Assessment Related
The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI): This is probably the more comprehensive frameworks for assessing the extent to which an organization is creating triple bottom line value. Mike has been through the GRI certification training and can help with developing a report.
B-Corp Certification: In addition to the GRI, B-Corp Certification is another way of assessing triple bottom line value creation and is probably the more approachable of the two. It’s a well-respected assessment and a number of well-known companies are Certified B-Corps (e.g., Patagonia, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream).
Business Leadership
Boston College Center for Corporate Citizenship (BCCCC): We discovered the BCCCC a number of years ago, and in the time since, it has improved its reach and its programming. The Center is focused on developing people and their understanding of how to implement sustainable, triple bottom line practice. The Center – not unlike many organizations – refers to sustainable business leadership as Corporate Social Responsibility.
Climate Science
Skeptical Science: We found this site through the American Chemical Society’s Climate Tool Kit webpage. If you’re inclined to doubt climate change as being anthropocentric – caused by human behavior – then checkout this site. There’s all sorts of peer reviewed science that demonstrates the human centered causes of climate change and how it is many in positions of leadership –those who “believe” climate change is a hoax — are looking at the issue from a very narrow perspective. The science highlighted on this page is not complex: It’s easier to understand than one may think.
Continual Improvement
The Deming Institute: We believe in what Dr. Deming taught and aspire to help businesses become the sorts of organizations he envisioned. This page provides an overview of Dr. Deming’s System of Profound Knowledge (SoPK). Peter Senge said Toyota and the Toyota Production System, which reflects much of what Dr. Deming taught, is the closest thing he’s seen to a truly “learning organization”. By continually improving and learning through the Plan, Do, Check, Act cycle, businesses can become places that attract workers and effectively produce products and services people are delighted to purchase and use.
Life Cycle Analysis Related
Clean Production Action: The folks at Clean Production Action have been working for quite some time developing an improved way of identifying safer chemical alternatives. Their work manifests itself in a number of tools for assessing alternatives that are safer, greener and more sustainably produced.
Sustainability and Triple Bottom Line Defined
MindTools, “The Triple Bottom Line”: We’ve been using MindTools products for a long time. They provide a wealth of free information about business and leadership practice. This is a great article for those just starting the journey of understanding and applying sustainable business principles.
Indiana University, “The Triple Bottom Line: What Is It and How Does It Work?”: We found this article some time ago, and while it’s an academic article, it’s written in language that’s quite approachable and easy to understand. It’s an excellent, well-referenced resource for understanding the triple bottom line.