News overview
View the latest news releases from Sustainable Banking and stay informed.
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Hitching a sustainable ride
Following a successful pilot project in Eindhoven last year, the Amber Car Sharing Fleet has now been deployed in Amsterdam. ABN AMRO Commercial Banking relationship managers have recently started to call on their clients in a shared electric car from their base in the city's Zuidas district. A special app called Amber lets users book the car, indicating what time they want to leave, where they're going and at which hub they want to pick up the car. Amber will then make sure the BMW i3 is available at the desired time and location.
Mortgage advisers to focus on sustainable living in client consultations
More sustainable homes offer owners big advantages, starting with lower energy costs and more comfort. Equally important, these improvements help tackle climate change. In many cases, they also add value to the property. All the same, private homeowners have yet to fully embrace this growing trend, for the simple fact that many don't know what they're missing. That's why ABN AMRO and a number of other major players in the mortgage market have agreed a set of incentives.
Business Innovation Workshop offers Kemie useful tools
Sustainable entrepreneurship and a circular business model are now familiar concepts at many companies. In real life, though, it seems they're often difficult to put into practice. That's why the bank recently organised a two-day Business Innovation Workshop for business clients. The workshop was held at the Circl circular pavilion, where nineteen participants, together with their ABN AMRO relationship managers, got down to work on sustainable and circular business models for their companies. Jean-Paul Fransen attended the workshop on behalf of Kemie, a leading manufacturer of stone worktops for kitchens and other uses based in the Dutch city of Helmond. At his side was his relationship manager Bart Odekerken.
Business Innovation Workshop at Circl
How do you make your business future-proof? The bank recently set out to help business owners find ways to integrate circularity into their operational processes with the Business Innovation Workshop, focusing on applying circular strategies and identifying options to finance their sustainable ambitions.
Richard Reporting - The latest on green bonds
In 'Richard Reporting', Head of Sustainable Banking Richard Kooloos visits a range of colleagues to find out what they're achieving in the sustainable arena. His interviewees on green bonds are Joop Hessels and Dick Ligthart.
KoffiePartners pushes the boundaries of sustainability
Sustainable entrepreneurship is deeply rooted in the service model and business philosophy of KoffiePartners. And the new premises under construction in Zwijndrecht promise to push the boundaries of sustainability even further. For Bart Brouwer, the company's managing director, it's also the perfect opportunity to apply the lessons he learned building his very own state-of-the-art green energy villa in Aalsmeer back in 2011. Bart was one of nineteen business owners to attend the Business Innovation Workshop recently organised by ABN AMRO to look at ways to make their businesses circular. It also gave them a chance to pitch their ideas, gain new insight and learn from the work that went into building Circl, the bank's circular pavilion. Relationship Manager Mark Swiebel was on hand to guide and support Bart during the two-day workshop.
Pooling expertise for the Fairphone circular business model
The starting point is a sustainable product design. The device itself is made of durable, honest materials. The units are produced in an environment that promotes well-being. And, as you'd expect from a circular product, the focus is on reuse and recycling. Users don't purchase a device - instead, they sign a contract allowing them to take advantage of an extensive service package. This exciting initiative has sparked a lot of interest. But how do you translate a circular vision like Fairphone's into a long-term, profitable business model? A number of stakeholders recently put their heads together to do just that.
Kids' Energy Boot Camp during the WTT
How environmentally conscious are you? That's the question the bank asked over 500 children at the Kids' Energy Boot Camp, organised on 14 February to coincide with the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam. Fun games and exercises were planned to show them how their own choices can have an effect on the environment.