Integrated Bottom Line

The integrated bottom line (IBL) is an extension of the triple bottom line concept, which suggests that the environment, society, and the economy are the three critical entities in any business operation. The IBL goes a step further by suggesting that all three of them should be considered in unison in any undertaking. All measures are combined into one balance sheet instead of three independent ones. The environment and society are critical elements [Page 331]of the financial bottom line and should be considered as such. The coinage of the term is attributable to Theo Fergusson of Sustainable Ventures.

The precursor term triple bottom line (TBL, 3BL, or People, Planet, Profit) succinctly describes the goal of sustainability—the phrase was coined by John Elkington in 1994 and later ...