The standards for our stock funds focus on key themes that we believe best capture the strength of a corporation’s relationships with its stakeholders and promote human dignity and a healthy natural environment. (See our brochure Global Investment Standards.) These themes help identify companies that invest in and enrich their stakeholders, building strong partners who will in turn reward companies in ways that enhance their long-term financial vitality and productivity.

 

In our analysis of corporations, we look at the following stakeholders and themes:

 

• Community — Local and National
• Generous and Innovative Philanthropy
• Community Partnerships and Trust
• Protection of Community and Public Goods
• Fair Tax Dealings
• Government Relations

 

• Community — Global
• Geopolitical Stability, Nuclear Weapons, Nuclear Power, and  International Peace
• Endorsement of International Norms and Standards
• Acknowledgement of Human Rights
• Respect for Indigenous Peoples and Local Cultures
• Antibribery, Anti-Money Laundering, and Anticorruption Programs

 

• Customers
• Harmful and Addictive Products: Tobacco, Gambling, Alcohol
• Commitment to Safety, Quality, and Customer Service
• Bridging the Divide in Access to Products
• Innovation and Creativity
• Marketing and Pricing Practices

 

• Ecosystems
• Renewable and Alternative Energy Sources
• Eco-Efficiency and Resource Conservation
• Recycling, Safer Technologies, and Lifecycle Design
• Pollution Control and Abatement
• Long-Term Environmental Sustainability

 

• Employees
• Continuous Improvement in Health and Safety
• Fair and Just Compensation and Benefit Programs
• Commitments to Diversity in the Workplace
• Empowerment and Investments in Training
• Solidarity with Unionized Workforce

 

• Investors
• Accounting, Credibility, and Business Ethics
• Openness in Communications
• Commitment to Diversity of Representation
• Relationships with Controlling Owners

 

• Suppliers
• Labor Practices and Other Human Rights
• Quality, Environment, and Other Issues
• Diversity Within the Supply Chain
• Empowerment and Viability