
COIF Charities Ethical Investment Fund (CCLA)
SRI Style:
Ethical Style
SDR Labelling:
Unlabelled with sustainable characteristics
Product:
Charities
Fund Region:
Global
Fund Asset Type:
Multi Asset
Launch Date:
31/12/2009
Last Amended:
Aug 2025
Dialshifter (
):
Fund/Portfolio Size:
£2232.00m
(as at: 30/06/2025)
Total Screened Themed SRI Assets:
£15572.00m
(as at: 30/06/2025)
Total Responsible Ownership Assets:
£15572.00m
(as at: 30/06/2025)
Total Assets Under Management:
£15572.00m
(as at: 30/06/2025)
ISIN:
GB00B57RJ342, GB00B57RJX49
Contact Us:
Objectives:
The fund aims to provide a total return (growth in capital and income) over the long term (defined as five years) of UK CPI + 5% per annum, before costs and charges.
The fund has a wide range of ethical restrictions and is advised by an ethical advisory committee that identifies potential areas of policy development and refinement of the fund’s client-driven ethical investment policy.
Sustainable, Responsible
&/or ESG Overview:
We believe that the primary role of responsible investment is to drive positive change and this is best achieved by pushing companies to do more to address the major challenges facing us today.
We aim to manage our clients’ investments in a way that aligns with their values and to do this we consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in our listed equity investment process and go beyond the boundaries of traditional investor engagement to drive change. The FCA has introduced sustainable investment labels to help investors find products that have a specific sustainability goal. This product does not have a UK sustainable investment label because it does not have a sustainability goal.
Primary fund last amended:
Aug 2025
Information directly from fund manager.
Fund Filters
Sustainability - General
A core element of these funds aim to encourage higher sustainability standards across business practices through responsible ownership / stewardship / engagement / voting activity
Find funds that use the UN Global Compact to inform or help direct where they can or cannot invest and will typically not invest in companies with significant breaches (low standards) - although strategies vary. (The UNGC covers a wide range of issues - search 'UNGC'). See https://unglobalcompact.org/
Environmental - General
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.
Climate Change & Energy
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.
Funds that avoid companies involved in fracking and tar sands - which are widely regarded as controversial methods of oil and gas extraction. Strategies vary. See fund information for further information.
Social / Employment
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.
Ethical Values Led Exclusions
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.
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.
Companies are excluded if they make more than 5% of their revenue from the manufacture, sale or distribution of tobacco products including cigarettes, vaping, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco and cigars.
Find funds that exclude companies which make controversial weapons such as landmines, cluster munitions and chemical weapons. See fund literature for further information.
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.
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.
Find funds that avoid investment in companies involved in the production of alcohol. Strategies vary; some funds allow a small proportion of profits to come from this area. See fund literature for further information.
Find funds that avoid companies with significant involvement in the gambling industry. Some funds may allow a small proportion of profits to come from this area. See fund policy for further details.
Find funds that avoid companies that derive significant income from pornography and related areas. Strategies vary. See fund details for further information.
Find funds that avoid companies that test their products on animals for purposes other than medical benefit (e.g. for cosmetics). Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.
Gilts & Sovereigns
Find funds that invest in financial instruments issued by governments, but will only hold those that meet certain environmental and or social criteria. This may, for example mean certain assets are excluded in line with eg Freedom House research. Strategies vary, see fund literature for more information.
Banking & Financials
Fund excludes financial services companies with widely criticised, aggressive lending practices where interest rates are typically very high, includes ‘doorstep lending’)
Funds that do or may invest in insurance companies.
Governance & Management
Find fund options that have policies that relate to corporate governance issues such as board structure, executive remuneration, bribery and/or corporate corruption. These funds will typically avoid companies with poor practices. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.
Find funds that aim to avoid investing in companies with poor governance practices.(e.g. board structure, management practices etc.) Views may however vary on what counts as 'poor' practices - and funds may not immediately divest as they may prefer to work to encourage higher standards. See fund literature for further information.
