Robeco has launched the RobecoSAM Biodiversity Equities fund.

Robeco says the fund invests in companies that support the sustainable use of natural resources and ecosystem services, as well as technologies, products and services that help to reduce biodiversity threats or restore natural habitats. The fund is classified as Article 9 under SFDR and will be managed by David Thomas, Senior Portfolio Manager and Aaron Re’em, Co-Portfolio Manager within Robeco’s thematic investment team.

The fund will invest in four themes: sustainable land use, freshwater networks, marine systems, and traceable products. Robeco says its Active Ownership team will engage with up to 25% of portfolio holdings to further improve their contributions to biodiversity. For the fund design and active ownership, Robeco has sought advice from World Wide Fund for Nature Netherlands (WWF-NL) on biodiversity issues.

Mark van der Kroft, CIO Fundamental and Quant Equity, Robeco: “RobecoSAM Biodiversity Equities is the culmination of one and a half years of work to create a product that specifically promotes biodiversity in an impact investing style, rather than just investing in environmental or climate-related stocks generally. The launch of the strategy marks yet another milestone in the Biodiversity roadmap we outlined earlier this year and we are extremely proud of what the team behind it has created.”