Intelligent CXO Issue 10 | Page 41

FEATURE

While the concept of sustainable investing has been around for quite some time , for many , it has taken a long time for the penny to drop . However , today more and more investors are seeking to invest sustainably . At the same time , more and more businesses are realising the importance of prioritising the sustainability agenda in their strategies and operations .

What is sustainable investing ?
Jessica Robinson , CEO of the Association for Responsible Investment in Asia and a leader in the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance , speaks about socially conscious investing , how it ’ s growing , why it ’ s a smart way to invest your money and why sustainability credentials are becoming even more important to businesses when attracting investors .
What are we talking about ? Sustainable investing is an investment discipline that considers Environmental , Social and Corporate Governance ( ESG ) criteria to generate long-term competitive financial returns and positive societal impact . Various other terms are often used such as responsible investing , impact investing or ethical investing – while there are nuanced differences , it ’ s fair to say that the commonality is to achieve positive change , invariably with a social or environmental dimension .
However , sustainable investing isn ’ t just about avoiding investing in companies that do harm . There is a new class of investors actively seeking out companies that address daunting social and environmental challenges while also delivering financial returns . These companies fall into a wide range of industries and sectors – ranging

SUSTAINABLE INVESTING – WHY IT MATTERS TO BUSINESSES AND INVESTORS

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