Zwitserleven leads the way in sustainable investing.
ImageAbout Zwitserleven, Sustainability

Zwitserleven leads the way in sustainable investing.

ImageReadtime 3 minutes
Zwitserleven, part of Athora Netherlands, has the most sustainable investment policy in the Netherlands. This is shown in the annual benchmark 'Responsible Investment by Insurers in the Netherlands' of the Association of Investors for Sustainable Development (VBDO).

Insurers under the microscope

This is the ninth time that VBDO has scrutinised the responsible investment policy of the 30 largest insurers in the Netherlands. Each year, insurers are assessed on sustainability based on four themes: governance, policy, implementation and transparency. The survey published today shows that Athora Netherlands, the parent company of Zwitserleven, is the best performing Dutch insurer with a score of 4.5 on a scale of 5.

"It is fantastic that we are leading the way in sustainable investing," says Hans Visser, General Manager at Zwitserleven. "We feel a great responsibility to achieve both a financial and social return on the money our customers entrust to us. Therefore, we only invest the pension money in companies and countries that are contributing to the transition to a sustainable world. And we exclude companies with activities that, for example, cause serious damage to people and the environment. This award is a wonderful recognition of the steps we have taken to align our investment policy with, among others, the Paris targets. And we will continue to work to contribute to a sustainable world in the years to come."

Sustainable investment

Corporate social responsibility is widely embedded at Zwitserleven. Because we all want to have enough money to be able to retire comfortably, but also to live in a world where we can still enjoy our retirement and live a worthwhile life. This is why Zwitserleven invests the pension contributions with a focus on both financial return and sustainability. We thus have three specific sustainable investment goals for 2030: reducing the CO2 emissions from our investments by at least 50% by 2030 compared to 2010 levels, water neutrality by 2030, and no deforestation by 2030.

This is how we work towards a better world

About the VBDO Benchmark

The Dutch Association of Investors for Sustainable Development (VBDO) represents private and institutional members who believe it is important to invest in companies that do business in a socially responsible way. The VBDO supports a sustainable capital market which takes account of social and environmental criteria as well as financial criteria. The VBDO makes investors and companies aware of sustainable opportunities through research and organising meetings. It also puts critical questions to management about sustainability and other matters at shareholder meetings.


This article is published on 02 September 2021

Misschien vindt u dit ook interessant:

Duurzaam beleggen: activiteiten vierde kwartaal 2022

Elk kwartaal brengt ACTIAM verslag uit over de manier waarop zij haar duurzame beleggingsbeleid uitvoert. Dit kwartaalrapport staat in het teken van het spanningsveld tussen praten over klimaatverandering en daadwerkelijke actie.

Readtime 2 minutes

Zwitserleven neemt 2e pijler pensioenportefeuille over van Onderlinge ’s-Gravenhage.

Zwitserleven heeft met Onderlinge ’s-Gravenhage overeenstemming bereikt over de overname van de 2e pijler pensioenportefeuille van Onderlinge ’s-Gravenhage. In totaal betreft het circa 11.300 polissen en een belegd pensioenvermogen van ongeveer EUR 307 miljoen.

Readtime 2 minutes

The state pension increase is an unintended bonus for employers – or is it?

From 1 January 2023 the state pension will be raised by over 10%. In a number of cases, depending on regular salary increases and the distribution of salary levels among participants, this will lead to a reduction in pensionable earnings for the coming year – and, consequently, to lower pension accrual and lower absolute pension contributions. Is this an unintended bonus for employers or does it present opportunities? A column by Berry van Sonsbeek

Readtime 3 minutes

Key issues in the further development of life cycles: sustainability and illiquid investments.

Investments play an increasingly important role in the selection of a pension provider for DC schemes. Price is no longer the main decisive factor – employers have also become more critical of life cycle quality and sustainable investing, for example. Zwitserleven modified its life cycles in November to increase both expected pension proceeds and the sustainable impact of the life cycles. How? Sales director Ria Blok-Leenheer and product manager Catelijne Reissenweber are happy to explain.

Readtime 5 minutes

ACTIAM kritisch in het nieuws.

Onlangs was ACTIAM in het nieuws over beleggingen in fossiele bedrijven. Een branchebreed journalistiek onderzoek stelde zich kritisch op over het beleid van ACTIAM en andere marktpartijen. Wij begrijpen dat dit artikel zorgen kan hebben opgeroepen.

Readtime 4 minutes

Meer biodiversiteit in Zwitserleven-bossen.

Met het geld dat beschikbaar is gekomen door de vervallen heel kleine pensioenen heeft Zwitserleven een eigen bos aangeplant. Inmiddels is er al een flinke toename van de biodiversteit waargenomen.

Readtime 2 minutes