Focus on human rights: Vita Collective Foundation invests sustainably
The Vita Collective Foundation closed the 2024 financial year with net performance of 6.6% and a cover ratio of 111.6%. Sustainable asset investments are part of the long-term strategy: The focus on human rights has been strengthened since 2024. In addition to the annual report, the Vita Collective Foundation now also publishes its sustainability and governance report.
The Vita Collective Foundation manages over CHF 20 billion for its 150,340 active insured persons and 8,324 retired persons, making it one of the most important pension funds in Switzerland. 27,593 companies entrust the Foundation with their occupational retirement provision. It closed the 2024 financial year with net performance of 6.6%, with foreign equities making the largest contribution to returns. The cover ratio developed positively and amounted to 111.6% as at December 31, 2024.
Long-term sustainable asset investments
"Investing pension fund assets sustainably is part of our long-term investment strategy," says Dr. Werner Wüthrich, Managing Director of the Vita Collective Foundation. "Among other things, we are committed to the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) and achieved at least a four-star rating in almost all categories of the PRI reporting in 2024 – out of a maximum of five stars." The Vita Collective Foundation significantly exceeded its target of reducing CO₂e emissions (CO₂ equivalent) in shares by 20% from December 31, 2019, to December 31, 2024, with a reduction of 38.8%. In 2024, it decided, among other things, to no longer finance oil and gas projects in private market investments if they are not climate-friendly.
As an institutional investor, the Vita Collective Foundation also considers itself responsible for observing and respecting human rights. In 2024, it therefore decided to place a stronger focus on human rights as well as forced and child labor when exercising its shareholder voting rights: The Foundation calls on companies to be open and transparent in their reporting on human and employee rights.