CONNEXIS News
Interroll published second sustainability report (March 2024)
On March 15, 2024, Interroll Holding AG published its second sustainability report following the GRI SRS standard. As in the previous year, the report was created conceptually and in terms of content by Franz Knecht, CONNEXIS AG, and Ingo Schwarz, Kugelfisch GmbH (Essen).
For the first time, the requirements for non-financial reporting of Article 964 of the Swiss Code of Obligations were met. Art 964 has been valid since January 1, 2024 and requires a formal declaration from the Board of Directors and the approval of the report by the shareholder meeting in May.
Franz Knecht - SNV article about TC 322 Sustainable Finance (Jun 2023)
Franz Knecht, founder & managing partner of CONNEXIS, represents the Swiss Association for Standardization (SNV) at the International Standards Organization (ISO).
As Convenor, Franz Knecht leads the adhoc working group AHG 2 "Future Standards Development" within the ISO Technical Committee TC 322 "Sustainable Finance".
By request of SNV Franz Knecht has written a comprehensive article about the activities within AHG 2. Read More
Franz Knecht presented at BSI Webinar on New ESG Standard for the Finance Industry (Jan 2022)
On January 18th 2022 Franz Knecht, founder & managing partner of CONNEXIS and 'Convenor' within ISO Technical Committee TC 322 'Sustainable Finance', spoke at the BSI webinar 'A new ESG standard for the finance industry' about the topic of 'Future Standards Development'.
The British Standards Institution (BSI) is the national standards body of the United Kingdom. Additional information about this webinar is available here. You can access a recording of the webinar here (external video link).
CONNEXIS develops ESG Strategy, Policies & Reporting for INTERROL (Sep 2021)
CONNEXIS develops the new ESG strategy and ESG policies for INTERROL AG (SIX: INRN). INTERROL is an international manufacturer of products for unit-load handling systems, internal logistics and automation. INTERROL's solutions are used primarily in food processing, airport logistics, postal services and distribution.
CONNEXIS' ESG project for INTERROL also includes the first sustainability report that will follow the standards of the Global Reporting Initiative.
Franz Knecht spoke at CENELEC Webinar on Standardization (April 2021)
The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) offered a free webinar 'Connecting European Sustainable Finance to Standardization' on April 20th, 2021.
Franz Knecht, founder & managing partner of CONNEXIS and recently elected 'Convenor' within ISO's Technical Committee TC 322 'Sustainable Finance', contributed to the webinar as a speaker about 'The drivers of standardization'.
Additional information to this webinar is available here. You can download the full webinar presentation here.
Franz Knecht Speaks at ISO Webinar on Sustainable Finance: July 23rd 2020
On July 23rd 2020 the International Standards Organization (ISO) offers a free webinar "Why Sustainable Finance standards matter".
Franz Knecht, founder & managing partner of CONNEXIS and recently elected 'Convenor' within ISO's Technical Committee 'Sustainable Finance', will speak about the "Approach to future standards development". More Details
You can register for this free ISO webinar here.
Franz Knecht New Convenor of ISO TC322 Sustainable Finance (June 2020)
The International Standards Organization (ISO) has elected Franz Knecht, founder & managing partner of CONNEXIS, as new 'Convenor' of the Working Group (WG) 'Future Standards Development' within the Technical Committee TC322 'Sustainable Finance'. Following his role as Convenor within ISO 14007 'Monetary Valuation of Environmental Aspects & Impacts' this is the second time that Franz Knecht has been elected as Convenor in the development of a new ISO ESG standard, confirming his leadership role in international ESG developments.
In the ISO process of setting new norms & standards, TCs & their working groups are responsible for the development of new standards. Within the ISO structure each working group is led and represented by a 'Convenor'.
