VanEck Morningstar US ESG Wide Moat UCITS ETF

SRI Style:

ESG Plus

SDR Labelling:

Not eligible to use label

Product:

ETF

Fund Region:

USA

Fund Asset Type:

Passive Equity

Launch Date:

16/10/2015

Last Amended:

Jul 2025

Dialshifter ():

Fund Size:

£309.50m

(as at: 31/03/2025)

Total Screened Themed SRI Assets:

£56.00m

(as at: 31/03/2025)

Total Responsible Ownership Assets:

£8740.00m

(as at: 31/03/2025)

Total Assets Under Management:

£12035.00m

(as at: 31/03/2025)

ISIN:

IE00BQQP9H09

Contact Us:

UK@vaneck.com

Objectives:

The Fund’s investment objective is to track, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the Morningstar® US Sustainability Moat Focus IndexSM (the Index). The Index is designed to provide exposure to at least 40 of the top equity securities in the Morningstar US Market Index (parent index) that are rated as wide moat companies (being a company which it is believed will have sustainability in its competitive advantage(s)) and have the lowest current market price/ fair value price determined in an independent research process by the Morningstar equity research team.

Sustainable, Responsible
&/or ESG Overview:

  • The security must have current ESG and controversy scores.
    • The controversy score must be 4 (out of 5) or lower throughout the trailing 3 years.
  • The security’s ESG Risk Category must be below or equal to 30 (Medium, Low or Negligible category of Risk)
  • The company must not be noncompliant with the principles of the United National Global Compact.
  • The company must not
    • have any tobacco production involvement by revenue
    • not have any involvement in production of controversial weapons o not have any involvement in the manufacturing of firearms sold to civilian customers
    • not have 10% or more of its revenue from oil & gas production and oil & gas supporting products/services
    • not have 50% or more of its combined revenue from oil and gas generation and thermal coal power generation
    • not have any involvement in Thermal Coal (extraction) and thermal coal supporting products/services
Primary fund last amended:

Jul 2025

Information directly from fund manager.

Fund Filters

Sustainability - General
Sustainability policy

Funds that have policies that consider (environmental and social) sustainability issues. Strategies vary but are likely to consider environmental issues like climate change, carbon emissions, biodiversity loss, resource management, environmental impacts; and social issues like equal opportunities, human rights, labour standards, diversity and adherence to internationally recognised codes. See fund information.

Environmental - General
Environmental policy

Funds that have policies which relate to environmental issues. These will typically set out the fund's stance on issues such as pollution, climate change, resource management, biodiversity loss, carbon emissions, plastics and/or additional environmental impacts. Strategies vary. See fund information for further information.

Limits exposure to carbon intensive industries

Funds that limit or 'reduce' their exposure to carbon intensive industries (ie sectors which are major contributors to climate change. Funds vary - some funds may be 'underweight' in this area which means they may have some investment in highly carbon intensive areas. Funds of this kind may choose companies they consider to be 'best in sector' and encourage ever higher standards. Strategies vary. See fund information for further details.

Environmental damage and pollution policy

Funds that have written policies explaining the approach they take when companies damage the environment or are significant polluters. Funds of this kind may work with companies to encourage higher standards, or exclude companies - sometimes dependent on the situation. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Nature & Biodiversity
Biodiversity / nature policy

Find funds that have a written biodiversity policy or theme aimed at encouraging and improving environmental protection and safeguarding the natural world (sometimes referred to as the preservation or enhancement of 'natural capital'). See eg https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/biodiversity

Deforestation / palm oil policy

Find funds that have policies in place designed to ensure they do not invest in companies that are significantly involved in deforestation. This typically relates to palm oil plantations where biodiversity loss is a major concern (as well as other issues). Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Illegal deforestation exclusion policy

Find funds that have policies in place explaining that they avoid companies involved in illegal and/or unsustainable deforestation. This may relate to palm oil, cattle farming or other concerns. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Climate Change & Energy
Coal, oil & / or gas majors excluded

Funds that avoid investing in major coal, oil and/or gas (extraction) companies. Funds vary: some may exclude all companies that extract oil. Others may have exposure to oil extraction via more diversified energy companies. See fund literature to confirm details.

Social / Employment
Social policy

Find funds that have policies which set out their approach to social issues (e.g. human rights, labour standards, equal opportunities, child labour and adherence to internationally recognised codes such as the UN Global Compact). Funds with social policies typically avoid companies with low standards or work to encourage higher standards. See fund information for detail.

