Sustainable investing by private individuals more than doubles

Dutch private investors invested around 30 billion euros annually through banks. This is more than double compared to four years ago, according to research by the Association of Investors for Sustainable Development (VBDO) in collaboration with ABN AMRO, BNP Paribas Asset Management, ING and Triodos Bank. Sustainably invested capital has also increased over the years compared to the total private invested capital, namely from 7% in 2011 to 19% in 2019.

Upward trend on lagging total
The study sustainable investing for private individuals through banks shows that there is visible growth for the entire private market for sustainable investments. From 15 billion in 2015 to just over 30 billion in 2019.

“The increase is of course a good thing,” said Angélique Laskewitz, director of the VBDO. “However, we should not forget that more than four fifths of the assets are still traditionally invested. This means that for more than 120 billion, little or no attention is paid to the impact on people or the environment.”

Sustainable investment guide
It is the first time since 2015 that the report is published. Where previous reports mainly showed market rrends, this edition is focussed at offering private investors tools to get started with sustainable investing.

For example, the study shows as a result of a number of previously published studies, that sustainable investing yields as much return or even more than traditional investing. It also indicates what sustainable investing entails and offers a step-by-step plan for starting sustainable investing yourself.

Laskewitz: “Many people still think that you have to compromise on your financial return through exclusion. Fortunately, the opposite has now been amply proven. Of course, the question remains how to start investing sustainably. As an association, we see it as our task to support our members in this. That said, we naturally invite everyone to read the study and take a first step. ”

Robert Jan Prins, Financial Markets Policy Advisor at NVB: “Dutch banks consider it important to help their customers in the transition to a more sustainable economy. Sustainable investing offers consumers a good instrument to further accelerate that transition themselves. This study offers private investors a good tool to further delve into the ever-increasing range of sustainable investments. ”

The study sustainable investment for private individuals through banks is available here (in Dutch).