The Triple Bottom Line: How Today's Best-Run Companies Are Achieving Economic, Social and Environmental Success -- And How You Can Too

The old monopolistic practices of industrial-age robber barons and captains of industry of the early 20th century will likely continue to cast a long shadow deep into the 21st century. Even today, the expectations surrounding corporate conduct and responsibility continue to rise with heightened demands, vocalized by various stakeholders, that companies help address issues around human rights; public health; exploitive labor practices; climate change; reducing poverty and spurring diversity - in addition to the pursuit of profits. The author of the book titled - Triple Bottom Line - believes that the age of corporate accountability has arrived and that businesses that hope to endure into the future need to take a more responsible and sustainable approach as to the way they operate. Soundview likes this ideal because the writer stresses that the best companies will embrace this strategy not because of government regulation or coercive philanthropy, but simply because it is the right thing to do. The truth is that the old guard, grasping model of running a business in the sole pursuit of profit has given way to a more holistic perspective that requires companies to give thought as to how they can help work toward the solutions of our collective problems. The organizations that can adapt to that shift will be well positioned to succeed in the global marketplace.

I work for a small government agency, so a lot of the production and marketing discussion doesn't apply to us. That being said, this book really makes you think, not just about how your business can be more socially and environmentally responsible, but about the practices of the companies whose products you purchase every day. A good place to start for a company that is serious about taking a hard look at their impact on the world around them.

Savitz demonstrates the strength of his background by explaining, advocating for and advising on the strategic advantage of sustainability. Along with tons of examples, he clearly explains the rationale for large organizations to embrace sustainability through triple bottom line metrics. he also deals to a large extent with the implicit challenges of this approach--the need for stakeholder buy-in, the shift in organizational culture and some options for managing these areas. The only criticism I have, and it is really somewhat ancillary to his aims, is that the examples and recommendations are very much drawn from the world of the Fortune 50. Most readers are probably dealing with these issues in small businesses, under $50m in revenue. That makes the book less applicable for them--but through extrapolation, they too can benefit. I recommend this to anyone interested in the intersection of business and the world's fate. Amie Devero, Author of Powered by Principle: Using Core Values to Build World-Class Organizations.

Sustainability is "the art of doing business in an interdependent world" according to consultant Andrew W. Savitz, who urges companies to focus on the "triple bottom line": solid profit, environmental quality and improved human welfare. Drawing on his experience as head of PricewaterhouseCoopers' sustainability practice, Savitz (writing with Karl Weber) makes a compelling case for moving your business toward "a sustainability sweet spot" where shareholders, environmental interests and other stakeholders can all feel satisfied. Sound like reheated corporate responsibility leftovers? Don't worry. This book offers much more than soft-headed "birdies and butterflies" rhetoric or a few threadbare anecdotes. Savitz marshals truly compelling arguments based on widely accepted demographic, regulatory and cultural trends. Even robber barons will feel the pull of his message, partly because the book is so engaging and well-paced that it reads like a novel, and partly because his prescriptions are so clear, coherent and actionable that they seem like common sense. We highly recommend this sustainability guidebook to those who want to begin the journey on which such companies as Toyota, GE, PepsiCo, Nike and Unilever have already embarked. Bottom line: you can't afford to ignore sustainability.