Thrive+ Sustainable Growth

All forms of tobacco products are addictive and harmful to health.

• Smoking is estimated to kill almost 20,500 Australians a year (13% of all deaths) and was responsible for 8.6% of Australia’s total burden of disease in 2018.¹

• Tobacco directly kills more than 7 million people per annum globally.² 
  

Children and young people are exploited in the production of tobacco.

• The US Department of Labor reports there are at least 17 countries where child labour is common in the tobacco industry.³
  
• 3.9% of the global tobacco workforce exploits child labour – that’s an estimated 1.3 million children worldwide.⁴ 
  

Tobacco use contributes to poverty by diverting household spending away from basic needs.

• Smoking cost the Australian economy $136.9 billion in social costs in 2015–16, including healthcare costs, family care, lost productivity, and worker absences.⁵

• Over 80% of the 1.3 billion smokers worldwide live in low to middle-income countries where the burden of tobacco-related illness and death is heaviest.² 
  

• Around 4.5 trillion cigarettes are discarded each year worldwide, with up to 8.9 billion in Australia alone (almost 50% of all cigarettes consumed), making them the most littered item on Earth.^{6, 7}
  

• Cigarette litter and its management costs the Australian economy an estimated $73 million per year, leaching nicotine, heavy metals, and plastic into the surrounding environment.⁷ 
  

Promoting good for people, planet and policy

The investment approach for CFS Thrive+ seeks to generate competitive returns whilst doing good for people, planet and policy. The Thrive+ Sustainable Investment Charter is the framework that guides us. 

1. We seek out companies that unleash positive change in the world by supporting people, planet and policy.

2. We seek to avoid companies that have a highly adverse effect on people and planet.⁸

3. We work with investment managers who engage with companies and vote to influence sustainable outcomes. 
   

We will not invest in any companies that manufacture tobacco products including cigars, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, inhalers, snuff, chewing tobacco, or companies involved in the growing or processing of raw tobacco leaves. 

In 2015, the United Nations introduced 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a universal call to action for governments and businesses to improve lives of people in the world while protecting the planet. 

Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages CFS Thrive+ seeks to support the SDGs by not investing in tobacco manufacturers with the aim of advancing progress towards SDG target 3: Good Health and Well-Being.

There are more than one billion firearms in the world and the majority are in the hands of civilians. The weapons and firearms industry profits from criminal activity, civil unrest, and armed conflicts around the globe, contributing to countless deaths, human rights abuses, and reduced economic progress.¹

Thrive+ believes that investing in companies involved in the manufacturing, storing, or processing of nuclear, controversial, and conventional weapons will lead to negative outcomes for our global community. 

Violence hinders productivity and economic activity, destabilises institutions, and reduces business confidence.

• The global economic impact of violence was estimated to be US $14.4 trillion in 2019. This is equivalent to 10.5% of the global GDP, or $1,895 per person.²

• The economic impact in the ten most affected countries was 36.4% of global GDP. This is over nine times higher than the impact in the ten least affected countries.³
  

Armed violence and global conflict contributes to countless preventable deaths worldwide.

•  More than 596,000 men, women and children died in 2018 as a result of armed violence.³

• Concerted conflict and violence reduction efforts could lead to as many as 1.43 million lives being saved between 2019–2030.³ 

Weapons and firearms force displacement, erode social capital, and destroy infrastructure. 

•  Gun violence disproportionately and inequitably affects lower socio-economic regions. Almost half (46%) of violent deaths occurred in the four regions with the highest violent death rate: Southern Africa, Central America, South America, and Western Asia.³

• Firearms pollute environments and impede investment in reconstruction and reconciliation. The US Department of Defence are now the world’s largest producer of greenhouse gases and the largest institutional user of petroleum.⁴
  

The investment approach for CFS Thrive+ seeks to generate competitive returns whilst doing good for people, planet and policy. The Thrive+ Sustainable Investment Charter is the framework that guides us.

1. We seek out companies that unleash positive change in the world by supporting people, planet and policy.
2. We seek to avoid companies that have a highly adverse effect on people and planet.⁵
3. We work with investment managers who engage with companies and vote to influence sustainable outcomes. 

We will not invest in any companies that: 

• Manufacture nuclear weapons including manufacture and/or storage of fissile materials used in/for nuclear weapons, manufacture of nuclear warheads and/or missiles or production of uranium for nuclear weapons.

• Manufacture controversial weapons, including chemical and biological weapons, cluster munitions, anti personnel landmines, and blinding lasers.
  

• Manufacture conventional weapons or firearms. 
  

In 2015, the United Nations introduced 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a universal call to action for governments and businesses to improve lives of all people in the world while protecting the planet. 

