Whether you subscribe to the Three P’s of People, Planet and Profit or the The E’s of Economy, Environment and Equity, the Triple Bottom Line is an approach to business where instead of viewing economic gain, environmental prosperity and social justice as conflicting concepts, all three are seen as important considerations in smart decision making.
Archive for the ‘Sustainability’ Category
Brownfield Site
26
Mar
Brownfields are unused or abandoned commercial and industrial properties that are suspected of or known to be contaminated with hazardous materials and / toxins. Through remediation and redevelopment, these properties can help to revitalize a neighborhood or even a city.
The EPA defines brownfields as:
Real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by the presence or potential presence of a hazardous substance, pollutant, or contaminant. Cleaning up and reinvesting in these properties protects the environment, reduces blight, and takes development pressures off greenspaces and working lands.
Brownfield News and Information
Slideshow: From Brownfields to Hot Oakland Properties
Bay Area’s economic comeback may suffer from EPA budget cuts
Food Security
22
Mar
The concept of food security is one the World Health Organization defines as:
when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life.
Food security is further defined by the “three pillars” of: food availability, food access and food use.
Beyond the issues of hunger and nutrition, food security is also an environmental and sustainable development issue. Availability, access and use of food can be impacted by choices such as diversion of land and crop use for fuel, and the effects of deforestation, seawater rise and, water and soil contamination.
Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS)
13
Feb
LOHAS is a term used to describe the market and lifestyle of consumers interested in issues of health, wellness, ecology, sustainability, and the environment.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
12
Feb
A business policy, standard or outlook whereby an organization considers the welfare and interests of society by taking responsibility for the impact of their operations on their customers, community, stakeholders and the environment.
Environmental Justice
12
Feb
A term referring to inequalities in use and access to environmental resources, such as clean air and water and healthy living conditions. Economic disparities or geographic access often reserve clean and healthy environments for wealthier peoples, giving poorer people less access to clean resources or healthy living conditions. Environmental Justice proponents seek to create more equal access or distribution of resources or halt or lower the impact humans have on environmental services, particularly in areas inhabited by poor or disenfranchised people.