Sustainability

With an unwavering commitment to hope, positivity, and innovation, we create global solutions that celebrate biodiversity and ensure a positive impact on the world around us. Our integrity, inclusivity, and accountability drive everything we do, exemplified by our own net-zero emissions achievements.

As active participants in esteemed organizations supporting responsible investment and sustainability, we align your business goals with a brighter, greener future.

You can read our annual sustainability reports here.

Responsible Alpha's 2023 GRI Sustainability Report is published here.
Responsible Alpha's 2023 GRI Sustainability Report is published here.

Why Net Positive

Both practically and morally, corporate leaders can no longer sit on the sidelines of major societal shifts or treat human and planetary issues as “someone else’s problem.” For their own good, they must play an active role in addressing our biggest shared challenges. The economy won’t thrive unless people and the planet are thriving.

We believe that corporate leaders have an obligation to make the world a better place as described by Andrew Winston and former Unilever CEO Paul Polman in their Net Positive Manifesto, which describes how their vision of a “net positive” company—one that grows by helping the world flourish.

This is an aspirational goal, one that we work each day to acheive at Responsible Alpha, knowing that we are on the journey to net positive. We believe we must address climate change quickly, enable and achieve ambitious commitments for equity, inclusion, and human rights, manage our global economy within our planetary boundaries.

Climate

Responsible Alpha’s corporate sustainability strategy identifies priority sectors, technologies, and consulting opportunities that provide net-zero solutions for our clients Responsible Alpha is a member of leading technical working groups supporting the net-zero transition including:

Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero Mobilizing Capital to Emerging Markets & Developing Economies working group.
Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero Net-zero Transition Plan working group.
Net Zero Financial Services Provider Alliance (NZFSPA).
S&P Global Sustainable Finance Scientific Council member.
Principles for Responsible Investment Nature Reference working group.
Principles for Responsible Investment Circular Economy and Plastics Reference working group.
Responsible Alpha is also a signatory to the Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

Responsible Alpha has set annual net-zero Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions commitments focusing on minimizing our emissions as measured versus total revenue. All of Responsible Alpha’s client engagements are assessed through a climate lens.

In 2022, Responsible Alpha co-wrote our submission letter to the U.S. SEC highlighting economic data and 12 corporate business cases directly linking climate change, negative impacts on communities, and poor investment performance. Our climate risk submission letter we submitted to the SEC was co-signed by more than 120 leading institutions. (insert link to insights page).

Responsible Alpha’s team has worked for many decades with organizations globally to reduce their emissions, with material results at clients ranging from large U.S. corporate banks to impact investing strategies conserving carbon sinks in the tropics. We currently advise organizations on their energy transition strategies.

We are also trained carbon project auditors, previously under the Climate Action Reserve and now with Plan Vivo.

Responsible Alpha actively supports global and regional agreements that align with our business operations, products, and the broader impact on people, communities, and the environment.

We report annually in our GRI sustainability report and our United Nations Global Compact annual Communication of Progress (CoP) report on our progress and alignment with interconnected sustainability goals and our transition to net-zero, emphasizing the importance of partnerships and our commitment to sustainability.

Building a sustainable business is about making a tangible difference and cultivating smarter practices for a stronger world. Responsible Alpha is dedicated to driving value and growth while strengthening our environment and society.

Our team is ready to help you build greater resilience and trust by making strategic moves to manage environmental, climate, and social impacts. We address regulations, investments, and metrics across environmental, social, and governance opportunities to support your sustainability journey.

Biodiversity

Responsible Alpha frames all of its work through a planetary boundaries lens.

Human Rights

At Responsible Alpha, we are committed to upholding the highest standards of human and labor rights in all our operations and across our entire value chain, including our potential suppliers. Our commitment is guided by international human rights standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Labour Organization (ILO) Conventions, and the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. We believe that respect for human rights is fundamental to our mission as a sustainability consulting firm and is integral to creating a just and sustainable world.

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

DEI

At Responsible Alpha, we uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, and diversity in all operations. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is integral to our mission and values as a responsible and ethical investment advisory firm.

On November 13, 2023, Responsible Alpha was pleased to become a signatory to the CFA Institute’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Code (DEI).

CFA Institute’s DEI Code

Responsible Alpha is a signatory to the CFA Institute’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Code (DEI). We at Responsible Alpha are deeply committed to the following CFA Institute DEI principles:

Principle 1 – Pipeline: We commit to expanding the diverse talent pipeline.
Principle 2 –Talent Acquisition: We commit to designing, implementing, and maintaining inclusive and equitable hiring and onboarding practices.
Principle 3 – Promotion and Retention: We commit to designing, implementing, and maintaining inclusive and equitable promotion and retention practices to reduce barriers to progress.
Principle 4 – Leadership: We commit to using our position and voice to promote DEI and improve DEI outcomes in the investment industry. We will hold ourselves responsible for our firm’s progress.
Principle 5 – Influence: We commit to using our role, position, and voice to promote and increase measurable DEI results in the investment industry.
Principle 6 – Measurement: We commit to measuring and reporting on our progress in driving better DEI results within our firm. We will provide regular reporting on our firm’s DEI metrics to our senior management, our board, and CFA Institute.

Commitment

At Responsible Alpha, we are committed to:

Diversity: We embrace diversity in all its forms, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, and socio-economic background. We recognize that diverse teams lead to better decision-making and performance.
Equity: We strive to create an equitable workplace where all employees have equal opportunities for growth, advancement, and success, regardless of their background or identity. We are committed to fair and transparent recruitment, hiring, promotion, and compensation processes.
Inclusion: We foster an inclusive culture where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives and talents. We promote open communication, collaboration, and teamwork across all levels of the organization.
Accessibility: We provide reasonable accommodation(s) to enable individuals with disabilities to participate fully in our programs and activities. We are committed to creating a digital environment that is accessible to all.
Non-Discrimination: We maintain zero tolerance for discrimination, harassment, or bias of any kind and provide channels for reporting and addressing concerns. We adhere to the CFA Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct, promoting integrity and ethical behavior in all aspects of our work.

Implementation

We will implement this DEI policy through the following:

Training: Providing quarterly diversity and inclusion training for all employees, emphasizing the importance of ethical conduct and professionalism.
Review: Quarterly reviewing and updating our HR policies and procedures to ensure alignment with DEI principles and CFA Institute's standards.
Candidates: Actively seeking diverse and best-fitting candidates for open positions and promoting diverse representation at all levels of the organization.
Participation: Actively encouraging employee participation in DEI initiatives focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Representation: Electing Responsible Alpha DEI representative by voting by Responsible Alpha Team members.
Alignment: Aligning DEI policies with pending B Corporation commitment.
Documentation: Documenting company culture and DEI activities.
Staff Resources Council: Placing Responsible Alpha DEI representative on three-person Staff Resources Council.
Board Representation: Placing Responsible Alpha DEI representative on Responsible Alpha Board of Directors.
DEI Code: A DEI Code will be developed over time that will delve into further specifications.
CFA DEI Code: DEI reporting will be conducted quarterly in accordance with the CFA DEI code and the Responsible Alpha amendments to this code.

At Responsible Alpha, we are committed to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, ethical conduct, and diversity in all aspects of our operations. By embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion, we will continue to drive positive change and achieve our mission of building a sustainable and equitable future.