EQ Positive Impact Portfolios
SRI Style:
Sustainable Style
SDR Labelling:
Not eligible to use label
Product:
DFM/Portfolio
Fund Region:
Global
Fund Asset Type:
Mixed Asset
Launch Date:
31/08/2012
Last Amended:
Oct 2024
Dialshifter (
):
Fund Size:
£688.00m
(as at: 06/07/2024)
Total Screened Themed SRI Assets:
£1800.00m
Total Responsible Ownership Assets:
£1800.00m
Total Assets Under Management:
£1800.00m
Objectives:
The EQ Positive Impact Portfolios have a dual mandate:
- To achieve long-term capital growth
- By investing in solutions that address the world's major social and environmental challenges.
It is core to our philosophy that these objectives are reinforcing, and we believe in the long-term outperformance of companies tackling unmet needs and behaving responsibly with respect to their stakeholders.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) provide a globally agreed-upon framework for the world's most pressing social and environmental issues that need tackling, and we use this to guide our investment approach. Our impact investment philosophy focuses on selecting companies/organisations, through specialist active fund managers, which provide solutions to these unmet needs through their core business purpose (reflected in their products and services). The strategy therefore naturally avoids exposure to those investments that prevent progress on the UN SDGs, covering all common controversial activities. To understand the holistic impact of companies, ESG information (focusing on operations) is also integrated alongside the assessment of core products and services. To drive positive impact over time, strategic engagement is an important requirement of the funds we select, and EQ adds to this systemic impact through its own engagement activity. We have full look-through to all holdings in the MPS and have dedicated investment staff that conduct analysis on the fund managers policies/processes pre-and post investment. We importantly supplement this analysis with underlying holdings data analysis.
Non-financial objectives are measured as follows:
- UN SDG alignment: We align every single underlying holding with a negative, neutral or 1-17 UN SDG mapping. We have developed a proprietary mapping model that cuts across fund managers interpretations of the goals, and allows us to aggregate the mappings to the full portfolio level. Our mapping logic is based on revenue alignment to negative categories, and an index of positive products/services solving the needs in UN SDG targets.
- Impact: We conduct in-depth impact data collection, measurement and reporting on the associated impacts with investments we make in a year. This means we can report on the outcomes of intended impacts demonstrated by our UN SDG mapping.
- ESG: We use external ESG ratings data and bottom-up analysis to test fund managers on the degree of ESG integration. We also use the data to monitor the proportion of portfolios in higher ESG risk and engage on any weaknesses. Where we have an explicit focus on ESG leaders (EQ Future Leaders portfolios) we monitor this to test the funds' stated policies and processes.
- Carbon: We use external carbon and fossil fuel data, and bottom-up analysis to measure, integrate and report on carbon intensity and other relevant climate metrics. The data also feeds into our engagement with fund managers and underlying companies.
- Negative product/activity involvement (negative exclusions): We monitor portfolio exposure to an extensive set of potentially controversial products and activities. This also partly feeds into our negative SDG mapping (see above). We use this to test funds' stated policies and processes on exclusions. We engage on the identification of any new flags that run contrary to MPS objectives and may sell positions if it cannot be resolved.
Sustainable, Responsible
&/or ESG Overview:
The EQ Positive Impact Portfolios have a dual mandate:
- To achieve long-term capital growth
- By investing in solutions that address the world's major social and environmental challenges.
This is achieved by investing in actively managed funds, focused on companies that deliver positive impact through their products and services, while also being responsibly run.
It is not enough to simply limit damage to the environment and avoid causing social ills. We intentionally go further than that: our screening and research process actively selects funds which, in turn, actively allocate capital towards the solution-providers to the greatest social and environmental challenges (as framed by the UN Sustainable Development Goals). Our process also places strong emphasis on engagement, which helps to increase the positive impacts of the portfolios over time and evolve these with best practice. We have developed unique impact measurement and reporting to deliver on the ‘sustainability transparency’ that the sector needs.
Alongside our socio-environmental research processes, our investment management team apply their knowledge and expertise to find fund opportunities which deliver market beating financial returns.
Primary fund last amended:
Oct 2024
Information directly from fund manager.
Fund Filters
Sustainability - General
Funds that have policies that consider (environmental and social) sustainability issues. Strategies vary but are likely to consider environmental issues like climate change, carbon emissions, biodiversity loss, resource management, environmental impacts; and social issues like equal opportunities, human rights, labour standards, diversity and adherence to internationally recognised codes. See fund information.
Find funds which substantially focus on sustainability issues
Find funds where there is a significant emphasis on (environmental and social) sustainability. Funds with a 'sustainability theme' typically place more emphasis on the area than funds with a 'sustainability policy' - meaning that it is more likely to drive investment selection. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Find funds that have documented policies or thematic investment approaches relating to investment in more sustainable, greener transport methods. These will typically set out a preference for companies that run, enable or support more sustainable methods of transport. See fund information for further detail.
A core element of these funds aim to encourage higher sustainability standards across business practices through responsible ownership / stewardship / engagement / voting activity
Find funds that use the UN Global Compact to inform or help direct where they can or cannot invest and will typically not invest in companies with significant breaches (low standards) - although strategies vary. (The UNGC covers a wide range of issues - search 'UNGC'). See https://unglobalcompact.org/
Find funds that specifically aim to invest (and manage assets) in ways that help to address all or some of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). See https://sdgs.un.org/goals).
Find funds that publicly report their performance against specifically named sustainability objectives (in addition to reporting their financial performance)
Fund has a strategy that focuses on sustainability issues in the property sector - they may eg use GRESB / BREEAM scores to inform investment decisions.
Fund has a theme or investment strand focused on the shift to a circular economy (where products are reused and recycled not incinerated or dumped). See eg https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/overview
Environmental - General
Funds that have policies which relate to environmental issues. These will typically set out the fund's stance on issues such as pollution, climate change, resource management, biodiversity loss, carbon emissions, plastics and/or additional environmental impacts. Strategies vary. See fund information for further information.
Funds that limit or 'reduce' their exposure to carbon intensive industries (ie sectors which are major contributors to climate change. Funds vary - some funds may be 'underweight' in this area which means they may have some investment in highly carbon intensive areas. Funds of this kind may choose companies they consider to be 'best in sector' and encourage ever higher standards. Strategies vary. See fund information for further details.
Funds that have written policies explaining the approach they take when companies damage the environment or are significant polluters. Funds of this kind may work with companies to encourage higher standards, or exclude companies - sometimes dependent on the situation. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Find funds that have a policy or theme that relates to managing natural resources more efficiently. Funds with this policy will be likely to favour companies that make (or enable the) more efficient use of resources - and either avoid or encourage change amongst companies with lower standards. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Funds that aim to invest in companies with strong or market leading environmental policies and practices. Strategies vary - in particular the balance between 'financial' aspects and environmental benefits. Some may invest substantially in solutions or 'positive impact' companies - others may invest in more conventional companies providing certain environmental criteria are met. See fund information for further detail.
Find funds that have a written policy or theme on waste management - typically a view to encouraging higher levels of recycling and better efficiency / reducing waste.
Funds that are reviewing or encouraging companies to manage down the overuse of plastics (particularly single use, non-recyclable plastics). These funds will typically aim to encourage the use of alternative materials, but are unlikely to exclude companies purely on the basis of their use of plastics. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Nature & Biodiversity
Find funds that have a written biodiversity policy or theme aimed at encouraging and improving environmental protection and safeguarding the natural world (sometimes referred to as the preservation or enhancement of 'natural capital'). See eg https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/biodiversity
A significant focus on investments that aim to protect, improve and, or restore natural habitat.
Fund has a significant focus or emphasis on investment in nature and biodiversity related opportunities
Fund has a nature or biodiversity policy which sets out their expectations of investee assets - typically meaning the fund will not invest in assets with poor standards. See fund information.
Find funds that have policies in place designed to ensure they do not invest in companies that are significantly involved in deforestation. This typically relates to palm oil plantations where biodiversity loss is a major concern (as well as other issues). Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Find funds that have policies in place explaining that they avoid companies involved in illegal and/or unsustainable deforestation. This may relate to palm oil, cattle farming or other concerns. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Fund has a responsible palm oil policy which is likely to focus on the producers of palm oil and deforestation issues with a view to informing investment decisions (and / or engagement) to support and encourage high standards.
Fund has a sustainable fisheries policy that will inform where it can and can not invest
Find funds that aim to avoid investing in companies that produce genetically modified seeds or crops. (This does not typically include avoiding companies such as supermarkets). See fund literature for further information.
Fund has a policy which sets out their expectations for how investee assets should manage water
Climate Change & Energy
Funds that have policies (documented strategies that explain their position on) climate change related issues such as greenhouse gas/carbon emissions, net zero, transitioning to lower carbon. Strategies vary. Read fund details for further information.
Funds that avoid investing in major coal, oil and/or gas (extraction) companies. Funds vary: some may exclude all companies that extract oil. Others may have exposure to oil extraction via more diversified energy companies. See fund literature to confirm details.
Funds that avoid companies involved in fracking and tar sands - which are widely regarded as controversial methods of oil and gas extraction. Strategies vary. See fund information for further information.
Funds that avoid companies that are involved in extracting oil from the Arctic regions. See fund literature for further details.
Funds that avoid investing in companies with coal, oil and gas reserves. See fund information for further details.
Find funds where investment in clean / renewable energy companies an other assets is central to their investment selection strategy. The proportion of the fund that is directly or indirectly invested in renewable energy varies between funds and over time. See fund information for further details.
A core element of these funds will aim to encourage the transition to lower carbon activities through responsible ownership / stewardship / engagement / voting activity
Fund funds that have an energy efficiency theme - typically meaning that a fund manager is focused on investing in organisations that manage - or help others to manage - energy use more carefully and less wastefully - and so reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Funds that hold companies in the clean energy and renewable energy sectors (at the time research was supplied). Fund strategies vary, in particular the proportion of investment in these areas may vary significantly. Check fund literature for details.
