“ ‘Triple bottom line’ (or TBL) means expanding the traditional reporting framework to take into account ecological and social performance in addition to financial performance. In 1981 Freer Spreckley first articulated the triple bottom line in a publication called ‘Social Audit – A Management Tool for Co-operative Working‘ as he described what Social Enterprises should include in their performance measurement. The phrase was coined by John Elkington in his 1998 book Cannibals with Forks: the Triple Bottom Line of 21st Century Business.”

Numbers4Good is a financial consultancy with a conscience. We strive to create financial solutions that allow organisations to fund (or integrate within existing models) social/environmental projects and connect investors with opportunities for healthy returns. We view ourselves as pioneers, bridging the world of finance with the world of positive social and environmental impact.

“Creative capitalism isn't some big new economic theory. It is a way to answer a vital question: How can we most effectively spread the benefits of capitalism and the huge improvements in quality of life it can provide to people who have been left out?”
— Bill Gates

“If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live. No more bees, no more pollination… no more men!”
— Albert Einstein

We believe that in the coming years it will be necessary to enhance the way that capitalism currently operates if – like the bees – humanity is to survive and thrive on this planet.

The challenge

It is clear that humanity is at a historical crossroads as we urgently seek to find ways to live within our ecological limits and develop human systems that support social equality, well-being and prosperity.

To help facilitate this great shift, businesses, civil society and governments need to adapt or even radically scale-up the resources they allocate to the growth of new solutions, companies, and behaviours. This is essential in order to create the long-term positive social and environmental impact that is required to ensure that humanity thrives now and into the future.

Historically, financial decisions are based on the combination of 3 criteria: Risk – Return – Time horizon.

The new trend of Impact investing aims to integrate “Impact” as the 4th dimension in the financial decision-making process.

Finance and flows of capital play an instrumental role as enablers of change, for example Lord Stern suggestion that 1% of global GDP (which represents circa over $500bn) is required each year until 2050 in order mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change.

So the question now becomes: “How can we harness the best of finance and create new financial structures that will unlock significant flows of capital for positive impact?”