Labour standards policy

Find funds that have a labour standards policy - which can be expected to mean that the fund will invest in / favour companies that have higher standards in this area - although fund strategies can vary significantly (as with all policy areas). See eg https://www.ilo.org/international-labour-standards

Health & wellbeing policies or theme

Find funds with policies or themes that set out their approach to health and wellbeing issues. Funds of this kind typically aim to invest in companies with high standards - or encourage high standards. Themed funds are likely to have more of an emphasis on this area. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Ethical Values Led Exclusions
Ethical policies

Find funds that have policies that set out their position on ethical or 'personal values' based issues. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Tobacco and related product manufacturers excluded

Companies are excluded if they are involved in any aspect of the production chain for tobacco products, including cigarettes, vaping, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco and cigars.

Controversial weapons exclusion

Find funds that exclude companies which make controversial weapons such as landmines, cluster munitions and chemical weapons. See fund literature for further information.

Armaments manufacturers avoided

Find funds that avoid companies that manufacture products intended specifically for military use. Fund strategies vary - particularly with regard to non-strategic military products. See fund literature for fund specific details.

Military involvement not excluded

Find funds that do not exclude companies with military contracts - this may include medical supplies, food, safety equioment, housing, etc. See fund literature for further information.

Civilian firearms production exclusion

Find funds with a written civilian firearms exclusion policy - meaning that they will not invest in companies that make (or perhaps also sell) handguns made for non-military users.

Human Rights
Human rights policy

Find funds that have policies relating to human rights issues. Funds of this kind typically require companies to demonstrate higher standards, although some fund managers work to encourage improvements. Investee companies are often judged against internationally agreed norms or standards. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Child labour exclusion

Find funds that have policies in place to ensure they do not invest in companies that employ children.

Indigenous peoples’ policy

The fund has a policy which sets out their position on the treatment of indigenous people by investee assets/companies - typically meaning they won't invest in companies with low standards.

Gilts & Sovereigns
Gilts / government bonds - exclude all

Find funds that do not invest in, or exclude, gilts and/or government bonds.

Does not invest in sovereigns

Find funds that do not invest in / exclude 'sovereigns' - debt issued by governments. See eg https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sovereign-debt.asp

Banking & Financials
Invests in banks

Find funds that include banks as part of their holdings / portfolio.

Fund Governance
ESG integration strategy

Find funds that factor in 'environmental, social and governance' issues as part of their investment decision making process. A focus on 'ESG' typically means a fund is carrying out additional research to help reduce ESG related risks. It does not necessarily mean a focus on sustainability. Strategies vary. See fund literature.

Asset Size
Over 50% large cap companies

Find funds that invests more than half of their money into what are commonly regarded as 'large companies'. This will typically mean that the market capitalisation (or value) of the companies they hold is in excess of £5 to £10 billion.

How The Fund Works
Negative selection bias

Find funds where their main 'ethical approach' is to avoid companies by using negative screening criteria. Read fund literature for further information.

Data led strategy

Find funds that make stock selection (and ongoing fund management) decisions based on ESG data or company ratings (normally supplied by third parties) rather than focusing on what individual companies do, how they operate or their plans for the future

Passive / index driven strategy

Find funds that use an investment index to direct where they can invest. Fund strategies and indices vary. See fund details and index used.

Significant harm exclusion

Aims to avoid companies that do significant harm. This originates from the EU’s sustainable finance ‘DNSH’ (do no significant harm) work, which is not necessarily used by UK investors.

Combines norms based exclusions with other SRI criteria

Find funds that make significant use of internationally agreed 'norms' (e.g. United Nations Global Compact - UNGC - or the UN Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs) as part of their investment selection process alongside additional SRI criteria such as positive or negative stock selection policies and/or stewardship strategies.

Combines ESG strategy with other SRI criteria

Find funds that have an ESG strategy (which is typically focused on avoiding companies that pose environmental, social or governance related risks) with additional criteria such as positive and/or negative screens, themes and stewardship strategies.

Norms focus

Find funds that use internationally agreed standards, conventions and 'norms' to help direct where the fund can and cannot invest (e.g. the UN Global Compact, UN Sustainable Development Goals). Read fund literature for further information.

Focus on ESG risk mitigation

A major focus of these funds is the careful management of environmental, social and governance (ESG) related risks - typically by avoiding or being underweight in companies seen as posing major risks in these areas (i.e. not necessarily by using themes, exclusions etc).

