Name

VBDO

Legal name

Vereniging van Beleggers voor Duurzame Ontwikkeling

Website

https://vbdo.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Investment Association Services

NAICS

Finance and Insurance (52)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainability & ESG Consulting (BPAHACAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

ESG Governance, Sustainability Reporting & Assurance Advisory (BPAHAFAJ), ESG Reporting, Disclosure & Regulatory Compliance (SFDR, EU Taxonomy, TCFD/ISSB) (FSAAALAK), ESG & Sustainability Research (FSACAGAH), ESG/Sustainable Investment Advisory (FSAEAAAJ)

Keywords

• Sustainable investment benchmarking
• Responsible investment association
• ESG shareholder engagement
• Pension fund benchmarking
• Tax transparency research

Headquarters

HQ city

Utrecht

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Institutional Membership: Annual membership fees from institutional investors including pension funds, insurers, banks, and asset managers. VBDO provides benchmarking participation, engagement services, and network access to members.
2. Private Membership: Annual private membership at €39 per year, providing access to publications, events, and voting rights at general assembly.
3. Publications and Reports: VBDO publishes benchmarks, research reports, and thematic studies which are publicly available. Some premium reports may be offered for sale or pre-order.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

VBDO is a Dutch membership-based association that drives sustainable investment through three integrated pillars: (1) benchmarking studies ranking pension funds, insurers, and listed companies on responsible investment practices; (2) an annual AGM engagement program posing critical ESG questions to approximately 28 Dutch listed companies; and (3) knowledge sharing via publications, webinars, seminars, and peer reviews. Members include institutional investors (pension funds, insurers, banks, asset managers) and private individuals committed to ESG integration.

