The strict, clear criteria of our sustainability standard
To classify our certificates as sustainable, we refer to strict, clear criteria that we have defined and laid down in the sustainability standard for Raiffeisen certificates.
Holistic consideration: Sustainable investment products take into account environmental or social objectives or principles of responsible corporate governance, or a combination thereof. In any case, our sustainability strategy ensures that the pursuit of none of these goals or principles leads to another being completely disregarded or even violated (so-called "do not significantly harm" principle).
Whether a certificate is sustainable or not according to this set of rules is determined by means of an exclusion procedure.
Underlying exclusion criteria
 | ESG individual stocks When selecting individual stocks, we actively select individual stocks according to appropriate ESG criteria on the basis of analysis data from Raiffeisen Research and exclude those issuers that fall under the ESG exclusion criteria. |
| ESG index An underlying index must be formed on the basis of an ESG scoring as well as meet the ESG requirements for Raiffeisen Certificates. There must be a clear logic for ESG minimum exclusions and an active selection of stock components according to appropriate ESG criteria. |
 | Human rights Reason for exclusion are serious violations of the above-mentioned UN Global Compact Principles. (without a positive perspective). |
 | Coal More than 25 % of the turnover from coal in individual securities is a reason for exclusion. |
 | Defence goods More than 10% of turnover from armaments is a reason for exclusion in the case of individual titles. For outlawed weapons (anti-personnel mines, cluster munitions, B- and C-weapons), a zero tolerance (0 % of turnover) applies to individual titles. |
 | Tobacco Companies that generate more than 5% of their turnover with tobacco, cannot be used as a baseline for sustainable products. |
 | Agricultural commodities Underlyings on the trading of so-called soft commodities, such as wheat, coffee or sugar, are excluded in order to avoid speculation with vital commodities. |
 | Nuclear power From turnover shares of more than 10 % in relation to nuclear powera company is excluded. |
 | State issuers The rating of the international non-governmental organisation "Freedom House" for the promotion of liberal democracies must have a score above 70 "partially free". If a country is rated "not free", it is excluded. |
The exclusion criteria were developed on the basis of the Taxonomy and Disclosure Regulation of the European Union in coordination with the Corporate Governance for Raiffeisen Certificates, as well as in accordance with the recommendations of the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber (WKO) and in consideration of the RBI Business Policies.
Key adverse impacts on sustainability (PAI)
In the case of sustainable certificates from Raiffeisen, important adverse impacts on sustainability factors - "Principal Adverse Impacts", or PAIs for short - are taken into account. Raiffeisen certificates can take the following important groups of PAIs into account:
 | Greenhouse gas emissions |  | Water conservation and water consumption | |
| Biodiversity (Species Diversity) |  | Social, labour and human rights issues including corruption and bribery | |
 | Waste prevention | |||
These considerations of PAIs are made at the level of the issuer (derived from the sustainability report of Raiffeisen Bank International) as well as at the level of the underlying (according to the sustainability standard for Raiffeisen certificates and compliance with a dedicated ESG strategy).
Principles & Ratings
Our sustainable investment products are designed on the basis of ESG (Environment, Social, Governance). This means that we at Raiffeisen Zertifikate take into account criteria from the environmental, social and responsible corporate governance areas and include exclusion criteria, which for example include those companies or underlyings that exceed defined turnover thresholds in problematic business areas.
In addition, we act in accordance with global principles of sustainability of the United Nations.
Further information on the Global Compact Network Austria website →
The entire Raiffeisen Bank International Group (RBI) is an official signatory of the UN Principles for Responsible Banking as of 2021 - a unified framework for sustainable banking developed in an innovative global partnership between banks and the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI). The Principles for Responsible Banking define the role and responsibility of the banking sector and align it with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement of 2015. Raiffeisen certificates are also committed to this framework.
An important achievement of the principles is that they support banks in anchoring the topic of sustainability in all their business areas and in recognising where their potential lies in order to make the greatest possible contribution to a sustainable world. They also position banks to take advantage of new business opportunities with the emergence of the sustainable development economy.
Learn more about the Principles for Responsible Banking
Sustainability reports of RBI Group →
Sustainalytics rating of RBI Group →
MSCI ESG rating of RBI Group →
