DWS awarded Towards Sustainability label on 5 ESG Xtrackers ETFs

DWS’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) Xtrackers exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have now obtained the Towards Sustainability quality label on five selected regional ESG ETFs by the Central Labeling Agency CLA in Belgium. In March, three DWS ESG Xtrackers fixed income passive products were already awarded the label.

The Towards Sustainability label was launched in 2019 by the Belgian financial sector federation Febelfin. The label guarantees that awarded funds comply with a strict set of criteria applying to sustainable and socially responsible investments. The label requires a high level of transparency and is based on recommendations by several European experts who focus on the distribution of sustainability funds to retail clients.

DWS is honored that its equity ESG Xtrackers funds have now been added to the list of products that have been awarded the label and pleased to be able to offer its Belgian customers the highest possible sustainability standards on all its ESG Xtrackers, says Arjen Jonk, Head of Passive Benelux at DWS. “At a time when sustainable finance is increasingly important to clients, we’re very aware of the label’s value. ESG is at the core of everything we do, and we aim to take a leading role in ESG in the asset management industry. Obtaining a label like this establishes these efforts.”

According to Jonk, the Towards Sustainability label could serve as a template for a future European label. “We see that the label is becoming more popular, and is starting to serve as a benchmark for sustainable investing. This makes obtaining the label important, not only for our Belgian clients who want to invest sustainably, but also for our clients in other European countries.”

Zeb Saeed, Passive product specialist at DWS, adds: “All of the Xtrackers ESG funds go beyond the standard Environmental metrics, but all incorporate further climate and fossil fuel related screens making these amongst the cleanest ETFs in the market when it comes to carbon, while incorporating strong ESG measurements.”

DWS aims to make sustainability a core component of its fiduciary action. The asset manager is the only German founding signatory of the ‘Net Zero Emissions Goal’ initiative. The organisation represents asset managers’ commitment to decarbonise investment portfolios and accelerate their contribution to achieving net zero emissions and limiting climate change to 1.5°C. In November 2020, DWS also established a dedicated ESG Advisory Board consisting of six highly respected international sustainability experts.

For more information, please view DWS’ integrated Annual Report here.

The following products have been awarded the Towards Sustainability label:

DWS Group

DWS Group (DWS) is one of the world's leading asset managers with EUR 820bn of assets under management (as of 31 March 2021). Building on more than 60 years of experience and a reputation for excellence in Germany and across Europe, DWS has come to be recognized by clients globally as a trusted source for integrated investment solutions, stability and innovation across a full spectrum of investment disciplines.

We offer individuals and institutions access to our strong investment capabilities across all major asset classes and solutions aligned to growth trends. Our diverse expertise in Active, Passive and Alternatives asset management – as well as our deep environmental, social and governance focus – complement each other when creating targeted solutions for our clients. Our expertise and on-the-ground-knowledge of our economists, research analysts and investment professionals are brought together in one consistent global CIO View, which guides our investment approach strategically.

DWS wants to innovate and shape the future of investing: with approximately 3,500 employees in offices all over the world, we are local while being one global team. We are investors – entrusted to build the best foundation for our clients’ future.