10 Ways the Longevity Economy is Changing the Way We Live Now

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Longevity is about ‘whole of life’ – not just end of life. People of all ages are likely to use goods and services that come under this umbrella – which includes wellness, health and medical treatments as well as silver spending, senior care and funeral services.

Below, Peter Hughes and Dani Saurymper , Portfolio Managers at AXA IM, highlight how the longevity economy is impacting peoples’ lives worldwide and show how they are benefiting from the innovations and solutions being offered by a wide variety of companies.

1. Your workout

Keeping fit and healthy is important for a longer life.  People over 65 are the UK’s most frequent gym goers, with gym usage peaking at age 72, according to a study by Nuffield Health[1]. But many regular gym-goers have had to stay at home during coronavirus lockdowns, and have turned to trying virtual exercise classes at home. Low-cost European gym provider Basic Fit has an app that offers a range of programmes for training at home, including virtual classes and a personalised nutrition plan.

2. Seeing the doctor – virtually

Sometimes it can be difficult to schedule a doctor’s appointment, especially if you need to fit it around work or family responsibilities. And during the coronavirus pandemic, many medical practitioners have preferred to conduct online or video consultations.  Global virtual care provider Teladoc Health saw total visits increase 92% to two million in the first quarter of 2020, as the coronavirus pandemic took hold[2]. Its services include being able to a speak to a doctor or mental health specialist over the phone, uploading photos for a dermatologist to review and getting a prescription that can be sent electronically to the pharmacy for you to collect.

3. Home treatment

If you are unwell or have had an operation, studies have suggested that recovery at home leads to shorter hospital stays, reducing the burden on hospital beds without a negative impact on patient outcomes[3]. But sometimes professional help is needed, for instance physical therapy or wound care. Amedisys is an example of one of the companies offering home health visits across the US, aiming to help their patients keep their independence and quality of life.

4. Managing an ongoing condition

Six in 10 US adults have a chronic disease[4] and the need to manage an ongoing condition is a global theme. Medical innovations and the use of digital technology have made managing chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes much simpler. For instance, Dexcom offers a glucose monitoring system which can send an alert to your smartphone if your blood sugar levels become too low. In addition, medical technology company Masimo has a product for use at home that can measure oxygen levels, pulse rate and more.

5. Optimising your health

Vitamins and supplements are also a big market, with key players including Reckitt Benckiser – who says its Digestive Advantage is the number one probiotic gummy brand[5]. A National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found that around one in two US adults supplement their diet with vitamins[6]. Meanwhile the European dietary supplements market was worth $14.3bn in 2018 and is expected to reach $20.9bn by 2026[7].

6. And not forgetting your pet

Almost 50% of US households own a pet according to the latest US census data[8] with owners spending $528 per year on average[9]. Meanwhile the Asia Pacific region is seeing the highest growth globally in sales of cat and dog food, as pet ownership there increases[10]. Many people own pets for companionship or to encourage them to take exercise, such as walking a dog.

But having a pet means caring for them when they are sick and keeping up with regular treatments as well as their changing needs as they age. Petcare firm Zoetis is an example of one of the companies in this space that is innovating to develop new products and solutions for animal health.

7. Improving your career prospects

As we are living longer and the world changes more quickly – for example via digitalisation – we cannot expect everything we learned at school or university, or even in our early 20s, to still be enough – or relevant – throughout our working lives. You might choose to study to improve your skillset or advance your career or retrain to change jobs. Many employers also offer their workers the opportunity to gain qualifications as a way of retaining staff – for instance, through Strategic Education’s Degrees@Work programme.

8. Protection

Many people choose to take out critical illness cover which pays a lump sum on diagnoses of a covered condition, to help protect against unexpected financial hardship – for instance not being well enough to continue working. During the global coronavirus-driven lockdowns, British multinational insurer Prudential found that downloads of its digital health app more than trebled between early March and mid-May[11] and said it was expanding the number of products that could be sold virtually.

9. Self-care

Over the next 10 years, over 50% of the growth in consumer spending in developed countries is expected to come from the over-60s[12]. And most of us don’t just want to live longer, we want to live healthier for longer. Personal care is an important way we can contribute to this goal. Whether you’re buying Curel moisturising cream to care for your skin (owned by Japanese company Kao) or just topping up on everyday essentials such as Colgate (owned by Colgate-Palmolive), the 60-plus age group has significant spending power – and often more time to shop.

