Impact & Sustainability News From Leading Brands

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

Health & Healthcare

Merck for Mothers Blog | A Note from Dr. Etiebet: Reflections from WEF 2018

The MSD for Mothers team recently returned from the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, where we joined leaders from business, government, civil society and academia in discussions around the theme, “Creating a Shared Future in a Fractured World.” In keeping with the focus on the global economy, MSD for Mothers and our partners made the business case for investing in maternal health, argued for greater private sector involvement in innovative financing for development, and advocated for more research on the experiences of women and girls to guide more equitable decisions about allocating resources.

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

Feature: Diversifying the Supply Chain

HP states that diversity is imperative for good business. “We invest in improving representation by minorities and women within our supply chain and encourage diversity in suppliers’ own workforces,” it said. “Just like our employees, diverse suppliers bring unique experiences and perspectives that strengthen our business, support innovation in our supply chain, and enhance local economies.”

Environment

When It Comes to Fighting Ocean-Bound Waste, Collaboration Is Key

In the UK right now, there is a huge spotlight on the crisis being created in our seas by plastic waste. The reality of the situation is scary – and hard to ignore. Every single year, 8 million metric tons of plastic enter our seas, endangering marine life and polluting our waters. And it’s not just marine life being affected.

Research, Reports & Publications

RBS: We Are Building a More Sustainable Bank

“We are building a more sustainable bank; a more responsible company, doing business in a more sustainable way. We consider the long-term impacts of our actions in our decision making, and we are proud that our enterprise and financial education programmes show the difference we’re making for our customers and communities. Continuing to live by our values and providing, simple and fair banking will help us to build trust for the long term.”

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Benevity Acquires TrustCSR, UK-Based Corporate Social Responsibility Consultancy

Benevity acquires TrustCSR, a UK-based corporate social responsibility consultancy that serves enterprise clients, including Amazon, British Telecom, DHL, EE, Avanade, National Grid and Experian. This acquisition is the latest step in Benevity adding scale and geographic scope to its operations to maximize efficiencies, service its global client base, and reach new markets.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Gildan Launches Speaker Series on Women’s Leadership With Sylvia Montero

Starting in the fall of 2017, Gildan launched a women’s leadership series featuring inspirational and empowering stories shared by successful women. These sessions were designed to foster the development of Gildan’s employees, but even more importantly to emphasize women’s unique and important place in society.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Bon Air Elementary Crowned First Repeat Recycle-Bowl Champion

Bon Air Elementary, in Kokomo, Indiana, was crowned today as the first repeat national champion of Keep America Beautiful’s Recycle-Bowl, the national recycling competition for elementary-, middle- and high-school students, teachers and school communities.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

NAACP: Fighting to End Racism and Economic Inequality

This Black History Month, the NAACP celebrates 109 years of working to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination

Innovation & Technology

Schneider Electric: A Veteran Company at Technology's Cutting Edge

Some think of the technology as disruptive, but at its current level of maturity, AI is really more of a “foundational technology,” says Brian Tessier, vice president of global supply chain innovation at Schneider Electric. You could place it on the maturity curve near blockchain, he says.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Smithfield Foods Shares Insights About Hunger in America

Over the weekend, I had the honor of speaking on behalf of Smithfield Foods alongside our respected allies in the fight against hunger, Feeding America and the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC). What a great opportunity to join together with likeminded organizations who share my company’s passion to eliminate hunger.

My talk centered on Smithfield’s ongoing commitment and greatest responsibility as a food company – to feed people, it’s what we do. We’re working toward fulfilling the company’s social purpose to improve food security and end hunger for the more than 42 million individuals facing hunger each day. And more specifically, I honed in on how we can all work together to serve populations that are disproportionately impacted by hunger.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Carolinas' Waterways to Benefit from More than $900,000 in Grants from Duke Energy

Thirteen organizations spanning 42 counties in North Carolina and South Carolina will receive more than $900,000 in new grants from Duke Energy's Water Resources Fund to support environmental and wildlife programs.

Education

Pizza Hut “Starts a New Chapter” to Help All Kids Succeed through Reading, Takes Further Action to Support Literacy through Annual Giving Program

A lack of books in the home is directly linked to an increased likelihood that a child will read below his or her grade level by the fourth grade. In fact, 25 million children in the U.S. cannot read proficiently. And students who can’t read proficiently by third grade are four times more likely to leave school without a diploma than proficient readers, a huge barrier to meeting their full potential as adults.

That’s why Pizza Hut, the nation’s longest-standing corporate supporter of literacy, is kick-starting a giving program to tackle issues that lead to illiteracy. Through Pizza Hut: The Literacy Project – the company’s global commitment to literacy – the program will enable access to books and educational resources, empower teachers and inspire a lifelong love of reading.

Diversity & Inclusion

Citi’s CEO Michael Corbat Signs the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion™ Pledge

Today Citi announced it has signed on to the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion (CEO Action), joining more than 350 CEOs and presidents committed to driving policy changes and practices in their companies that help advance equitable workplaces. This move demonstrates Citi’s commitment to increasing diversity and encouraging an open environment that enables employees to thrive and deliver the best possible results for their clients and communities.

Environment

Brightening Our Corner Newsletter - February 2018

This is the quarterly newsletter for the Ray C. Anderson Foundation, a private family foundation that seeks to promote a sustainable society by supporting and funding educational and project-based initiatives that advance knowledge and innovation in sustainability.

