ENABLING A REGENERATIVE ECONOMY
Impact defines who we are and how we invest.
We unlock the potential of the bioeconomy by backing pioneering companies that turn transformational ideas into high-growth businesses – reducing pressure on planetary boundaries and advancing an economy where nature and industry are aligned.
Impact is embedded throughout our entire investment lifecycle. As Europe’s specialist VC for a regenerative economy, we invest in companies that replace fossil-based systems with scalable, bio-based and circular solutions that combine measurable environmental impact with superior financial performance.
Our impact approach is evidence-based and externally verified. A demonstrated contribution to climate change mitigation, through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the enhancement of carbon sinks, is a prerequisite for every investment decision.
Our Impact Investment Approach
Measurable. Evidence-Based. Externally verified.
Impact is a foundational principle and is embedded in our investment process. We define sustainable investments in line with the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) as activities that contribute to an environmental objective, do not significantly harm other environmental or social objectives (DNSH), and follow good governance practices.
Our approach integrates ESG and impact considerations across the full investment lifecycle, including:
- Climate change mitigation as the primary impact objective, assessed through evidence-based methodologies and external verification.
- ESG integration from screening and due diligence through investment decisions and ongoing portfolio oversight.
- DNSH assessments to prevent material harm to other environmental or social objectives.
- Principal Adverse Impact (PAI) assessments using qualitative and quantitative, sector-specific indicators and benchmarks.
- Climate risk analysis, incorporating physical and transition risks into financial models to support resilient long-term value creation.
SFDR Article 9 – “Dark Green”
ECBF is classified as an Article 9 fund under the SFDR, with 100% of investments qualifying as sustainable investments. Through active ownership, rigorous monitoring, and transparent reporting, the fund aligns financial performance with sustainability and impact objectives.ECBF’s Impact Network
UN PRI Report 2025
Top Performance. ECBF scored above the peer median across all assessed modules
The specialist VC for a regenerative economy
Staying at the Forefront of Impact Investing in Europe ECBF continuously refines its ESG and impact framework in line with evolving science, regulation, and best practice prioritizing transparency, credibility, and practical application. As sustainable finance evolves, ECBF remains committed to advancing its methodologies and applying the highest standards of impact measurement, governance, and reporting – grounded in real-world investment practice.
ECBF is taking the next step in this journey by expanding its framework: a more explicit, intentional, and ambitious application of what we have learned – while remaining firmly grounded in evidence, accountability, and performance.
Building on the experience and insights gained over the past years, ECBF is developing the next generation of its impact approach. With this expansion of its framework ECBF will continue to actively contribute to a regenerative economy that alleviates pressure on planetary boundaries and fosters long-term ecological resilience. This update is set to pursue a more intentional, outcome-driven strategy with a clear focus on long-term impact.
While maintaining ECBF’s rigorous, science-driven investment discipline, the new framework broadens its impact lens to include biodiversity, circularity, and system-level transformation, alongside climate change mitigation and health impact. ECBF will continue to support companies in redefining industries and setting new standards for a sustainable, resilient future.
Our Theory of Change – From Capital Deployment to Systemic Change
We are convinced that venture capital can serve as a powerful catalyst for systemic change - unlocking the full potential of the bioeconomy and circular economy to deliver growth, impact, and resilience at scale.