The United Nations SDGs are a collective call to action to close the poverty gap and look after the planet. There are 17 SDGs, including decent work and economic growth, responsible consumption and production, and climate action.
Companies that aim to be a part of this change adopt SDGs as a means of supporting sustainable development while driving business growth and impact.
This is where the three pillars of sustainability come into play. These distinct pillars break down the three main elements of sustainable development—namely, environmental, social, and economic—and instruct companies on how to apply such elements.
We break down the three pillars to understand how companies attempt to achieve growth and profit while striving for sustainable development, asking the question: what are the three pillars of sustainability? Is the world in need of a new model?
Insights into sustainability in business
Check out our other Insights articles on sustainability
Sustainability is the ability to maintain or support a process continuously over time. In the context of business and policy, sustainability seeks to prevent the depletion of natural or physical resources and looks at ways of ensuring resources are available for the long term.
Harvard Business School lists two ways to measure sustainable business practices: the effect a business has on the environment and the impact a business has on society.
"The thinking is we can achieve economic growth, or we can achieve profits and do something for the climate and social justice," he explains.
Sustainable development requires a company to contribute and promote environmental sustainability and protection, economic viability, and social equity.
The three pillars of sustainability explained
1. Environmental pillar of sustainability
The environmental pillar is often the one that receives the most attention. This pillar is based on companies' ability to encourage and promote the protection of the environment by limiting the risks posed by their production.
Companies often focus on reducing carbon emissions and footprints, packaging waste, water usage, and other environmental damage.
For example, Walmart focused on packaging through its zero-waste initiative. It pushed for less packaging throughout its supply chain and for more of that packaging to be sourced from recycled or reused materials.
Jo Meehan (pictured) is a professor of responsible procurement and the director of the Centre for Sustainable Business at the University of Liverpool Management School.
While looking to reduce environmental damage is important, Jo argues that it’s not enough to fix the climate crisis that is well underway.
"The sustainability measures that businesses and governments are doing are about being less harmful, but it doesn't mean we're fixing the problem,” she says.
Jo explains that, while we are slowing down the harm we are inflicting on the planet and our society, we are still causing harm.
“We're slowing the digging down, but we're still actually digging."
2. Economic pillar of sustainability
The economic pillar of sustainability refers to a company's ability to contribute to economic development and growth. While some companies view this as profitability or GDP growth, the economic pillar concerns compliance, proper governance, and risk management.
"It’s assumed that the economic pillar is about business profitability yet it was never meant in that way; it’s meant to be about the economic sustainability of a market and fostering a healthy and diverse market," Jo says.
These misinterpretations are a large part of why the effectiveness of the three pillars of sustainability are starting to wane.
"We need a different way of doing business because of the extremity of the environmental emergency, and the social emergency," says Jo.
3. Social pillar of sustainability
The social pillar of a company's sustainable development promotes equality and respect for individual rights. This includes combatting social exclusion and discrimination while promoting solidarity and reducing inequalities.
The idea is that a company is more likely to prosper if its employees feel happy in their work as they will stay with the team longer, and their work dynamic will improve.
While the social pillar of sustainability attempts to encompass the human-interest aspect of sustainable development, Gijs from the University of Amsterdam feels that its focus is still on profit, and it needs to go beyond this.
He believes businesses must alter their mindset, think beyond profit and GDP growth, and instead think of development differently.
"We need a broader understanding of what economic flourishing and growth is. It's broader than just profit. We should have policies that are more aimed at increasing biodiversity levels or efforts teaching children in poverty."
The problem with the three pillars of sustainability
Corporate social responsibility is struggling as the three pillars of sustainability, or the 'triple bottom line', is no longer sufficient for effective sustainability.
"I think a lot of people misinterpret it as saying we can still do everything we want, and we can still own every car and buy an extra car and do something for the climate," Gijs says.
Jo from the University of Liverpool Management School believes companies often feel focusing on one pillar means they can ignore another, a sort of trade-off.
"Businesses have tended to take those three pillars as a trade-off. They'll say, we can't do much of the social, but we're doing well on environmental or vice versa," she says.
John Elkington, who coined the term triple bottom line 30 years ago, wrote in the Harvard Business Review that it’s time for a rethink.
He argues that while you may point out the successes of the sustainability sector—UN Sustainable Development Goals forecast to generate market opportunities of over $12 trillion a year by 2030—sustainability goals cannot only be measured in terms of profit and loss.
"It must also be measured in terms of the wellbeing of billions of people and the health of our planet. While there have been successes, our climate, water resources, oceans, forests, soils, and biodiversity are all increasingly threatened," he says.
To turn things around, companies need to change their model, not just to slow things down but regenerate the system and regrow it back.
