Currently, the world generates some two billion tonnes of waste annually, and by 2050 it is estimated that, if we carry on as we are, there could be more plastic in the oceans by weight, than fish. The linear take, make and dispose economic model which has led to the generation of so much waste has dominated since the advent of the industrial era, but this is no longer sustainable. Not only are resources finite, or increasingly difficult to obtain, but their extraction and single use has costly implications for the environment and society.
Moving to a more ‘circular economy’ involves, for example, waste from production and consumption becomes a resource to be recycled and reused. As well as reducing unnecessary waste and mitigating the risks of resource scarcity, this approach can provide both environmental and economic benefits.
We invest in companies that are helping to create a more circular economy and effectively dealing with the ever-growing accumulation of waste that we as a society are producing. Here’s one example of how we have invested some of the fund’s assets.
DS Smith* are Europe’s largest cardboard and paper recycler and a leading full-recycling and waste management company. Their aim is “to continually protect the natural environment and be recognised as a good neighbour in the local community”.
Through their circular business model their impact is estimated to have saved 36 million trees in 2018 alone.
As a leading provider of corrugated packaging solutions DS Smith operate across 37 countries and employ over 29,000 people. Using their expertise from design to production and supply to recycling, they offer high quality, environmentally friendly, innovative solutions and great service that looks at the whole of their customers’ packaging needs, not just one part.
DS Smith have nine ambitious, long-term, sustainability targets. It’s through delivering against these targets that they look to achieve their corporate goal - to lead the way in sustainability.
To read more about how DS Smith are making a positive impact and to view their nine sustainability targets, visit their website.
The value and income from a fund’s assets will go down as well as up. This will cause the value of your investment to fall as well as rise and you may get back less than you originally invested.
*Information sourced from company literature