Product overview

VBDO (Vereniging van Beleggers voor Duurzame Ontwikkeling) is a Dutch association of investors for sustainable development, not a product company in the traditional sense. It operates as a knowledge and engagement organization rather than a software platform. Its offerings consist primarily of research benchmarks, publications, engagement services, and knowledge-sharing events. The core products include: the annual Benchmark Responsible Investment by Pension Funds (ranking 50 Dutch pension funds), the Benchmark Responsible Investment by Insurance Companies (assessing 30 Dutch insurers), the Tax Transparency Benchmark, and the Business & Biodiversity Benchmark (in collaboration with PwC). The AGM Engagement Program represents its core service offering where it attends shareholder meetings and poses ESG questions. Supporting these are publications (reports, whitepapers, thematic studies), webinars and seminars for knowledge sharing, and peer review services. These offerings work together as a comprehensive ecosystem for advancing sustainable investment practices in the Dutch financial market.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Benchmark Responsible Investment by Pension Funds in the Netherlands Annual comparative study assessing and ranking the 50 largest Dutch pension funds on their responsible investment policies and practices, implemented annually since 2006.
• Benchmark Responsible Investment by Insurance Companies in the Netherlands Annual assessment of the 30 largest Dutch insurers for their performance in responsible, sustainable and impact investment, with thematic attention to climate change and biodiversity, implemented annually since 2009.
• Tax Transparency Benchmark Assessment of tax transparency practices among Dutch and European listed companies, evaluating transparency in tax governance and reporting, implemented annually since 2014.
• Business & Biodiversity Benchmark Sector-specific benchmark evaluating 30 European-listed companies across Food & Beverage, Extractive, and Pharmaceutical sectors on biodiversity strategy, policy, actions, and targets, developed in collaboration with PwC Netherlands.
• AGM Engagement Program Annual shareholder engagement program where VBDO attends Dutch listed companies' Annual General Meetings, asking critical ESG questions on rotating themes to promote sustainable business operations.
• AGM Engagement Report Annual publication documenting findings from the AGM engagement season, presenting company responses, trends, and recommendations on selected ESG themes.
• Publications and Research Reports Collection of reports including whitepapers and thematic studies covering sustainable investment, biodiversity, climate, living wage, and responsible supply chains.
• Webinars and Seminars Online and in-person events including roundtables, masterclasses, and educational sessions on sustainable investment topics for members and stakeholders.
• Peer Reviews Advisory service offering sector performance reviews helping organizations understand how similar parties perform in responsible investment, with advice on strategic improvements.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Tax Transparency Benchmark drove increase in companies publishing tax strategy from 45% (2015) to 89% (2025)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PwC NetherlandscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration on Business & Biodiversity Benchmark 2025 evaluating 30 European-listed companies. PwC provides partner-level involvement and thought leadership in report development. Also collaborated on 'Biodiversity and Business' report.
• Rainforest Foundation Norway (RFN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Collaboration with RFN to launch the Investor Initiative on Responsible Nickel Supply Chains in 2024. RFN provides substantive input including their 'Short Circuits' report benchmarking 19 downstream companies on social and environmental supply chain performance. RFN's local partner organizations in producer countries contribute research and insights.
• Platform Living Wage Financials (PLWF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVBDO has served as a driving force within PLWF since 2016. From 2024, VBDO took on secretarial and operational support role within this alliance of 21 investors committed to living wages in clothing, retail, and agricultural sectors. PLWF conducts annual assessments and publishes reports on living wage progress.
• ERIN (European Responsible Investment Network)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerInitiative of ShareAction. VBDO is part of ERIN steering group and participates in working group on human rights. European network of 30+ organizations from 12 countries advocating sustainable investment system.
• Bottom Line!minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership from IUCN NL focusing on three forest landscapes of critical biodiversity value: Tompotika forest in Indonesia (threatened by nickel mining), Atewa forest in Ghana (bauxite mining plans), and Tampakan in Philippines (copper ore mining opposition).
• United Nations Net-Zero Asset Owner Alliance (NZAOA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerVBDO appointed as official supporter of NZAOA in 2021 by UNEP FI. NZAOA is group of asset owners committed to transforming investment portfolios towards Net-Zero GHG emissions by 2050.
• EurosifminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEuropean organisation of Sustainable Investment Forums. VBDO maintains close ties with Eurosif but is not a formal member.
• GSIA (Global Sustainable Investment Alliance)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerGlobal sustainable investment collaboration. GSIA regularly publishes Global Sustainable Investment Review on market trends.
• Lead the ChargeminorOthersCivil society organization supporting the Nickel Initiative by offering research findings, insights, and recommendations for responsible nickel supply chains in EV sector.
• SIRGE Coalition (Securing Indigenous Peoples' Rights in the Green Economy)minorOthersCivil society organization providing expertise on Indigenous rights in the context of green economy and mining. Supports Nickel Initiative with research and recommendations.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Forum Ethibel: Belgian independent non-profit that assesses and labels sustainable investments. Comparable to VBDO's benchmarking and label function in a neighboring Benelux market.
• UKSIF (UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association): UK membership association for sustainable and responsible investment, offering research, policy advocacy, and member networking. Closely mirrors VBDO's model in a different national market, providing a useful international comparison.
• US SIF (The Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investment): US membership association advancing sustainable investing across asset managers, asset owners, and financial intermediaries. Comparable as a national SRI trade body producing flagship reports and benchmarking the industry's responsible investment activity.
• ASrIA (Asia Sustainable Investment Association): Asian membership association promoting sustainable investment practices across Asia-Pacific markets. Mirror image of VBDO's association model applied to a different regional market.
• RIAA (Responsible Investment Association Australasia): Australasian peak industry body for responsible investment, running benchmarking, certification, and advocacy programs. Closely parallels VBDO's national benchmarking and engagement model.

Direct peers

• Eumedion: Dutch platform of institutional investors focused on corporate governance and ESG engagement with Dutch listed companies. Directly comparable to VBDO as a Dutch institutional investor association conducting engagement and policy advocacy in the same market.

Emerging players

• ShareAction: UK charity working to mobilize responsible investment for social and environmental change. Comparable to VBDO through investor coalition-building and stewardship advocacy, though with a stronger NGO/advocacy orientation.

Broad incumbents

• CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project): Global non-profit running the leading environmental disclosure system used by investors, companies, and cities. Overlaps with VBDO's engagement and benchmarking remit at a much larger global scale.
• Eurosif: European federation of national Sustainable Investment Forums (SIFs). Functions as a continental umbrella over VBDO and peer associations; comparable as the coordinating layer for European SRI policy advocacy and market data.
• PRI (Principles for Responsible Investment): UN-supported international network of institutional investors committed to incorporating ESG into investment decision-making. Operates globally at a much larger scale than VBDO, but comparable as the leading responsible-investment membership organization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about VBDO