Education

How to Make Student Loan Payments Easier, More Affordable

Every spring, thousands of students don a cap and gown, accept their diplomas and walk into the next phase of their lives full of excitement. They’ve shed the weight of books, classes and papers, but they may still carry one thing – student loan debt.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Environment Scores Big Win With Zero-Waste(i) Legacy Project at Super Bowl LII

The NFL, in partnership with PepsiCo, Aramark, U.S. Bank Stadium, SMG and the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, scored a zero-waste legacy project at Super Bowl LII, with 91 percent of all trash generated on gameday from 67,612 fans responsibly recovered through composting, recycling and reuse. The landmark project marks the highest diversion rate achieved at U.S. Bank Stadium and at any previous Super Bowl, and aims to serve as the benchmark for future large-scale events.

The results are in following the big game: nearly 63 tons of the 69 tons of gameday waste were recovered through recycling or donation for reuse (62 percent) and composting (29 percent).

Innovation & Technology

These 3 Elements are Crucial to the Future of Electric Cars

Energy and mobility are the twin pillars of urbanization - and a new study from the World Economic Forum shares three key principles to make the most of electric vehicles.

Responsible Production & Consumption

How One Farm is Harnessing Waste to Improve Soil Health and Put the Best Mushrooms on Your Pizza

When you take a bite of a hot slice of California Pizza Kitchen’s Mushroom and Green Onion pizza, you’re surely not thinking of mushroom farms, organic soil and sustainability.

Next time, perhaps you will.

What you might not know is that those mushrooms, and the farmers who grow them at the Pennsylvania-based Mother Earth Organic Mushrooms, are part of an awesome cycle of care that supports organic farms throughout the East Coast. Nestlé values the farm’s high-quality mushrooms, their rich flavor and the nutritional boost they provide — but we also seek out partners like Mother Earth to create shared value that goes beyond the products we create.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

How to Support Thriving Workforces: KeyBank Provides $1 Million Grant to New Haven Career Training Non-Profit

The KeyBank Foundation announces $1 million grant to the Connecticut Center for Arts and Technology (ConnCAT) to support career training and advancement programs for adults in Greater New Haven.

Research, Reports & Publications

GRI Standards Now Available in Simplified Chinese

Sustainability reporting has been a growing trend in China for at least a decade. To support seasoned and first-time reporters alike, GRI has launched the Simplified Chinese translation of the GRI Standards.

Media & Communications

ING Surveyed Corporate Finance Execs: The Results Are Encouraging, As the Respondents Commented on Positive Results of Corporate Sustainability

So often we hear that “investors don’t ask” or “no one inside seems to care” or “our finance folks don’t believe in” when we talk with corporate connections about corporate sustainability at their firm. And, inside the company, skepticism can typically be found in the finance offices. We have some good news “findings” for you today from the ING folks to add to the growing number of research studies demonstrating the sustainability business case.

Environment

EHS Impacts of 3D Printing: A 360-Degree View

Antea Group provide s you with a complete guide to 3D printing and its EHS impacts. Read before you buy.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Accion and MetLife Foundation Announce Expanded Partnership to Advance Financial Inclusion

Global nonprofit Accion and MetLife Foundation announced today a new partnership to advance financial inclusion for underserved individuals around the world. The project – Building Financial Capabilities and Strengthening Institutions through Customer-Centered Innovations – aims to enhance financial customer engagement by building their capabilities. MetLife Foundation is providing $5.4 million in funding to support the program.

Environment

Arrow Electronics Refurbishing the Future: 600,000 IT Assets Donated

Arrow Electronics and the nonprofit Close the Gap celebrated an important milestone: Since 2003, the organizations have refurbished and donated 600,000 electronic assets that customers have designated for humanitarian donation, including computers, storage, servers and mobile devices. By finding new life for these renewed assets, Arrow and Close the Gap diverted nearly 600 tons of used electronics from landfills in 2017.

Environment

Sands ECO360 Encourages Team Members to Create a Sustainable Commute

Established on Earth Day 2012, Sands ECO360 partnered with the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) to create Club Ride Commuter Services Program. The free program works with employers and commuters to reduce traffic congestion, improve air quality and mobility, encouraging the use of commute alternatives, and ultimately create a more sustainable community.

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. Sustainable Products and Innovation
    Ongoing research into innovative solutions enables CNH’s brands to manufacture products that respect the environment while satisfying customers’...
  3. 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...
  4. 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...
  5. 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...
  6. Social Impact at Mastercard
    At Mastercard, we’re powering economies and empowering people, building a sustainable economy where everyone prospers.
  7. 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...
  8. Greener Products and Solutions
    We actively integrate sustainability into the product development process and look at all phases of the product life cycle for opportunities to...
  9. Accelerating access to healthcare technology
    We believe technology can help close the world’s health gaps. By putting people first, we find new ways to advance health while reducing costs. And...
  10. Aflac Stories
    Get a closer look at the people, products and stories that make Aflac the company we know today.
  11. Antea Group Webinars and Events
    Come learn from Antea Group experts on a variety of topics. We produce webinars monthly and attend events regularly to keep in touch with current and...
  12. PSEG People & Communities
    PSEG is committed to improving the lives of our customers, our employees and the diverse communities we serve throughout New Jersey and Long Island...
  13. KeyBank: Responsible Banking
    Everyone’s financial journey is different. We make intentional efforts to meet the individual needs of clients and communities through a diverse range...
  14. 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...
  15. Wesco Cares
    Life-changing events can happen to any of us, often when we least expect them. Employees in need can turn to the Wesco Cares. Its mission is to be an...