Responsible investments

By acting long-term and proactively in our management, we can contribute to a sustainable development.

How we work with sustainable investments

We have a great responsibility when we manage our customers' savings, and for us the goal is clear. Our goal is to generate long-term returns for our customers and at the same time work for sustainable development. Through responsible investments, we strive to reach our goal of generating a good financial return and reducing our negative impact on the environment and climate.

When we invest, we go by three methods, we include, exclude and engage. In our day-to-day operations, the approach may differ depending on the type of asset and management orientation.

Sustainability goals

Our goals are for the portfolio to be in line with the goals set in the Paris Agreement, to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 at the latest, and to increase the mutual funds' contribution to Agenda 2030.

Find more information in our sustainability report.

There's also more to read in the Sustainability and Stewardship Report Opens in a new window (Handelsbanken Fonder).

The fund companies

Read more about how our fund companies work.

Handelsbanken Fonder
Handelsbanken Fonder Opens in a new window

Handelsbanken Wealth & Asset Management
Handelsbanken Wealth & Asset Management Opens in a new window

Optimix
Optimix Opens in a new window

en fyrkant och en pil som går in i fyrkanten och pekar inåt fyrkanten

Inclusion

We integrate sustainability into our investment process by choosing the right company, the right index or the right mutual fund. It depends on the type of asset management.

en fyrkant med en öppen sida och en pil i mitten av fyrkanten som pekar ut ur öppningen

Exclusion

We exclude companies whose operations are incompatible with our policies or sustainability criteria. We also exclude companies with weak sustainability work, and where we see no possibility to influence this work.

Engagement

Through dialogue, we influence companies to comply with international norms and conventions. We also adopt a proactive approach to influence companies to improve their work in the field of sustainability, in general or on specific issues.

Sustainability in our investments

Asset management

As investors, we see opportunities with sustainability and in the 2030 Agenda. Our investment strategies practice exclusion of controversial sectors, but can also work with thematic investments, for example renewable energy, financial inclusion and climate solutions. A majority of our mutual funds have speciﬁc sustainability criteria. These funds go further to exclude controversial industries in their investment strategies, for example alcohol, tobacco and gambling. The range includes index funds, actively managed funds, fixed income funds and allocation funds with special investment focus.

Pension solutions

Through our subsidiary, Handelsbanken Liv, we offer pension and other insurance solutions. All mutual funds offered to unit-linked insurance customers are examined to determine how they deal with financial, social and environmental sustainability in their management process. Besides financial criteria demands are made on systematic sustainability work with due consideration of international norms and conventions.

Operations throughout the Bank

Our Nordic mutual fund operations is conducted by Handelsbanken Fonder. We also conduct asset management activities in the UK through Handelsbanken Wealth & Asset Management and in the Netherlands through Optimix.