10. Leisure

Travel and tourism among the older generations is growing and it is estimated that by 2050 the over 60s will account for more than two billion trips annually[13]. It is undeniable that the coronavirus pandemic, has put immediate pressure on travel and tour operators. However, in many cases, travellers have already rescheduled their trips for 2021. For instance, Royal Caribbean Cruises said in May that bookings for 2021 are already in historical ranges and at higher prices compared to the same time in 2019.[14]

Despite the coronavirus outbreak, global populations continue to age, and we expect global life expectancies to creep higher over the longer term. So, although we may see some changes in consumption patterns post-COVID-19, the key drivers of the longevity economy remain intact. For investors with a longer-term investment horizon, these are key structural growth trends, which combined with shifting demographics can provide some interesting opportunities.

 

To learn more about this topic, please contact Rafael Tovar, Director, US Offshore Distribution, AXA IM

 

Notes:

[1] Source: Nuffield Health, 22 March 2016

[2] Source: Teladoc, 29 April 2020

[3] Source: Early Discharge Hospital at Home, 26 June 2017

[4] Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 23 October 2019

[5] Source: Reckitt Benckiser. Based on unit sales through 28 March 2020

[6] Source: Trends in Dietary Supplement Use among US Adults From 1999–2012, 11 October 2016

[7] Source: Fortune Business Insights  

[8] Source: United States Census Bureau, 16 May 2017

[9] Source: United States Census Bureau, 11 April 2019

[10] Source: Petfood Industry.com, 2 October 2019

[11] Source: Prudential, 14 May 2020

[12] Source: McKinsey Global Institute, Urban World: The Global Consumers to Watch, April 2016

[13] Source: World Tourism Organisation via Tourism and Leisure Behaviour in an Ageing World by Ian Patterson, CABI, 2017

[14] Source: Royal Caribbean, 20 May 2020

 

 

 

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Understanding megatrends

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The analysis from Pictet Asset Management’s research partner CIFS sheds light on the structural trends transforming the world, helping us build better investment portfolios.

Pictet Asset Management has been working with the Copenhagen Institute for Futures Studies (CIFS) for over a decade to establish a deeper understanding of megatrends – the powerful secular forces that are changing the environment, society, politics, technology and the economy. CIFS is a leading global think tank and consultancy. CIFS uses a wide range of research methods, developed over the last 40 years, which include megatrend analysis, scenario planning, risk management, innovation initiatives and strategy development.

Through our partnership with CIFS, we have devised an investment framework that incorporates CIFS’ 14 megatrends. The framework – which includes trends such as Demographic Development, the Network Economy, Focus on Health, Sustainability and Technology Development – enhances our thematic equity capabilities and informs the construction and development of our thematic equities strategies such as Water, Robotics or SmartCity.

As CIFS’ partner, Pictet Asset Management has access to research into areas not normally covered by the investment analyst community such as changes in societal attitudes and beliefs, the impact this has on the environment and the business sector, and the acceleration of technological development. We are proud to be associated with CIFS and would like to share some of their research with you.

For more information, please download the reports here, the reports are only available in English.

 

 

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This document is a marketing communication issued by Pictet Asset Management and is not in scope for any MiFID II/MiFIR requirements specifically related to investment research. This material does not contain sufficient information to support an investment decision and it should not be relied upon by you in evaluating the merits of investing in any products or services offered or distributed by Pictet Asset Management.

 

XP and Ashmore Announce Partnership to Offer Brazilian Investors Strategies Focused on Emerging Markets

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Wikimedia Commons. XP y Ashmore anuncian un acuerdo para ofrecer a inversores brasileños estrategias de mercados emergentes

XP Inc., a leading, technology-driven financial services platform, and Ashmore Group PLC, a specialist asset manager with over twenty-five years’ experience investing in Emerging Markets, announce a partnership to offer Brazilian investors easy access to actively-managed Emerging Markets equity and credit strategies.

XP recently launched three local feeder funds for qualified individual and institutional investors that invest directly into three Ashmore strategies: Ashmore Emerging Markets Debt Advisory FIC FIM IE CP (BRL hedged), Ashmore Emerging Markets Equity Dólar Advisory FIC FIA IE (unhedged-US) andAshmore Emerging Markets Equity Advisory FIC FIA IE (BRL hedged).

“Emerging Markets will continue to be the dominant drivers of global economic growth with highly attractive returns, particularly when set against the backdrop of persistently low interest rates in the developed world. Ashmore’s strategies, through the XP platform, provide Brazilian investors with the opportunity to diversify their portfolios and to enhance potential investment returns”, stated both companies in a shared statement.

