a.s.r. introduces ESG reports for pension investments
a.s.r. is setting a new standard in the pensions world by being the first pension provider to launch ESG reports. These reports provide participants with insight into the social return on their pension investments and show how a.s.r. integrates sustainability into its investment strategy.
The ESG reports show which companies and countries a.s.r. excludes due to irresponsible activities. They also show how the investments contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and provide insight into the carbon footprint of the investments. In addition, the reports include information on the dialogues a.s.r. conducts with companies to improve their sustainability performance, and how votes are cast at shareholder meetings.
The new ESG reports are a logical next step in a.s.r.'s ambition to achieve both financial and social returns. Social return refers to the positive impact investments can have on society and the environment - think improved environmental quality, social equity and good governance. Currently, these reports are already available to around 70% of a.s.r.'s pension participants, with the aim being to make this accessible to all.
The ESG reports will be ready in early April 2025, simultaneously with the launch of the new webpage for pension products. This page aims to make all sustainability information clear and accessible. The ESG reports will also be published on this page, marking a significant step for a.s.r. towards greater transparency in pension investments.
a.s.r. is making significant progress in responsible investing, with clear goals and results. For example, a.s.r. aims to reduce CO₂ emissions of its investments by 25% by 2030 compared to 2023. In 2024, a reduction of 5.6% has already been achieved . In addition, a.s.r. aims for impact investments to account for 10% of total assets under management by 2027. In 2024, this is already 8.7%, amounting to €8.9 billion. Furthermore, the selection criteria have been tightened: a.s.r. currently excludes 921 companies and has conducted 885 interviews to strengthen its position as a responsible investor.
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13 Nov 2025
Diederik Schouten appointed deputy director of Pensions at a.s.r.
As of 1 December 2025, a.s.r. has appointed Diederik Schouten as deputy director and head of operations Pensions. In this new role, he will be responsible for the entire operational domain within the a.s.r. pensions business unit . Diederik Schouten will report to director of Pensions Folkert Pama, and will be part of the management team. -
11 Nov 2025
Importance of funeral insurance recognised by young adults, but remains off-topic
Young people do value funeral insurance, similar to older generations, but they rarely talk about it. This is evident from a representative study by a.s.r. among 1,250 Dutch people aged 18 to 80. 6 in 10 Dutch people consider funeral insurance a relevant product, with the prevention of unexpected costs for surviving relatives cited as the main reason. Savings are most frequently mentioned as an alternative by those who choose not to take out funeral insurance. -
4 Nov 2025
a.s.r. successful in supporting people distanced from the labour market
a.s.r. has once again achieved Step 1 on the Social Enterprise Performance Ladder (PSO), a national certification that promotes socially responsible entrepreneurship. This means that for both 2025 and 2026, a.s.r. remains the only insurer in the Netherlands to hold this highest distinction. On average, a.s.r. employs more people with a distance to the labour market than organisations of similar size.