Robeco has joined forces with the Swiss Association for Responsible Investments, a pivotal player in the realm of responsible investment.
Founded in 2015, SVVK-ASIR is renowned for its commitment to steering major Swiss pension and social security funds towards sustainability. This alliance brings together 11 institutional investors, commanding assets totaling more than CHF300 billion ($342m), with a shared mission to monitor and engage with their investment portfolio companies on critical global standards violations, particularly in human rights, business ethics, and environmental protection.
According to ESG Today, the essence of this partnership lies in its ambitious goal: to catalyse positive change through proactive engagement with companies on significant issues such as biodiversity loss, climate change, and systemic human rights challenges. Both entities are leveraging their collective expertise and resources to drive forward a sustainable investment agenda that aims not just at financial returns, but at a positive global impact.
Delving into the specifics of the partnering organisations, Robeco stands out with its robust stewardship framework, as evidenced in its 2022 Stewardship report. The firm actively engaged with 215 companies over the past year, covering 22 thematic areas of engagement. It is noteworthy for its participation in approximately 5,000 shareholder annual general meetings annually. This engagement strategy is further enhanced by Robeco’s commitment to addressing new sustainability themes, including ocean sustainability and the phasing out of hazardous chemicals, alongside pressing issues like climate change mitigation and sustainable practices in the fashion industry.
Conversely, SVVK-ASIR’s approach focuses on meticulous oversight and engagement based on adherence to international standards by its members’ portfolio companies. The coalition’s dedication to positive impact through dialogue has set a new benchmark in responsible investing, particularly in Switzerland.
Expanding on the partnership, both Robeco and SVVK-ASIR are poised to address some of the most pressing sustainability challenges facing the planet. By combining SVVK-ASIR’s influential network of Swiss pension funds with Robeco’s global reach and expertise in engagement, this partnership aspires to set new standards in sustainable investment practices.
In additional information, Robeco’s proactive stance on sustainability has been recognized since 2005, marking the firm as a leader in engagement and stewardship in the investment world. This collaboration with SVVK-ASIR represents a strategic step towards enhancing the sustainability profiles of the companies they invest in, ultimately fostering a more sustainable global economy.
Reflecting on this groundbreaking alliance, Tamara Hardegger, Managing Director at SVVK-ASIR, remarked, “Our member funds believe in positive change through dialogue. Partnering with Robeco allows us to deepen and broaden our commitment to positive change in the key areas of biodiversity and nature loss, climate change and systemic human rights issues. We are delighted to be working with such an experienced team to do this in the most effective way.”
Peter van der Werf, Head of Engagement at Robeco, added, “We are looking forward to working together closely with the team at SVVK-ASIR. Robeco has been recognized as a leader in the field of Engagement since 2005, and we represent large institutional investors in engagement with their portfolio holdings to strengthen their performance in managing sustainability risks and capturing opportunities in the transition.”
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