Blended value most fundamentally describes two closely related notions: (1) that all organizations, whether for-profit or not, create value that consists of the three major components—economic, social, and environmental values; and (2) to the extent that organizations realize that they affect all three areas of value production—economic, social, and environment—and then try to integrate and promote all three, they will be more successful.

Attributed to a professor of business as well as founder and fellow of numerous foundations, Jed Emerson, the term blended value has found wide resonance in the business world, and has even made some of the top five lists of future trends in business. Integrating economic, social, and environmental values brings with it a wide range of efforts, all driven by the idea ...