What is the Triple Bottom Line?

The triple bottom line (Triple Bottom Line) refers to the economic bottom line, the environmental bottom line and the social bottom line, which means that companies must fulfill the most basic economic responsibility, environmental responsibility and social responsibility.

Triple bottom line

The triple bottom line (Triple Bottom Line) refers to the economic bottom line, the environmental bottom line and the social bottom line, which means that companies must fulfill the most basic economic responsibility, environmental responsibility and social responsibility.

Chinese name

Triple bottom line

Foreign name

Triple Bottom Line

Fan

Economic bottom line, environmental bottom line and social bottom line

Presentation time

1997

Presenter

John Elkinton

Case Studies

DuPont

In 1997, the British scholar John Elkington first proposed the concept of a triple bottom line. In the field of responsibility,

In a sense, the triple bottom line is like some type of balanced scorecard. The basic principle behind it is also: because what you are measuring is likely to be what you care about, what you measure is what you get. An organization can be called a social and environmentally responsible organization only when it begins to measure its social and environmental impact. Therefore, in today's economy and society, economic responsibility is not the only factor that defines the success of an enterprise. More and more companies are beginning to agree

Nowadays, both large enterprises and small enterprises urgently want to adjust their business strategies so that they can develop sustainably. They have sought a sustainable development strategy that suits the characteristics of the enterprise. Use, strengthen the safety and well-being of employees, strengthen public relations, etc., began to pay attention to the public's attention to the environment and society, and adopted a more pragmatic attitude towards the potential of sustainable development profits. Among these companies, Johnson & Johnson, Ford and DuPont are pioneers in pursuit of sustainable development. They have developed a set of sustainable development strategies that include economic responsibility, environmental responsibility and social responsibility based on the specific circumstances of the company. In the process of company development, they also strictly abide by the commitment to sustainable development at the beginning of the strategy.

Take DuPont as an example. DuPont, founded in 1802, is a science company committed to using science to create sustainable solutions that make people around the world a better, safer, and healthier life. DuPont started with manufacturing gunpowder. After the end of the World War, DuPont did some scientific research and development, invented nylon, rubber, organics, etc., and invented many materials that are still widely used today. In the 1970s and 1980s, with the increasing environmental protection and the coming of the oil crisis, DuPont put forward the concept of sustainable development in the face of new problems in resources and the environment. In the process of development, DuPont has set many requirements, such as proposing a strategy with zero goals, pursuing zero accidents, pursuing zero emissions, how to achieve recycling, and how to provide diversity in protecting natural resources. These indicators are in There are uniform standards across the globe. For example: DuPont proposed in 1990 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to more than 65% by 2010; between 2010 and 2011, increase operating income by more than 6% without increasing energy use; in 2010, DuPont committed to 10% of its energy used for production and 25% of its raw materials come from renewable energy. Over the next time, DuPont reduced energy use and increased production levels by 30% by adopting improved process control, new energy-saving technologies, and the use of alternative energy sources and improved manufacturing processes. Globally, DuPont's greenhouse gas emissions have fallen by 72%, and energy use has fallen by 6% from 1990 levels. According to DuPont estimates, these measures have helped the company save about $ 3 billion. ^[1]

It can be seen that the sustainable development strategy of DuPont following the triple bottom line is fruitful, not only increasing operating income, but also reducing energy and material consumption, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, taking into account the economic and social responsibilities of the company And environmental responsibility.