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.

A person laying down receiving an ultrasound, a medical professional applying gel to their chest.

Health & Healthcare | T-Mobile

Improving Access to Healthcare With 5G-Powered Technology

Dopl is closing the gap by removing distance from the equation using T-Mobile’s 5G network.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Gifts of Energy an Ideal Way to Help Others on Giving Tuesday

Gifts of Energy from Consumers Energy offer a convenient solution for those who want to help others this Giving Tuesday. Giving Tuesday (#GivingTuesday) is a global day where people are encouraged to donate time, goods or their voice in order to assist those in need.

Environment

Ecocentricity Blog: Pride vs. Guilt

Perhaps you’ve started shopping at your local farmers market weekly. Maybe you’ve replaced your incandescent lightbulbs with LEDs. You might have started paying a bit extra for the organic strawberries instead of the regular ones. How should you feel?

SSG

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

It's Giving Tuesday! - Best Buy's Open Giving Format Encourages Employee Giving

Best Buy’s 12,000 employees are enjoying the retailer’s new employee giving program that matches 40 per cent of their donations to registered Canadian charities. The retailer’s new open giving program, called ‘myGiving’ launched in June.

“We’ve had lots of really great feedback,” says Karen Arsenault, Manager, Community Relations at Best Buy Canada Ltd. “People are excited about the program because they often have personal connections to charities and want to give back, whether it’s in support of a family member that has gone through cancer or helping a friend participating in a run or a ride in support of a specific charity.”

The program uses a simple online tool that makes giving to charities that “are near and dear to our employees’ hearts” really easy.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

AIDA Sends SOS Children’s Village Charity Check on Its Travels

For more than ten years AIDA Cruises has already been supporting the work of SOS Children’s Village (SOS-Kinderdorf) in worldwide projects for disadvantaged children. Revenue from the sales of the book “CREATIVE – Fold the most beautiful hand towel animals” in which the cruise provider has collected ideas for artfully folded zoo creatures, is also benefiting children and adolescents. On board AIDAprima, the crew under Director Hotel & Guest Services Marc Spingler have sent a charity check for the proud sum of 6,000 euros on its journey to the Iloilo SOS Children’s Village in the southeast of the Philippine island of Panay.

Responsible Production & Consumption

New Social and Labor Convergence Process Public Effort: Falling in Love With the Problem Could Bring Significant Change for Workers

For decades, almost all major brands – and now, almost every brand -- have subscribed to one or another factory social/labor compliance monitoring program. Timberland, for example, first launched its Code of Conduct in 1994. At first glance, this is good news as brands increasingly recognize their role to ensure that their factory partners promote worker safety and treat all workers with dignity and respect. Yet after decades of having these programs in place we have not yet fully moved the needle to protect workers’ rights.

Media & Communications

Michael Bloomberg on the Timeliness of His Coal Industry Doc 'From the Ashes'

President Trump ran on a campaign that promised to bring the coal industry back in America. But to billionaire mogul, former New York City mayor and philanthropist Michael Bloomberg, that’s an empty promise given that long before climate change activists began railing against it, the industry was on a downward trajectory because of technology and cheaper alternatives like natural gas. In 2015, the founder of the privately-held Bloomberg L.P. asked top lieutenant Katherine Oliver to back a film that could explain the issue from both sides — the workers displaced when coal plants close and the health costs of the polluting industry when they remain open. The result is Michael Bonfiglio’s From the Ashes, one of the environmental-themed contenders in this year’s Oscar documentary feature race.

Antea Group logo

Environment

Climate Change Facts & Resources for All

Antea Group talks about what some businesses are doing and what resources are available for you in the combat against climate change. Climate change poses one of the greatest challenges to the continued prosperity of businesses, communities, and ecosystems around the world.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

On #GivingTuesday Give the Gift of Sight

This #GivingTuesday Orbis encourages supporters to give the gift of sight by participating in our matching challenge. One of our generous donors has agreed to match all #GivingTuesday donations up to $25,000. Funds will support our vision restoring work in places like Bangladesh, where four-year-old Halima had two cataracts removed by an Orbis-trained surgeon.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Impact at Work: Center for Transforming Lives