Exclude companies that are subject to United Nations sanctions. See eg https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/content/un-sc-consolidated-list
Fund Governance
Find funds that have an external committee that helps steer or advise fund managers on SRI policy or strategy related issues. These people may be paid for their time but are not employees of the fund manager.
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.
How The Fund Works
Find funds where their main 'ethical approach' is to avoid companies by using negative screening criteria. Read fund literature for further information.
Find funds where their main approach is to apply positive or negative ethical, social and / or environmental screens. Strictly screened funds are likely to exclude more companies than other related fund options. See fund literature for further information.
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
This fund does not use stock lending for performance or risk purposes.
Fund Management Company Information
About The Business
Finds fund management companies that have a published company wide stewardship, engagement and / or responsible ownership policy or strategy that covers all investments. Stewardship typically involves encouraging higher ESG standards through voting and dialogue.
Find fund managers that vote all* the shares they own at Annual General Meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings. A commitment to voting shares is a key indicator of 'responsible share ownership' demonstrating their support for or disagreement with management policy. (*situations can legitimately, occasionally occur where voting proves impossible, but in principle all shares should be voted.)
Collaborations & Affiliations
Find fund management companies that have signed up to the UN backed 'Principles of Responsible Investment'.
Find fund management companies that are members of UKSIF - the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance association
Find fund management companies that have partnered with Fund EcoMarket - meaning that they are helping to improve access to information on sustainable and responsible investment by paying an annual fee to us which enables us to publish information for free. Partner funds are listed ahead of other funds and have their logos displayed.
A member of the Taskforce for Nature Related Financial Disclosures group which aims to aid risk management and shift money towards nature-positive outcomes.
Fund management entity is a member of the Investment Association https://www.theia.org/
Resources
Find fund management companies that employ people to steer and support fund managers in voting shares at company AGM's and EGMs in ways that are consistent with encouraging higher ESG/sustainability standards.
Find a fund management company that directly employs specialist ESG/SRI/sustainability researchers or analysts. This allows asset managers to discuss environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities directly with companies.
Finds organisations / fund managers that have one or more ESG/sustainability experts on all investment teams or 'desks' (all asset types)
Accreditations
Find fund managers that are signatories to the FRC UK Stewardship Code, which sets out a framework for constructive investor / investee relations where fund managers are encouraged to behave like responsible, typically longer term 'company owners'.
Engagement Approach
Find fund management companies that regularly initiate or run industry wide (collaborative) investor projects aimed at raising environmental, social and governance standards amongst investee companies.
Fund manager has stewardship /responsible ownership strategy that is focused on addressing climate change with investee assets.
The asset manager has a responsible ownership / stewardship strategy that focuses on biodiversity and nature issues relating to the assets they invest the aim of which will be to reduce harm and or deliver improvement. Strategies vary. https://tnfd.global
Asset manager has a responsible ownership / stewardship strategy which means they are working to encourage the shift to more sustainable business practices in ways that respect and are sensitive to social issues and the impact change has on people effected by the changes that are taking place. https://www.transitionpathwayinitiative.org/ https://transitiontaskforce.net/
Asset manager has responsible ownership / stewardship strategy in place which aims to address human rights issues in investee companies (and potentially their suppliers) with the aim of raising standards
Asset manager has responsible ownership / stewardship strategy in place that aims to improve labour standards for the benefit of employees in investee companies (and potentially their suppliers)
working with the assets they hold to help stamp out modern slavery - where direct or indirect company employees are exploited for business benefits.
Fund managers have stewardship strategies in place that focus on improving governance standards across investee assets
Asset manager has stewardship strategy in place which involves discussing mental health issues with investee companies - with the aim of raising standards
Escalation policies describe how a manager will proceed if stewardship / engagement activity is not successful in the short term.
Company Wide Exclusions
Find fund management companies that avoid investment in tobacco (manufacturing) companies across all their assets.
Find fund management companies that avoid investment in fossil fuel companies (e.g. coal, oil and gas) across all of their funds. (and/ or other assets.)