SRI / ESG / Ethical policies explained on website

Find funds that have published explanations of their ethical, social and/or environmental policies online (i.e. fund decision making strategies/ buy/sell &/or asset management strategies).

Converted from ‘non ESG’ strategy

This fund has changed its mandate. It was previously not an ESG/sustainable fund. The information published here shows the upgraded fund strategy.

Do not use stock / securities lending

This fund does not use stock lending for performance or risk purposes.

Unscreened Assets & Cash
All assets (except cash) meet published sustainability criteria

All assets held in the fund - except cash - meet the sustainability criteria published in fund documentation.

Intended Clients & Product Options
Intended for investors interested in sustainability

Finds funds designed to meet the needs of individual investors with an interest in sustainability issues.

Labels & Accreditations
SFDR Article 8 fund / product (EU)

Finds funds classified under Article 8 of the EU’s SFDR (Sustainable Finance Disclosure Requirements). Article 8 of the SFDR is a set of requirements that apply to financial products that 'promote' environmental or social characteristics with high governance also. These rules do not currently apply to UK funds so many managers may leave this field blank.

Collaborations & Affiliations
PRI signatory

Find fund management companies that have signed up to the UN backed 'Principles of Responsible Investment'.

Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Policy:

The Fund is a passive investment vehicle whose investment objective is to replicate, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the underlying index. All companies within the index must comply with the following binding elements:

  • The security must have current ESG and controversy scores.
    • The controversy score must be 4 (out of 5) or lower throughout the trailing 3 years.
  • The security’s ESG Risk Category must be below or equal to 30 (Medium, Low or Negligible category of Risk)
  • The company must not be noncompliant with the principles of the United National Global Compact.
  • The company must not
    • have any tobacco production involvement by revenue
    • not have any involvement in production of controversial weapons o not have any involvement in the manufacturing of firearms sold to civilian customers
    • not have 10% or more of its revenue from oil & gas production and oil & gas supporting products/services
    • not have 50% or more of its combined revenue from oil and gas generation and thermal coal power generation
    • not have any involvement in Thermal Coal (extraction) and thermal coal supporting products/services

In addition, the Glass Lewis ESG-tilted voting policy is applied, whereby casted votes in shareholder meetings of companies in the portfolio concern sustainability matters.

Good governance practices of the investee companies are assessed by excluding companies that very severely violate the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Process:

The Fund is a passive investment vehicle whose investment objective is to replicate, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the underlying index. All companies within the index must comply with the following binding elements:

  • The security must have current ESG and controversy scores.
    • The controversy score must be 4 (out of 5) or lower throughout the trailing 3 years.
  • The security’s ESG Risk Category must be below or equal to 30 (Medium, Low or Negligible category of Risk)
  • The company must not be noncompliant with the principles of the United National Global Compact.
  • The company must not
    • have any tobacco production involvement by revenue
    • not have any involvement in production of controversial weapons o not have any involvement in the manufacturing of firearms sold to civilian customers
    • not have 10% or more of its revenue from oil & gas production and oil & gas supporting products/services
    • not have 50% or more of its combined revenue from oil and gas generation and thermal coal power generation
    • not have any involvement in Thermal Coal (extraction) and thermal coal supporting products/services

The companies in the index are selected by Morningstar using Sustainalytics as the ESG Data provider.

Resources, Affiliations & Corporate Strategies:

At VanEck Europe, we firmly believe in the integration, where appropriate and relevant, of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors as a fundamental aspect of our investment philosophy and process. This belief underpins our approach across both actively and passively managed funds, including UCITS ETFs and discretionary accounts. In some actively managed funds, we incorporate ESG considerations as part of our comprehensive financial analysis, while in some passively managed products, our focus includes working with index providers to ensure ESG factors are appropriately reflected in our investment selections.

Since 2017, VanEck has been a committed signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). We have established a European ESG Committee dedicated to implementing and overseeing our sustainability and ESG-related practices.

VanEck Europe may proactively engage with index providers to review and, where necessary, modify sustainability and ESG-related screening criteria for our passively managed investment products and discreationary accounts. This engagement is guided by our commitment to aligning with the best interests of our investors, striving to apply and incorporate additional pertinent criteria whenever feasible.