The fund manager excludes companies with direct involvement in fossil fuel exploration (eg coal, oil and gas companies)
The fund manager excludes companies with indirect involvement in fossil fuel exploration. For example they would be expected to exclude banks and insurance companies that are effectively enabling new coal, oil and or gas reserves to be discovered and in due course extracted through the provision of necessary finance or services.
Social / Employment
Find funds that have policies which set out their approach to social issues (e.g. human rights, labour standards, equal opportunities, child labour and adherence to internationally recognised codes such as the UN Global Compact). Funds with social policies typically avoid companies with low standards or work to encourage higher standards. See fund information for detail.
Find funds that have a labour standards policy - which can be expected to mean that the fund will invest in / favour companies that have higher standards in this area - although fund strategies can vary significantly (as with all policy areas). See eg https://www.ilo.org/international-labour-standards
Find funds that invest in line with positive strategies that relate to 'people' issues - such as having strong human rights, labour standards and equal opportunities practices. Such funds are likely to invest in companies that have market leading standards with regard to employee and supplier practices. Read fund literature for further information.
Find funds that exclude companies involved in the ‘fast fashion’ sector - these funds will typically be of the view that this area is unsustainable and prone to low environmental and social standards.
Find funds with policies or themes that set out their approach to health and wellbeing issues. Funds of this kind typically aim to invest in companies with high standards - or encourage high standards. Themed funds are likely to have more of an emphasis on this area. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Find individual funds that have a written diversity policy – where the fund manager will aim to select companies with a carefully considered, sound approach to diversity. This should ideally cover a range of issues including gender, ethnicity, disability, beliefs, sexual orientation, etc.
Fund has a policy that explains their position on which mining companies they may or may not invest in. Typically this may mean only investing in assets with high environmental and social standards. This is a growing concern given demand for rare earth metals eg lithium, cobalt. See fund information.
All mining companies excluded
Fund has a policy aimed at protecting vulnerable workers such as those on zero hour / informal contracts working in the gig economy
Ethical Values Led Exclusions
Companies are excluded if they are involved in any aspect of the production chain for tobacco products, including cigarettes, vaping, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco and cigars.
Find funds that avoid companies that manufacture products intended specifically for military use. Fund strategies vary - particularly with regard to non-strategic military products. See fund literature for fund specific details.
Find funds with a written civilian firearms exclusion policy - meaning that they will not invest in companies that make (or perhaps also sell) handguns made for non-military users.
Find funds that avoid investment in companies involved in the production of alcohol. Strategies vary; some funds allow a small proportion of profits to come from this area. See fund literature for further information.
Find funds that avoid companies with significant involvement in the gambling industry. Some funds may allow a small proportion of profits to come from this area. See fund policy for further details.
Find funds that avoid companies that derive significant income from pornography and related areas. Strategies vary. See fund details for further information.
Find funds with policies that require specific animal welfare standards to be met. These may reference well-known welfare standards (3Rs - Replace, Reduce, Refine) or certification schemes. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Human Rights
Find funds that have policies relating to human rights issues. Funds of this kind typically require companies to demonstrate higher standards, although some fund managers work to encourage improvements. Investee companies are often judged against internationally agreed norms or standards. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Find funds that have policies in place to ensure they do not invest in companies that employ children.
Find funds with policies that exclude companies or other assets where regimes are not democratic, or where people may be oppressed. May use eg. Freedom House research. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.
Find funds that have policies or a theme that relates to the responsible management of supply chains. These may relate to employment issues, notably people employed by their suppliers, as well as the sourcing of materials and products. See fund literature for further information.
The fund has a policy which sets out their position on the treatment of indigenous people by investee assets/companies - typically meaning they won't invest in companies with low standards.
The fund has a policy which excludes assets with involvement in Modern Slavery
The fund has a policy which sets out its position on LGBTQ+ related social issues and their expectations of investee assets - typically meaning they won't invest in companies with poor standards. See fund information.
Meeting Peoples' Basic Needs
Find funds that have policies or themes that set out their position on investment in the water sector and/or sanitation. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Find funds with a thematic investment approach focusing on the ‘silver economy’ - in particular (typically) the issues and opportunities presented by changing demographics. This could include finance, healthcare and medicines and/ or longevity science to extend lifespans. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.
Find funds that invest in social housing property freeholds. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.
Find funds that have significant investment in social housing or similar assets.
Find funds that invest in ‘social bonds’ which raise funds for the purpose of financing projects with positive social (people related) outcomes.
Fund focuses on (ie directs a significant proportion of its investment towards) green infrastructure, eg the clean energy supply chain. See fund details.
Fund has a theme that may direct investment towards newer forms of food such as plant based meat alternatives. A fund may have one or many themes. See fund information.
Fund has a responsible food production or agriculture theme or strand of investment. Funds may have a single theme or many themes. See fund information.
Healthcare and or medical theme or area of investment - the fund may have a single theme or many themes
Gilts & Sovereigns
Find funds that invest in loans issued the government, commonly known as gilts or government bonds. These may or may not be ringfenced for specific projects (see additional options). See fund literature for any selection criteria.
Find funds that avoid investing in 'some' gilts or government bonds. Strategies vary, but this may relate to avoiding specific countries or particular reasons for bond issuance. 'Green gilts' for example would be likely to be acceptable. See fund literature for further information.
Find funds that invest in financial instruments issued by governments, but will only hold those that meet certain environmental and or social criteria. This may, for example mean certain assets are excluded in line with eg Freedom House research. Strategies vary, see fund literature for more information.
Banking & Financials
Find funds that include banks as part of their holdings / portfolio.
Find fund managers that only invest in banks and other financial institutions that implement the Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures recommendations on climate change related financial disclosures - which aim to help financial markets measure and respond to climate risk.
Will avoid banks that have a large part of their loan book (or other assets) invested in fossil fuels companies - particular coal, oil and gas.
Finds funds that include financial instruments (cash, derivatives and / or foreign exchange) issued by banks. See fund literature for further information as strategies vary.
Find funds that avoid investing in insurance companies that insure major fossil fuels companies – particularly coal, oil and gas. Strategies (eg definition of ‘major’) vary. See fund literature for further information.
Funds that do or may invest in insurance companies.
Governance & Management
Find fund options that have policies that relate to corporate governance issues such as board structure, executive remuneration, bribery and/or corporate corruption. These funds will typically avoid companies with poor practices. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.
Find funds that aim to avoid investing in companies with poor governance practices.(e.g. board structure, management practices etc.) Views may however vary on what counts as 'poor' practices - and funds may not immediately divest as they may prefer to work to encourage higher standards. See fund literature for further information.
Exclude companies that are subject to United Nations sanctions. See eg https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/content/un-sc-consolidated-list
Find funds that have policies explaining how managers will respond to assets / companies that do not comply with relevant anti-bribery and anti-corruption standards or laws. Strategies vary; options include stewardship/ engagement and divestment - or a combination. See fund literature for further information.
Fund managers encourage the companies they invest in to have more diverse board structures (e.g. more women on boards)
Find fund managers that encourage the banks and insurance companies they invest in to publish climate change related financial information - as set out by the Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures (with the aim of helping investors measure and respond to climate risk).
A core element of these funds will aim to encourage higher ESG standards through responsible ownership / stewardship / engagement /voting activity
Fund Governance
Find funds that have an external committee that helps steer or advise fund managers on SRI policy or strategy related issues. These people may be paid for their time but are not employees of the fund manager.
Find funds that factor in 'environmental, social and governance' issues as part of their investment decision making process. A focus on 'ESG' typically means a fund is carrying out additional research to help reduce ESG related risks. It does not necessarily mean a focus on sustainability. Strategies vary. See fund literature.
Environmental, social and governance issues are part of this fund’s reporting of their ‘value’ to clients. AoV reporting is a statutory requirement. Including ESG factors in its calculation is not.
Asset Size
Find funds that invests more than half of their money into what are commonly regarded as 'large companies'. This will typically mean that the market capitalisation (or value) of the companies they hold is in excess of £5 to £10 billion.
Find a fund that invests in a combination of small, medium and larger (potentially multinational)companies.
Find funds that have SRI strategies and focus their investment stock selection on larger companies. (e.g. over circa £5-£10bn)
International entities or bodies with agreed remits that are broadly similar to those that may otherwise be undertaken by individual governments eg the UN
Targeted Positive Investments
Invests in loan stock that is exclusively used to finance environmental and social projects. See ICMA Sustainable Bond Guidelines.
Invests in loan stock that is supporting or enabling the shift towards a cleaner, more sustainable future. Strategies vary significantly and may or may not be linked to specific outcomes.
Find funds that invest in green bonds (also known as climate bonds) which encourage sustainability and support climate related or special environmental projects. Please check fund literature for specific % of assets invested in this area.
Find funds that invest more than 50% in green bonds (also known as climate bonds) which encourage sustainability and support climate related or special environmental projects. Please check fund literature for specific % of assets invested in this area.
Find funds that invest >25% of their capital towards companies where a major part of their business is focused on helping to address environmental or social challenges.
Find funds that invest >50% of their capital in companies where a major part of their business is focused on helping to address environmental or social challenges.
Impact Methodologies
Funds that aim to help or support the delivery of positive social or environmental impacts (or societal/real world outcomes) by investing in companies they regard as beneficial to people and / or the planet. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.
Funds that aim to measure the positive real world environmental and / or social benefits that are associated with their investment strategy. Funds that aim to deliver positive impacts and measure those impacts may be referred to as 'impact funds' - although impact measurement is not restricted to impact funds. Strategies vary. See fund information.
Funds that are specifically marketed as ‘Impact investments funds' will work to deliver both financial performance and specific, measurable positive, real world social and/or environmental benefits. Strategies vary.
Find funds that specifically set out to help deliver positive environmental impacts, benefits or 'real world' outcomes.
Find funds that specifically state that they aim to deliver positive social (i.e. people related) impacts and/or outcomes.
