"The triple bottom line is often mentioned in the context of sustainability. What exactly is it?

As well as minimizing environmental impact, sustainable design also involves optimizing performance and well-being. It can also aid business competitiveness which has led some to the notion of a ‘triple bottom line'. The triple bottom line seeks to expand the conventional economic or financial focus of the ‘bottom line’ to include social and environmental calculations. This reflects the three key pillars of sustainability which are:

* Social - people
* Environmental - planet
* Economic - profit

The word 'pillar' suggests separate, static entities when in fact there is a dynamic between all three elements. It might be easier to think of them as three balls in a juggling act - the trick is to keep them working together in a simple, smooth process. At the moment, it has to be said, we often don't juggle too well. But we're making progress." www.designcouncil.org.uk

From reading this section from the Design Council website I considered how these three pillars (triple bottom line) could affect a business or product. The ratio between them may make or break a products success, damage the environment or more. But why should the responsibility of these pillars rest on the businesses shoulders? Surely the government must be able to regulate part of the effect a product has on these three factors. Not to say that all companies are out there to destroy the planet and make maximum profits nor are they there to save it and make no economic impact.

Below is a video link of a very short interview I found on video jug. I feel it summarizes the design council statement mentioned above.

http://www.videojug.com/expertanswer/green-materials-packaging-and-transportation-2/what-are-the-three-pillars-of-sustainability