To help put a stop to deforestation, ACTIAM is launching an engagement program, with the support of Satelligence, with a focus on deforestation-free supply chains. The initiative will allow the asset manager, together with other investors, to gain more transparency in the supply chains of companies it invests in.
Satelligence use of satellite technology sheds a light on if and where in the companies’ supply chain deforestation occurs and which concrete actions investees take to prevent it.
ACTIAM’s initiative ‘Satellite-based engagements towards No-deforestation’ is launched to support ACTIAM’s ambition on land use: no more deforestation by 2030
In this area, ACTIAM has been working with geodata analytics firm Satelligence. Radar and optical satellite images provided by Satelligence enable ACTIAM to detect, validate and quantify changes in the vegetation cover of nature areas, which are then connected to companies through public data on supply chains. The images provide investors with an overview of progress made by these companies.
The companies participating in this initiative
- ACTIAM N.V.
- Achmea Investment Management
- Aegon Nederland N.V.
- a.s.r. vermogensbeheer
- Aviva Investors
- Fidelity International
- Nomura Asset Management
- Robeco
- Zwitserleven
Use of satellite imagery
Companies are expected to meet the investors’ requests in two to three years. The use of innovative tools such as satellite imagery and data analysis will allow investors to assess the progress made by the engaged companies, and whether their efforts are indeed leading to a reduction of deforestation in the monitored regions and suppliers.
Several soft commodities are huge contributors to driving deforestation worldwide. Therefore, Satelligence, in collaboration with the group of investors, is currently looking into extending this initiative towards other regions and soft commodities such as palm oil in Indonesia, soy in Latin-America, and cocoa in Africa.
About ACTIAM
ACTIAM manages assets of € 60 billion (June 2020) for insurers, pension funds, banks and intermediaries. ACTIAM offers a complete range of sustainable investment funds and solutions (both active and passive management). ACTIAM sets strict requirements on its investments and follows a robust and careful selection process, without making concessions in its financial returns, making ACTIAM “Responsible for growth”.