Cocoa is predominantly used for the production of chocolate. Cocoabutter is also used for shampoos and other care products. About one third of the cocoa that is being produced, comes originaly from Western Africa (Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon). Other large cocoa producing countries are Indonesia and Brazil. The cocoasector struggles with labour conditions on plantages in Western Africa, with environmental problems and the low prices many cocoa farmers get for their products.

Profundo analyses the global production and trade chains of cocoa, and advises the social organizations about increasing the sustainability within this production chain.  

The global fruit market is very diverse, this is because there are so many different ways to grow fruit. Predominantly (sub)tropical fruit, especially citrusfruit, is increasingly traded internationally. Although this can be an interesting source of revenues for developing countries, there are also negative social and environmental aspects that come along with it, such as the use of water, the use of poison, the transport towards the market outlet and the labour circumstances of the workers on the plantations.

Profundo researches the production and trade chains of the different kinds of fruit and tries to get insight in the possible stimulation for an increase of the sustainability within these chains. 

As a consequence of the growing global demand for food products, washing powders and bio fuels, the palmoil sector in Indonesia, Malaysia and other countries in South East Asia is enormously growing. This causes a loss of tropical forests, which threatens the biodiversity and loss of land and income possibilities for the local communities.

Profundo researches the companies who are active within the palmoil areas and the financial instutions financing these companies. Profundo was involved with the creation of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), who formulated conditions for the sustainable production of palmoil. Produndo is currently cooperating with social organizations and banks to implement the RSPO-conditions by getting as many as possible banks operating in the Indonesian palmoil sector involved. 

The global consumption of pork meat is rising rapidly, as more and more people switch from vegetable  proteins to animal proteins in their diet. The global production of pork meat however has a devastating effect on the world's natural resources, as forests, biodiversity and local communities are sacrificed to the ever expanding production of feed commodities such as soybeans. The growing global consumption of pork meat therefore certainly is not sustainable. 

Furthermore, environmental problems occur in regions where the production of pork meat is highly concentrated, because of an access in fertilizer and smell problems.

The production of chicken meat in industrialized countries is based on the vast import of cattle fodder, predominantly soy.This makes the demand for poultry an important stimulator of deforestation and other environmental and social problems that come along with the soy production.

Moreover the European consumers prefer poultry, which is why poultry abattoirs earn relatively high profit margins. The rest of the chicken meat is therefore being exported for marginalized costs to other parts of the world such as Africa. Because the imported poultry there is sold under the marketprices, the African producers of chicken meat lose their marketshares, which causes further dependence on import for the local economies. 

Profundo analyses the production and distribution chains for chicken meat, to identify which companies do play a role within this area and how the sustainability can be stimulated.  

Rice belongs to the most produced and consumed grains in the world. Almost 80% of the globally produced rice comes from six Asian countries: China, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Thailand. Although the rice area is highly important for very large communities, the labour circumstances on the ricefiels are usually far from good. Unequal balances of power within the global rice trade often have negative consequences for small producers.

Profunde analyses the global production and trade chains of rice, and also consults social organizations about the possibilities for an increase of the sustainability within the rice area.  

Soy is after rice, wheat and corn, the most cultivated vegetation in the world and the production increases fast, especially in South America. The vast expansion leads to enormous deforestation and all kinds of  problems for the local community.

Due the high protein contents and digestibility of soybeans, it is very suitable as cattle fodder for pigs, poultry and cows, which is essential for the production of meat, eggs and diary products. Besides that soyoil is being used for margarine, sauces and washing powders. The Netherlands has a central role in the soy sector as a central distributionpoint for the intensive stock farming in Western Europe. 

Profundo researches the product channels and financing of the soy production chain. Profundo also analyses the government policies within this area and consults the possibilities for an increase of the sustainability.   

Sugar is acquired from sugercanes in (sub)tropical countries and in moderate areas from sugar beets. The productioncosts of sugercanes is in average higher than the costs of sugar beets, but sugar beets farmers in Europe and the United States have been protected by subsidies and other government support for decades now. They are slowly cutting down the protection, but it is still a long way towards a free sugar market.

And it is even more difficult to find solutions for the sustainability problems within the sugar area, such as deforestation and bad labour conditions on the sugar plantations. The increasing demand for biofuels which is needed for the sugar production, makes the need for a solution even more urgent. 

Profundo researches the product routes and financing for the sugar production chain. Profundo also analyses the government policies within this area and consults the possibilities for the increase of the sustainability.  

Tobacco is exclusively cultivated for the smokeproducts industry.

Profundo researches the financing of the smokeproducts industry.  

The international market in vegetables has more limitations, but is more diverse than the international trade in other agricultural products. The trade is highly increasing, as a consequence of the demand from industrialized countries for fresh products such as peppers and beans, even outside the season. The vegetables are therefore often transferred by plane, which causes a high CO2 emission and damage to the environment around airports.

Profundo researches the production and trade chains for the different kinds of vegetables and tries to get insight in the possibilities for stimulating an increase of the sustainibility within these chains.  

