House awards
Fund awards
Fund winners
Funds and submissions
THE WINNERS
Our sponsors
A world of difference
UBS Asset
Management
Thought leadership
EdenTree Investment Management
Companies and individuals that can put their head above the parapet and show continued dedication in trying times is something that should be showcased and celebrated.
The past two years have been a trickier period for the responsible investment industry. More challenging market conditions have affected fund performance and flows, new regulation has tested firms’ compliance departments and product development has slowed.
But for the companies that are genuinely committed to sustainable investing, and not swayed by the ebbs and flows of asset direction, it has been a time to shine.
For that reason, we are especially delighted to celebrate those organisations and individuals with the ESG Clarity Awards 2023.
This year we worked with Lipper to create fund shortlists across 21 categories, including actives and passives, by analysing LSEG Lipper using sustainably labelled funds based on three-year risk-adjusted returns, using LSEG Lipper data.
We also asked the sustainable investment
industry to put forward nominations for our
submissions categories showcasing initiatives devoted to diversity, social, thought leadership
and engagement as well as celebrating
individuals as ‘rising stars’ and for their outstanding contribution.
Our esteemed panel of judges then put the
funds and submissions through their paces
to pick their winners.
We are delighted to reveal the winners here today.
Finally, a huge thank you to everyone who nominated, our judges and sponsors and congratulations to all the winners!
Natalie Kenway Editor-in-chief,
MA Financial Media
Meet the judges
Mark Allen Financial Media is a leading global media company, delivering cutting-edge analysis, insight, networking and data for financial services and business solutions communities. We offer forward-thinking products and provide high-quality information that leads to better, and informed, decisions. ©2023 MA Financial Media
UK equities
Best ESG UK Equity Fund (Active)
REVEAL
UK equities
Best ESG UK Equity
Fund (Passive)
REVEAL
Global equities
Best ESG Global Equity
Fund (Active)
REVEAL
Global equities
Best ESG Global Equity Fund
(Passive)
REVEAL
Fixed income
Best ESG Emerging
Markets Bond (Passive)
REVEAL
Fixed income
Best ESG European
Corporate Bond (Passive)
REVEAL
Fixed income
Best ESG Sterling Corporate Bond
Fund (Active)
REVEAL
Fixed income
Best ESG Global
Bond (Passive)
REVEAL
Fixed income
Best ESG Emerging Markets Bond
Fund (Active)
REVEAL
Fixed income
Best ESG European Corporate Bond (Active)
REVEAL
Impact
Best Impact
Fund
REVEAL
Multi-asset
Best ESG
Multi-Asset Fund
REVEAL
Emerging market equities
Best ESG Emerging Markets Equity Fund (Active)
REVEAL
Emerging market equities
Best ESG Emerging Markets Equity Fund (Passive)
REVEAL
European equities
Best ESG
European Equity Fund (Active)
REVEAL
European equities
Best ESG European Equity Fund (Passive)
REVEAL
Asian equities
Best ESG Asian Equity
Fund (Active)
REVEAL
Thematic
Best ESG Thematic Fund (Active)
REVEAL
Thematic
Best ESG Thematic
Fund (Passive)
REVEAL
House awards
Fund awards
House awards
Best Diversity/
Corporate Culture Initiative
REVEAL
House awards
Best ESG Fund
House (Active)
REVEAL
House awards
Best ESG Fund
House (Passive)
REVEAL
House awards
Best ESG Adviser
REVEAL
House awards
Best ESG
Wealth Manager
REVEAL
House awards
Best NGO Supporting
ESG Investment Services
REVEAL
House awards
Best ESG
Platform
REVEAL
House awards
Best Social
Initiative
REVEAL
House awards
Best Thought
Leadership/Research
REVEAL
House awards
Engagement
Award
REVEAL
House awards
ESG Rising Star
of the Year
REVEAL
House awards
Most Innovative
Fund Launch
REVEAL
House awards
Outstanding Contribution
to ESG Investment
REVEAL
House winners
Thematic
Best Climate
Fund
REVEAL
Judge’s comment: “This fund is great!
