Triple Bottom Line Principles Research Articles

Intelligent Multi-Objective Public Charging Station Location with Sustainable Objectives

This paper investigates a multi-objective charging station location model with the consideration of the triple bottom line principle for green and sustainable development from economic, environmental and social perspectives. An intelligent multi-objective optimization approach is developed to handle this problem by integrating an improved multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) process and an entropy weight method-based evaluation process. The MOPSO process is utilized to obtain a set of Pareto optimal solutions, and the entropy weight method-based evaluation process is utilized to select the final solution from Pareto optimal solutions. Numerical experiments are conducted based on large-scale GPS data. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach can effectively solve the problem investigated. Moreover, the comparison of single-objective and multi-objective models validates the efficiency and necessity of the proposed multi-objective model in public charging station location problems.

Competencies for sustainability: A proposed method for the analysis of their interrelationships

This article proposed a method of analysis of the interrelationships between sustainable development and organizational competencies, identifying methodologies and assessing parameters of such interrelationship. To that end, a literature research was done through a document analysis, assessing the content of sustainability reports and questionnaires of the Corporate Sustainability Index (CSI) of the Brazilian company Natura. By applying the method developed in this work, the core competencies were identified, also listing the sustainable strategic resources. As a result, the Natura has as core competencies: unique relationship network, products, concepts and especially the management based on the Triple Bottom Line principles. These competencies allow Natura to reposition their products when improving indicators such as poverty and inequality (i.e. with the aim of improving the company’s reputation and increasing the brand’s legitimacy to consumers) and, thus, to produce more value for its shareholders, becoming a classic example of a company that knew how to implement the Sustainable Value model. The main contribution of this work is to structure an analysis method based on the literature that interrelates organizational competencies to the sustainable development in companies.

Research Handbook of Investing in the Triple Bottom Line (Introduction)

The Research Handbook of Investing in the Triple Bottom Line deals with the growing trends in sustainable finance and investing where social, environmental and financial measures are employed to evaluate the behavior of economic actors and institutions. Composed of 20 topical and high-quality chapters, the Handbook offers a special focus on, among others, impact investment, finance and sustainable development, socially responsible firms, the performance of sustainable firms, and financial instruments connected with sustainability issues. Overall, findings and reflections presented in these chapters are obviously indicative of an increasing awareness and application of the triple bottom line principle at various levels (firms, markets, and economies). It appears however that several challenges exist and range from misconduct behavior to regulatory framework and efficient financial innovations. We hope that market protagonists, and particularly investors, fund managers, firm executives and regulators, will find this Handbook useful for planning their actions and strategies.

Green Supplier Evaluation and Selection in Apparel Manufacturing Using a Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Approach

With the increasing environmental awareness, apparel manufacturers have begun to consider environmental issues in supplier evaluation and selection. It is crucial to assess suppliers based on their environmental performance along with other criteria for supplier selection. This paper addresses the green supplier evaluation and selection problem in global apparel manufacturing by developing a methodological framework for green supplier evaluation and selection based on the triple bottom line principle and a fuzzy multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) model. First, a green supplier evaluation criteria hierarchy based on the triple bottom line principle is established based on comprehensive literature review, on-site investigation and policy analysis. Then, a fuzzy MCDM model is presented to evaluate and select the best material supplier. Finally, a sensitivity analysis is conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed framework. Results show that the proposed framework can handle green supplier evaluation and selection in apparel manufacturing effectively.

Environmental Sustainability Drivers: A Study on Malaysian Palm Oil Industry

Industrial practitioners and policy makers in the Malaysian palm oil industry are now focusing on understanding the factors that influence sustainability of palm oil supply chain network involving the fundamental principle of triple bottom line of social, environmental, and economic performance impacts of supply chain network design. In order to achieve sustainable products, an interpretive structural modelling approach method was used to better understand the drivers related to environmental sustainability reporting in the supply chain network related to the Malaysian palm oil industry. This paper has identified nine (9) environmental sustainability drivers (environmental management, life cycle assessment, green labelling, GHG emissions, climate change, energy efficiency, renewable resources, water, soil and air quality and lastly waste management) and the relationships between them. The findings from the environmental sustainability reporting drivers of this study can be furthered use to explore the potential impacts of supply chain network design on sustainability using the Malaysian palm oil industry as a reference. The novelty of this research is that it identifies the significance of environmental sustainability reporting based on the analyzed drivers and provides evaluation of environmental sustainability criteria’s. This paper has provided a structural model of environmental sustainability and its associated method was developed by using the interpretive structural modeling model to determine the potential drivers in environmental sustainability reporting.

