has committed more than $300 million to date to relief efforts for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and millions more in the aftermath of Mexico’s strongest earthquake in a century and the wildfires ravaging northern California.

The life science business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany operates as MilliporeSigma in the U.S. and Canada

Education

Live From HUBweek 2017

Last week, HUBweek took over City Hall Plaza. Presented by the Boston Globe, HUBweek sits at the intersection of science, technology, innovation, and general coolness. Visitors explored interactive installments and open spaces full of intriguing displays that highlighted forward-thinking concepts in areas from education to farming to virtual reality.

Sustainable Development Goals

Reporting on the SDGs: Measuring Today’s Contributions and Educating Tomorrow’s Leaders

GRI is strengthening the contribution of the private sector to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by helping make reporting on them more comparable, encouraging private sector engagement and supporting collaboration between business and academia to prepare the next generation of sustainability leaders. ​Read about recent SDG related events here.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

American Express Climbs 30 Spots to Top Best Adoption-Friendly Workplace List

Each year the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption recognizes the nation’s employers that offer the best adoption benefits to employees.
This year, American Express topped the list by overhauling its adoption benefits package for employees. The first place company offers $35,000 in financial reimbursement for the costs of the adoption and 20 weeks of paid leave to employees to bond with their children.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

“On the Road with eBay Motors” Crosses the Finish Line at SEMA

eBay Motors concluded its summer-long “On the Road” tour at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas by auctioning off a custom 1967 Mustang Fastback through eBay for Charity.

Energy

Imminent Game Changer for Inefficient UK Properties

From April 2018, it will be illegal to let out certain energy inefficient buildings in the UK. Under what has commonly been termed the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, or MEES, landlords will not be able to let out properties with an Environmental Performance Certificate (EPC) rated F or G. Government estimates have shown this could affect as high as 23% of the commercial real estate market, affecting as much as £165 billion of real estate.

PYXERA Global

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Announcing TWITTER® CHAT: “Defending the Harvest: Reducing Food Loss” With the Rockefeller Foundation, Feed the Future and ADM Institute for the Prevention of Postharvest Loss

More than 1.2 billion people go to bed hungry or under-nourished every day, while the food that could feed them is wasted, lost along the food-chain. Such waste also rocks the security of livelihoods for the most vulnerable in the agricultural value chain and negatively impacts the environment. Eliminating food loss—using the harvest wisely—is one of the most solvable problems of our time.

Latest Campaigns

  1. Corporate Social Responsibility
    Corporate Social Responsibility

  2. Aflac News and Updates
    See the latest news about Aflac.

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

  4. Policy and Regulation
    Cascale shares insights regarding policy and regulation impacting the consumer goods industry, and highlights how it's supporting members prepare for...

  5. 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...

  6. Entergy's 2024 Performance Report Shares Progress Toward a Better Future
    Entergy’s 2024 performance report, “Energy for a better future” presents an overview of our company’s 2024 achievements, future plans and strategies...

  7. Circular Economy and Supply Chain Sustainability
    We strive for supply chain excellence, working to increase diversity, protect human rights, promote health and well-being, and extend opportunity for...

  8. 2025 Global Inclusive Growth Summit
    This annual event hosted by the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth will explore how we can build strong growth and economic opportunity for all...

  9. Building a Sustainable Future | Decarbonizing the Built Environment
    The building sector accounts for nearly 40% of carbon emissions and nearly 50% of the consumption of natural resources. The industry stands at a...

  10. 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...

  11. Building a Sustainable Future | Decarbonizing the Built Environment
    The building sector accounts for nearly 40% of carbon emissions and nearly 50% of the consumption of natural resources. The industry stands at a...

  12. 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...

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

  14. 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...

  15. 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...