Redefining Sustainability and the Triple Bottom Line (TBL)

Welcome to my blogspot. I created this blog in an effort to redefine sustainability. This word has been so heavily used in recent years and many people still don’t really understand what it means.  Also, many people directly correlate sustainability as ‘tree-hugging’ or being ‘green’. However, the true meaning of sustainability is to optimize the triple bottom line of social, economic and environmental benefits, or what is also commonly referred to as the three Ps: People, Profit, Planet. As someone who was a sustainability program manager, I know that there is great difficulty in getting people to want to do what is right for the environment. And, also there are differing opinions about what is truly good for the environment, or good enough. It is not that we are selfish or greedy, but by nature, we instinctually want to take care of ourselves and our families first. We evolved to fear things that were instantly threatening, like a bear chasing us. We did not evolve to fear the slow changing of the environment, although it is equally as threatening to our survival. I want to reiterate that second part… An unhealthy environment is threatening to us, not just the planet. The planet will kick us off and still be a planet; it is humans that will suffer in the process. So, my idea is to take the environment out of the statement as a separate ‘piece’ and educate and engage people to integrate practices that will actually provide an immediate and long term benefit to their well-being, finances and level of contentment.

So, I propose a new Triple Bottom Line to optimize health, wealth and happiness. Then we will naturally tread lighter on the environment with everything we do. This is a truly integrated approach, and without balance and integration, nothing is sustainable. We can’t be truly happy without good health or a healthy perspective of our finances. Wealth won’t be as desirable if we are not healthy and happy or have enough time to enjoy it. And health is more than physical appearance; true health comes from a balanced approach of a life well lived physically, socially and intellectually. Corporations will also benefit from this approach as worker productivity increases and absenteeism goes down.

This approach can be done much more simply than we might think. In sustainability, like Occam’s Razor, the simpler solution is usually the better solution.  In my opinion, we can tread much lighter on the environment with this concept of simplicity than any new technology will allow us to do. I'm not saying we shouldn't invest in better, healthier technology, I'm just saying that reduction should be our first step, and then supplement with alternate technology.

My new three Ps for sustainability are then: People, Profit and the Pursuit of happiness. I briefly describe them below, but the intent is that this blog will go into great detail about achieving the new triple bottom line in your personal and professional lives.

People (Health): We should choose food and products that are healthy for ourselves, our families and the individuals and communities that are affected by the entire supply chain. We should value our local communities and know our neighbors, so that we have more security for better peace of mind.

Profit (Wealth): When we live with simplicity, we want less ‘stuff’, which means more money saved and less income needed. This also means that we can pay more for higher quality and healthier, more responsible products that will last much longer and still save us money in both the short term and the long run. Additionally, supporting small businesses and local economies can go a long way to economically secure and vibrant communities.

Pursuit (of Happiness): Happiness is not a passive activity, but rather a pursuit to find purpose in our lives and live with intention. Also, we cannot truly be happy unless we know that we are being good to others. So the first step to happiness is to make conscious choices and purchases that allow others to optimize their own health, wealth and happiness. As Gandhi says, “Be the change you want to see in the world”. 

I highly recommend the documentary "I AM" by Tom Shadyac. He also has a new book out.