ESG and Sustainability
The rise of ESG factors in investment decision making will have a dramatic impact on returns and opportunities in the 21st century. A recent survey by LGT Capital Partners and Mercer showed that 57% of respondents believe that incorporating ESG standards into investment decisions will raise returns. Just 9% argued they reduce returns on investment.
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VegTech Invest advisory has launched the VegTech Plant-based Innovation & Climate ETF (Ticker: EATV), its first financial product. The ETF offers exposure to publicly traded companies actively innovating with plants and plant-derived ingredients and producing primary products that are animal-free. These companies also have a beneficial impact on the environment and solve certain pressing global problems.
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More Stories on ESG and Sustainability
Alternative Investments/ESG: RBC Unit BlueBay Asset Management Launches Multi-Asset ESG Strategy
Specialist fixed income manager BlueBay Asset Management, which is owned by the Royal Bank of Canada, announced the launch of the BlueBay Total Return Diversified Credit ESG Fund. It is a multi-asset strategy suitable for ESG-oriented investors in fixed income assets. The fund will provide exposure to its ESG-focused ‘best ideas,’ across global high yield, bank loans, financial capital bonds, structured credit, convertible bonds, emerging markets and developed market investment grade categories.
Alternative Investments/ESG: Amundi Launches China And Emerging Markets (Ex-China) Equities ETFS With ESG
Amundi’s ESG ETF range is bolstered with the addition of the Amundi MSCI Emerging ex-China ESG Leaders Select UCITS ETF DR and the Amundi MSCI China ESG Leaders Select UCITS ETF DR, both listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Alternative Investments/ESG: HSBC Launches Two ESG Corporate Bond ETFs
HSBC Asset Management debuts its first fixed income ETFs with an ESG skew. The HSBC Bloomberg EUR Corporate Sustainability Bond UCITS ETF (HEUC) and the HSBC Bloomberg USD Corporate Sustainability UCITS ETF (HUSC) carry a total expense ratio of 0.18%.
Alternative Investments/ESG: Faith Brings “Christian Values” To Stock Picking With New ETF
Faith Investor Services has filed for the launch of the FIS Biblically Responsible Risk Managed ETF which brings “Christian values” to stock investing. The ETF will trade on the NYSEARCA exchange and will invest in equities both at home and internationally.
Artificial Intelligence: AI-Based Detection Of Trafficked Wildlife Under Trial At Heathrow
A multispecies, AI-based model jointly developed by Heathrow, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Smiths Detection has shown, in initial trials, a success rate of over 70% in its detection of illegally trafficked wildlife concealed in baggage and air cargo.
Alternative Investments/AI: Global X Launches Seven New “Paradigm Shift” ETFs In Europe
ETF provider Global X ETFs announced today its launch of seven new UCITS ETFs in Europe that would trade on the London Stock Exchange and Xetra. The seven new ETFs complement Global X’s existing five thematic UCITS ETFs launched after Global X entered Europe in December 2020. The new ETFs center around disruptive, digital transformation around the world.
Venture Capital: Bioenergy Devco Raises $100M For Sustainable Organic Waste Recycling
Bioenergy Devco last week raised $100 million from funds managed by alternative investment manager Irradiant Partners, a firm which specializes in climate infrastructure, private equity and credit. Bioenergy Devco creates renewable, carbon-negative energy by recycling organic waste using its proven anaerobic digestion technology.
Venture Capital: Swedish Battery Startup Northvolt Produces Lithium-Ion Battery Using Recycled Materials
What will happen to the approximately 250,000 tons of batteries that will reach their end-of-life in Europe alone by 2030? Swedish battery startup Northvolt has the answer: recycle them. Northvolt announced today the successful production of its first battery cell made of 100% recycled nickel, manganese and cobalt.
Alternative Investments/Real Estate: Goldman Sachs Rolls Out Sustainable Real Estate ETF
The fund manager launches a trio of new ETFs aimed at disruptive investing; one of them is themed on sustainable real estate and infrastructure. Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) launched this week the Goldman Sachs Future Consumer Equity ETF (NYSEARCA: GBUY), the Goldman Sachs Future Health Care Equity ETF (NYSEARCA: GDOC) and the Goldman Sachs…
Alternative Investments/ESG: VanEck Targets Energy Transition, Launches New Green Metals ETF
VanEck launched Thursday a new ETF focused on ‘green metals.’ The VanEck Green Metals ETF (NYSEARCA: GMET) will invest in companies whose businesses focus on metals including copper, cobalt, lithium, nickel, zinc and rare earths metals, which are essential for clean energy technology as well as lithium batteries.
Venture Capital: Crowdfunded Ecologi Plants Trees In Return For Your Subscription
Ecologi, which exhorts you to become climate-friendly for less than $2.75 a week, is a platform for climate action, helping individuals, families and businesses become carbon-positive for a subscription. Subscribers can fund carbon reduction projects to offset their footprint and also grow their own virtual forests.
