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.

Education

Medical Affairs, Americas Bolsters Funding for Next Generation of Scientists

Stellar Girls™, an after-school science program offered to more than 600 girls from 25 Chicago-area schools, was the recipient of an $8,570 check raised from voluntary contributions by employees of Astellas Medical Affairs, Americas (MAA) with a match from the Astellas Matching Gifts program. The donation, earmarked for program supply kits, augments funding provided by the Astellas USA Foundation and the One Astellas Spirit Run fundraiser sponsored by the Womens Employee Resource Group (Stellar Women) during the US National Sales Forum.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

Arrow Electronics Supports Concert and “Culture in Action Day” by Acclaimed Cellist Yo-Yo Ma

Arrow Electronics supported renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma’s two-day visit to Denver, which included a sold-out concert at Red Rocks Amphitheater and a day of conversation and action around the unifying role of culture in communities.

Social Impact & Volunteering

Xylem Madrid Scuba Dives to Clean Coastal Waters

Last month, a group of six Xylem Watermark volunteers from the Xylem Madrid site participated in a unique activity for the Watermark program, scuba diving into the marine depths and cleaning the seabed of la Ria de Pontevedra-Arosa along the coast of northern Spain.

Environment

Waste Management Supports Recycling Education with $100,000 Donation for Cutting-Edge Training Scholarships

Keep America Beautiful and The Recycling Partnership will offer 40 communities within 10 states the opportunity to be a part of an advanced recycling workshop at WasteCon 2018, which takes place Aug. 20-23 in Nashville, Tennessee. This fully-funded training program by Waste Management will bring together key community recycling leaders from across the Southeast to improve their respective community recycling programs.

Innovation & Technology

‘When Seconds Count’: Maryland’s Statewide Emergency Medical Services Communications System to Benefit From Major Technology Upgrade

One of the United States’ most complex communications systems for connecting pre-hospital care emergency responders will receive a major upgrade by Overland Contracting, Inc. (OCI), a Black & Veatch Company. The Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems (MIEMSS) chose OCI to serve as the systems integrator and to oversee the design and implementation of the upgrade of its communications system, which is approaching the end of its anticipated lifespan.

Environment

EGI & Mohawk Group’s Light Lab Project Contribute to Living Future Exchange, Protecting Vital Habitat in Australia

Mohawk Group teamed up with Epsten Group, who provided sustainability consulting on Mohawk’s Light Lab Design Studio in Dalton, Georgia. The renovated design studio received Petal Certification from the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) Living Building Challenge™ 2.1.

Diversity & Inclusion

VIDEO | How This Special Olympian Found Her Power

Elizabeth "Liz" Hubert, 22, is a seasoned competitor. She got into powerlifting about eight years ago. Since then, she’s competed at state, national and world events with the Special Olympics. Most recently, she represented Oklahoma at the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games held July 1-6 in Seattle.

Media & Communications

Think Inspired, Where Multicultural Marketing and Sustainability Meet

Think Inspired (TI) is an Integrated Marketing Services company that specializes in multicultural marketing. TI has offices in Memphis and New York City. The company was founded in 2013 by Christopher Lee and Danilo Cummings. The TI team is made up of marketing professionals that are well versed in market assessments, analysis, trends, insights and targeting fundamentals. The firm is proud that it is a diverse, multicultural organization that has built a large affiliate of diverse associates, creative partners and resources across disciplines.

Education

American Express and Pharrell Williams Partner to Back Arts and Music Education in Schools

Today, American Express and Pharrell Williams announced an expanded partnership and joint commitment to raise awareness and support to bring more arts education to schools nationwide. As part of the collaboration, American Express Platinum and Pharrell will host a fundraising event, called the Yellow Ball, with an all-star lineup of collaborators on September 10, at the Brooklyn Museum to benefit Young Audiences Arts for Learning. American Express will also gift $1 Million to Young Audiences, the nation's largest arts-in-education network whose work strives to inspire young people and expand their learning through the arts.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Creating a Great Place to Work

It is important that our employees at all levels see themselves as valued contributors to our organization and have the tools they need to succeed.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

Epsilon’s Dockmaster Keeps Business Humming

When Kara Kluver started working full-time at Epsilon in the spring of 2016, her main job was handling the many packages that were delivered to the Irving offices of the global marketing firm. Today, as “dockmaster” for Epsilon’s seven-story building, Kluver not only accepts and delivers and tracks the packages on an iPad, but also confirms the identities of vendors and contractors who enter the facility and restocks the company’s multiple business centers every day.

