Key Takeaways:
- Sustainability Report: Paine Schwartz Partners releases its seventh Annual Sustainability Report, highlighting sustainability priorities and progress.
- CEO Remarks: CEO Kevin Schwartz emphasizes the firm’s commitment to advancing sustainability and social responsibility in the food and agribusiness sector.
- Report Highlights: The report includes progress across the portfolio, impact metrics, diversity and inclusion efforts, and recognition for sustainability achievements.
- Diversity and Inclusion: Significant strides in diversity, with many senior roles filled by women and active participation in initiatives to bridge gender diversity gaps.
- Community Engagement: Hosting fundraising events and supporting programs for veterans and military families, raising substantial funds for charitable causes.
Paine Schwartz Partners Releases Seventh Annual Sustainability Report
Paine Schwartz Partners published its seventh Annual Sustainability Report. The report highlights the firm’s sustainability priorities and progress and is available for viewing and downloading on Paine Schwartz’s website.
Commitment to Sustainability and Social Responsibility
Kevin Schwartz, Chief Executive Officer of Paine Schwartz, stated, “Our 2024 Annual Sustainability Report details our continued progress and stewardship towards advancing sustainability and social responsibility throughout the food and agribusiness sector. We remain as convinced as ever that resilient, productive, and healthy food systems are not only critical to our planet and the global population, but also an important sector in which investment is needed. We are committed to working to create a more sustainable, secure, and productive food system on behalf of our investors, portfolio companies, employees, and communities around the world.”
Highlights from the Sustainability Report
The report provides a detailed review of progress across the Paine Schwartz portfolio, outlining individual portfolio company sustainability propositions, 2023 sustainability highlights, and future sustainability goals. Some key highlights include:
- Portfolio Company Progress: A comprehensive review of sustainability achievements and goals linked to CEO compensation.
- Impact Metrics: Real-world impact quantification using the Sustainable Development Investments (SDI) taxonomy.
- Year-over-Year Data: Robust time-series data tracking progress against environmental, human, and corporate KPIs across the portfolio.
Diversity and Inclusion Efforts
The report also emphasizes significant achievements in diversity and inclusion within the firm and its portfolio companies:
- Board Diversity: 92% of majority-owned companies have one or more directors who are non-male or non-white.
- Environmental Efforts: 100% of companies have initiatives to reduce their environmental impact.
- Senior Roles: Women have been hired into seven of the last ten senior roles.
- Initiatives: Joining the Women’s Awareness Initiative to bridge the gender diversity gap in asset management, and hosting women’s events as part of this pledge.
Recognitions and Community Engagement
Paine Schwartz received multiple awards, including being named “Impact Firm of the Year (Food System)” by New Private Markets and receiving ten Agri Investor awards. The firm has also demonstrated its commitment to community engagement by hosting the second annual No Obstacles: Race for the Warriors event, benefiting Hope for the Warriors®. This event raised more than $700,000, making it the organization’s largest fundraising event in its history.
Future Outlook
Paine Schwartz has taken further steps to enhance its sustainability efforts by hiring the firm’s first Head of Sustainability, adding the Agricultural Decarbonization & Nature Hunting Ground, and becoming an early adopter of the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). The establishment of the Fund VI LP Sustainability Council and its first meeting in 2023 provided a forum for discussing sustainability best practices across a global investor base.
Read the complete report here.
Paine Schwartz’s Latest News
Paine Schwartz Partners has closed a $1.7 billion fund dedicated to sustainable food chain investing, aimed at revolutionizing the agricultural sector. The fund will support innovative solutions addressing agriculture’s challenges in sustainability, efficiency, and food security across various sub-sectors. The closure has garnered positive reactions as it is seen as a significant milestone that could drive change in agriculture. This investment comes at a crucial time for the industry, addressing challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity, and a growing global population.
On June 6, 2023, Paine Schwartz Partners, a global pioneer in sustainable food chain investment, announced the successful completion of a strategic growth investment in Elemental Enzymes through its Paine Schwartz Food Chain Fund VI. Elemental Enzymes, a leading innovator in commercial agriculture, focuses on developing naturally occurring enzymes and biochemicals. The financial details of the transaction remain undisclosed.
Photo by Marta Ortigosa on UnsplashÂ
