Emma de Leeuw

❔ How can we live well without harming the planet? A good start is to stop pursuing economic growth as a goal. As our economies grow, they use more energy and resources. This is an important cause of ecological crises. To live well now and in the future and within planetary boundaries, chasing growth should become a thing of the past. Instead, we should transform our economies to provide a good life for people combined with low energy and resource use. ❗ That is why Triodos Bank supports the call for a post-growth transition. 🌍 The best way to ensure a high quality of life for everyone without exceeding the boundaries of the planet is to move beyond growth. 📃 Interested to read more? Check out our position paper: https://lnkd.in/eyH3SBEC

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At Triodos, we talk a lot about overconsumption and the #CircularEconomy… but why is this so important to us? As a sustainable bank, we play a crucial role in protecting the environment and preserving the Earth’s resources through the organisations we fund. Our team work with businesses who create products that are designed for longevity, to be reused, or that have minimal waste. We also urge organisations and individuals to question whether some of the products we purchase are even needed at all. Learn more about how and why we’re championing #SustainableResources here 👇

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Great article from Dick van Ommeren of Triodos Investment Management (one of the global leaders in impact investing) on why we need to stop ESG Investing and Sustainable Investing and funnel more resources into Impact Investing. Impact Investing, ESG Investing and Sustainable Investing often get lumped together but the differences are significant. As van Ommeren explains, Impact Investing "looks to the future and actively seeks to create and accelerate positive change" while ESG and Sustainable Investing "looks backward and evaluates corporate behaviour." #ImpactInvesting #ImpInv

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🍃 Exciting News! 🍃 Thrilled to share my first publication on the upcoming Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (#CSRD) 😊. Starting in 2025, large companies and listed SMEs in the EU will need to report on their sustainability impacts, risks, and opportunities. This will directly and indirectly affect agri-food companies, farmers and growers 🌱📊 By preparing for the #CSRD now, companies can turn this administrative task into a strategic opportunity for market positioning and differentiation. 🌍💼 Curious to learn more? Feel free to reach out! Stay tuned for more updates. 📅✨ #Sustainability #Agrifood #CSRD #RaboResearch 😊📈 Marjan Van Riel Martijn Rol

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❔ How can we live well without harming the planet? A good start is to stop pursuing economic growth as a goal. As our economies grow, they use more energy and resources. This is an important cause of ecological crises. To live well now and in the future and within planetary boundaries, chasing growth should become a thing of the past. Instead, we should transform our economies to provide a good life for people combined with low energy and resource use. ❗ That is why Triodos Bank supports the call for a post-growth transition. 🌍 The best way to ensure a high quality of life for everyone without exceeding the boundaries of the planet is to move beyond growth. 📃 Interested to read more? Check out our position paper: https://lnkd.in/eyH3SBEC

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❔ How can we live well without harming the planet? A good start is to stop pursuing economic growth as a goal. As our economies grow, they use more energy and resources. This is an important cause of ecological crises. To live well now and in the future and within planetary boundaries, chasing growth should become a thing of the past. Instead, we should transform our economies to provide a good life for people combined with low energy and resource use. ❗ That is why Triodos Bank supports the call for a post-growth transition. 🌍 The best way to ensure a high quality of life for everyone without exceeding the boundaries of the planet is to move beyond growth. 📃 Interested to read more? Check out our position paper: https://lnkd.in/eyH3SBEC

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I'm very proud to work for a sustainable bank – but what does that actually mean? What makes Triodos Bank a sustainable bank? 🌱 Purpose-driven: we work with organisations who do business like we do: with a clear social purpose and a clear financial plan to get there. 🌱 Transparent: our commitment to openness isn't just a value; it's our way of life. You can learn about every loan and investment we make on our website: https://lnkd.in/dfbHZKqv 🌱 Impact: our 'minimum standards' aren't just rules; they ensure we're considering our impact on people and the environment in every decision we make. You can read about our minimum standards below 👇    https://lnkd.in/dC3jEtJA

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The importance of reporting greenhouse gas emissions has never been higher. The latest blog by Simone van den Akker, from our ESG sub brand Holtara, explores the influence of regulations aligning with the goals of the Paris Agreement and the rising stakeholder demand for carbon reporting by firms. #ESG #ESGRegulations #CarbonReporting #GreenhouseGasEmissions

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The importance of reporting greenhouse gas emissions has never been higher. The latest blog by Simone van den Akker, from our ESG sub brand Holtara, explores the influence of regulations aligning with the goals of the Paris Agreement and the rising stakeholder demand for carbon reporting by firms. #ESG #ESGRegulations #CarbonReporting #GreenhouseGasEmissions

