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  • Sectors & commodity chains (1084)
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Projects

To illustrate our broad expertise, covering many different economic sectors, commodities, sustainability themes and countries, this page gives an overview of the different projects executed by Profundo over the years. In the menu, you can filter the projects by thematic area. Each project is described briefly and where available the project portfolio - such as reports, brochures or presentations - is provided. Attention is also given to the exposure generated by the project in the media, in politics and elsewhere.

 

We analyse the financial parameters of companies and assess how companies and their financiers could be affected in different scenarios by Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) risks related to deforestation, climate change emissions, human rights abuses, resource depletion, health impacts and other sustainability issues.
We analyse the various human rights and other sustainability risks in international commodity supply chains and identify what different stakeholders can do to foster sustainable development of value chains in agriculture, forestry, livestock, energy, fisheries and mineral sectors.
We analyse how companies are financed by banks, shareholders and others financiers, to assess what financiers could do to foster sustainable corporate practices. Also, we dig into ownership structures and the schemes companies have set up to minimise tax payments.
We assess and benchmark responsible investment and credit policies of banks and investors and we advise on how policies can be improved and implemented through screening, voting, engagement and exclusion strategies.

September 2020

September 15, 2020
Friends of the Earth United States
Doubling Down on Deforestation: How the Big Three Asset Managers Enable Consumer Goods Companies to Destroy the World’s Forests
This report reveals that the largest U.S. asset managers, BlackRock, State Street and Vanguard – known as the Big Three – have explicitly undermined efforts by consumer brands and agribusiness companies to halt deforestation. The Big Three collectively hold shares worth almost $700 billion in consumer brands with supply chain links to rainforest destruction, and tens of billions more in the agribusiness producers directly responsible for widespread deforestation. All three firms have voted against or abstained from voting on every single shareholder resolution requiring companies to act on deforestation since 2012, and lack clear policies to engage with companies on the issue, which is the second leading cause of climate change.

Report: Doubling Down on Deforestation: How the Big Three Asset Managers Enable Consumer Goods Companies to Destroy the World's Forests (pdf)

Common Dreams: Largest U.S. Investors Undermine Efforts To Halt Rainforest Destruction, New Report Finds

Medium: Fighting for forests and standing up to money managers: Using our voices, our bodies and our poetry to call for defunding deforestation

Mongabay: BlackRock, other asset managers enabling deforestation, says Friends of the Earth

September 8, 2020
Transport & Environment
ESG-Analysis Uber Technologies
Profundo has carried out an analysis for Transport & Environment about the ESG risks and opportunities of Uber Technologies’ Ridesharing business unit. The company is confronted with climate, environmental, congestion and labour legislation in the European Union and in other European countries, which could affect the value of investments of financers by a negative USD 31 billion (-44%). Through a shift to Ridesharing with electric vehicles, shareholders could benefit from USD 14 billion value creation (+20%), mainly due to a better reputation value in combination with increased attention from ESG fund managers for investing in Uber shares.

Financial Times: Uber vows to make N America and Europe fleets fully electric by 2030

Transport & Environment: Uber to electrify half its rides in Europe after T&E public appeal

September 9, 2020
Fair Finance Asia
The Asian Web: Tracking Regional Financial Flows
This report identifies the financial flows towards four high risk sectors - agriculture, fossil fuels, infrastructure, and power generation - in the Fair Finance Asia countries (Cambodia, India, Japan, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam). The research shows that between 2014 and 2019, financial institutions from Asia, North America, and Europe provided approximately US$556 billion in loans and underwriting services to some of the largest companies active in these high risk sectors in FFA countries.

Report: Summary: The Asian Web: Tracking Regional Financial Flows (pdf)

Report: The Asian Web: Tracking Regional Financial Flows (pdf)

September 1, 2020
Amazon Watch, Transformasi untuk Keadilan Indonesia (TuK), Rainforest Action Network, BankTrack & Repórter Brasil
Forests & Finance
Forests and Finance is a website that reveals the role that finance plays in enabling tropical deforestation, which has been expanded to cover Brazil and Central & West Africa, as well as Southeast Asia. The website is a publicly searchable database, functioning as a transparency tool by providing CSOs and journalists a deep insight into financiers that are supporting forest-risk commodity companies. It is a joint initiative of the Forests & Finance Coalition, which includes Rainforest Action Network, Tuk Indonesia, Profundo, Amazon Watch, Repórter Brasil and BankTrack.

