ATRAM cites PHL companies aligned with UN SDGs

THE UNITED NATIONS’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) aim to bring together the public and private sectors of its member countries in a concerted effort to build a better future for succeeding generations. These are goals that address the global challenges we face to achieve a sustainable future for everyone by 2030.

ATRAM, the leading independent asset and wealth manager in the Philippines, joins in this call to build a better and more inclusive world inspired by the UN SDGs. It has taken the advocacy further with the launch of the ATRAM Philippine Sustainable Development and Growth Fund last year as the first fund in the market that has a portfolio of firms that are selected based on sustainability and social responsibility in their business models.

ATRAM recognizes that investors are increasingly investing in sustainability themes. The desire of the socially responsible investor is to combine a positive financial return with an equally positive contribution to the environment and society. Evidence to date suggests that sustainable investing can be financially attractive – as demonstrated by the ATRAM Philippine Sustainable Development and Growth Fund in its first year.

True to the company’s call to investors to #TakeOnTomorrow, ATRAM recognizes the efforts of many publicly listed companies in integrating sustainability into their operations and strategies. In this regard, ATRAM introduces the ATRAM Sustainable Investing Champions. ATRAM celebrates these outstanding Philippine companies for their initiatives to create a positive impact on sustainability, especially by integrating it in their core operations and overall strategy.

There are three categories in the ATRAM Sustainable Investing Champions namely, Wellness, Progress, and Fairness. The Wellness Champion is recognized for programs that promote community health and development through education and a clean environment. The Progress Champion is recognized for its support to the circular economy and firm growth through progressive management of labor and capital. The Fairness Champion upholds a commitment to promoting entrepreneurship and respect for rule of law and human rights, including gender equality.

The following have come up as Champions:

Wellness: Globe Telecom, Inc, (GLO). Globe is the only company that boasts of programs that promote a smoke-free working environment.

Progress: Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI). In a survey conducted across our universe of companies that highlight investments in research & development and innovation, and employee feedback on effectivity of R&D programs, BPI ranks the highest among all companies.

Fairness: Axelum Resources Corp. (AXLM). The company maintains a training hub for 2,600 of their coconut farmers, which introduces inter-crop farming and livestock-raising, as well as provide assorted seedlings and other farm inputs, to augment their income by selling their harvests to Axelum, local marketplaces and other prospective buyers.