Germany: Beehives!

Sustainability in Remuneration Systems? Is that possible? And if so, how?

Everyone wants it. Everyone claims it. But in practice, are sustainability criteria actually met?

Have insurance companies and investment houses really made progress or have sustainability targets remained with the beehives on the roof – i.e. greenwashing – in the practice of fund providers?

What has become of the seal of the Forum Nachhaltige Geldanlagen (FNG) trade association? Is the FNG seal comparable to the “organic” seal: nice and colorful, but empty of content?

The news alone that the FNG seal wants to “reposition itself in 2024” sounds like this has not been a great success story. What is it all about?

Sustainability is about minimum standards in the consideration of labor and human rights, environmental protection, and the fight against corruption.

If the fathers of the FNG seal have their way, applicants will have to also demonstrate the extent to which remuneration systems – i.e. salaries and variable bonuses – are linked to the specific sustainability performance of their companies.

It’s all about credibility and neither the beehives on the roof of the company headquarters, the number of digital training options for endless ESG webinars, the increased volume of donations, nor the use of the job bike (which has not really caught on in the world of asset managers) will help here. Joking aside, the ESG compliance jungle has become more confusing for everyone involved.

This article was republished by Mondaq.

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