体育API

The 2025 Innovation Awards

Each year at the International Corporate Citizenship Conference, 体育APICCC recognizes companies that create compelling, disruptive initiatives鈥� demonstrating tangible outcomes with real-world impact for their stakeholders, communities, and the planet itself. The Innovation Awards celebrate the achievements of companies that have applied business assets to create positive social and environmental impacts. This year's awards, sponsored by Travelers, were presented after an insightful presentation on effective corporate citizenship and the power of brand development.  The awards highlighted a wide range of truly innovative programs in four different categories. Here's a look at this year's winners and runners up:

Eco-Innovator Winner: Ambipar

In its winning submission, Ambipar, which is based in Brazil, shared how they solved two environmental problems with one innovative solution. The company set out to divert the pharmaceutical industry鈥檚 collagen capsule waste from disposal in landfills, while also working to recover natural environments that have been degraded by fires, erosion, or deforestation.

Ambipar combined recovered collagen capsules together with a soil conditioner鈥攑roduced from paper and pulp industry waste鈥攁long with plant seeds native to the biome, or land area, at hand. The resulting 鈥渂io-capsules鈥� were then launched from drones, which allowed the project to tackle environmental restoration even in areas that are difficult to access, including hillsides. When the bio-capsules come into contact with rainwater, they dissolve, dispersing macro and micronutrients and initiating the germination process. Between 2023 and 2024, Ambipar dispersed more than 1.2 tons of seeds over various environmental recovery zones, including hundreds of hectares in Brazil that had suffered biodiversity loss caused by landslides due to heavy rains.

In outlining the significance of this effort, Ambipar leaders shared, 鈥淸We are] transforming waste into trees鈥� in areas of great ecological relevance. The region is immersed in the largest continuous remnant of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil.鈥� According to the , Brazil鈥檚 Atlantic Forest once covered approximately 330 million acres. Today more than 85% of this forest has been cleared, and what remains is highly fragmented.

Innovation Amplifier Winner: N体育APIUniversal

In its award-winning submission, N体育APIUniversal highlighted how it innovates corporate social responsibility through a strategic partnership between its social impact initiative, N体育APIUnites, and its employee development program, Talent Lab. The result is a suite of immersive programs鈥擲ERVE, PRO BONO, and INSPIRE鈥攖hat go far beyond traditional volunteerism by embedding social impact directly into leadership development and company culture. 

SERVE is a three-month board service training program where selected employees are placed on the boards of nonprofit partners aligned with their passions. Through this experiential program, senior leaders gain empathy, cultural competency, and communication skills that they bring back to their teams while contributing meaningfully to community causes. PRO BONO matches employees with nonprofits to consult on real organizational challenges, allowing them to apply business acumen in the service of social good. Past projects have tackled rebranding, HR strategies, and community engagement. INSPIRE is a three-day service-learning experience co-facilitated with nonprofit buildOn, where N体育APIU employees and high school students work side-by-side on local service projects. This hands-on immersion cultivates inclusive leadership skills while fostering cross-generational solidarity and empathy.

Between board placements, consulting engagements, and volunteer efforts, N体育APIUniversal employees have contributed thousands of hours of service, supporting more than 55 nonprofit organizations since 2021. These efforts have enhanced the company's community impact and elevated employee satisfaction, retention, and connection to N体育APIU's core values. N体育APIUniversal's approach stands out for its integration of social purpose and leadership development, showing what's possible when corporate impact and talent cultivation go hand in hand.

Social-Impact Changemaker Winner: UPS

In its powerful and far-reaching submission, UPS shared how it is taking a stand against one of the world鈥檚 most urgent humanitarian crises: human trafficking. Through a multi-faceted strategy rooted in prevention, education, survivor support, and systemic change, UPS is harnessing its vast logistics network and social capital to combat modern-day slavery on a global scale.

At the core of this initiative is UPS鈥檚 partnership with organizations like Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT) and the Tahirih Justice Center, through which over 1.2 million transportation professionals have been trained to recognize and report human trafficking. These frontline employees, from truck drivers to warehouse staff, have become the "eyes and ears" of local communities, spotting red flags and helping authorities intervene.