Leon Goldberg, partner at XP said: “Through this partnership with Ashmore, XP is pleased to offer the first emerging markets strategies on its platform, easily accessible by clients through local funds. The choice of Ashmore, a global top-tier manager, as a partner reinforces our sense of continuous evolution and the search for international partnerships that support the idea of intelligent international portfolio diversification considering the excessively domestic bias still seen in investments in Brazil.”

George Grunebaum, Ashmore’s Head of Distribution for Latin America commented: “Ashmore is honoured to partner with XP to provide Brazilian investors with access to the attractive growth and return opportunities available across the Emerging Markets. Ashmore looks forward to sharing its specialist focus, active management philosophy and deep experience of investing in the Emerging Markets with XP in order to diversify and enhance its clients’ long-term investment returns.”

Ashmore is a specialist asset manager focused on Emerging Markets, with 83.6 billion dollars  under management (as at 30 June 2020), and has a proven active management approach that has been tailored over more than two decades to deliver investment performance for clients. XP has outstanding distribution capabilities, coupled with educational engagement that guides investors in intelligent diversification that makes sense in the current domestic and international environment.

 

 

HSBC Names Annabel Spring as its New CEO of Private Banking

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Foto cedidaAnnabel Spring, New CEO of Private Banking for HSBC. Annabel Spring, New CEO of Private Banking for HSBC

HSBC has named Annabel Spring as CEO of its recently merged global private banking business, an appointment that takes immediate effect, announced International Investment. Based in London, she will report to Charlie Nunn, CEO of HSBC’s Wealth and Personal Banking (WPB).

Spring joined the corporation in 2019 as group head of customer and products for WPB, where she has been responsible for HSBC’s international personal banking products and its Premier and Jade global services.

Previously, she worked nine years for the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, where her most recent title was group executive for wealth management. Spring also held senior roles at Morgan Stanley, including global head of firm strategy and execution.

HSBC also appointed Taylan Turan as group head of customers, products and strategy for the WPB division. He will remain group head of strategy while also assuming Spring’s former role.

Nunn said that both Spring and Turan will play “an important role” in accelerating the growth of HSBC’s business as they continue to invest in customer offering, technology and products. “As we operate in some of the fastest-growing wealth markets in the world, global private banking, a business with tremendous growth potential, is central to this ambition”, he added.

Santander CIB Launches ESG Solutions Global Team Headed by Steffen Kram

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Pixabay CC0 Public Domain. Santander CIB launches ESG Solutions global team headed by Steffen Kram

Santander Corporate & Investment Banking (Santander CIB) announced in a press release the creation of a dedicated team to boost its offering in the area of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) solutions. This new global team will be headed by Steffen Kram. It will partner with product teams across its platform to support clients in their transition towards a more sustainable business model by providing strategic solutions as well as product and financing structures tailored to specific industries, geographies and market sectors.

Santander’s goal is to build a more responsible bank and has made a number of commitments to support this objective including raising over 120 billion euros in green finance between 2019 and 2025. This figure will increase to 220 billion euros in 2030 and includes the Group´s overall contribution to green finance: project finance, syndicated loans, green bonds, capital and export finance, advisory and other products.

In the most recent Dow Jones Sustainability Index Santander achieved the highest ranking among all banks.

José M. Linares, SEVP and Global Head of Santander CIB, said that the creation of this team further reinforces their contribution to the group’s responsible banking commitments to support inclusive and sustainable growth. “We want to back our clients in their ESG transformation journey, helping them define and achieve their global sustainability objectives”, he added.

Kram, new Global Head of ESG Solutions, commented this new team will build on Santander’s global footprint and its commitment to climate and environmental sustainability. “We are a global leader in renewable energy financing and advisory. Our aim is to expand and transfer this expertise into other sectors and technologies crucial in the context of the energy transition”, he pointed out.

Leveraging on a solid track record in renewables and strong product capabilities across its platform, Santander CIB is now evolving towards fully integrated ESG solutions, serving an increasing appetite and demand from corporate and institutional clients. Being a leader in the area of sustainability has been a long-standing ambition for Santander CIB.

Jean Hynes to Succeed Brendan Swords as CEO of Wellington Management

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Foto cedida. Jean Hynes sucederá a Brendan Swords como consejero delegado de Wellington Management

Wellington Management has announced in a press release that Brendan Swords, Chief Executive Officer, will retire from Wellington on 30 June 2021. At that time, Jean Hynes, Managing Partner, will succeed him as CEO.