On Giving Tuesday, we’re highlighting a project with a talented team from Fidelity Investments and its nonprofit partner, The Center for Transforming Lives (CTL). CTL has provided safe housing, early childhood education, and financial empowerment services for economically disadvantaged women and children in the Texas community for over 100 years. CTL impacted 3,814 women, children, and families in fiscal year 2016 alone; however, the organization’s previous website failed to lift up their vast impact. The site was static, outdated, and challenging for staff to maintain. To better showcase their impact on the community, CTL partnered with a team of technologists from Fidelity Investments to build a new, user-friendly website on the Wix platform.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

#GivingTuesday the JetBlue Way

JetBlue is celebrating November (aka Philanthrophy Month) as JetBlue For Good Month. Service is part of our DNA at JetBlue. JetBlue For Good Month celebrates all the ways we give back year-round. Earlier this month, we asked our customers to "Check-In For Good." In honor of #GivingTuesday, the international day of giving kicking off the holiday season, we’re offering even more opportunities for customers and crewmembers to get on board to bring our mission of Inspiring Humanity® to life.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Build a Team — Be a Hero. Support GKTW on #GivingTuesday

#GivingTuesday is November 28th, and we have something super in store for 2017’s global day of giving. This year, we’ll harness the power of our GKTW Family and social media to make our greatest impact to date.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Aflac Employees Lay the Groundwork for a Better Tomorrow

Since 2007, more than 2,100 members of Aflac’s Columbus, Georgia, team have strapped on hardhats and tool belts with Habitat for Humanity. The program is so popular that Aflac holds lotteries to determine which employees will get the chance to participate. This year, 175 employees built Aflac’s 11th Habitat house, to the great delight of resident Marion Dantzler. Meanwhile, 50 employees at Aflac’s Columbia, South Carolina, location worked alongside new Habitat for Humanity homeowners during a five-day renovation project, completing the team’s second home construction.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Carlsberg's Sustainability Director on the Three Skills All CSOs Need

Simon Boas Hoffmeyer is sustainability director at Carlsberg. Earlier this year he launched, Together Towards Zero, a major new sustainability strategy that will see the brewer target zero carbon emissions at its breweries worldwide by 2030.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Global Ambition, Local Action: How 5 U.S. Communities are Raising the Bar

From creating a safe haven for people and pets, to growing locally to provide work opportunities, to stewarding natural resources for future generations, we work around the clock to help our communities thrive.

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

Education

Curiosity Cubes Aims to Spark Kids’ Interest in Science (Video)

There’s a mobile shipping container traveling around the country getting kids excited about science.

“This is Millipore Sigma’s Curiosity Cube,” Rebecca Dowd, curiosity cube coordinator, said. “It’s a retrofitted shipping container that’s been turned into a mobile science lab […] to do hands on science experiments with students.”

Environment

LIXIL Group’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Target Validated by the Science Based Targets Initiative

LIXIL Group Corporation, a global leader in the housing and building industry, has received validation from the Science Based Targets (SBT) initiative for its greenhouse gas emissions target. LIXIL is the first company in the building products sector globally to have its targets approved by the SBT initiative.

The targets approved by the SBT initiative outline how LIXIL Group will reduce its environmental footprint in order to achieve its Environmental Vision, comprising a 30% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions, and a 15% reduction in Scope 3 emissions by 2030 compared to fiscal 2015 levels. To achieve these targets, LIXIL Group is increasing energy efficiency in its operations, introducing renewable energy, and promoting energy efficient products and services.

Energy

“A Century of Power” Documentary Recounts Energy History in Hong Kong as Told by the Kadoorie Family

"A Century of Power" chronicles CLP’s contribution to the economic and social development of this beautiful city we call home and the markets in Asia Pacific where CLP operates. Produced by acclaimed filmmaker Elaine Forsgate Marden, the documentary recounts the CLP story and its long-standing commitment to the communities it serves, through valuable archive materials and new footage captured in the past two years.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

NRG Launches ‘Choose to Give’ Plan Benefiting Boston Children’s Hospital

NRG today formally unveiled a new partnership with Boston Children’s Hospital as part of its "Choose to Give" program, which allows NRG customers to support local nonprofits through their electricity plan.

Diversity & Inclusion

eBay Seller Portraits | Spice Kitchen UK

With encouragement from her son, Shashi turned her passion for cooking into a successful blended spice business.

