Children's Rights and Business Principles
We support the Children's Rights and Business Principles, an international framework developed by, among others, UNICEF and Save the Children. The principles help companies understand and take responsibility for their impact on children's rights.
Business Ambition for 1.5°C
The Business Ambition for 1.5°C is a UN-supported initiative that calls on companies to set science based emission targets in line with limiting global warming to 1.5°C, as part of the Science Based Targets Initiative.
Business@Biodiversity Sweden
We are members of Business@Biodiversity Sweden, a business network for companies and organisations that want to work with biodiversity and develop sustainable business models.
CDP
CDP is an independent, international non-profit organisation that works for transparency and dialogue about companies' environmental impact and to make the information available to investors. Together with more than 5,600 organisations around the world, Handelsbanken measures and reports its environmental impact through CDP.
Climate Action 100+
We are part of a five-year-long, global, co-operative initiative linked to the Paris Agreement As one of the investors behind the initiative we call on companies to combat climate change, curb emissions and improve transparency.
Climate Bonds Initiative
We are a partner with the Climate Bonds Initiative, an international non-profit organisation that promotes investment in climate-change solutions. The organisation aims to facilitate the mobilisation of capital in the global green bond market by advocacy and outreach to inform and stimulate the market.
Dams and Development - The World Commission on Dams
The World Commission on Dams is a global initiative that has developed a framework for sustainable hydropower development. The focus is on taking into account social, environmental and economic aspects when planning dam projects.
Diversity Charter Sweden
Handelsbanken is a signatory and a member of Diversity Charter Sweden, a non-profit organisation that works to promote diversity in the workplace. The network offers their members opportunities to exchange ideas and strategies and to increase their knowledge in questions of diversity. As a member of the network, the company affirms its commitment to diversity and an inclusive approach in the workplace.
ECPAT
ECPAT’s overall objective is to prevent exploitation of children by preventing monetary transactions that are linked to the commercial sexual exploitation of children. We co-operate closely with ECPAT and have integrated a preventative working method into our operations such as by obstructing and preventing payments connected with such material.
Exponential Roadmap Initiative
The Exponential Roadmap Initiative is a global collaboration between companies, researchers and organisations working to accelerate the climate transition through science-based solutions.
The Fossil Fuel Treaty
Handelsbanken Liv is the first life insurance company in the world to support the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty. The Fossil Disarmament Treaty is a global initiative to decarbonise and support a just transition.
Global Compact
Handelsbanken has signed the UN Global Compact, an initiative aimed at companies which advocates 10 principles based on international conventions. These principles, established in 2000, include human rights, labour laws, the environment and anti-corruption.
IIGCC
We are a member of the IIGCC's Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change. The group's mission is to mobilize capital for a low-carbon future by amplifying the investor's voice and collaborating with businesses, politicians, and investors.
International Finance Corporations Performance Standards
IFC's Performance Standards are a framework for managing environmental and social risks in investments. These standards are used globally to ensure that projects are conducted responsibly.
Mistra BIOPATH
We collaborate with the Mistra BIOPATH research program, which works to develop methods for integrating nature and biodiversity into financial decision-making.
Net Zero Asset Managers initiative (NZAM)
Handelsbanken Fonder is one of 220 leading asset managers that have signed the global Net Zero Asset Managers initiative. This means that Handelsbanken Fonder undertakes to support the goal of zero greenhouse gas emissions through investments and to prioritise achieving reduced emissions through the impact on the companies in which it invests.
Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA)
The UN initiative Net-Zero Banking Alliance unites banks in their commitment to align their lending and investment portfolios with net-zero emissions by 2050. The commitment entails requirements for near-term measures and transparency, and that the banks set an intermediate target in line with established scientific frameworks and guidelines.
NMC, Nätverket för Hållbart Näringsliv
We are a member of NMC, Nätverk för Hållbart Näringsliv (Swedish Association for Sustainable Business). It is a non-profit association, not allied to any political party, which is a cross-industry platform for more than 200 companies and organisations. Its purpose is to share knowledge, experience and ideas regarding a sustainable and successful business community.
OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises cover areas such as human rights, the environment, working conditions and the fight against corruption. The guidelines are recommendations for responsible business conduct.
Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF)
PCAF is a collaboration between financial institutions worldwide to enable harmonized assessments and disclosures of greenhouse gas emissions financed by loans and investments. By using methods from PCAF when calculating the Bank's financed emissions, we strengthen our transparency and contribute to a more comparable and efficient climate work in the financial sector.
PRB
The Principles for Responsible Banking (PRB) were officially launched in connection with the UN 2019 Climate Action Summit. Handelsbanken is one of 130 banks to endorse the initiative. With PRB, the UN aims to raise awareness of and highlight the contributions to sustainable development being made by the global banking sector.
PRI
We are a signatory to the UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment Initiative, a network of investors and service providers that work to implement principles for responsible investment. The purpose is to work for increased openness and awareness of environmental, social and corporate governance issues in the companies where the signatories invest.
RSB Principles & Criteria
We support the RSB Principles & Criteria, a global framework for the sustainable production of biomass, biofuels and bio-based materials.
Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)
SBTi is a collaboration between CDP, UN Global Compact, World Resources Institute (WRI) and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). SBTi helps companies and organisations to set climate goals based on science. The targets are in line with what is required to limit global warming to below 1.5-2°C under the Paris Agreement.
Sustainable value creation
Since 2009, Handelsbanken Asset Management has collaborated with other major Swedish investors on the Sustainable Value Creation project. The aim of the project is to highlight the importance of Swedish listed companies working with sustainability topics in a structured manner. To encourage, support and follow up on the companies’ sustainability efforts, Sustainable Value Creation conducts surveys and organises seminars and round-table discussions. In its capacity as one of the 100 largest listed Swedish companies, Handelsbanken has itself responded to the surveys on sustainability activities.
SWESIF
Handelsbanken Asset Management is a member of SWESIF, an independent network forum for organisations working with sustainable investments in Sweden. SWESIF aims to increase knowledge of and interest in sustainable investment on behalf of institutional asset owners and managers.
UNEP FI
UN Environment Program has a special organisation that works on how the capital markets can promote the adoption of best practices for the environment and sustainability. Some 200 financial institutions which support the initiative contribute to research into and knowledge of how sustainability aspects can be integrated into financial decisions.
UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
We work in line with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which clarify the responsibility of companies to respect human rights and the obligation of states to protect them.
Ung Privatekonomi
We support initiatives that improve young people’s knowledge of personal finance by supporting information campaigns and contributing know-how. Ung Privatekonomi is a school information project that teaches Swedish upper secondary school students and teachers about personal finances and savings.
UN Principles for Sustainable Insurance
Handelsbanken Liv has signed the UN Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI). PSI is the largest international cooperation initiative between the UN and the insurance industry, which aims to contribute to economic, environmental and social sustainability.
Women in finance charter
As part of its efforts towards gender equality, Handelsbanken in the UK has signed the Women in Finance Charter from HM Treasury. This means that the Bank is committed to work for more gender balance in the financial sector.
World Childhood Foundation
We support the World Childhood Foundation which works to prevent violence against and sexual abuse of children. The foundation wants to ensure that all children are able to develop into strong, confident, responsible people. Its work focuses mainly on children who live on the streets, in institutions or in a family where the parents are not the type of secure and trustworthy adults that a child really needs.