Website: Forests & Finance

Report: Forests & Finance: Is Your Money Destroying Rainforests or Violating Rights? (pdf)

Ambiencia: Banco do Brasil é o maior credor de setores que desmatam no país, diz estudo

Askara: Perbankan Dunia dan Kesengajaan Pembakaran Hutan

Banktrack: Global climate groups issue guidance to finance giants on aligning with Paris Agreement goals

Berita Sawit: Korporasi dan Bank Negara Dorong Karhutla di Indonesia

Bloomberg Quint: Banks Direct $154 Billion to Firms Responsible for Deforestation

ClimaInfo: Bancos injetaram mais de US$ 150 bilhões em empresas ligadas ao desmatamento desde o Acordo de Paris

Criptonizando: Banco do Brasil é o maior credor de setores que desmatam no país, revela estudo

Eco Business: Banks responsible for continuing deforestation in Southeast Asia

Forests & Finance: Banks Funnelled Over USD 150 Billion Into Companies Driving Deforestation Since Paris Agreement, New Data Analyses Shows

Green Prophet: Is your bank funding fires in the Amazon?

Greeners: Bank Negara di Balik Karhutla

Hijauku: Bank Kucurkan $154 Miliar untuk Perusahaan Perusak Hutan

Journal de l'environment: Déforestation: les banques mises en cause

Le Soir: Environnement: les banques investissent de plus en plus dans la déforestation

Marianne: BNP Paribas, Crédit agricole, BPCE Group... Des banques françaises financent la déforestation en Amazonie

Mongabay: $154b in capital has gone to 300 forest-risk companies since the Paris Agreement

Mongabay: How Morgan Stanley is linked to deforestation in the Amazon

MSN: Bancos investem pesado em empresas ligadas a desmate desde Acordo de Paris

Novethic Essentiel: Forests and Finance veut stopper la déforestation en asséchant ses financements

O Eco: Bancos injetaram R$ 235 bilhões em frigoríficos desmatadores desde o Acordo de Paris

O eco: Com R$ 2,2 bi, BlackRock tem bala de prata para frigoríficos que desmatam Amazônia

Portal veg: Frigoríficos receberam R$ 235 bilhões de bancos em quatro anos

Repórter Brasil: BB e BNDES são os bancos que mais financiam setores que desmatam, mostra estudo internacional

Revista Planeta: Bancos investem pesado em empresas ligadas a desmate desde Acordo de Paris

RTS: Audio: Les forêts tropicales attirent toujours plus d'investisseurs, dénoncent des ONG

The Business Times: Banks direct US$154b to firms responsible for deforestation

The Jakarta Post: Banks contribute to deforestation, land degradation: Report

Villagerspost: Korporasie dan bank negara ikut bertangung jawab mendorong karhutla di Indonesia

Warta Jakarta: BRI dan BNI Sebagai Penyandang Dana Perusahaan Yang Membakar Hutan dan Lahan di Indonesia

August 2020

August 27, 2020
Chain Reaction Research
Brazilian Beef Supply Chain Under Pressure Amid Worsening ESG Impacts
Only two years since Chain Reaction Research’s report on cattle-driven deforestation, beef production in Brazil has expanded measurably under favorable political, legislative, and enforcement changes. This development has occurred alongside increased deforestation, fires, and land-grabbing in the Amazon. Investors and buyers in global supply chains have responded by demanding more compliance and transparency from the cattle sector. This report analyses the cattle supply chain and assesses the new political economy and emerging legislative context that is driving its change.

