Skip navigation Personal Employer Adviser About us Register Login Pensions & Retirement Savings & Investments Equity Release Contact & Help Responsible investment How we incorporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) InvestmentsGuides Sustainable investing How responsible investment aims to make you money without compromising the future We all want to make responsible choices as more of us are becoming aware of global challenges, such as environmental issues, human rights and climate change. We’re also starting to care more about how our behaviours affect the planet and society. We’re swapping the products we buy to those that are more environmentally friendly, as well as taking more time to consider our own impact on recycling, waste and pollution. That mind-set is also changing the way we invest money. In the past, ethical funds that excluded certain types of investments, such as tobacco and weapons, were the only choice if we wanted to match our investments to our values. These funds are still popular but they’re now joined by a range of other options that let us invest responsibly. Invested in Better View our video to understand more on how we are committed to a sustainable future. 0 seconds of 2 minutes, 0 seconds Video transcript What is responsible investment? Responsible investment is a combination of different approaches to managing money that includes environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors. Investment managers will: decide what to invest in look at ESG factors in companies, so they can combine managing risk better while aiming for long-term returns offer funds with specific ethical, environmental or social goals encourage better ESG behaviours by using their role as a steward of investments When we talk about responsible investment, we’ll mainly use these two terms: ESG incorporation Investment managers can include ESG in both how they invest and how they design their individual funds. ESG integration A process used to analyse a company’s approach to ESG to help spot opportunities and manage risks (can be applied across all funds). This doesn't include screening. So investments which could be seen as negative may still be included. Screening Funds that exclude/include investments based on ethics and values (includes ethical funds). Thematic Funds aiming to achieve a financial return alongside a specific environmental or social outcome (includes impact funds). Stewardship There are two ways investment managers can better understand ESG risks and influence positive change. Engagement Talking to companies they invest in about their ESG activities and practices to encourage better policies and conduct in these areas. Proxy voting Using voting rights on behalf of investors to encourage good management of matters such as governance, tax practices and climate change. Standard Life Assurance Limited's approach to responsible investment is based on the United Nations-supported Principles of Responsible Investment (PRI) and the UK Stewardship Code. How ESG is integrated into your investment choices When it comes to your investments, we’re accountable. That’s why it’s integrated into our investment options. It’s also why we need to understand how our investment managers integrate ESG when building portfolios. How ESG factors are applied to Standard Life’s range of investment options The following table shows a summary of how ESG factors are applied to our easy investment options and our do-it-yourself investment options. You can find more details below the table. Easy investment options: Sustainable Multi Asset (lifestyle profile) *Note 6 Active Plus range (funds and lifestyle profiles which include the funds) *Note 1 Passive Plus range (funds and lifestyle profiles which include the funds) *Note 2 Passive Core (lifestyle profile) *Note 2 MyFolio Managed range (funds and lifestyle profiles which include the funds) MyFolio Index range (funds) *Note 2 Managed Fund (fund and lifestyle profiles) Do-it-yourself investment options: Funds managed by Aberdeen Standard Investments Funds managed by other external fund managers ESG Incorporation Stewardship Integration Screening Thematic Engagement Proxy voting Easy investment options: Sustainable Multi Asset (lifestyle profile) *Note 6 - Active Plus range (funds and lifestyle profiles which include the funds) *Note 1 - - Passive Plus range (funds and lifestyle profiles which include the funds) *Note 2 - - - Passive Core (lifestyle profile) *Note 2 - - - MyFolio Managed range (funds and lifestyle profiles which include the funds) - - MyFolio Index range (funds) *Note 2 - - - Managed Fund (fund and lifestyle profiles) - - Do-it-yourself investment options: Funds managed by Aberdeen Standard Investments *Note 3 - Funds managed by other external fund managers *Note 4 *Note 5 *Note 5 *Note 4 *Note 4 Note 1 Note 2 Note 3 Note 4 Note 5 Note 6 Easy investment options The funds in the Passive Plus and MyFolio Index ranges, and the Passive Core lifestyle profiles are mainly actively managed by Aberdeen Standard Investments. This means that ESG is integrated at all stages, as active investment managers have the freedom and flexibility to fully integrate the outcomes of ESG analysis in their investment strategies. Although ESG is integrated at all stages of the investment