A major UK investment fund tells companies to step up on sustainability

 

Several major investment companies re telling the companies that they invest with to step up on sustainability or face the consequences of inaction. Aviva Investors, which has £262bn of assets under management, is setting out its expectations in a letter that will be sent to 1,500 firms in 30 countries this week that it does or might invest in. Last year 280 firms changed their practices after pressure from Aviva Investors, it is hoped that more will be forced to focus on issues such as biodiversity and human rights, alongside existing priorities like climate change and executive pay. The investment companies believe that this move makes good business sense at a time when the public is increasingly expecting companies to behave ethically.



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