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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.
May 2022
May 3, 2022
Brazilian soy imports to the Netherlands
The Netherlands is the biggest importer of Soy in the EU, 60% of Dutch soy imports are from Brazil, part of it is distributed across the EU. This study also shows that more than 85% is used as animal feed. The report commissioned by Greenpeace gives an overview of data on soy shipments to the Netherlands, destinations of Dutch soy imports from Brazil, estimated land use and the potential deforestation linked to the soy production.
April 2022
April 28, 2022
European Big Oil: Big liability in carbon emissons, pollution and health care costs
For Transport & Environment, Profundo has quantified the profits of the five Big Oil companies (BP, Eni, Repsol, Shell and TotalEnergies) since 1993 and their unpaid health and environmental costs. Their activities have resulted into high societal costs through pollution, deteriorating public health and carbon emissions, estimated at €13 trillion. They have paid back a mere 5% of this damage in corporate taxes.
April 20, 2022
Asset managers fueling climate chaos, 2022 scorecard
New study shows that the biggest asset managers still have not taken appropriate steps to tackle fossil fuel expansion. The 2022 scorecard on asset managers, fossil fuels and climate change is published by Reclaim finance, Re:common, The sunrise project, Urgewald, with contributions from Profundo. The 30 biggest asset managers headquartered in Europe and the US and their investment practices regarding climate change, focusing on the fossil fuel sector were analysed. Conclusions show that asset managers are still investing in companies with fossil fuel expansion plans and most have no policies restricting investments in fossil fuels. It is recommended they adopt policies tackling fossil fuel expansion in lign with the Paris Agreement.
April 4, 2022
Finance of Russian oil & gas
Putin and his regime are paying for the war in Ukraine with the billions of US Dollars and Euros that companies have been spending on Russian coal, oil, gas, and nuclear fuel imports into the European Union. This study shows the EU spent $108 billion (€99 billion) on Russian energy imports in 2021. Profundo provided an update of finance data in GCEL and GOGEL, specifically for oil & gas companies active in Russia.
April 22, 2022
Coal and gas development in Czech Republic
Commissioned by Re:Common, Profundo assessed Assicurazioni Generali (Italian insurance company) and its involvement in the coal-to-gas sector in Czech Republic. We found that Generali still invests $368 million in the coal sector. However, Re:Common is continuing to put pressure on Italian financial institutions to shift finance away from fossil fuels.
April 12, 2022
Financial flows to mining companies
Forests & Finance has launched a new preliminary dataset which assesses the financing of mining companies. Industrial mining activities cause major social and environmental impacts. This study investigated companies that may impact natural tropical forests and the communities that rely on them in Southeast Asia, Central and West Africa, and parts of South America. Profundo contributed in preparing the dataset.
April 4, 2022
Coordination supermarkets scorecard
The fourth supermarkets scorecard has launched, which investigates the leading supermarkets’ sustainability policies and practices on human rights in their supply chains, transparency, and accountability. Profundo was responsible for the coordination between the participating countries (NL, UK and Germany) and for quality control of all scores for content, quality and consistency. In addition, we also provided all the documentation behind the research and provided an extensive analysis that was used for the campaign materials.
Website: Global Supermarket Scorecard
Berliner Zeitung: Oxfam: Dieser Supermarkt verstößt am häufigsten gegen Menschenrechte
Frankfurter Rundschau: Nicht genug zum Leben
RP: Bei Edeka, Aldi, Lidl und Rewe hapert es am Einsatz für Menschenrechte
RTL: Oxfam: Aldi en Lidl hebben steeds meer oog voor mensenrechten
t-online: Studie deckt Missstand auf – jetzt reagiert Edeka
Trouw: Van de vijf grote supermarkten vecht Lidl het hardst tegen misstanden, zegt Oxfam
March 2022
March 30, 2022
Banking on Climate Chaos 2022
Profundo contributed to this report which examines commercial and investment banks financing for the fossil fuel industry. In the six years since the Paris Agreement and many net-zero commitments have been made, the world’s 60 largest private banks financed fossil fuels with US$ 4.6 trillion, with US$ 742 billion in 2021 alone.