It’s sub-£100m at the moment, but the manager takes a refreshingly thoughtful approach to the UK equity income universe, and knows his stocks inside out”
Winner: Best ESG UK Equity
Fund (Active)
Jupiter Responsible Income
UK equities
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
Judge’s comment: “A low-cost passive solution delivering solid returns. I like the combination of the scoring across ESG considerations with a range of indicators, which provides a blend across ESG themes and an activist flavour”
Winner: Best ESG UK Equity
Fund (Passive)
Royal London UK FTSE4Good Tracker trust
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
UK equities
Judge’s comment: “This is a hidden gem”
Judge’s comment: “Run by a very seasoned fund manager that has built a super-low turnover fund, which can be a core allocation to any portfolio”
Winner: Best ESG Global Equity Fund (Active)
M&G Global Sustain Paris Aligned
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
Global equities
Judge’s comment: “A very low-cost passive solution delivering solid returns. There’s a lot to like combining reasonable and established factors within a low carbon targeting strategy, which has been borne out through strong performance”
Winner: Best ESG Global Equity Fund (Passive)
ACS World Multifactor ESG Equity Tracker
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
Global equities
Judge’s comment: “An ETF with a strong track record providing allocation to a diversified portfolio of EMD with an ESG overlay provided by JP Morgan bond index ESG criteria, offered by a manager that has an above-average ESG commitment”
Winner: Best ESG Emerging Markets Bond Fund (Passive)
BNP Paribas Easy JPM ESG EMBI Global Diversified Composite
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
Fixed income
Judge’s comment: “A good performer. The managers have the ability to act flexibly and exploit various sources of return”
Winner: Best ESG European Corporate Bond (Active)
Schroder ISF Sustainable Euro Credit
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
Fixed income
Judge’s comment: “A great team behind this fund”
Winner: Best ESG Sterling Corporate Bond Fund (Active)
Rathbone Sicav Ethical Bond
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
Fixed income
Judge’s comment: “Offers clients high yield exposure and great performance”
Winner: Best ESG Global Bond Fund (Passive)
BlackRock Defensive Yield ESG Screened
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
Fixed income
Judge’s comment: “This fund offers consistent performance and a positive information ratio”
Winner: Best ESG Emerging Markets Bond Fund (Active)
M&G (Lux) Sustainable Emerging Market Corporate Bond
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
Fixed income
Judge’s comment: “Good performance from a fund where the objective is clearly communicated, information
is easily accessible and updated
in a timely manner”
Winner: Best ESG Multi-Asset Fund
Trojan Ethical
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
Multi-asset
Judge’s comment: “Strong performance from a leader in sustainable investment”
Winner: Best ESG Emerging Markets Equity Fund (Active)
Robeco Sustainable Emerging Stars Equities
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
Emerging market equities
Judge’s comment: “UBS offers a relatively concentrated ETF tracking MSCI SRI index, which incorporates strong exclusionary and ESG criteria with a low carbon screen removing the highest carbon emitters in the emerging market equity space”
Winner: Best ESG Emerging Markets Equity Fund (Passive)
UBS LFS MSCI Emerging Markets Ucits ETF
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
Emerging market equities
Judge’s comment: “A great core sustainable fund with a focus on climate, and part of a franchise we rate highly”
Winner: Best ESG European Equity Fund (Active)
M&G European Sustainable Paris Aligned
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
European equities
Judge’s comment: “This ETF tracks a custom MSCI European ESG index with a positive impact overlay in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals”
Winner: Best ESG European Equity Fund (Passive)
NT Europe Sustainable Select SDG Index FGR
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
European equities
Judge’s comment: “A consistent performer from
a fund that was focusing on sustainability before
it became fashionable”
Judge’s comment: “A pioneer in sustainability in Asia”
Winner: Best ESG Asian Equity Fund (Active)
Stewart Investors Asia Pacific Sustainability
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
Asian equities
