LPL Research’s Sustainable Investing Year in Review

Sustainable investing hit several milestones in 2021, but continued to attract its critics. Below we look at how sustainable investing fits within the broader concept of sustainability, its growth during 2021, and an implementation framework that has been helpful for many. A well diversified sustainable investing portfolio doesn’t mean that an investor has to make a choice between achieving market-like returns and being an aware social and environmental steward.

Market volatility has been the dominant story for many investors in early 2022, but even as we focus on near term events it’s important to continue to track important market trends. Sustainable investing has become a significant theme in how many investors choose to direct some or all of their capital, choosing to emphasize businesses that show they’re in it for the long term. The space has been evolving as it continues to meet its critics and address the challenges that come with growth, with several important developments in 2021.

What is Sustainability?

The concept of sustainability can easily get bogged down in confusing definitions and minutia. Most simply, sustainability is humanity meeting its current needs without overburdening the natural environment or future generations. Environmental sustainability refers to maintaining the balance of natural systems and that natural resources are consumed at a rate that can be replenished. Social sustainability refers to a minimum standard of basic necessities and that human rights is afforded to all people. As shown below, sustainability includes action by individuals, companies, governments, and increasingly investors.

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues fit within sustainability, but in its broadest sense ESG is a grading system for firms. ESG criteria are used by investors to gauge companies (and increasingly governments) on their ESG performance relative to their peers. Environmental metrics may include a company’s carbon dioxide emissions, water usage, or impact on deforestation. Social metrics may include a company’s employee engagement, diversity and inclusion, and employee health and safety. Governance metrics may include a company’s board composition, executive compensation, and other internal procedures.

Sustainable investing incorporates ESG metrics into the investment process to provide greater transparency and help manage ESG risks and opportunities. As illustrated in [Figure 1], sustainable investing is part of a larger effort to provide social and environmental awareness and stewardship.

Growth of Sustainable Investing

Sustainable investing mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) continue to attract record flows from investors [Figure 2]. Determining this universe involves the identification of funds that demonstrate a commitment to ESG considerations in their investment process (disclosed in the principal investment strategies section of their prospectus). As of December 31, 2021, assets grew 52% from the year before to $362 billion.

The universe of sustainable investing mutual funds and ETFs has also continued to grow since the first fund was launched in 1971 [Figure 3]. The growth in available options provides investors with a spectrum of choices, from being able to build a diversified stock and bond portfolio, to selecting a specialized strategy to supplement a traditional diversified portfolio. In 2021, the number of available choices grew 44% to 560.

As a wider range of investors continue to incorporate sustainable investing in their investment process, there’s been a growing trend of traditional investment strategies being repurposed as sustainable investing strategies [Figure 4]. During 2021, 45 funds were repurposed while 125 funds were launched. The implication for investors is the need to thoroughly vet strategies to ensure the investment is delivering on the claims made in its supporting literature.

How to Implement Sustainable Investing Strategies

Sustainable investing is not a one-size-fits-all approach as interest varies by investor. For investors, the place to start is to understand their own motivations for their interest in sustainable investing. Motivations for sustainable investing are often grouped into values alignment, financial performance, and impact. Once motivations are clear, they can then be mapped to one or all of the outcomes described below. Finding a strategy or two, becoming more aware of various approaches, and slowly increasing one’s exposure to sustainable investing is a common way to get started.

Act to Avoid Harm: Values Alignment

Example: investors can signal that responsible corporate behavior matters.

• “I don’t want to support companies that harm the environment, violate human rights, or engage in unfair labor practices.”

Motivation: some investors are motivated by the awareness that their investments should be transparent and align with responsible behavior, consistent with their approach to consumption.

Investing method: negative/exclusionary screening – a process that excludes investment in companies, industries, or countries based on moral values and other specific standards.

Outcome: periodic review to confirm investment portfolio does not contain previously agreed upon companies, industries, or countries.

Benefit Stakeholders: Financial Performance

Example: investors can engage actively to improve ESG performance of companies.

• “I want companies to have a positive effect on society.”

Motivation: some investors see sustainable investing as a way to unlock commercial value, such as backing companies with strong ESG practices that are better positioned to adapt to a changing world.

Investing method: ESG integration – intentionally consider the role of ESG factors in building a strong business alongside traditional financial analysis to identify ESG risks and opportunities.

Outcome: periodic review to confirm investment portfolio has lower exposure to certain ESG risks, such as greenhouse gas emissions, or higher exposure to certain ESG opportunities, such as alternative energy solutions.

Contribute to Solutions: Impact

Example: investors can supply capital to underserved communities.

• “I want to help tackle the affordable housing gap.”

Motivation: some investors are motivated to create positive change.

Investing method: impact investing – investments made with the intention to generate social and environmental impact alongside a financial return.

Outcome: periodic review to confirm assets channeled to underserved community are leading to tangible impacts.

The above process is known as the A-B-C Framework (avoid, benefit, contribute), which may help align investors’ motivations, investment methods, and expected outcomes.

Jason Hoody, CFA, Head of Investment Manager Research & Sustainable Investing Research, LPL Financial