European Research Center for Social Development

Tag: Triple Bottom Line (TBL)

  • The Triple Bottom Line and Sustainable Economic Development Theory and Practice

    The Triple Bottom Line and Sustainable Economic Development Theory and Practice

    The concept of the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) challenges us to redefine success by equally weighing economic, environmental, and social value. While this framework is essential to the broader conversation on sustainability, it has surprisingly received very little formal attention within the specific field of economic development.

    This research seeks to bridge that gap by providing a clear definition of TBL economic development and investigating how professionals in the field actually prioritize these three pillars in their real-world projects.

    By examining the engagement and priorities of current practitioners, the study demonstrates that the Triple Bottom Line is not just a niche concept but is actually central to the evolution of the discipline.

    The author concludes by offering strategic recommendations to advance both theory and practice, arguing that integrating social and ecological health into economic models is the only way to achieve truly meaningful progress.

    Learn more about this paper here: https://doi.org/10.1177/0891242416674808

    Reference

    Hammer, J., & Pivo, G. (2016). The Triple Bottom Line and Sustainable Economic Development Theory and Practice. Economic Development Quarterly, 31(1), 25-36

  • The Key to Sustainable Economic Development: A Triple Bottom Line Approach

    The Key to Sustainable Economic Development: A Triple Bottom Line Approach

    Does protecting the planet have to come at the cost of the economy? This study explores the “Triple Bottom Line”—the idea that a country’s success depends on the harmony of social, environmental, and economic factors.

    By analyzing data from OECD countries over 14 years, the research proves that social progress is the ultimate engine for growth.

    However, the findings also highlight a complex and sometimes “conflicting” reality: under our current global systems, environmental protection is often seen as an economic “brake.” To fix this, the authors argue that we need a new definition of “development.” We must move beyond just tracking GDP and start including environmental health directly into our national scorecards.

    For governments, the path forward is clear: boost social well-being to drive the economy, but work harder to find “win-win” scenarios where environmental protection and economic growth finally support, rather than compete with, each other, and where the measures adopted by governments do not produce a short-term benefit but in the long term increase vulnerabilities due to public debt.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.3390/resources11050046

    Reference

    Nogueira, E., Gomes, S., & Lopes, J. M. (2022). The Key to Sustainable Economic Development: A Triple Bottom Line Approach. Resources, 11(5), 46

  • Sustainable Material Choice for Construction Projects: A Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment Framework based on BIM and Fuzzy-AHP

    Sustainable Material Choice for Construction Projects: A Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment Framework based on BIM and Fuzzy-AHP

    Sustainability in construction is often misunderstood as a purely environment goal, neglecting the vital social and economic dimensions of a project.

    This research addresses this gap by proposing a decision-making framework that allows construction professionals to evaluate material choices through a Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA). By integrating this assessment with Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), the framework provides a scientifically rigorous way to choose materials that perform well across the entire triple bottom line.

    The study explicitly utilizes The Fuzzy Analitic Hierarchy Process to manage the inherent subjectivity and uncertainty involved in weighing different sustainability goals. Validated through a residential building case study, the frameworks tracks impacts from the initial construction phase through to the end-of-life.

    For the modern developer, this paper offers a practical methodology to move beyond “greenwashing” and ensure that material selection is grounded in holistic, data-driven sustainability.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.107805

    Reference

    Figueiredo, K., Pierott, R., Hammad, A. W. A., & Haddad, A. (2021). Sustainable material choice for construction projects: A Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment framework based on BIM and Fuzzy-AHP. Building and Environment, 196, 107805

  • The Components of Sustainable Development – A Possible Approach

    The Components of Sustainable Development – A Possible Approach

    For decades, we have used Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as the ultimate yardstick for progress, but can a single number truly capture the complexity of human survival and well-being?

    This research explores the three fundamental pillars of a sustainable society—the economic, the ecological, and the human—and examines how they must interact to create a future that is both equitable and viable.

    By employing a conceptual framework that breaks down human needs into biological, social, and spiritual dimensions, the author critiques the narrow focus of traditional economic growth models.

    The study argues that measuring development purely through financial output, without quantifying the long-term benefits of environmental protection, is an outdated and unacceptable approach to sustainability.

    Ultimately, the investigation concludes that the “human component” is the heart of the equation; true sustainable evolution requires a deep commitment to equity, acknowledging that economic activity exists solely to serve the diverse and profound needs of people within a healthy natural environment.

    Learn more about this study here: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2212-5671(15)00849-7

    Reference

    Duran, D. C., Gogan, L. M., Artene, A., & Duran, V. (2015). The Components of Sustainable Development—A Possible Approach. 4th World Conference on Business, Economics and Management (WCBEM-2015), 26, 806–811