Judge’s comment: “The most ambitious
strategy of those shortlisted”
Winner: Best Impact Fund
Nordea 1 – Global Climate and Environment
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
Impact
Judge’s comment: “This team has a strong track record and a clear strategy, which is excellently communicated and well executed”
Winner: Best ESG Thematic Fund (Active)
Guinness Sustainable Energy
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
Thematic
Judge’s comment: “A fund
with a well-designed benchmark delivering a positive outcome”
Winner: Best ESG Thematic Fund (Passive)
WisdomTree Battery Solutions Ucits ETF
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
Thematic
Judge’s comment: “A fund with clear purpose and process, applied with discipline”
Winner: Best Climate Fund
Templeton Global Climate Change
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
Thematic
Judge’s comment: “Forward-thinking attitude to its employees’ work/life balance - with
a focus on parents, irrespective of gender”
Judge’s comment: “Tangible improvement
in gender diversity within the company”
Winner: Best Diversity/Corporate Culture Initiative
Fidelity International
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
House awards
Judge’s comment: “In addition to Wheb’s track-record as an active impact investor in the UK, there is arguably further evidence in its submission of making continued efforts to drive forward positive change in the sustainable investing market”
Winner: Best ESG Fund House (Active)
Wheb Asset Management
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
House awards
Judge’s comment: “This company has a long-standing track record in passive products and has built up a highly respectable ESG range with variety and returns on offer to investors. It has also put a lot of thought into how it will meet net-zero targets and build a well-resourced team to tackle this”
Winner: Best ESG Fund House (Passive)
UBS Asset Management
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
House awards
Judge’s comment: “Longstanding track record and reputation in the UK as a specialist ESG financial planner and investment manager, while signs also
of becoming more of a public thought leader within the UK industry”
Winner: Best ESG Adviser
Castlefield
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
House awards
Judge’s comment: “A genuine sustainable wealth management firm, with strong research credentials and a focused MPS service suited to a wide range of clients”
Winner: Best ESG Wealth Manager
EQ Investors
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
House awards
Judge’s comment: “UKSIF has worked tirelessly with and for the industry to push forward the UK’s policies around net zero and alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It collaborates with many organisations and is a real force for good”
Winner: Best NGO Supporting ESG Investment Services
UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF)
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
House awards
Judge’s comment: “Quilter is an ESG-committed platform business and offers support and training to advisers, which sets it apart from its competitors. Quilter has clearly demonstrated it is trying to advance knowledge and understanding of responsible investing across the industry –
and should be commended for this”
Winner: Best ESG Platform
Quilter
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
House awards
Judge’s comment: “Good evidence of engagement and results edge it to the top of a very tough category”
Winner: Best Social Initiative
CCLA Investment
Management
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
House awards
Judge’s comment: “EdenTree is well-known as a pioneer in responsible investing, and this engagement on the condition of rivers builds on those credentials. The team has demonstrated clearly what the objectives were and then provided specific examples as to how positive impact has been achieved”
Winner: Best Thought Leadership/Research
EdenTree
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
House awards
Judge’s comment: “EOS at Federated Hermes has highlighted why it is the leader in engagement in the asset management industry. It has clearly articulated its approach, expertise and how it can effect change at companies”
Winner: Engagement Award
EOS at Federated Hermes
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
House awards
Judge’s comment: “The candidate is clearly having a significant impact in a firm where the environment is less conducive than in a larger firm or one with a sole ESG/RI focus. Lots of additionality!”
