Strategy
We support the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact
Corporate sustainability starts with a company’s value system and a principles-based approach to doing business. This means operating in ways that, at a minimum, meet fundamental responsibilities in the areas of (i) human rights, (ii) labor, (iii) environment and (iv) anti-corruption.
Human Rights
Principle 1: Businesses should support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights;
Principle 2: Make sure they are not complicit in human rights abuses.
Labor
Principle 3: Businesses should uphold the freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining;
Principle 4: The elimination of all forms of forced and compulsory labor;
Principle 5: The effective abolition of child labor;
Principle 6: The elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation.
Environment
Principle 7: Businesses should support a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;
Principle 8: Undertake initiatives to promote greater environmental responsibility;
Principle 9: Encourage the development and diffusion of environmentally friendly technologies.
Anti-Corruption
Principle 10: Businesses should work against corruption in all forms, including extortion and bribery.
Guided by the Ten Principles as drivers of corporate sustainability and responsible business practice, our investment strategy prioritizes five issue areas that the Global Compact will seek to lead and shape. These include Gender Equality (SDG 5), Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG 8), Climate Action (SDG 13), Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions (SDG 16), and Partnerships (SDG 17).
Businesses /companies promoting at least 5 of the following statements/goals are companies that we can consider investing in:
- Businesses committed to net zero emissions or carbon neutrality
- Companies with science-based plans for transitioning to net zero emissions by 2050
- Companies on track to decarbonize their portfolios
- Companies undertaking disclosures aligned with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
- Incremental investment of GC businesses toward climate action
- Companies with public commitments to human rights and labor
- Companies committed to implementing the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
- Companies conducting a Human Rights Impact Assessment
- Companies with processes to enable the remediation of any adverse human rights impact they cause or to which they contribute
- Companies offering living wages
- Companies demonstrating broad-based gender parity in operations
- Companies with targets for women’s representation at all levels of management
- Companies with family/parent-friendly workplace policies
- Companies with gender-sensitive products and offerings relevant to their sector
- Companies with enforced compliance with anti-corruption and bribery
- Companies with a commitment to transparency in corporate reporting
- Companies with processes to enable reporting of corruption and bribery
- Companies taking action to advance the SDG