The Triple Bottom Line Approach

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Resourceful Communities' triple bottom line is a unique approach to community development that integrates environmental stewardship, sustainable development and social justice. When issues are viewed as separate unrelated parts, solutions tend to be short term. Resourceful Communities recognizes that solutions must be integrated to ensure sustainable change.

Triple Bottom Line efforts are as varied as the organizations and communities in our statewide network. This approach is flexible and innovative, creating new economies that protect, enhance and restore natural, cultural, historic and community resources.

What does the Triple Bottom Line look like?

Economic gains: jobs created; small businesses started or expanded; environmentally responsible industries engaged; poverty reduced or alleviated.

Social improvements: people of color or low-wealth engaged; educational systems improved; racism dismantled; power shared.

Environmental stewardship: land/water resources protected; working lands locally-owned; water quality improved; native plants and herbs propagated.

The Triple Bottom Line in Action

Across North Carolina, innovative Resourceful Communities partners are affecting change with their triple bottom line projects. From inner city youth to organic farmers to community entrepreneurs, these partners are paving the way for sustainable change and stronger communities.

Clean Water for NC Water and Energy for Justice Team In Durham and Asheville, Clean Water for North Carolina (CWFNC) created the Water and Energy for Justice Team, at-risk youth who learned stream restoration techniques, participated in cooperative business planning, and improved the community’s energy efficiency through conservation installations in low-income residences. Through CWFNC’s program, water quality improved, energy use decreased, and young people gained job skills and confidence.

Sandhills Area Land Trust, dedicated to protecting land and water resources as well as preserving working lands, is partnering with Raft Swamp Farm in Hoke County to support the development of an organic farm incubator. Environmentally sound organic farm practices will protect the water resources and significant natural resources of Raft Swamp. The farm will help low-income residents learn organic farming practices and create new income opportunities.

Job outsourcing has dealt a devastating blow to Mitchell County’s economy and community with the loss of more than 2,000 jobs since 2002. Traditional business recruitment is ineffective in this isolated mountain county. Building on the popularity of The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree, a children’s book by Mitchell County native Gloria Houston, community leaders developed a plan to market the area as the Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree.

What is Sustainable?

Sustainable: working in such a way that a community doesn't use up all its resources. Or, as one of our partners described it, "making money off the natural resources without messin' them up..."

The project celebrates the cultural heritage of the area and taps the specialized skills of former manufacturing workers who are producing handcrafted products illustrated in the book for sale. A portion of sales royalties will fund the Mitchell County Mission of a Lifetime scholarship program, an effort to increase graduation rates in the area.

Episcopal Farmworker Ministry (EFM) leaders recognized the need for specialized training that would enable migrant farmworkers to fully understand their working rights and communicate more effectively about their needs. EFM’s unique English as a Second Language (ESL) curriculum incorporates practical application of English reading and speaking skills, support on requirements for living conditions and workers’ rights, and instruction on use of chemicals and environmentally hazardous substances.