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I am often asked by our investors what percentage of our funds at Triodos Investment Management are aligned to certain Sustainable Development Goals (#SDGs) in financial terms. In practice this ask requires a giant tagging exercise to tie individual investments to specific SDGs, resulting in a computer-readable calculation that can be automatically generated based on portfolio allocation. Phew! But is this meaningful? I loved this piece in the New York Times by Rajiv J. Shah this week (https://lnkd.in/enDxQ-7f), because it shows why investors need to look beyond the SDG percentages when allocating capital. Investing in the #energytransition is usually mapped to SDG 7, affordable and clean energy. But actually, evidence shows that increasing global access to clean electricity can contribute to many (if not all) of the SDGs. The same can be said for investing in #financial #inclusion and #nutrition. The SDGs are a valuable framework for investors to speak a common language with regards to sustainability and impact. But beyond using them to calculate a "percentage" contribution in financial terms, it's important look into the underlying impact strategy, investment approach, context and the #impactmanagement practice of the fund manager. #IMM #impactinvesting #sustainablefinance Women in Social Finance

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EP approved the Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (#CSDDD). On April 24 the European Parliament (#EP) approved the Sustainability Due Diligence Directive. The European Parliament approved with 374 votes against 235 and 19 abstentions the new 'due diligence' directive, agreed on with the Council, requiring firms and their upstream and downstream partners, including supply, production and distribution to prevent, end or mitigate their adverse impact on human rights and the environment. Such impact will include #slavery, #childlabour, #labourexploitation, #biodiversityloss, #pollution or destruction of #naturalheritage. - Risk-based approach and transition plan The rules will apply to EU companies and parent companies with over 1000 employees and a worldwide turnover higher than 450 million euro. It will also apply to companies with franchising or licensing agreements in the EU ensuring a common corporate identity with worldwide turnover higher than 80 million euro if at least 22.5 million euro was generated by royalties. Non-EU companies, parent companies and companies with franchising or licensing agreements in the EU reaching the same turnover thresholds in the EU will also be covered. These firms will have to integrate due diligence into their policies, make related investments, seek contractual assurances from their partners. Companies will also have to adopt a transition plan to make their business model compatible with the Paris Agreement global warming limit of 1.5°C. - Fines and compensation of victims Member states will be required to provide companies with detailed online information on their due diligence obligations via practical portals containing the Commission’s guidance. They will also create or designate a supervisory authority to investigate and impose penalties on non-complying firms. These will include 'naming and shaming' and fines of up to 5% of companies’ net worldwide turnover. Companies will be liable for damages caused by breaching their due diligence obligations and will have to fully compensate their victims. Next steps: The directive now also needs to be formally endorsed by the Council, signed and published in the EU Official Journal. It will enter into force twenty days later. Member states will have two years to transpose the new rules into their national laws. - The new rules (except for the communication obligations) will apply gradually to EU companies (and non-EU companies reaching the same turnover thresholds in the EU): - From 2027 to companies with over 5000 employees and worldwide turnover higher than 1500 million euro; - From 2028 to firms with over 3000 employees and a 900 million euro worldwide turnover; - From 2029 to all the remaining companies within the scope of the directive (including those over 1000 employees and worldwide turnover higher than 450 million euro). https://lnkd.in/dm2FHrA3 @Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry

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Sharing an insightful piece by Roland Fumasi, Ph.D. and Tom B. on the implications of Donald Trump’s return to the White House for global food and agricultural trade. Their analysis highlights the complex landscape ahead, with potential disruptions to established trade relationships, shifts in export demand, and rising costs for consumers and businesses alike. These changes underscore the delicate balance that will shape inflation, consumer behavior, and international trade dynamics moving forward. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eBZrU7G4 #GlobalTrade #Agriculture #FoodIndustry #PolicyShifts #EconomicImpact #Inflation #ConsumerBehavior

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I'm proud to work for a sustainable bank – but what does that actually mean? 🌱 Purpose-driven: we work with organisations who do business like we do: with a clear social purpose and a clear financial plan to get there. 🌱 Transparent: our commitment to openness isn't just a value; it's our way of life. You can learn about every loan and investment we make on our website. 🌱 Impact: our 'minimum standards' aren't just rules; they ensure we're considering our impact on people and the environment in every decision we make. Curious about how we do it? Drop a comment below or you can dive into our minimum standards here 👇

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Great read this morning! “Impact investing on the other hand, looks to the future and actively seeks to create and accelerate positive change. The big differentiator is intentionality. As impact investors, our starting point is to always look at the challenge we want to address”. Thanks Dick van Ommeren for sharing your expert and leading thoughts. And investors can create true systemic change through invested ts that are done with intentionality, without sacrifice returns. For the people and the planet!

