Brief description of Style
Environmentally themed or focused funds significantly integrate environmental issues into their investment strategies, sometimes alongside ethical avoidance criteria.
Some funds invest significantly in environmental solutions companies, cleaner technologies, environmental solutions companies or companies providing services that most would regard as being to do with the environment. Some focus on a single issues (e.g. climate risk) or a named resource (e.g. water) – others invest across most sectors, selecting companies that meet their stated criteria.
Be aware: environmental and sustainable funds can be very similar, most environmental issues are highly relevant to the sustainability agenda. We regard funds as ‘environmental’ if the fund appears to lead on environmental issues, however many consider social issues also.
SRI approach applied
Investment decisions are arrived at by considering companies’ environmental credentials alongside regular financial analysis. Fund managers typically take into account the extent to which companies are likely to benefit from the regulatory and legislative changes and improving environmental standards – particularly regarding climate change.
Fund managers often use positive selection criteria (and themes) to identify companies with strong environmental characteristics or credentials. Some funds focus on ‘best of sector’ or ‘leaders across almost all business sectors. Others focus on a specialist companies or a specific sector.
Some Environmentally themed funds apply ethical screening criteria in addition to their environmental themes (which helps to make it clear where they will not invest). Responsible Ownership (stewardship) strategies apply to some of these funds and can be used to encourage progress towards more sustainable and environmentally aware business practices and lifestyles.
Measuring positive impacts is increasingly a feature of this style.
See additional filters for further fund specific information.
SRI issues covered
Environmental funds typically focus on companies that manage environmental issues well or are likely to benefit from the shift to higher sustainability standards – although the way they approach this varies. Funds often group environmental issues into themes – such as waste, transport, clean energy, nature, climate change.
Most funds cover a wide range of these company types and issues although some are ‘single issue’ funds – focusing on a narrower investment field such as water, forestry, clean technology or renewables. Others consider broader themes such as infrastructure, transport, demographics or carbon/climate.
Some funds consider these issues alongside ethical screening criteria such as avoidance of tobacco companies and armaments manufacturers.
Variation across Style segment
All Environmentally themed funds focus on environmental issues but their aims, strategies and purpose can be very different.
Some focus on a broad spectrum of issues and require companies to meet certain standards in order to be acceptable for investment, whilst others focus on ‘change agents’ where their environmental message is clear.
Some Environmentally themed funds have responsible ownership policies – as part of a strategy that aims to encourage and support better business practices. Some publish explicit areas of exclusion whereas others do not.
Impact on investment strategy
Environmental funds look for investment opportunities amongst companies that meet their published criteria. Investment strategies vary significantly as approaches are very diverse. Across this Style there a number of funds that can invest in most sectors (by selecting ‘leaders’) whereas others are very restricted.
Who is this Style most likely to appeal to?
This group of funds offers options for investors with an interest in environmental issues. Clients may also be interested in Sustainability Select funds as there is no clear line to be drawn between these strategies.
Associated Styles
The closest match to many funds in this Style is Sustainability Select
Associated terms
Funds in this Style tend to use terms such as Green, Environmental, Ecology and Climate (although climate change is both a social and an environmental issue), and natural resources.