Acea, a responsible investment

The terms sustainable finance, ethical finance or responsible investment identify all those forms of business management which, besides the traditional reference parameters, also envisage the use of environmental and social criteria. Ethical finance: «(…) aims to introduce as reference parameters, besides risk and yield, also the impact of the investment on the so-called “real” economy, to modify  "financial" conduct into a more social approach and to finance all the activities undertaken with a view to development which is sustainable in human and environmental terms; ethical finance: «(…) aims therefore to develop indicators to record, together with the business performance and the economic yields, also the social and/or environmental impact of financeable activities; (...)». (in La Finanza Etica in Italia, Rapporto di Lunaria per Banca Etica, Oct. 2000). The interest of the financial system in these forms of investment, which are increasingly common, derives also from the fact that companies which adopt sustainable conduct are recognised as having a greater chance of success and continuity.

Acea has for some years been the subject of analysis by leading Italian and European rating agencies which assess listed companies on the basis of their sustainability. Such agencies include:

• Avanzi (SiRI)
• Axia
• E. Capital Partners
• EIRIS (UK)
• SAM (Switzerland)