Ensuring members’ funds are invested responsibly is a concern for the trustee’s directors, as it is for many members. This section details our approach as we navigate this important but complex issue. It also brings together a range of discussion documents and news items on responsible investment from around the world.
Russell Investments is one of over 2,300 organisations which are signatories to the United Nations-supported Principles of Responsible Investment (PRI). Each year, the PRI reviews and reports on each signatory’s approach to responsible investment and awards an overall rating. Russell Investments was awarded an overall rating of A+/A for 2019.
Read a summary of the 2019 PRI Assessment of Russell Investments
The Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) was established to champion responsible investing and a sustainable financial system in Australia and New Zealand. Its members include over 260 financial service providers managing more than $9 trillion in assets globally. The RIAA has released its 5th Responsible Investment Benchmark Report concluding that responsible investment “has become the minimum standard of good investment practice in New Zealand”.
Read a fact sheet summarising the report
Read the full report
Being an active owner is central to Russell Investments’ commitment to responsible investing. Its active ownership activities aim “to promote changes that protect and enhance shareholder value and shareholder rights”. The company’s approach to active ownership incorporates proxy voting, corporate engagement and participating in groups dedicated to environmental, social and governance issues. The company reports annually on these activities which support its commitment to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment and other stewardship codes.
Much of the discussion and effort to date around responsible investment has been about measuring and reducing carbon emissions. Russell Investments sees risks related to water as the next big area of focus. Here they look at assessing water-related issues and incorporating water-risk awareness into investment decisions.
Read From Black to Blue: Moving the climate focus beyond carbon and on to water
The trustee’s investment beliefs constitute the investment philosophy of the scheme and guide the investment of UniSaver’s assets. One of these beliefs is that responsible investment can reduce risk and impact returns positively.
Read more about our investment beliefs in our Statement of Investment Policy and Objectives
Our policy includes not investing in companies involved in the manufacture of cluster munitions, anti-personnel mines, nuclear explosive devices and tobacco.
Read our policy
We require our investment manager Russell Investments to abide by the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI) when making investment decisions on behalf of UniSaver.
Read more about UNPRI
Russell Investments was one of only 20% of firms to receive the highest possible overall score of A+ from the UNPRI.
Read more about Russell Investments' approach and philosophy
