The New York-listed investment management giant’s new strategy aims to provide exposure to companies with a positive measurable societal impact while generating financial returns.

BlackRock has launched an impact equity fund focusing on health, the environment and corporate citizenship.

The BlackRock Strategic Funds Impact World Equity Fund will be run by the company’s scientific active equity team, which has over 30 years’ experience in building differentiated equity portfolios. The team will score more than 8,000 companies daily across three impact outcome areas: health, the environment and corporate citizenship. The UCITS fund will also screen out certain companies or industries such as alcohol, tobacco, and weapons manufacturers.

BlackRock highlighted research from the Global Sustainable Investment Association that shows sustainable investment assets expanded 61 per cent between 2012 and 2014. 

“Demographic shifts, stakeholder advocacy, and government regulation are combining to create unprecedented demand for sustainable and impact investment solutions,” said Deborah Winshel, managing director and global head of impact investing at BlackRock. 

BlackRock currently manages more than $200 billion of assets across environmental, social and governance portfolios, and impact investments.