Beyond awareness, UPS provides funding and volunteer support to deliver restorative services to more than 18,000 survivors and prevention services to another 3,000, many of whom are immigrants and vulnerable women and girls. Programs range from legal aid and mental health support to tech training with partners like AnnieCannons, helping survivors reenter the workforce with dignity and purpose.

UPS鈥檚 model is designed for scale. With more than 500,000 employees across 220+ countries, the company leads coalitions that bring together NGOs, public agencies, law enforcement, and private industry. In March 2025, UPS will co-host a coalition-building summit with TAT and government agencies to prepare transportation and hospitality workers in Georgia ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as major sporting events often trigger spikes in trafficking activity.

鈥淭he UPS Foundation uses our human, reputational, and financial capital to dismantle the systems that make trafficking possible,鈥� said Nikki Clifton, President of Social Impact and The UPS Foundation. 鈥淭his work is a business imperative and a moral responsibility.鈥�

Transformative Partnership Winner: The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America

In its standout partnership submission, the Guardian Life Insurance Company of America demonstrated the powerful impact of education and empathy through Minding Your Money: Skills for Life鈩�, a groundbreaking financial wellness program developed in conjunction with EVERFI. This initiative goes beyond traditional financial literacy by addressing the intersection of money, mental wellness, and relationships, equipping Gen Z students with the knowledge and emotional tools needed to thrive in a financially complex world.

Prompted by findings from Guardian鈥檚 research showing that 67% of Gen Z adults cite money as a top stressor, the company designed this digital curriculum to meet students where they are, emotionally and practically. Through age-appropriate, scenario-based lessons, students learn how to make smart financial decisions, manage stress, and have honest conversations about money with friends, family, and partners.

The program鈥檚 results speak volumes: 71% of students reported feeling comfortable discussing money after completing the course, and 44% said they felt 鈥渆xtremely confident鈥� in managing their financial lives. Teachers echoed the program鈥檚 value, with 96% rating the course as excellent.

By the end of the 2028 school year, Guardian and EVERFI aim to reach 2,800 schools, many in low- to moderate-income communities, helping hundreds of thousands of students build lasting financial resilience. In its first year alone, the program reached over 110,000 students, 68% of whom attended Title I schools. 鈥淭his course is aligned with Guardian鈥檚 purpose of inspiring well-being and building on our 163-year history of supporting consumers and communities,鈥� said Francine Chew, Vice President and Head of Corporate Impact at Guardian. 鈥淲e created a scalable financial wellness solution that drives change.鈥�

Eco-Innovator Runner-Up: Paramount Pictures

In its submission, Paramount Pictures spotlighted a pioneering clean energy transformation at its historic Hollywood studio lot, reducing emissions and championing sustainable entertainment through innovation and commitment. Paramount launched a 10-year Long Range Energy Plan focused on conservation and self-generation, culminating in the development of a state-of-the-art Alternative Energy Plant. 

This facility, powered by four advanced microturbines and an absorption chiller, now generates one megawatt of clean electricity per hour to power 13 sound stages and 37 buildings鈥� while capturing waste heat to cool 230 tons of water per hour for centralized AC systems. This effort helped Paramount slash emissions by over 200,000 tons in just 12 years (the equivalent of eliminating 450 million car miles) and achieve a 46% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2023, closing in on its 2028 target of 50%. The new energy system uses 50% less power than traditional HVAC methods, and has eliminated toxic refrigerants and carbon-heavy pumps.

The project wasn鈥檛 just about technology, it was about cultural transformation. Spearheaded by the Paramount Green Team, representing every major studio division, the initiative also focused on employee education and operational sustainability. Despite the logistical challenges of retrofitting infrastructure beneath an active production lot, the team successfully executed the plan without disrupting filming or employee activity. 鈥淭he Alternative Energy Plant continues to be a success story for Paramount Pictures and the environment,鈥� the studio emphasized, noting the facility鈥檚 quick return on investment and long-term reliability.

By reducing reliance on external power sources and creating a blueprint for other studios to follow, Paramount鈥檚 commitment to energy innovation is helping reshape sustainability in media production, one kilowatt at a time.

Innovation Amplifier Runner-Up: CEMEX Mexico

With its submission, CEMEX Mexico shared how the company sought to strengthen urban resilience in M茅rida, Yucat谩n, focusing on risk management, sustainability, and community partnerships. Under the groundbreaking Resilience Nodes (Nodos de Resiliencia) initiative, CEMEX helps facilitate collaboration between businesses, the government, and the local community to build a sustainable and disaster-resilient future for all.

