Green Bottom Line

To date, both internal and external corporate environmental reporting and management systems have focused on physical input–output measures. However, external stakeholders are increasingly demanding that organisations provide more financial information about the costs and benefits of their environmental actions. As environmental costs rise, internal decision-makers are also seeking such information to ensure that money is well spent. Beyond basic compliance, many companies will not countenance environmental actions for which a "business case" cannot be made. A number of companies – such as Baxter, BT, Xerox, Zeneca and others – are now beginning to develop a better understanding of the costs and benefits of environmental action. The US Environmental Protection Agency has also done considerable work on models designed to understand the "full costs" of pollution control investments, with the aim of demonstrating that – when these are properly considered – pollution prevention can be a more cost-effective alternative. The Green Bottom Line brings together much of the world's leading research and best-practice case studies on the topic. Divided into four sections, covering "General Concepts", "Empirical Studies", "Case Studies" and "Implementation", the book includes case studies from the US EPA's Environment Accounting Programme and contributions from authors at institutions including the IMD, INSEAD, Tellus Institute and the World Resources Institute. It constitutes a state-of-the-art collection.

Thorough and highly readable ... From basic environmental accounting concepts to the thicket of full-cost accounting, the authors nimbly guide readers through the pitfalls and possibilities. An excellent resource., A hands-on, useful book., A book well worth reading., This publication is a good guidance book to environment-related management accounting as it gives the context, definitions, and doesn't just theorize but shows applications., The Green Bottom Line is an important book which examines corporate environmental policy from an accounting standpoint. If companies can demonstrate that green is not only good but yields better business results then detractors will disappear like chimneys in a smoke free zone.

Martin Bennett, Peter James