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Asian Journal of Business Ethics

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01-01-2013 | Original Paper

The three fundamental criticisms of the Triple Bottom Line approach: An empirical study to link sustainability reports in companies based in the Asia-Pacific region and TBL shortcomings

Authors: Kaushik Sridhar, Grant Jones

Published in: Asian Journal of Business Ethics | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

There is increasing evidence suggesting that environmental and social criteria are impacting the market in complex ways. The corporate world has demonstrated a willingness to respond to public pressure for improved performance on non–economic issues by embracing Triple Bottom Line (TBL) principles. TBL reporting has been institutionalized as a way of thinking for corporate sustainability. However, institutions are constantly changing and improving, while TBL has been fairly conservative in its approach to change. The more balanced focus on the economic, the environmental and the social has provided a framework for institutions and markets around the world who want to focus indicators towards a sustainable future. This paper presents a criticism of the TBL approach that adds to the limited information on the pervasiveness of this approach.

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29 out of the 40 companies are from Japan. Hence, this is a limitation in terms of trying to study the findings from an Asian context as the majority of companies are based out of one particular region.

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Title: The three fundamental criticisms of the Triple Bottom Line approach: An empirical study to link sustainability reports in companies based in the Asia-Pacific region and TBL shortcomings
Authors: Kaushik Sridhar
Grant Jones
Publication date: 01-01-2013
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Published in: Asian Journal of Business Ethics / Issue 1/2013
Print ISSN: 2210-6723
Electronic ISSN: 2210-6731
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13520-012-0019-3

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