People
Do people really matter that much when it comes to sustainability?
The “People” part of the Triple Bottom Line often gets overlooked when we discuss Sustainability. As an environmentalist and a Planet advocate, I can talk about the environment all day long and give you 1,000 reasons why the “Planet” part is important. The role “Profit” plays in Sustainability is obvious… money makes the world go ‘round. But the role of “People” is usually less immediately clear.
In reality, though, without People, Sustainability is impossible… and approaching Sustainability without considering People is pointless if you think about it. The common definition of Sustainability is “societal goal of meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” and for Business Sustainability it is “the way an organization cohesively manages and integrates their financial, social and environmental facets to create value for stakeholders and meet needs of the present without compromising the ability to meet needs of the future.”
Who makes up the future generations whose ability to meet their needs is in jeopardy? People.
Whose behavior is compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs? People.
Who makes up the social facet of a business? People.
Who do we need to keep satisfied to be sure our businesses are successful? Our customers… they’re People.
90% of consumers think environmental responsibility is important, and believe it is the responsibility of businesses to act sustainably, 57% say they are likely to trust the company, 60% are likely to purchase its products, 58% are likely to recommend the company or its products to others, and 53% say they factor a company’s social and environmental activities into their purchasing decisions (AMP Agency survey, July 2008). Additionally, demand for product free of toxins, products with recycled content, and reduced and/or recyclable packaging is on the rise. Will you be able to meet the demand of your customers?
Who do we need to motivate to have a productive efficient business? Our employees… they’re people. Studies from the USGBC have shown that creating a working environment with good indoor air quality (improved with adequate ventilation and no or low VOC paint and building material) and natural lighting can improve worker productivity. Also empowering your employees to drive change within the organization and getting them involved will improve the success rate of any sustainability program you launch, and it will improve job satisfaction among employees. And when your employees are satisfied with their jobs, there will be less turnover and higher productivity.
In order for US business and our society at large to truly be sustainable, there has to be a shift in social norms through culture change to value social responsibility, quality communication, equality, fair pay, fair trade, decent benefits, and positive working conditions (just to name a few). The key ingredient in all these things: PEOPLE.
Is your Triple Bottom Line balanced?
#1 from Jarrett on November 06, 2009
Great post, we added it to the SBDC National Blog as well @ http://sbdcnet.ning.com.