Find funds / fund managers that are reviewing, or have reviewed, their exposure to carbon intensive industries including (but not only) mining, oil and gas companies. (Typically with reference to climate change.)
This asset manager excludes direct investment in the coal mining industry. Managers ability to do this may depend on the geographic regions in which they invest.
Climate & Net Zero Transition
Fund management organisations that have pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to ‘net zero’. Strategies vary - this area is changing rapidly.
This asset management company has set a date by which they plan to achieve net zero greenhouse gas / CO2e emissions.
Transparency
Find fund management companies that publish a report detailing their responsible investment ownership - also known as 'Stewardship' - activity.
Find companies that publish information about their sustainable and responsible investment strategies on their company website.
Fund management companies that publish a full record of how they vote their shares at AGMs (annual general meetings) and EGMs (extraordinary general meetings). Voting strategies have an important role to play encouraging higher environmental, social and governance standards.
Find fund management companies that have supplied Dialshifter information. See Dialshifter tab within record for more information.
Comments
Please Note:
- UN Global Compact linked exclusion policy - Companies which do not comply with Global Standards have the most severe level of controversy (as advised by our third-party provider) and are excluded. If they become non-compliant while they are in the Fund, a time-limited engagement plan is created with regular monitoring by the Investment Committee. Should the company not show sufficient improvement the Investment Manager then has a 6-months divestment window. Finally, no further stock/shares can be purchased in this company
- Coal, oil & / or gas majors excluded - Exclusion: Oil and Gas Extraction: companies that derive more than 5% of revenue from the extraction of tar sands and/or companies that generate more than 10% of revenue from the extraction, production, and/or refining of oil and/or gas.
- Fracking and tar sands excluded - Exclusion: Thermal Coal Extraction: companies that derive more than 5% of revenue from the extraction of thermal coal and/or produce more than 10 million metric tonnes of coal (or have plans to expand their coal production)
- Tobacco and related product manufacturers excluded - Excludes: Companies that have any involvement in the production of tobacco and/or derive more than 5% of revenue from the production and/or retail of tobacco and related products/services
- Tobacco and related products - avoid where revenue > 5% - Excludes: Companies that have any involvement in the production of tobacco and/or derive more than 5% of revenue from the production and/or retail of tobacco and related products/services.
- Controversial weapons exclusion - Excludes companies that have any involvement in the production of Controversial Weapons (core weapons and components). These are defined as landmines, cluster munitions, chemical and/or biological weapons
- Armaments manufacturers avoided - Excludes companies that derive more than 10% of revenue from the production of military weapons and equipment (core weapons, components and equipment/services) and/or the provision of key non-weapons related, tailor-made products for the defence industry.
- Civilian firearms production exclusion - Excludes companies that derive more than 10% of revenue from the production and/or retail of civilian firearms (including key components).
- Gambling avoidance policy - Excludes companies that derive more than 10% of revenue from the operation of gambling establishments and the provision of key support services and products.
- Pornography avoidance policy - Excludes companies that derive more than 10% of revenue from the production and/or distribution of adult entertainment.
- Animal testing - excluded except if for medical purposes - Excludes Companies in the Personal Products Global Industry Classification Standard Sub-Industry that have any involvement in testing cosmetics on animals. Due to regulatory requirements in some countries, exceptions will be made for companies that are identified as promoting alternatives to animal testing and which adopt a rigorous, responsible, animal testing policy.
- Invests in sovereigns subject to screening criteria - Excludes sovereign debt issued by countries identified as the most oppressive. The identification of such countries is based on an analysis of the following four data sources.
- Freedom House - Freedom House (FH) has three categories: Free, Partly Free and Not Free. Counties rated as ‘Not Free’ (the lowest band - a combined score of less than 30) are included in the analysis.
