The paper is co-authored by Robeco’s Jan Anton van Zanten, SDG Strategist, and Laurens Swinkels, Head of Quant Research, along with Anna Vasileva, Doctoral Student at the University of Zurich. Their research found that companies with a higher alignment with the SDGs have a lower probability of being involved in scandals, or are involved in fewer scandals that are less severe.
The study showed that for companies in more resource-intensive and thereby less sustainable sectors such as oil exploration or coal mining, the sustainability risks that companies face are even bigger when it comes to encountering accidents that can turn into scandals. SDGs related to climate change are particularly strongly related to scandal involvement. The results point to corporate sustainability being an indicator of corporate legitimacy.
Keep up with the latest sustainable insights
Join our newsletter to explore the trends shaping SI.
Important information
This information is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as an offer to sell or an invitation to buy any securities or products, nor as investment advice or recommendation. The contents of this document have not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS”). Robeco Singapore Private Limited holds a capital markets services license for fund management issued by the MAS and is subject to certain clientele restrictions under such license. An investment will involve a high degree of risk, and you should consider carefully whether an investment is suitable for you.