Overview
Towards Sustainability is a quality standard and sustainability label for financial products, established in 2019. It aims to provide assurance that labelled investment, savings and insurance products meet defined sustainable and socially responsible criteria. The label supports investors in identifying products that integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations. Independent supervision ensures credibility and clarity for retail and institutional investors.
Mission and focus areas
The organisation’s core goal is to make sustainable finance more transparent and accessible by setting a minimum sustainability threshold that all labelled products must meet. It emphasises ESG integration, transparency and accountability in financial decision-making. The Quality Standard includes requirements on exclusions, impact, engagement and reporting, aiming to align products with broader sustainability objectives while allowing investors to match offerings to their own sustainability preferences. By encouraging mainstream adoption of ESG principles, it contributes to broader uptake of sustainable investment practices.
Structure and governance
Towards Sustainability is administered by the Towards Sustainability Labelling Agency (CLA), a not-for-profit association under Belgian law. Governance is provided by a Board of Directors with members from both financial and independent sectors. The Eligibility Commission advises on technical aspects and award decisions, and an independent Verifier conducts detailed assessments of product compliance. This multi-body structure supports rigorous oversight of the label’s application and evolution.
Programs and offerings
The primary offering is the Towards Sustainability label, awarded to financial products that comply with the Quality Standard’s criteria. Labelled products are publicly listed and verified annually. The organisation provides detailed information, tools and transparent disclosures to help investors evaluate sustainability characteristics. Its quality standard is regularly revised to reflect evolving ESG practices, data availability and regulatory developments. The initiative has become a recognised market standard for sustainable financial products, with hundreds of labelled offerings and significant assets under management.
