Appendix III – UN Sustainable Development Goals

Level 1
Baseline policies and activity, to avoid doing any harm in relation to the goal

Our policy is to avoid predatory lending and to undertake good due diligence when making decisions about which inclusive finance institutions to invest in.

Level 3
The catalysing role we can play to stimulate long-term, transformational change

We have a holistic approach to today’s societal challenges. We want to make the transition to a regenerative economy fairer and more inclusive, of which our loans and investments related to this SDG contribute. We also advise financial institutions who specialise in inclusive finance on how to incorporate environmental issues in their business.

Level 1
Baseline policies and activity, to avoid doing any harm in relation to the goal

We do not finance intensive agriculture and, instead, only finance sustainable and agriculture based on organic principles.

At a systemic level our finance aims to inspire the financial sector, by showing that sustainable organic and Fair Trade agriculture can be successfully financed in European and emerging markets.

We also work with others (see SDG 17) to promote sustainable food production. Since 2019, we have continued to work with partners to develop ‘true cost accounting’ for finance, food and farming, for example.

Level 1
Baseline policies and activity, to avoid doing any harm in relation to the goal

We only finance healthcare providers with a human-centred approach to care, ensuring health and well-being, particularly for the elderly, people with learning and physical disabilities and other disadvantaged groups such as those recovering from drugs and substance abuse.

We can contribute more powerfully by financing scalable projects.

Level 1
Baseline policies and activity, to avoid doing any harm in relation to the goal

Our approach is to only finance education initiatives – from kindergartens to adult education – that benefit individuals’ personal development and society in terms of social cohesion in general, and sustainable economic development in particular.

We can contribute to the overall education ‘mix’ by focusing our finance on diversity in the education system – through progressive educational establishments and initiatives that serve the excluded.

We also provide long-term support and participate in initiatives beyond our role as a bank directly. Co-workers in all countries regularly accept invitations to explain to students how sustainable finance and economics work for a better society.

Level 1
Baseline policies and activity, to avoid doing any harm in relation to the goal

We treat all individuals equally, and particularly include people who are often excluded. In practice, this leads to an explicit focus on making access to finance available to women.

We value a diverse community in Triodos Bank itself, including gender.

Level 3
The catalysing role we can play to stimulate long-term, transformational change

The greatest contribution we can make is to both promote and extend healthy gender diversity as an important pre-condition for our work as an institution ourselves and in how we apply the money entrusted to us, both in Europe and in developing countries.

Level 1
Baseline policies and activity, to avoid doing any harm in relation to the goal

Clean water and sanitation are topics relevant around the world. While this is not a core loan or investment theme, much of our finance takes care of both, not least through entrepreneurs financed through inclusive finance and SME lending and in sectors such as organic agriculture which support water conservation and water health.

Level 3
The catalysing role we can play to stimulate long-term, transformational change

Level 1
Baseline policies and activity, to avoid doing any harm in relation to the goal

Our policy is to exclusively finance renewable energy initiatives in the energy sector.

Whenever we can we generate or buy energy from renewable sources to power the buildings that we work from within our own network.

Level 3
The catalysing role we can play to stimulate long-term, transformational change

As well as its direct impact as a financer, Triodos Bank acts as an opinion leader in the energy space, including engaging in debate about the urgent importance of a low-carbon economy and how to move towards it.

Triodos Bank played a catalytic role in the development of PCAF, the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials to measure and disclose the carbon emissions of loans and investments, which has since 2018 evolved into The Global GHG Accounting and Reporting Standard for the Financial Industry.

We can contribute further by extending our work into new areas such as energy storage, energy-efficiency finance and electric-vehicle infrastructure via Triodos Bank’s European network of energy-finance experts.

Triodos Bank is convinced it’s time the energy transition becomes a matter for citizens themselves. In The Netherlands we are financing more and more energy initiatives from citizens as a result.

Level 1
Baseline policies and activity, to avoid doing any harm in relation to the goal

Triodos Bank has over 20 years’ experience financing microfinance and inclusive finance initiatives in emerging markets. As well as only financing the sustainable economy in Europe, including developing lending in the sustainable tourism sector, all our banking products and services take the environment into consideration.

Our finance often leads to job creation and frequently, due to the sustainable focus of all our finance, to work that benefits the excluded – from people with disabilities to ex-offenders.

Level 3
The catalysing role we can play to stimulate long-term, transformational change

We intentionally look to finance companies that can act as a catalyst for deep-seated change within their industries, as inspirational examples of what’s possible in the circular economy. We partner with others who share this agenda, such as the European Investment Fund (EIF). We have three guarantee schemes with the EIF for social entrepreneurs providing up to EUR 400 million in guaranteed loans.

Level 1
Baseline policies and activity, to avoid doing any harm in relation to the goal

Level 3
The catalysing role we can play to stimulate long-term, transformational change

While we typically do not finance large-scale infrastructure projects, Triodos Bank promotes an inclusive, sustainable economy and fosters innovation; indeed, Triodos Bank itself is an example of innovation in the banking sector. Triodos Regenerative Money Centre was established in 2019 with the aim to finance innovation and to innovate finance.

Our work for the inclusive finance sector supports efforts to increase access of small-scale enterprises to financial services, including affordable credit.

