Triodos Sustainable Pioneer Fund

Sustainability criteria

Triodos Sustainable Pioneer Fund invests worldwide in shares of small and medium-sized listed companies engaged in innovative and ground-breaking activities in the field of sustainability. Investors directly contribute to sustainable solutions for the future.
Triodos Sustainable Pioneer Fund invests in companies that are pioneers in various areas:

• Climate protection (sustainable energy)
• Healthy people (medical technology)
• Clean earth (environmental technology and water)
• Corporate social responsibility (CSR)

Our research team screens companies on the strict sustainability criteria defined by Triodos Bank and enters into a dialogue with these companies about:

1. Sustainable activities

Only companies that derive over 50% of their revenues from the climate protection, health people and clean earth themes are eligible for investment by Triodos Sustainable Pioneer Fund.

2. Comparative

We also identify a fourth group op companies: the absolute leaders in corporate social responsibility. We compare the sustainability performance of these companies with that of other companies in the same sector. Only companies that are head and shoulders above the rest of the sector are eligible for investment.

3. Minimum standards

All companies that are selected must meet strict minimum standards , including:

• No involvement in nuclear energy
• No involvement in child labour
• No involvement in environmental crimes

In practice, these criteria result in the selection of 25% of the companies that are analyzed.

The financial management is handled by Delta Lloyd Asset Management NV, which invests in companies included in the Triodos investment universe that are likely to generate the highest financial returns.

For further information about our views we refer to the SRI Expertise page.

Vision on sustainable investments in listed companies 

As a sustainable investor, Triodos seeks to invest in companies that function in line with its values and that deliver long-term value in harmony with society and the environment. As a manager of a number of Socially Responsible Investment products, we believe we have the power and the responsibility to encourage companies to improve their business practices. Companies depend on investment to finance their growth, and the positive role that investors can play in influencing their behaviour is becoming increasingly widely understood. 

Dialogue with companies

Triodos sees dialogue as a way to enhance the business performance and the ‘license to operate’ of companies. In 2010 Triodos engaged with companies on over 750 occasions, addressing their business practices and impacts and suggest possible improvements. In exercising our influence, we focus exclusively on the long term strategy and planning of companies. The constructive dialogue we conduct with companies aims to stimulate improved sustainability performance, in three main ways:

1. By raising awareness

We share results of the research process, including a full overview of individual performance on three key sustainable themes, as well as the comparative performance. 

2. By convincing

We periodically define a number of sustainability themes on which we actively engage with companies. By addressing these subjects at the right time, we aim to increase the impact of this approach.

3. By motivating change

In order to motivate change, we use our rights as a shareholder on Annual General Meetings, by voting and speaking on these meetings.

Read more about our dialogue with companies .

Downloads

Proxy voting guidelines
Company engagement report
Investment strategy
Minimum standards