Environment

Domtar Sustainability: Managing Our Byproducts

Our manufacturing processes generate byproducts that were historically viewed as “waste” and sent to landfills. We are increasingly monetizing the value in these byproducts and envision a future with virtually zero waste going to landfills. The benefits are both environmental and economic.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Ideas to Put More ESG Impact Into Your Portfolio

For investors looking to take steps towards impactful investing, a good place to start is with the concept of doing no harm — a baseline for investors to look at their portfolio and remove any exposures that might have a negative ESG impact. With this approach, consider whether companies in which you invest are applying efforts to minimize negative externalities of their operations and ensure that, ultimately, the net impact of their operations is not negative.

Responsible Production & Consumption

Agxa Achieves FSC Chain of Custody Certification

agxa, an AG International company, is an international trade and offshore business entity operating in Australia, Sri Lanka, India, and Singapore with principal networks in Asia, Europe and North America. It has now gained the most credible certification in the forest trade – Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody Certification through SCS Global Services.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Hormel Foods and Jennie-O Turkey Store Help Provide Thanksgiving Meal for Those Affected by Hurricane Harvey

Hormel Foods Corporation and its subsidiary Jennie-O Turkey Store donated turkeys and hams for a Thanksgiving meal and event for around 1,000 people affected by Hurricane Harvey and others in need on Nov. 22. The event took place at Celebration of Life Church in Baytown, Texas, and featured a musical performance by Mandisa, an American gospel and contemporary Christian recording artist and former American Idol contestant.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

12 Hours, 40 Miles and One Giant Heart for Kids

These actions might seem small in the moment, but they end up touching the lives of people we’d never expect. Joe Speagle, a systems engineer in Walmart’s technology division, wanted to do something no one else would do in order to bring attention to a cause near to his heart – Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

MetLife Logo

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Good Intentions Are Not Enough: How Microfinance Can Truly Serve Low-Income Women Entrepreneurs

Low-income women entrepreneurs in Egypt, as in many developing countries, face multiple obstacles to securing small-business financing. They seldom hold legal title to the kinds of assets (e.g. land or home) that could serve as collateral for a loan. Their businesses also tend to be smaller (often home-based) enterprises more compatible with family duties. Smaller businesses require smaller loans, which are generally less practical or profitable for a financial institution to deliver.

Latest Campaigns

  1. Tapestry I Uplift Our Communities
    We aim to empower the communities where our employees live and work, and provide the resources and capacity needed to support supply chain partners in...

  2. Leveraging the Education Potential of Technology
    Over the next three years, Verizon will invest up to $100 million in our education work to ensure that more students – particularly those in...

  3. CARE News & Stories
    CARE News & Stories is where to find out what's happening around the world through vibrant, engaging stories that put humanity at the center. 👉 https...

  4. 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...

  5. STEM Education
    We inspire the next generation of inventors and advance workforce development for STEM-related careers.Our initiatives are designed to promote and...

  6. Purposeful Innovation
    We invent breakthrough technologies that enable life-changing products and experiences.We’re building on our legacy of technology leadership with 5G...

  7. HanesBrands: Planet
    It’s in our DNA to act responsibly – for people, for our communities, and for the planet. We believe in doing our part for this world, so we challenge...

  8. CARE News & Stories
    CARE News & Stories is where to find out what's happening around the world through vibrant, engaging stories that put humanity at the center. 👉 https...

  9. 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...

  10. Seamless Connections
    We end supply chain disruption by reducing friction in every part of the journey to create certainty and security for all. We ensure quick...

  11. TCS | goIT
    Tata Consultancy Services is proud to bring you goIT In 2009, TCS North America launched goIT, its signature community engagement initiative.The...

  12. Focus on People
    We are focusing on our people through strengthening our business by embracing our differences, doing the right thing when helping our communities, and...

  13. 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...

  14. KeyBank Foundation: Helping Communities Thrive through Education, Workforce Development, and Service
    KeyBank Foundation helps build thriving communities by supporting organizations and programs that foster thriving students and a thriving workforce...

  15. AMD Environmental Sustainability
    Advancing sustainability across our operations, supply chain manufacturing and product stewardship