SVVK-ASIR strengthens dialogue in the Swiss domestic market

Over the past two years, SVVK-ASIR has further intensified its dialogue with companies. The association also focused on direct engagement in the Swiss domestic market.

In 2022 and 2023, the Swiss Association for Responsible Investment (SVVK-ASIR) held 176 and 170 engagement dialogues, respectively, and was also involved in various collaborative initiatives. More than half of the engagement dialogues were held with companies due to violations of human rights and labour rights standards. A total of 19 engagement cases were successfully closed. At the same time, climate change remained an important focus for the association. SVVK-ASIR also increasingly focused its efforts directly on its domestic market of Switzerland.

Leveraging influence in the Swiss domestic market

SVVK-ASIR engaged in dialogue with several Swiss companies. Dialogue with Sika and Alcon focused on defining robust climate targets and developing a strategic action plan for achieving them. Since 2023, the association has also taken on a leading role in dialogue with Holcim, a Swiss heavyweight with regard to production-related CO2 emissions in cement production, under the Climate Action 100+ alliance.

Real estate funds: call for transparency and specific objectives

In summer 2023, SVVK-ASIR surveyed around 20 providers of real estate funds on their path to net zero. They will have a significant role in achieving Switzerland’s climate targets – around 30% of domestic CO2 emissions come from the real estate sector. The results show that there are major differences in the quality and depth of the published sustainability reports and in the concrete implementation of measures to achieve reduction targets. SVVK-ASIR will further deepen dialogue and use the findings as a basis for further communication with the real estate sector.

Link to the report: Engagement Report 2022/23