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08-05-2025 · Insight

Robeco’s approach to impact investing in public markets

Impact investing, which aims to benefit the environment or society while also earning a financial return, has always been tricky to define for investors. Proving that a positive impact has actually been achieved has often been difficult, along with the debate over whether public markets are an appropriate investment channel.

    Authors

  • Paul Ruijs - Impact Specialist

    Paul Ruijs

    Impact Specialist

But this should not stop investors from trying to make a difference by utilizing equity and bond markets to direct capital towards impactful companies. In addition, shareholder engagement can be used as a means to have a more direct influence on companies’ sustainability practices.

In this white paper, we outline Robeco’s approach to impact investing; how we distinguish between impact-aligned and impact-generating investing; how the Robeco SDG Framework provides the backbone for identifying suitable companies; and how we apply engagement to generate a positive real-world impact.

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