Find funds that direct investment towards companies where a major part of their business is about solving environmental challenges. e.g. companies helping to address climate change.
Find funds that invest in companies where a major part of their business is specifically aimed at helping to address social challenges. e.g. companies helping to address poverty.
Find funds that specifically set out to invest in companies that are regarded as 'disrupting' existing business practices - typically through the development of innovative (sustainability aware) products and/or practices.
Fund aims to deliver positive environmental and or social impacts (real world benefits) through its engagement with investee assets
50% of fund assets are regarded by the fund manager as being significantly focused on providing solutions to environmental or social challenges. Strategies vary.
This fund has an explanation of the way in which the manager believes things need to change in order to deliver a more sustainable future, which they are working to help achieve.
How The Fund Works
Find funds that focus on finding and investing in companies with positive / beneficial attributes. This strategy can be applied in addition to exclusion criteria and engagement/stewardship activity.
Find funds where their main 'ethical approach' is to avoid companies by using negative screening criteria. Read fund literature for further information.
Find funds where their main approach is to apply positive or negative ethical, social and / or environmental screens. Strictly screened funds are likely to exclude more companies than other related fund options. See fund literature for further information.
Aims to avoid companies that do significant harm. This originates from the EU’s sustainable finance ‘DNSH’ (do no significant harm) work, which is not necessarily used by UK investors.
Find funds that have 'mapped' (reviewed) their investment selection and management strategies to identify which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) the fund is helping to address.
Find funds that make significant use of internationally agreed 'norms' (e.g. United Nations Global Compact - UNGC - or the UN Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs) as part of their investment selection process alongside additional SRI criteria such as positive or negative stock selection policies and/or stewardship strategies.
Find funds that have an ESG strategy (which is typically focused on avoiding companies that pose environmental, social or governance related risks) with additional criteria such as positive and/or negative screens, themes and stewardship strategies.
Find funds that consider both the 'positive' and 'negative' aspects of company behaviour and make balanced, considered decisions as part of their investment approach. May apply to a range of different issues and policy areas.
Find funds that use internationally agreed standards, conventions and 'norms' to help direct where the fund can and cannot invest (e.g. the UN Global Compact, UN Sustainable Development Goals). Read fund literature for further information.
A major focus of these funds is the careful management of environmental, social and governance (ESG) related risks - typically by avoiding or being underweight in companies seen as posing major risks in these areas (i.e. not necessarily by using themes, exclusions etc).
Find funds that have published explanations of their ethical, social and/or environmental policies online (i.e. fund decision making strategies/ buy/sell &/or asset management strategies).
See fund information for different risk options of this fund strategy
This fund does (and has recently) invested in newly listed companies other assets (eg bonds) which are significantly focused on the provision of products and/or services which are designed to solve environmental and/or social problems.
Unscreened Assets & Cash
Fund that only invest in cash to aid the practical management (buying and selling) of assets. These funds do not use additional financial instruments.
All assets held in the fund - except cash - meet the sustainability criteria published in fund documentation.
Intended Clients & Product Options
Finds funds designed to meet the needs of individual investors with an interest in sustainability issues.
Find funds designed for clients who care about ethical and values-based issues, often alongside sustainability issues also.
Finds funds designed to meet the needs of individual investors with an interest in ‘Impact investment funds’ which help or support the delivery of positive social or environmental impacts (or societal/real world outcomes) by investing in companies they regard as beneficial to people and / or the planet. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.
Find funds that have attributes that commonly suit the aims of investors of faith - although they may not be specifically marketed as being only for religious investors. Strategies vary (as do investor aims). Read fund literature for further information.
Find funds that are available via a tax efficient ISA product wrapper.
Only applicable for DFM’s & portfolio providers. Finds those that offer an SRI / ESG portfolio option
Only applicable for DFM’s & portfolio providers. Find service providers who offer multiple SRI / ESG portfolio options
Only applicable for DFM’s & portfolio providers. Find service providers who offer bespoke ('personalised') SRI / ESG portfolio options
Fund Management Company Information
About The Business
Find fund management companies that are smaller or specialise in particular areas - notably, ideally ESG related. Strategies vary.
Find fund management companies (or subsidiaries) that specialise in - or focus entirely on - investing in assets that are helping to deliver positive environmental and / or social impacts.
Finds fund management companies that have a published company wide stewardship, engagement and / or responsible ownership policy or strategy that covers all investments. Stewardship typically involves encouraging higher ESG standards through voting and dialogue.
Find fund management companies that actively encourage higher 'environmental, social and governance' and/or 'sustainable and responsible investment' practices across investee companies - typically where the aim is to encourage positive change that is aligned with the best interests of investors. Strategies vary. See additional information and options.
Find fund managers that consider responsible ownership and ESG to be a key differentiator for their business.
Find fund management companies that aim to align all their investments (across all funds) to help meet the aims of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Find funds run by fund managers that apply Responsible ownership or 'Stewardship' policies to all or most of their investment assets. This means active involvement (e.g. voting, dialogue) with the companies they invest in across funds (not normally limited to ethical or SRI options.) Read fund literature for further information.
Find fund management companies that consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues when deciding whether or not to invest in a company for all / almost all of their funds and other assets. This is increasingly seen as part of sound risk management.
Finds organisations / fund managers that have an in-house (company wide) diversity improvement programme - meaning that they are working to ensure that within their own businesses they employ people from diverse backgrounds - often typically focused on ethnicity and/or sex.
Find fund management companies that encourage the companies they invest in to have strong diversity, race, gender and other equality policies across all assets held, not simply screened or themed SRI/ESG funds. (ie Asset Management company wide).
Asset manager has information on their website that explains how they treat 'vulnerable clients' (as set out in FCA regulation)
Fund management entity offers unstructured intermediary training on sustainable investment (ie for financial advisers and wealth managers)
Fund management entity offers unstructured intermediary training on sustainable investment (ie for financial advisers and wealth managers)
Collaborations & Affiliations
Find fund management companies that have signed up to the UN backed 'Principles of Responsible Investment'.
Resources
Find fund management companies that employ people to steer and support fund managers in voting shares at company AGM's and EGMs in ways that are consistent with encouraging higher ESG/sustainability standards.
Find a fund management company that directly employs specialist ESG/SRI/sustainability researchers or analysts. This allows asset managers to discuss environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities directly with companies.
Find fund management companies that makes use of expert external research companies. This can help deliver specialist expertise and means resources are pooled with other investors.
Finds organisations / fund managers that have one or more ESG/sustainability experts on all investment teams or 'desks' (all asset types)
Accreditations
Fund manager has achieved accreditation which requires them to articulate their purpose and have high environmental and social standards.
Engagement Approach
Find fund management companies that regularly initiate or run industry wide (collaborative) investor projects aimed at raising environmental, social and governance standards amongst investee companies.
Find fund management companies that are working with the companies they invest in to encourage more responsible corporate taxation.
Fund manager has stewardship /responsible ownership strategy that is focused on addressing climate change with investee assets.
Asset manager has a stewardship /responsible ownership strategy that involves working with fossil fuel companies on climate change related issues. See fund manager website for details.
Asset manager has stewardship /responsible ownership strategy with involves encouraging investee asset to reduce plastic waste and pollution.
Asset manager has a stewardship / responsible ownership policy that means they are working to encourage more responsible mining practices - where environmental and social issues are properly dealt with by the companies they invest in.
The asset manager has a responsible ownership / stewardship strategy that focuses on biodiversity and nature issues relating to the assets they invest the aim of which will be to reduce harm and or deliver improvement. Strategies vary. https://tnfd.global
Asset manager has a responsible ownership / stewardship strategy which means they are working to encourage the shift to more sustainable business practices in ways that respect and are sensitive to social issues and the impact change has on people effected by the changes that are taking place. https://www.transitionpathwayinitiative.org/ https://transitiontaskforce.net/
Asset manager has responsible ownership / stewardship strategy in place which aims to address human rights issues in investee companies (and potentially their suppliers) with the aim of raising standards
Asset manager has responsible ownership / stewardship strategy in place that aims to improve labour standards for the benefit of employees in investee companies (and potentially their suppliers)
Asset management company has a stewardship strategy in place which involves working to raise diversity, equality and inclusion standards across investee assets
working with the assets they hold to help stamp out modern slavery - where direct or indirect company employees are exploited for business benefits.
Fund managers have stewardship strategies in place that focus on improving governance standards across investee assets
Has a stewardship / responsible ownership strategy that encourages responsible supply chain - ie the managers will discuss environmental, social and governance issues with investee companies with the aim of raising standards
Funds may use assets that are not directly aligned with sustainability objectives in order to help manage investment risk. Engaging for more sustainable options will aid alignment with fund objectives.
Working to address sustainability, ESG and related concerns around artificial intelligence.
Company Wide Exclusions
Find fund management companies (not funds) that avoid investment in 'controversial weapons' across all of their funds and other investment vehicles.
Find fund management companies that avoid investment in tobacco (manufacturing) companies across all their assets.
Find funds / fund managers that are reviewing, or have reviewed, their exposure to carbon intensive industries including (but not only) mining, oil and gas companies. (Typically with reference to climate change.)
This asset manager has a strategy in place that will lead them to exit direct investments in the coal mining industry. Managers ability to do this may depend on the geographic regions in which they invest.
This asset manager excludes direct investment in the coal mining industry. Managers ability to do this may depend on the geographic regions in which they invest.
Climate & Net Zero Transition
Fund management organisations that have pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to ‘net zero’. Strategies vary - this area is changing rapidly.
Find fund management companies that are working with the companies they invest in to encourage reductions in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.
Finds organisations / fund managers that have a company wide carbon transition plan - meaning that they have plotted a path to how they will move away from activities that produce or use carbon based energy sources (that emit greenhouse gases) towards clean, alternative, renewable energy sources.
Finds organisations / fund managers that have published ‘forward looking climate metrics’ e.g. 'implied temperature rise' data that are a total of the asset management company's share (% owned) of all the investee company emissions of the assets they manage, as well as their own direct and other indirect emissions.
