Looking beyond tomorrow

It’s time to start investing in the future. We focus on impact to ensure our planet thrives for a long time to come. Discover how we moved towards our long-term vision in 2022.

At Triodos IM, our vision extends beyond tomorrow. For us, impact investing means putting money towards the benefit of people and our environment over the long term. This means making conscious investment decisions that aim to ensure 9+ billion people can thrive on a healthy planet.

We envision a future full of just and inclusive societies, where people enjoy good health and wellbeing, have access to ample opportunities, and can pursue their aspirations. To secure this vision, we must stay within planetary boundaries so that we can bestow a flourishing Earth upon future generations. And we must remember that time is of the essence.

Our ambitions and visions may be bold, but we don’t just talk the talk. We have the numbers, stories and interviews to back them up. Curious about what we have been up to this past year? Get a taste of how we made impact matter in 2022.

Let's look at the numbers

Here’s a small sample of what our investment portfolios accomplished in 2022. Want to dig deeper? We release a detailed impact report for each fund in April.

347,600 Households provided with clean energy

Households provided with clean energy

In 2022, we co-financed185 projects in the sustainable energy sector, with a total generating capacity of 5,500 MW producing the equivalent of the electricity needs of 5.4 million households worldwide, or 347,600 households based on our share in these projects. These projects were attributing to the avoidance of over 358 ktonne of CO2e emissions.

20.3M Microfinance borrowers reached

Borrowers reached

At year-end 2022, our financial inclusion funds financed 113 financial service providers in 47 countries. These values-based institutions vary from small NGOs working in underdeveloped markets to digital lending platforms and fully fledged banks that offer access to a range of fair and transparent financial services for people and small businesses.

Together, these financial service providers reached some 20.3 million borrowers who used the funding to start or expand their business, generate income and better manage their daily lives. Two-thirds of them live in rural areas. Also, approximately 19.9 million individuals had a savings account with these financial service providers.

Of the loan clients, 80% are female. Women in developing countries and emerging economies are often in a disadvantaged position. Giving women the freedom to manage their income and to support their families empowers their position and has been shown to have a greater economic impact overall.

42,800 Smallholder farmers paid directly and fairly

Smallholder farmers paid directly and fairly

Over 42,800 smallholder farmers in nine emerging market countries worldwide were paid directly and fairly upon delivery of their harvests as a result of trade finance provided to farmers’ cooperatives and agribusiness by Hivos-Triodos Fonds. The farmers had 57,100 hectares of certified organic farmland under cultivation in 2022. An additional 6,000 hectares was in conversion.

45% SBTi commitment or alignment

Science Based Targets commitment and alignment

As of the end of 2022, 45% of our Impact Equities and Bonds’ portfolio by net asset value were aligned with or committed to Science-Based Targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Targets are considered to be science-based if they are in line with what the latest climate science says is necessary to meet the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.

52% Less greenhouse gas emissions

Footprint

In 2022, the footprint benchmark results for the Triodos Impact Equities and Bond funds were on average:

•    GHG emissions: 52% lower than the benchmark
•    Water use: 82% lower than the benchmark
•    Landfill waste production: 2% higher than the benchmark

These footprint and benchmark figures, received from external data providers, give an indication of the funds' sustainability performance as an outcome of the funds' strict impact selection and exclusion criteria. The carbon and water footprints of the IEB funds showed lower environmental impacts of the portfolio companies’ activities compared to those of the benchmark.

The higher than benchmark landfill waste footprint is mainly related to the investment in a number of paper (packaging) companies promoting the transition from plastic to paper packaging. Since landfill waste is defined as all waste eligible to be disposed of via landfills, it includes paper and plastic packaging, which in many instances can be recycled so they do not end up in landfill. We consciously accept that a handful of investments with positive overall impact results in the funds have a larger waste footprint than the reference index, as we firmly believe these companies deliver a positive impact on problems like plastics pollution in our oceans.

The benchmark with which the Triodos Impact Equities and Bond funds compare differs per fund and type of footprint. These are: MSCI World, MSCI World Small & Mid Cap Index, MSCI World Impact ESG Select Children’s Rights Index and customised benchmarks for the Triodos Impact Mixed funds and the Triodos Bond Impact funds.

82% Less water use

Footprint

In 2022, the footprint benchmark results for the Triodos Impact Equities and Bond funds were on average:

•    GHG emissions: 52% lower than the benchmark
•    Water use: 82% lower than the benchmark
•    Landfill waste production: 2% higher than the benchmark

These footprint and benchmark figures, received from external data providers, give an indication of the funds' sustainability performance as an outcome of the funds' strict impact selection and exclusion criteria. The carbon and water footprints of the IEB funds showed lower environmental impacts of the portfolio companies’ activities compared to those of the benchmark.

