screened funds investment strategy
positive screening - the positive attributes we look for are generally but not exclusively:
business practices: following ethical practices towards customers including maintaining product quality, ethical sources of supply, opposing corruption and respecting indigenous peoples
community relations: making charitable donations, employing local people, offering work placement schemes
corporate governance practices: transparency, anti-bribery and corruption codes, adhering to (ILO) International Labour Organisation regulations on labour and child labour
education: providing training and development along with access to education
environmental management: supporting biodiversity, managing their climate change impact and carbon footprint, water conservation, air pollution, and managing waste, recycling, and supporting renewable energy
healthcare: providing affordable healthcare and access to medicine
human rights: supporting basic human rights by adopting the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights
labour relations: promoting equal opportunity and diversity, health and safety, transparent pay structure, union participation, professional development, employee participation, whistleblower protection
urban regeneration: supporting social/affordable housing.
Exclusion criteria - the negative attributes we avoid:
We screen out companies earning more than 10% of pre-tax profits or turnover from:
alcohol production
gambling operations, like betting shops, internet websites, horse and greyhound tracks, lottery selling outlets, licensed bingo halls or casinos and supplying gaming machines paying cash prizes.
pornographic and violent material
tobacco production
strategic weapon production
We also actively incorporate the following in our criteria:
animal testing: we don't invest in companies using animals to test cosmetic or household products. We do invest in companies that utilise animal testing for pharmaceutical research, but would encourage them to develop and use alternatives, like computer modelling.
oppressive regimes: companies operating in countries with oppressive regimes are considered on a case-by-case basis. We aim to distinguish between activities that benefit people and those that support the regime.
