SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
What does sustainability mean? What does it refer to when discussing a company, enterprise or business? Sustainability refers to activities that allow meeting our needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Our values on sustainable construction and our efforts to replace products with sustainable building materials find inspiration from concepts of eco-efficiency and social improvements. Next, one looks at renewable and non-renewable resources and aspects of business operations that can impact the present and future.
The lineage of reliance on fossil fuels and the pressure of ever-increasing demand, followed by significant amounts of consumption and discards, has led to amassing waste pollution. We are in an era where the consequences of decades of disrupted ecology and social inequality are being experienced.
In the current climate change crisis, the capacity to innovate is primordial. Environmental emergencies have challenged the traditional economic realities of geopolitics, and resilient options are the only ones connected to sustainable development. Corporations, through their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, can undertake activities to promote a healthier economy with transparency. The topic of climate change has been debated at the UN, highlighting its impact on humanity. Global conversations have focused on how development to mitigate environmental damage should happen.
John Elkinton, author, spokesperson and founder of The Triple Bottom Line guidelines, is considered an ambassador of the future. Using the World Commission’s Environment and Development framework, set in the report ‘Our common future in 1987’, Elkinton refined the multilateral relationship and interdependence path for sustainability to arrive at a practical idea that could work for the business world. He connected three main pillars of concern, simplifying the approach.
WHAT IS THE TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE?
IT’S PEOPLE, THE PLANET, AND THE PROFIT
PEOPLE
This principle reflects the impact of an organization on the community and social endeavour. When talking about making money, the goal should be to end poverty in all forms to achieve social mobilization—focusing primarily on developing countries that struggle with health, education, and access to basic needs. In a world with a population of billions, prioritizing interest in inclusion makes a model sustainable for future generations. The most harming corporations undermine the foundations of future value in local and foreign communities. Extracting and destroying natural resources that people depend upon coupled with non-ethical labor practices.
So, the shift in the people’s policy promotes goals of gender equality, and decent work conditions with fair pay employment while investing in infrastructure for sanitation, local education, and learning opportunities. Empowering marginalized sectors with disabilities and protecting girls and women of lower status help reduce violence and discrimination through economic growth.
At the same time, outcome-oriented targets of corporations include water and energy support for poor communities- such as improvement of water quality and management, providing safe, affordable and reliable transportation services. It is a vital step, considering the fact that many big enterprises rely on people and places that lack governance of labour laws to maximise profits.
PLANET
The planet aspect evaluates the environmental impact of an organisation. Companies have significantly damaged the environment and accelerated climate change by contributing to pollution and poor air quality. Thus, a system is required to monitor the improvement in an organisation’s commitment to reducing environmental impact using this bottom line.
Despite historically being the biggest drivers of climate change, corporations can wield the strongest influence to affect positive change. Now, many corporate leaders are aware of their obligation to do so. They are making adjustments like applying waste-reduction techniques in production and recycling materials wherever possible—decreasing carbon footprints by using less energy, utilising fewer fossil fuels, managing waste better, optimising shipping procedures, and using ethically sourced materials. Virtually all firms have the opportunity to adopt adjustments that lower their carbon footprint- so this effort isn’t just the responsibility of the most prominent enterprises in the world!
PROFIT
Organisations primarily use financial performance as a performance indicator. Profits frequently centre on a company’s revenue-generating operations, such as strategic planning, performance measures, and cost-cutting techniques.
Traditionally businesses’ objectives ended there. Today, leaders realise they can make a more significant impact on the world through their business, without impacting their financial performance. Adopting sustainability measures has frequently been shown to promote business success.
STRAWCTURE AND AGRIBIOPANELS: THE TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE
The Triple Bottom line concept hinges on three critical points for a successful transition that would prevent the worsening of society and ecology problems- People, Planet & Profit, and connect. It is impossible to separate them- one without the other would fail.
A business spearheaded by Shriti Pandey, who believes ‘Waste is only Waste if you Waste it.’, is committed to finding sustainable solutions for every construction need. Persistent in her pursuit, from using Agri-waste to create building panels to finding a sustainable green option for Glasswool to make acoustic insulation for soundproof rooms. Our company is committed to introducing a sustainable building material that replaces conventional ones and responds to the problem of waste.
Agribiopanels are India’s first Carbon negative high-density panels offering acoustic insulation up to +40dB. These are made using 100% waste Fiber and agricultural residue, which convert buildings into carbon capture units rather than being Carbon emitters.
As agricultural residue is the raw material for Agribiopanels, we help farmers dispose off their agricultural waste and earn 15-20% additional income as against incinerating it and adding to the air pollution. We are thus able to benefit the farmers & pastoral communities
We reimagine sustainable living by reimagining waste and its potential.
The impact of our initiatives on the planet changes every year, with the increasing number of our products finding a place in new constructions. Last year we sourced 2000 Metric tonnes of Agri waste to create our panels, and this year we have already crossed 1150 Metric Tonnes.
With over 7,00,000 Sqft of Panels already a part of various constructions, they have helped absorb 21,00,000 kgs of CO2, which is equivalent to planting 2100 trees!
Green thinking is attracting new players and investors. It is gathering momentum as more and more people understand their responsibility to the environment. The objective is to integrate sustainable ideas into the market and let them evolve with the collaboration of public and private sectors and governments. This stylish way will not only leave behind specific industries that follow destructive practices but also generate a window of opportunity for innovation and support new technologies and entrepreneurship.
