ETF Securities’ fund included in ESG framework
Index developer and research company ROBO Global has included ETF Securities’ ETFS ROBO Global Robotics and Automation ETF into the environmental, social, governance (ESG) framework for its indices.
ROBO Global said it would exclude companies from its indices if it believed they do significant harm to environmental, social and governance objectives.
For example, companies would be excluded if there was an unacceptable risk that the company may contribute to or be responsible for serious human rights violations, severe environmental damage or other particularly serious violations of fundamental ethical norms, the firm said.
Other exclusions included weapons, alcohol, gambling and pornography, fossil fuels and animal testing.
The ROBO ETF offered investors exposure to the investment themes of robotics, automation and artificial intelligence.
ETF Securities head of distribution, Kanish Chugh, said: “ESG standards are evolving and our index provider ROBO Global has a strong commitment to review the latest research and adapt to changing standards. We support this approach by our index partner.”
ROBO Global was a signatory to the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investing since 2017 and incorporated these principles into its ESG framework.
In addition, it conformed to ESG disclosure requirements set out by the European Union’s Commission on Delegated Regulation.
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