Sustainable Balanced plan's first year of success
We launched our Sustainable Balanced investment plan in September 2023 to give you the choice to invest your super with a greater focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors.
Find out how the plan performed in its first year and how funds are being invested in companies and supporting projects that aim to help contribute to a more sustainable future.
Enhancing our responsible investing approach
The Sustainable Balanced plan aims to enhance our approach to responsible investing by applying additional ESG criteria and additional exclusions to those applied across our whole portfolio.
While our other plans do consider ESG factors, the Sustainable Balanced plan invests through a stricter lens. These criteria are applied by Pendal, the plan’s investment manager, to help manage exposure to companies and issuers with significant involvement in activities that Pendal considers to negatively impact the environment or society.
The Sustainable Balanced plan is available for GESB Super and West State Super members, and members with a Retirement Income (RI) Allocated Pension account.
Sustainable Balanced plan summary
As at 30 September 2024, the plan managed approximately $153 million of our $41 billion total funds under management.
Members across all three schemes have switched to the plan, with West State Super members making up almost half of total members in the plan.
How ESG criteria are applied to asset classes
The Sustainable Balanced plan invests in a range of asset classes, including:
- Australian and International Shares
- Australian and International Listed Property
- Australian and International Fixed Interest
- Cash
- Alternative investments
The Sustainable Balanced plan invests through different criteria, depending on the asset class being invested in. The criteria may not apply to all asset classes.
As a result, the Sustainable Balanced plan will typically hold a larger portion of investments which aim to align with sustainable outcomes, such as Green and Social Bonds, than compared to those held in other plans we offer.
For more information about ESG criteria and exclusions, see the 'Responsible investing' section of our Investment Choice brochure.
Case study: investing in social and affordable housing across Australia
The investment manager, Pendal, has provided a case study that discusses an investment in a Social Bond, which is one type of investment held in the Australian Fixed Interest asset class.
This is one example of what the Fixed Interest asset classes may invest in.
Housing Australia - Social and Sustainability Bonds
Pendal1 invests in Housing Australia's Social and Sustainability Bonds2. These Bonds support the construction and growth of social and affordable housing across Australia by providing community housing providers access to cheaper financing.
Examples of the types of projects supported through these Bonds include delivering 365 housing units in New South Wales through the provider Bridge Housing. This includes properties for:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on low to moderate incomes
- Tenants who have previously been homeless
- A mix of social and affordable housing
Another example of a similar project is in Victoria, through the community housing provider Haven; Home Safe, which focusses on providing 113 townhouses and apartments for people:
- Over 55
- Those needing specialist disability accommodation
- Youth and women
- Those at risk of homelessness
The Sustainable Balanced plan continues to support the delivery of projects like this through investments in Housing Australia.
This case study demonstrates one example of how funds managed for the Sustainable Balanced plan can contribute to projects that have positive social outcomes.
How to switch to the Sustainable Balanced plan
Interested in switching your plan? Before making any changes to your investment plan, we recommend that you consult a suitably qualified financial adviser and read the relevant Product Information Booklet.
Once you're sure you would like to change your plan, you can switch to the Sustainable Balanced plan through Member Online.
We're here to help
If you have any questions, we’re available on 13 43 72, Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 5.30pm (AWST), or via Live chat.
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1 Pendal, as the investment manager of the Sustainable Balanced plan, invests in various underlying funds such as the Regnan Credit Impact Trust. This case study was provided in the Regnan Credit Impact Trust report dated November 2024.
2 The following is an example of just one of the types of investments that make up GESB’s Sustainable Balanced plan. As at 31 October 2024, the Sustainable Balanced plan invests in five social and/or sustainable bonds issued by Housing Australia, equating to 0.2% of total investments.
Thank you for printing this page. Remember to come back to gesb.wa.gov.au for the latest information as our content is updated regularly. This information is correct as at 23 June 2026.