When to use the Triple Bottom Line
For City of Calgary staff
When preparing reports to Standing Policy Committees, City staff are required to detail the Triple Bottom Line implications. They are also encouraged to think about these implications before starting a project.
For example, project leaders should consider what impacts an initiative could have on environmental quality, social well-being or economic prosperity. Where possible, an analysis of how the project could be structured to minimize negative impacts, and add value in more than one area, should be undertaken.
How to do a TBL Analysis
The Triple Bottom Line must be applied to projects on a case-by-case basis, using a contextual analysis. What this means is that an equal weighting of the three bottom lines is not necessary; in some cases the three might be roughly equal, but in others, one might clearly outweigh the others or not be a factor.
The value of TBL thinking is that when it comes time to make a decision, all three aspects have been considered thoughtfully and critically. It is not meant to enhance or improve performance in one area at the expense of the others. Rather, the intention of TBL thinking is to identify ways to add value across all three bottom lines.
Creating TBL Report statements
The first step is using the Triple Bottom Line policy framework. Use the guiding questions built in to the framework to help you identify the potential impacts of the report's subject matter across all three bottom lines.
Please note: When thinking about TBL implications, identify both positive and negative impacts. Also consider what the impacts on the three bottom lines would be if the project does not proceed.
For City of Calgary staff
If TBL implications can't be adequately summarized in one or two sentences to fit within the report format, add a separate Triple Bottom Line attachment to the report to provide more detail.
