Meaning & use
triple bottom line
Last updated
Meaning
nounsingularbusiness
A business approach that measures success not only by profit but also by social and environmental impact.
Grammar: Usually used with the definite article: the triple bottom line. Takes a singular verb.
Patterns
- the triple bottom line
- adopt the triple bottom line
- measure the triple bottom line
Many companies now claim to follow the triple bottom line, balancing profit with people and the planet.
The report evaluates the triple bottom line: economic, social, and environmental performance.
Investors are increasingly interested in firms that embrace the triple bottom line.
Common combinations
- the triple bottom line approach
- The triple bottom line approach considers social and environmental factors alongside financial returns.
- adopt the triple bottom line
- The startup decided to adopt the triple bottom line from the beginning.
- triple bottom line reporting
- Triple bottom line reporting is becoming standard for large corporations.
Synonyms and how they differ
- sustainability framework
- A broader term for any system that balances economic, social, and environmental goals; the triple bottom line is a specific framework.
- corporate social responsibility
- Focuses on a company's duty to society, while the triple bottom line also includes environmental and financial performance.
Commonly confused: triple bottom line or bottom line?
triple bottom line vs bottom line
Bottom line usually means the final profit or the most important point; the triple bottom line adds social and environmental dimensions.
Practice
Which of the following best describes the triple bottom line?
Choose one answer.
The triple bottom line expands the traditional bottom line to include social and environmental results, not just financial ones. Option An is just the traditional bottom line, and option B is too vague and not the standard definition.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “triple bottom line”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.