"We've now reached a point where there's no way we can carry on doing what we're doing and making it less harmful. We now must fundamentally change how we do business," says Jo.
Alternative approaches to the three pillars of sustainability
So what can we do? How can businesses achieve sustainability and start pushing toward an effective model for sustainable development?
"It requires businesses to think about their impact on the environment or human rights and to restore that damage,” she says.
"This might involve moving to a regenerative economy where we regenerate and have a net positive impact on the world. Everybody seems to have got behind Net Zero, which is about stopping the digging, but it still doesn't fill in the hole and doesn't put nice flowers on top."
Policies are already being implemented in the EU that will look toward impact accounting. Rather than trying to implement one or two of the three pillars where possible, businesses are legally required to reduce carbon emissions.
Pressure to reduce carbon emissions is more needed than ever as countries struggle to meet their targets, such as the Scottish government who recently announced it is ditching its flagship target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030.
"The thinking is we should step away from the model where we rely on the altruistic or good-hearted nature of our business leaders, and we start trying to set standards that business leaders need to achieve," Gijs says.
These ideas are ambitious, but both Gijs and Jo believe that nothing will change without a complete overhaul of the idealistic win-win view of sustainability and that, while it may not feel it in the short term, this model will make for a more impactful business world.
"Businesses inherently want to do good things, but it's such a complex environment, and it's easy just to continue doing what they're doing until somebody tells them not to,” Jo says, "shifting our thinking to a more regenerative and restorative model will put businesses on a different trajectory and will future proof them to some extent."
BB Insights explores the latest research and trends from the business school classroom, drawing on the expertise of world-leading professors to inspire and inform current and future leaders.
Amsterdam Business School - University of Amsterdam
Student
Verified
5/08/2020
Great education system but terrible administrative system.
I spent my last 3 years at UvA to study Business.
Overall, I loved it. I don't regret it at all.
- I loved most of the professors I met, and I liked their education system.
- Exams were fair and assignments were very helpful to develop my skills in the field (they were pretty tough tho)
- I am an Asian student but I never experienced any type of racism while studying at UvA and I felt welcomed all the time.
- Very international atmosphere and open-minded staff/students.
- Great facilities. I enjoyed studying at the different libraries, and very clean cafeteria and classrooms
- Perfect location, and beautiful sight.
Claudette
Verified
9/11/2023
On Campus
Reputable institution
I was so delighted to join Amsterdam business school because The Amsterdam Business School is a highly reputable institution and offers excellent programs for students who want to pursue a career in business. The school has a diverse faculty who are committed to providing students with high-quality education and support to us in achieving our academic and professional goals.
Student
Verified
5/08/2020
Great education system but terrible administrative system.
I spent my last 3 years at UvA to study Business.
Overall, I loved it. I don't regret it at all.
- I loved most of the professors I met, and I liked their education system.
- Exams were fair and assignments were very helpful to develop my skills in the field (they were pretty tough tho)
- I am an Asian student but I never experienced any type of racism while studying at UvA and I felt welcomed all the time.
- Very international atmosphere and open-minded staff/students.
- Great facilities. I enjoyed studying at the different libraries, and very clean cafeteria and classrooms
- Perfect location, and beautiful sight.
Greg
Verified
10/01/2024
On Campus
Dedication and motivation all around
Amsterdam Business School work ethic and attitude towards learning are absolutely top-notch. The students there are so dedicated and motivated to excel in their studies. They have this incredible drive to succeed and are always pushing themselves to new heights. The professors also play a huge role in fostering this positive mindset. They are not only experts in their fields but also incredibly supportive and inspiring. It's like being part of a community that is constantly pushing each other to achieve greatness. You won't find a more dynamic and driven environment than at the Amsterdam Business School!
Cathy
Verified
11/01/2024
On Campus
Unlocking your full potential
Amsterdam Business Schooland their professors are absolute legends in their fields. They bring real-world experience and expertise to the classroom, making every lecture engaging and practical. They truly care about their students' success and are always there to guide and inspire. And let me spill the tea about the campus! It's a hub of creativity and innovation. The modern facilities, collaborative spaces, and vibrant atmosphere create the perfect environment for personal and academic growth. Being a student at the Amsterdam Business School feels like being part of something bigger, where you're surrounded by motivated individuals who are ready to take on the world. It's an experience you won't want to miss!
Student
Verified
22/04/2024
Blended
Online Business School Made It Easy
My deepest appreciation goes to God Almighty for the privilege of completing this program. And I also want to appreciate Online Business School for every guide and help I receive, also with materials on platform. Even after completing my program, I still go over and over these materials, it has been a lot helpful to me.
