The latest developments in the ESG space.

Robeco
Netherlands-based Robeco is opening the doors to its sustainable investing methods, an “open access” initiative already being piloted by users in Asia, such as Standard Chartered. 

Robeco has announced the launch of its Sustainable Investing Open Access Initiative. As a first step, clients and a group of academics will gain free access via a portal to the Sustainable Development Goal scores of companies which Robeco generates using its proprietary SDG Framework. 

The firm started developing its SDG Framework in 2017. In the Asia-Pacific region, Robeco engages with 60 companies as part of the framework. Globally these include asset owners such as UBS Global Wealth Management, BBVA AM and pensioenfonds ING.

“Traditionally asset managers tend to protect intellectual property and use it to add value to their proprietary investment processes,” Victor Verberk, chief investment officer for fixed income and sustainability, said. “Yet the massive challenges our planet is facing require a different approach. We need to join forces to address these challenges properly. By opening our SDG data to a broader audience, we aim to contribute to improving quality and standards setting across the industry.”