- Corruption Perception Index (CPI) - Data is sourced from Transparency International. Countries with a score of 20 (or below) are included in the analysis
- US Commission on International Religious Freedom - Data comprises two lists, Countries of Particular Concern (CPCs) where the government engages in or tolerates ‘particularly severe’ violations of religious freedom and the Special Watch List related to ‘severe’ violations (SWL). Data from both lists is included in the analysis
- UN Embargoes (only state- led) / EU Embargoes - Data is sourced from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The data covers: UN Mandatory Arm Embargoes (Removing Lifted/Suspended sanctions or sanctions against NGF – Non-Governmental Forces) and EU Embargoes (Removing Lifted/Suspended sanctions or sanctions against NGF – Non-Governmental Forces). In this case only information on countries where the embargoes are against the state are included.
- Governance policy - Assessments of companies’ corporate governance is conducted using the CCLA Corporate Governance Rating. Companies with an E or F (the two lowest ratings provided) require the approval of the CCLA Investment Committee.
- Avoids companies with poor governance - Assessments of companies’ corporate governance is conducted using the CCLA Corporate Governance Rating. Companies with an E or F (the two lowest ratings provided) require the approval of the CCLA Investment Committee.
- 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.
Assessing the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards of listed equities with the aim of avoiding investment in companies that are deemed by the Manager as having an unacceptable social or environmental impact and supporting the financial returns of the Fund. This approach is undertaken because the Manager believes that a combination of legislation, regulation and changing societal preferences will impact negatively on the most unsustainable business models. The Manager’s approach to assessing ESG standards has two components; (i) formal codified restrictions from investment of sectors and companies that the Manager believes pose significant environmental and social risks and (ii) an assessment process for the remaining eligible holdings.
Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Policy:
This product does not have a UK sustainable investment label. Sustainable investment labels help investors find products that have a specific sustainability goal. The fund does not use a sustainable investment label because it does not have a sustainability goal.
The listed equities held in the fund are managed in line with CCLA’s ‘Act, Assess, Align’ approach to sustainability. Other assets are managed in line with the ‘Align’ approach as set out in the values-based investment restrictions. The ‘Act, Assess, Align’ approach includes:
- acting as an agent for ‘change’, because investment markets can only ever be as healthy as the environment and communities that support them
- assessing the environmental, social, and governance standards of listed equities with the aim of avoiding investment in companies that are deemed by CCLA as having an unacceptable social or environmental impact and supporting the financial returns of the fund
- investing in a way that we believe is aligned with the values of our clients.
The fund is managed in line with values-based investment restrictions that have been set by CCLA. The restrictions that apply to the fund are set out in the scheme particulars. These restrictions are applied in accordance with Our values-based screening policy (which also sets out how we consider the eligibility of third-party managed funds) and are implemented based upon data points selected by CCLA
In addition, the fund is managed in line with CCLA’s goal to achieve net-zero emission listed equity portfolios no later than 2050. See the climate action section on our website for our approach to net-zero listed equity portfolios.
Process:
The fund aims to act as an agent for change because we believe investment markets can only ever be as healthy as the environment and communities that support them. We do this by:
- using our ownership rights to improve the sustainability of the assets in which we invest
- bringing investors together to address systemic risks that have not received the attention that they require
- seeking to be a catalyst for change in the investment industry.
Our work to drive change is currently organised into three priority areas:
- Better environment: where we are working to accelerate the transition to a net-zero emissions economy and address concerns regarding biodiversity loss.
- Better work: where we are working to address modern slavery and wider concerns regarding human rights, poor labour standards and the living wage.
- Better health: which includes working with companies to push for better standards to protect the mental health of employees and push for improvements in the nutritional standards of products.
This work only applies to the listed equity component of the fund and CCLA may change or add to these areas of focus. Further detail about our engagement priorities and the outcomes that have been achieved are available in our Sustainable Investment Outcomes report.
Resources, Affiliations & Corporate Strategies:
CCLA has an eleven-strong in-house Sustainability team, which is led by Dr James Corah. However, sustainability forms part of everyone’s responsibilities at CCLA, so that our clients’ assets are managed in a way that recognises ESG risks and furthers the values of our clients.
As such, the Sustainability team has five roles:
- They are specialists in changing company behaviour and lead our active ownership work with companies.
- They act for agents in the market and at governmental level.
