Robeco is taking transparency to the next level by enhancing its sustainability disclosures on both factsheets and website platforms.
This initiative underscores Robeco’s commitment as a market leader in sustainability, dedicated to setting new standards in investment transparency.
The catalyst behind this new product enhancement is the increasing investor demand for detailed sustainability information and transparent investment products. Robeco acknowledges that contemporary investors are not only focused on financial returns but also on how their investments impact the world, particularly regarding critical issues such as climate change, biodiversity, and broader ESG considerations.
Robeco specialises in offering a range of investment strategies, aligning financial instruments with long-term sustainability goals. The firm has a storied history of integrating sustainability into its investment processes, believing that sustainable investing is integral to creating long-term shareholder value.
The latest enhancement involves incorporating rich sustainability data into the factsheets and webpages for all investment products. These disclosures will provide investors with clear, comprehensive information on various sustainability metrics, including the portfolio’s environmental footprint, its contribution towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and levels of engagement.
Furthermore, Robeco is extending these disclosures to over 100 factsheets, adding specific ESG ratings from external providers like Sustainalytics, and detailed reports on the portfolio’s alignment with global sustainability objectives. This initiative follows the systematic integration of sustainability data into Robeco’s data architecture, a significant project developed over several years that necessitated cross-departmental collaboration within the firm.
This move to enhanced transparency is not without its challenges. Robeco Head of Sustainability Integration Masja Zandbergen said, “Expanding this level of commitment to the entire product range meant taking the decision to report sustainability information that was not previously steered upon. This can have the result that some products look less good on certain metrics.” Despite these hurdles, Robeco remains committed to complete transparency, avoiding the pitfall of ‘cherry-picking’ positive metrics while omitting less favourable ones.
Zandbergen further emphasised the need for a leadership stance, stating, “I believe that as a leader in the field of investing sustainably, we need to disclose more detailed metrics in our public reporting, and disclose a standard set metrics which goes beyond just showing the binding elements.” This approach reinforces Robeco’s dedication to pioneering sustainability in investment, willing to go beyond the norm to provide clients with a fully transparent, comprehensive view of their investment impacts.
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