Forum ETHIBEL vzw was commissioned by MIRA to carry out the time series of sustainable saving and investment. In spite of the financial crisis, the Belgian sustainable investment and savings market continued to grow steadily in 2010.
Investors, savers and financial institutions have a major impact on economic and social developments by giving direction to capital flows. One of the ways in which they can contribute to sustainable development is by participating in or offering sustainable investment and savings products. The products on offer can present diverse financial characteristics, but the sustainability character is the binding factor
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The most major financial institutions offer sustainable investment products. These are well accessible to the general public. In 2010 the sustainable investment market grew by 8.3 % to almost 11 billion euros. The total Belgian market of publicly traded Undertakings for Collective Investment (UCIs) grew by only 2.2 % that year. The number of sustainable products with regard to the total invested assets in UCIs hereby slightly increased from 8.2 % in 2009 to 8.7 % in 2010.
Sustainable savings products are by definition more accessible to the general public than sustainable investment products. And yet the market for sustainable saving is more limited in volume and growth rate than the market for sustainable investment. In 2010 the assets built up in sustainable savings increased by 6.8 % to 1.6 billion euros. The total deposits in all savings accounts in Belgium increased by only 4.3 % in the same year, but nonetheless amounted to 232 billion euros. Despite the substantial increase, after 26 years sustainable saving remains a marginal event with a market share of 0.68 % in 2010.
The 3rd ‘Sustainable & Socially Responsible Investment Week’
From October 17th to 23th, vzw BELSIF, the Belgian Sustainable and Socially Responsible Investment Forum, is organising conferences, open days etc. throughout the country. Through these events, the organisation is aiming to inform the public and persuade them to start investing responsibly.
o Read the English summary of the report ‘Sustainable savings and investments in Belgium in 2010’
o Find out about the ‘Sustainable & Socially Responsible Investment Week’
o MIRA contact person: Nathalie Dewolf (n.dewolf@vmm.be)