Winner: ESG Rising Star of the Year
Daniel Say, senior investment analyst Whitechurch Securities
VISIT WEBSITE
House awards
Judge’s comment: “Haigh stands out for her commitment, impact and influence. Not only does she have demonstrable experience in ESG investment over a long period, but has created impact in the industry in several different ways”
Winner: Outstanding Contribution to ESG Investment
Elizabeth Haigh, investment director, Rathbone Greenbank Investments
VISIT WEBSITE
House awards
Judge’s comment: “Launched into a market that is regularly shunned by fund managers, the Pictet team is finding untapped ESG opportunities in the China A-share market, which is set to see stellar growth in years to come”
Winner: Most Innovative Fund Launch
Pictet-China Environmental Opportunities
VISIT WEBSITE
House awards
House award winners
Fund award winners
Judge’s comment: “Great product in a great part of the market. Short-dated credit is offering a sweet spot for return without taking on excessive duration risks, and splitting out financials helps isolate an otherwise distorting exposure”
Winner: Best ESG European Corporate Bond (Passive)
iShares € Corporate Bond ex-Financials 1-5yr ESG Ucits ETF
VISIT WEBSITE
Winner 2nd year running
Fixed income
Scroll
Fund winners
Click here to meet the judges
Judge’s comment: “A great product in a great part of the market. Short-dated credit is offering something of a sweet spot for return without taking on excessive duration risks and splitting out financials helps isolate an otherwise distorting exposure”
Winner: Best ESG European Corporate Bond (Passive)
Schroder ISF Sustainable Euro Credit
Fixed income
House awards
Best ESG UK Equity
Fund (Active)
REVEAL
House awards
Best ESG UK Equity
Fund (Passive)
REVEAL
Global equities
Best ESG Global Equity
Fund (Active)
REVEAL
Global equities
Best ESG Global
Equity Fund (Passive)
REVEAL
House awards
Best ESG Emerging
Markets Bond (Passive)
REVEAL
House awards
Best ESG European
Corporate Bond (Passive)
REVEAL
House awards
Best ESG Sterling Corp Bond Fund (Active)
REVEAL
House awards
Best ESG Global
Bond (Passive)
REVEAL
House awards
Best ESG EM Bond
Fund (Active)
REVEAL
House awards
Best ESG European
Corp Bond (Active)
REVEAL
House awards
Best Impact Fund
REVEAL
House awards
Best ESG
Multi-Asset Fund
REVEAL
House awards
Best ESG EM Equity
Fund (Active)
REVEAL
Fund winners
The judges
Hortense Bioy, global director of sustainability
research, Morningstar
Scott Spencer, investment manager, multi-manager solutions, BMO GAM
Damien Lardoux, head of impact investing, EQ Investors
Diane Earnshaw, head of consulting, Square Mile
Ben Seager Scott, head of multi asset, Tilney
Genevra Banszky von Ambroz, fund manager,
partner, Tilney
Nicola Day, deputy head, Rathbone Greenbank
Tim Cockerill, investment director, head of responsible and values-based investing, Rowan Dartington
Dan Kemp, CIO, Morningstar
Sophie Kennedy, joint-CEO, EQ Investors
Julia Dreblow, founding director, SRI Services
Rebecca Kowalski, founder, Overstory Finance
Bhavini Shah, co-CEO, City Hive
Mandy Kirby, co-CEO, City Hive
Noreen Biddle Shah, head of communications and marketing, Numis, founder, Reboot
Jack Dominy, associate research director, Research in Finance
Oscar Warwick-Thompson, head of policy and communications, UKSIF
Vian Sharif, group head of sustainability, FNZ, founder, NatureAlpha Annabel Brodie-Smith, communications director, AIC
Natalie Kenway, editor in chief, MA Financial Media
Julian Marr, editorial director, MA Financial Media Natasha Turner, global editor, ESG Clarity
Lauren Hardy, editor, Portfolio Adviser
Christine Dawson, research editor, ESG Clarity
Neville White, head of
responsible investment policy and research, on putting research and engagement front and centre of EdenTree’s approach to drive through change
Thought leadership
For Professional Clients only, not suitable for Retail Clients.
This is a financial promotion and is not investment advice. The views expressed are those of RLAM at the date of publication, which are subject to change, and is not investment advice. Telephone calls may be recorded. For further information please see the Privacy policy at www.rlam.com
For more information on the funds or trusts or the risks of investing, please refer to the Prospectus or Key Investor Information Document (KIID), available via the relevant Fund Information page on www.rlam.com
Issued in September 2022 by Royal London Asset Management Limited, 55 Gracechurch Street, London, EC3V 0RL. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, firm reference number 141665.
A subsidiary of The Royal London Mutual Insurance Society Limited.
