Vita Collective Foundation invests even more sustainably
The Vita Collective Foundation is committed to fair and secure occupational retirement provision for all generations. And this includes investing the pension capital sustainably. Since the end of 2021, the Collective Foundation has been a member of "Climate Action 100+" and "Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance". It has also formulated a CO2 reduction target for its equity portfolio and will invest in green bonds in the future.
Vita Collective Foundation signed the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (UN PRI) at the end of 2020 and joined Swiss Sustainable Finance at the beginning of 2021. At the end of 2021, it also joined the "Climate Action 100+" and "Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance" as an active member. "Net Zero Asset Owner Alliance" is an international group of institutional investors who are committed to shifting their investment portfolio to net zero by 2050. The investor-led "Climate Action 100+" initiative aims to get the world's biggest CO2 polluters to take action on climate change.
Specific CO2 reduction targets
The Vita Collective Foundation sets itself specific sustainability goals, which it reviews on a regular basis. The focus is on continuously and sustainably reducing CO2 emissions, be it in domestic and foreign real estate and equity investments or in the company's own business premises. For the first time, the Foundation is formulating CO2 reduction targets for equity investments. In line with the Paris Agreement, it is setting interim targets for 2025, 2030 and 2040 for stock exchange listed shares and real estate. By 2025, Vita Collective Foundation aims to reduce CO2 emissions from equity investments by 20% compared to 2019. In the Swiss Real Estate investment category, it has already been able to reduce CO2 emissions by more than 20% since 2010 - and this is set to fall by a further 20% by 2025.
Impact Investing with Green Bonds
The investment categories are also being deliberately expanded to include green bonds. Issuers of green bonds pledge to use the funds received to finance ecological projects - for example, renewable energies, energy efficiency or environmentally friendly buildings. In addition to its impact-oriented investments in housing and living space for the future, the Foundation is therefore supporting other projects that have a positive impact on sustainable development.
Active sustainability dialog with companies
The Vita Collective Foundation exercises its shareholder voting rights in Switzerland and abroad. In doing so, it works together with Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS). By connecting to the ISS Engagement Pool, the Collective Foundation seeks direct dialog with companies on sustainability issues. The focus here is on corporate governance, climate change and demographic development.