Beyond the Bottom Line: Using the People, Planet, Profit Framework to Build a Sustainable Future

“Sustainable development is a fundamental break that’s going to reshuffle the entire deck. There are companies today that are going to dominate in the future simply because they understand that.”  — Francois-Henri Pinault

I’m on a mission to increase awareness and adoption of the people, planet, profit framework so that more businesses can achieve sustainable success.

With the goal of making it easy for more people to use the people, planet, profit framework to make better decisions and create sustainable solutions for the future, I developed a simple question-driven framework.

In recent years, organizations have recognized the importance of balancing financial success with social and environmental responsibility, and the people, planet, profit framework is an effective tool for achieving this balance.

By focusing on the impact of their operations on people, the planet, and profit, you can create a more sustainable and inclusive future that benefits both your bottom line and the world at large.

It’s time for more businesses to embrace this approach and use the people, planet, profit framework to drive positive impact.

What is the People, Planet, Profit Framework?

At its core, people, planet, profit is a framework that encourages businesses to think beyond their traditional bottom line and consider the broader impacts of their operations on society and the environment.

The framework recognizes that businesses have a responsibility not only to generate profits but also to create positive outcomes for the people who work for and interact with the business and the planet as a whole.

By balancing economic, social, and environmental considerations, you can achieve long-term sustainability and contribute to a more equitable and healthy future for all.

Essentially, the people, planet, profit framework seeks to create a new paradigm of business where economic success is not at the expense of society and the environment.

How Does the People, Planet, Profit Framework Relate to the Triple Bottom Line?

The people, planet, profit framework can be seen as an extension of the triple bottom line concept, as it emphasizes the interconnectedness of the three bottom lines and encourages businesses to consider all three in their decision-making.

Overall, the people, planet, profit framework and the triple bottom line concept share a common goal of promoting sustainability and encouraging businesses to be more responsible and mindful of their impact on society and the environment.

The people, planet, profit framework is closely related to the concept of the “triple bottom line.”

The triple bottom line is a concept that measures business success not only in terms of financial performance (the traditional “bottom line”) but also in terms of social and environmental performance.

The three “bottom lines” of the triple bottom line are people (social), planet (environmental), and profit (economic).

In this sense, the people, planet, profit framework can be seen as a more holistic approach to sustainable business, as it emphasizes that social and environmental considerations are not separate from economic considerations but are interconnected and should be considered together.

The People, Planet, Profit Framework Widens the Stakeholder Set and Is More Inclusive

The people, planet, profit framework is a broader and more inclusive approach to measuring business value beyond the traditional bottom line. Rather than just focusing on shareholder value, this approach takes into account the interests of all stakeholders, including customers, employees, suppliers, communities, and investors.

Sustainability is at the core of this approach, with the planet also being included as a key stakeholder.

By creating value for all stakeholders in a sustainable way, the people, planet, profit framework provides a more comprehensive model for thinking and acting in a responsible and inclusive way.

This framework is a powerful tool for organizations seeking to achieve long-term sustainability and social responsibility, and can help businesses to create value across the board in a way that benefits everyone involved.

Why Use the People, Planet, Profit Framework?

Overall, the people, planet, profit framework offers businesses a more holistic and sustainable approach to decision-making, with benefits that extend beyond financial performance.

By taking a responsible and proactive approach to social and environmental impact, businesses can enhance their reputation, attract and retain customers and employees, and achieve long-term sustainability.

The people, planet, profit framework offers several benefits for businesses, including:

1. Enhanced reputation: Businesses that prioritize social and environmental responsibility can enhance their reputation as a responsible and sustainable organization, which can attract customers, investors, and employees who share those values.
2. Increased customer loyalty: Consumers are increasingly looking for products and services that align with their values and beliefs, and businesses that prioritize social and environmental responsibility may be more attractive to these customers.
3. Reduced costs: Sustainable practices such as energy efficiency and waste reduction can lead to cost savings for businesses over the long term.
4. Improved employee morale and retention: Employees who work for socially and environmentally responsible businesses may be more engaged and committed to their work, leading to better retention and overall performance.
5. Reduced risk: By taking a proactive approach to social and environmental responsibility, businesses can reduce their exposure to reputational and legal risks associated with negative impacts on people and the planet.
6. Long-term sustainability: The people, planet, profit framework encourages businesses to consider the long-term impact of their operations, leading to more sustainable and responsible business practices that benefit society and the environment over the long term.

How To Use the People, Planet, Profit Framework

Using the people, planet, profit framework requires a commitment to sustainability and a willingness to make changes to your business practices.

By aligning your business with this framework, you can create a more sustainable and responsible business that benefits both your organization and society as a whole.

Here are some general guidelines for using the people, planet, profit framework:

1. Assess your current practices: Evaluate your current business practices and their impact on people, the planet, and profit. Identify areas where you can improve your social and environmental impact while maintaining economic viability.
2. Set goals: Set specific goals that align with the people, planet, profit framework. These goals should be measurable, achievable, and aligned with your business strategy.
3. Take action: Develop and implement a plan to achieve your goals. This may involve changes to your business processes, supply chain, or product offerings.
4. Monitor and measure progress: Regularly monitor and measure your progress towards your goals. Use this information to make any necessary adjustments to your plan.
5. Communicate your progress: Share your progress with stakeholders, including customers, employees, investors, and the community. This can help build trust and enhance your reputation as a responsible and sustainable business.
6. Continuously improve: The people, planet, profit framework is an ongoing process of improvement. Continuously seek out new opportunities to enhance your social and environmental impact while maintaining economic viability.