EdenTree Investment Management has put ‘performance with principles’ at the heart of our investment philosophy since 1988 when we launched our first screened fund. Since then approaches to ethical, responsible, sustainable and impact investing have changed immensely, but our core approach has been to invest for the long term by putting responsibility and sustainability at the heart of our investment proposition.
Responsible and sustainable investment is all we do, and that dedication has been accompanied by a passion for research and original thinking.
Pioneering insight
Thought leadership is a core element in our approach to responsible and sustainable investing. Since 2008 and publication of our first Insight on responsible cocoa, we have believed strongly in sharing our ideas on environmental, social and governance issues. In 15 years we have published 42 research papers that cover a wide range of topics from deep dives on aviation and shipping to research on human rights, education, life ethics, corporate misconduct and big data.
They have been pioneering in terms of investment thinking and taken a long-term approach. For instance, our 2016 Insight on ‘Natural Capital’ positioned biodiversity as an urgent and increasing risk before it was more widely understood. Our 2018 Insight ‘Sustainable Cities’ looked deeply at how cities will need to transition to meet exacting new standards for sustainable living.
In 2017, three years before the Covid pandemic pivoted working practices – perhaps forever – we wrote about ‘The Future of Work’ in a ground-breaking Insight that argued how we work is likely to become a megatrend fuelled by digital technology, automation and AI. More recently, in 2020 we looked at globalised ‘Supply Chains’ and their extended social risks including labour rights and modern slavery. All of these, and more are available on our website.
Engagement for change
‘The Condition of Our Rivers’ Insight, which we published in 2022, emerged from a real passion to make a difference, and built on research into water scarcity that we first published as ‘Thirsty Planet’ in 2012. The original idea emerged before pollution and sewage spills became a national concern with activist campaigns driven by the media. We were in an exceptionally good place to engage with the water industry given we had equity and fixed interest holdings in eight of the 10 integrated water and waste-water utilities. We treat equity and fixed interest as no different in terms of engagement approach, and we found an industry eager to engage with its investors.
We had conversations with all eight over the first few months of 2022. The conclusions we reached provided a fascinating insight into an industry that undoubtedly has challenges, but also delivers billions of litres of clean water every day which needs to be recognised. Combined sewer outflows (CSOs) which have been such a focus for campaigners are only one part – and a relatively small part – of the problem. Of greater urgency is the role of agriculture and urban planning in their twin impacts on waste-water treatment and pollution, and the role of customers in acting responsibly in areas such as disposable wet wipes.
We found much to be excited about – the role of nature-based solutions to prevent incidents, the role of technology, sensors, microphones and other ‘real-time’ data capture that can prevent incidents. The companies that were more advanced in the rollout of sensors had far fewer incidents, and this is key to reducing the overall number of pollution events. We also used our research to challenge laggards; those behind the curve on technology rollout or simply failing in a core area – engineering maintenance. We took our work to regulators for further conversations around the need for investment in the natural environment.
Water has been a key of area for us for over a decade, and in line with this our new ‘Water Stewardship Plan’ will be published in the autumn; this will demonstrate our continuing ambitions as investors to be effective water stewards and to help protect and invest in water security.
The Insight, and our ongoing thinking about water, shows clearly how we like
to work: to concentrate efforts on real issues of concern to clients, to engage constructively and affirmatively and to lead with clear recommendations
and conclusions.
‘Responsible and sustainable investment is all we do, and that dedication has been accompanied by a passion
for research and original thinking’
George Crowdy, sustainable fund manager, Royal London Asset Management
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Mark Allen Financial Media is a leading global media company, delivering cutting-edge analysis, insight, networking and data for financial services and business solutions communities. We offer forward-thinking products and provide high-quality information that leads to better, and informed, decisions. ©2023 MA Financial Media
VISIT WEBSITE
Mark Allen Financial Media is a leading global media company, delivering cutting-edge analysis, insight, networking and data for financial services and business solutions communities. We offer forward-thinking products and provide high-quality information that leads to better, and informed, decisions. ©2023 MA Financial Media
