Robeco has opened its Sustainable Investing Open Access Initiative, allowing access to its intellectual property in a drive to improve ESG data practices.
The first step of the Open Access initiative will see clients and academics given free access via a portal to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) scores of companies Robeco has generated using its proprietary SDG framework.
Robeco started developing its SDG Framework in 2017 and allows the asset manager to quantify an investible company’s contribution to the SDGs.
Robeco’s intellectual property will eventually be opened to a broader audience. In return, the Rotterdam-based firm is seeking feedback on the data to create an ongoing dialogue with its stakeholders, including academics, clients and SI experts. Robeco expects this initiative will further enhance the robustness of the data and its methodology.
Robeco will also make other SI data and IP available to a broader set of stakeholders.
Victor Verberk, CIO fixed income and sustainability, said: “Traditionally, asset managers tend to protect intellectual property and use it to add value to their proprietary investment processes. Yet the massive challenges our planet is facing require a different approach. We need to join forces to address these challenges properly. By opening up our SDG data to a broader audience, we aim to contribute to improving quality and standards setting across the industry.”
The SDG framework is used for many of Robeco’s client portfolios. These include some of the world’s biggest asset owners like UBS Global Wealth Management, BBVA AM and pensioenfonds ING.
Carola van Lamoen, head of sustainable investing, added: “We consider this a landmark move which will bring the sustainable investing industry a step further. Granting clients and academics access to our SDG data and methodology is only the first step.
“With SDG data, clients can measure progress over time against sustainable objectives, steer on exposure to SDGs, and report on them,” she said.
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