ABSTRACT
This chapter describes some of the most common approaches used in corporate sustainability assessments. The sustainable value approach was initially recognised as a relatively robust approach to measuring corporate sustainability. But the main determinant of implementing a robust triple bottom line (TBL) is the ability to collect necessary data. Data envelopment analysis measures the comparative performance of production units performing similar tasks or functions, or assesses projects with similar risk and return characteristics. The TBL approach addresses the 'three pillars' of people, planet and profit. It is designed to go beyond the traditional measures of profits, return on investment and increasing shareholder value to include some form of accounting of the environmental and social dimensions. Other non-market valuation approaches emerging in the environmental economics literature include evaluating a willingness-to-pay via expressed or revealed preference techniques, such as contingent valuation techniques, including real options and hedonic pricing.
