What is Sustainability & the Triple Bottom Line?
The word Sustainability has multiple definitions in many contexts. According to the Encarta World English Dictionary, it means “able to be maintained,” others define sustainability as “the ability to meet the needs of today without compromising the needs of tomorrow”, or simply “the capacity to endure.” When applied in the context of our current rate of resource consumption, environmental degradation, land use, the state of our economies and human health, one can reasonably conclude that our current path is not sustainable.
The concept of the Triple Bottom Line provides a framework for thinking about the shared challenges we face and for developing paths to achieve sustainable solutions. The Triple Bottom Line values equally Social, Economic and Environmental Capital: People, Profit and Planet!
Here at Muskegon County, we are in the process of examining the sustainability of our organization, and the County as a whole, and have committed to making a collective effort to reduce waste, recover recyclable resources; increase energy, transportation and water efficiency; support our local economy, improve the health and well-being of our employees and our residents, while sustaining a healthy bottom line. We recognize the scope of the challenges ahead and encourage participation from municipalities, residents, businesses, educators and industry alike.