Report: Brazilian Beef Supply Chain Under Pressure Amid Worsening ESG Impacts (pdf)

Chain Reaction Research: Brazilian Beef Supply Chain Under Pressure Amid Worsening ESG Impacts

August 26, 2020
Fair Finance Guide Netherlands
Funding destruction of the Amazon and the Cerrado-savannah
This new case study for Fair Finance Guide Netherlands shows that Dutch banks, insurance companies, and pension funds are financing deforestation in the Amazon and the Brazilian Cerrado-savannah, contributing to human rights violations, climate change, biodiversity loss and large-scale animal suffering.

Report: Funding destruction of the Amazon and the Cerrado-savannah (pdf)

Report: Samenvatting: De verwoesting van de Amazone en de Cerrado-savanne (pdf)

BoerenBusiness: Failliet sojabedrijf dupeert Nederlandse banken

Dagblad 010: Schokkend: 'onze' miljarden oorzaak ontbossing

De Telegraaf: ING en Rabobank voelen zich niet schuldig aan ontbossing

Eerlijke Geldwijzer: ING, Rabobank, ABP en Allianz financieren verwoesting Amazone

Trouw: Banken steken miljarden in problematische sojahandel

July 2020

July 23, 2020
Chain Reaction Research
Major Deforestation Footprint a Risk for Yum China’s Secondary Listing
Yum China Holding Inc. (YUMC) is the largest restaurant chain in China. In June 2020, YUMC reportedly filed for a confidential secondary listing in Hong Kong. This report presents the company’s deforestation risk exposure and associated financial risks.

Report: Major Deforestation Footprint a Risk for Yum China’s Secondary Listing (pdf)

Chain Reaction Research: Major Deforestation Footprint a Risk for Yum China’s Secondary Listing

July 8, 2020
Feedback
Butchering the planet: The big-name financiers bankrolling livestock corporations and climate change
For this report, Profundo has researched the financial backers of the world's thirty-five largest meat and dairy companies.

Report: Feedback Global: Butchering the planet: The big-name financiers bankrolling livestock corporations and climate change (pdf)

Mongabay: World Bank’s IFC pumped $1.8b into factory farming operations since 2010

The Guardian: Banks and pension funds among investors bankrolling meat and dairy

July 1, 2020
Chain Reaction Research
Spot Market Purchases Allow Deforestation-Linked Palm Oil to Enter NDPE Supply Chains
The palm oil industry has seen considerable transformation in the last few years, as suppliers that are not compliant with NDPE policies have been increasingly excluded from supply chains. However, these gains are undermined when the same suppliers enter supply chains via spot purchases. Yet, little is known about the spot market. This paper seeks to provide information on the market, how it operates, and highlight the risk it presents to NDPE compliance efforts.

Report: Chain Reaction Research: Spot Market Purchases Allow Deforestation-Linked Palm Oil to Enter NDPE Supply Chains (pdf)

July 15, 2020
Europe Beyond Coal
Fool's Gold: The financial institutions risking our renewable energy future with coal
Profundo has carried out financial research for the 2020 update of the report Fool’s Gold – The financial institutions risking our renewable energy future with coal. The report examines eight European, and four significant international, financial institutions with close ties to Europe’s eight most polluting coal companies, finding that all continued to pump money into companies responsible for half of all EU coal-based CO2 emissions in the year after the IPCC released its 1.5 degrees C special report in Oct 2018.

Report: Fool's Gold: The financial institutions risking our renewable energy future with coal (pdf)

Balkan Green Energy News: Fool’s Gold: Financial institutions waste billions on coal, undermining climate action

Banktrack: Fool’s Gold: financial institutions waste billions undermining climate action

Bloomberg: Barclays Targeted by Fresh Climate Protests Over Coal Support

Europe Beyond Coal: Fool's Gold

Financial Times: Biggest banks sustain coal financing despite defunding drive

Financial Times: European banks accused of propping up coal polluters

Independent: Barclays funnelled £1.5bn to Europe’s biggest coal companies despite climate crisis pledge

L'Agefi: Les banques françaises restent en pointe dans le financement du charbon

Montel News: Europe coal exit efforts promising, but not enough

Puls Biznesu: Europejskie banki oskarżane o wspieranie firm zanieczyszczających powietrze

Responsible Investor: Principles for Responsible Banking members sign off on delisting mechanism

