From Guest-blogger Kimgerly — Does Addressing the TBL in VC Circles Incorporate Sustainability Development?

Most of the citizens of Earth understand humanity is approaching limits. In the EU, a great deal of companies understand they have a responsibility and ability to exert positive change on the world’s economy, environmental and social conditions.

In terms of the Triple Bottom Line (TBL), the goal is to expand the traditional reporting framework to take into account not only financial performance, but ecological and societal, as well. But we seem to have a challenging contraction when it comes to the role of the VC. Yes, traditionally, a company’s responsibility lies with shareholders, the owners for profit, not stake holders or those  influenced directly/indirectly by a company’s actions.

This goes out to all the VCs: To the best of your knowledge, are there any discussions occurring in VC circles to change his challenging contraction? I have some ideas on how this can be accomplished from a sustainability development standpoint, but it requires embracing a social democratic position, as well as developing models that involve public organizations, similar to efforts of what’s embraced in the EU e.g. de Stoere Houtman Housing Collective in Arnhem, NL, etc.

Other industrial examples: In DE, Festo [see bottom of the page view]. In the USA, Rumsey Engineers – Peter Rumsey is a vanguard on designing and implementing energy efficiency designs in the industrial sector with seven LEED Platinum buildings, and clients such as PG&E, Ford Motor Company, Seagate and the NRDC. “Rumsey Engineers, one of only three firms worldwide with five or more LEED Platinum certified projects…” – http://cleanroom.net/?p=2803 Rumsey Engineers is testimony that energy efficiency measures can be implemented here in the USA.