Calvert believes that such distinctions are essential. Some of the concerns it raises are new flavors of old favorites, and some are new issues that have not been on the traditional radar screens of SRI firms. Traditional SRI Issues and Analysis. Calvert uses both avoidance and positive screens on each issue. Technology companies often raise these issues, but frequently with a spin that is particular to the sector.
Environmental analysis is an example.
We examine every company s impact on natural resources, including air, water and soil, and each company that we invest in has environmental practices that are better than or equal to the average of its industry. The fabrication of semiconductors involves one of the most toxic cocktails of potentially hazardous substances used in any manufacturing industry. It is estimated that over 99 percent of all the substances used to make semiconductors do not end up in the final product, but end up as waste products from the production process. The industry has phased out or greatly reduced its use of some of the more dangerous and controversial substances like CFCs and glycol ethers. However, the production process shifts more rapidly in semiconductors than perhaps any other industry.