Investments with a conscience

We are taking action to demonstrate our commitment to becoming a net zero business.

Our business operations (Scope 1, 2 and 3, minus our financed emissions) are carbon neutral thanks to offsetting our emissions through ClimateCare. However, this is just the start of our journey to get Foresight Group to net zero. Our biggest challenge is to understand the detail of our financed emissions through the Foresight managed funds. Many of our funds are already taking steps to better understand their emissions and will be reporting accordingly. We will support our funds to reach net zero and to understand the journey we must all take to get there.

It is important for us also to assess climate-related risks that have the potential to materially impact our business. We have made a disclosure in alignment with the Task Force on Climate related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). Our disclosures will continue to evolve as we move towards full alignment by the end of 2022.

The 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) seek to mobilise the international community to bring about an end to poverty and protect the planet.

Our Approach

The SDGs are a key driver of Foresight's investment and corporate activities. We believe that applying an SDG ‘lens’ in addition to our existing ESG and sustainability framework makes our investment activities more outcome oriented and supports our investors in achieving their objectives. We've identified areas where we feel we can make the most impact through out activities.

We are partnering with the Eden Project to highlight the role businesses have to play in combatting the nature and climate crisis.

The past two years have thrown many people into new work habits and social routines. We hope that engaging with our people openly about mental health and wellbeing can help us overcome stigma and create a healthier working environment. From outlining what wellbeing actually means to those in the company, to understanding ways of supporting others through challenging times, it allows us to be better equipped as we go forward.

It is time for a different approach to nature, by prioritising the long-term enhancement and conservation of natural capital and the delicate ecosystems that support us, we are delivering value for the planet as well as our stakeholders.

This is a really exciting area for us to make real impact, at COP26, Foresight joined the Sustainable Markets Initiative: Natural Capital Investment Alliance (“NCIA”) to accelerate the development of Natural Capital as a mainstream investment theme and mobilise this private capital efficiently and effectively for Natural Capital opportunities.

Themes range from direct investment in forestry to investments in businesses that are helping to move us from a “take, make, waste” economy to one that emphasises sustainability as a key component of alleviating pressure on forestry, biodiversity, and natural systems. The agreements reached at COP26 over cutting methane emissions by 30% by 2030, the ending of financing unabated fossil fuels projects, and the pledge to end deforestation are expected to lead to many more investment opportunities, adding momentum across all our business areas.

We are pleased to report on our progress in the areas of human rights, labour, the environment and anti-corruption, in line with the UN Global Compact.

We are committed to activities that have a positive impact at a local level and look to engage with social initiatives in our own communities.

The impact our infrastructure assets and portfolio companies have on both their local communities and society more broadly is a key consideration for each of our investment teams, with the shared goal of achieving positive social outcomes. Our social analysis is structured around five areas:

• Inclusion and Diversity
• Decent employment and job creation
• Social impact of products and services
• Social performance improvements implemented
• Charitable practices and community engagement

The prevalent approach to our economy has been a linear process until recently. We take natural resources, process them, consume them and then dispose of them. The circular economy links this process together, eliminating waste – ensuring that all components of a product or service can be reused in some format again – therefore becoming circular.

As a business, we monitor the products, services, resources, and utilities that we use so that we can better understand our internal behaviours and develop strategies to reduce our consumption and choose more sustainable alternatives. This is part of a continual process of self-improvement.

As we develop our sustainability strategies across our portfolios we are also investigating opportunities to ensure waste products from our assets can be better utilised elsewhere rather than becoming waste products. This will involve looking at the end of life of our assets and the maintenance regimes that may require us to replace components that no longer meet the standard required.

We are committed to working with our supply chains to ensure that we support products and services that underpin the circular economy.