The higher than benchmark landfill waste footprint is mainly related to the investment in a number of paper (packaging) companies promoting the transition from plastic to paper packaging. Since landfill waste is defined as all waste eligible to be disposed of via landfills, it includes paper and plastic packaging, which in many instances can be recycled so they do not end up in landfill. We consciously accept that a handful of investments with positive overall impact results in the funds have a larger waste footprint than the reference index, as we firmly believe these companies deliver a positive impact on problems like plastics pollution in our oceans.

The benchmark with which the Triodos Impact Equities and Bond funds compare differs per fund and type of footprint. These are: MSCI World, MSCI World Small & Mid Cap Index, MSCI World Impact ESG Select Children’s Rights Index and customised benchmarks for the Triodos Impact Mixed funds and the Triodos Bond Impact funds.

2% More landfill waste production

Footprint

In 2022, the footprint benchmark results for the Triodos Impact Equities and Bond funds were on average:

•    GHG emissions: 52% lower than the benchmark
•    Water use: 82% lower than the benchmark
•    Landfill waste production: 2% higher than the benchmark

These footprint and benchmark figures, received from external data providers, give an indication of the funds' sustainability performance as an outcome of the funds' strict impact selection and exclusion criteria. The carbon and water footprints of the IEB funds showed lower environmental impacts of the portfolio companies’ activities compared to those of the benchmark.

The higher than benchmark landfill waste footprint is mainly related to the investment in a number of paper (packaging) companies promoting the transition from plastic to paper packaging. Since landfill waste is defined as all waste eligible to be disposed of via landfills, it includes paper and plastic packaging, which in many instances can be recycled so they do not end up in landfill. We consciously accept that a handful of investments with positive overall impact results in the funds have a larger waste footprint than the reference index, as we firmly believe these companies deliver a positive impact on problems like plastics pollution in our oceans.

The benchmark with which the Triodos Impact Equities and Bond funds compare differs per fund and type of footprint. These are: MSCI World, MSCI World Small & Mid Cap Index, MSCI World Impact ESG Select Children’s Rights Index and customised benchmarks for the Triodos Impact Mixed funds and the Triodos Bond Impact funds.

Let's look beyond the numbers

How did we make impact matter in 2022? We made sure we walked the talk by launching a new fund, engaging companies in critical conversations and shaping the legislative landscape to direct billions of euros into sustainable investing.

Investing in our children is key to securing a prosperous future. That’s why we launched Triodos Future Generations Fund in March 2022. Through a concentrated portfolio of globally listed small and midcap companies, we offer investors the opportunity to make an impact on children’s wellbeing and development around the world.

SFDR and EU Taxonomy, key components of the EU Sustainable Finance Action Plan, help ensure the management of sustainability risks and transparency by financial market participants to prevent greenwashing and impact washing. Throughout 2022, we continued to implement rules and publish disclosure requirements to make sure all Triodos funds are classified as Article 9 funds, the most sustainable category. While we welcome this legislation, we are also not shy about addressing its pitfalls.

We’re proud that Triodos Bank, including Triodos Investment Management, has recertified as a B-Corp. The B-Corp certification helps increase the awareness and credibility of corporate sustainability. It also demonstrates that a business-model focused on long-term added value (rather than short-term financial profit) is not only possible, but desirable.

Ready to dive beneath the surface? Dig into the details with our long read and find out why we believe the time for band-aid solutions is over.

In conversation with

We love sharing our knowledge, which is why we’ve put together these two interviews with our experts. In our first interview, Nikkie Pelzer and Rebecca Spohrer share how we put our impact ambitions into practice. We then talk with Federica Masut and Hans Stegeman as they explain why we need to take targeted action based on radical choices.

Transparent investing

We think you should have a clear view of how each of our investments work. Explore our interactive map to see how we’re working towards a future with prosperous people on a thriving planet.

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How is each of our funds delivering positive change? Sign up to have our 2022 Impact Reports sent to your inbox and see for yourself.

Looking beyond tomorrow

Let's look at the numbers

Households provided with clean energy

Borrowers reached

Smallholder farmers paid directly and fairly

Science Based Targets commitment and alignment

Footprint

Footprint

Footprint

Let's look beyond the numbers

In conversation with

Making impact clear

“We take targeted action based on radical choices”

Transparent investing

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Looking beyond tomorrow

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