Many of us enjoy spending some days by the sea in the summer holidays. When strolling along the beach early in the morning you gain an impression of how much plastic waste is washed onto the shore every day. And this is just the visible part of plastic pollution. According to UNEP, 19-23 million tonnes of plastic waste is polluting aquatic ecosystems every year, and a recent academic study revealed that our soil contains almost 23 times more microplastic than the oceans. Hence, plastic is everywhere!

Over the past two weeks, the fifth round of negotiations on an international treaty to curb plastics pollution took place in Geneva. However, negotiations of the 183 nations ended in failure as oil and plastic producing nations were not willing to accept limitations of plastics production or the use of toxic chemicals in them. The responsibility to tackle plastic pollution is now back to individual states with effective reduction unlikely for years.

While in 2024, 160 financial institutions signed a statement to end plastic pollution, not much public investor action was recorded for this year’s negotiations. In light of global headwinds for sustainability goals it is even more important that investors raise their voice for decisive action against environmental pollution, not just for environmental reasons, but for improved risk management. As a result of the FINMA circular on nature-related risks many financial service providers start to look into such risks – plastic pollution being one of them.

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Swiss News

• Despite general support during the consultation phase, the Federal Council has decided to temporarily pause the revision of the regulation requiring companies to report on climate-related matters. Implementation of this regulation will be delayed until the revised reporting provisions and developments in the EU’s regulatory framework are clearer. 
• The Swiss Federal Council has expressed regrets about the failure to reach an international agreement on plastic pollution and states that it will continue to work towards strengthening international cooperation on this issue. The government further expresses the intention press ahead with its national measures to combat plastic pollution.

European News

• The EU has released a new roadmap for nature credits, outlining a pilot project (2025–2027) to establish and promote nature credit markets, including those focused on peatland restoration, through public seed financing and early derisking initiatives. The aim of this initiative is to establish a reliable and scalable voluntary certification system to encourage private investment in biodiversity-positive activities.
• The TNFD submitted an omnibus review to the EU, recommending that ESRS E2–E5 be consolidated into a single nature-related standard under the CSRD. This would simplify disclosures and align them with the TNFD’s LEAP framework, making reporting more practical and science based.

International News

• The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has issued a groundbreaking advisory opinion requiring wealthy nations to fulfil their climate commitments. According to the ICJ, they may else face compensation claims from countries impacted by climate change.
• ICMA has released new guidance on nature-focused finance with a Practitioner’s Guide to Sustainable Bonds for Nature, supporting the issuance of nature-themed green bonds. The update also includes revisions to the Green and Social Bond Principles and tools to help structure nature-positive projects.
• The UK government has announced that it will not be developing a domestic green taxonomy. This is due to limited public demand, as well as the government's decision to prioritise other policies that will accelerate investment in the net-zero transition and curb greenwashing. This decision forms part of the Treasury’s 10-year growth strategy for the UK financial sector.

Market News

• The recently updated SVVK-ASIR exclusion list highlights companies that may be excluded from investment due to violations of international norms, such as those relating to human rights or environmental standards.  
• BNP Paribas' 2025 ESG Survey, based on responses from 420 institutional investors across 29 regions, highlights the increasing adoption of integrated ESG strategies that consider climate, biodiversity and social impact together. Despite geopolitical tensions, almost half of respondents say that their commitment remains unchanged, and most expect sustainability momentum to continue until 2030.

• Ethos has published the “Fundamentals of Sustainable Finance” course on its online education platform. Designed for pension fund trustees and administrators, the course consists of modules lasting approximately two to three hours, which are available in French, German and English. It empowers participants to deepen their understanding of sustainable investment at their own pace.

• 26 August 2025: SSF/SIX/McKinsey event: Investment Opportunities in Carbon Markets, Zurich
• 3 September 2025: Nature Exchange Group session on nature reporting, for SSF members only, Zurich
• 4 September 2025: "Sustainable Investing – Here to Stay". Edition 2: The Value of Sustainable Business Strategies  
•  9 September 2025: Workshop on ASIP ESG Reporting guidelines, exclusively for SSF Asset Owner members, Zurich 
• 17 September 2025: SSF/GIIN/SPII Webinar on Climate Solutions
• 24 September 2025: SSF/SFI Sustainable Investment Conference, Zurich

• 21 July 2025, Nachhaltige Anlagen bleiben trotz allem ein Wachstumsmarkt, Absolut Research

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