“One of the most enduring lessons of the Wellington partnership is the notion of stewardship, bringing along the next generation of leaders to allow us to better serve clients,” said Swords.

“I’m excited that Jean Hynes will be my successor. Over the course of her nearly 30 years at the firm, she has demonstrated the vision, optimism, and fortitude to lead Wellington in the years ahead. Her extensive investment and leadership experience align with our mission of delivering investment excellence to our clients”, he added.

Meanwhile, Hynes claimed to be “humbled and honored” to be the next CEO of Wellington Management. “I have had the privilege of learning alongside Brendan for many years, and I am looking forward to building on our long heritage of helping our clients and their beneficiaries around the world achieve their investment goals”, she said.

Hynes joined the firm in 1991 after graduating from Wellesley College with a BA in economics. Throughout her nearly 30 years at the firm, she has researched the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, as well as served as a healthcare portfolio manager and leader of this sector’s research team. Since 2014, she has served as one the firm’s three Managing Partners alongside Swords. Hynes is a member of the Investment Committees at Wellesley College and the Winsor School.

Neuberger Berman and XP Inc. Join Forces to Provide US Multi Cap Strategy to Brazilian Investors

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Pixabay CC0 Public Domain. Neuberger Berman y XP unen fuerzas para ofrecer una estrategia US multicap a inversores brasileños

Neuberger Berman, a private, independent, employee-owned investment manager, has partnered with XP Inc, a leading technology-driven financial services platform, to offer its flagship US multi-cap equity strategy to Brazilian investors. Via the XP Investments platform, the Neuberger Berman Multi-Cap Opportunities Fund will be available for Brazilian retail and institutional investors through a local feeder fund managed by XP.

The Neuberger Berman Multi-Cap Opportunities Fund is driven by fundamental research to uncover investment opportunities across US equity markets regardless of capitalisation or style spectrums. The fund is a high conviction strategy which typically invests in 30-40 stocks across three distinct categories: Special Situations, Opportunistic and Classic.

The investment team, led by Senior Portfolio Manager Richard Nackenson, adopts a disciplined bottom-up process alongside in-depth quantitative and qualitative free cash flow and capital structure analysis of investee companies. Nackenson, who has run the strategy for over 15 years and has 25 years of investment experience, is supported by a dedicated team of three securities analysts, as well as Neuberger Berman’s wider equity division and ESG investment team. The management team currently runs over 2, 6 billion dollars on behalf of clients globally.

Fabiano Cintra, Funds Specialist at XP Inc, says: “XP’s core mission is to open up a new wave of solutions for Brazilian investors by partnering with the best investment management talent across the world. We are delighted to have established this partnership with Neuberger Berman, which manages over $330 billion globally, and are confident that the US Multi-Cap Opportunities fund’s unconstrained and distinct approach to US equity investing will resonate with our client base.”

Dik van Lomwel, Head of EMEA and Latin America at Neuberger Berman, adds: “This partnership is testament to the Multi-Cap Opportunities Fund’s strong long-term track record and our team’s long-standing, distinct investment philosophy. It marks the latest step in our growth in Latin America and we are pleased to be able to offer this strategy to a wider range of Brazilian investors via the XP platform.”

 

Federated Hermes, Inc. expands distribution in Latin America through agreement with PICTON, S.A

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Wikimedia Commons. Federated Herme se expande en Latinoamérica a través de un acuerdo con PICTON

Federated Hermes, Inc. (NYSE: FHI), a global leader in active, responsible investing, and PICTON S.A., a leading third-party fund distributor in Latin America, have  announced an agreement that allows PICTON to market certain Federated Hermes funds to institutional clients in Latin America.

The agreement focuses PICTON’s efforts on strategically positioning Federated Hermes’ investment capabilities and services in the Latin American pension funds industry and with institutional participants across the region on a private-offering basis.

“With their experience and strong local knowledge of markets in Chile, Colombia and Peru, we are pleased to work with PICTON to market Federated Hermes’ products in the region. As a global leader in responsible investing, it was important for us to be diligent in our search process and find a firm that is client-focused and has a track record of success. We found that in the PICTON team,” said Bryan Burke, Head of global accounts and Latin America at Federated Hermes.

“PICTON is proud to enter into this arrangement with Federated Hermes, a firm with outstanding history and a leader in responsible investing,” said Matias Eguiguren, founding partner at PICTON.  “We look forward to a strong relationship driven by Federated Hermes’ investment capabilities and our broad and deep knowledge of institutional clients,” said Patricio Mebus, Head of mutual funds distribution at PICTON.

