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Sustainability

Back to About Rest

We’re taking actions for a better, fairer, and more sustainable future

Members are at the heart of Rest. We are focused on your financial future, and we support actions that will build a better, fairer and more sustainable future for you. Whether it’s investing in clean energy or advocating for a fair super system, Rest has a focus on sustainability. You can follow our progress here.

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Sustainability policies in place

May 2013 - Rest puts policies in place for Sustainability and Proxy Voting

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CWF signs up to GRESB

2016 - Collgar Wind Farm is an early adopter of GRESB, an infrastructure ESG benchmarking tool

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Rest’s first female CEO

May 2018 - Vicki Doyle appointed as Rest’s first female CEO

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Full ACSI member

July 2018 - Rest becomes a full member of ACSI, taking seats on the Board and Member Council

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No more tobacco or weapons

August 2018 - Investments in tobacco and controversial weapons are excluded

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Rest signs UN PRI

February 2019 - Rest becomes a signatory to the Principles of Responsible Investment (PRI)

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Climate change position statement

February 2019 - Rest’s Climate Change Position Statement is published

Icon of Collgar Wind Farm 100% Rest owned

Collgar Wind Farm 100% Rest owned

June 2019 - Collgar Wind Farm is fully acquired by Rest, making it one of the largest Australian renewable energy projects directly owned by an Australian superannuation fund at that time

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Tobacco Free Portfolios

November 2019 - Tobacco Free Portfolios Supporter Badge awarded to Rest

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Supporting Women In Super

December 2019 - Rest continues support for an equitable superannuation system and formally joins Women In Super

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Rest collaborates in ASFI

December 2019 - Rest becomes a collaborator in the Australian Sustainable Finance Initiative

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Rest joins RIAA

January 2020 - Rest joins the Responsible Investment Association of Australia

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6 Star Green Star design rating

February 2020 - Quay Quarter Tower achieves an impressive 6 Star Green Star design rating from the Green Building Council of Australia

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Achieves an 'A' in the PRI

March 2020 - Rest’s first and voluntary PRI Assessment Report achieves an ‘A’ in the Strategy and Governance module

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Sustainability strategy

May 2020 - Rest Sustainability strategy is aligned to the UN Sustainable Development Goals

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Investor Group on Climate Change

June 2020 - Rest joins the Investor Group on Climate Change, which advocates for government policy and investment practice to address climate change risks and opportunities

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Tax Transparency Report

August 2020 - Rest’s first Tax Transparency Report is published as part of our commitment to the Voluntary Tax Transparency Code

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Modern slavery assessment

September 2020 - All Rest investment managers assessed for modern slavery risks

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Net zero by 2050

November 2020 – objective to achieve a net zero carbon footprint for the fund by 2050

Sustainability strategy

Sustainability at Rest includes how we invest responsibly, our corporate responsibilities as an organisation, and how we advocate for change on matters that are important to our members, and broader stakeholders. We focus on: 

Business and investment performance is unlikely to thrive in a world of poverty, inequality, unrest and environmental stress. So it’s in our interest to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Endorsed by all 193 United Nations Member States in 2015, the SDGs focus global efforts in a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. They provide a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all*. 

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The SDGs help to bring our sustainability strategy to life. We have done the work to align our sustainability strategy to focus on five of the SDGs. They frame the Rest contribution to your sustainable future.

More about the SDGs
 

Diversity and inclusion

Rest fosters a diverse and inclusive culture where people feel welcome and inspired to do their best, regardless of any characteristic they may have. 

We support diversity, recognising that people from different backgrounds bring different skills, knowledge and experiences. This diversity of views strengthens decision making in the best interests of Rest members.

Rest has a 33% minimum target for males and females on the board, which was achieved in October 2020.

Collgar wind farm

Investing in renewables - Collgar wind Farm

As a superannuation fund managing over $55B in assets**, the most meaningful contribution to sustainability we can make is how we invest. Responsible investment helps us manage risk, maximise investment opportunities and contribute to a more sustainable future for our members. This means that your retirement savings can be invested in resilient organisations that are helping to build a sustainable economy; creating financial returns for you, and social and environmental returns for many. The WA Collgar Wind Farm, fully owned by Rest, is a great example.

More than 25% of WA’s renewable power generated in FY2020

Equivalent to powering 130,000 average WA homes for a year

18,000 hectares with rent paid to local farmers

200 people employed during construction and 28 people employed ongoing

$100,000 donated

to local projects per annum

Collgar Wind Farm fact sheet

Climate action

We understand that the impact of climate change concerns our members, and that it is a financial risk for long term investors. With 35% of our members under the age of 25*** and with decades before retirement, it is important to think long term. So, we have adopted an objective to achieve a net zero carbon footprint for the fund by 2050. This reinforces our approach to managing ESG factors like climate-related risk and aligns with long term investment performance.

Climate change
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Sustainable Development Goals

Find out more about the prioritised Sustainable Development Goals which Rest is aligning to

UN SDGs
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Climate change

We have a long term objective to achieve net zero carbon footprint for the fund by 2050

Climate change
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Responsible investment

Investing responsibly helps us manage risk, maximise investment opportunities and contribute to a sustainable future

Responsible investment

Build a better, fairer, and more sustainable future with Rest.

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* www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals
**As at 30 June 2020.
***Internal data source.