Level 1
Baseline policies and activity, to avoid doing any harm in relation to the goal

Our collective work is designed to contribute to a fairer and more equitable economy in Europe and around the world, as described in our vision paper on social inclusion, published in 2022. One way we do this is via investment funds that promote inclusive finance, targeting small and medium-sized businesses in emerging markets. We also aim to be a reference point for values-based banking, working alongside partners in networks like the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV).

We have a comprehensive approach to inequality which includes financing groups at risk of social exclusion.

Triodos Bank also strives to be a more diverse and inclusive organisation, which will remain high on our list of priorities in the coming years.

This work also translates into loans to businesses and organisations that serve and employ people with disabilities or who are otherwise at risk of exclusion. We actively support refugees financially through several initiatives across Europe.

Level 3
The catalysing role we can play to stimulate long-term, transformational change

Level 1
Baseline policies and activity, to avoid doing any harm in relation to the goal

We have a proactive policy to finance social and (the transition to) sustainable housing as well as arts and culture projects.

Level 3
The catalysing role we can play to stimulate long-term, transformational change

We can contribute most powerfully by financing scalable, inspirational projects that change the perspective of the housing and arts and culture industries. These projects show that social, environmental and cultural objectives can and should be integrated in developing sustainable housing for the whole community.

We can also respond to urgent challenges in society. For example, refugees with the legal status to stay in The Netherlands for five years can now access a mortgage via a special product developed with the Triodos Foundation and a partner (see also SDG 17).

We can also work with partners to advise on how best to attract and apply finance for sustainable infrastructure projects in cities.

Level 1
Baseline policies and activity, to avoid doing any harm in relation to the goal

Our products and services (see qualitative elements in the GABV scorecard) have responsible consumption built in.

We positively look to finance companies focused on reducing waste generation and promoting reuse and recycling. We also encourage listed companies to act more sustainably and actively promote responsible consumption.

Through events, articles and public affairs activity we aim to promote an integrated view that responsible consumption and production are closely connected to a better quality of life.

Level 1
Baseline policies and activity, to avoid doing any harm in relation to the goal

While most of the specific SDG 13 targets do not relate directly to Triodos Bank’s activity, much of our direct loans and investments’ finance aims to combat climate change, particularly through finance of the sustainable energy sector, which generated green electricity. Triodos Bank has set the ambitious target to net-zero by 2035 at the latest, including all loans and investments.

All our finance aims to integrate environmental concerns with social, cultural and economic considerations. We enable individuals and businesses to act to combat climate change through our products and services, including green mortgages that incentivise more sustainable homes, and personal loans for spending on sustainable products such as solar panels. We participate in public initiatives through advocacy activity and have built partnerships with others.

Level 3
The catalysing role we can play to stimulate long-term, transformational change

Level 1
Baseline policies and activity, to avoid doing any harm in relation to the goal

Our finance in the organic sector aims to reduce marine pollution by focusing on soil quality, water conservation and health. We have signed a statement against deep-sea mining in 2022.

Level 3
The catalysing role we can play to stimulate long-term, transformational change

Level 1
Baseline policies and activity, to avoid doing any harm in relation to the goal

Our policy is not to finance any projects that degrade natural habitats or diminish biodiversity.

Level 3
The catalysing role we can play to stimulate long-term, transformational change

We can contribute to systemic change by demonstrating that enterprises that are focused on greater biodiversity offer a financially viable alternative to the dominant extractive system. We can also develop new, innovative approaches that punch above their weight, as powerful examples of what’s possible.

Triodos Bank has signed the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge, committing itself to collaborating, engaging, assessing their own biodiversity impact, setting targets and reporting on biodiversity matters by 2024 at the latest. We are also a member of the Partnership Biodiversity Accounting Financials, which works to develop a common accounting methodology for the sector’s impact on biodiversity.

In 2022 we published a whitepaper on the role of the financial sector in restoring biodiversity, and we announced we want ecocide introduced at the International Criminal Court.

Level 1
Baseline policies and activity, to avoid doing any harm in relation to the goal

We believe peaceful and inclusive societies require fair and inclusive economies focused on improving quality of life for all. Our finance is firmly focused on this goal.

We finance faith organisations of all kinds that commit to non-coercive expressions of religious belief, from Buddhist centres to Presbyterian churches.

Level 3
The catalysing role we can play to stimulate long-term, transformational change

Level 1
Baseline policies and activity, to avoid doing any harm in relation to the goal

We encourage partnerships to help strengthen sustainable financial institutions and mobilise financial resources in developing countries.

Level 3
The catalysing role we can play to stimulate long-term, transformational change

We can help promote systemic change by partnering with others. Triodos Bank hopes to co-create new collaborations that better meet the needs of a sustainable economy. We are already aligned with many of the global frameworks through our local activities across our operations. They include the following global initiatives:

• The Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV)

• UN Principles for Responsible Banking

• Net-zero Banking Alliance

• Commitment to the Dutch Climate Agreement

• PCAF (the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials)

• We have signed the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge

• Triodos Bank is also part of the Partnership for Biodiversity Accounting Financials (PBAF)

Beyond these collaborations, we are also committed to the following global initiatives: the Global Impact Investing network (GIIN); UN Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI); the Diversity Charter; Club of Rome Finance Impact Hub; the Sustainable Finance Lab; OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises.

We continue collaborating with networks of financial institutions, NGOs and civil society groups (including Finance Watch, Share Action and WWF) to acceelrate the transition to a sustainable and inclusive economy.