Russell Waite, investment director at Capital International (Jersey) Limited, talks about sustainability, investment strategy and why doing the right thing also increasingly makes financial sense
Russell, can you start by telling us a bit about yourself and Capital International?
Of course. I’m an investment director at Capital International (Jersey) Limited. We’re a relatively new presence in Jersey but are part of a financial services group that has been around for 30 years now and is based across the Isle of Man, Jersey, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Dubai.
Sustainability is such a big topic right now. What first got you interested in it?
It actually goes back quite a long way for me. As a child, I remember learning about the hole in the ozone layer and it really stuck with me. It was probably the first time I thought about human activity being able to damage the planet.
But what was just as powerful was seeing how that issue was tackled. Governments and businesses came together, and while it hasn’t solved everything, there’s been real progress. That’s always stayed with me as a great example of what collective action can achieve.
Then later in my career, working in investments, I saw the scale of industrialisation, particularly in places like China, and the huge demand for natural resources to facilitate this. It really brings home the question: if every country developed in the same way, how would that be sustainable? That’s when it clicked for me that this isn’t just an environmental issue, it’s an economic one too.
How does that translate into what you do day-to-day at Capital International?
At its core, what we’re trying to do at Capital International is make money work better: for our clients, for our people and for the communities we’re part of.
We frame that through a philosophy we call “Conscious Capital”. It’s essentially our guiding principle. It’s always there, shaping how we approach things.
In practice, we break it down into four main areas. The first is how we invest money responsibly, making sure we’re aligned with what our clients want, whether that’s responsible investing or committing capital to our “Better World” suite of strategies.
The second is financial wellbeing, both for our clients and for the business itself. A profitable, well-run business supports its people and contributes to the wider economy, so that’s really important.
The third area is climate – understanding the impact we’re having and where we can improve. And the fourth is community impact, making sure we’re playing a positive role in the places where we operate.
What I like about Conscious Capital is that it doesn’t sit in a silo; it runs through everything we do.
Do you think sustainability is still seen as a “nice to have” in finance?
I think that perception is definitely changing. There’s a tendency to think sustainability is just about CSR or giving something back but, in reality, it’s much more than that. A lot of these initiatives serve as long-term investments for a company. They strengthen businesses, improve resilience and help attract talent. There’s a real value to them, so it’s not just about doing the right thing, it’s about building something that lasts.
Sustainability can sometimes feel quite complex. How do you keep it practical?
That’s been a big learning curve for the industry. There was a phase where everything became very data-heavy – lots of metrics, lots of reporting – and it almost became overwhelming.
What we’ve tried to do is simplify things. Focus on a smaller number of meaningful metrics and track progress over time. It’s much more about direction and consistency than trying to get every single number perfect from day one.
Can you give some examples of what sustainable investing looks like in practice?
Yes, and sometimes the examples are not what people might expect.
Take mining, for instance. It’s easy to assume that mining is not a “sustainable” sector, but it really depends on how it’s done.
We have been working with a client who recently invested in a platinum mine in South Africa that’s planning to restart operations.
This is likely to bring many hundreds of jobs back to the area, particularly as the mine owners have an exemplary health and safety record. Additionally, the management team are exploring renewable energy solutions to take advantage of the commercial benefits this will bring alongside reducing their environmental impact.
Therefore, yes, it’s an extractive industry, but there are positive social and governance benefits associated with this investment.
A similar example is a graphite mining facility in Canada, which is set to produce battery material and support the growing demand for energy storage systems. This will be powered by hydroelectricity and again works closely with local communities, creating jobs and contributing to prosperity in the area. This is a really good example of sustainable investing supporting the energy transition.
Therefore, for us, it’s not about ruling sectors in or out; it’s about finding the businesses that are doing things the right way and supporting long-term, sustainable value creation for all stakeholders.
Finally, how do you see sustainable finance evolving from here?
I think it’s only going to become more central.
It’s already influencing how we think about risk, and balancing opportunity with accountability. Looking ahead, businesses that succeed will be those with a clear philosophy, forward-looking and a consistent approach, and we firmly believe sustainability and profitability are not mutually exclusive and investors in this space are able to capture attractive returns. Perhaps the most important factor driving the evolution of sustainable finance will be time.
We are allocating capital to support the progress towards a better world, viewing investments through a financial and real-world lens. These changes will take time, but if we get it right, the outcomes will be both impactful and long-lasting.
The views, thoughts and opinions expressed within this article are those of the author, and not those of Capital International Group Limited (Group) and/or any of its subsidiary companies and as such are neither given nor endorsed by the Group or any company within the Group. Information in this article does not constitute investment advice or an offer or an invitation by or on behalf of any company within the Group to buy or sell any product or security or to make a bank deposit. Any reference to past performance is not necessarily a guide to the future. The value of investments may go down as well as up and may be adversely affected by currency fluctuations. The Group, its subsidiary companies, clients, and officers may have a position in, or engage in transactions in any of the investments mentioned. Opinions constitute views as at the date of issue thereof and are subject to change.
Capital International (Jersey) Limited is a subsidiary of Capital International Group Limited and is regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission for the conduct of Investment Business and Fund Services Business. Capital International and Capital International Asset Management are trading names of Capital International (Jersey) Limited.