- They work with the investment teams to help set our policies and processes for ESG integration.
- They monitor compliance with the policy and provide ESG data and analysis to help inform decision making.
- They work with our clients to develop ethical investment policies and ensure compliance, incorporating the ethical guidelines
At CCLA we believe in Good Investment.
This requires us to drive positive change for the benefit of all, and to invest in a way that is aligned with our clients. By doing this we aim to deliver strong long-term investment returns.
As an asset manager our aim is to meet our clients’ financial objectives in a way that aligns with their values and furthers their mission. We achieve this through the following principles.
Act
We act as an agent for ‘change’ because we believe investment markets can only ever be as healthy as the environment and communities that support them. We do this by:
- using our ownership rights to improve the sustainability of the assets in which we invest
- bringing investors together to address systemic risks that have not had the attention that they require
- seeking to be a catalyst for change in the investment industry.
By helping to accelerate progress in meeting the major sustainability challenges the world faces, we can limit risks before they negatively affect the performance of our clients’ assets and the function of society.
Assess
We assess environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards because we believe that a combination of legislation, regulation and changing societal preferences will negatively impact the most unsustainable business models.
We avoid investing in equities that have uncompensated, unwanted, unwarranted, and unmitigated ESG risks, as evidenced by:
- poor management and weak corporate governance
- having an unacceptable social and environmental impact
- not demonstrating a willingness to improve through investor engagement.
This helps us avoid investments that we anticipate will underperform and, as the market has a poor record of pricing these risks, enable us to deliver consistent long-term risk-adjusted returns to our clients.
Align
As we are the guardians, not owners of the assets we mange, we aim to invest in a way that aligns with our clients. We have a responsibility to:
- ensure that our portfolios are aligned with our clients’ objectives, values and beliefs
- report on the outcomes of all our work
- be transparent about everything we do on our clients’ behalf.
By investing in a way that we believe is aligned with our clients we are better able to meet their objectives and offer more than a financial return.
SDR Labelling:
Unlabelled with sustainable characteristics
- Consumer Facing Disclosure
SDR Literature:
Fund Holdings
Voting Record
Fund Name | SRI Style | SDR Labelling | Product | Region | Asset Type | Launch Date | Last Amended |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() COIF Charities Ethical Investment Fund (CCLA) |
Ethical Style | Unlabelled with sustainable characteristics | Charities | Global | Multi Asset | 31/12/2009 | Aug 2025 | |
ObjectivesThe fund aims to provide a total return (growth in capital and income) over the long term (defined as five years) of UK CPI + 5% per annum, before costs and charges. The fund has a wide range of ethical restrictions and is advised by an ethical advisory committee that identifies potential areas of policy development and refinement of the fund’s client-driven ethical investment policy.
|
Fund/Portfolio Size: £2232.00m (as at: 30/06/2025) Total Screened Themed SRI Assets: £15572.00m (as at: 30/06/2025) Total Responsible Ownership Assets: £15572.00m (as at: 30/06/2025) Total Assets Under Management: £15572.00m (as at: 30/06/2025) ISIN: GB00B57RJ342, GB00B57RJX49 Contact Us: clientservices@ccla.co.uk |
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Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG OverviewWe believe that the primary role of responsible investment is to drive positive change and this is best achieved by pushing companies to do more to address the major challenges facing us today. We aim to manage our clients’ investments in a way that aligns with their values and to do this we consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in our listed equity investment process and go beyond the boundaries of traditional investor engagement to drive change. The FCA has introduced sustainable investment labels to help investors find products that have a specific sustainability goal. This product does not have a UK sustainable investment label because it does not have a sustainability goal. |
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Primary fund last amended: Aug 2025 |
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Information received directly from Fund Manager |
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Fund FiltersSustainability - General
Encourage more sustainable practices through stewardship
A core element of these funds aim to encourage higher sustainability standards across business practices through responsible ownership / stewardship / engagement / voting activity
UN Global Compact linked exclusion policy
Find funds that use the UN Global Compact to inform or help direct where they can or cannot invest and will typically not invest in companies with significant breaches (low standards) - although strategies vary. (The UNGC covers a wide range of issues - search 'UNGC'). See https://unglobalcompact.org/ 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. 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.