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build affective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. CFS Thrive+ seeks to support the SDGs by not investing in weapons and firearms with the aim of advancing progress towards SDG target 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions. 

Drinking alcohol is socially acceptable, but alcohol abuse is one of the world’s biggest contributors to chronic disease and premature death. It’s also commonly linked to family and domestic violence, criminal activity, and risky behaviours, placing a heavy social, financial, and health burden on our community. 

Thrive+ believes that investing in companies that manufacture alcoholic products including brewers, distillers, and winemakers, will lead to negative outcomes for people and society. 

There are more than one billion firearms in the world and the majority are in the hands of civilians. The weapons and firearms industry profits from criminal activity, civil unrest, and armed conflicts around the globe, contributing to countless deaths, human rights abuses, and reduced economic progress.¹

Thrive+ believes that investing in companies involved in the manufacturing, storing, or processing of nuclear, controversial, and conventional weapons will lead to negative outcomes for our global community. 

Alcohol use contributes to increased chronic disease, injury, poisoning, and premature death. 

• More than 5,500 Australian lives are lost every year and over 150,000 people are hospitalised due to alcohol-related problems – making it one of the nation’s greatest preventative health challenges.¹

• Worldwide, harmful use of alcohol results in3 million deaths every year (5.3% of all deaths).²

• 5.1% of global disease can be attributable to alcohol.³  
  

Alcohol abuse can lead to anti-social behaviour, social harm, and cause health impacts.

• Alcohol can often cause domestic, family, and intimate partner violence – with social costs up to $0.7 billion.²

• In 2018, one in four road deaths worldwide were attributable to drinking.³  

• Over one in four (27%) police detainees reported consuming alcohol in the 24 hours prior to their arrest, and three in ten (30%) reported that alcohol contributed to their arrest.³  
  

Adverse health effects result in direct costs to the Australian economy and health system.

• Alcohol-related violence, illness, and lost productivity are estimated to cost the Australian economy $66.8 billion a year.¹

• Alcohol can have a harmful financial impact on families and vary by household background; the proportion of householdexpenditure on alcohol in 2015–16 was 2.2%.³  
  

The investment approach for CFS Thrive+ seeks to generate competitive returns whilst doing good for people, planet and policy. The Thrive+ Sustainable Investment Charter is the framework that guides us.

1. We seek out companies that unleash positive change in the world by supporting people, planet and policy. 

2. We seek to avoid companies that have a highly adverse effect on people and planet4. 

3. We work with investment managers who engage with companies and vote to influence sustainable outcomes. 
   

We will not invest in any companies that manufacture alcohol products including brewers, distillers, and vintners.

In 2015, the United Nations introduced 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a universal call to action for governments and businesses to improve lives of all people in the world while protecting the planet. 

Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages CFS Thrive+ seeks to support the SDGs by not investing in alcohol manufacturers with the aim of advancing progress towards SDG target 3: Good Health and Well-Being. 

Australians lose billions of dollars to the gambling industry every year, contributing to a loss of personal financial security, growing social disadvantage and in some cases, ongoing health and mental health problems. 

Thrive+ believes that investing in companies that own or operate gambling facilities or other betting establishments, online gambling or mobile gambling, will lead to negative outcomes for people and society. 

Australians are the world’s biggest gamblers, which can have costly consequences.

• Australians lost approximately $25 billion on legal forms of gambling in 2018–19, representing the largest per capita losses in the world of around $1,268 per person.¹
• In NSW, poker machines can make an average of $1,200 per hour with $10 maximum bets per spin. That’s 72% of the average $1,770 weekly wage.^{2, 3}  

Gambling can result in a range of health problems including depression, anxiety, suicide, and homelessness.

• 7.2% of Australian adults (or 1.3 million people) are at risk of or already experiencing gambling problems or harm.⁴  

• Gambling is considered a public health issue. In Victoria alone, around 39% of people who gamble have a diagnosed mental illness.⁵  
  

Gambling-related issues don't just affect gamblers but also their families, friends, and the wider community. 

•  Around 35% of Australian adults aged 18 and over (6.5 million people) regularly spent money gambling.²

• Close family members such as spouses and children were identified as the people most impacted by others' gambling problems.²
  

• Indigenous and financially disadvantaged Australians can be more vulnerable, with 80% of Indigenous Australians reporting gambling in commercial forms and 40% gambling weekly.⁶ 
  

The investment approach for CFS Thrive+ seeks to generate competitive returns whilst doing good for people, planet and policy. The Thrive+ Sustainable Investment Charter is the framework that guides us. 

1. We seek out companies that unleash positive change in the world by supporting people, planet and policy.

2. We seek to avoid companies that have a highly adverse effect on people and planet.⁷

3. We work with investment managers who engage with companies and vote to influence sustainable outcomes. 
   

We will not invest in any companies that own or operate gambling facilities, online gambling or mobile gambling. 

