ESG and impact Investments
ESG and Impact Investments
Leppla Capital cares about our global future. When possible, we focus on ESG and Impact investments.
ESG stands for Environmental, Social and Governance. These are non-financial factors that are applied when evaluating the “total return,” both financial and societal, of a particular investment.
Environmental Criteria
Environmental criteria measure how well, or poorly, an enterprise’s activity impacts the quality of the environment; for example, do the company’s facilities pollute global air and water?
Or, by contrast, have the company’s manufacturing and distribution processes been engineered with minimal environmental impact?
Social Criteria
Social criteria evaluate the
manner in which the enterprise
acts as a community citizen –
issues examined include
relationships both with internal
and external audiences --
employees, suppliers, customers,
affirmative action or
governmental or special interest
groups that advance legitimate
social policies with respect to
hiring policies, and similar matters.
Governance Criteria
Governance deals with a company’s respect for its shareholders and the proxy process, the company’s leadership, executive compensation, risk controls and similar criteria.
Companies demonstrate their commitment to ESG principles through action, not words. This is the basis on which we monitor their behavior.
Impact Investments share similar aspirations to ESG investing but are focused and direct – impact investments are made with the specific goal of providing capital to address and rectify known social or environmental issues in a measurable, beneficial way in addition to a financial return. Investments in renewable energy, sustainable fishing or agriculture, microfinance are examples of such investments.
Leppla Capital believes in both forms of socially responsible investing, and acts accordingly. We promote investments that are environmentally sound with respect to climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, waste and pollution, and microfinance. We evaluate a potential investment with regard to working conditions, equal opportunity, diversity and similar concerns. We support companies that adopt strong, measurable business ethics and governance policies.
In the words of Alfred Tennyson:
The lights begin to twinkle from the rocks:
The long day wanes: the slow moon climbs: the deep
Moans round with many voices. Come, my friends,
‘T is not too late to seek a newer world
Please contact us to discuss your interest in ESG and impact investing – your goals are our goals.