PICTON will provide due diligence, product information and analysis to institutional clients and serve as a liaison point between them and Federated Hermes’ teams.

PICTON is an independent investment firm serving high-net-worth individuals and institutional investors throughout Latin America. PICTON distributes best-in-class investment products to Latin American institutional investors, being one of the leading third-party fund distributors in the region with local offices in Chile, Colombia and Peru.

 Federated Hermes, Inc. is a leading global investment manager with 628,8 billion in assets under management as of June 30, 2020. Guided by their conviction that responsible investing is the best way to create wealth over the long term, their investment solutions span 162 equity, fixedincome, alternative/private markets, multi-asset and liquidity management strategies and a range of separately managed account strategies. Providing world-class active investment management and engagement services to more than 11,000 institutions and intermediaries, our clients include corporations, government entities, insurance companies, foundations and endowments, banks and broker/dealers. Headquartered in Pittsburgh, Federated Hermes’ more than 1,900 employee,  include those in London, New York, Boston and several other offices worldwide. For more information, visit FederatedHermes.com. #

 

Jupiter Expands Latin America and US Offshore Distribution Team

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Foto cedidaSusana García, director of sales for LatAm and Iberia; and Andrea Gerardi, senior sales executive for Jupiter AM.. Jupiter Expands Latin America and US Offshore Distribution Team

Jupiter Asset Management has announced two London-based appointments to its Latin American and US offshore distribution team, following the completion of its acquisition of Merian Global Investors on July 1st.

Andrea Gerardi will join the team as senior sales executive, assisting clients across the entire region, stated Jupiter AM in a press release. Meanwhile, Susana García, previously head of Iberian sales at Merian, joins as director of sales for LatAm and Iberia, as announced last June. García will focus on the Uruguayan and Argentinian retail markets, in addition to supporting her existing client base in Iberia.

They will both report to William Lopez, head of Latin America and US offshore. As a result of these appointments, the in-house team has doubled in size to four members.

Relationships with AMCS Group, AIVA and Compass Group

Jupiter also intends to leverage Merian’s relationship with external distribution agency, the AMCS Group, in supporting distribution in the US offshore market. This will extend Jupiter’s distribution model, already in place in the Latin America region. AIVA will continue to support Jupiter’s business development in the LatAm retail market, while Compass Group will continue to support institutional investors.

Lopez claimed to be “thrilled” to welcome two highly experienced professionals, to Jupiter. “I look forward to working with them, and our specialist distribution partners, AIVA, AMCS and Compass Group, as we grow our presence in the region. With a newly expanded product range and team, I am confident that we can offer superior service to our clients and continue to build our assets”, he added.

Described by the firm as “a front-line approach supported by local distribution partners”, Jupiter’s distribution strategy combines the expertise and oversight of an in-house team with the specialist local knowledge of on-the-ground distribution partners.

Five Ways that Investing Could Help Create a Better Planet

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Pixabay CC0 Public DomainPhoto: Jesse Gardner. Photo: Jesse Gardner

By investing in companies finding solutions to the environmental crisis, investors can help build a better world for future generations.

  • A lightbulb moment for the planet

Pressure is mounting on governments and businesses to reverse decades of environmental degradation and to safeguard the world’s natural resources for future generations. Investors can play their part by providing capital to companies developing solutions to environmental challenges. In doing so, they can contribute to a more sustainable future whilst also potentially generating an attractive return. 

There is precedent for technology to help us solve our environmental issues. In the 1960s a scientist found that a semiconductor he was tinkering with produced a weak glow. No one then could have guessed at the revolution that would be unleashed by the introduction of the first light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which consume a fifth of the electricity of their predecessors and have dramatically reduced energy use across the globe.

The LED is just one of many environmental technologies that have transformed our impact on the environment. Here, we look at five areas where investors, and the companies they invest in, can help make a positive impact on the environment.

  • 5. Plastic alternatives

Hailed as a miracle material when it was invented, plastic has fast become the planet’s worst nightmare. Since 1950, some 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic were produced worldwide, of which only 6 per cent has been recycled (1). One refuse truck-worth of plastic is dumped into the sea every minute, and some fishermen now catch more plastic than fish (2).
Companies are now producing technologically-advanced alternatives to plastic that could change things. In the fashion industry, brands such as Stella McCartney and Prada are using Econyl (3), a material made from industrial waste (including fishing nets) which reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 58 per cent compared to nylon. Wood-based materials such as Cupro, Viscose, and Lyocell are also being used in everything from gym outfits to fire resistant clothing.