Since I started my program in 2021 September, at first, I kept thinking of how I could handle an online program until I started, but I'm grateful I never gave up, because, I got so much support from the students support via email, they never kept my mail waiting, even whenever I needed clarification on my assignments, they never got tired of my mails, I kept mailing until I'm fully cleared and satisfied, I feel so excited about that as well and I don't want to take that for granted. Thank you so much for making this channel accessible for me to archive my desired goal. And here in 2024, I'm very happy for the decision I made in 2021.
I am very grateful and blessed.
Thank you
Eva
Verified
30/06/2024
On Campus
Mind blowing teaching techniques
Amsterdam business school is amazing. I realized I was going to be in for a treat as soon as I walked into the beautiful campus. Experts in their fields, the professors are committed to our achievement and have a strong love for teaching. They mentor, encourage, and push us to think creatively and beyond the box in addition to teaching. With real-world case studies, cutting-edge research, and practical projects that make learning engaging and addictive, the classes are the ideal balance of theory and practice. Our instructors use every resource available to us to get us ready for the future, from leadership and sustainability to entrepreneurship and creativity.
Sophie
Verified
30/06/2024
On Campus
Diverse method of teaching
The Amsterdam Business School is revolutionising the field of education! Not only are the professors here authorities in their domains, but they are also rock stars of passion, innovation, and originality. They encourage you to think creatively, question the established quo, and venture into uncharted territory in addition to imparting theoretical knowledge. Furthermore, their methods of instruction are really astounding! I was thrown into engaging classes that promoted creative problem-solving and questioned traditional wisdom from the very beginning. Here, the lecturers combine theoretical understanding with real-world application.
Lotte
Verified
30/06/2024
On Campus
Powerhouse of learning
Amsterdam Business School is a true powerhouse of innovation and learning! The professors here are not just experts in their fields, but also masterful storytellers, passionate mentors, and creative geniuses. They don't just teach you business theories, they inspire you to think critically, challenge assumptions, and explore new possibilities. And the way they teach is absolutely revolutionary! Imagine interactive classrooms that feel like innovation labs, where collaboration, creativity, and cutting-edge tech come together in perfect harmony.
Student
Verified
20/09/2024
Blended
A Transformative Experience at ABS
I've had the pleasure of studying at Amsterdam Business School, and it's been a game-changer. The faculty's expertise, combined with interactive learning methods, provided invaluable insights. Networking opportunities, career services, and alumni connections opened doors to new possibilities.
Student
Verified
8/09/2024
On Campus
A top business school
Amsterdam Business School offers an exceptional learning environment with a strong focus on international business. Its diverse faculty, innovative programs, and real-world connections provide students with practical skills and global perspectives. I love it!
Student
Verified
2/09/2024
On Campus
Practical insight
Amsterdam Business School is more than just a business school; it's a launchpad for future leaders. With its outstanding professors, innovative teaching methods, and state-of-the-art learning environment,
ABS provides a truly transformative education experience. It's a place where students are not only educated but are also inspired to innovate, lead, and make a meaningful impact in the world. At ABS, you don't just learn about business; you live it.
Student
Verified
20/10/2024
On Campus
Well established teachings
Studying at Amsterdam Business School has been one amazing experience. The international atmosphere is one of the best parts—you're constantly surrounded by students from all over the world, which makes class discussions diverse and dynamic. The courses are challenging but really relevant, with a focus on real-world business problems, case studies, and hands-on projects. The professors are top-notch and many have industry experience, which adds a practical edge to the academic material.
Student
Verified
7/11/2024
On Campus
Exceeded my expectations
Amsterdam Business School has exceeded my expectations. The faculty comprises exceptional professors who deliver high-quality education. The student body's diligence and enthusiasm maintain a motivating environment. The campus's beauty and the location's uniqueness make for an unforgettable experience.
Student
Verified
7/11/2024
On Campus
Transformative experience
Attending Amsterdam Business School has been a transformative experience, largely due to the exceptional diversity of individuals I've encountered. The university's unique location, coupled with its vibrant community, has made my time here truly unforgettable. I've discovered a sense of belonging among my peers, fostering a strong sense of family and camaraderie.
Student
Verified
15/11/2024
On Campus
My time here so far
My time at Amsterdam Business School has been truly enriching, thanks to the exceptional professors and stunning campus. What stands out most to me, however, is the perfect blend of accessibility and beauty that this school embodies. From the picturesque landscapes to the state-of-the-art facilities, every aspect of the campus is both functional and visually striking.
Student
Verified
18/11/2024
On Campus
An amazing school
This school's amazing campus and teachers make learning awesome. They bring real-world experience to class, teaching through interactive problem-solving that helps to provide better understanding of the course work, thereby setting us up for success.
