Building Resilience in a Wobbly World: A Fireside Chat with John Elkington

In a recent conversation with John Elkington, a leading authority on sustainability, innovation, and the future of business, we explored the arc of his career, his personal influences, and his views on the global challenges ahead. John Elkington is best known for coining the term "Triple Bottom Line" and is a prolific author with over 21 books to his name. Here are some key takeaways from our discussion.

1. Personal Journey and Influences

John’s early life, shaped by his father’s military career and frequent moves, played a significant role in developing his independent thinking. “Family is a very important shaping influence,” he notes, sharing how his upbringing in conflict zones like Northern Ireland and Israel exposed him to complex global issues from a young age. His education at liberal institutions also contributed to his unique perspective on systems change and sustainability.

2. Independence of Thought

Elkington emphasized the importance of independence in thinking, a quality that he sees as being in stark contrast to today’s world, where marketing and societal norms often dominate. He highlighted the words of Buckminster Fuller, whom he admired for his visionary ideas:

“Politics is doomed to failure…incapable of solving humanity’s basic economic, ecological, and social problems”.

Elkington believes that Fuller’s idea of shifting from weaponry to “livingry” is more relevant than ever.

3. A Binary Choice in Facing Global Crises

I asked John about a stark quote from environmentalist Lester Brown, who said, “Massive change is inevitable. Will the change come because we move quickly to restructure the economy, or because we fail to act and civilization begins to unravel?” When I asked if the situation is really that binary, Elkington responded:

“I think it is binary... We had a moment where we could have changed our economy at the scale and in the ways that were necessary to avoid climate chaos, but we missed that moment. That doesn’t mean we can’t still make a huge difference, but I believe we’re already starting to see the unraveling”

He expressed concern about humanity’s slow response to scientific warnings, noting that: “we are pathetically slow at understanding what scientists are learning”. He also highlighted the dangers of increasing social distraction and misinformation, which he sees as compounding the challenges we face.

4. Revisiting the Triple Bottom Line

In 1994, Elkington introduced the concept of the Triple Bottom Line, emphasising economic, social, and environmental impact. Thought the Harvard Business Review he later recalled the concept, concerned that businesses were using it as a trade-off mechanism rather than a tool for systemic change.

He now advocates for a focus on responsibility, resilience, and regeneration—three Rs that encapsulate the next phase of sustainable business practice

5. Responsibility, Resilience, and Regeneration

Elkington explains that while businesses have made strides in taking responsibility for their impacts, we are now entering an era where resilience will be critical. As our systems—from economies to ecosystems—show signs of strain, he argues that the only way forward is through regeneration, not just of businesses, but of entire systems, including our cities and biosphere

6. Optimism in the Face of Challenges

Despite the daunting challenges we face, Elkington remains optimistic. He calls on business leaders to step up and recognize that the decisions they make today will shape the future.

“None of us can retire responsibly from a dysfunctional system that threatens the future of all life,” he writes in his latest book, urging leaders to either step up or get out of the way.

Conclusion

John Elkington’s insights remind us that the path to a sustainable future is fraught with challenges but also rich with opportunity. The key, he suggests, lies in independent thinking, bold leadership, and a commitment to systemic regeneration.

As he says, “The glory years are yet to come,” provided we have the courage to face the truth and act accordingly.”