Building a Sustainable Future: A Question-Driven Approach to the People, Planet, Profit Framework

The people, planet, profit framework is a powerful tool for creating sustainable and responsible business practices.

But how do you put this framework into action?

A question-driven approach to the people, planet, profit framework can help you identify the key areas where your business can make a positive impact on people and the planet, while also maintaining financial viability.

I love the power of inquiry.  I love it because it just works, no training required.

Smart people like to answer questions, so if you ask better questions, you can get better answers.   And better answers get you heading in a better direction for better results.

By asking questions about your business practices and their impact on people, the planet, and profit, you can gain a deeper understanding of your organization’s social and environmental impact.

This approach encourages you to think more critically about your impact and take concrete steps to improve your sustainability and responsibility.

The question-driven approach can help you to identify key opportunities for improvement and innovation, from reducing your carbon footprint to enhancing employee engagement and customer loyalty.

By answering these questions and taking action, you can create a more sustainable, responsible, and profitable future for themselves and the world.

Here are some starter set questions…

1. People – Questions to Assess Your Impact on People

These questions can help you evaluate your impact on people and identify areas where you can improve your social impact.

By considering these questions and taking steps to enhance your social impact, you can become more responsible and sustainable, benefiting both society and your bottom line.

Here are some questions to ask to assess whether your business is helping people, which is one of the three bottom lines of the people, planet, profit framework:

1. How does our business impact our employees and their families?
2. What is our approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and how do we ensure that our employees are treated fairly and equitably?
3. How do we contribute to the well-being of the communities where we operate, and do we have any negative impacts on those communities?
4. What steps do we take to ensure the safety and well-being of our customers?
5. How do we ensure that our suppliers and partners adhere to ethical and responsible business practices?
6. Do we have a charitable giving program, and how do we select the causes we support?
7. How do we measure and report on our social impact, and do we have any programs in place to continually improve our social impact?

2. Planet – Questions to Assess Your Impact on the Planet

These questions can help you evaluate your impact on the planet and identify areas where you can improve your environmental impact.

By considering these questions and taking steps to enhance their environmental impact, you can become more responsible and sustainable, benefiting both society and the environment.

Here are some questions to ask to assess whether your business is helping the planet, which is one of the three bottom lines of the people, planet, profit framework:

1. How do our operations impact the environment, including our carbon footprint, waste generation, and water usage?
2. Do we have a plan to reduce our environmental impact, and how are we tracking progress against our goals?
3. How do we ensure that our products and services are environmentally responsible and sustainable?
4. Do we have a policy to reduce our use of non-renewable resources and transition to renewable resources where possible?
5. How do we measure and report on our environmental impact, and do we have any programs in place to continually improve our environmental impact?
6. Do we have any initiatives in place to engage our customers and employees in environmental responsibility?

3. Profit – Questions to Assess Your impact on Your Profit

These questions can help businesses evaluate their financial performance and identify areas where they can improve their profitability.

By considering these questions and taking steps to enhance their profitability, businesses can become more sustainable and responsible, benefiting both their bottom line and society as a whole.

Here are some questions to ask to assess whether your business is helping profit, which is one of the three bottom lines of the people, planet, profit framework:

1. How are we measuring our financial performance, and what metrics are we using to track profitability?
2. What is our strategy for achieving financial sustainability, and how do we balance financial performance with social and environmental responsibility?
3. Do we have a plan to grow our revenue and increase profitability over the long term?
4. How do we manage financial risks, such as economic downturns or changes in market conditions?
5. Are we effectively managing costs to optimize our profitability while minimizing negative impacts on people and the planet?
6. Are we making investments in sustainable technologies and processes that will enhance our long-term profitability while also improving our social and environmental impact?

It’s a Starter Set of Questions

The set of questions provided is intended to be a starting point, and if they don’t work for your business or situation, you can customize them to suit your needs.

It’s important to remember that the questions are a tool for thinking and decision-making, not a rigid set of rules or policies.

In fact, asking better questions is a key way to improve your thinking and problem-solving abilities.

By framing questions in a way that makes important choice points clear, you can arrive at better decisions and outcomes.

Rather than a laundry list of questions, it’s often more effective to have a short set of the most meaningful questions that are tailored to your specific needs.

This approach helps to avoid overwhelming people with too many questions and encourages them to focus on the most critical aspects of the problem or situation at hand.

Toward a More Sustainable and Responsible Future: Embracing the People, Planet, Profit Framework

The people, planet, profit framework provides a powerful approach to creating sustainable and responsible business practices.

By balancing economic, social, and environmental considerations, you can achieve long-term sustainability and contribute to a more equitable and healthy future for all.

The question-driven approach to the people, planet, profit framework can help you identify the key areas where you can make a positive impact on people and the planet while also maintaining financial viability.

By embracing this approach and taking concrete steps to improve your sustainability and responsibility, you can create a better future for yourself and for the world (at least, your world).

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