Franz Knecht Presentation at TC 322 Plenary in Shenzhen Well Received (December 2019)
Following his presentation at the plenary meeting of Technical Committee 322 'Sustainable Finance' in Shenzhen (China), Franz Knecht - founder & managing partner of CONNEXIS - received a very positive feedback from ISO representative Ms. Bolu Wang:
"The findings of STSG, as presented by you on the 2nd plenary meeting, attracted attention from officials from standardization authority. Your summary data provided insights into the landscape of sustainable finance, of which they are interested. I believe what we’ve done under TC322, is a good starting point for harmonizing global practice within this field."
Franz Knecht Presents at Plenary Session of TC 322 Meeting in Shenzhen, China (December 2019)
In his new role as Convenor of the recently established Stock Taking Study Group (STSG) under ISO's new Technical Committee 322 'Sustainable Finance', Franz Knecht - founder & managing partner of CONNEXIS - participated in the latest TC 322 meeting in Shenzhen, China. During the plenary session Franz Knecht had the opportunity to present the first results of his STSG to the TC 322 members.
Franz Knecht Convenor of new Stock Taking Study Group under TC 322 (October 2019)
Franz Knecht, founder & managing partner of CONNEXIS, is now Convenor of the new Stock Taking Study Group (STSG) under the new ISO technical committee TC 322 'Sustainable Finance". The new STSG is tasked with researching, collecting & analyzing studies regarding sustainable finance.
In the terminology of the International Standards Orgniazation (ISO) the Convenor leads the activities of a specific working group (WG), guiding the members towards achieving the agenda and tasks set out for the WG. Previously, Franz Knecht had been Convernor of Working Group 8 under the recently completed and published new ISO 14007 'Determining Environmental Costs & Benefits'.
Franz Knecht's second appointment as a Working Group Convenor is a strong recognition of his qualifications as a leader in sustainability on the one hand, but also of his ability to lead groups of highly qualified individuals from all around the world and deliver specific results within an international framework and timeline.
Franz Knecht Member of the Chairman Advisory Group of TC 322 'Sustainable Finance' (June 2019)
Following his participation in the first meeting of the newly established ISO Technical Committee on Sustainable Finance (TC 322) in March, Franz Knecht was recently invited to become a member of the Chairman Advisory Group of TC 322.
While a Technical Committee (TC) drives the development of a new ISO Standard, the role of the Chairman Advisory Group is to provide expert insight and advice to the Chairman of the TC.
CONNEXIS Develops First ESG Investment Policy for Swiss Pension Fund (May 2019)
In October 2018 Basellandschaftliche Pensionskasse (BLPK) selected CONNEXIS to develop the first ESG investment policy for the Swiss public-law pension fund that primarily manages the retirement benefits for the employees of the Kanton Basel-Landschaft, with assets under management (AUM) of approximately US$ 10bn.
Based on key parameters established with the client, a close cooperation with management as well as a focused process with the key stakeholders, CONNEXIS developed the fund's first ESG investment policy and presented it to the BLPK Board where it was recently approved.
For more information about the project and to contact us about how we can help with your ESG investment policy, please use our contact form here.
Franz Knecht speaks at the 2019 SKSF securities conference in Zurich (April 2019)
The SKSF is the Swiss Committee for the Standardization in Finance. At the 2019 SKSF securities conference, Franz Knecht, founder and managing partner of CONNEXIS, was invited to speak about ‘Green Investment, Sustainability in Finance’. The presentation (currently only available in German) can be downloaded here.
CONNEXIS participates in 1st meeting of new ISO TC322 'Sustainable Finance' (March 2019)
Representing the Swiss Association for Standardization (SNV), Franz Knecht, founder and managing partner of CONNEXIS, participated in the first meeting of the new ISO Technical Committee 322 (TC 322) on Sustainable Finance in London.
The new TC 322 focuses on "Standardization in the field of sustainable finance for the integration of sustainability considerations and environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices into institutional investment decision making and wider finance management."
In the ISO process of setting new norms and standards, TCs have the primary responsibility for the development of these new standards.
