Best of the Best 2023: Best Diversified ESG Super Product

With strong returns over one, three and five years, the Hostplus Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) - Balanced topped the category this year.

It invests according to ESG principles, using ethical, green, sustainable, social impact or renewable energy themes.

Sam Sicilia, chief investment officer at Hostplus, says it built the SRI - Balanced option to meet member needs.

"A number of years ago we decided to build our own. We wanted a diversified, balanced approach to ESG and we wanted to make sure that we had the ability to add exclusions as our member base required," he says.

"Our proposition to members has always been, tell us what's important to you and we will, as best we can, integrate it to a product, on the grounds that it has to be something that a lot of people support."

Hostplus has a fund-wide responsible investment policy that hinges on four beliefs: ESG integration, active ownership, building Australia's future and member values. In March 2022, it set its net-zero 2050 target, in line with those founding beliefs.

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