VBDO
The Dutch Association of Investors for Sustainable Development (VBDO, see: www.vbdo.nl) works to create a sustainable capital market, a market that considers not only the financial criteria but also the non-financial, social and environmental criteria. VBDO's vision is to increase sustainability awareness among companies and investors.
The two groups in the capital market that VBDO deals with are the (private and institutional) investors and the companies in which they are invested. With specific actions, VBDO tries to convince both groups in the capital market to be more sustainable. With some 600 members, VBDO claims to have become a powerful member of debates.
The VBDO members are not only private individuals, but also corporate parties such as investors and financial service providers. VBDO has a devoted management and a professional team that is concerned with the daily activities.
Focus on sustainability
VBDO is the only Dutch association of investors which explicitly focuses on a sustainable, corporate socially responsible, society. In VBDO's statutes it says that the aim is ‘to promote the interests of corporate and private investors who want to contribute to sustainability'. In practice, this means that VBDO anticipates in public debates on sustainability. As VBDO represents mainly investors, it conducts engagement with listed companies and corporate investors such as pension funds.
According to VBDO, the ideal society is a sustainable society that meets everyone's needs, now and in the future. A just distribution of attention for social, ecological and economical values is a necessity for a sustainable society. Each individual and each company contributes in its own way to the preservation and development of this equilibrium.
VBDO’s view on capital markets in connection to sustainability
VBDO believes that the capital markets determine whether a sustainable society stands a chance. This is why VBDO has chosen the capital markets to spread its vision of a sustainable society. The two parties in the capital markets that VBDO deals with are the (private and institutional) investors and the companies in which are invested.
Activities of VBDO
VBDO frequently asks questions about sustainability at the Annual General Meetings (AGMs) of publicly listed companies. Furthermore, a research on responsible investment policies of large investors such as pension funds, insurance companies, charities en religious institutions is conducted every year.
Also annual reports on sustainable savings and investments in the Netherlands, responsible supply chain and investments in food commodity are published by VBDO.
With specific actions, VBDO tries to convince both parties in the capital market to be more sustainable.
Each year, VBDO organises a large number of events around the topic of sustainable investments. The staff of VBDO are frequently asked to be speakers at seminars and other meetings.
VBDO International
VBDO has strong connections with its sister organisation Eurosif (European Sustainable Investment Forum). Eurosif's vision is to make the European financial market sustainable. Its member affiliates are corporate investors, financial service providers, trade unions and NGOs. Eurosif has developed the European Transparency Guidelines (ETG). Only the funds that signed Eurosif's ETG are mentioned on its leading website, and external parties are able to find the funds that comply to Eurosif's strict demands on transparency and sustainability for investment funds.