This asset management company plans to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (CO2e) emissions with the help of a scheme that will lock away an amount of carbon that is equivalent to the company’s own emissions – so that the end result is ‘net zero’. Calculations and scope vary.
Find fund management companies that are working to reduce their own (fund management company) carbon/greenhouse gas emissions.
Finds organisations / fund management companies that are in the process of working out how to make a ‘net zero commitment’ - meaning that when that is finalised they will have started the process of reducing their total greenhouse gas emissions to'zero'.
Transparency
Find fund management companies that publish a report detailing their responsible investment ownership - also known as 'Stewardship' - activity.
Find fund management companies that will supply information about their sustainable and responsible investment activity on request.
Fund management companies that publish a full record of how they vote their shares at AGMs (annual general meetings) and EGMs (extraordinary general meetings). Voting strategies have an important role to play encouraging higher environmental, social and governance standards.
This asset management company has published a plan that explains how they are going to achieve net zero greenhouse gas / CO2e emissions.
Find fund management companies that have supplied Dialshifter information. See Dialshifter tab within record for more information.
Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Policy:
Our fund research comprises both due diligence of a funds’ investment process and policies, as well as a detailed review (and ongoing monitoring) of all underlying holdings and reporting. This is necessary to ensure the Positive Impact Portfolios meet their mandate of maximising positive impacts (and avoiding harm as a natural by-product).
Positive screen: Solution providers
The process really starts with the search for companies whose products and services will make a material positive impact on solving societal and environmental problems. We are using the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) as a framework to focus on the key issues that need to be tackled. Launched following the 2015 UN Summit in Paris, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals address the issues the UN sees as most challenging to our world between now and 2030.
We ensure that the investment process and philosophy of funds reflects a focus on selecting companies with a material and additional positive impact case. Additionally, we have developed our EQ SDG X-ray tool that allows us to analyse every underlying holding in regards to contributing solutions to the UN SDGs.
Negative screen:
It is also important to screen out the most controversial sectors such as tobacco, armaments, gambling or pornography. Firstly, we review the screening policies applied by the fund’s investment process. Additionally, at EQ Investors, we have developed a proprietary tool that allows us to map all underlying holdings to negative effect on the UN SDGs. This process includes all traditional ethical controversial products/activity involvements but goes further. For example, it allows us to flag fossil fuel exposure, unhealthy nutrition, air freight or automotive pollution. This allows us to be transparent and avoid exposure to harmful sectors.
Balance:
While our focus remains on selecting companies with products and service that show a material and additional positive impact, it is also important to look at the operations of the firms to assure these are also responsibly managed. We assure ESG integration to the fund investment process and have access to ESG data in-house to tests fund managers on their rationales. This will allow us to maximise exposure to net-positive impact companies om balance.
Engagement:
As a result of this screening process, some of the Sustainable Development Goals align with significant investment opportunities for the Positive Impact Portfolios such as good health and well-being or affordable and clean energy while others do not represent realistic investment opportunities at all. We will engage with fund managers to also create positive Impacts on those UN SDG that are less readily investable, and better targeted through responsible company operations.
We also engage on an ongoing basis to test fund manager adherence to process, flag any controversies, and push for evolution with best-practice.
Impact measurement:
Impact measurement is a key prerequisite to ‘impact investing’ definitions.
To measure the impact achieved by the portfolios, we have produced an impact report that details how the companies we invest in align to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
For 2 years we have also uniquely measured the impact generated by an investment in the EQ Positive Impact portfolios on number of social and environmental key performance indicators. We provide personalised impact reports via our online ‘impact calculator’.
Green bond exposure is around 5% for a Balanced risk profile, 10% for a more cautious portfolio and under 3% for a more adventurous portfolio.
Process:
Alongside a thorough financial analysis, the due diligence process is complemented with an equally detailed analysis of the ESG integration process, sustainability screens and the application of impact investing best-practices within the underlying funds. This is where we add significant value through our 10 years’ experience in evaluating sustainable investments. Given the quickly growing fund universe, there is increasing vagueness in terminology, and a related increase in “greenwash risk”.
Please request full process document for all details.
Resources, Affiliations & Corporate Strategies:
EQ Investors and its employees have been involved in impact investing since 2008, and this experience led us to the creation of the Positive Impact Portfolios in 2012, with the objective of making impact investing available to mainstream investors.
Since then, EQ Investors has built out its sustainable investing capabilities. We launched the EQ Future Leaders MPS range in early 2020, a passive sustainable proposition. We also offer bespoke sustainable investment services tailored to specific client sustainability and financial objectives.
We are a team of 13, comprising:
- 3 full time investment analysts with different sector coverage
- 2 full time staff covering sustainability due diligence, monitoring, engagement, impact measurement
- 2 portfolio managers, heading impact and macro research too
- 3 investment managers
- 1 assistant portfolio manager
- 1 director involved in strategic investment decisions
- 1 client support and product specialists
Additionally, we are supported by operations and platform administration team (4 people), marketing (3), and an internal IT team (4 people).
All the fund and asset allocation research is carried out internally, but we have access to external data providers to provide research data input.
Given that EQ is a sustainable investment manager, our sustainable investment approach is fully integrated across our research process to avoid over-reliance on key individuals. Therefore, all members carry out relevant aspects of sustainability research, integration or engagement. In addition, all EQ fund analysts are actively contributing to the ESG assessment, fund monitoring and implementing the sustainability objectives of our portfolios.
A dedicated Board Report is produced that summarises key innovations, proposes changes and keeps the bridge between implementation and oversight. There is a Sustainability Oversight Committee (SOC) which acts as a quarterly forum to monitor, at a higher level, that all of EQ’s sustainability claims are met, that EQ aligns to the changing regulatory demands and remains at the forefront of sustainable investment innovation. While our dedicated sustainability team stays ahead of incoming regulation, industry frameworks and client expectations to manage this over the long term, the SOC provides the appropriate governance structure. Beyond its monitoring responsibility, the SOC aims to for members to be able to openly discuss “conflict of interest”, “mandate drift”, and any proposed innovations.
Affiliations:
UN PRI, CA100+, ShareAction, Access to nutrition, World Benchmarking Alliance, Access to Medicine, UN PRI Spring, B Corp
Dialshifter
This portfolio is helping to ‘shift the dial from brown to green’ by…
The EQ Positive Impact Portfolios have been designed with a view to support companies that are developing innovative solutions to tackle the largest issues the world is facing including climate change. By supporting the issuance of green bonds, financing of low carbon solutions as well as engaging with companies to push them to reduce their carbon emissions, the EQ Positive Impact Portfolios are sharing the ethos of the Dialshifter to make the fight against climate change a high priority for all stakeholders.
Our organisation is helping to support the Paris Climate Agreement and the Race to Net Zero by…
Being a signatory of the B Corp Climate Collective NetZero 2030 initiative, EQ Investors has committed to net zero emissions by 2030. EQ wants to accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to reach a 1.5-degree trajectory leading to net zero by the year 2030—20 years ahead of the 2050 targets set in the Paris Agreement.
EQ Investors has also joined the influential Climate Action 100+ group of investors. The initiative is aimed at pushing the world’s largest corporate greenhouse gas emitters to take action on climate change.
SDR Labelling: Not eligible to use label
Fund Name | SRI Style | SDR Labelling | Product | Region | Asset Type | Launch Date | Last Amended |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EQ Positive Impact Portfolios |
Sustainable Style | Not eligible to use label | DFM/Portfolio | Global | Mixed Asset | 31/08/2012 | Oct 2024 | |
ObjectivesThe EQ Positive Impact Portfolios have a dual mandate:
It is core to our philosophy that these objectives are reinforcing, and we believe in the long-term outperformance of companies tackling unmet needs and behaving responsibly with respect to their stakeholders. The UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) provide a globally agreed-upon framework for the world's most pressing social and environmental issues that need tackling, and we use this to guide our investment approach. Our impact investment philosophy focuses on selecting companies/organisations, through specialist active fund managers, which provide solutions to these unmet needs through their core business purpose (reflected in their products and services). The strategy therefore naturally avoids exposure to those investments that prevent progress on the UN SDGs, covering all common controversial activities. To understand the holistic impact of companies, ESG information (focusing on operations) is also integrated alongside the assessment of core products and services. To drive positive impact over time, strategic engagement is an important requirement of the funds we select, and EQ adds to this systemic impact through its own engagement activity. We have full look-through to all holdings in the MPS and have dedicated investment staff that conduct analysis on the fund managers policies/processes pre-and post investment. We importantly supplement this analysis with underlying holdings data analysis. Non-financial objectives are measured as follows:
|
Fund Size: £688.00m (as at: 06/07/2024) Total Screened Themed SRI Assets: £1800.00m (as at: 06/07/2024) Total Responsible Ownership Assets: £1800.00m (as at: 06/07/2024) Total Assets Under Management: £1800.00m (as at: 06/07/2024) |
|||||||
Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG OverviewThe EQ Positive Impact Portfolios have a dual mandate:
This is achieved by investing in actively managed funds, focused on companies that deliver positive impact through their products and services, while also being responsibly run. It is not enough to simply limit damage to the environment and avoid causing social ills. We intentionally go further than that: our screening and research process actively selects funds which, in turn, actively allocate capital towards the solution-providers to the greatest social and environmental challenges (as framed by the UN Sustainable Development Goals). Our process also places strong emphasis on engagement, which helps to increase the positive impacts of the portfolios over time and evolve these with best practice. We have developed unique impact measurement and reporting to deliver on the ‘sustainability transparency’ that the sector needs. Alongside our socio-environmental research processes, our investment management team apply their knowledge and expertise to find fund opportunities which deliver market beating financial returns. |
||||||||
Primary fund last amended: Oct 2024 |
||||||||
Information received directly from Fund Manager |
||||||||
Please select what you would like to read:
Fund FiltersSustainability - General
Sustainability policy
Funds that have policies that consider (environmental and social) sustainability issues. Strategies vary but are likely to consider environmental issues like climate change, carbon emissions, biodiversity loss, resource management, environmental impacts; and social issues like equal opportunities, human rights, labour standards, diversity and adherence to internationally recognised codes. See fund information.