More information can be found here: VanEck Responsible Investment Policy 2024

SDR Labelling:

Not eligible to use label

Fund Name SRI Style SDR Labelling Product Region Asset Type Launch Date Last Amended

VanEck Morningstar US ESG Wide Moat UCITS ETF

ESG Plus Not eligible to use label ETF USA Passive Equity 16/10/2015 Jul 2025

Objectives

The Fund’s investment objective is to track, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the Morningstar® US Sustainability Moat Focus IndexSM (the Index). The Index is designed to provide exposure to at least 40 of the top equity securities in the Morningstar US Market Index (parent index) that are rated as wide moat companies (being a company which it is believed will have sustainability in its competitive advantage(s)) and have the lowest current market price/ fair value price determined in an independent research process by the Morningstar equity research team.

Fund Size: £309.50m

(as at: 31/03/2025)

Total Screened Themed SRI Assets: £56.00m

(as at: 31/03/2025)

Total Responsible Ownership Assets: £8740.00m

(as at: 31/03/2025)

Total Assets Under Management: £12035.00m

(as at: 31/03/2025)

ISIN: IE00BQQP9H09

Contact Us: UK@vaneck.com

Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Overview

  • The security must have current ESG and controversy scores.
    • The controversy score must be 4 (out of 5) or lower throughout the trailing 3 years.
  • The security’s ESG Risk Category must be below or equal to 30 (Medium, Low or Negligible category of Risk)
  • The company must not be noncompliant with the principles of the United National Global Compact.
  • The company must not
    • have any tobacco production involvement by revenue
    • not have any involvement in production of controversial weapons o not have any involvement in the manufacturing of firearms sold to civilian customers
    • not have 10% or more of its revenue from oil & gas production and oil & gas supporting products/services
    • not have 50% or more of its combined revenue from oil and gas generation and thermal coal power generation
    • not have any involvement in Thermal Coal (extraction) and thermal coal supporting products/services

Primary fund last amended: Jul 2025

Information received directly from Fund Manager

Please select what you would like to read:

Fund Filters

Sustainability - General
Sustainability policy

Funds that have policies that consider (environmental and social) sustainability issues. Strategies vary but are likely to consider environmental issues like climate change, carbon emissions, biodiversity loss, resource management, environmental impacts; and social issues like equal opportunities, human rights, labour standards, diversity and adherence to internationally recognised codes. See fund information.

Environmental - General
Environmental policy

Funds that have policies which relate to environmental issues. These will typically set out the fund's stance on issues such as pollution, climate change, resource management, biodiversity loss, carbon emissions, plastics and/or additional environmental impacts. Strategies vary. See fund information for further information.

Limits exposure to carbon intensive industries

Funds that limit or 'reduce' their exposure to carbon intensive industries (ie sectors which are major contributors to climate change. Funds vary - some funds may be 'underweight' in this area which means they may have some investment in highly carbon intensive areas. Funds of this kind may choose companies they consider to be 'best in sector' and encourage ever higher standards. Strategies vary. See fund information for further details.

Environmental damage and pollution policy

Funds that have written policies explaining the approach they take when companies damage the environment or are significant polluters. Funds of this kind may work with companies to encourage higher standards, or exclude companies - sometimes dependent on the situation. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Nature & Biodiversity
Biodiversity / nature policy

Find funds that have a written biodiversity policy or theme aimed at encouraging and improving environmental protection and safeguarding the natural world (sometimes referred to as the preservation or enhancement of 'natural capital'). See eg https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/biodiversity

Deforestation / palm oil policy

Find funds that have policies in place designed to ensure they do not invest in companies that are significantly involved in deforestation. This typically relates to palm oil plantations where biodiversity loss is a major concern (as well as other issues). Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Illegal deforestation exclusion policy

Find funds that have policies in place explaining that they avoid companies involved in illegal and/or unsustainable deforestation. This may relate to palm oil, cattle farming or other concerns. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Climate Change & Energy
Coal, oil & / or gas majors excluded

Funds that avoid investing in major coal, oil and/or gas (extraction) companies. Funds vary: some may exclude all companies that extract oil. Others may have exposure to oil extraction via more diversified energy companies. See fund literature to confirm details.

Social / Employment
Social policy

Find funds that have policies which set out their approach to social issues (e.g. human rights, labour standards, equal opportunities, child labour and adherence to internationally recognised codes such as the UN Global Compact). Funds with social policies typically avoid companies with low standards or work to encourage higher standards. See fund information for detail.

