Our approach

We aim to manage environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks and opportunities in our investments to safeguard our customers' long-term savings and help shape a better world to retire into.

We invest less in companies we believe aren't dealing well with ESG factors and more in companies working hard on things like reducing their negative impact on the planet and society. We also work with companies to help them to become more sustainable.

Our Framework

We’ve set out our Responsible Investment framework, supported by Stewardship and Exclusions polices. They guide our decisions on how we invest, how we select fund managers, and how we challenge the managers of companies we invest in on behalf of our customers, to improve the way they operate.

Responsible Investment Framework (PDF, 3MB)

 

 Our Framework's Six Principles   

The image is a circular diagram titled "Good Customer Outcomes" with six segments, each describing different aspects of achieving good customer outcomes: Responsible investment across asset classes, Active ownership, Data-driven research, Customer choice, Real world outcomes, Holistic approach to net zero.
 

Responsible investment in private markets

Private markets can open up new opportunities for responsible investors through a broader set of assets with more direct impact, longer time horizons and different engagement models. 

Read our Responsible investment in private markets (PDF, 1MB)

Our approach to climate change

How we aim to safeguard customers’ investments from the risks associated with climate change while taking advantage of related opportunities.

Read our approach to climate change (PDF, 3MB)

Our Scottish Widows Transition Plan

Our roadmap to halving the carbon footprint of all our investments by 2030 on our path to net zero emissions by 2050.

Read our Scottish Widows Transition Plan (PDF, 3MB)

Our approach to deforestation

We consider why deforestation matters to investors and how we are using existing frameworks and metrics to develop our approach to deforestation.

Read our approach to deforestation report (PDF, 2MB)

 

Our approach to social factors

Ranging from living standards and discrimination, to health and safety and modern slavery, social factors present both risks and opportunities for companies we invest in. Understanding and managing these factors can help protect returns in the long term.

Read our approach to social factors (PDF, 3MB)