ESG & Responsible Investing

Cbus believes that companies that act in a responsible way will perform better over the longer-term. Because your super is a long-term investment, it makes sense for us, and our investment managers, to consider environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues before we invest in a company. We consider these issues alongside traditional financial factors when we make investment decisions.

Examples of ESG issues are:

Cbus' ESG Policy directs Cbus to integrate ESG considerations into the Fund's investment processes and progress is monitored by the Cbus Investment Committee.

The integration of ESG in the investment process does not mean the exclusion of particular companies on ethical grounds.  Instead, integration of ESG requires that the impact of any ESG issues on the value of a company is included in the valuation process.

As part of our ESG responsibilities, Cbus actively engages with companies through voting at their Annual General Meetings and meeting with them to discuss particular issues.

Cbus is part of a broader movement of superannuation funds and fund managers focusing on ESG issues. We are a signatory to the United Nations Principals for Responsible Investment (UNPRI) and the Carbon Disclosure Project. Cbus is a member of the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors, the Investor Group on Climate Change and ESG Research Australia.

The United Nations Principals for Responsible Investment (UNPRI)

Signing up to the UNPRI is an important part of our commitment to investing responsibly.  The principles were developed to provide a framework for the investment community to achieve better long-term returns and more sustainable markets by considering environmental, social and corporate governance issues in their investment decision making.  More information about the Principles is available at www.unpri.org.

Australian Council of Superannuation Investors

Cbus is a Founding Member of the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI) the peak corporate governance body for institutional investors in Australia.  ACSI provides independent research and advice to superannuation funds on the environmental, social and corporate governance risk of companies in which they invest.  Cbus subscribes to ACSI's proxy voting service.  More information about ACSI is available at www.acsi.org.au.

Investor Group on Climate Change

Cbus is a member and on the executive of the Investor Group on Climate Change.  The Investor Group on Climate Change aims to ensure that the risks and opportunities associated with climate change are incorporated into investment decisions for the ultimate benefit of members.  Click here for more information about the Investor Group on Climate Change www.igcc.org.au.

Carbon Disclosure Project

Cbus is a signatory to the Carbon Disclosure Project.  This is a global project that asks top companies around the world to report information on their carbon emissions.  This information helps investors to assess whether companies have a good understanding of their potential liabilities once regulation to reduce carbon emissions is introduced.

ESG Research Australia 

Cbus is a member and on the executive of ESG Research Australia.  This is an organisation that aims to increase the amount of research that brokers and financial analysts undertake on the ways that environmental, social and governance issues impact on the companies we invest in.