Sustainability focus
Find funds which substantially focus on sustainability issues
Sustainability theme or focus
Find funds where there is a significant emphasis on (environmental and social) sustainability. Funds with a 'sustainability theme' typically place more emphasis on the area than funds with a 'sustainability policy' - meaning that it is more likely to drive investment selection. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Sustainable transport policy or theme
Find funds that have documented policies or thematic investment approaches relating to investment in more sustainable, greener transport methods. These will typically set out a preference for companies that run, enable or support more sustainable methods of transport. See fund information for further detail.
Encourage more sustainable practices through stewardship
A core element of these funds aim to encourage higher sustainability standards across business practices through responsible ownership / stewardship / engagement / voting activity
UN Global Compact linked exclusion policy
Find funds that use the UN Global Compact to inform or help direct where they can or cannot invest and will typically not invest in companies with significant breaches (low standards) - although strategies vary. (The UNGC covers a wide range of issues - search 'UNGC'). See https://unglobalcompact.org/
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) focus
Find funds that specifically aim to invest (and manage assets) in ways that help to address all or some of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). See https://sdgs.un.org/goals).
Report against sustainability objectives
Find funds that publicly report their performance against specifically named sustainability objectives (in addition to reporting their financial performance)
Green / Sustainable property strategy
Fund has a strategy that focuses on sustainability issues in the property sector - they may eg use GRESB / BREEAM scores to inform investment decisions.
Circular economy theme
Fund has a theme or investment strand focused on the shift to a circular economy (where products are reused and recycled not incinerated or dumped). See eg https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/topics/circular-economy-introduction/overview Environmental - General
Environmental policy
Funds that have policies which relate to environmental issues. These will typically set out the fund's stance on issues such as pollution, climate change, resource management, biodiversity loss, carbon emissions, plastics and/or additional environmental impacts. Strategies vary. See fund information for further information.
Limits exposure to carbon intensive industries
Funds that limit or 'reduce' their exposure to carbon intensive industries (ie sectors which are major contributors to climate change. Funds vary - some funds may be 'underweight' in this area which means they may have some investment in highly carbon intensive areas. Funds of this kind may choose companies they consider to be 'best in sector' and encourage ever higher standards. Strategies vary. See fund information for further details.
Environmental damage and pollution policy
Funds that have written policies explaining the approach they take when companies damage the environment or are significant polluters. Funds of this kind may work with companies to encourage higher standards, or exclude companies - sometimes dependent on the situation. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Resource efficiency policy or theme
Find funds that have a policy or theme that relates to managing natural resources more efficiently. Funds with this policy will be likely to favour companies that make (or enable the) more efficient use of resources - and either avoid or encourage change amongst companies with lower standards. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Favours cleaner, greener companies
Funds that aim to invest in companies with strong or market leading environmental policies and practices. Strategies vary - in particular the balance between 'financial' aspects and environmental benefits. Some may invest substantially in solutions or 'positive impact' companies - others may invest in more conventional companies providing certain environmental criteria are met. See fund information for further detail.
Waste management policy or theme
Find funds that have a written policy or theme on waste management - typically a view to encouraging higher levels of recycling and better efficiency / reducing waste.
Plastics policy
Funds that are reviewing or encouraging companies to manage down the overuse of plastics (particularly single use, non-recyclable plastics). These funds will typically aim to encourage the use of alternative materials, but are unlikely to exclude companies purely on the basis of their use of plastics. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail. Nature & Biodiversity
Biodiversity / nature policy
Find funds that have a written biodiversity policy or theme aimed at encouraging and improving environmental protection and safeguarding the natural world (sometimes referred to as the preservation or enhancement of 'natural capital'). See eg https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/biodiversity
Nature / biodiversity based solutions theme
A significant focus on investments that aim to protect, improve and, or restore natural habitat.
Nature / biodiversity focus
Fund has a significant focus or emphasis on investment in nature and biodiversity related opportunities
Nature / biodiversity protection policy
Fund has a nature or biodiversity policy which sets out their expectations of investee assets - typically meaning the fund will not invest in assets with poor standards. See fund information.
Deforestation / palm oil policy
Find funds that have policies in place designed to ensure they do not invest in companies that are significantly involved in deforestation. This typically relates to palm oil plantations where biodiversity loss is a major concern (as well as other issues). Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Illegal deforestation exclusion policy
Find funds that have policies in place explaining that they avoid companies involved in illegal and/or unsustainable deforestation. This may relate to palm oil, cattle farming or other concerns. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Responsible palm oil policy
Fund has a responsible palm oil policy which is likely to focus on the producers of palm oil and deforestation issues with a view to informing investment decisions (and / or engagement) to support and encourage high standards.
Sustainable fisheries policy
Fund has a sustainable fisheries policy that will inform where it can and can not invest
Avoids genetically modified seeds/crop production
Find funds that aim to avoid investing in companies that produce genetically modified seeds or crops. (This does not typically include avoiding companies such as supermarkets). See fund literature for further information.
Water stewardship policy
Fund has a policy which sets out their expectations for how investee assets should manage water Climate Change & Energy
Climate change / greenhouse gas emissions policy
Funds that have policies (documented strategies that explain their position on) climate change related issues such as greenhouse gas/carbon emissions, net zero, transitioning to lower carbon. Strategies vary. Read fund details for further information.
Coal, oil & / or gas majors excluded
Funds that avoid investing in major coal, oil and/or gas (extraction) companies. Funds vary: some may exclude all companies that extract oil. Others may have exposure to oil extraction via more diversified energy companies. See fund literature to confirm details.
Fracking and tar sands excluded
Funds that avoid companies involved in fracking and tar sands - which are widely regarded as controversial methods of oil and gas extraction. Strategies vary. See fund information for further information.
Arctic drilling exclusion
Funds that avoid companies that are involved in extracting oil from the Arctic regions. See fund literature for further details.
Fossil fuel reserves exclusion
Funds that avoid investing in companies with coal, oil and gas reserves. See fund information for further details.
Clean / renewable energy theme or focus
Find funds where investment in clean / renewable energy companies an other assets is central to their investment selection strategy. The proportion of the fund that is directly or indirectly invested in renewable energy varies between funds and over time. See fund information for further details.
Encourage transition to low carbon through stewardship activity
A core element of these funds will aim to encourage the transition to lower carbon activities through responsible ownership / stewardship / engagement / voting activity
Energy efficiency theme
Fund funds that have an energy efficiency theme - typically meaning that a fund manager is focused on investing in organisations that manage - or help others to manage - energy use more carefully and less wastefully - and so reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Invests in clean energy / renewables
Funds that hold companies in the clean energy and renewable energy sectors (at the time research was supplied). Fund strategies vary, in particular the proportion of investment in these areas may vary significantly. Check fund literature for details.
Fossil fuel exploration exclusion - direct involvement
The fund manager excludes companies with direct involvement in fossil fuel exploration (eg coal, oil and gas companies)
Fossil fuel exploration exclusion – indirect involvement
The fund manager excludes companies with indirect involvement in fossil fuel exploration. For example they would be expected to exclude banks and insurance companies that are effectively enabling new coal, oil and or gas reserves to be discovered and in due course extracted through the provision of necessary finance or services. Social / Employment
Social policy
Find funds that have policies which set out their approach to social issues (e.g. human rights, labour standards, equal opportunities, child labour and adherence to internationally recognised codes such as the UN Global Compact). Funds with social policies typically avoid companies with low standards or work to encourage higher standards. See fund information for detail.
Labour standards policy
Find funds that have a labour standards policy - which can be expected to mean that the fund will invest in / favour companies that have higher standards in this area - although fund strategies can vary significantly (as with all policy areas). See eg https://www.ilo.org/international-labour-standards
Favours companies with strong social policies
Find funds that invest in line with positive strategies that relate to 'people' issues - such as having strong human rights, labour standards and equal opportunities practices. Such funds are likely to invest in companies that have market leading standards with regard to employee and supplier practices. Read fund literature for further information.
Fast fashion exclusion
Find funds that exclude companies involved in the ‘fast fashion’ sector - these funds will typically be of the view that this area is unsustainable and prone to low environmental and social standards.
Health & wellbeing policies or theme
Find funds with policies or themes that set out their approach to health and wellbeing issues. Funds of this kind typically aim to invest in companies with high standards - or encourage high standards. Themed funds are likely to have more of an emphasis on this area. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Diversity, equality & inclusion Policy (fund level)
Find individual funds that have a written diversity policy – where the fund manager will aim to select companies with a carefully considered, sound approach to diversity. This should ideally cover a range of issues including gender, ethnicity, disability, beliefs, sexual orientation, etc.
Responsible mining policy
Fund has a policy that explains their position on which mining companies they may or may not invest in. Typically this may mean only investing in assets with high environmental and social standards. This is a growing concern given demand for rare earth metals eg lithium, cobalt. See fund information.
Mining exclusion
All mining companies excluded
Vulnerable / gig workers protection policy
Fund has a policy aimed at protecting vulnerable workers such as those on zero hour / informal contracts working in the gig economy Ethical Values Led Exclusions
Tobacco and related product manufacturers excluded
Companies are excluded if they are involved in any aspect of the production chain for tobacco products, including cigarettes, vaping, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco and cigars.
Armaments manufacturers avoided
Find funds that avoid companies that manufacture products intended specifically for military use. Fund strategies vary - particularly with regard to non-strategic military products. See fund literature for fund specific details.
Civilian firearms production exclusion
Find funds with a written civilian firearms exclusion policy - meaning that they will not invest in companies that make (or perhaps also sell) handguns made for non-military users.