Fracking and tar sands excluded
Funds that avoid companies involved in fracking and tar sands - which are widely regarded as controversial methods of oil and gas extraction. Strategies vary. See fund information for further information. 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. 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.
Tobacco and related products - avoid where revenue > 5%
Companies are excluded if they make more than 5% of their revenue from the manufacture, sale or distribution of 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.
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.
Alcohol production excluded
Find funds that avoid investment in companies involved in the production of alcohol. Strategies vary; some funds allow a small proportion of profits to come from this area. See fund literature for further information.
Gambling avoidance policy
Find funds that avoid companies with significant involvement in the gambling industry. Some funds may allow a small proportion of profits to come from this area. See fund policy for further details.
Pornography avoidance policy
Find funds that avoid companies that derive significant income from pornography and related areas. Strategies vary. See fund details for further information.
Animal testing - excluded except if for medical purposes
Find funds that avoid companies that test their products on animals for purposes other than medical benefit (e.g. for cosmetics). Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information. Gilts & Sovereigns
Invests in sovereigns subject to screening criteria
Find funds that invest in financial instruments issued by governments, but will only hold those that meet certain environmental and or social criteria. This may, for example mean certain assets are excluded in line with eg Freedom House research. Strategies vary, see fund literature for more information. Banking & Financials
Predatory lending exclusion
Fund excludes financial services companies with widely criticised, aggressive lending practices where interest rates are typically very high, includes ‘doorstep lending’)
Invests in insurers
Funds that do or may invest in insurance companies. Governance & Management
Governance policy
Find fund options that have policies that relate to corporate governance issues such as board structure, executive remuneration, bribery and/or corporate corruption. These funds will typically avoid companies with poor practices. Strategies vary. See fund literature for further information.
Avoids companies with poor governance
Find funds that aim to avoid investing in companies with poor governance practices.(e.g. board structure, management practices etc.) Views may however vary on what counts as 'poor' practices - and funds may not immediately divest as they may prefer to work to encourage higher standards. See fund literature for further information.
UN sanctions exclusion
Exclude companies that are subject to United Nations sanctions. See eg https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/content/un-sc-consolidated-list Fund Governance
Employ external (fund) oversight or advisory committee
Find funds that have an external committee that helps steer or advise fund managers on SRI policy or strategy related issues. These people may be paid for their time but are not employees of the fund manager.
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. 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.
Strictly screened ethical fund
Find funds where their main approach is to apply positive or negative ethical, social and / or environmental screens. Strictly screened funds are likely to exclude more companies than other related fund options. See 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
Do not use stock / securities lending
This fund does not use stock lending for performance or risk purposes. Fund Management Company InformationAbout The Business
Responsible ownership / stewardship policy or strategy (AFM company wide)
Finds fund management companies that have a published company wide stewardship, engagement and / or responsible ownership policy or strategy that covers all investments. Stewardship typically involves encouraging higher ESG standards through voting and dialogue.
Vote all* shares at AGMs / EGMs (AFM company wide)
Find fund managers that vote all* the shares they own at Annual General Meetings and Extraordinary General Meetings. A commitment to voting shares is a key indicator of 'responsible share ownership' demonstrating their support for or disagreement with management policy. (*situations can legitimately, occasionally occur where voting proves impossible, but in principle all shares should be voted.) Collaborations & Affiliations
PRI signatory
Find fund management companies that have signed up to the UN backed 'Principles of Responsible Investment'.
UKSIF member
Find fund management companies that are members of UKSIF - the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance association
Fund EcoMarket partner
Find fund management companies that have partnered with Fund EcoMarket - meaning that they are helping to improve access to information on sustainable and responsible investment by paying an annual fee to us which enables us to publish information for free. Partner funds are listed ahead of other funds and have their logos displayed.
TNFD forum member (AFM company wide)
A member of the Taskforce for Nature Related Financial Disclosures group which aims to aid risk management and shift money towards nature-positive outcomes.
