The Triple Bottom Line (TBL) framework, first introduced by John Elkington in the 1990s, expands traditional performance metrics beyond financial returns to include social and environmental outcomes—the “3 Ps” of people, planet, and profits. Though calculating these measures can be challenging due to different units and data gaps, the TBL model is adaptable, allowing organizations to tailor metrics to their scale, context, and stakeholders. Examples ranging from corporations like Cascade Engineering to governments such as Maryland show how TBL can guide decision-making, enhance accountability, and balance long-term economic, social, and ecological well-being. This kind of adaptable, community-rooted framework resonates with Aspen CSG’s commitment to advancing asset-based development approaches that prioritize both people and place.
WHAT IS TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE?
