How we evaluate products
Responsible Investment strategies, processes, practices and disclosures are assessed against the eight criteria for product certification in the Responsible Investment Standard and accompanying Guidance and Assessment Notes.
What are the requirements?
In order to certify products as certified responsible investments, RIAA assesses them against its RI Certification Standard. The Certification Standard is underpinned by eight requirements that act as the guiding principles of the RI Certification Program. Since its inception the RI Certification Standard has evolved significantly, reflecting the dynamic evolution of responsible investment. These eight requirements are:
- RI strategies are formal, disclosed, consistent, auditable and fit for purpose
- Labels are clear, honest and not misleading
- Product avoids significant harm
- Discloses full holdings, performance, sustainability outcomes and engagement and voting practices
- Managed by active stewards, and managers can detail the stewardship practices and outcomes
- Organisation has formal commitment to responsible investment
- Organisation provides educational information to members and customers about RI strategies
What this symbol means


General certification: This Symbol signifies that a product or service offers an investment style that takes into account environmental, social, governance or ethical considerations, and that it adheres to the operational and disclosure practices required under the Responsible Investment Certification Program for the category of Product.


Sustainable classification: This Symbol signifies that a product or service has been certified and classified to offer an investment style that takes into account environmental, social, governance or ethical considerations, with prominent sustainability objectives aligned with portfolio holdings and stewardship practices, adhering to the operational and disclosure practices required under the Responsible Investment Certification Program for the category of Product.
The content on this webpage is provided by Responsible Investment Association Australasia Ltd (ACN 641 046 666, AFSL 554110). For more information refer to our Financial Services Guide. Certain content provided may constitute a summary or extract from the offer document of a financial product. Any general advice has been provided without reference to your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. If the advice relates to the acquisition of a particular financial product for which an offer document (such as a product disclosure document) is available, you should obtain the offer document relating to the particular financial product and consider it before making any decision whether to acquire the product. Past performance does not necessarily indicate a financial products’ future performance. To obtain information tailored to your situation, contact a financial adviser.
Themes & Issues
Society
Impact investments
Included
Education
Included
Green property
Included
Renewable energy and energy efficiency
Included
Social and sustainable infrastructure
Included
Sustainable transport
Included
Sustainable water
Included
High scoring ESG companies
Included
Armaments
Partially avoided
Gambling
Partially avoided
Nuclear power
Partially avoided
Pornography
Partially avoided
Tobacco
Partially avoided
Environment
Impact investments
Included
Education
Included
Green property
Included
Renewable energy and energy efficiency
Included
Social and sustainable infrastructure
Included
Sustainable transport
Included
Sustainable water
Included
High scoring ESG companies
Included
Armaments
Partially avoided
Gambling
Partially avoided
Nuclear power
Partially avoided
Pornography
Partially avoided
Tobacco
Partially avoided
For RIAA’s definitions of the themes included and issues avoided, please view this guide . Product-specific exclusion criteria and practices may vary. You can find these by referring directly to the product provider.
Overview
The Altius Sustainable Bond Fund is a diversified portfolio of fixed interest securities designed to align with investors’ specific personal and social values without compromising returns over the long term.All well-diversified portfolios should have an allocation to bonds but investors looking for responsible investment choices in fixed income have had few options available to them. As the market demand for sustainable equity funds increases, we believe that in time investors will exercise a similar degree of scrutiny before buying bonds in corporations or governments engaging in unsustainable activities
Description
The Fund is an “active and diversified” fixed income fund which aims to optimise returns for investors in all market conditions.
Altius’ investment strategy applies a high conviction approach and seeks opportunities to take advantage of the mispricing of bonds at all stages of the economic cycle.
In addition to satisfying Altius’ comprehensive fixed income investment process, securities considered for the fund must satisfy criteria documented in a Sustainability Policy maintained by the Altius Sustainability Advisory Committee. The Sustainability Policy contains principles which form the basis of a ‘sustainability screen’ that determines an investment universe of security issuers. The Committee has appointed an independent external research provider to monitor and rank eligible security issuers. Securities that are deemed high risk are removed from the investment universe. The screen addresses issues such as violations to labour rights and environmental laws as well as material revenue from sectors such as tobacco, armaments and the production and fossil fuels. In the case of non-corporate fixed interest assets, Altius excludes non-cooperative countries or territories to the Financial Action Task Force – for involvement in anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing.
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Themes & Issues
8
themes included
0
issues fully avoided
0
issues mostly avoided
5
issues partially avoided
Product Targets
Wholesale
Retail
Certified Since
2015
Last date certified
May 16, 2024
Primary RI Strategy
Negative Screening
Secondary RI Strategy
ESG Integration