Promoting a circular economy Our output and impact The circular economy is a theme with strategic importance to Rabobank. It serves as a point of reference for our Banking for the Netherlands and Banking for Food strategies and has led to the development of three concrete initiatives to support adoption of the circular business model. We believe transforming the current linear economy into a circular system will strengthen the competitiveness of the Dutch economy and clients active in global food supply chains. Ongoing efforts to promote the transition to a circular economy include sponsoring the Herman Wijffels Innovation Award, DLL's Life Cycle Asset Management (LCAM) programme, and offering impact loans and sustainable bonds. Contents Foreword Management report Corporate governance Consolidated Financial Statements Company Financial Statements Pillar 3 Circular economy: Three concrete initiatives Rabobank's vision on the importance of well-functioning circular business models for a strong economy and a liveable society has resulted this year in three initiatives. The first initiative developed by Rabobank (in cooperation with Radboud University Nijmegen) is a circular enterprise performance indicator, an online tool to measure circular activity at companies to gain insight in circular opportunities. The second initiative is collaboration with the so-called The Source Shakers - a platform for food agri entrepreneurs looking for solutions to reduce waste and bring profits up. Rabobank is one of the co-initiators of the platform, along with Wageningen University, HAS, Foodsquad and others. The third initiative is the Circular Economy Challenge. The programme - initiated by Rabobank in 2014 - challenges companies to convert their ideas for circular activities into business opportunities. The success of the initial nationwide circular business challenge prompted the launch of regional challenges, organised and hosted by three to six local Rabobanks in a specific region. In 2016, two circular economy challenges involving 24 companies were carried out in the Amsterdam Metropolitan and Groene Hart regions. More challenges have been scheduled for 2017. In addition to the business challenges, Rabobank has co-organised circular economy master classes, which have been attended by a number of entrepreneurs in many different regions and locations in the Netherlands. Furthermore in 2016, Rabobank signed an agreement with two other Dutch banks, ABN AMRO and ING, formalising their plan to support the transition towards a circular economy by sharing knowledge, enforcing its network and delivering financial services. Herman Wijffels Innovation Award To promote and support sustainable frontrunners, Rabobank has organised and funded the Herman Wijffels Innovation Award for the past 15 years. The award is named after Rabobank's former CEO and thought leader on sustainable development, and it encompasses three categories: Circular Economy, Food Agri and Vital Communities. Total prize money in 2016 added up to EUR 60,000; the awards were presented in Nijmegen this year, in collaboration with local Rabobank Rijk van Nijmegen. O For more information, please see link. LCAM: Helping drive the transition to a circular economy As the world's population continues to increase and consumption explodes, so does the need for sustainable business models that take responsibility for the planet's precious resources. Circular economic methods offer businesses a way to deliver value and profitability in a sustainable manner. By designing products to be recycled, reused or remanufactured at the end of their first life cycle, manufacturers can help reduce pressure on the planet's finite resources. 93 Our output and impact: promoting a circular economy

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Annual Reports Rabobank | 2016 | | pagina 392