ESG News in February: 3 Press Release Trends We Noticed
Companies continued their commitment to reporting ESG initiatives and progress in February. Our team monitored the ESG news releases sent in recent weeks and have compiled three trends we noticed.
Journalists can utilize these recaps as well as custom newsfeeds with PR Newswire for Journalists to stay caught up on the latest storylines and plan ahead for any ESG-related articles.
1. Clean Energy
The clean energy revolution continues, underscored by various companies’ ongoing announcements around technology innovations, strategic partnerships, and ambitious climate goals.
In the last month, two utilities – Duke Energy and PG&E – pivoted from broader corporate announcements to focus on their customers and communities.
Both examples below lead with the “so what” for journalists, taking a ubiquitous term like “clean energy” and applying it to their customers’ everyday lives. Whether it’s clearly laying out how homeowners can easily transition to renewable energy or how a part of local history is looking to the future, these releases make a buzzword relatable and accessible.
- Duke Energy to help customers go 100% renewable
- PG&E and Angel Island Ferry Partner to Launch California’s First Zero-Emission, Electric Short-Run Ferry
2. Impact Investing
In February we noticed news like the examples below peppered in with the traditional annual report recaps and announcements. Financial experts note that impact investing, socially responsible investing, and ESG have subtle differences. Here, G-FORM and bp are investing with the intention to generate positive, measurable social and environmental impact alongside a financial return.
By drawing attention to an innovative product and a DEI gap, the companies’ announcements contribute to the overall ESG conversation while generating awareness and engagement.
- G-Form® Invests in New Sustainable Impact Protection Company, RE ZRO®
- bp invests in future talent with HBCU Fellowship Program
3. Employee Mental Health
At the beginning of the year, several companies announced increased investment in employee resource groups, particularly around mental health. They likely saw reports noting that at the end of 2022, employee burnout was on par with levels at the height of the pandemic.
Perhaps buoyed by this focus, corporate wellness and mental health companies followed up this month with new and expanded offerings. As the Wellworks release below notes, mental and behavioral health offerings are “essential to support a positive work culture.”
- Wellworks for You and Spirence Partner to Provide Innovative Behavioral Health Solutions
- RethinkCare Expands Neurodiversity Resources to Foster More Inclusive Workplace Cultures
If you’d like to be in the know, add the ESG subject code to your PR Newswire for Journalists newsfeed to be notified of the latest announcements. If you need help or have questions, reach out to [email protected] We’re ready to help customize your newsfeed.
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Sarah Roberts is Director of Customer Content Services. In a previous life, she was a newspaper reporter in the Midwest before permanently retiring her snow shovel and moving to the Land of Enchantment. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, exploring the craft beer scene and petting all the dogs.
