Factoring sustainability into portfolio decisions

3 responses to “Factoring sustainability into portfolio decisions”

1. 

   Cary Krosinsky

   October 23, 2012

   Thanks much for your comment

   Would refer you to a recent piece on Apple that I wrote for Bloomberg (easily Googled) – point is that a Value approach using Values is very different from a negative Values first approach that you seem to be suggesting – and again most SRI in practice tends to be negative posturing which doesn’t solve problems and a positive problem solving role for investors including acting in concert would now seem optimal

   Generation IM is an example of an investor who looks at things this way – perhaps interestingly they don’t own Apple but only because Al Gore is on their board – so their solid returns would have been much better one could easily argue

   And companies like Apple will continue to be under enormous pressure to improve their practices and that’s a good thing – numerous articles show Apple improving product efficiency and moving to solar powered product research

   A bigger question is whether Apple is now overvalued of course – but as a vehicle for needed business efficiency and innovation they arguably retain potential

   Thanks again for your thoughts

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2. 

   ken edwins

   October 20, 2012

   It nice to see you get to some very critical issues if ESG investing is going to impact returns and investor sentiment about how to invest.

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3. 

   Christopher Ailman

   October 20, 2012

   How much of that “out performance” was attributal to Apple alone, Double weight Tech from ’08-’12 is a trade not a phliosophy. We have to be honest when we claim Sustainability works, let’s be very transparent. I know you only have 5 yrs, but 5 yrs isn’t long-term when you talk about the planet over-consuming resources. There are tons of critics and only by honest dialog will thier views be modified. Lets start by really defining “sustainability” Are Apple’s labor practices with it’s vendors “sustainable” Are we all sure it and other tech compnaies are “sustainable”? The performance can be explained be away an industry tilt rather than security selection.

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