In 2015, the United Nations introduced 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a universal call to action for governments and businesses to improve the lives of all people in the world while protecting the planet. 

In 2015, the United Nations introduced 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a universal call to action for governments and businesses to improve the lives of all people in the world while protecting the planet. 

Fossil fuels are the dominant cause of global warming as they release large amounts of carbon dioxide into the earth’s atmosphere when burned. In response to the global challenge of climate change, it is critical that we drastically reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.

Thrive+ believes that investing in companies that have material exposure in certain fossil fuel related activities will lead to negative outcomes for the environment and society.

Emissions from fossil fuels are the dominant cause of global warming.

• In 2021, global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions rose by 6% to 36.3 billion tonnes, their highest ever level. This is largely due to increased use of thermal coal for electricity generation as high natural gas prices pushed up operational costs for gas power plants.¹

• Fossil fuel use is the primary source of carbon dioxide, with 64% of global CO2 emissions coming from fossil fuels and industry.²

• Even a 2-degree temperature rise would lead to animal and plant extinctions, fiercer storms, disappearing coral, smog and infectious disease, and a surge in deaths from heat exhaustion.³  
  

As countries adopt their strategies for decarbonisation, many fossil fuel assets will be unable to deliver financial returns.

• The adoption of the Paris Agreement set a worldwide objective of keeping the global average temperature well below 2 degrees. Fossil fuel production must be drastically scaled back to achieve this.

• The International Energy Agency says there is no need for investment in new fossil fuel supply in our net zero pathways.⁴  
  

Fossil fuels pose significant community health risks that can lead to early death, heart attacks, respiratory disorders, stroke, and asthma. 

• Air pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels was responsible for 8.7 million deaths globally in 2018 – one in five of all people who died that year.⁵

• Each year, an estimated 40,000 children die before their fifth birthday because of exposure to particulate matter and pollution from fossil fuels.⁶

• Nitrogen dioxide, a by-product of fossil fuel combustion in vehicles, power plants, and factories, is linked to roughly 4 million new cases of asthma in children every year.⁶
  

The investment approach for CFS Thrive+ seeks to generate competitive returns whilst doing good for people, planet and policy.

The Thrive+ Sustainable Investment Charter is the framework that guides us.

1. We seek out companies that unleash positive change in the world by supporting people, planet and policy.

2. We seek to avoid companies that have a highly adverse effect on people and planet.⁷

3. We work with investment managers who engage with companies and vote to influence sustainable outcomes. 
   

We will not invest in companies that derive more than 5% of gross revenues from:

• Thermal Coal: Thermal coal mining, extraction, production, refining or processing. Oil & Gas – Conventional/Unconventional: Oil and gas exploration, production and refining.

• Oil includes oil sands, tar sands, shale oil. Gas includes Coal Seam Gas and shale gas.

• Fossil Fuel Utilities: Thermal coal power generation. 
  

In 2015, the United Nations  introduced 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a universal call to action for governments  and businesses to improve  the lives of all people in the world while protecting the planet.

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts CFS Thrive+ seeks to support the SDGs by not investing in fossil fuel companies having highly adverse effect on the planet with the aim of advancing progress towards SDG target 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. 

With the proliferation of the internet, pornography is easier to access online than ever before, making it a multi-billion-dollar industry that profits from exploitation and normalises sexual objectification and violence. Pornography is particularly concerning when it comes to the health and development of young people due to abuse of underage subjects and exposure of explicit material to underage audiences.

We believe that investing in companies producing X-rated films, sexually explicit video games, magazines, or adults-only internet material, will lead to negative outcomes for people and society.

Producers of pornography who force, defraud, or coerce performers are guilty of sex trafficking, a form of modern-day slavery. 

• Pornography is the third-most common form of sex trafficking, after escort services and illicit massage.¹
• Sex trafficking generates an estimated $99 billion annually.²
• 4.8 million people are trapped or forced into sexual exploitation globally and more than one in five victims of sex trafficking are children.³ 
  

Pornography is proven to have adverse health effects.

• The brain activity of heavy users is linked to substance and gambling addiction.

• Adolescent users are more likely to engage in risky sexual behaviours and have anxiety and depression.⁴

• In Australia, teenagers have sustained serious injuries trying to replicate violent or dangerous acts seen in pornography.⁵  
  

• Pornography reinforces harmful gender stereotypes and can lead viewers to form unhealthy or violent sexual behaviours.