Alcohol production excluded
Find funds that avoid investment in companies involved in the production of alcohol. Strategies vary; some funds allow a small proportion of profits to come from this area. See fund literature for further information.
Gambling avoidance policy
Find funds that avoid companies with significant involvement in the gambling industry. Some funds may allow a small proportion of profits to come from this area. See fund policy for further details.
Pornography avoidance policy
Find funds that avoid companies that derive significant income from pornography and related areas. Strategies vary. See fund details for further information.
Animal welfare policy
Find funds with policies that require specific animal welfare standards to be met. These may reference well-known welfare standards (3Rs - Replace, Reduce, Refine) or certification schemes. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail. Human Rights
Human rights policy
Find funds that have policies relating to human rights issues. Funds of this kind typically require companies to demonstrate higher standards, although some fund managers work to encourage improvements. Investee companies are often judged against internationally agreed norms or standards. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Child labour exclusion
Find funds that have policies in place to ensure they do not invest in companies that employ children.
Oppressive regimes (not free or democratic) exclusion policy
Find funds with policies that exclude companies or other assets where regimes are not democratic, or where people may be oppressed. May use eg. Freedom House research. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.
Responsible supply chain policy or theme
Find funds that have policies or a theme that relates to the responsible management of supply chains. These may relate to employment issues, notably people employed by their suppliers, as well as the sourcing of materials and products. See fund literature for further information.
Indigenous peoples’ policy
The fund has a policy which sets out their position on the treatment of indigenous people by investee assets/companies - typically meaning they won't invest in companies with low standards.
Modern slavery exclusion policy
The fund has a policy which excludes assets with involvement in Modern Slavery
LGBTQ+ policy
The fund has a policy which sets out its position on LGBTQ+ related social issues and their expectations of investee assets - typically meaning they won't invest in companies with poor standards. See fund information. Meeting Peoples' Basic Needs
Water / sanitation policy or theme
Find funds that have policies or themes that set out their position on investment in the water sector and/or sanitation. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.
Demographic / ageing population theme
Find funds with a thematic investment approach focusing on the ‘silver economy’ - in particular (typically) the issues and opportunities presented by changing demographics. This could include finance, healthcare and medicines and/ or longevity science to extend lifespans. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.
Invests in social property (freehold)
Find funds that invest in social housing property freeholds. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.
Invests > 5% in social housing
Find funds that have significant investment in social housing or similar assets.
Invests > 5% in social bonds
Find funds that invest in ‘social bonds’ which raise funds for the purpose of financing projects with positive social (people related) outcomes.
Green infrastructure focus
Fund focuses on (ie directs a significant proportion of its investment towards) green infrastructure, eg the clean energy supply chain. See fund details.
Plant based / smart food production theme
Fund has a theme that may direct investment towards newer forms of food such as plant based meat alternatives. A fund may have one or many themes. See fund information.
Responsible food production or agriculture theme
Fund has a responsible food production or agriculture theme or strand of investment. Funds may have a single theme or many themes. See fund information.
Healthcare / medical theme
Healthcare and or medical theme or area of investment - the fund may have a single theme or many themes Gilts & Sovereigns
Invests in gilts / government bonds
Find funds that invest in loans issued the government, commonly known as gilts or government bonds. These may or may not be ringfenced for specific projects (see additional options). See fund literature for any selection criteria.
Gilts / government bonds - exclude some
Find funds that avoid investing in 'some' gilts or government bonds. Strategies vary, but this may relate to avoiding specific countries or particular reasons for bond issuance. 'Green gilts' for example would be likely to be acceptable. See fund literature for further information.
Invests in sovereigns subject to screening criteria
Find funds that invest in financial instruments issued by governments, but will only hold those that meet certain environmental and or social criteria. This may, for example mean certain assets are excluded in line with eg Freedom House research. Strategies vary, see fund literature for more information. Banking & Financials
Invests in banks
Find funds that include banks as part of their holdings / portfolio.
Only invest in TCFD (ISSB) aligned banks / financial institutions
Find fund managers that only invest in banks and other financial institutions that implement the Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures recommendations on climate change related financial disclosures - which aim to help financial markets measure and respond to climate risk.
Exclude banks with significant fossil fuel investments
Will avoid banks that have a large part of their loan book (or other assets) invested in fossil fuels companies - particular coal, oil and gas.
Invests in financial instruments issued by banks
Finds funds that include financial instruments (cash, derivatives and / or foreign exchange) issued by banks. See fund literature for further information as strategies vary.
Exclude insurers of major fossil fuel companies
Find funds that avoid investing in insurance companies that insure major fossil fuels companies – particularly coal, oil and gas. Strategies (eg definition of ‘major’) vary. See fund literature for further information.
Invests in insurers
Funds that do or may invest in insurance companies. Governance & Management
Governance policy
Find fund options that have policies that relate to corporate governance issues such as board structure, executive remuneration, bribery and/or corporate corruption. These funds will typically avoid companies with poor practices. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.
Avoids companies with poor governance
Find funds that aim to avoid investing in companies with poor governance practices.(e.g. board structure, management practices etc.) Views may however vary on what counts as 'poor' practices - and funds may not immediately divest as they may prefer to work to encourage higher standards. See fund literature for further information.
UN sanctions exclusion
Exclude companies that are subject to United Nations sanctions. See eg https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/content/un-sc-consolidated-list
Anti-bribery and corruption policy
Find funds that have policies explaining how managers will respond to assets / companies that do not comply with relevant anti-bribery and anti-corruption standards or laws. Strategies vary; options include stewardship/ engagement and divestment - or a combination. See fund literature for further information.
Encourage board diversity e.g. gender
Fund managers encourage the companies they invest in to have more diverse board structures (e.g. more women on boards)
Encourage TCFD alignment for banks & insurance companies
Find fund managers that encourage the banks and insurance companies they invest in to publish climate change related financial information - as set out by the Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures (with the aim of helping investors measure and respond to climate risk).
Encourage higher ESG standards through stewardship activity
A core element of these funds will aim to encourage higher ESG standards through responsible ownership / stewardship / engagement /voting activity Fund Governance
Employ external (fund) oversight or advisory committee
Find funds that have an external committee that helps steer or advise fund managers on SRI policy or strategy related issues. These people may be paid for their time but are not employees of the fund manager.
ESG integration strategy
Find funds that factor in 'environmental, social and governance' issues as part of their investment decision making process. A focus on 'ESG' typically means a fund is carrying out additional research to help reduce ESG related risks. It does not necessarily mean a focus on sustainability. Strategies vary. See fund literature.
ESG factors included in Assessment of Value (AoV) report
Environmental, social and governance issues are part of this fund’s reporting of their ‘value’ to clients. AoV reporting is a statutory requirement. Including ESG factors in its calculation is not. Asset Size
Over 50% large cap companies
Find funds that invests more than half of their money into what are commonly regarded as 'large companies'. This will typically mean that the market capitalisation (or value) of the companies they hold is in excess of £5 to £10 billion.
Invests in small, mid and large cap companies / assets
Find a fund that invests in a combination of small, medium and larger (potentially multinational)companies.
Invests mostly in large cap companies / assets
Find funds that have SRI strategies and focus their investment stock selection on larger companies. (e.g. over circa £5-£10bn)
Invest in supranationals
International entities or bodies with agreed remits that are broadly similar to those that may otherwise be undertaken by individual governments eg the UN Targeted Positive Investments
Invests > 5% in sustainable bonds
Invests in loan stock that is exclusively used to finance environmental and social projects. See ICMA Sustainable Bond Guidelines.
Invest > 5% in transition bonds
Invests in loan stock that is supporting or enabling the shift towards a cleaner, more sustainable future. Strategies vary significantly and may or may not be linked to specific outcomes.
Invests > 5% in green bonds
Find funds that invest in green bonds (also known as climate bonds) which encourage sustainability and support climate related or special environmental projects. Please check fund literature for specific % of assets invested in this area.
Invests > 50% in green bonds
Find funds that invest more than 50% in green bonds (also known as climate bonds) which encourage sustainability and support climate related or special environmental projects. Please check fund literature for specific % of assets invested in this area.
Invests >25% of fund in environmental/social solutions companies
Find funds that invest >25% of their capital towards companies where a major part of their business is focused on helping to address environmental or social challenges.
Invests >50% of fund in environmental/social solutions companies
Find funds that invest >50% of their capital in companies where a major part of their business is focused on helping to address environmental or social challenges. Impact Methodologies
Aims to generate positive impacts (or 'outcomes')
Funds that aim to help or support the delivery of positive social or environmental impacts (or societal/real world outcomes) by investing in companies they regard as beneficial to people and / or the planet. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.
Measures positive impacts
Funds that aim to measure the positive real world environmental and / or social benefits that are associated with their investment strategy. Funds that aim to deliver positive impacts and measure those impacts may be referred to as 'impact funds' - although impact measurement is not restricted to impact funds. Strategies vary. See fund information.
Described as an ‘impact investment fund’
Funds that are specifically marketed as ‘Impact investments funds' will work to deliver both financial performance and specific, measurable positive, real world social and/or environmental benefits. Strategies vary.
Positive environmental impact theme
Find funds that specifically set out to help deliver positive environmental impacts, benefits or 'real world' outcomes.
Positive social impact theme
Find funds that specifically state that they aim to deliver positive social (i.e. people related) impacts and/or outcomes.
Invests in environmental solutions companies
Find funds that direct investment towards companies where a major part of their business is about solving environmental challenges. e.g. companies helping to address climate change.
Invests in social solutions companies
Find funds that invest in companies where a major part of their business is specifically aimed at helping to address social challenges. e.g. companies helping to address poverty.
Invests in sustainability / ESG disruptors
Find funds that specifically set out to invest in companies that are regarded as 'disrupting' existing business practices - typically through the development of innovative (sustainability aware) products and/or practices.
Aim to deliver positive impacts through engagement
Fund aims to deliver positive environmental and or social impacts (real world benefits) through its engagement with investee assets
Over 50% in assets providing environmental or social ‘solutions’
50% of fund assets are regarded by the fund manager as being significantly focused on providing solutions to environmental or social challenges. Strategies vary.
