Forum Ethibel pioneers standards in the sustainable finance industry and (social) economy. We challenge the status quo and enforce credible sustainable CSR and SRI practices. We envision a future in which businesses, organisations and financial institutions have fully integrated environmental responsibility, social responsibility and good governance into their operations. By collaborating with stakeholders across the economy, we support the transition towards a sustainable society.
Vision & mission
Vision
Mission
Forum Ethibel is an expert in verification and guidance. Our services help (social) businesses establish more credible sustainable practices and align them with sustainable finance. Our innovative and practical solutions target both pioneers and the ones that need a little nudge. Knowledge-building is in our DNA. We conduct research, share insights and good practices with relevant stakeholders, and raise awareness among the general public. As an independent not-for-profit organisation, we set the agenda and challenge the current standards of sustainable investing and sustainable behaviour in the (social) economy.
We strengthen transparency, social responsibility and sustainability in the financial markets, the corporate sector and the (social) economy.
In our operations, we attach importance to four core values:
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CommitmentWe are committed to all stakeholders and actively listen to their views and ideas.
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CredibilityOur relationships are based on trust and honesty. We say what we do, and do what we promise. We devote great attention to our integrity, objectivity and independence and do not accept outside pressure.
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EffectivenessWe strive to work efficiently, with a view on achieving maximum social impact.
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InnovationWe stimulate the market as regards Socially Responsible Investing (SRI) and develop new and relevant products and services to encourage SRI.
A piece of history
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1992
Foundation of ETHIBEL
In the early 1990s, the market for ethical investment was still relatively new. However, various associations and individuals showed an interest in supporting socially relevant causes with their savings. Within this context various NGO’s set up ETHIBEL, a non-profit organisation that would screen ethical investment funds independently. With its foundation, ETHIBEL created a label – Ethibel PIONEER - that has been recognised as a leading label.
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2001
Research: MIRA
MIRA (Flanders Environmental Report coordinated by the Flemish Environment Agency) provides scientific support for environmental policy planning. Since 2001, ETHIBEL has been responsible for the annual updates of the 'Sustainable Savings and Investments' report.
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2004
Launch of Ethibel EXCELLENCE
ETHIBEL developed a new label to meet the needs of financial institutions and investors. Ethibel EXCELLENCE has a broader focus, making it more accessible than Ethibel PIONEER, mainly to fund managers taking their first steps towards sustainability.
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2006
ETHIBEL becomes Forum Ethibel
By adding 'Forum', the organisation emphasised that corporate social responsibility and socially responsible investing must fit in a broad social dialogue.
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2007 - 2015
Expansion: audits and certificates
The landscape of sustainable investment funds is changing rapidly, with more products on the market being presented as sustainable. This diversity makes it harder to assess the quality of the funds’ sustainability. The organisation expanded its activities with advice to governments, companies, and organisations as well as audits and certifications of funds to which clients have applied their own sustainability policies. In this way, we give investors the guarantee that they really do comply with self-imposed criteria.
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2011
Solid'R label at Belgian level
Social economy enterprises on the Belgian market receive the Solid’R label subject to Forum Ethibel’s positive audit report. The objective is to distinguish private players in the field of recycling from organisations that strive for more solidarity and valuation of the raw materials used.
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2016
Tailor-made advice
From now on, Forum Ethibel will advise institutional investors on the sustainability content of their investment portfolios. The tailor-made solutions range from baseline measurements, to the formulation and implementation of a sustainability policy, to annual monitoring.
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2018
Solid'R label at European level
To promote the principles of solidarity internationally, Solid’R was lifted to a European level. Forum Ethibel is responsible for the European audits.
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2019
Belgian sustainable quality standard
Febelfin published a quality standard for sustainable financial products. The standard defines the minimum requirements that financial products must meet if they claim to be sustainable. Products that meet these requirements will receive the ‘Towards Sustainability’ label. Forum Ethibel was selected as the verifier of this quality standard in collaboration with ICHEC Brussels Management School and the University of Antwerp.
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2021
MIRA is renamed as ERSIS
In 2021, the collaboraton with the Flemish Environmental Society came to an end and the Federal Insitute for sustainable Development took over its role. The name 'MIRA' study was simultaneously renamed ERSIS: Ethibel Research on Sustainable Investment and Savings.
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2022
30 years of Forum Ethibel