Labour standards policy

Find funds that have a labour standards policy - which can be expected to mean that the fund will invest in / favour companies that have higher standards in this area - although fund strategies can vary significantly (as with all policy areas). See eg https://www.ilo.org/international-labour-standards

Health & wellbeing policies or theme

Find funds with policies or themes that set out their approach to health and wellbeing issues. Funds of this kind typically aim to invest in companies with high standards - or encourage high standards. Themed funds are likely to have more of an emphasis on this area. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Ethical Values Led Exclusions
Ethical policies

Find funds that have policies that set out their position on ethical or 'personal values' based issues. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Tobacco and related product manufacturers excluded

Companies are excluded if they are involved in any aspect of the production chain for tobacco products, including cigarettes, vaping, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco and cigars.

Controversial weapons exclusion

Find funds that exclude companies which make controversial weapons such as landmines, cluster munitions and chemical weapons. See fund literature for further information.

Armaments manufacturers avoided

Find funds that avoid companies that manufacture products intended specifically for military use. Fund strategies vary - particularly with regard to non-strategic military products. See fund literature for fund specific details.

Military involvement not excluded

Find funds that do not exclude companies with military contracts - this may include medical supplies, food, safety equioment, housing, etc. See fund literature for further information.

Civilian firearms production exclusion

Find funds with a written civilian firearms exclusion policy - meaning that they will not invest in companies that make (or perhaps also sell) handguns made for non-military users.

Human Rights
Human rights policy

Find funds that have policies relating to human rights issues. Funds of this kind typically require companies to demonstrate higher standards, although some fund managers work to encourage improvements. Investee companies are often judged against internationally agreed norms or standards. Strategies vary. See fund information for further detail.

Child labour exclusion

Find funds that have policies in place to ensure they do not invest in companies that employ children.

Indigenous peoples’ policy

The fund has a policy which sets out their position on the treatment of indigenous people by investee assets/companies - typically meaning they won't invest in companies with low standards.

Gilts & Sovereigns
Gilts / government bonds - exclude all

Find funds that do not invest in, or exclude, gilts and/or government bonds.

Does not invest in sovereigns

Find funds that do not invest in / exclude 'sovereigns' - debt issued by governments. See eg https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sovereign-debt.asp

Banking & Financials
Invests in banks

Find funds that include banks as part of their holdings / portfolio.

Fund Governance
ESG integration strategy

Find funds that factor in 'environmental, social and governance' issues as part of their investment decision making process. A focus on 'ESG' typically means a fund is carrying out additional research to help reduce ESG related risks. It does not necessarily mean a focus on sustainability. Strategies vary. See fund literature.

Asset Size
Over 50% large cap companies

Find funds that invests more than half of their money into what are commonly regarded as 'large companies'. This will typically mean that the market capitalisation (or value) of the companies they hold is in excess of £5 to £10 billion.

How The Fund Works
Negative selection bias

Find funds where their main 'ethical approach' is to avoid companies by using negative screening criteria. Read fund literature for further information.

Data led strategy

Find funds that make stock selection (and ongoing fund management) decisions based on ESG data or company ratings (normally supplied by third parties) rather than focusing on what individual companies do, how they operate or their plans for the future

Passive / index driven strategy

Find funds that use an investment index to direct where they can invest. Fund strategies and indices vary. See fund details and index used.

Significant harm exclusion

Aims to avoid companies that do significant harm. This originates from the EU’s sustainable finance ‘DNSH’ (do no significant harm) work, which is not necessarily used by UK investors.

Combines norms based exclusions with other SRI criteria

Find funds that make significant use of internationally agreed 'norms' (e.g. United Nations Global Compact - UNGC - or the UN Sustainable Development Goals - SDGs) as part of their investment selection process alongside additional SRI criteria such as positive or negative stock selection policies and/or stewardship strategies.

Combines ESG strategy with other SRI criteria

Find funds that have an ESG strategy (which is typically focused on avoiding companies that pose environmental, social or governance related risks) with additional criteria such as positive and/or negative screens, themes and stewardship strategies.

Norms focus

Find funds that use internationally agreed standards, conventions and 'norms' to help direct where the fund can and cannot invest (e.g. the UN Global Compact, UN Sustainable Development Goals). Read fund literature for further information.

Focus on ESG risk mitigation

A major focus of these funds is the careful management of environmental, social and governance (ESG) related risks - typically by avoiding or being underweight in companies seen as posing major risks in these areas (i.e. not necessarily by using themes, exclusions etc).