Publish ‘theory of change’ explanation
This fund has an explanation of the way in which the manager believes things need to change in order to deliver a more sustainable future, which they are working to help achieve. How The Fund Works
Positive selection bias
Find funds that focus on finding and investing in companies with positive / beneficial attributes. This strategy can be applied in addition to exclusion criteria and engagement/stewardship activity.
Negative selection bias
Find funds where their main 'ethical approach' is to avoid companies by using negative screening criteria. Read fund literature for further information.
Strictly screened ethical fund
Find funds where their main approach is to apply positive or negative ethical, social and / or environmental screens. Strictly screened funds are likely to exclude more companies than other related fund options. See fund literature for further information.
Significant harm exclusion
Aims to avoid companies that do significant harm. This originates from the EU’s sustainable finance ‘DNSH’ (do no significant harm) work, which is not necessarily used by UK investors.
Assets mapped to SDGs
Find funds that have 'mapped' (reviewed) their investment selection and management strategies to identify which of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) the fund is helping to address.
Combines norms based exclusions with other SRI criteria
Find funds that make significant use of internationally agreed 'norms' (e.g. United Nations Global Compact - UNGC - or the UN Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs) as part of their investment selection process alongside additional SRI criteria such as positive or negative stock selection policies and/or stewardship strategies.
Combines ESG strategy with other SRI criteria
Find funds that have an ESG strategy (which is typically focused on avoiding companies that pose environmental, social or governance related risks) with additional criteria such as positive and/or negative screens, themes and stewardship strategies.
Balances company 'pros and cons' / best in sector
Find funds that consider both the 'positive' and 'negative' aspects of company behaviour and make balanced, considered decisions as part of their investment approach. May apply to a range of different issues and policy areas.
Norms focus
Find funds that use internationally agreed standards, conventions and 'norms' to help direct where the fund can and cannot invest (e.g. the UN Global Compact, UN Sustainable Development Goals). Read fund literature for further information.
Focus on ESG risk mitigation
A major focus of these funds is the careful management of environmental, social and governance (ESG) related risks - typically by avoiding or being underweight in companies seen as posing major risks in these areas (i.e. not necessarily by using themes, exclusions etc).
SRI / ESG / Ethical policies explained on website
Find funds that have published explanations of their ethical, social and/or environmental policies online (i.e. fund decision making strategies/ buy/sell &/or asset management strategies).
Different risk options of this strategy are available
See fund information for different risk options of this fund strategy
Participated in sustainability solutions IPOs or new issuances
This fund does (and has recently) invested in newly listed companies other assets (eg bonds) which are significantly focused on the provision of products and/or services which are designed to solve environmental and/or social problems. Unscreened Assets & Cash
No ‘diversifiers’ used other than cash
Fund that only invest in cash to aid the practical management (buying and selling) of assets. These funds do not use additional financial instruments.
All assets (except cash) meet published sustainability criteria
All assets held in the fund - except cash - meet the sustainability criteria published in fund documentation. Intended Clients & Product Options
Intended for investors interested in sustainability
Finds funds designed to meet the needs of individual investors with an interest in sustainability issues.
Intended for clients interested in ethical issues
Find funds designed for clients who care about ethical and values-based issues, often alongside sustainability issues also.
Intended for clients who want to have a positive impact
Finds funds designed to meet the needs of individual investors with an interest in ‘Impact investment funds’ which help or support the delivery of positive social or environmental impacts (or societal/real world outcomes) by investing in companies they regard as beneficial to people and / or the planet. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.
Faith friendly
Find funds that have attributes that commonly suit the aims of investors of faith - although they may not be specifically marketed as being only for religious investors. Strategies vary (as do investor aims). Read fund literature for further information.
Available via an ISA (OEIC only)
Find funds that are available via a tax efficient ISA product wrapper.
Portfolio SRI / ESG options available (DFMs)
Only applicable for DFM’s & portfolio providers. Finds those that offer an SRI / ESG portfolio option
Multiple SRI / ESG portfolio options available (DFMs)
Only applicable for DFM’s & portfolio providers. Find service providers who offer multiple SRI / ESG portfolio options
Bespoke SRI / ESG portfolios available (DFMs)
Only applicable for DFM’s & portfolio providers. Find service providers who offer bespoke ('personalised') SRI / ESG portfolio options Fund Management Company InformationAbout The Business
Boutique / specialist fund management company
Find fund management companies that are smaller or specialise in particular areas - notably, ideally ESG related. Strategies vary.
Specialist positive impact fund management company
Find fund management companies (or subsidiaries) that specialise in - or focus entirely on - investing in assets that are helping to deliver positive environmental and / or social impacts.
Responsible ownership / stewardship policy or strategy (AFM company wide)
Finds fund management companies that have a published company wide stewardship, engagement and / or responsible ownership policy or strategy that covers all investments. Stewardship typically involves encouraging higher ESG standards through voting and dialogue.
ESG / SRI engagement (AFM company wide)
Find fund management companies that actively encourage higher 'environmental, social and governance' and/or 'sustainable and responsible investment' practices across investee companies - typically where the aim is to encourage positive change that is aligned with the best interests of investors. Strategies vary. See additional information and options.
Responsible ownership / ESG a key differentiator (AFM company wide)
Find fund managers that consider responsible ownership and ESG to be a key differentiator for their business.
SDG aligned aims / objectives (AFM company wide)
Find fund management companies that aim to align all their investments (across all funds) to help meet the aims of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Responsible ownership policy for non SRI funds (AFM company wide)
Find funds run by fund managers that apply Responsible ownership or 'Stewardship' policies to all or most of their investment assets. This means active involvement (e.g. voting, dialogue) with the companies they invest in across funds (not normally limited to ethical or SRI options.) Read fund literature for further information.
Integrates ESG factors into all / most (AFM) fund research
Find fund management companies that consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues when deciding whether or not to invest in a company for all / almost all of their funds and other assets. This is increasingly seen as part of sound risk management.
In-house diversity improvement programme (AFM company wide)
Finds organisations / fund managers that have an in-house (company wide) diversity improvement programme - meaning that they are working to ensure that within their own businesses they employ people from diverse backgrounds - often typically focused on ethnicity and/or sex.
Diversity, equality & inclusion engagement policy (AFM company wide)
Find fund management companies that encourage the companies they invest in to have strong diversity, race, gender and other equality policies across all assets held, not simply screened or themed SRI/ESG funds. (ie Asset Management company wide).
Vulnerable client policy on website (AFM company wide)
Asset manager has information on their website that explains how they treat 'vulnerable clients' (as set out in FCA regulation)
Offer structured intermediary training on sustainable investment
Fund management entity offers unstructured intermediary training on sustainable investment (ie for financial advisers and wealth managers)
Offer unstructured intermediary sustainable investment training
Fund management entity offers unstructured intermediary training on sustainable investment (ie for financial advisers and wealth managers) Collaborations & Affiliations
PRI signatory
Find fund management companies that have signed up to the UN backed 'Principles of Responsible Investment'. Resources
In-house responsible ownership / voting expertise
Find fund management companies that employ people to steer and support fund managers in voting shares at company AGM's and EGMs in ways that are consistent with encouraging higher ESG/sustainability standards.
Employ specialist ESG / SRI / sustainability researchers
Find a fund management company that directly employs specialist ESG/SRI/sustainability researchers or analysts. This allows asset managers to discuss environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities directly with companies.
Use specialist ESG / SRI / sustainability research companies
Find fund management companies that makes use of expert external research companies. This can help deliver specialist expertise and means resources are pooled with other investors.
ESG specialists on all investment desks (AFM company wide)
Finds organisations / fund managers that have one or more ESG/sustainability experts on all investment teams or 'desks' (all asset types) Accreditations
B Corp certified (AFM company wide)
Fund manager has achieved accreditation which requires them to articulate their purpose and have high environmental and social standards. Engagement Approach
Regularly lead collaborative ESG initiatives (AFM company wide)
Find fund management companies that regularly initiate or run industry wide (collaborative) investor projects aimed at raising environmental, social and governance standards amongst investee companies.
Encourage responsible corporate taxation (AFM company wide)
Find fund management companies that are working with the companies they invest in to encourage more responsible corporate taxation.
Engaging on climate change issues
Fund manager has stewardship /responsible ownership strategy that is focused on addressing climate change with investee assets.
Engaging with fossil fuel companies on climate change
Asset manager has a stewardship /responsible ownership strategy that involves working with fossil fuel companies on climate change related issues. See fund manager website for details.
Engaging to reduce plastics pollution / waste
Asset manager has stewardship /responsible ownership strategy with involves encouraging investee asset to reduce plastic waste and pollution.
Engaging to encourage responsible mining practices
Asset manager has a stewardship / responsible ownership policy that means they are working to encourage more responsible mining practices - where environmental and social issues are properly dealt with by the companies they invest in.
Engaging on biodiversity / nature issues
The asset manager has a responsible ownership / stewardship strategy that focuses on biodiversity and nature issues relating to the assets they invest the aim of which will be to reduce harm and or deliver improvement. Strategies vary. https://tnfd.global
Engaging to encourage a Just Transition
Asset manager has a responsible ownership / stewardship strategy which means they are working to encourage the shift to more sustainable business practices in ways that respect and are sensitive to social issues and the impact change has on people effected by the changes that are taking place. https://www.transitionpathwayinitiative.org/ https://transitiontaskforce.net/
Engaging on human rights issues
Asset manager has responsible ownership / stewardship strategy in place which aims to address human rights issues in investee companies (and potentially their suppliers) with the aim of raising standards
Engaging on labour / employment issues
Asset manager has responsible ownership / stewardship strategy in place that aims to improve labour standards for the benefit of employees in investee companies (and potentially their suppliers)
Engaging on diversity, equality and / or inclusion issues
Asset management company has a stewardship strategy in place which involves working to raise diversity, equality and inclusion standards across investee assets
Engaging to stop modern slavery
working with the assets they hold to help stamp out modern slavery - where direct or indirect company employees are exploited for business benefits.