Website: Banking on Climate Chaos
Report: Banking on Climate Chaos. Fossil Fuel Finance report 2022
Bloomberg: bankers are still standing behind the dirtiest fossil fuel
financial reporter: British banks still channelling billions of pounds into fossil fuel expansion
Les Echos: Les banques françaises accusées de financer l'expansion des énergies fossiles
news24: Bankers are still standing behind the dirtiest fossil fuel
Reporterre: Les banques françaises championnes du financement des énergies fossiles
Reuters: World's top banks pumped $742 billion into fossil fuels in 2021 - report
S&P Global: European banks cut fossil fuel financing, unlike North American peers – report
March 8, 2022
The social impact of financial institutions' investments in Asia's agribusinesses
Profundo assessed for Fair Finance Asia (FFA) the policies of 54 Asian financial institutions actively providing credit and underwriting services to agribusinesses. The results show that between January 2016 and December 2020, selected companies received US$22.6 billion in loans and underwriting attributable to their agribusiness activities from financial institutions active worldwide. The largest creditors are from Japan, Singapore and Malaysia. Moreover, the report highlights the weak enforcement or overall lack of policies on gender equality, human rights, labor rights, and transparency and accountability.
March 7, 2022
Dutch public investments in agroecology
This report analyses how Dutch policies on foreign affairs, trade development, and other economic topics are promoting or hampering the advent and adoption of agroecology, agro-biodiversity and agroecological approaches and practices. More specifically, how public resources (both ODA as well as non-ODA, including through vehicles like Public Private Partnerships and blended finance constructions) are allocated to support agricultural development projects, and what share of, to what extent, and how, that funding is supportive of transformational agroecological approaches and practices.
March 4, 2022
Mapping the European Soy Supply Chain
This research provides the underlying data to better understand the soy flows on the EU27+UK market, including data on soy production and trade worldwide, as well as detailed data on soy use in the consumption of animal products in 2020.
March 2, 2022
African Oil Palm Expansion Slows, Reputation Risks Remain for FMCGs
African oil palm expansion is not working as planned. Only five international companies dominate industrial oil palm production in Africa. Some of which have been linked to social and environmental impacts, violating their buyers’ NDPE commitments. Therefore, investors may see risk in African palm oil caused by stranded land and reputation risk.
March 8, 2022
Assessment of gender policies & practices of Dutch banks
This report assesses whether Dutch banks have changed their policies and practices related to gender, both in their internal operations and in their due diligence of clients and investee companies, in comparison to the earlier Fair Finance Guide study published in March 2020.
Report: Blinde vlek banken voor vrouwenrechten en gendergelijkheid in leningen en beleggingen
Report: How banks turn a blind eye to gender inequality in their business relationships
Accountant.nl: Onderzoek: vrouwenrechten nog steeds onderbelicht bij banken
Accountant.nl: Onderzoek: vrouwenrechten nog steeds onderbelicht bij banken
Eerlijke Bankwijzer: Banken schieten tekort in aanpak ongelijkheid tussen vrouw en man
NU.nl: Banken hebben volgens onderzoek 'blinde vlek' voor vrouwenrechten
March 8, 2022
Financiers of LNG terminals in the United States
This research identified the financiers of 6 LNG terminals in the United States and their owners. The report shows that despite the many LNG development plans, the US LNG export projects have failed to secure the sales commitments and financing needed to move toward construction. Of 21 major LNG export projects proposed in the United States, none reached a final investment decision (FID) in 2021.
March 4, 2022
Expert View: What the war in Ukraine teaches us - Lessons for European governments, companies and financiers
The war in Ukraine is met with firm responses by European governments and companies alike, willing to stand up in defense of human lives. While this is encouraging, this Expert View shows that the political and investment decisions of European governments, companies, banks and investors have played a crucial role in building up Putin’s economic and military power. Also, one would have wished that Europe responded similarly to other terrible conflicts in recent years and that it would have taken the enormous humanitarian threat of climate change more seriously. This Expert View therefore formulates lessons for European governments, companies and financiers, to strengthen their newly found ability to collectively address the present and future humanitarian crises.
March 3, 2022
The financing of fossil fuel extraction in sub-Saharan Africa
This research project created an overview of fossil fuel extraction projects in Sub-Saharan Africa, their project sponsors (companies behind the projects) and their public and private financiers.
March 2, 2022
Support Belgian Fair Finance Guide 2022
The sustainability policies of 9 banks active in Belgium are assessed and ranked on themes as climate change, human rights, and transparency, based on the Fair Finance Guide method developed by Profundo. Profundo has supported the Belgian Fair Finance Guide coalition in the assessments.
More results...