ESG Practices among Corporate Pension Funds Reveals that SRI is Becoming Mainstream

Paris, October 3, 2011: With asset owners playing a fundamental role in influencing SRI practices, Eurosif’s 2011 Corporate Pension Funds Study shows that 56% of surveyed corporate pension funds have an SRI policy in place today and that about a quarter of those without an SRI policy intend to have one on the coming year. A greater majority feel that environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors affect the long-term performance and their integration into investment decisions is part of investors’ fiduciary duty. Equities, bonds and real estate are the most popular asset classes in the implementation of SRI policies.

Created with the support of DB Advisors and HSBC Global Asset Management, Eurosif’s study is the first comprehensive EU-wide examination of to what extent and in what manner corporate pension funds across Europe have adopted sustainable investment practices.

Based on a survey of 169 respondents from 12 EU Member States, the study finds that 56% of corporate pension funds have an SRI policy in place. A higher percentage, 60%, consider that ESG factors affect pension funds’ long-term performance. Similarly, 66% of respondents feel that having an SRI policy is part of their fiduciary duty.

Read the full info in  Eurosif Press Release

Download the full report in Eurosif Web