Forestry & Plantations Policy
The policy is designed to guide the financing of the Forestry and Plantation sector to minimise the impact on human rights, indigenous people, natural habitats and endangered species.
Industries covered by the Forestry and Plantations policy are amongst others pulp and paper mills, oil palm, soy, rubber, cotton, banana, tea, coffee, cacao, and trade of plantation products.
ING refrains from financing companies or their subsidiaries who are involved in deforestation and/or burning down of High Conservation Value Forests (HCVF)*.
ING refrains from engaging in the financing of plantations in UNESCO World Heritage Sites, IUCN protected areas and areas registered by the Ramsar Convention.
* High Conservation Value Forest as defined by the Forest Stewardship Council. The term refers to the primary and secondary forests of special value owing to biodiversity, the presence of unique ecosystems, the important function of the forest and the importance of the forest to the traditional local community and/or culture.