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Social Factors

Together… we are building a more inclusive business and fairer society.

Focus on Human RightsOpens in new window

It starts with us…

In a world that’s changing quickly, it’s important we create the conditions that enable our business to have a real-world impact. That’s what we’re going to do. We will go further for our clients. We will be a better and more inclusive employer. We will play our part in building a world that is more sustainable, just, inclusive and diverse.

Investing with purpose

We want to raise awareness and drive positive change to support fair and inclusive work, equality of opportunity and connect with those isolated from society. We will direct finance towards companies that are having a positive social impact and protecting their workers, and encourage them to maintain the high standards we ask of ourselves. Social factors represent key themes aligned with our Sustainable investing process, along with:

Focus on

How Social factors impact our operations as a business as well as our investment decisions

Our central ESG Investment function analyse global and thematic social risks and opportunities and working with asset class ESG experts, this research and insight is integrated into investment decision making. The social factors we consider are diverse and include labour and human rights issues such as diversity and inclusion, social welfare, modern slavery, indigenous rights and more.

Human Rights: Our approach for investments

We engage companies on human rights issues and use our expertise to support cross-industry anti-modern slavery collaborations. Organisations failing to uphold the human rights of their stakeholders risk negatively impacting communities, regulatory penalties, operating challenges, and reduced revenue and trust.
Our approach to Human rightsOpens in new window
Governments and human rightsOpens in new window
Businesses and human rightsOpens in new window

Video

‘A Woman’s Place’, is a research series from the abrdn Research Institute. Focusing on the often overlooked ‘S’ of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance), the authors set out to find what drives differences in female participation in the workforce and highlight why D&I policy really matters for investors.
Diversity and Inclusion
At abrdn we know that making progress in diversity and inclusion is critical for the long term sustainability of companies and economic growth. We are committed to pushing forward progress in our operations and to promoting Diversity & Inclusion through our investment activities.
Read more about Bringing diversity and inclusion to life.Opens in new window

Human Rights

Our human rights policy summarises our approach to identifying and upholding the human rights of our people, clients and customers, community and those impacted by our suppliers, partners and the companies we invest in.

Our modern slavery statement outlines our approach to tackling human trafficking, forced labour, bonded labour and child slavery.

Read our modern slavery statement Opens in new window

To make ethical investment processes and decisions we consider a range of social criteria such as the Environment and biodiveristy, Communities and Human rights,Employment and labour , Business Ethics.

Ethical Funds: Our ethical equity and bond strategies seek to generate attractive returns and, in addition to a range of environmental and social criteria, exclude companies involved in significant human rights controversies.

Learn about Ethical Investing and our Ethical Funds

Key Documents

Human rightsOpens in new window
Controversial weaponsOpens in new window
Businesses and human rightsOpens in new window
Labour and employmentOpens in new window
Diversity and inclusionOpens in new window

Recent articles

Insights4 min Read

Net-zero stewardship: An engagement-led approach to decarbonization

Active ownership has a key role to play in meeting net-zero goals. We examine how active ownership can help companies on their decarbonization journey.

Net-zero stewardship: An engagement-led approach to decarbonization
Insights4 min Read

Sustainability: 3 reasons to look beyond decarbonization

Why the focus must shift from decarbonization and towards the social, environmental, and adaptation issues linked to climate change.

Sustainability: 3 reasons to look beyond decarbonization
Insights6 min Read

Why a just transition matters

Four things companies, governments, and investors can do to ensure society isn't shortchanged in the transition to net zero.

Why a just transition matters
Insights1 min Read

COP28: What should investors look out for?

At COP28, a number of gaps need to be addressed with a clear action plan that addresses the findings of the Global Stocktake.

COP28: What should investors look out for?
Insights2 min Read

COP28: What's needed for a credible oil and gas transition?

With the spotlight on the fossil fuel industry at this year's COP28, the big question looms: Can alternative technologies aid a credible oil and gas transition?

COP28: What's needed for a credible oil and gas transition?
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