• Children and young people are accessing pornography at increasing rates. Nearly half (48%) of young men have seen pornography by the age of 13, and nearly half (48%) of young women by 15. In fact, 56% of young men are watching pornography every week.⁶

• Women in videos analysed from Pornhub and Xvideos were found to be the targets of violence and/or aggression 97% of the time.⁷ 
  

The investment approach for CFS Thrive+ seeks to generate competitive returns whilst doing good for people, planet and policy.

The Thrive+ Sustainable Investment Charter is the framework that guides us.

1. We seek out companies that unleash positive change in the world by supporting people, planet and policy.
2. We seek to avoid companies that have a highly adverse effect on people and planet.⁸
3. We work with investment managers who engage with companies and vote to influence sustainable outcomes.

We will not invest in any companies that produce or sell X-rated films, magazines, sexually explicit video games or internet material. 

In 2015, the United Nations introduced 17 Sustainable Development Goals SDGs as a universal call to action for governments and businesses to improve the lives of all people in the world while protecting the planet.

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls CFS Thrive+ seeks to support the SDGs by not investing in the pornography industry with the aim of advancing progress towards SDG target 5: Gender Equality. 

Predatory lenders use abusive and unscrupulous practices to trap hundreds of thousands of Australians in a harmful cycle of debt, contributing to negative financial, social, and health outcomes. The industry is known to target vulnerable and disadvantaged communities with fast but unaffordable loans that include excessive interest rates and fees. 

We believe that investing in companies providing credit that incorporates interest rates, fees and/or contractual terms that do not reflect appropriate risk-based pricing and are unfair on borrowers, will lead to negative outcomes for people and society. 

Predatory lending options drive hundreds of thousands of Australians into unmanageable debt.

• Over 4.7 million individual payday loans were written between April 2016 and July 2019 – worth an approximate $3.09 billion.¹

• Interest rates can range as high as 407%, forcing Australians to take out additional payday loans.¹

• Over a five-year period, around 15% of payday loan borrowers fall into a debt spiral that can lead to bankruptcy.¹  
  

The growing burden of debt can lead to negative health outcomes such as depression and anxiety.

• Money stress can make people up to 20 times more likely to make a suicide attempt.²
  

• People who struggle to pay their debts are more than twice as likely to have mental health challenges like depression and anxiety.³  
  

• There is evidence that predatory lenders contribute to growing inequality by targeting low-income households and vulnerable groups.

• 23.1% of Indigenous peoples accessed fringe credit, such as payday loans, in the 12 months to 2019, compared to just 1.9% of the general population.⁴

• The number of women using payday loans has risen from 177,000 in 2016 to 287,000 in 2019 – 41% of whom are single mothers.¹

• 37% of Australians were struggling to pay down their own debts in 2019.⁵  
  

The investment approach for CFS Thrive+ seeks to generate competitive returns whilst doing good for people, planet and policy.

The Thrive+ Sustainable Investment Charter is the framework that guides us.

• We seek out companies that unleash positive change in the world by supporting people, planet and policy.
• We seek to avoid companies that have a highly adverse effect on people and planet.6
• We work with investment managers who engage with companies and vote to influence sustainable outcomes. 

We will not invest in any companies involved in controversial lending practices, defined as those in which lenders take advantage of borrowers' lack of understanding and/or lack of access to more traditional financial services to impose loan terms that place a disproportionately and often untenably high burden on the borrower. 

This is often done through deception, fraud, or manipulation via aggressive sales tactics. 

In 2015, the United Nations introduced 17 Sustainable Development Goals SDGs by(SDGs) as a universal call to action for governments and businesses to improve the lives of all people in the world while protecting the planet.

Reduce inequality within and among countries The CFS Thrive+ seeks to support the SDGsby not investing in companies involved in predatory lending with the aim of advancingprogress towards SDG target 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries. 

_{¹Stop the Debt Trap Alliance, 2019. The Debt Trap: How payday lending is costing Australians, www.consumeraction.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Payday-Lending-Report_FINAL_UPDATED_WEB-1.pdf
²Health, Zapata, K, 2021. Financial stress is a leading catalyst for suicide – these steps can help save lives, www.health.com/money/financial-stress-suicide-risk
³Gathergood, J, 2012. Debt and depression: causal links and social norm effects, www.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1468-0297.2012.02519.x
⁴First Nations Foundation, 2019. Money stories: Financial resilience among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, www.firstnationsfoundation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/full_report_2019.pdf
⁵ABC News Janda, M, 2019. Australians' record debt is making us work longer, spend less, www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-18/household-debt-leaves-australians-working-longer-spending-less/11608016
⁶An exemption applies to some fixed income investments 'use of proceeds' securities such as green, social, and sustainability bonds issued by companies, that may have otherwise been screened out, to fund projects with dedicated environmental and/or social benefits and to government, government related/ supranationals. Exemptions do not apply to sustainability-linked bonds}