BVK

General description of organisation

With total assets of CHF 34.7 billion (as of July 2019) BVK is one of the largest public-sector pension funds in Switzerland. Investing responsibly forms part of BVK's investment mandate ever since its inception. BVK is a co-founder of the Swiss Association for Responsible Investments ("SVVK") and signatory to the Principles for Responsible Investments ("UNPRI") since 2015. It applies a systematic ESG-screening and engagement process on its publicly-traded investments. Companies are excluded from BVK's investment universe where the dialog is deemed unsuccessful or where its product offering is not adaptable to BVK's expectations. On this basis, BVK has been excluding coal and weapon producers from its investment universe since 2017. In relation to its directly held property investments (CHF 5.6 billion as of July 2019), BVK systematically integrates standardized sustainability standards and by 2018 has successfully cut CO2 emissions by half (compared to the 1990 base). Going forward, BVK is committed to continue the switch to renewable energies to comfortably reach the Swiss CO2 emission targets by 2030. For further information please consult www.bvk.ch

Reason for membership with SSF

Information exchange about recent developments in the sustainable investment industry.