Stockholm (NordSIP) – On October 1st, Ålandsbanken announced its Global Aktie equity fund had been awarded the Nordic Swan Ecolabel. The certification of the equity fund follows in the footsteps of Ålandsbanken Green Bond ESG, which was also awarded the Nordic Swan Ecolabel in the Autumn of 2019.
Anna-Stina Wiklund, ESG Manager at Ålandsbanken, emphasised that the fact that the fund had been awarded this environmental certification was proof of the bank’s successful sustainability work.
To become Nordic Swan Ecolabelled, a fund had to meet 25 mandatory requirements regarding exclusion, inclusions, transparency and influence. A sustainability analysis and an annual sustainability report on the fund’s activities are also required for a fund to be able to receive the Nordic Ecolabel.
According to Ålandsbanken, the fund follows a standard policy of all of its funds to exclude companies that operate in controversial sectors, including weapons, tobacco, alcohol, pornography and gambling. In addition, the Global Equity Fund also excludes investments in companies that operate in fossil fuels. Beyond exclusions, the fund also emphasises the choice of companies with the highest sustainability rating. The goal is for 50% or more of the fund’s holdings to be companies with the highest sustainability rating according to ESG analysis.
“Interest in sustainable investments continues to grow at a rapid pace. A Nordic Ecolabelled fund must take a holistic approach to its sustainability work by meeting tough requirements that are controlled by an independent party. We would like to congratulate the Bank of Åland on a successful application, and the bank’s customers now have access to a Nordic Ecolabelled fund also on the equity side,” says Sebastian Högnabba, ESG specialist at the Nordic Swan Ecolabel.
Image by S. Hermann & F. Richter from Pixabay