Governments from Europe and the United States see an important answer for the climate problem in the stimulation of biofuels. An easy answer, as the partly replacement of fossilfuels by biofuels demands large changes in our transportsystem and way of living. But the largescale stimulations of biofuels causes the chopping down of forests to make a way for plantations in palmoil, soy and sugercanes. The environmental and social consequences are immense, moreover because the prices of foodproducts will be under pressure as the demand for biofuels increases.

Profundo researches which companies are involved with the production of and trade in biofuels and who finances them. Profundo also analyses the consequences for humans and the environment caused by the government stimulations for biofuels.

Although the smallscale waterpower projects can be considered as a sustainable alternative for fossil fuels, the vast waterpower projects often cause harm to humans and their environment. As a consequence of accumulation of water on the side of the dam, large areas are under water, whereas the other side of the dam, which was previously fertile, now is completely dehydrated and unlivable. Both sides of the dam can have immense influences on the local community: their supply of food sources dissapear and whole villages are forced to relocate.

Profundo researches the financing of largescale waterpower projects and the question whether financial institutions demand efficient social and environmental conditions concerning the financing of certain projects. 

Increasing oil and gas prices caused a renewed interest in nuclear energy, some even call this a 'green alternative' for fossil fuels. But this is not even close to the truth: nuclear power stations are still dangerous and there still is not a sufficient solution for the processing of nuclear waste. Besides, the winning of uranium, the building material needed for the supply of nuclear energy, causes serious damage to humans and the environment. Radioactive mine disposal pollutes the wide areas of uranium mines.

Profunde researches the uranium production chain and the supply and sales chains of nuclear power stations. Besides Profundo tries to provide insight in the real costs of nuclear energy, and researches which financial institutions are involved in the financing of new mines and nuclear power stations.

The extraction and transport of oil and gas threaten the vulnerable ecosystems and biodiversity in the different parts of the world. Besides that, is the global use of fossil energysources (such as oil, gas and coal) the main cause of climate change. And the inhabitants of those regions full of oil and gas sources often experience more economic and social disadvantages than advantages as a consequence of the oil and gas extraction.

Profundo analyses the productionchain of oil and gas producers and researches the financing of the oil and gas producing companies. Profundo also researches in how far the financing of the oil and gas area contributes to the climate change.  

Real renewable energysources such as the sun, wind and water, are not being used enough, partly because of the shortage of riskcapital or the large interests of governments or oil and gasconcerns. But the growing interest in the market, partly due the discussion on climate change, will increase the role of sustainable energysources.

Profundo researches the balance of power within the energysector and other restraints that influence the development of sustainable energysources. Profundo also researches the possibilities for other financial institutions who are willing to invest in sustainable energy production.

The large demand for shrimps from the Asian, European and American consumers, leads to a vast growth of tropical shrimp breeding in many tropical countries. To increase the number of coast areas accessible for the shrimp cultivation, there has been a largescale deforestation of mangroveforests. At the moment more than 35% of the worldwide mangrove forests are chopped for shrimp breeding. Besides the loss of the biodiversity, this can also be dangerous for the local community. As a consequence of the chopping down of mangrove forests the tsunami of December 2004 got through much further than would have been the case if the mangroveforests had still been there. The breeding of shrimps also leads to the pollution of coast areas. The local communities loses its existing and income possibilities due the shrimp breeding and is being expelled from its territories.

Profundo researches the trade chains of the shrimp areas and provides advice about the possibilities to increase the sustainability of this sector.

Cod, whiting, heek, pollack and other kinds of whitefish belong to the most consumed species of fish on the northern hemisphere. The growing demand for whitefish threatens the existence of these species. The industrial fishing of whitefish has to become more sustainable, restrained with clear quota's to intercept the extinguishment of these species. And fishing companies should at least to follow the criteria of the Marine Certification Council (MSC).

Profundo researches the companies who are active in this sector and the financial institutions who are involved with the financing.

The pulp and paper industry plays an important role concerning the mondial process of deforestation and the loss of biodiversity. To 'feed' the pulp industry, regularly biodiverse forests are being replaced for plantations with fastgrowing wood (such as eucalyptus), which causes scarcity in water as a consequence of the large consumption of water by these plantations. Local communities often have to make a way for such plantations and lose their food and income sources. Moreover many pulp companies are built without the guarantuee of a sufficient production of sustainable wood, wich stimulates the over-utilization of woods.

Profundo researches which companies within the paper industry contribute to the deforestation and social conflicts, and who finances them. Profundo also searches for marketing-possibilities for those companies who produce sustainable paper. Besides we research the role of government policy concerning the deforestation.

Over-utilization of wood chopping, illegal or not, leads to deforestation and the loss of biodiversity in many countries, both in tropical and moderate areas. Forests are being chopped faster than they are able to recover, which deregulates the ecosystems: impoverishing of the ground, disruption of the waterbalance and the dissapearance of the habitats of flora and fauna. Deforestation also influences the communities who depend on food and income from the forests. Besides the deforestation contributes to the process of climate change, especially on peat-moor areas.