Tagesspiegel: Banken investieren noch Milliarden in europäischen Kohlesektor

Tageszeitung: Zu viel Kohle für die Kohle

Welt-Sichten: Wer die Kohleriesen finanziert

WNP: Europejskie banki oskarżane o finansowanie spółek związanych z węglem

July 2, 2020
Chain Reaction Research
FMCGs’ Lagging Efforts in NDPE Execution Lead to Deforestation, USD 16-82B Reputation Risk
Fast Moving Consumer Good (FMCG) companies have increasingly developed zero-deforestation or NDPE policies. Still, deforestation continues to show up in the supply chain of various FMCGs for which palm oil and its derivatives are a material input. Weak monitoring and verification mechanisms at times allow leakage of deforestation-linked palm oil into supply chains and consequently impact the reputation of individual companies. This report analyses the key performance indicators needed to reduce risks and positively impact the reputational value for FMCGs sourcing palm oil and its derivatives. The report estimates the potential costs and, mainly reputational, benefits of a best-in-class approach.

Report: FMCGs’ Lagging Efforts in NDPE Execution Lead to Deforestation, USD 16-82B Reputation Risk (pdf)

Chain Reaction Research: FMCGs’ Lagging Efforts in NDPE Execution Lead to Deforestation, USD 16-82B Reputation Risk

June 2020

June 24, 2020
Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI)
Value Chain Analysis of Macadamia Nuts in Kenya
For the Netherlands' Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries (CBI), Profundo has carried out an analysis of the Kenyan macadamia nut value chain. Macadamia farming offers an important source of income for producers worldwide and especially for smallholder farmers in Kenya. The research identifies key obstacles and opportunities in the macadamia value chain.

Report: Value Chain Analysis of Macadamia Nuts in Kenya (pdf)

CBI: Value Chain Analysis for Macadamia Nuts from Kenya 2020

June 10, 2020
Urgewald
Financing of Nornickel by German banks
Profundo has provided data on the financing of Nornickel, the company involved in the recent fuel spill in the Russian Arctic. The research reveals that two major German banks, Commerzbank and Deutscher Bank, have provided financing to the company.

Der Spiegel: Deutsche Banken finanzierten Skandalkonzern Nornickel

June 17, 2020
Fair Finance Guide Netherlands
Investments in Nornickel by ABP and ING
Profundo has provided data on investments in Nornickel, the company involved in the recent fuel spill in the Russian Arctic.The study shows that ABP and ING have invested approximately a billion euros in the company.

De Telegraaf: ING en ABP stappen nog niet uit veroorzaker milieuramp

NOS: 'ING en ABP moeten stoppen met investeren in bedrijf van Russische milieuramp'

NRC: Ngo’s hekelen investeringen ING en ABP in bedrijf achter Russische milieuramp

June 16, 2020
Fair Finance International & Oxfam Novib
Claims of pension providers on their contribution to the SDGs
In this scoping study, Profundo has researched 28 pension providers from Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden on their claims about their contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The research has resulted in an inventory of all publicly available claims by the pension providers relating to the SDGs, as well as the instruments used, such as ESG-integration, active ownership (engagement and voting) or impact investing.
June 5, 2020
Fair Finance International
Applying the Fair Finance Guide Methodology to DFIs
Using the methodology of the Fair Finance Guide International, Profundo has assessed the lending and investment policies of six Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) on nine sustainability topics (climate change, gender equality, health, human rights, nature, Financial sector, power generation, transparency and accountability). This is the first time that the Fair Finance Guide Methodology is applied to DFIs. The study covers the African Development Bank, the Development Bank of Southern Africa, the European Investment Bank, the Dutch Development Bank (FMO), the Industrial Development Corporation and the New Development Bank (BRICS development bank).

Report: Applying the Fair Finance Guide Methodology to DFIs (pdf)

Report: CER: Financing Fairly: Assessing the Sustainability of Investment Policies for Development Finance Institutions in South Africa (pdf)

CER: IDC and DBSA’s investment policies must support just recovery

Fair Finance International: Development Finance Institutions failing on sustainable investment policies

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