ESG investing with Invesco ETFs

Most investors choose ESG ETFs for the same reasons they choose any other ETF: simplicity, low costs, transparency, tradability and often for the efficient way it tracks a reference index. heir growing popularity can be seen in recent flows, as ESG ETFs gathered 50% of all net new assets in the European ETF market in 2021. 

This has been an area of increased focus, with some studies suggesting a positive relationship betweeen a company’s financial and ESG performances. Moreover, some ESG indices have recently outperformed their parent (non-ESG) indices, which is partly due to the sector biases that occur naturally from exclusions, e.g. reduced weighting in energy, but could also be attributed to investors’ placing a “premium” on companies that are successfully managing ESG risks.

Whether or not ESG on its own can drive performance, investors can now find ETFs that have both ESG and financial objectives. You can choose between ESG ETFs that aim for similar returns as the parent index (with meaningful ESG improvement) or that have a greater tolerance for tracking error (with much more ESG improvement).   

With environment one of the three ESG pillars, most ESG ETFs will include climate considerations either implicitly or explicitly in the index methodology. 

The simple answer is that any ETF that physically holds shares in a company can exercise its rights. Our global ESG team and investment managers engage with companies on key ESG issues. 

We’ve been helping investors incorporate their ESG objectives for the past 35 years and aim to include ESG considerations across all our investment strategies where possible. We believe engagement is one of the most effective mechanisms to reduce risks, maximise returns and have a positive impact on society and the environment. We are also committed to being a good corporate citizen and are signatories to key industry initiatives especially in the fight against climate change.

As ESG continues to grow globally, different regions have made efforts to introduce regulatory standards. Regulation will be a key factor in ensuring that efforts to integrate ESG have a tangible impact. It’ll also help to drive the standardisation of measuring and reporting.

The EU has introduced green taxonomy, Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) and most recently, the Sustainable Finance Strategy to provide rules and structure to the way businesses report on their ESG activities.

Greenwashing is when companies portray a public image of sustainability but aren’t taking sufficient or tangible action behind the scenes or undertake other questionable business activities. It could be a global drinks company committing to using 100% recycled plastic but setting no actual target, or a fast fashion brand using sustainable materials but with questionable manufacturing processes. 

In the investment industry, it could be excluding obvious companies like tobacco manufacturers from a portfolio but not applying ESG analysis to the rest of it. Greater regulation and efforts to standardise measuring and reporting should help reduce the effects of greenwashing, as well as wider education.