SRI / ESG / Ethical policies explained on website

Find funds that have published explanations of their ethical, social and/or environmental policies online (i.e. fund decision making strategies/ buy/sell &/or asset management strategies).

Converted from ‘non ESG’ strategy

This fund has changed its mandate. It was previously not an ESG/sustainable fund. The information published here shows the upgraded fund strategy.

Do not use stock / securities lending

This fund does not use stock lending for performance or risk purposes.

Unscreened Assets & Cash
All assets (except cash) meet published sustainability criteria

All assets held in the fund - except cash - meet the sustainability criteria published in fund documentation.

Intended Clients & Product Options
Intended for investors interested in sustainability

Finds funds designed to meet the needs of individual investors with an interest in sustainability issues.

Labels & Accreditations
SFDR Article 8 fund / product (EU)

Finds funds classified under Article 8 of the EU’s SFDR (Sustainable Finance Disclosure Requirements). Article 8 of the SFDR is a set of requirements that apply to financial products that 'promote' environmental or social characteristics with high governance also. These rules do not currently apply to UK funds so many managers may leave this field blank.

Collaborations & Affiliations
PRI signatory

Find fund management companies that have signed up to the UN backed 'Principles of Responsible Investment'.

Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Policy:

The Fund is a passive investment vehicle whose investment objective is to replicate, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the underlying index. All companies within the index must comply with the following binding elements:

  • The security must have current ESG and controversy scores.
    • The controversy score must be 4 (out of 5) or lower throughout the trailing 3 years.
  • The security’s ESG Risk Category must be below or equal to 30 (Medium, Low or Negligible category of Risk)
  • The company must not be noncompliant with the principles of the United National Global Compact.
  • The company must not
    • have any tobacco production involvement by revenue
    • not have any involvement in production of controversial weapons o not have any involvement in the manufacturing of firearms sold to civilian customers
    • not have 10% or more of its revenue from oil & gas production and oil & gas supporting products/services
    • not have 50% or more of its combined revenue from oil and gas generation and thermal coal power generation
    • not have any involvement in Thermal Coal (extraction) and thermal coal supporting products/services

In addition, the Glass Lewis ESG-tilted voting policy is applied, whereby casted votes in shareholder meetings of companies in the portfolio concern sustainability matters.

Good governance practices of the investee companies are assessed by excluding companies that very severely violate the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights.

Process:

The Fund is a passive investment vehicle whose investment objective is to replicate, before fees and expenses, the price and yield performance of the underlying index. All companies within the index must comply with the following binding elements:

  • The security must have current ESG and controversy scores.
    • The controversy score must be 4 (out of 5) or lower throughout the trailing 3 years.
  • The security’s ESG Risk Category must be below or equal to 30 (Medium, Low or Negligible category of Risk)
  • The company must not be noncompliant with the principles of the United National Global Compact.
  • The company must not
    • have any tobacco production involvement by revenue
    • not have any involvement in production of controversial weapons o not have any involvement in the manufacturing of firearms sold to civilian customers
    • not have 10% or more of its revenue from oil & gas production and oil & gas supporting products/services
    • not have 50% or more of its combined revenue from oil and gas generation and thermal coal power generation
    • not have any involvement in Thermal Coal (extraction) and thermal coal supporting products/services

The companies in the index are selected by Morningstar using Sustainalytics as the ESG Data provider.

Resources, Affiliations & Corporate Strategies:

At VanEck Europe, we firmly believe in the integration, where appropriate and relevant, of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors as a fundamental aspect of our investment philosophy and process. This belief underpins our approach across both actively and passively managed funds, including UCITS ETFs and discretionary accounts. In some actively managed funds, we incorporate ESG considerations as part of our comprehensive financial analysis, while in some passively managed products, our focus includes working with index providers to ensure ESG factors are appropriately reflected in our investment selections.

Since 2017, VanEck has been a committed signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). We have established a European ESG Committee dedicated to implementing and overseeing our sustainability and ESG-related practices.

VanEck Europe may proactively engage with index providers to review and, where necessary, modify sustainability and ESG-related screening criteria for our passively managed investment products and discreationary accounts. This engagement is guided by our commitment to aligning with the best interests of our investors, striving to apply and incorporate additional pertinent criteria whenever feasible.

More information can be found here: VanEck Responsible Investment Policy 2024

SDR Labelling:

Not eligible to use label