Funds Group: Green Century Funds
Management Company: (1) Green Century Capital Management, Inc., Sub-advisers-Trillium Asset Management LLC (Balanced Fund) and (2) Northern Trust Investments, Inc. (Equity Fund and International Index Fund)
Funds Affected: (1) Green Century Balanced Fund, (2) Green Century Equity Fund and Green Century MSCI International Index Fund
Principal Sustainable Investment Management Strategy: (1) Thematic Investing, Exclusions, (2) (3) ESG Integration, Exclusions
Summary:
(1) The Fund invests primarily in the stocks and bonds of environmentally responsible and sustainable U.S. companies, many of which also make positive environmental contributions. There is no predetermined percentage of assets allocated to either stocks or bonds, although the fund will generally invest at least 25% of its net assets in bonds and may not invest more than 75% of its net assets in stocks.
The fund seeks to promote environmentally responsible corporate behavior, a cleaner environment and a sustainable economy by investing its assets in companies that the Fund’s Adviser, Green Century Capital Management, believes are environmentally responsible and sustainable. Green Century applies rigorous selection criteria to identify such companies, which may include, but are not limited to, those that:
- Demonstrate a commitment to preserving and enhancing the environment as evidenced by the products they make and the services they provide
- Strive to achieve clean environmental records and openly disclose their policies and performance on critical environmental criteria
- Make positive contributions toward actively promoting a healthier environmental future, including companies that produce renewable energy products and those that offer effective remedies for existing environmental problems
- Respond positively to shareholder advocacy on environmental issues
Green Century believes that well-managed environmentally responsible companies minimize their environmental risks, allowing them to enjoy competitive advantages from cost reductions, quality improvements, profitability enhancements and access to expanding and new growth markets. Further, Green Century believes that companies that are responsible towards the environment are more likely to act ethically and maintain the trust of their shareholders.
Green Century believes that certain industries impose onerous costs on society and the planet; thus at various times the fund may not be invested in any companies in industries Green Century believes threaten a sustainable global environment. The Balanced Fund does not intend to invest in companies that explore for, extract, produce, manufacture or refine coal, oil or gas or produce or transmit electricity derived from fossil fuels or transmit natural gas or have material carbon reserves. The fund does not intend to invest in a company primarily engaged in the production of nuclear energy or the manufacture of nuclear equipment to produce nuclear energy or nuclear weapons, in the belief that these products are unacceptably threatening to a sustainable global environment. The fund does not intend to invest in a company primarily engaged in the manufacture of tobacco products, a major contributor to indoor air pollution and environmental health problems.
(2) The Fund invests substantially all of its assets in the common stocks which make up the MSCI KLD 400 Social ex Fossil Fuels Index (the KLD400 ex Fossil Fuels Index or the Index), a custom index calculated by MSCI, Inc. The KLD400 ex Fossil Fuels Index is comprised of the common stocks of the approximately 400 companies in the MSCI KLD 400 Social Index (the KLD400 Index), minus the stocks of the companies that explore for, extract, produce, manufacture or refine coal, oil or gas or produce or transmit electricity derived from fossil fuels or transmit natural gas or have carbon reserves included in the KLD400 Index. Companies for the KLD400 Index are identified based on a review of environmental, social and governance (ESG) ratings; the KLD400 Index is composed of companies with high ESG ratings. In constructing the KLD400 Index, MSCI ESG Research analyzes a company’s commitment to sustainability across five key categories: environment; community and society; employees and supply chain; customers; and governance and ethics. This strategy directs concerned investors’ dollars away from companies that flout basic standards for environmental and social responsibility and towards companies that demonstrate a commitment to meeting the social and environmental needs of the present without compromising the quality of life of future generations. Green Century believes this creates an incentive for companies to become better corporate citizens.
Green Century believes that those companies which pursue the least environmentally sound practices are at the greatest risk of brand and reputational damage and the greatest long term risk of negative economic consequences, while those which strive to be more environmentally responsible may benefit financially as a result. Green Century also believes that the use of ESG ratings creates an incentive for companies to become more sustainable.
Companies involved in industries that may impose substantial risks and/or costs on society are evaluated based on their level of involvement as well as their social and environmental impact and their governance practices. The Equity Fund does not invest in, and the KLD400 ex Fossil Fuels Index excludes, companies that explore for, extract, produce, manufacture or refine coal, oil or gas or produce or transmit electricity derived from fossil fuels or transmit natural gas or have carbon reserves. Companies determined to have significant business involvement in the following will not be included in the KLD400 Index: genetically modified organisms (GMOs), firearms, military weapons, nuclear power, alcohol, tobacco, adult entertainment and gambling.
(3) The fund invests substantially all of its assets in the common stocks which make up the MSCI World ex USA SRI ex Fossil Fuels Index (the World ex USA SRI ex Fossil Fuels Index or the Index), a custom index calculated by MSCI, Inc. The World ex USA SRI ex Fossil Fuels Index is comprised of the common stocks of the companies in the MSCI World ex USA SRI Index (the World ex USA SRI Index), minus the stocks of the companies that explore for, extract, produce, manufacture or refine coal, oil or gas or produce or transmit electricity derived from fossil fuels or transmit natural gas or have carbon reserves included in the World ex USA SRI (Socially Responsible Investment) Index. The World ex USA SRI Index includes large and mid-cap stocks from approximately 22 developed markets countries (excluding the U.S.). The World ex USA SRI Index is a capitalization weighted index that provides exposure to companies with what MSCI calculates to have outstanding Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) ratings and excludes companies whose products have negative social or environmental impacts.
Green Century believes that those companies which pursue the least environmentally sound practices are at the greatest risk of brand and reputational damage and long term risk of negative economic consequences, while those which strive to be more environmentally responsible may benefit financially as a result. Green Century also believes that the use of ESG ratings creates an incentive for companies to become more sustainable.
Companies involved in industries that may impose substantial risks and/or costs on society are evaluated based on their level of involvement, their social and environmental impact and their governance practices. The fund does not invest in and excludes, companies that explore for, extract, produce, manufacture or refine coal, oil or gas or produce or transmit electricity derived from fossil fuels or transmit natural gas or have carbon reserves. Companies determined to have significant business involvement in the following will not be included in the World ex USA SRI ex Fossil Fuels Index: genetically modified organisms (GMOs), firearms, military weapons, nuclear power, alcohol, tobacco, adult entertainment and gambling.
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