Ethics
Balancing
opportunity with integrity
The CFB is committed to seeking both superior returns and improving ethical standards.
Positive approach
We seek to improve the ethical profile of our portfolios by avoiding investments in particular businesses and encouraging better practices in others.
Company engagement
We view our investments as long term partnerships with company managements. We engage in constructive dialogue and practise active voting to challenge social, environmental and ethical considerations.
Integrated process
Ethical research integrated with financial analysis is key to our investment process. Fund managers are responsible for both financial and ethical analysis.
Clear policy
Comprehensive policy statements and position papers offer a reference for clients and a clear focus for fund managers.
Theological grounding
The Joint Advisory Committee on the Ethics of Investment provides a unique and robust mechanism for testing ethical investment decisions against theological principles.
Quarterly review
March 2021
Access to Nutrition Index
In July 2020, the CFB became signatories to the ATNI’s Investor Expectations on Diets, Nutrition and Health. The report outlines four expectations related to corporate governance, strategy, lobbying, and transparency for food and beverage manufacturers and retailers. The CFB & Epworth co-filed a shareholder resolution at Tesco, calling for targets to increase the proportion of healthy products in its sales. Using Access to Nutrition Initiative research, it was found that Tesco lags its peers on reporting and encouraging healthy diets. Tesco has a 27% market share in the UK grocery market, and therefore has a key role to play in shaping the nation’s diet.
... Continue reading →Access to Medicine
Recognising the critical nature of the COVID-19 vaccine in the fight against COVID-19, the CFB supported the call for an effect, fair and equitable global response to the roll out of the vaccine which was organised by the Access to Medicine Foundation. The response recognised that if the tools to fight COVID-19 were not distributed fairly, and the virus continues to spread in low- and middle-income countries, the additional impacts could be nearly twice as many deaths, and USD9.2 trillion in global economic losses.
... Continue reading →Fair Tax Mark
The CFB & Epworth undertook a round of engagement with companies held in its UK portfolios to highlight the Fair Tax Mark, and to encourage companies to become accredited. Some of the corporate responses to this engagement highlighted the complexity and cost of attaining the Fair Tax Mark accreditation, particularly in the difficult environment of the COVID pandemic. Some were more positive, and we hope that some of our holdings will become accredited in the coming months as a result. Following our engagement with Ten Entertainment, a listed ten-pin bowling company, the company now publishes its tax policy online. The CFB & Epworth has also raised this with a number of other companies that it has met during 2020 and tax justice will continue to be on the agenda for company meetings in 2021.
... Continue reading →More quarterly reviews
Serving
the Methodist Church
The Joint Advisory Committee on the Ethics of Investment (JACEI) provides CFB with advice on ethical issues and reports to the Methodist Conference on CFB compliance with the aims and objectives of the Church.
JACEI Report
The JACEI Report is produced for the Methodist Conference outlining its activities each year. An abbreviated version is also produced. Together they provide a comprehensive survey of the issues that we have addressed.
The Climate emergency
Evidence continues to mount that the Earth is warming and yet greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise.
PRI Assessment Report 2020
As a PRI Signatory (Principles for Responsible Investment), we are pleased to announce that we attained the highest rating of A+ for our overall Strategy and Governance in the 2020 PRI Assessment Report. In fact, we scored above the median rating in all categories and are proud to share our latest report.
Working
in partnership
Active membership of global networks and partnerships provide a powerful united voice when dealing with multinational corporations and assist us and our clients to make informed ethical investment decisions.
The Stewardship Code
The CFB supports investor engagement with companies and is a signatory to the Financial Reporting Council's Stewardship Code
Montréal Pledge
The CFB is a signatory of the Montréal Carbon Pledge and is committed to a voluntary disclosure of the results. Read the CFB's Montréal Pledge Disclosure.
Mission, Policy Statements
and Position Papers
Mission statement
Position papers
- Alcohol
- Children's issues
- Climate change
- Climate change - Implications for Different Fuels
- Climate change - Electricity generation
- Environmental ethics
- Farm animal welfare
- Gambling
- Human rights and conflict
- Media
- Military exposed companies
- Nutrition and health
- Pooled Funds
- Tax Justice
- Tobacco
Briefing papers
Policy statements
- Alcohol related companies
- Caste discrimination
- Children's issues
- Climate change
- Climate change - Implications for Different Fuels
- Climate change - Electricity generation
- Corporate governance
- Farm animal welfare
- Financial intermediaries
- Fixed Income
- Food industry
- Gambling
- Human rights and conflict
- Israel and Palestine
- Media
- Military exposed companies
- Contractors supplying military and security services
- Mining companies and other extractive industries
- Pooled Funds
- Pornography
- Prisons
- Screening and engagement
- Tax Justice
- Tobacco
Miscellaneous
Have your say...
Our ethics are based on Methodist Church principles. We welcome feedback on an ethical issue. If you would like to discuss these please contact CFB Relationship Manager Christophe Borysiewicz on 020 7496 3630 or Chair of JACEI Stephen Wigley on 020 7467 5245.