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I'm proud to work for a sustainable bank – but what does that actually mean? 🌱 Purpose-driven: we work with organisations who do business like we do: with a clear social purpose and a clear financial plan to get there. 🌱 Transparent: our commitment to openness isn't just a value; it's our way of life. You can learn about every loan and investment we make on our website. 🌱 Impact: our 'minimum standards' aren't just rules; they ensure we're considering our impact on people and the environment in every decision we make. Curious about how we do it? Drop a comment below or you can dive into our minimum standards here 👇

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Is the banking industry waking up to the risks of financing 'old energy' - and placing sustainability at the core of its strategy? (Green) Financing is a critical enabler and accelerator of the energy transition - but it can also put the breaks on the transition if the finance leads to expanding fossil fuel use. So it's encouraging to see headlines like this becoming more common in papers like the Financial Times. https://lnkd.in/dp3r9Bns In short, the Dutch bank ING is the latest finance institution to say it will drop clients who are not pulling their weight to meet climate targets. But will they really drop clients - and potential profits - for lack of climate action, or is it just words? This is a company who itself faced a lawsuit earlier this year for lack of action on climate change. It might be too early to say... 😕 The statement is full of escape routes - for example, ING will stop all new financing only for "pure play" upstream oil and gas companies that are developing new fields - but ING do not appear so stringent with companies with more diversified offers. 😎 On the other hand, ING also apparently recognise that there is a financial risk involved in financing yesterday's technology instead of tomorrow's. That recognition alone can shift business models. I'm happy to be working for a company for whom #sustainability has been at the core of its strategy for more than 70 years. There is still work to be done at NIBE Group, but I'm excited to be part of that journey. Is there any future business strategy - in any industry - which can be successful in the long-term without sustainability being at its core? It's hard to imagine now. #greenfinance #sustainablity #nibe #heatpumps

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Amsterdam’s fintech innovator Prêts raises €1M to boost access to sustainable home technologies Amsterdam-based #fintech innovator Prêts has just secured €1M in funding to enhance access to sustainable home technologies like heat pumps and solar panels. This funding round was supported by Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland, Rubio, Rockstart, and top industry angels. Founded in 2023 by Eugene Lubbers, Gerard van Swieten, and later joined by Peer Fisser, Prêts is on a mission to make sustainable living practical, affordable, and energy-efficient. Despite the decreasing costs of green technologies, high upfront expenses remain a significant barrier for many homeowners. Prêts aims to eliminate this hurdle by providing accessible financing solutions that ensure energy-efficient upgrades are financially neutral, meaning they do not increase monthly energy bills. Prêts’ innovative platform offers embedded financial solutions, promoting healthy household finances by displaying potential returns and savings from eco-friendly upgrades. By aligning investment costs with energy savings, Prêts ensures financial stability for homeowners. The key investors in this funding round include Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland, an initiative by the Province of Noord-Holland, University of Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit, Hogeschool van Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, and Sanquin. Innovatiefonds Noord-Holland provides convertible loans to finance innovations in the Proof-of-Concept phase. Another significant investor, Rubio, is a venture capital fund that invests in entrepreneurs combining impactful initiatives with scalable commercial businesses. Rockstart, an Amsterdam-based early-stage investor supporting purpose-driven founders in Energy, AgriFood, and Emerging Technologies, also participated in this round. The article on Silicon Canals - European Technology News in the first comment. Want to stay up to date with the market? Here my newsletter: - Linkedin: https://t.ly/s541W   - Substack: https://lnkd.in/dzfGJzmW

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In line with Triodos Bank's science based target to reach net zero by 2035, we initiated a climate change engagement project with the goal to encourage companies in our Impact Equities and Bond portfolios to set science-based GHG emission targets, in line with the 1.5°C trajectory. "Our approach is two-fold. One, we focus on companies that are still in the early stages of establishing a climate change strategy. These companies can greatly improve their approach by setting targets that are science-based. Two, we focus on the highest emitters in our portfolio, as reducing emissions for this group can substantially and efficiently decrease the emission intensity of our portfolio," explain investment analysts André d'Ursel, Luc van Haaren, and Lilia Feghiu. Read the full report on the outcomes of this project on our website, including concrete examples of what has been achieved with companies like Wolfspeed and DS Smith. #ImpactInvesting #EmissionsReduction #CleanEnergy #ScienceBasedTargets #GHGEmissions

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"We can ignore reality, but we cannot ignore the consequences of ignoring reality." For some, this is just a quote from Ayn Rand (and maybe one of the the few things I agree upon in her writings). For me, it perfectly captures how many people view the economic growth dependence of our economies. 📈 Growth primarily drives our resource and energy use, but we do not want to discuss the root cause. We have built a growth-dependent economic system. If an economy does not grow, it collapses. So, it is difficult to break away from that growth dependence. However, if growth does more harm to humanity than it brings happiness, we need to discuss it. 🌍 That is why Triodos Bank supports the call for post-growth transitions. We believe in acting faster to phase out detrimental economic activities. 🚀 And we are optimistic that sustainable and inclusive activities can thrive. 🌱 This is what we finance: the part of the economy that needs to grow. 💚 See our short paper here: 👉 https://lnkd.in/es_-sqt9 https://lnkd.in/eRKgXPAr

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