Innovation & Technology

Our All-Action Heroes Engineer an Incredible Future

As technological advances continue to transform the energy sector, CLP has deployed a robot to help inspect power plant boilers, introduced augmented reality welding training and used 3D printing technology to produce replacement parts for cooling fans, switches and insulators in Hong Kong.

Energy

Pathyway to 2030: Accelerate Decarbonization of the Electric Sector

Today, zero-carbon electricity comprises over 50% of Northeast electricity generation. About 25% is from renewable electricity, including large-scale hydro. To position the region to achieve 2030 targets, total zero-carbon generation must increase to 67% of supply, with the renewable electricity share rising to nearly 50%, outpacing both RGGI and targets set in state-level RPS (Figure 3). All major classes of renewable resources figure prominently in the Pathway: onshore and offshore wind, distributed and large-scale solar, and hydro power.

Diversity & Inclusion

Supporting Our Military Community

In 2012, we pledged to hire 2,000 veterans by 2015, and in 2015, we pledged to hire 10,000 members of the military community by the end of 2017. We surpassed both goals, and since 2010 we’ve added more than 15,000 veterans, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses to the Comcast NBCUniversal family. Our success has led us to expand our hiring and outreach efforts.

We know that supporting our military community takes more than employment alone. We’re using our resources and reach to foster nationwide partnerships that empower the military community, and embracing volunteer service opportunities to support the efforts of many veterans and military-related nonprofit organizations.

Research, Reports & Publications

Caterpillar CEO Jim Umpleby Letter

In a letter to shareholders, Caterpillar CEO Jim Umpleby highlights how, as a leading global manufacturer of heavy equipment, we provide the solutions – the engines, locomotives, machines and services – our customers use to build a better world.

Health & Healthcare

SC Johnson Insect Experts Debunk 5 Common Myths About Using Personal Insect Repellents

Whether you’ve been spending the summer in your backyard, at the beach or hiking in the woods, you’ve probably encountered familiar insects like mosquitoes and ticks – and their bites. The insect experts at the SC Johnson Institute of Insect Science for Family Health want to help you and your family defend yourselves from bug bites. Their advice: Planning for the insects you will meet outdoors is the first step to enjoying summer fun.

Responsible Business & Employee Engagement

John Holm of PYXERA Global Moderates Panel at NAEM Sustainability Conference

John Holm, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, represented PYXERA Global at the National Association for Environmental Management (NAEM) Sustainability Management Conference in Providence, RI, from July 30–August 1. The NAEM Sustainability Management Conference brought together leaders from the private sector, public sector, and academia to discuss the latest trends in sustainability as well as progress on the ways companies operationalize the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Supply Chain & the Circular Economy

When It Comes to Packaging, Plastic Is the Environmental Material of Choice

This title may scream fake news to many of you. Yet it is true, and particularly relevant given the latest efforts to ban the plastic straw. A 2016 study found that replacing plastics in packaging and consumer products could raise environmental costs nearly fourfold. This is because strong, lightweight plastics help us do more with less material, providing environmental benefits throughout the lifecycle of plastic products and packaging. The study also concludes that the environmental costs of alternative materials can be lower per ton of production but are greater in aggregate due to the much larger quantities of material needed to fulfill the same purposes as plastics.

Environment

Smithfield Foods Honors Employees and Facilities with Environmental and Sustainability Awards

Smithfield Foods, Inc. has honored multiple facilities and employees with Environmental and Sustainability Awards, recognizing efforts that helped Smithfield save more than 1.1 billion gallons of water, more than 8.8 million kilowatts of electricity, and more than 21.1 million pounds of solid waste generation in 2017.

