Return on values

  

Return on value

For our latest UBS Investor Watch, we surveyed more than 5,300 investors in 10 markets on sustainable investing. We found that, while some investors understand the basic concept, confusion about sustainable investing terms, its various approaches and even its impact, is widespread. For example, investors make little distinction among the three major sustainable investment approaches: exclusion, integration and impact investing (to make this easier, we included a glossary here).

Better education often leads to higher adoption. Sustainable investors, for example, were influenced by multiple sources, including professional Advisors, family, friends and media. Nine in 10 cite an Advisor’s impact on their decision to invest sustainably.

Adoption of sustainable investing varies dramatically across markets For example, the emerging markets of China and Brazil indicate they have the highest rates of adoption, while only 12% of US investors have any sustainable investments (defined as at least 1% of assets allocated to sustainable investments).

Few investors expect to sacrifice returns when investing sustainably. In fact, 82% believe the returns of sustainable investments will match or surpass those of traditional investments. Investors view sustainable companies as responsible, well-managed and forward-thinking – thus, good investments.

Should investors prove to be right, more companies will likely adopt sustainable practices. Perhaps then, the world will be a better place indeed.

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Glossary

Sustainable investing integrates societal concerns, personal values or an institutional mission into investment decisions.

Three main ways to invest sustainably:

Exclusion

Excludes companies or industries from portfolios where they are not aligned with an investor’s values.

Integration

Integrates environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) factors into traditional investment processes, seeking to improve portfolio risk and return.

Impact investing

Invests with the intention to generate measurable environmental and social (E&S) impact alongside a financial return.


A minority of global investors are engaging insustainable investing


Minority

Globally, adoption of sustainable investing varies 
widely


Percentage of investors who say they have at least 1% of investable assets in sustainable investments

Percentage of investors

Uncertain impact and confusion hold global investors back


Confusion and unknowns

Global Investors have high return expectations for sustainable investments vs. traditional investments


Globally investors

Momentum builds for sustainable investing


Investors with sustainable investments

Investors with sustainable investments
Expect sustainable investments

In Hong Kong, interest is high, but this is not yet reflected in investment decisions


Interest is high

Younger investors and women leading the way when it comes to sustainable investing in Hong Kong...


Interested in all of their portfolio being sustainably invested

Younger investor

... and allocations will increase among all groups in the future


Allocation will increase
Allocations will increase

They see significant barriers standing in their way


Significant barriers

Sustainable investing integrates societal concerns, personal values or an institutional mission into investment decisions.


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About the survey

For this edition of UBS Investor Watch, we surveyed more than 5,300 high net worth investors (with at least $1 million in investable assets). The global sample was split across 10 markets: Brazil, China, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Singapore, Switzerland, UAE, the UK and the US. The research was conducted between June 2018 and August 2018.