20 Years In SRI

This year, Desjardins celebrates the 20th anniversary of the creation of the Desjardins Environment Fund (DEF). By creating the Desjardins Environmental Fund in 1990, Desjardins became a pioneer in socially responsible investment (SRI) since this new financial product represented the very first responsible investment fund in Quebec at the time, and the second in Canada.

This initiative perfectly embodied the cooperative values and principles that are central to Desjardins’ mission, which include social responsibility and commitment to sustainable development. Desjardins reaffirmed this commitment in 2005, when it adopted its own sustainable development policy.

Desjardins’ SRI commitment is expanding:

2008	Acquisition of 50% of NEI Investments to consolidate its leadership role in SRI in Canada.
2009	Launch of socially responsable investment SocieTerra Portfolios.
2010	Signature of the Principles for Responsible Investment (a United Nations initiative). Signature of the Boreal Forest Conservation Framework.