Swiss pension fund selects CONNEXIS to develop new ESG investment policy (October 2018)
In a recent public tender CONNEXIS was selected by a Swiss pension fund to develop the fund's first ESG investment policy. The project will start in Q4 2018 and is scheduled to conclude in 2019.
Franz Knecht interviewed by SNV (September 2018)
In a recent interview by the Swiss Association for Standardization (SNV) Franz Knecht, founder and managing partner of CONNEXIS speaks about the growing trend towards sustainable finance and the effects on the financial industry. The complete interview is available here.
Franz Knecht is Official Convenor at ISO 14007 meeting in Paris, France (October 2017)
Like in Seoul (South Korea) 2016 and Hallifax (Canada) earlier this year, Franz Knecht, founder and lead partner of CONNEXIS AG represents the Schweizerische Normen Vereinigung (Swiss national mirror organization to ISO) at the ISO 14007 and 14008 meetings.
Starting with the workshop in Paris, Franz Knecht leads the 'Working Group 8' meetings for the ISO 14007 standard as Official Convenor.
The participation in the development of these new ISO norms gives CONNEXIS and its customers a critical advantage in the early adaptation to these upcoming standards.
Franz Knecht is Acting Convenor at ISO 14007 meeting in Halifax, Canada (June 2017)
Like in Seoul 2016, Franz Knecht, founder and lead partner of CONNEXIS AG represents the Schweizerische Normen Vereinigung (Swiss national mirror organization to ISO) at the ISO 14007 and 14008 meetings in Hallifax, Canada ((June 7th to 14th,2017). At this meeting Franz Knecht will lead the workshop on "Determining Environmental Costs and Benefits" for the ISO 14007 standard as Acting Convenor.
The participation in the development of these new ISO norms gives CONNEXIS and its customers a critical advantage in the early adaptation to these upcoming standards.
Franz Knecht participates in ISO 14007/8 meetings in Seoul (September 2016)
Franz Knecht, founder and lead partner of CONNEXIS AG represented the Schweizerische Normen Vereinigung, SNV (Swiss national mirror organization to ISO) at the Technical Committee (TC) meetings for the upcoming ISO 14007 and 14008 norms in Seoul, South Korea. Primary topics of the TC meetings were the 'Monetary Valuation of Environmental Aspects & Impacts' (ISO 14007) and the Environmental Management-Determining Environmental Costs and Benefits' (ISO 14008).
The participation in the development of these new ISO norms gives CONNEXIS and its customers a critical advantage in the early adaptation to these upcoming standards.
CONNEXIS participates in the development of ISO 14008 (May 2016)
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is currently developing a new standard, the coming ISO 14008: "Monetary Value of Environmental Aspects and Impacts". Franz Knecht, founder and managing partner of CONNEXIS AG, followed an invitation by the ISO to help develop this important new standard as part of the ISO 14008 working group. Mr. Knecht is the only participant in the ISO 14008 working group with a background from the financial industry and the only participant with a certification as lead auditor for ISO 14001. He is also the only Swiss member of the working group.
Adaptation of bank CSR reporting to GRI G4 (March 2016)
CONNEXIS has worked with one of Switzerland's leading regional banks for an extended period of time. In 2016 CONNEXIS supports the bank in the adaptation of its CSR Report to the new GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) G4 standard. The key aspect of this project is the development and implementation of the new Materiality Analysis.
Expanded project with European export agency (January 2016)
CONNEXIS has worked with one of Europe’s leading export agencies for an extended period of time. In 2016 the ongoing project has been expanded to integrate CSR and ESG risks into all core business functions of the export agency.
New project in German real estate (May 2015)
Together with our partners from RKDS CONNEXIS has won a second large real estate project in Germany, where we advise a publicly owned real estate developer on CSR & ESG matters.
New project in commodities trading (March 2015)
CONNEXIS has been assigned by a large commodities trading company to enhance their communication of corporate ESG performance. The work includes the evaluation of existing information and the identification of additional content areas according to the developing expectations of the client’s key stakeholders.