Defining Sustainability, the Triple Bottom Line, and the GRI

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Defining Sustainability,the Triple Bottom Line,
and the GRI
Paulette Stenzel Professor of International
Business Law Eli Broad College of
Business Michigan State University Presented
March 20, 2009 MALSB - Chicago, Ill. Prepared
by Professor Stenzel and Teaching Assistant
Lindsay Allen
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Presentation Outline

• Defining Sustainability, Triple Bottom Line, and
  the GRI
• AACSBs developing accreditation standards
  regarding sustainability
• Sustainability topis in specific legal studies
  courses
• Professor Carol Miller, Missouri State University
• Professor Paulette Stenzel, Michgian State
  University
• Professor Linda Reid, University of
  Wisconsin-Whitewater
• Professor Janet Hale, Texas State University, San
  Marco
• Overall perspectives sustainability on campus
  and opportunities for legal studies curricula in
  interdisciplinary sustainability programs
• Professor Janet Hale
• Professor Paulette Stenzel
• Professor Linda Reid
• Professor Carol Miller
• Questions and Answers

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What is Sustainability?

• Sustainability refers to the ability of society
  to meet the needs of the present without
  compromising the ability of future generations to
  meet their own needs.
• Source Our Common Future UN Brundtland Report
  - 1987

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What is the Triple Bottom Line?

• A business perspective that looks at
• People, Planet, and Profit
• Economy, Social Equity, Environment (Three Es)

Corporate 3BL reporting is monitored by Global
Reporting Initiative (GRI) Resource The Triple
Bottom Line by Savitz Weber
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Environmental Protection is Everyones Concern

• Environmental protection- topic that breaks
  political boundaries
• President Nixon founded the EPA
• The Clinton administration was known as one of
  the strongest supporters of environmental
  protection
• Both Obama and McCain supported greenhouse gas
  emission caps in the 2008 election
• Sustainability is a sound business practice
• Interface Carpets Case

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Global Business Compact Promotes MDGs

• Goal Responsible partnership with the UN
• Means
• Work to implement MDGs
• Supports UN Declarations on
• Human Rights, Labor, Environment,
  Anti-Corruption
• See UN.org/millenniumgoals for details

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The Millennium Development Goals

• Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
• Achieve universal primary education
• Promote gender equality and empower women
• Reduce child mortality
• Improve maternal health
• Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
• Ensure environmental sustainability
• Develop a global partnership for development