Our dialogue with stakeholders, which is the main driver of Van Lanschot’s CSR policy, has helped shape the bank’s core values. Van Lanschot has identified various groups of stakeholders, each of which have their own wishes, interests and opinions. In addition to clients, employees and shareholders, Van Lanschot’s stakeholders also include government agencies and regulators, civil-society organisations and competitors.
Because we are permanently in talks with our stakeholders, we are able to take their differing wishes, interests and opinions into account in our day-to-day activities. This does not, however, mean that we are always in a position to satisfy all of our stakeholders. Cases can, of course, arise in which their interests conflict. In such cases, if Van Lanschot decides to go along with the wishes of one group, this will imply that the wishes of another group will not be fullfilled. Our inability to satisfy all of our stakeholders at all times is also linked to one of our core values, specifically independence. Van Lanschot believes it is important that it is able to take decisions independently.
Stakeholder dialogues in 2010
During 2010, Van Lanschot conducted a large number of talks with stakeholders, ranging from individual clients to groups of businesses. These included the biennial symposium for congregations, frequent business lunches and extensive research into the sustainability perception of Van Lanschot's clients, conducted by TNS NIPO. In addition, regular talks were held with civil-society organisations, such as the Dutch Fair Bank Guide (Eerlijke Bankwijzer), an alliance formed by Oxfam Novib, Friends of the Earth Netherlands (Milieudefensie), FNV Mondiaal, the Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals (Dierenbescherming) and Amnesty International. Background information and further examples of stakeholder dialogues can be found on our website (in Dutch) www.vanlanschot.nl/mvo
Our dialogues with stakeholders also led Van Lanschot to sign up to three international sets of principles (Global Compact (GC), the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), and the principles of the International Labour Organisation (ILO). By doing so, we not only expressed our intention to incorporate important CSR issues, such as human rights, employment rights, the environment and tackling corruption, in our business processes, we also indicated our willingness to hold our stakeholders to account with regard to these issues as necessary wherever possible.
Finally, Van Lanschot incorporated a number of additional CSR issues in its lending policy in 2010 partly as a follow-up to dialogues with stakeholders. These issues were weapons, fur, gaming, pornography, animal testing and nuclear energy.
Organisation of CSR
Responsibility for CSR is vested with the Chairman of the Board of Managing Directors.