Responsible and sustainable investing

Investments

As a company, our purpose is to help our clients thrive and communities prosper. Our approach to responsible and sustainable investing is one way to bring that purpose to life.

As an investor, you have the power to support the growing number of companies embracing innovative sustainability and responsible business practices through your investments.

We can help you align your investments with your values and financial goals through our approach to responsible and sustainable investing. But we understand that navigating the world of responsible and sustainable investing can be complex. We’re here to guide you through the different approaches and industry terminology to help you to make informed investment decisions.

What is responsible investing?

A strategy and practice to incorporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in investment decisions and active ownership.

What is sustainable investing?

Sustainable investing involves investing with the stated intention of achieving positive sustainability outcomes (i.e. with a sustainability objective) alongside financial returns.

Our Responsible and Sustainable Investment Framework (RSIF)

We have developed a comprehensive framework for RBC Wealth Management that gives you greater transparency and outlines our approach to responsible and sustainable investment.

This framework is consistent with the Financial Conduct Authority’s Sustainability Disclosure Requirements (SDR) anti-greenwashing rules and aligns with the SDR labelling regime.

Understanding our approach

At the heart of the framework and our investment approach is a distinction between a core responsible investment strategy and an additional sustainable investment approach. These are explained below.

Core: Responsible investment approach includes ESG integration, stewardship, exclusions (optional) and thematic (optional).  Addition sustainability investment SDR-labelled funds include sustainability improvers, sustainability impact, sustainability mixed goals and sustainability focus.
* For discretionary investments

Core: Responsible Investment

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Who’s it for?

Discretionary investment clients are covered by our core responsible investment approach. This approach is applied to all direct equities and funds covered by our central investment team, ensuring that your investments are managed responsibly.

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What’s the objective?

Meet your investment objectives, namely, maximise investment returns for a given level of risk.

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How do we apply the approach?

We apply this by employing an ESG integration approach in our investment decision making and through stewardship activities. Depending on your preferences, we can also exclude specific sectors and include thematic investments.

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What’s the key feature?

The core responsible investing approach relates to investments that may have sustainability characteristics, but do not have sustainability objectives.

Core terminology

TermDefinition
ESG integrationThe practice of including ESG factors in investment analysis and decisions to better manage risks and improve returns.
StewardshipThe responsible allocation, management and oversight of capital to create long-term value for clients and beneficiaries leading to sustainable benefits for the economy, the environment and society.
ExclusionsApplying screens to exclude assets from the investment space.
ThematicInvesting in assets involved in a particular ESG-related theme or seeking to address a specific social or environmental issue.

Additional: Sustainable investment

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Who’s it for?

Our additional sustainable investment approach is for discretionary investment clients with additional sustainability-related preferences. We may seek to meet these preferences by investing a proportion of a portfolio in funds that have SDR labels, where available and suitable¹.

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What’s the objective?

SDR-labelled fund investments will have a specific sustainability objective, as per the SDR regulations. Investing a proportion of a portfolio in these funds can help align your portfolio with your values and contribute to seeking positive environmental and/or social outcomes.

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How do we apply the approach?

Where discretionary investment clients state additional sustainability-related preferences, we may seek to meet these preferences by investing a proportion of a portfolio in SDR-labelled funds, where available and suitable. Our sustainable investment approach is additional to our responsible investment approach.

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What’s the key feature?

SDR-labelled funds employ ESG integration and stewardship activities and may also include exclusions. On top of these ‘core’ features, they have ‘additional’ sustainability objectives. These funds fall under four labels: Sustainability Focus, Sustainability Improvers, Sustainability Impact, and Sustainability Mixed Goals and each must meet specific criteria, and focus on delivering sustainability outcomes.

Additional terminology

TermDefinition
SDR-labelled fundsInvesting with the stated intention of achieving positive sustainability outcomes (a sustainability objective). Products must meet criteria to use one of the four labels below as part of the FCA’s SDR regime.
Sustainability Focus™Invests in assets that are environmentally and/or socially sustainable, determined using a robust, evidence-based standard that is an absolute measure of sustainability.
Sustainability Improvers™Invests in assets that may not be sustainable now but have the potential to improve environmental and/or social sustainability over time.
Sustainability Impact™Achieves a pre-defined positive measurable impact in relation to an environmental and/or social outcome.
Sustainability Mixed Goals™Invests at least 70 percent in a mix of assets that either focus on sustainability, aim to improve their sustainability over time, or aim to achieve a positive impact for people or the planet (a combination of the sustainability objectives for the other labels).

¹ Important: Until SDR rules are published for wealth and portfolio managers, we will not be able to offer ‘sustainability investment’ labelled products or services. When the rules are published, we may be able to offer labelled products or services, supported by an appropriate advice, suitability, and governance process. However, from July 2024 clients may have exposure to SDR-labelled funds in their portfolios.

Our commitment

At RBC, our purpose is to help clients thrive and communities prosper. This includes addressing societal challenges that could impact our collective success, which we believe are critical to the prosperity of the communities where we live and work.

In 2023, RBC introduced its Purpose Framework – Powering Ideas for People and Planet, which aims to create clarity and structure around three societal ambitions where we believe RBC can have a meaningful impact. Our ambitions are to:

  1. Accelerate the transition to a greener economy
  2. Equip people with skills for a thriving future
  3. Drive more equitable prosperity in our communities

But we know ambitions are not enough. At RBC we will drive towards our ambitions, leveraging the full force of our global organisation – our business and operations, people, research and insights and community investments – to make important contributions.

Find out more about how we are powering ideas for people and planet.

This document contains general information only. It is not intended to be specific investment advice, or an investment recommendation. Please bear in mind that the investments and services contained within this document may not be suitable for all investors.

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