The key component to CEMEX Mexico鈥檚 strategy is its Resilience Council. Composed of leaders in the corporate, public, and academic sectors, the Resilience Council鈥檚 existence ensures coordination across industries to achieve shared sustainability goals. For example, the Resilience Council provides local businesses with customized risk assessment and disaster response training. The results of these trainings speak for themselves: 71% of participants improved their disaster preparedness skills, 40% of businesses reduced training costs by hiring program graduates, and 60% of companies implemented new risk mitigation measures.

Additionally, the Resilience Nodes program model is scalable and offers a model for revolutionizing disaster resilience globally. By fostering cross-sector collaboration, the Resilience Nodes initiative demonstrates how private sector interests can align with community partnerships, sustainability efforts, and international resilience frameworks. 

Social-Impact Changemaker Runner-Up: John Hancock

In its submission, John Hancock highlighted a groundbreaking partnership with Boston Medical Center (BMC) to launch StreetCred鈥攁n innovative, hospital-based program designed to help low-income families build financial security while waiting for pediatric or prenatal care.

StreetCred brings financial services directly into pediatric waiting rooms, where trained volunteers assist families in filing taxes, accessing anti-poverty programs like SNAP and WIC, opening 529 college savings accounts, and receiving financial coaching. This holistic model aims to tackle the root causes of poverty and health disparities by leveraging moments of trust between families and healthcare providers.

Since its launch in 2016, StreetCred has helped more than 7,700 families access $16.8 million in tax refunds, with over $407,000 returned during the most recent tax season alone. In 2024, the program enrolled 800 families in financial 鈥渂undles,鈥� helped more than 400 access government benefits, and opened over 500 college savings accounts.

As the program鈥檚 largest funder and corporate partner, John Hancock has played a key role in scaling StreetCred鈥檚 reach and impact. The company also supported the creation of a rigorous evaluation system to measure the program鈥檚 long-term effect on health outcomes, economic mobility, and healthcare utilization鈥攄ata that will be shared nationally to encourage replication.

鈥淚n Boston, the life expectancy gap between the richest and poorest zip codes is 23 years,鈥� said Ashley Miles, Director of Community Investment at John Hancock. 鈥淥ur investment in StreetCred helps close that gap by addressing financial barriers to health and opportunity.鈥�

By meeting families where they are, and combining public health with economic empowerment, John Hancock and BMC are creating a model of inclusive innovation that can be replicated nationwide鈥攐ne that transforms both financial outcomes and community well-being.

Transformative Partnership Runner-Up: GE Appliances

In its submission, GE Appliances showcased how thoughtful community collaboration can spark powerful innovation and redefine accessibility. Partnering with Louisville's Central High School and the American Printing House for the Blind, GE Appliances created the first-ever Tactile Access Kit. This revolutionary tool empowers blind and low-vision consumers to use household appliances independently.

The initiative began with a simple request for a hot plate, necessary for students with vision loss to practice life skills. But when GE Appliances saw the teachers' modifications to the donated appliances, it became clear that more was needed. What followed was an empathy-driven design process, supported by extensive training with community partners, to understand users' real-world needs. The result: a kit of over 400 tactile stickers, including braille and universal symbols, adaptable for over 80 appliance models, ensuring independence for the 6 million Americans living with vision loss.

But the partnership didn't stop there. Inspired by the same ethos of adaptability, GE Appliances engineers also transformed toys for children with disabilities, enabling them to play independently using reconfigured switches. In total, 124 adapted toys were donated to families in Louisville, eliminating financial barriers and spreading joy throughout the community. GE Appliances moved beyond ADA compliance and toward inclusive innovation through this partnership. 

By listening to students and educators, leveraging engineering expertise, and embracing a "Zero Distance" approach to design, GE Appliances co-created real-world solutions that improved their products and transformed lives, proving that true innovation begins with empathy and partnership.

Looking forward to next year!

Thank you to all of the companies who submitted to the 2025 Innovation Awards, sponsored by Travelers. Submissions for next year's awards will open in advance of next year's International Corporate Citizenship Conference, held from April 26-28 in Los Angeles, and hosted by BMO. Questions about the program? Contact us at ccc@bc.edu.