Scottish Widows Master Trust is now offering five new fund options with a focus on responsible investment.
These self-select active and passive funds have been added to its core fund range with a view to increase the environmental, social and governance (ESG) options available to members.
The five funds are BlackRock Climate Transition World Equity (a global equity fund); Liontrust Sustainable Future Managed (multi-asset), Baillie Gifford Positive Change (global equity), Robeco Global Credits (global fixed interest) and BlackRock ACS US Equity Tracker (US equity).
Last week Scottish Widows became the first UK life insurer to target net zero across its entire portfolio of investments by 2050. It has also set the target to halve portfolio emissions by 2030 following the launch of its responsible investment and stewardship framework a year ago.
Scottish Widows Master Trust chair Andrew Warwick-Thompson says: “There’s a growing desire among scheme members for their retirement savings to be invested responsibly on their behalf.
In response, we have embedded responsible investment principles into our default investment strategy. Now we are going further by creating the opportunity for our members to express their preference for responsible investing via our self-select range.
“Responsible investing is at the heart of the Trustees’ commitment to helping our members to achieve good retirement outcomes and value for money.”
Scottish Widows head of pensions investments Maria Nazarova-Doyle adds: “As the industry spotlight continues to shine on responsible investment, we are focused on managing risks and returns in a more effective way to not only deliver competitive and sustainable returns, but to help people invest their pension based on their views and beliefs.”
Last year Scottish Widows committed to divest at least £440 million from companies that have failed to meet its ESG standards.
The provider also recently invested £2 billion into the new Climate Transition World Equity Fund designed in partnership with BlackRock.
