Triple Bottom Line and Sustainability: A Literature Review

Abstract

Triple bottom line (TBL) and sustainability are two related constructs that are used interchangeably in the literature.  A comprehensive review of the relevant literature was conducted and revealed an inconsistent use of the term sustainability.  On the other hand, consistency in terms of referring to the three lines simultaneously is built into the structure of TBL as the construct is explicitly based on the integration of the social, environmental, and economic lines.  The purpose of this paper is not to support an argument that favors the use of one term over the other, but to provide an overview of the presence of both terms in the literature. In light of that, researchers in the business, management, and sustainability fields are encouraged to pay particular attention to how they use these terms in their studies.