Investment Association (IA) member
Fund management entity is a member of the Investment Association https://www.theia.org/ Resources
In-house responsible ownership / voting expertise
Find fund management companies that employ people to steer and support fund managers in voting shares at company AGM's and EGMs in ways that are consistent with encouraging higher ESG/sustainability standards.
Employ specialist ESG / SRI / sustainability researchers
Find a fund management company that directly employs specialist ESG/SRI/sustainability researchers or analysts. This allows asset managers to discuss environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities directly with companies.
ESG specialists on all investment desks (AFM company wide)
Finds organisations / fund managers that have one or more ESG/sustainability experts on all investment teams or 'desks' (all asset types) Accreditations
UK Stewardship Code signatory (AFM company wide)
Find fund managers that are signatories to the FRC UK Stewardship Code, which sets out a framework for constructive investor / investee relations where fund managers are encouraged to behave like responsible, typically longer term 'company owners'. Engagement Approach
Regularly lead collaborative ESG initiatives (AFM company wide)
Find fund management companies that regularly initiate or run industry wide (collaborative) investor projects aimed at raising environmental, social and governance standards amongst investee companies.
Engaging on climate change issues
Fund manager has stewardship /responsible ownership strategy that is focused on addressing climate change with investee assets.
Engaging on biodiversity / nature issues
The asset manager has a responsible ownership / stewardship strategy that focuses on biodiversity and nature issues relating to the assets they invest the aim of which will be to reduce harm and or deliver improvement. Strategies vary. https://tnfd.global
Engaging to encourage a Just Transition
Asset manager has a responsible ownership / stewardship strategy which means they are working to encourage the shift to more sustainable business practices in ways that respect and are sensitive to social issues and the impact change has on people effected by the changes that are taking place. https://www.transitionpathwayinitiative.org/ https://transitiontaskforce.net/
Engaging on human rights issues
Asset manager has responsible ownership / stewardship strategy in place which aims to address human rights issues in investee companies (and potentially their suppliers) with the aim of raising standards
Engaging on labour / employment issues
Asset manager has responsible ownership / stewardship strategy in place that aims to improve labour standards for the benefit of employees in investee companies (and potentially their suppliers)
Engaging to stop modern slavery
working with the assets they hold to help stamp out modern slavery - where direct or indirect company employees are exploited for business benefits.
Engaging on governance issues
Fund managers have stewardship strategies in place that focus on improving governance standards across investee assets
Engaging on mental health issues
Asset manager has stewardship strategy in place which involves discussing mental health issues with investee companies - with the aim of raising standards
Stewardship escalation policy
Escalation policies describe how a manager will proceed if stewardship / engagement activity is not successful in the short term. Company Wide Exclusions
Tobacco avoidance policy (AFM company wide)
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Fossil fuel exclusion policy (AFM company wide)
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Review(ing) carbon / fossil fuel exposure for all funds (AFM company wide)
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Coal exclusion policy (group wide coal mining exclusion policy)
This asset manager excludes direct investment in the coal mining industry. Managers ability to do this may depend on the geographic regions in which they invest. Climate & Net Zero Transition
Net Zero commitment (AFM company wide)
Fund management organisations that have pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions to ‘net zero’. Strategies vary - this area is changing rapidly.
Net Zero - have set a Net Zero target date (AFM company wide)
This asset management company has set a date by which they plan to achieve net zero greenhouse gas / CO2e emissions. Transparency
Publish responsible ownership / stewardship report (AFM company wide)
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Full SRI / responsible ownership policy information on company website
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Publish full voting record (AFM company wide)
Fund management companies that publish a full record of how they vote their shares at AGMs (annual general meetings) and EGMs (extraordinary general meetings). Voting strategies have an important role to play encouraging higher environmental, social and governance standards.
