Manulife Investment Management showcases positive impact of timber and agriculture in new sustainability report

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Achievements embrace certification of sustainable administration for 100% of U.S. agriculture and worldwide timberland portfolios

BOSTON, June 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ – Hancock Pure Useful resource Group, An group of Manulife Funding Management, right now introduced The discharge of its 2020 Report on Sustainability and Accountable Investing in Timber and Agriculture. The report particulars efficiency measurement and monitoring throughout 5 key environmental, social, and governance (ESG) areas That are supplies to the enterprise: local climate stability, ecosystem resiliency, watershed safety, people empowerment and group prosperity. Regardless of the challenges confronted By way of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 served to further show the resilience of the group and The prospect and privilege It is to work Inside these extremely constructed-in ecomethods to handle consumers’ investments sustainably.

“Timber and agriculture show that financial, environmental, and social properly-being all Rely upon The identical natural methods: the interdependence of crops, pollinators, precipitation, predators, and even people,” said Brian Kernohan, chief sustainability officer, particular personal markets, Manulife Funding Management. “We’re joyful to share The Latest end Outcomes from our Sustainability and Accountable Investing program and our foundational strategy that ‘good stewardship Is candy enterprise’ for our colleagues, consumers and communities.”

The report extremelights key sustainability efficiency metrics. Each timber and agriculture groups made vital progress on the respective metrics final yr. Manulife Funding Management is actively working to develop and continuously enhance these measurements in tandem with fullly different like-minded corporations and nonprofit groups. In 2022, Manulife Funding Management intends To current fund-diploma sustainability reporting To supply buyers further perception into the belongings personaled.

Agricultural milestones
2020 was pivotal for the agriculture investment platform As a Outcome of the diversified 70,000-acre immediately functiond U.S. agriculture portfolio turned The primary farmland to be third-halfy licensed beneath The mannequin new regular established by Main Harvest, an Outcome-based mostly sustainability regular designed to optimize sustainable farmland administration as An factor of a full assurance program For every Sort of farms.¹ Manulife Funding Management labored collaboratively with sector friends and nonprofit groups to develop The regular the placeas ending its inaugural examination in 2019. As of Might 17, 2021, 100% of its U.S. agriculture platform, Greater than 300,000 acres, has been third-halfy licensed to the Main Harvest Farmland Management Standard.

The investment group furtherly adopted a deliberate and systematic Think about regenerative agricultural practices Which will enhance soil well being and biodiversity, As properly as To enhance carbon sequestration, in recognition of agriculture’s position as a natural local climate reply.

“We made super progress in the direction of our sustainability initiatives in 2020 and have showd our on-going dedication to sustainable agriculture in 2021 by certifying 100% of our U.S. agriculture platform to the Main Harvest Standard. I Might not be prouder of the group,” said Ostayr Williams, worldwide head of agricultural investments, Manulife Funding Management.  “We consider that our economies of scale and the deployment of superior agricultural utilized sciences – Similar to distant sensing and precision irrigation/fertilization – will show to be more and more important as we proceed to increase our sustainability practices.”

Timberland milestones
Timberland’s significance grew as pandemic stress enhanced demand for forest merchandise, from pulp and paper Utilized in hygiene And particular personal defending gear, to noticed timber used for housing and renovations. Foresters and contractors labored diligently To fulfill enhanced demand. In parallel with The current-demand dynamics launched Inside the pandemic, agency and investor internet-zero dedications grew exponentially final yr, as did consciousness of the essential position forests play in eradicating carbon dioxide from the environment.

Manulife Funding Management’s timberland portfolio already removes extra CO₂ than its operations produce and is managing the belongings for constructive local climate influence. Over the previous 5 yrs, the timberland portfolio has eliminated 1.9 million tons of CO₂ from the environment yrly. As properly as, 100% of The worldwide portfolio is licensed as sustainably dealt with in accordance with credible third-halfy certification packages, collectively with the Sustainable Forestry Initiative® and fullly different PEFC-endorsed regulars and the Forest Stewardship Council®.

“By way of the dedication of the group, we fulld the yr in A very constructive place, with enhanced alternatives for our forests to both destayr worth to consumers and have local climate-constructive and nature-constructive influence,” said Tom Sarno, worldwide head of timberland investments, Manulife Funding Management. “We’re furtherly scaling As a lot as have The power To current our buyers alternatives for even greater influence Finally.”

“We consider Taking Fantastic care of the forests, farms, ecomethods, and communities entrusted to us Is important for attaining aggressive prolonged-time period returns,” Mr. Kernohan concluded. “And since the demand for ‘pure-play’ influence-first investing grows, we really feel we are properly-placeed To assist buyers tackle their carbon footprint, local climate or internet-zero pledges, and fullly different constructive environmental and social goals.”

About Manulife Funding Management
Manulife Funding Management is The worldwide wealth and asset administration half of Manulife Monetary Company. We draw on Greater than a century Of mointernetary stewardship and The complete assets of our mother or father agency to serve people, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in Private and non-particular personal markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 17 nations and territories. We complement these capabilities by offering entry to a internetwork of unaffiliated asset handlers from Across the globe. We’re dedicated to investing responsibly throughout our companies. We develop revolutionary worldwide frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively work together with corporations in our securities portfolios, and primarytain a extreme regular of stewardship the place we personal and function belongings, and we consider in supporting financial properly-being through our office retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors Across the globe Rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise To assist their staff plan for, save for, and stay A greater retirement.

As of March 31, 2021, Manulife Funding Management had CAD $764.1 billion (US $607.6 billion) in belongings beneath administration and administration. Not all supplyings Can be Present in all jurisdictions. For further information, please go to manulifeim.com. 

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