Engaging on governance issues
Fund managers have stewardship strategies in place that focus on improving governance standards across investee assets
Engaging on responsible supply chain issues
Has a stewardship / responsible ownership strategy that encourages responsible supply chain - ie the managers will discuss environmental, social and governance issues with investee companies with the aim of raising standards
Engaging to encourage more sustainable ‘diversifiers’ (e.g. derivatives)
Funds may use assets that are not directly aligned with sustainability objectives in order to help manage investment risk. Engaging for more sustainable options will aid alignment with fund objectives.
Engaging on the responsible use of AI
Working to address sustainability, ESG and related concerns around artificial intelligence. Company Wide Exclusions
Controversial weapons avoidance policy (AFM company wide)
Find fund management companies (not funds) that avoid investment in 'controversial weapons' across all of their funds and other investment vehicles.
Tobacco avoidance policy (AFM company wide)
Find fund management companies that avoid investment in tobacco (manufacturing) companies across all their assets.
Review(ing) carbon / fossil fuel exposure for all funds (AFM company wide)
Find funds / fund managers that are reviewing, or have reviewed, their exposure to carbon intensive industries including (but not only) mining, oil and gas companies. (Typically with reference to climate change.)
Coal divestment policy (AFM company wide)
This asset manager has a strategy in place that will lead them to exit direct investments in the coal mining industry. Managers ability to do this may depend on the geographic regions in which they invest.
Coal exclusion policy (group wide coal mining exclusion policy)
This asset manager excludes direct investment in the coal mining industry. Managers ability to do this may depend on the geographic regions in which they invest. Climate & Net Zero Transition
Net Zero commitment (AFM company wide)
Fund management organisations that have pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to ‘net zero’. Strategies vary - this area is changing rapidly.
Encourage carbon / greenhouse gas reduction (AFM company wide)
Find fund management companies that are working with the companies they invest in to encourage reductions in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions.
Carbon transition plan published (AFM company wide)
Finds organisations / fund managers that have a company wide carbon transition plan - meaning that they have plotted a path to how they will move away from activities that produce or use carbon based energy sources (that emit greenhouse gases) towards clean, alternative, renewable energy sources.
‘Forward Looking Climate Metrics’ published / ITR (AFM company wide)
Finds organisations / fund managers that have published ‘forward looking climate metrics’ e.g. 'implied temperature rise' data that are a total of the asset management company's share (% owned) of all the investee company emissions of the assets they manage, as well as their own direct and other indirect emissions.
Carbon offsetting - offset carbon as part of our net zero plan (AFM company wide)
This asset management company plans to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (CO2e) emissions with the help of a scheme that will lock away an amount of carbon that is equivalent to the company’s own emissions – so that the end result is ‘net zero’. Calculations and scope vary.
In-house carbon / GHG reduction policy (AFM company wide)
Find fund management companies that are working to reduce their own (fund management company) carbon/greenhouse gas emissions.
Working towards a ‘Net Zero’ commitment (AFM company wide)
Finds organisations / fund management companies that are in the process of working out how to make a ‘net zero commitment’ - meaning that when that is finalised they will have started the process of reducing their total greenhouse gas emissions to'zero'. Transparency
Publish responsible ownership / stewardship report (AFM company wide)
Find fund management companies that publish a report detailing their responsible investment ownership - also known as 'Stewardship' - activity.
Full SRI / responsible ownership policy information available on request
Find fund management companies that will supply information about their sustainable and responsible investment activity on request.
Publish full voting record (AFM company wide)
Fund management companies that publish a full record of how they vote their shares at AGMs (annual general meetings) and EGMs (extraordinary general meetings). Voting strategies have an important role to play encouraging higher environmental, social and governance standards.
Net Zero transition plan publicly available (AFM company wide)
This asset management company has published a plan that explains how they are going to achieve net zero greenhouse gas / CO2e emissions.
Dialshifter statement
Find fund management companies that have supplied Dialshifter information. See Dialshifter tab within record for more information. Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Policy:Our fund research comprises both due diligence of a funds’ investment process and policies, as well as a detailed review (and ongoing monitoring) of all underlying holdings and reporting. This is necessary to ensure the Positive Impact Portfolios meet their mandate of maximising positive impacts (and avoiding harm as a natural by-product).
Positive screen: Solution providers The process really starts with the search for companies whose products and services will make a material positive impact on solving societal and environmental problems. We are using the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) as a framework to focus on the key issues that need to be tackled. Launched following the 2015 UN Summit in Paris, the 17 Sustainable Development Goals address the issues the UN sees as most challenging to our world between now and 2030.
We ensure that the investment process and philosophy of funds reflects a focus on selecting companies with a material and additional positive impact case. Additionally, we have developed our EQ SDG X-ray tool that allows us to analyse every underlying holding in regards to contributing solutions to the UN SDGs.
Negative screen: It is also important to screen out the most controversial sectors such as tobacco, armaments, gambling or pornography. Firstly, we review the screening policies applied by the fund’s investment process. Additionally, at EQ Investors, we have developed a proprietary tool that allows us to map all underlying holdings to negative effect on the UN SDGs. This process includes all traditional ethical controversial products/activity involvements but goes further. For example, it allows us to flag fossil fuel exposure, unhealthy nutrition, air freight or automotive pollution. This allows us to be transparent and avoid exposure to harmful sectors.
Balance: While our focus remains on selecting companies with products and service that show a material and additional positive impact, it is also important to look at the operations of the firms to assure these are also responsibly managed. We assure ESG integration to the fund investment process and have access to ESG data in-house to tests fund managers on their rationales. This will allow us to maximise exposure to net-positive impact companies om balance.
Engagement: As a result of this screening process, some of the Sustainable Development Goals align with significant investment opportunities for the Positive Impact Portfolios such as good health and well-being or affordable and clean energy while others do not represent realistic investment opportunities at all. We will engage with fund managers to also create positive Impacts on those UN SDG that are less readily investable, and better targeted through responsible company operations. We also engage on an ongoing basis to test fund manager adherence to process, flag any controversies, and push for evolution with best-practice.
Impact measurement: Impact measurement is a key prerequisite to ‘impact investing’ definitions. To measure the impact achieved by the portfolios, we have produced an impact report that details how the companies we invest in align to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. For 2 years we have also uniquely measured the impact generated by an investment in the EQ Positive Impact portfolios on number of social and environmental key performance indicators. We provide personalised impact reports via our online ‘impact calculator’. Green bond exposure is around 5% for a Balanced risk profile, 10% for a more cautious portfolio and under 3% for a more adventurous portfolio.
Process:Alongside a thorough financial analysis, the due diligence process is complemented with an equally detailed analysis of the ESG integration process, sustainability screens and the application of impact investing best-practices within the underlying funds. This is where we add significant value through our 10 years’ experience in evaluating sustainable investments. Given the quickly growing fund universe, there is increasing vagueness in terminology, and a related increase in “greenwash risk”.
Please request full process document for all details. Resources, Affiliations & Corporate Strategies:EQ Investors and its employees have been involved in impact investing since 2008, and this experience led us to the creation of the Positive Impact Portfolios in 2012, with the objective of making impact investing available to mainstream investors.
Since then, EQ Investors has built out its sustainable investing capabilities. We launched the EQ Future Leaders MPS range in early 2020, a passive sustainable proposition. We also offer bespoke sustainable investment services tailored to specific client sustainability and financial objectives.
We are a team of 13, comprising:
Additionally, we are supported by operations and platform administration team (4 people), marketing (3), and an internal IT team (4 people).
All the fund and asset allocation research is carried out internally, but we have access to external data providers to provide research data input.
Given that EQ is a sustainable investment manager, our sustainable investment approach is fully integrated across our research process to avoid over-reliance on key individuals. Therefore, all members carry out relevant aspects of sustainability research, integration or engagement. In addition, all EQ fund analysts are actively contributing to the ESG assessment, fund monitoring and implementing the sustainability objectives of our portfolios.
A dedicated Board Report is produced that summarises key innovations, proposes changes and keeps the bridge between implementation and oversight. There is a Sustainability Oversight Committee (SOC) which acts as a quarterly forum to monitor, at a higher level, that all of EQ’s sustainability claims are met, that EQ aligns to the changing regulatory demands and remains at the forefront of sustainable investment innovation. While our dedicated sustainability team stays ahead of incoming regulation, industry frameworks and client expectations to manage this over the long term, the SOC provides the appropriate governance structure. Beyond its monitoring responsibility, the SOC aims to for members to be able to openly discuss “conflict of interest”, “mandate drift”, and any proposed innovations.
Affiliations: UN PRI, CA100+, ShareAction, Access to nutrition, World Benchmarking Alliance, Access to Medicine, UN PRI Spring, B Corp
DialshifterThis portfolio is helping to ‘shift the dial from brown to green’ by… The EQ Positive Impact Portfolios have been designed with a view to support companies that are developing innovative solutions to tackle the largest issues the world is facing including climate change. By supporting the issuance of green bonds, financing of low carbon solutions as well as engaging with companies to push them to reduce their carbon emissions, the EQ Positive Impact Portfolios are sharing the ethos of the Dialshifter to make the fight against climate change a high priority for all stakeholders.
Our organisation is helping to support the Paris Climate Agreement and the Race to Net Zero by… Being a signatory of the B Corp Climate Collective NetZero 2030 initiative, EQ Investors has committed to net zero emissions by 2030. EQ wants to accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to reach a 1.5-degree trajectory leading to net zero by the year 2030—20 years ahead of the 2050 targets set in the Paris Agreement. EQ Investors has also joined the influential Climate Action 100+ group of investors. The initiative is aimed at pushing the world’s largest corporate greenhouse gas emitters to take action on climate change. SDR Labelling: Not eligible to use label |