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.
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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