Elements of Sustainability Series – Decision-Making for the Triple-Bottom-Line

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Dr. Joe Arvai
University of Michigan, Director of the Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan

Decision-making in service of the “triple-bottom-line” (TBL) refers to choices made by individuals and groups that balance social, economic, and environmental objectives. On the one hand, we are often told the story that “people, planet, and prosperity” ought to be treated as equally important, and that we should actively seek win-win-win alternatives when making business decisions. On the other, people who claim to practice the TBL in business tend to point to decisions that they have made in the past, highlighting benefits that they say are in line with social, economic, and environmental goals. But, here’s the thing: Real-world TBL decisions can’t — and shouldn’t — treat social, economic, and environmental objectives equally. So, what are we to do if we want to proactively make decisions that serve the triple-bottom-line?

Learn More About the Speaker
Dr. Joe Arvai is the Max McGraw Professor of Sustainable Enterprise in the School of Natural Resources & Environment, and the Ross School of Business, at the University of Michigan. He also serves as Director of the Frederick A. and Barbara M. Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise. In addition to his position at the U of M, Dr. Arvai is a Senior Researcher at the Decision Science Research Institute in Eugene, OR, and an Adjunct Professor in Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, PA. Dr. Arvai is an internationally recognized expert in the risk and decisions sciences. In addition to Dr. Arvai’s academic work, he is a former member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Chartered Science Advisory Board, and is a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences’ Board on Environmental Change and Society.[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”25″][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”15468″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default”][nectar_btn size=”medium” button_style=”regular-tilt” button_color=”Accent-Color” color_override=”#ffcb05″ icon_family=”none” text=”Register here!” url=”https://consumer.dow.com/en-us/who-we-are/sustainability/elements-of-sustainability.html”][/vc_column][/vc_row]