Author: Walter Hatak, Research Analyst
The World Water Day was first introduced on 22 March 1993. The goal was to anchor the meaning of water and thus the efficient use of this critical resource in the collective consciousness. Despite the long history, the importance of water from the point of view of risk has only recently gained in relevance.
Logistics makes sure the economy keeps moving. Today our world would not be conceivable without it.
From an economic point of view, the multiple transport of goods across Europe does make sense but from a sustainable point of view, the environment suffers from increased CO2 and fine particle pollution, exhaust gases and noise. The speed at which goods are transported increases steadily and thus also the burden of the workers involved therein.
By channelling their assets into microfinance funds, investors can contribute to reducing child labour. This is the opinion held by Martin Cech, Senior Fund Manager with Erste Asset Management.
Power comes from the socket. Hidden behind it, lies a reality that is a tightrope walk between supply and demand. An imbalance causes blackouts. Energy produced from renewable sources is particularly volatile. A solution for this problem are energy storage devices, especially batteries. The latter offer the advantage of being able to efficiently store power that has been produced locally (e.g. by solar cells). They also make power mobile and can replace petrol and diesel in our cars. In our interview, Dominik Benedikt, Senior ESG-Analyst Erste Asset Management, explains the effects of the rising demand for batteries with regard to environmental, social, and governance aspects.
At Christmas, gifts have become tradition. For all those with children, toys are among the most popular Christmas presents.
However, a look into history reveals that Christmas and presents have not always gone together. Meanwhile, the toy industry has long since become a huge business.
Reason enough to scrutinize toy manufacturers in terms of sustainability. Our sustainability experts are addressing this issue in the current sustainability magazine.
Read the current issue here: esgletter.en.erste-am.com
Our latest issue of our sustainability magazine (ESG-Letter) deals with chocolate.
Austrians love chocolate, no matter what aggregate state. Solid, as melting bar, liquid, as hot chocolate, or gaseous, as perfume or aphrodisiac. We have a sweet tooth and love our chocolate. But what does this have to do with sustainability? A lot, as we believe.
Dr. Strangelove is one of my favourite films. Pure genius, all the way through! In one of the bizarre scenes that illustrate the madness of the nuclear threat, the manic Brigadier General Jack D. Ripper (nomen est omen) explains to Captain mandrake, played by Peter Sellers, why he has just triggered a nuclear war and thus the end of the world: the Soviet Union are trying to destroy the West by contaminating the water.
Gerold Permoser, Chief Sustainable Investment Officer at Erste Asset Management, finds a perfectly clear answer to this: When investors communicate with companies (both investable and not), this dialogue will lead to improvements. The publicity that might follow does not harm, either.
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Paul Severin interviewed Heinz Bednar, CEO of Erste Asset Management on the importance of sustainable investments.
Engagement means that investors enter into a dialogue with companies, aiming to persuade them to act more responsibly. This can be a long and tedious process, but this kind of communication is certainly worthwhile.
