Learn what the Triangle of Sustainability is and how to use it to develop sustainable solutions and ideas.
What is the Triangle of Sustainability?
A common model to show the complex concept and challenges of Sustainability is the triangle of Sustainability.
The triangle of Sustainability (often also called the three-pillar model or PPP Model (Planet, People, Profit) is a model for developing a sustainable society based on the fact that both ecological and economic, as well as social goals, need to be implemented simultaneously. All three pillars of the sustainability triangle are of equal importance, are connected and depend on each other, and must therefore be evaluated as a whole.
For example, soil contaminated with pollutants reduce crop yields from arable land, which in turn causes financial hardship for the farmer.
The model fundamentally aims to meet the needs of currently living people and all future generations.
Each corner of the triangle represents one aspect of sustainability: Social, economic, and environmental in the center of the triangle, where everything overlaps, are genuinely sustainable solutions found. Here are all aspects equal weighted.
The triangle of sustainability is a valuable tool to evaluate the sustainability performance of, for example, products or businesses.
Additionally, it can be used as a great brainstorming tool to find sustainable solutions. For example, suppose you want to create a new, ethical, eco-friendly product. In that case, you can brainstorm with the help of the triangle all three sustainability aspects concerning the new product development. Some example brainstorming questions could be: Social: Is the product manufactured safely, fairly, and transparently? Is the product affordable for the possible customers? Does the product support equal rights for all users?
For environmental aspects, questions could be: Does the product’s manufacturing, use, or disposal cause any environmental harm? Are the used materials safe? Is the product energy-efficient? Is the product CO2 neutral?
And for the economic corner, a question could be: Can this product generate profit?
The triangle of sustainability is a valuable tool to evaluate the sustainability performance of, for example, products or businesses.
Additionally, it can be used as a great brainstorming tool to find sustainable solutions.
