SPF Sustainability Policy tightened following member survey

We asked our members various questions about sustainability in June. Over 500 of you completed the questionnaire. First of all, our thanks to everyone who completed the survey. The high response rate indicates that you consider this an important topic.

The most important findings

• 78% of members thinks it is important that SPF invests sustainably but does this in combination with ensuring a good pension.
• 27% of members would find it acceptable if sustainable investment results in a somewhat lower pension.
• Members agree with the Climate Change theme choice, while also indicating a preference for sustainability themes linked to several specific sustainable goals, the so-called Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This concerns SDGs 15, 7, 2, 6, and 14:
  • SDG 15: Protecting ecosystems, forests, and biodiversity
  • SDG 7: Access to affordable and sustainable energy for everyone
  • SDG 2: Eradicating hunger, ensuring food security, and sustainable agriculture
  • SDG 6: Clean water and sanitary provisions for everyone
  • SDG 14: Protection and sustainable use of the oceans and seas
• Sustainability policy and companies in which we invest:

1. 1. A majority indicated that it considers it important that SPF invests in companies that are not yet leading but that have made good and concrete plans to make sustainability improvements.
   2. A majority considers that SPF should take ‘good governance’ into account in selecting investments. So with the way those companies arrange their entire organization.

• Opinions differ on how to handle companies that harm people and the environment. Over half indicated that they found it important that SPF continues investing in these companies so that it can influence the policy through engagement. The other half would prefer to exclude such companies and no longer invest in them. It is striking that when members were asked what concrete steps SPF should take regarding investments in companies that do not treat people and the environment well, two thirds would opt for engagement rather than for exclusion. So there is some contradiction in the answers, in which the focus seems to be on engagement.
• 65% of members considers it important that SPF invests in companies that have made good and concrete plans for sustainability improvements. And a comparable percentage would like SPF to promote reducing carbon emissions.
• The following are the most important findings with respect to excluding sectors or companies:
  - do not invest in gambling, tobacco, and pornography industries;
  - regarding investment in oil, opinions are divided: 55% is positive about this and 45% is negative.
• A majority, however, considers it important that SPF invests in sustainable energy, Dutch companies, and nuclear energy.

The survey also showed that confidence in SPF is high with respect to corporate social responsibility. Many members are still not familiar with the SPF sustainability policy, but do want to know more about it. For them and for everyone’s convenience, we have added a separate tile to our website. All information about sustainability at SPF can be found under this tile. Click here to access this information. In the coming months, we will be focusing more on how we communicate our sustainability policy.

Your opinion counts

Member wishes emerging from the survey are in line with the basic principles and ambition of the SPF Board’s sustainability policy. When SPF translates the outcomes of the survey into policies for those components/topics where policies are not yet in place, SPF is responding to member wishes regarding its sustainability policy. It is also important that we communicate more about this policy.

The Board is delighted with the excellent response to the survey and, after discussing the survey outcomes, has therefore decided to take member wishes into account in further fine-tuning the policy. The Board will further shape the policy in the coming period. We will of course keep you informed.