Rabobank's human rights policy was updated in 2011This policy is in keeping with the UN's
new human rights framework for multinationals, drawn up by a team headed by Dr John Ruggie,
a UN Special Representative. Prior to the introduction of this, there was no framework of this
kind on human rights.
The UK Bribery Act came into effect in July 2011This Act replaces a number of old acts with a
modern, consolidated act on bribery and is relevant to Rabobank since the bank does business
in the UK through its London office.
Dilemmas and ethics
The Ethics Committee provides all Rabobank group entities with advice on ethical issues that
employees are confronted with in the course of their work. It is another clear example of how
opposing forces have been organised in a constructive way at Rabobank.
During the year under review, the Ethics Desk received 202 (200) inquiries. Depending on the
specific details of the relevant inquiry, the Ethics Desk deals with inquiries on the basis of
previous cases. Only new or complex issues are referred to the Ethics Committee. Inquiries are
also passed on to Group Compliance, the Corporates department at Rabobank Nederland or
the Complaints Desk for them to deal with. Rabobank was approached by other banks asking
to share its knowledge and experience of the Ethics Committee on two occasions during the
year under review.
Partnership with WWF
Under the partnership WWF and Rabobank entered into in 2011, the mission of the two
organisations is to provide interesting practical examples of ways to bring about a sustainable
food supply, make innovations possible in the area of clean technologies, and make efficient
use and re-use of raw materials and natural resources. The projects in question involve working
within a chain with progressive local farmers, large businesses (merchants, manufacturing
companies and retailers), government authorities and non-governmental organisations. One of
Rabobank's main objectives is that the projects should make relationships with participating
clients stronger and deeper from a commercial perspective.
With regard to the agricultural projects, the emphasis is on testing innovative sustainable
farming methods (such as precision farming) that are designed to improve agricultural
production in terms of increased yields, profitability and sustainability. A secondary objective
is that account managers and credit analysts receive training, where appropriate, in identifying
and analysing issues related to biodiversity and ecosystem services with which clients might
be confronted.
A start was made in 2011 on setting up projects in Brazil (reforestation by sugar farmers),
Chile (sustainable salmon farming), Indonesia (sustainable production of palm oil and cocoa)
and Australia (sustainable sugar production). In the course of 2012, it should become clear which
of these projects ought to be given the actual go-ahead under the terms of the partnership.
Successfully completed projects will be used later on in the partnership as examples that other
Rabobank stakeholders and WWF can use to transform regular production processes into
sustainable processes.
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Strategic Framework Sound sustainability policy