Incorporating Sustainability into Small Business Innovation

To win the increasingly fierce competition, small and medium micro enterprises (SMEs) are required to consistently innovate. However, when performing innovation, they should not only give priorities to profit, but also have awareness to human and the environment. This is appropriate with the triple bottom line principles of sustainable development, i.e. financial, social, and environmental. This research was conducted with purposes to describe how SMEs in Indonesia incorporate sustainability into their business innovation; to recognize internal and external factors which trigger sustainable innovation and also to identify the obstacles faced by SMEs in implementing it. The case study was taken from food processing SMEs in Surabaya as one of the prioritized industries in East Java. The survey method was used to get primary data from 100 respondents through questionnaire. Based on the results it can be recognized internal trigger factors of sustainable innovation among SMEs, i.e product (product remains favored, quality improvement, and product uniqueness), profit, business owner, and competitive advantage; while external trigger factors are consumers, competitors, government, and other parties. Internal obstacles of SMEs in sustainable innovation implementation are lack of human resource, time and money restriction, and the reluctance to perform innovation; whereas external obstacles are lack of information and lack of government support

Evaluation of the 2010 Taipei International Flora Exposition from the perceptions of host-city residents: a new framework for mega-event legacies measurement

Numerous cities have recently hosted and engaged in mega-events to pursue tourism and urban development. Although ample research has focussed on the effects of mega-events, few studies have addressed the measurement indicators of mega-event legacies. Based on the triple bottom line principle, we developed measurement indicators for mega-event legacies to assess empirically the legacy of the 2010 Taipei International Flora Exposition based on the perceptions of Taipei City residents. We collected data from 1374 residents who live in Taipei City using the quota sampling method. Based on the study results, we designed a 36-item event legacy scale, comprising 10 mega-event legacy factors. The implications of these findings for managing mega-events and future research directions are discussed.

Generation of a Tropically Adapted Energy Performance Certificate for Residential Buildings

Since the 1990s, national green building certification indices have emerged around the globe as promising measurement tools for environmental-friendly housing. Since 2008, tools for countries in the Northern “colder” hemisphere have been adapted to tropical countries. In contrast, the Tropically Adapted Energy Performance Certificate (TEPC), established in 2012, translates the United Nations’ triple bottom line principle into green building sustainability (planet), thermal comfort (people) and affordability (profit). The tool has been especially developed and revamped for affordable green building assessment helping to reduce global warming. Hence, by the comparably simple and transparent energy audit it provides, the TEPC examines buildings for their: (1) contribution to reduce CO2; (2) transmission rate in shielding a building’s envelope against the effects of the tropical heat; (3) generation of thermal comfort and (4) referring total cost of ownership to green the building further. All four dimensions are measured in the rainbow colour scale in compliance with national energy regulations. Accordingly, this research examines the tool’s implementation in tropical countries. Exemplified tropical case studies in residential areas seek to demonstrate the practicability of the approach and to derive a holistic certification by an internationally accredited certification board.

Constructing sustainable supply chain under double environmental medium regulations

With increasing pollution of ecological environment and global warming, more and more countries and governments have enacted double environmental medium (DEM) regulations (i.e., regulations focused on greenhouse gas emission and regulations focused on waste disposal) to curb environmental impact. Based on the triple bottom line principles and DEM regulations, this paper clarifies environmental bottom line into ecological impact and carbon emission bottom lines, the former one of which is contingent on ecological footprint, while the latter one depends on carbon footprint. According to supply chain structure and product life cycle, we analyze environmental impact (i.e., ecological and carbon impact) reduction strategies simultaneously in production, distribution, use and disposal phases as well. Our conclusions show that for production phase, ecological footprint reduction need to remove toxic substances, and carbon footprint could be reduced by improving demand forecast accuracy and investment in carbon reduction technology; For distribution phase, carbon footprint could be mitigated by using smaller packaging and joint distribution, allying with third party logistics providers and adopting cross-docking network; For use phase, carbon footprint could be abated by improving energy efficiency and shortening using time, in some cases, however, shortening using time can increase ecological footprint. For disposal phase, combination of between design for ecology and comprehensive take-back (return) networks could decrease ecological impacts efficiently.

Design of A Sustainable Building: A Conceptual Framework for Implementing Sustainability in the Building Sector

This paper presents a conceptual framework aimed at implementing sustainability principles in the building industry. The proposed framework based on the sustainable triple bottom line principle, includes resource conservation, cost efficiency and design for human adaptation. Following a thorough literature review, each principle involving strategies and methods to be applied during the life cycle of building projects is explained and a few case studies are presented for clarity on the methods. The framework will allow design teams to have an appropriate balance between economic, social and environmental issues, changing the way construction practitioners think about the information they use when assessing building projects, thereby facilitating the sustainability of building industry.

Does the business size matter on corporate sustainable performance? The Australian business case

While a growing majority of research studies have concentrated on triple bottom line public reporting in large organisations, the review of past research suggests there seems to be limited support and importance given to small and medium sized businesses. This paper attempts to examine whether business size matters when it comes to corporate sustainability. To achieve this, we have conducted an empirical study to investigate sustainable business practices in small, medium and large organisations. With a sample of 80 different Australia-based firms, we have examined various parameters attributing to corporate sustainability and have arrived at three kinds of performance outcomes (factors) that concur with triple bottom line principles, which we term as: 1) corporate environmental performance outcome (CEPO); 2) corporate social performance outcome (CSPO); 3) corporate financial performance outcome (CFPO). The results of the ANOVA analysis of these factors against business size have been discussed and the significantly higher CEPO in large size businesses than in small or medium size businesses have been explored. This paper also unearths the implications of these results on corporate sustainability and recommends possible improvements to increase the focus around environmental sustainability.