ABSTRACT

In Belgium, responsible investment (RI) has developed through active partnerships between grassroots movements and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on the one hand and motivated financial institutions dedicated to a sustainable and solidarity economy on the other. Similar to most countries, RI in Belgium consists mostly of collective investment products such as investment or insurance funds (RI UCIs). However, the Belgian RI market is also characterized by an active involvement of saving products, what we call in this chapter ‘responsible saving’ (RS). The Federal Council for Sustainable Development defines RI as investment that “reconcile[s] traditional financial values with ethical, social and environmental considerations when purchasing, managing and selling investment titles and exercising related rights, including the right to vote” (Council of Ministers of Belgium, 2004).