The Council on Ethics Annual Report 2016 – Human rights continues to be in focus

Press release: 

The Council on Ethics of the Swedish AP Funds celebrates ten years 2017. During these ten years the Council has through engagement encouraged the AP Funds’ global portfolio companies to improve their work on environmental issues, human rights and corruption. In 2016 dialogues have covered companies regarding the fishing industry in Thailand and the guest workers’ situation in Qatar.

Based on the mandate of the AP Funds the Council on Ethics works with both preventive and reactive work with global companies in the AP Funds’ portfolios. The aim is to improve and have a positive impact regarding environmental and ethical issues in the operations of companies. In 2016 the Council on Ethics held dialogues in different sustainability areas totaling 316 companies worldwide. Biological diversity, anti-corruption and human rights continue to be examples of focus areas. The Council, for example, is engaged in a large number of dialogues on forced labor and child labor with the cocoa and tobacco industries. In 2016, the Council on Ethics recommended the AP Funds to exclude the mining company Zijin Mining since the company has not responded to the Council on Ethics’ demands for improvements on a policy regarding the discharge of mining waste in rivers, so called riverine tailings. – The Council on Ethics has during the past ten years worked with engagement as a means to solve problems and incidents that occur in business operations of investee companies. It is a sustainable strategy instead of selling the companies. To remain as owners and work for improvements was initially a bit of a unique approach from the AP Funds’ Council on Ethics, but this has now evolved to become the standard for responsible investors. The Council has however, no plans to rest on its laurels, but continue to work on environmental issues, human rights and corruption, says Peter Lundkvist, Chairman of the Council on Ethics in 2017.

Download the new annual report for 2016 here

Download this press release as pdf

For further details, contact:
Peter Lundkvist, Chair of the Council on Ethics 2017
Phone: +46 (0)8-555 171 44

John Howchin, Secretary-General, the Council on Ethics
Phone: +46 (0)8-555 171 76
Email: info@etikradetapfonderna.se

The AP Funds’ Council on Ethics
The AP Funds’ Council on Ethics is a collaboration between the First, Second, Third and Fourth AP Funds, which are tasked by the Swedish Parliament with creating high returns at low risk for Sweden’s current and future pensioners. The Council on Ethics is dedicated to contributing to the AP Funds’ long-term returns by encouraging companies to adopt responsible business praxis with regard to environmental and social issues.