Alternative Investments/ESG: iShares Launches ESG Corporate Bond ETF
The fund manager has expanded its range of sustainable products with the launch of new fixed income and low volatility ETFs. On Wednesday, iShares launched the iShares ESG Advanced Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF (ELQD), which tracks the iBoxx MSCI ESG Advanced USD Liquid Investment Grade Index and carries an expense ratio of 0.18%. (ETF…
Alternative Investments/ESG: Canada’s Purpose Investments To Launch Carbon Neutral Crypto ETFs
Purpose Investments, a Canadian fund manager with AUM in excess of $1 billion as of March 2021, is launching today the Purpose Bitcoin ETF and the Purpose Ether ETF. Both funds offer ‘green’ exposure to the respective spot cryptocurrencies through an inbuilt carbon offsetting feature in the funds.
Alternative Investments/ESG: iShares Launches ESG ETF For Low Volatility Large And Mid-cap Stocks
The iShares ESG MSCI USA Min Vol Factor ETF (NASDAQ: ESMV) is a newly launched fund from Blackrock that offers investors the opportunity to invest in U.S. large and mid cap stocks that have low volatility and yet offer reduced carbon exposure and better ESG characteristics.
Venture Capital: [COP26] Scottish Vertical Farms Startup IGS Nabs $57M
Intelligent Growth Solutions, a Scottish agritech startup focused on indoor vertical farming announced its closure of a £42.2 million (US$57 million) Series B round that was supported by new investors including COFRA, Cleveland Avenue and DC Thomson. Existing institutional investors Ospraie Ag Science, S2G Ventures, AgFunder and Scottish Enterprise, with private shareholders and IGS staff also participated in the round, which was hugely oversubscribed.
Venture Capital: Fusion Energy Startup Helion Raises $500M Including $375M From Sam Altman
Helion Energy, which is building the world’s first fusion power plant that would enable a future with unlimited clean electricity, announced a $500 million Series E round led by Sam Altman. Existing investors, including Dustin Moskovitz, Mithril Capital and Capricorn Investment Group, also participated in the round. Altman, who has been an early supporter of Helion and chairman since 2015, invested $375 million in the latest round and will now play an expanded role as executive chairman.
Alternative Investments/ESG: NTZO, A New Climate ETF From Impact Shares, Will Donate Fees To A UN Fund
Rockefeller Foundation backed, non-profit ETF sponsor Impact Shares has launched the Impact Shares MSCI Global Climate Select ETF (NYSEArca: NTZO) in collaboration with the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF). The launch of NTZO was announced November 3 in Glasgow at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) and began trading on the New York Stock Exchange the same day.
FinTech: Eco-Friendly Debit Card From London-based ekko
London-based, sustainability focused fintech ekko has launched a debit card, an app, and ecosystem that enable users to make a contribution every time they use the products. While using everyday services such as shopping and banking, they can get comfort from the fact that the company will take climate-friendly actions on their behalf.
Venture Capital: Brazilian Meat Substitute Startup Future Farm Raises $58M
Future Farm, a Brazilian startup that makes plant-based protein having the taste and texture of real meat, has raised $58 million in a Series C funding round co-led by BTG and Rage Capital. Existing investors also participated, including Monashees, Go4It Capital, Turim MFO and Enfini Ventures, along with new investor XP Inc.
Alternative Investments/ESG: Schwab Launches Small And Midcap ESG ETF
A new ETF from Schwab Asset Management will start trading from November 16, 2021. The Schwab Ariel ESG ETF offers investors exposure to small and mid cap stocks that have been screened for ESG factors. The actively managed, semi-transparent ETF has an operating expense ratio of 0.59%.
Venture Capital: ClearFlame, Which Enables Low Carbon Fuels In Diesel Engines, Raises $17M
Geneva, Ill.,-based ClearFlame Engine Technologies announced last week its $17 million Series A funding led by Breakthrough Energy Ventures with participation from Mercuria, John Deere and Clean Energy Ventures. ClearFlame has developed engine technology to enable low-carbon and carbon-negative fuels to be integrated into existing diesel engine platforms, offering a more sustainable and cost-effective solution than diesel fuel.
Alternative Investments/ESG: VanEck’s Lineup Of Moat Investing ETFs Now Has An ESG Version
VanEck launched in October the VanEck Morningstar ESG Moat ETF (CBOE: MOTE), a sustainable addition to its lineup of “moat” investing ETFs. Investors can hope to get exposure to US companies that have the advantages of being attractively priced, have competitive moats, and are screened for ESG risks.
Digital Assets: Canadian Fintech Mogo Launches World’s First Net-Green Bitcoin
Canadian fintech Mogo Inc (NASDAQ:MOGO) pioneered MogoCard, the Mogo Visa Platinum Prepaid Card that is climate-friendly because everytime the card is used, a carbon-sucking tree gets planted for free. The company is extending that concept to transforming bitcoin, a cryptocurrency noted for its emission-intensive ‘mining’ process, into “green,” or carbon-positive bitcoin, a world-first.
Alternative Investments/ESG: Bloomberg and Goldman Sachs Create New Clean Energy Index
Bloomberg and Goldman Sachs asset Management have launched a new clean energy index. The Bloomberg Goldman Sachs Global Clean Energy Index was jointly developed by Bloomberg and Goldman Sachs Asset Management and identifies companies that have a significant business exposure to the clean energy sector.