Between Rules and Reality: Integrity in Sustainable Finance Posted on October 2, 2025 at 10:16 am.Written by Roeland Jongejan Outcomes of the 2025 Fund Event Roundtable At the Fund Event on 29 September in ’t Spant, Bussum, DSI hosted a roundtable discussion led by Floris Mreijen, CEO of DSI. The dialogue document Between the Lines – Integrity in Sustainable Finance served as the basis for discussions with financial sector professionals, including asset managers, private bankers, and managers who engage with investors on a daily basis. The exchange showed that the observations from the report are clearly reflected in practice. While sustainable finance was the main topic of conversation between 2020 and 2022, professionals now notice that client discussions have shifted. Interest in responsible and sustainable investing has decreased for some clients, with more focus on achieving returns. There is also increasing discussion about investing in the defence sector and whether such investments fit within a sustainable portfolio. A key conclusion from Between the Lines is that regulation can sometimes create more uncertainty than it resolves—an observation that was confirmed during the roundtable. The conversation also covered upcoming regulations. Although these aim to strengthen integrity and transparency, professionals noted that more rules can lead to increased complexity and checkbox behaviour—the very risks highlighted in the dialogue document. The three challenges identified in Between the Lines – managing expectations, communicating effectively, and actively safeguarding integrity – remain highly relevant. DSI will continue to drive this conversation, keeping professional competence and integrity at the centre of discussions on sustainable finance. For more information about the dialogue document, see here.
Three integrity pitfalls putting sustainable finance under pressure Posted on June 23, 2025 at 8:59 am.Written by Roeland Jongejan Sustainability is everywhere in the financial sector – but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to get it right. On the contrary: conversations with professionals reveal that practice often falls short of ambition. DSI and The Can Do Company spoke with experts from across the sector about the tension between sustainability goals and the realities of day-to-day work. From these conversations, three recurring integrity pitfalls emerged – striking in both their persistence and their familiarity. These have been captured in the dialogue document Between the Lines, designed to raise awareness among professionals and spark honest, constructive conversations. Three recurring areas of tension Managing expectations: Who is responsible for driving sustainability – companies, investors, governments? Sustainability may appear measurable and controllable, but system pressures and a false sense of certainty often lead to greenwishing rather than real impact. Communicating effectively How can we make the trade-offs and complexity of sustainability understandable? More data and more transparency don’t automatically create clarity or sound advice – especially when knowledge gaps stand in the way of meaningful dialogue. Safeguarding integrityHow can we prevent rules and regulations from unintentionally blocking real progress? Hopeful slogans and checklist-driven compliance can replace solid reasoning – putting both genuine impact and trust at risk. What now?Between the Lines is used as part of DSI’s permanent education programme and as a conversation starter within financial organisations. It is not a conclusion, but an open invitation to reflect and engage. Want to learn more or connect with the initiators?Download the document at www.dsi.nl/en/susfin or get in touch with DSI.