Sustainable investing

Sustainability in securities investments

As a health insurer, we use the premium funds we receive from our customers to pay for medical services, but we also invest the money in the capital market. The income generated from these investments serves to bolster Helsana’s financial stability. We also live up to our role as a responsible investor. Protecting investments in the long term is always at the centre of what we do. All decisions regarding our investments are based on a careful weighing up of risks and returns, with sustainability considerations also playing a key role.

• Exclusions: In the 2023 reporting year, we implemented the exclusion list of the Swiss Association for Responsible Investments (SVVK) to exclude controversial organisations and companies that do not meet certain ethical standards from our investment portfolio. We have our portfolio reviewed to check for these securities on a quarterly basis. The reports in 2023 stated that the Helsana Group’s portfolio did not, at any time, include securities that contradicted the sustainability criteria defined in the investment regulations (SVVK exclusion list).
• In addition, we will not be making any new investments in companies from the tobacco sector as of 2024, as the negative health effects of tobacco consumption are undisputed and are not compatible with our commitment to a sustainable healthcare system. We already sold all our existing shares in this sector in the reporting year. We will gradually dispose of our bond holdings while taking care to ensure an appropriate return for our customers.
• Exercise of voting rights: We also take sustainability aspects into account when exercising voting rights (proxy voting) in connection with our equity investments in Swiss and foreign companies. We take these aspects into consideration by exercising our voting rights at the general meetings of the relevant companies with regard to all three dimensions of sustainability – environmental, social and governance – in accordance with the principles of good and ethical corporate governance.
• Commitment: Last year, we joined the renowned “Institutional Investors Group on Climate Change (IIGCC)” and the major commitment initiative “Climate Action 100+”. The “IIGCC” is an association of institutional investors that is dedicated to the topic of climate change and its impact on investments, while “Climate Action 100+” is the largest investor initiative in the area of climate change. These memberships enable us to work directly with companies to develop innovative, sustainable strategies and minimise ecological damage. We also use the services of ISS ESG to take targeted action against companies that violate international (United Nations “UN”) standards – in particular environmental and human rights standards. ISS ESG enables us to make direct contact with a company’s management or board.

Sustainability in direct real estate investments

A significant proportion of CO₂ emissions in Switzerland are caused by the real estate sector. Helsana lives up to its social responsibility as a real estate investor by implementing sustainability measures in its real estate portfolio. This allows us to make an effective contribution to the achievement of Switzerland’s sustainability objectives. At the same time, we ensure the long-term marketability of the properties we hold, as well as corresponding returns for our customers.

• We expanded our portfolio strategy to feature a sustainability concept in the reporting year. We recorded the relevant sustainability indicators for the existing portfolio and defined target values that are to be measured and achieved over the next few years. One key indicator is the CO₂ emissions generated by the real estate portfolio. We are committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from our direct real estate investments by 30% by 2030 compared to the 2022 baseline. The target is based on the reduction path developed for the existing portfolio and a net-zero target to be achieved by 2050. To achieve this goal, we are increasing the use of renewable energies, focusing on the installation of photovoltaic systems, reducing energy consumption by optimising our operations and focusing on low-carbon construction methods for new buildings and complete refurbishments. We currently expect that offsetting measures will be necessary to achieve the net-zero target by 2050. The remaining emissions are largely attributable to district heating – and electricity products – purchased from contractual partners. We will measure and monitor the defined key indicators every year as part of the sustainability concept. The sustainability concept itself will be reviewed every five years and the resulting measures will be adjusted if necessary.
• We also developed sustainability principles for our new construction projects and complete refurbishments in the reporting year. The same applies to property acquisitions, which in future will have to meet specific sustainability requirements. The corresponding guidelines and processes are currently being developed in greater detail.