Profundo researches which timber companies cause deforestation and social conflicts and whom finances them. Profundo is also searching for capital and an increase of marketing possibilities for producers of sustainable wood. Besides we research the role of governmentpolicies concerning deforestation.

Coal is an energysource which - now the oil'prices have reached historical heights - came into the vogue again. Due the high emission of CO2, both industrialized and developing countries are building new coal power stations. Besides the combustion of coal, the gathering of coal is also polluting the air, water and earth. While the gathering itself creates social problems as well. Enormous daily mines expell the local community from their land and take away their existing possibilities. The mineworkers often have to deal with dangerous labour circumstances, low wages and a lack of labour and organizations rights.

Profundo tries to get insight in the coal production chain and researches which financial institutions are involved with the financing of new mines and coal power stations. Profundo also supports local NGO's with the development of international campaigns to, through financers and clients, influence mining companies.

Copper is used for electricity cables, electronics, building material, machines, cars and lots of consumer products. Like many other metals the price for copper increased enormously during the past few years, which causes a large number of new plans for copper mines in Africa, Asia and Latin America. An important region for the copper mining is the Copperbelt-region at the borderarea of Zambia and Democratic Republic of Congo. The mines in this region are notorious for their bad labour circumstances. But the privatization of the copper mines in Zambia - under the pressure of the multilateral and development banks - also caused a lot of discussions. Vast mining concerns do not pay enough taxes and royalties, which is why the government has a shortage for socioeconomic development investment. And like other building materials the presence of copper tends to attract corruption.

Profundo analyses the copper chain and researches the involvement of Dutch and international actors with the gathering, trade, processing and financing of copper.

Diamonds have a two sided image. The stone is still one of the most valuable and appreciated gems in the world and diamonds are associated with wealth, status and glamour. The past few years there has been much talking about diamonds because of its role in bloody conflicts in the countries such as Sierra Leone and Liberia. Although the 'blood diamonds' - stones that were used to finance these conflicts got enormous international attention, the average diamonds also create problems concerning the environment and human rights. The largescale mining industry disturbs and pollutes the eco systems. In some countries local communities are banned from their land by the mining industry, the activities in the mines are dangerous and there is hardly any investment in the basic needs for the inhabitants of the mining industry regions.

Profundo researches the production chain of diamonds and the financing. Profundo is searching for strategic possibilities to increase the profitibility of the mining industry for the local communities in the production countries.

Gold has been a valuable mineral within living memory. Nowadays as well the golden jewelry as other properties are a sign of wealth and status. But unfortunately the gathering of gold is still coupled with vast social and environmental issues. During gathering and processing procedures poisened matters and heavy metal are used, which is being dumped in the ground or rivers. Not only does this influence the lifes of animals and plants in and around these rivers and land, but the health of humans in the wide environment as well. In and around goldmines people with a high doses of metal in there bodies were found, but also skin and other diseases are caused by the pollution of the mines.

Profundo researches the financing of goldmines and tries to get insight in the trade and processing chains. Profundo also consults the social organizations concerning the possible influence on this sector.

Two-third of the global nickel gathering is being used for the production of rustless steel, which is used for construction, pipelines, machines, bridges, cars and so on. Besides that, nickel is used for batteries, coins and catalysts.

The global demand for nickels is growing fast. But like other minerals commodities, the worldwide uncomplicated available stock of nickel is declining. New nickel mines are now often created in rural areas, who are due their location often part of the most valuable ecosystems on earth. The development of these nickelmines, which is coupled with the pollution of the air, water and ground, does not only threaten the biodiversity in these areas but the existing possibilities for the local communities as well.

Profundo researches the financing of the nickel mines and tries to get insight in the trade and processing chains. Profundo also consults the social organizations and the possibilities to influence this sector.

Platinum and alike metals such as palladium and rhodium are predominantly gathered in southern Africa and Russia. While most of these metals in Europe are used for the production of exhaust catalysts who ought to make our air cleaner, the gathering of platinum is very polluting and CO-2 intensive.

Profundo tries to get insight in the platinum production chain and researches which financial institutions are involved with the financing of the new mines. Profundo also advises about the possibilities for an increase of the sustainability within this production chain.  

Despite the revival of interest for nuclear energy there is an increased realization that the oil and gas supplies are finite, the easy accesible uranium is also running out of stock. This leads to enormously high prices and many plans for new uranium mines. But the gathering of uranium is one of the most polluting and dangerous mining activities. Radio active mine disposal pollutes the wide environment of uranium mines, which threatens the biodiversity and health of vast communities.

Profundo tries to get insight in the uraniumproduction chain and the provision and distribution chains of power stations. Profundo tries to get insight in the real costs of nuclear energy, and researches which financial institutions are involved with the financing of new mines and power stations. Profundo also helps the local NGO's with the development of international campaigns, through the financers and clients, to influence the uranium companies.