Triple Bottom Line
Menu:
Sustainability- Triple Bottom Line
Drawing by Liz Ivkovich
Most organizations today measure business success using the traditional bottom line...profitability, as profits are essential for the survival of both nonprofit and for-profit organizations. However, sustainable businesses take two other bottom lines into consideration: natural capital and social capital. Every decision made by a sustainable business must not harm (or may even improve) environmental quality and must have a social/community building component. Companies should treat their employees as valuable resources and give back to their community.
Luckily, the same business practices that improve social and environmental capital have been shown to also improve long-term profitability. When implemented, sustainable business practices provide an avenue to achieve mutual benefits in the natural world, the community, and the economy. This movement has given traction to the "next industrial revolution", where business people and environmentalists are sharing the common goal of improving the global community, environment and economy for present and future generations.
Links
Business and Sustainable Development (BSD)
The BSD site was created and is maintained by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD). The web site has information on current sustainability issues, strategies and tools to incorporate the concept into business activities, markets, banking and investment, information on working with NGOs, and training opportunities. The wide variety of case studies are particularly noteworthy, including information on the triple bottom line.
Funded by the Steelcase Foundation of Grand Rapids, Michigan
Header photo
courtesy of Bigfoto
Site by CMC/GrandNet