Quarterly Client Update: Third Quarter 2024

Stewart Investors Annual Review 2023

We published our 2023 Annual Review in August, reporting on our sustainable investment and business activities for the year. This year we have introduced fund and strategy data packs to supplement the main review. The data packs report on the human development pillars (positive social outcomes), climate change solutions (positive environmental outcomes), harmful or controversial products, services or practices, engagement and proxy voting. These can also be found on our website. We hope you find them informative and welcome your feedback.

Research partnership update: Access to Medicine Foundation

On 1 January 2024 we entered a three-year research partnership with the Access to Medicine Foundation, an independent non-profit organisation that seeks to mobilise companies to expand access to their essential healthcare products in low- and middle-income countries. Our partnership and funding will primarily support the Foundation’s Generics & Biosimilar Medicines (G&BM) Programme, initially supporting engagement activities between the Foundation and various stakeholders on the opportunities identified in their G&BM report.

We have accepted the opportunity to become a ‘lead investor’ on the programme, jointly with investment management firm Castlefield, engaging directly with one of the five underlying companies (Hikma Pharmaceuticals) on behalf of the Foundation.

Further information on the partnership and our work with them can be found in this article.

Strategic partnership update: WRAP recyclable films trial

In February 2024, we committed to funding a pilot project run by WRAP, a UK-based global environmental NGO, and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The project aims to demonstrate the positive use case for businesses to move from multi-laminate single-use plastic packaging to more recyclable packaging. Stewart Investors has been a long-term supporter of WRAP and CII (through the India Plastics Pact) and we are delighted to extend this partnership to explore alternative solutions for non-recyclable flexible packaging.  This project represents the next step in our work on plastics, one of our key strategic initiatives, dating back to 2016.

The project launched in April 2024, inviting applications from companies wishing to participate in the trial. We are excited to announce that Godrej Consumer Products Ltd, Huhtamaki India and PepsiCo have been selected to lead five innovative projects focused on demonstrating recyclable solutions for flexible packaging. The projects are due to run until summer 2025.

Read more: Tackling plastic pollution in India

Collaborative engagement update: Tackling conflict mineral content in the semiconductor supply chain – Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance membership

We are delighted to announce that Stewart Investors has become the first investment management firm to become a member of the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA), an organization addressing the global demand for more socially and environmentally responsible mining. We are strongly aligned with IRMA’s mission and look forward to continuing to learn from its expertise as a member. We see membership and collaboration with IRMA as an exciting opportunity to bring stakeholders together and leverage collective action to drive progress in our collaborative engagement.