3 min. readingtime
We have developed a methodology to provide insight into the plastic footprint of investment portfolios. The method is a co-creation of a.s.r., Earth Action, and the Plastic Soup Foundation, making a.s.r., as far as is currently known, the first company within the financial sector to apply this method.
The approach makes it possible to provide an indication of the plastic impact of companies and portfolios, including potential effects on the environment and health, based on available data and assumptions. Over the past few months, a.s.r. was the first financial institution to test the method in a pilot, in which plastic pollution and associated health risks were mapped, among other things. The pilot provided insight into which companies in the investment portfolio may have a major negative impact on plastic pollution.
Marjolein Meulensteen, Portfolio Manager Responsible Investing at a.s.r. Asset management: “With this methodology, we are making a blind spot in the financial sector visible; the impact of plastic pollution on the environment and health often remains underexposed. Investors gain more insight into potential plastic impact and associated risks, which can support them in their investment decisions.”
The methodology translates existing insights regarding ‘financed emissions’ into plastic pollution. Because data is still limited, the model combines company- and sector-specific data to estimate potential impact. “To translate the logic of financed emissions into plastic pollution, it was necessary to develop entirely new data layers. The result is a methodology that is transparent, reproducible, and immediately usable, including for other financial institutions, with the aim of offering an approach that is as transparent and reproducible as possible,” says Riccardo De Gennaro, PhD, data specialist at Earth Action and developer of the methodology.
For the collaborating parties, plastic pollution is no longer just an environmental problem; it is a financial and systemic risk. Methodologies such as this can contribute to further transparency and decision-making regarding plastic impact in portfolios. According to the Plastic Soup Foundation, the development of this method is urgently needed. “Plastic pollution is also a health issue. It is essential that financial institutions translate this into concrete action,” says Maria Westerbos, founder and director of the Plastic Soup Foundation.
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About Earth Action (EA)
Earth Action (EA) is a mission-driven research consultancy committed to evidence-based action against plastic pollution and climate change. EA develops methodologies, data platforms, and directly applicable knowledge for policymakers, businesses, and civil society. EA is the developer of the Plasteax database and the Packaging Data Hub and is a member of the Environmental Footprint Centre. Scientific research is conducted under the name EA For Impact, EA's Swiss non-profit organization, which also coordinates the Plastic Footprint Network.
About Plastic Soup Foundation
Plastic Soup Foundation is an independent Dutch non-profit organization dedicated to reducing plastic pollution at the source. Through scientific research, public campaigns, policy advocacy, and partnerships, the organization works towards a future without plastic pollution in our environment, food, water, and bodies. Since its founding in 2011, Plastic Soup Foundation has been committed worldwide to structural solutions that protect the health of people and the planet.
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