The Triple Bottom Line

By now, many of you may have heard me giving advice on how to put your environmental consciousness on auto-pilot (as if my constant plugging of the CSA didn't give it away :o)). But what's the wider benefit of making these everyday changes? It all comes down to the triple bottom line, some of the hottest buzz-words in the world of sustainability today.

Buzz-words or not though, the meaning is simple and timeless - what's good for you, is good for the planet, which leads to prosperity for us all. When you purchase local, your neighborhood benefits, the earth benefits from decreased pollution, and we all breath a little easier. Or when you buy organic produce, you derive the health benefits, the earth is replenished through organic farming, and we all profit with increased sustainability for future generations.

What it comes down to is setting your ego aside, and thinking beyond its need for instant gratification. It means taking responsibility for your own life and the world around you. That's not always the easiest choice, I know. That's why we can all benefit from sharing our successes, failures, and ups and downs in this road to sustainability.

As Jesse Jacobs said in his Elephant article on the triple bottom line in business, "By creating and supporting healthy companies that make a difference to people and the environment, we can be confident that our time spent here did make a difference".