Opening the magic box: a closer look into my investment portfolio

You can perform financially without harming the planet. Here’s some proof.

I believe changing the way we invest our money is crucial to fight climate change and build a more sustainable world. We need to be much more vigilant about where our investments go and put our money where our mouth is. This is why in 2020, I started a collaboration with Globalance Bank to build an investment portfolio which is aligned with the Paris Agreement and prove, with concrete evidence, that protection of the environment is financially interesting.

In order for people to compare with my portfolio and even maybe compete with it, my portfolio’s data, such as its warming potential, environmental footprint, exposure to megatrends, as well as its financial performance, are publicly available through the Globalance World platform. As of April 1st, 2021, its warming potential is aligned with the 2°C target of the Paris Agreement) and its financial return year-to-date is 4.2%, adding to the total performance of 17.2% since inception on November 4th 2020.

Here’s a closer look at some companies from my portfolio to showcase what sustainable investments look like: These companies take an active role in positively transforming the global economy and are all performing well financially (all data as of April 1, 2021).

Nielsen NV

Nielsen NV is a global performance management company. It provides clients with a comprehensive understanding of consumers and consumer behavior. By providing manufacturers with accurate client demand specifications, producers can customize their products to fit client needs and forecast volumes – both effectively reducing production waste, rejects and unnecessary volume shipping. Data analytics companies hereby directly contribute to resource savings which in turn curbs negative climate impacts. 

●  Warming Potential: 1.6°C

●  Footprint Score: 68

●  Exposure to Megatrends: 100%

●  YTD Financial performance: +22.6%

Cisco Systems, Inc.

Cisco Systems, Inc. engages in the design, manufacture, and sale of Internet Protocol based networking products and services related to the communications and information technology industry. Its products, consisting of switches, routers, wireless, network management interfaces and modules, or optical networking, are crucial components of digitization. Clean IT is the critical facilitator for achieving climate reduction targets. Its vast applications span from energy transition (smart grids), over new mobility (electric vehicles) to remote working or industrial automation (3D Printing) and consumption tracking (metering).

●  Warming Potential: 2.1°C

●  Footprint Score: 66

●  Exposure to Megatrends: 73%

●  YTD Financial performance: +18.9%

Umicore

Umicore is a global materials technology and recycling group. It generates the majority of its revenues from clean technologies, such as recycling, emission control catalysts, materials for rechargeable batteries, and photovoltaics. Umicore is also a global leader in clean mobility materials. Umicore’s activities support the development of a circular economy, and as such, it has been ranked as one of The Global 100's "Most Sustainable Companies in the World".

●  Warming Potential: 1.7°C

●  Footprint Score: 53

●  Exposure to Megatrends: 83%

●  YTD Financial performance: +17.3%

Clean Harbors, Inc.

Clean Harbors, Inc. is a leading American environmental and industrial services provider. Their activities include end-to-end hazardous waste management, emergency spill response, industrial cleaning and maintenance, and recycling services. Sustainable waste management contributes directly to curbing climate change by preventing carbon-based particles into the air, which are produced during the burning, or landfill induced greenhouse gases, which contribute to global warming.

●  Warming Potential: 1.7°C

●  Footprint Score: 59

●  Exposure to Megatrends: 74%

●  YTD Financial performance: +14.0%

CANCOM SE

CANCOM SE engages in the provision of information technology (IT) infrastructure and professional services. It operates through two segments: Cloud Solutions and IT Solutions. This company supports digitization, which is essential to fight climate change as well as the deployment of the Internet of Things (IoT) which can offer a more comprehensive understanding of climate change complexity through devices, sensors and other data applications.

●  Warming Potential: 1.7°C

●  Footprint Score: 52

●  Exposure to Megatrends: 100%

●  YTD Financial performance: +7.5%

These are just 5 selected companies from my portfolio. But they show that ecology and economy can go hand in hand. I will continue to show some of the companies in my portfolio in the coming months, as well as give you its warming potential and financial performance.

Bertrand Piccard,

Founder and Chairman of the Solar Impulse Foundation

This article was first published on the Solar Impulse Foundation's website