Plastics still account for more than half of the global food packaging market, but 500 million tonnes of plastic could be replaced with wood-based materials (4), with the latest carton packaging allowing food and beverages to be stored for up to 12 months without refrigeration.

  • 4. Better water use, efficiency and recycling

A quarter of a per cent. That’s how much of the world’s water is usable. The rest is too salty, too polluted or too frozen. As our population grows so does the demand for this vital resource, which is already scarce. 40 per cent of the world don’t have access to sufficient clean water (5) and the situation is deteriorating fast.

The solution is to use less water and to use it more efficiently. Technology can play a big part. Agriculture accounts for around 75 per cent of all fresh water use (6), but precision irrigation can reduce both the amount used and the pollution it causes, through reduced herbicide and pesticide use.

In cities, high-tech sensors can help to detect leaks early and even forecast in advance which pipes are about to start leaking.

As well as using and wasting less water, we need to recycle more. The waste water recycling market is growing at 20 per cent a year (7), with nanotechnology and membrane filtering among the key innovations.

  • 3. Renewable and more efficient energy

Every year, 40 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) – the prime culprit in global warming, is released into the atmosphere. In order to put the brakes on destabilising, man-made climate change, the net release of this greenhouse gas needs to drop to zero.
Cleaner sources of energy production will help. For example, by abandoning coal, UK CO2 emissions have dropped 29 per cent over the past decade and are now the lowest they’ve been since 1888 (8). Renewables such as wind, solar and tidal already provide a third of UK electricity, and are fast becoming cheaper than fossil fuels.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) can be as simple as planting trees and generating biomass, or as complex as using new technology to suck CO2 right out of the air and lock it up in stone or concrete, or back into old oil or coal seams. The CCS market is growing 14 per cent a year and is projected to reach USD5.6 billion by 2026 (9).

Energy efficiency is key. For instance, LEDs have helped drop UK electricity demand back to 1984 levels8 and globally, energy efficiency represents about 40 per cent of potential reductions in greenhouse gases (10).

Companies developing smart buildings, better design, insulation and materials will benefit from the drive to use energy more efficiently.  

  • 2. Pollution reduction and removal

Air pollution alone kills almost 9 million people a year and cuts three years from our life expectancy (11) whilst more people die from unsafe water than from all forms of violence including war (12).

The growth of ever more densely populated cities threatens to make matters worse.

But disaster can be avoided. With smarter urban planning and the development of pollution-reducing technology, dirty air and water could be consigned to history. 

The global air pollution control market is expected to grow dramatically in the next few years, reaching over USD 100 billion by 2027 (7). Similarly, companies developing advanced water filtration and recycling technologies are helping to build a sustainable water system fit for the future.

  • 1. Environmental investment funds

An effective way to protect the planet for future generations is to invest in companies developing solutions to its most pressing environmental problems. The environmental solutions sector is thriving – at USD 2.5 trillion in size, it is growing at 6-7 per cent per year (7).

Environmental funds invest in some of the world’s most environmentally-responsible companies, and those building products or services to help solve environmental challenges such as climate change, air pollution and a lack of clean water, such as those highlighted above.

And investing to safeguard the planet doesn’t necessarily mean having to sacrifice performance. An increasing body of research research indicates that companies with stronger environmental, social and governance (ESG) values are likely to outperform the broader market over the long-term, and prove more resilient in market downturns (13).

Even a small investment can make a big environmental impact across a whole range of factors – from CO2 saved to renewable energy generated, or a reduction in the amount of fertiliser washed into our lakes and oceans.

 

Notes:

(1) Source: Our World in Data, September 2018.
(2) Source: The Guardian, March 2019.
(3) Source: Aquafil 2015 Sustainability Report.
(4) Source: Lenzing, company website, January 2019.
(5) Source: UN Water Action Decade, March 2018.
(6) Source: Encyclopedia of Water Science, Second Edition.
(7) Source: Pictet Asset Management, June 2020.
(8) Source: Carbon Brief, March 2020.
(9) Source: Bloomberg, March 2020.
(10) Source: EU 2030 Climate & Energy Framework.
(11) Source: Air Quality Life Index, November 2018.
(12) Source: UN World Water Day, March 2010.
(13) Source: Morningstar, Axioma & Boston Consulting, 2020.

 

Information, opinions and estimates contained in this document reflect a judgment at the original date of publication and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those presented herein.

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