Dialshifter statement
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Sustainable, Responsible &/or ESG Policy:This product does not have a UK sustainable investment label. Sustainable investment labels help investors find products that have a specific sustainability goal. The fund does not use a sustainable investment label because it does not have a sustainability goal. The listed equities held in the fund are managed in line with CCLA’s ‘Act, Assess, Align’ approach to sustainability. Other assets are managed in line with the ‘Align’ approach as set out in the values-based investment restrictions. The ‘Act, Assess, Align’ approach includes:
The fund is managed in line with values-based investment restrictions that have been set by CCLA. The restrictions that apply to the fund are set out in the scheme particulars. These restrictions are applied in accordance with Our values-based screening policy (which also sets out how we consider the eligibility of third-party managed funds) and are implemented based upon data points selected by CCLA In addition, the fund is managed in line with CCLA’s goal to achieve net-zero emission listed equity portfolios no later than 2050. See the climate action section on our website for our approach to net-zero listed equity portfolios. Process:The fund aims to act as an agent for change because we believe investment markets can only ever be as healthy as the environment and communities that support them. We do this by:
Our work to drive change is currently organised into three priority areas:
This work only applies to the listed equity component of the fund and CCLA may change or add to these areas of focus. Further detail about our engagement priorities and the outcomes that have been achieved are available in our Sustainable Investment Outcomes report. Resources, Affiliations & Corporate Strategies:CCLA has an eleven-strong in-house Sustainability team, which is led by Dr James Corah. However, sustainability forms part of everyone’s responsibilities at CCLA, so that our clients’ assets are managed in a way that recognises ESG risks and furthers the values of our clients. As such, the Sustainability team has five roles:
At CCLA we believe in Good Investment. This requires us to drive positive change for the benefit of all, and to invest in a way that is aligned with our clients. By doing this we aim to deliver strong long-term investment returns. As an asset manager our aim is to meet our clients’ financial objectives in a way that aligns with their values and furthers their mission. We achieve this through the following principles. Act We act as an agent for ‘change’ because we believe investment markets can only ever be as healthy as the environment and communities that support them. We do this by:
By helping to accelerate progress in meeting the major sustainability challenges the world faces, we can limit risks before they negatively affect the performance of our clients’ assets and the function of society. Assess We assess environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards because we believe that a combination of legislation, regulation and changing societal preferences will negatively impact the most unsustainable business models. We avoid investing in equities that have uncompensated, unwanted, unwarranted, and unmitigated ESG risks, as evidenced by:
This helps us avoid investments that we anticipate will underperform and, as the market has a poor record of pricing these risks, enable us to deliver consistent long-term risk-adjusted returns to our clients. Align As we are the guardians, not owners of the assets we mange, we aim to invest in a way that aligns with our clients. We have a responsibility to:
By investing in a way that we believe is aligned with our clients we are better able to meet their objectives and offer more than a financial return. Dialshifter (Corporate)Our organisation is helping to support the Paris Climate Agreement and the Race to Net Zero by… We have set net-zero targets for all our listed equity portfolios, which we aim to achieve through the ‘action’ rather than the ‘transaction’ route. Our view is that over the long term, net-zero portfolios need to be achieved through real-world emissions reductions, as this is the only way to stop the negative impact of climate change. By this we mean that, where possible, it is important to reduce portfolio emissions by using tools, such as engagement, to encourage investee companies to lower their emissions in line with a science-based decarbonisation target (action), rather than lowering the portfolios footprint by selling our higher carbon companies and purchasing lower carbon ones (transactions). We believe that whilst selling high carbon and purchasing low carbon businesses would cut portfolio emissions in line with a potential net-zero target, it would have little or no climate impact. Instead, these businesses would be bought by another investor and would continue to emit at the same level. This means that whilst ‘portfolio emissions’ are lower, ‘real-world’ emissions continue to be the same and there is no positive impact in the fight against climate change. However through engagement, and other tools such as lobbying policy makers, at the disposal of investors, the investor – as a part owner – can encourage the company to cut emissions. When successful, this not only reduces the portfolio’s carbon footprint it also reduces real world emissions. SDR Labelling:Unlabelled with sustainable characteristics
SDR Literature:Fund HoldingsVoting Record |