We are well aware of our social responsibility when investing as a pension fund. It is a principle we value and act in accordance with. Consideration is given to the social developments, the wishes of our participants, and the challenges ahead. We have a long history of investing responsibly, for instance through our association with the Dutch covenant IMVB (International Socially Responsible Investment). But the world around us is changing rapidly, and sustainability is gaining in importance. Ensuring a healthy pension is our primary concern, but only in a healthy, liveable world. Not just for today, but also tomorrow.

That is why it is so important for us to know what you think of our investment policy. In April this year, we conducted a survey among our participants and would like to share the results with you now.

The survey results are useful and usable
1,632 people took part in the survey. That is 9% of all participants. Their responses are divided evenly between current employees, former participants and retirees. And the men, women and age within these three groups are also well balanced. This makes the survey results usable, as they represent the opinions of all participants.

A 7.0 for sustainable investment
Participants have awarded us a 7.0 out of 10 for sustainable investment. Retirees give a slightly higher mark than employees and former participants, albeit by a small margin. There is hardly any difference between the scores of men and women.

Different investment preferences
Our participants have different preferences when it comes to high-risk or low-risk investing. The same applies for socially responsible investing. 39% believe that getting the highest return is most important. 28% consider sustainability more important. And minimising the investment risk carries the most weight for 20% of those asked. Only 6% feel that looking at the costs should get the highest priority.

Taking socio-economic and political conditions into account is supported by the majority
Engagement and encouraging companies to be socially responsible is supported by 66% of our participants. And 56% agree with our policy of excluding specific countries. Furthermore, 56% approve the exclusion of certain products and industries. When asked, 65% responded that it is not necessary to prioritise certain sustainability goals, so-called impact investing. And finally, 45% support our policy incorporate environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) in our investments; of the remaining participants, 30% opt for more emphasis on returns and 13% for more ethical choices regarding sustainability.

We see socially responsible investment as an opportunity
The survey results indicate that participants have different preferences on socially responsible and sustainable investing. Our viewpoint is that achieving a good pension for our participants is paramount. And to do that, we need a high return. Sustainable investment helps to achieve these goals by reducing risks, creating opportunities for returns and contributing to a better world. The balance that APF pursues in this respect is supported across the board, which is good to know.

We will include the results of this survey in our investment policy and continue to work towards providing the best possible pension.