About us

Corporate Responsibility

Acting and investing responsibly

We believe that better long-term investment returns come from companies that conduct business in a sustainable and responsible manner. This is why we set high standards for our own business. By including environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) considerations in our investment process, we build pride in our employees, respect from our stakeholders and value for our clients.

Aviva Investors is a founding signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Investment (UNPRI). Launched in 2006, these principles provide a voluntary framework by which all investors can incorporate ESG issues into their decision-making and ownership practices and so better align their objectives with those of society at large.

We have a strong track record in responsible investing and treat sustainable and responsible investment (SRI) not only as an asset class but as a key strategic focus. We have a dedicated SRI team whose aim is to deliver top-performing funds by explicitly integrating social, environmental and corporate governance issues into the investment process. The award winning team is an industry recognised source of expertise in SRI matters.

Together with our fund managers and the SRI team, our dedicated corporate governance team works on company engagement and proxy voting. This forms an integral and active part of our approach to managing, protecting and enhancing the long-term value of the companies we invest in for our clients.

Climate change

Climate change is our most pressing environmental priority. Aviva has a commercial interest in ensuring that climate change does not make certain risks uninsurable, as this reduces the sustainability of our own business. As climate change is a material issue to global economic development, the value of our investment portfolios will be impacted, alongside those of our clients.

As founding signatories, Aviva Investors works to promote the Carbon Disclosure Project and actively engages with companies and organisations to reach consensus on ways to address climate change, both for companies and public policymakers as well as other stakeholders.

We reduce our own carbon emissions where we can and offset the remainder. Our commitment to sustainability is also demonstrated through our gold leaf membership of the UK Green Building Council.

Our CR report covers more about what we’ve achieved in 2010.

Additional information

• Our approach to Corporate Governance and Stewardship
• Sustainable and Responsible Investment (SRI )
• Sustainability in Real Estate
• Corporate Responsibility at Aviva
• Carbon Disclosure Project