management processes, screening and thematic approaches may not be applied. So investments which could be seen as negative may still be included. If you're invested in an Active Plus option Find out more For an easy way to start investing, see the MyFolio Managed options Find out more If you have one of our traditional investment options Find out more The funds in the Passive Plus and MyFolio Index ranges, and the Passive Core lifestyle profile use some underlying investments that track a market index, so ESG isn’t integrated into the selection of individual stocks. But all the passive investment managers we use have established investment stewardship programmes. Do-it-yourself investment options We expect all of the investment managers we work with to show how they apply responsible investment to their funds. There may be occasions when this isn’t possible, for instance where a passive investment manager has to track a broad market index. Apart from exceptions like this, we would like all the investment managers we work with to: engage effectively with companies and, when necessary, escalate this engagement to drive better long-term performance from the business as a whole use the voting rights they have to encourage positive commitments or practices deliver robust reporting on their ESG engagement activities, including details on the factors they discuss, and any actions or outcomes agreed during these meetings You can find out more about how Standard Life Assurance Limited incorporates ESG into the insured (pension and life) fund range (0.42 MB). A choice of screening or thematic approaches If you want to invest in a way that suits your financial goals and values by avoiding or limiting investment in ‘bad’ companies, or creating ‘good’ portfolios through screening or thematic approaches, Standard Life offers a range of funds for you. You can choose actively managed funds that screen for positive or negative criteria You can decide to invest in one of our funds that uses positive or negative screening criteria. Their positive criteria look for companies which are involved in activities that benefit society and the environment. Their negative criteria looks to avoid investment in companies involved in certain industries and practices such as animal testing, climate change impacts and human rights issues. Find out more about the ethical funds offered by Aberdeen Standard Investments. You can see the choices that are available in the table below and you can download their factsheets to learn more about each. Fund name Pension ISA Standard Life Ethical Pension Fund (70.8 KB) SL ASI UK Ethical Equity Pension Fund (71.9 KB) SL ASI Ethical Corporate Bond Pension Fund (74.9 KB) SL ASI Europe ex UK Ethical Equity Pension Fund (71.8KB) SL Threadneedle UK Social Bond Pension Fund (179 KB) SL Nordea Global Climate and Environment Pension Fund (175KB) SL Nordea Global Gender Diversity Pension Fund (175KB) SL Schroder Sustainable Multi-Factor Equity Pension Fund (172KB) ASI Ethical Corporate Bond Fund (71.9 KB) ASI Europe ex UK Ethical Equity Fund (91.1 KB) ASI UK Ethical Equity Fund (85 KB) Threadneedle UK Social Bond Fund (116 KB) You can also invest in passively managed funds that take a different approach These funds have broad coverage of the market, but exclude investments that don’t meet specific socially responsible or religious principles. You can see what’s available in the table and read the factsheets to find out more. Fund name Pension ISA SL Vanguard SRI European Stock Pension Fund (184 KB) SL Vanguard ESG Developed World All Cap Equity Index Fund (183 KB) SL HSBC Islamic Global Equity Index Pension Fund (180 KB) Standard Life Sustainable Multi Asset Growth Pension Fund (172KB) SL ASI Sustainable Index UK Equity Pension Fund (171KB) SL ASI Sustainable Index World Equity Pension Fund (171KB) SL BlackRock ACS World ESG Equity Tracker Pension Fund (169KB) SL BlackRock ACS World Multifactor ESG Equity Tracker Pension Fund (170KB) SL BlackRock ACS World ex UK Equity Tracker Pension Fund (186KB) SL BlackRock ACS US Equity Tracker Pension Fund (186KB) SL BlackRock ACS Continental European Equity Tracker Pension Fund (186KB) SL BlackRock ACS Japan Equity Tracker Pension Fund (186KB) SL State Street ACS Multi-Factor Global ESG Index Equity Pension Fund (176KB) Vanguard SRI European Stock Fund (193 KB) Vanguard SRI Global Stock Fund (193 KB) How investment managers use ESG integration to manage risk If you’re looking for something that’s relevant in all investments then you’ll be looking for ESG integration. This is when investment managers use ESG integration at the same time as all their other financial analysis. Investment managers look at whether a company’s ESG activities and practices are offering investment opportunities or exposing it to risks. They might look at the impact a company has on local communities and climate change, or how they manage their supply chain or natural resources. On top of their usual research, investment managers will look at these areas: Environment An investment manager can look closely at a company’s impact on land, sea, air, wildlife, plant life and the climate. They might consider things like how much energy a company uses, waste disposal, land development and carbon footprint. Social An investment