June 2009

Sustainability has evolved beyond environmental responsibility. It offers a thought process and evaluative means for enhanced business performance.

Triple Bottom Line centers on the basis that improving social and environmental returns will improve your economic returns. When an organization works to achieve a Triple Bottom Line, it weighs social, environmental and economic success. These three values work together in a synchronized strategy and are key pillars in Sustainability.

1. Creating profit

2. Protecting the environment

3. Improving lifestyles
   

As these benefits are measured by a company, they are primarily valuable to top-line financial performance. Financial accountability is the primary focus, and a new measurement of organizational performance has emerged as it is evaluated against the Triple Bottom Line principles. 

In tandem, a Sustainable company integrates a proactive environmental and social strategy that’s developed around long-term planning and everyday practice.  Not only do customers, employees, and business owners win, but the planet wins too. 

The Triple Bottom Line values will inspire an organization to uncover ways to grow the business without destroying the environment and without sacrificing the well-being of a valued workforce. It centers on energy-efficiencies, reducing waste, retaining human capital and increasing productivity.   

Further, a Sustainable business drives intelligent product development or services offerings. It also incorporates operational decisions that yield positive, profit-boosting effects. Liabilities are reduced. Risks are analyzed closely and eliminated. 

Integrating sustainable design practices can yield significant cost-savings, improved efficiencies and new business opportunities. The organization begins to take on a new shape, one that stands to increase profits by offering improved products and services, while at the same time reducing capital and operational expenses through more streamlined business processes.   

A Sustainable organization is making an investment in the long-term viability of the business, so that it may benefit from successful growth and increased competitiveness in the marketplace. 

If you can incorporate the principles of Sustainability, you will prosper, and you will be built to last.