Growth of SRI shows new level of maturity, says EUROSIF

EUROSIF, the European Sustainable Investment Forum, has unveiled the findings of its 6th Sustainable and Responsible Investment Study, first published in 2003. The Study highlights the scale of Sustainable and Responsible Investment practices and trends in Europe and across 13 European countries.

For the first time, the Study provides new detailed insights on Exclusions, European Impact investing and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) integration practices.

Assets subject to exclusion criteria grew by 91% between 2011 and 2013 and cover an estimated 41% (€6.9 trillion) of European professionally managed assets. Exclusions cover more assets than any other SRI strategy and have the most consistent usage across Europe. Voluntary exclusions related to Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Landmines (CM&APL) are most common. They cover about 30% (€5.0 trillion) of the European investment market. Other Exclusion assets, not related to CM & APL, cover about 23% (€4.0 trillion) of the market.

Assets subject to Engagement and voting policies have grown by 86% over the period to reach €3.3 trillion, versus €1.8 trillion in 2011. Half of that growth comes from the UK, with other key contributors being the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden; however, strong progress is recorded in all markets. Belgium (+94%), Italy (+193%) and Germany (+48%) also record impressive growth figures.

For the first time, the Study provides a growth figure for Impact investing, which was the fastest growing strategy in Europe, exhibiting +132% growth since 2011. It has grown to an estimated €20 billion market. Key markets for this strategy are the Netherlands and Switzerland, representing an estimated two thirds of European assets, followed by Italy, the United Kingdom and Germany. Microfinance represents an estimated 50 % of European Impact investing assets. 

Download the European SRI Study 2014 here. 

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