Responsible investment continues to gain attention and momentum. It has the potential to generate competitive returns and find sustainable solutions to many of the challenges we face in the 21st Century.

There are many reasons people choose to invest responsibly. Some of the most commonly cited reasons include:

• Competitive and sustainable returns
• Helping the environment and climate change
• Demanding greater accountability from companies on important ethical and governance issues and their environmental and social practices
• Putting their money where their mouth is.

If you find yourself talking about environmental, social and ethical issues that you are passionate about, why not invest your money in line with these causes as well?

Australian Catholic Superannuation recognises that environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) considerations can have a positive influence on the financial performance of companies, particularly over the long-term.

The Fund's Trustee considers ESG risks in its investment decision making processes and seeks to invest in companies that are sustainable in order to manage and protect the Fund’s investments for the long-term.

We offer members a dedicated responsible investment option—Socially Responsible Balanced—for which the Fund has been certified since 2008 by the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA), under its Responsible Investment Certification Program.

Our Socially Responsible Balanced investment option, which is wholly invested in the Responsible Investment Leaders (RIL) Balanced Fund managed by AMP Capital Investors Limited, gives you:

• A diversified multi-manager strategy that blends manager styles and asset classes, with the objective of providing investors with competitive returns across a range of markets
• A robust investment process that combines a sustainability focus with stringent financial analysis
• Access to specialist managers and sustainability consultants within Australia and internationally.

We are also committed to developing a framework that incorporates ESG considerations into investment management processes across our whole investment portfolio.

To implement the UNPRI and support responsible investing initiatives, Australian Catholic Superannuation is a member of the:

	Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) RIAA is committed to promoting the concept and practice of responsible investment to the general public, the mainstream investment community, analysts, superannuation trustees, financial advisers, regulators, religious, charitable and other values-based organisations, government and non-government organisations and to the corporate sector. For more information, visit the RIAA website.
	Investor Group on Climate Change (IGCC) IGCC aims to encourage government policies and investment practices that address the risk and opportunities of climate change for the ultimate benefit of superannuation fund members. For more information, visit the IGCC website.
	Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI) ACSI provides independent research and advice to superannuation funds on the environmental, social and corporate governance risks of companies in which they invest. ACSI engages with government, regulators and the investment industry to promote governance best practice on ESG standards. For more information, visit the ACSI website.
	ESG Research Australia (ESG RA) ESG Research Australia is an Australian association of superannuation funds, fund managers and asset consultants which has the single objective of increasing the amount and quality of stock broker research in Australia that includes consideration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. For more information, visit the ESG RA website.