PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 16
trends
How Green Is My Bond Fund?
Are some investments being painted as more 'sustainable' than they are?
PLAN sponsors, now free to invest sustainably, have likely
met another river to cross: How do they confirm a potential
investment, marketed as green, truly is?
In fact, for 44% of investors surveyed by Quilter Investors,
in May, " greenwashing " of investments was their
greatest concern when it came to environmental, social
and governance (ESG) investing.
The term " greenwashing " first appeared in a 1986 essay
by environmentalist Jay Westerveld. There he claimed that
$1,000,000,000,000
Sustainable bond issuance including
green, social, sustainability and
sustainability-linked bonds could now
collectively exceed $1 trillion.
Source: S&P Global
a hotel asked its guests to reuse their towels, purportedly
to save the environment but in reality to save it money.
Since then, the meaning has broadened to what S&P Global,
in a recent comment on its website, describes as " making
exaggerated or misleading environmental claims, sometimes
without offering significant environmental benefits
in return. "
S&P Global noted Quilter's findings, yet called such fears
generally groundless. There " seems to be little evidence [the
practice] has become widespread in reality, " it wrote, indicating
that the maturing of the market, stakeholder demands
and institutional efforts have had a positive effect.
Still, the comment mentions a sprawl of issues yet to
be resolved. Many make it hard to compare investments or
gauge their impact quotient: inconsistencies ranging from
how funds are labeled to " what [even] constitutes a 'green'
or 'social' project, " poor transparency, no standard measures
for performance or reporting, and no regulation, along with a
burgeoning demand for ESG products.
Uncertain Numbers
" The mainstreaming of ESG investing has had a galvanizing
impact on how sustainability factors are incorporated into
16 | planadviser.com September-October 2021 Art by Anja Sušanj
http://www.planadviser.com
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of PLANADVISER - September/October 2021
Masterminds of the Plan
"PLANADVISER’s 2021 Top 100 Retirement Plan Advisers"
How to Optimize Connections
Defining Roles
Building Strategic Partnerships
Different Strokes
Cybersecurity Considerations
Provider Recommendations
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - Cover1
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - Cover2
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 1
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 2
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 3
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 4
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 5
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 6
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 7
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 8
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 9
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PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 11
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 12
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 13
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 14
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 15
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 16
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 17
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - Masterminds of the Plan
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 19
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 20
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 21
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - "PLANADVISER’s 2021 Top 100 Retirement Plan Advisers"
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 23
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 24
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 25
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 26
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 27
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - How to Optimize Connections
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 29
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 30
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 31
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - Defining Roles
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 33
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - Building Strategic Partnerships
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 35
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - Different Strokes
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 37
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - Cybersecurity Considerations
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - Provider Recommendations
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - 40
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - Cover3
PLANADVISER - September/October 2021 - Cover4
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