Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Congressional Room (Capital Hilton)
87

Web-Based Systems That Provide Triple Bottom Line Accounting

George R. Thompson, Chemical Compliance Systems, Inc., Lake Hopatcong, NJ

Triple bottom line accounting (also known as “People-Planet-Profit”, “environmental-social-economic,” “TBL,” or “3BL”) utilizes an expanded spectrum of data elements, criteria, and values for measuring organizational success. A commitment to this level of social responsibility requires commitment to some form of TBL reporting. Centralized databases utilized by standardized and integrated Web-based analytical compliance systems greatly facilitate migration to this level of organizational commitment—beyond “green” to “sustainability.” Environmental accounting can include ecological, biobased, and recycling product and process analyses. Social values can be enhanced by reducing employee and neighborhood health and safety impacts. Economic improvements can be achieved by quantitatively identifying product and process liabilities and assets, and then wisely choosing management options that minimize liabilities and maximize assets. Implementation of an ISO 14001 environmental management system that quantitatively tracks material/product acquisition, product/process development, and product/process wastes, in light of “green” chemistry principles, will effectively accrue improvements in all three elements of the triple bottom line.