The 3 Pillars of Sustainability

Sustainability is about meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. To ensure development is sustainable, we must consider the social, environmental and economic impacts, these are the 3 pillars of sustainability. The three pillars are also often referred to as “people, planet and profit”. To achieve true sustainability, these three pillars must be balanced in equal harmony, ensuring no needs are compromised.

Social sustainability is about the ability of society to achieve a good social wellbeing, and ensuring this in the long term.

Environmental sustainability relates to living within the means of our natural resources, and avoiding scarcity, linking this concept to the circular economy model.

Economic sustainability refers to ensuring that businesses can use resources efficiently and responsibly, while consistently producing profits so that this activity can be sustained.