Health & Healthcare

For Some Kids, Summer's Not so Healthy When School Lunch Goes Away

It’s August, and we’re well in to the heat of summer. It should be a carefree time for children, but for those who depend on the National School Lunch Program during the school year, summer may mean poor nutrition, even hunger.

Awards, Ratings & Rankings

Kimberly-Clark Recognized at SBA Singapore for its Commitment to Sustainable Business

Kimberly-Clark and its employees in Asia Pacific received two honors at the Sustainable Business Awards (SBA) Singapore for its sustainable business best-practices in the areas of waste productivity and water management.

Responsible Production & Consumption

The Future Is Sweet – and Sustainable – for Allbirds

If you take a quick look around your office, it probably won’t be hard to spot a pair of shoes made by Allbirds, the San Francisco-based footwear company that makes its products using materials like wool and eucalyptus fiber.

Philanthropy & Cause Initiatives

VIDEO | Teen Flies Around World Solo to Raise Money for Family Friend's 8-Year-Old with Brain Cancer

A 19-year-old pilot spent less than a month flying around the world to raise awareness for pediatric cancer research.

Sustainable Finance & Socially Responsible Investment

Digital Innovator Akon Announces First Official AKoin Partner: Lottery.com

Grammy-winning artist and techno-philanthropist, Akon, keeps the hits coming with the first announcement towards the goal of creating a digital currency to help empower young entrepreneurs. The renowned artist announced Lottery.com as Akoin’s first official partner in the creation and implementation of the Akoin currency. Lottery.com, the leader in Lottery and creator of a blockchain-powered global impact platform, is the first official Akoin partner.

Research, Reports & Publications

What a Sustainable Business Looks Like – Erb Institute Professor Sara Soderstrom Comments on Brewery Vivant

When Kris Spaulding started Brewery Vivant, she did so mindful of the possibilities to create a sustainable business with inspiration sparked at the University of Michigan.

Latest Campaigns

  1. Sustainability- Carnival Corporation's Way of Doing Business
    Carnival’s approach to sustainability is a full-time commitment; it is not a cost of doing business, it is a way of doing business. We at Carnival...
  2. Principal Financial Group: Global Inclusion
    Principal is committed to fostering a culture that empowers our employees and demands the best of our leadership by attracting and retaining great...
  3. 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...
  4. Innovation & Sustainable Solutions
    Chemours chemistry is essential to our daily lives, global commerce, and the future. Our commitment to product sustainability drives us to innovate...
  5. Employee and Community Engagement
    At MilliporeSigma, we look for opportunities to use employee and community engagement to spark scientific curiosity and breakthroughs. We know that...
  6. Water
    Evolve with the Water IndustryPartner with Black & Veatch to make water supplies more resilient for providers, more affordable for customers, and more...
  7. International Paper | THRIVING PEOPLE & COMMUNITIES
    Vision 2030 Goal: Promote employee well-being by providing safe, caring and inclusive workplaces and strengthen the resilience of our communities
  8. ESG Talk: Season Three
    The ESG Talk podcast features candid conversations with business leaders from around the world. In season three, co-hosts Mandi McReynolds, Steve...
  9. Climate Action & Environmental Management
    Reach net-zero carbon in our own operations by 2030 and partner with suppliers to reduce their climate impact.
  10. Aflac in the Community
    Learn more about Aflac’s culture of care and how it sits at the heart of all we do.
  11. Performance
    Prioritizing ethics, economic contribution, operational excellence, integrity, and accountability in all we do.
  12. Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG)
    The business landscape is reorienting itself and you can almost hear priorities shifting toward change-readiness and the bigger picture. And in this...
  13. Environment
    We are committed to integrating environmental stewardship into the way we operate. We recognize the importance of the environment in creating a...
  14. People: Achieving Excellence Through Safety, Efficiency, and Partnership
    Our vision is simple and clear: to be a best-in-class employer delivering innovative products and experiences for our customers. Our focus on...
  15. 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...