manager can review a company’s relationship with its employees, suppliers and the community where it operates. They might consider things like labour practices, human rights, employee wellbeing, health schemes for staff and supplier relationships. Governance An investment manager can look at the issues that might affect a company’s management and processes. They might consider things like who’s running the company, how the company and its finances are managed, and how it approaches salaries and strategy. Using stewardship to influence positive change In its broad sense, stewardship means overseeing or taking care of something. Investment stewardship is no different; it’s about engaging with companies to understand all the risks and opportunities they present, to promote their long-term success. Doing this benefits everyone; from the individual company, to its investors, to the economy as a whole. Active engagement By regularly talking to companies, investment managers can better understand their strategy, performance, risk, capital structure and corporate governance. It’s a way to spot both opportunities and risks, as well as: influence positive corporate behaviour encourage better sustainability, resource efficiency and involvement with society Proxy voting (casting votes on behalf of investors) Another way that investment managers can influence change is to use voting rights. That’s when they cast votes on behalf of investors on matters such as good governance, climate change, tax practices, labour standards, diversity, bribery and corruption. Approach to stewardship and engagement Standard Life Assurance Limited's approach to stewardship is based on: The UK Stewardship Code 2020 The Financial Conduct Authority's ('FCA's') Policy Statement ('PS') 19/13 The FCA PS outlines how UK firms should implement the European Union's Shareholder Rights Directive II ('EU SRD II'), which came into force in June 2019. Understand how screening and thematic approaches can reflect your values You can choose from a range of funds that aim to achieve a financial return alongside a specific ethical, environmental or social outcome. These types of funds are often described as using ‘screening’ or ‘thematic’ approaches. Screening Funds are screened and have filters applied to rule companies in or out of investments based on objectives, preferences, values or ethics. That could be removing investments that could be seen as negative or seeking those that are trying to make a positive impact. Thematic Funds which invest in companies that aim to address a social or environmental issue. For instance, affordable housing, renewable energy solutions or sustainable transport. This includes impact funds. If you’re looking for a fund to apply screening, focus on a theme, or use a mix of these approaches, you might: Be looking for funds that invest ethically These include funds that tend to avoid investing in companies connected to activities like animal testing, tobacco or weapons. Some funds also look for companies which aim to make a positive difference to the environment and society – and some use a combination of negative and positive criteria. Want to invest in funds that focus on social responsibility Socially responsible (SRI) funds help you invest in companies which balance business interests with the effect they have on the environment and community. Need or want funds that align to your faith or religious beliefs Faith-based funds, for example Shariah investing, align how a fund is invested to certain religious principles of laws. Be keen to invest in companies that intend to make a positive and measurable contribution to the environment or society Impact funds invest in companies that aim to achieve a measurable positive social or environmental impact in addition to a financial return. Next steps Hopefully you now have a clearer understanding about responsible investment. Knowing more about the options available to you should help you feel more informed about any investment choices you make in the future. Remember, if you want to know more about how ESG is applied to Standard Life's range of investment options, you can read that further up the page. If you're still not sure which investment options might be right for you or you need more information, you might want to think about speaking to a financial adviser. There's likely to be a cost for this. If you don't have an adviser, we can help: You can find an adviser in your area at unbiased.co.uk Remember: the value of all investments can go down as well as up, so there's always a possibility you could end up with less than was paid in. Part of Phoenix Group Proud to be part of the UK's largest long-term savings and retirement business Help and Support About Us Help Online Services Login Register News and Views Savings tips & insights Latest news & reports Media contacts Connect with us Accessibility Legal information Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Provider details © 2021 Standard Life. All rights reserved We use strictly necessary cookies when you visit our website to give you the best experience possible and to keep things secure. We’d also like your consent to set other cookies to help us improve our website and to tailor the marketing you see. Manage settings > Decline All Accept All