Fintech PR

Cushon launches the world’s first Net Zero pension

Published

4 years ago

January 19, 2021

Cushon, the fintech workplace savings disrupter, today announces the launch of the world’s first net zero pension.

The launch responds to growing demand from employees who are increasingly concerned about the impact of their pensions on climate change. Recent research from Cushon^[1] showed that 68.6% of employees are concerned that their company pension could be investing in businesses that are contributing to the climate crisis. 87.9% of employees want their employer to take action to address this, for instance moving to a pension provider that’s making a positive impact on climate change (39.8%).

Choosing to use a climate-friendly pension provider is an easy way for businesses to significantly reduce their employees’ contribution to global warming. Cushon’s Net Zero pension will enable employers to help their people contribute to the deceleration of climate change quickly, easily and meaningfully via the choices they make for their company pension. In so doing, they will help to protect our environment and align towards the Paris Climate Agreement and a 1.5 degree world.

Cushon’s pension is the first of its kind in that it is Net Zero now – not later – unlike competitors in the market adopting long-reaching targets to achieve the same status by 2030 or even 2050.

Each year, the average UK pension member unknowingly finances 23 tonnes of CO2 emissions^[2] through the businesses their pension invests in. That’s the equivalent of running either nine family cars each year, using 940 gas propane cylinders, or burning 1,100 coal fires annually, simply as a by-product of saving for retirement. Investors would need to recycle for 19 years, or plant 30 acres of new forest to counteract these effects.^[3]

While there are a number of pension investment funds claiming to be socially responsible, these funds often come with higher charges and are still a long way away from being net zero – a target set by the UK Government to be met by 2050. Cushon’s pension is Net Zero right from the get-go.

A big plus for employers is that a move to a Net Zero pension would also increase employee engagement rates. Cushon’s research shows that 62.4%[4] would engage more with their pension if they knew it was making a positive impact on climate change. To further boost engagement, Cushon is also launching a new app which allows members to see all their pensions, other savings and investments in one place. It’s fully transactional, and employees can change contributions and transfer in other pension and investment pots.

Commenting on the launch, Ben Pollard, Founder & CEO, Cushon, said: “At Cushon, we know that people want their retirement savings to help tackle climate change without sacrificing returns. We wanted to find a very real way of making this work by delivering a pension that is Net Zero now. By choosing a Net Zero pension, employers are helping their employees have a direct and significant impact on climate change. The demand that we have already seen for our Net Zero pension is testament to this and we are now working towards being able to offer the same philosophy through our other product offerings. We’re so excited to be able to bring all of these products together so that our customers can see and manage all their investments together in an intuitive and engaging user interface.

“The idea of Net Zero investing is shamefully poorly developed within the fund management industry. We work with three of the largest fund managers in the world, and only one of them was even able to tell us the CO2 emission levels of their funds. To ensure there is no impact on returns, having reduced the emissions financed by the funds as far as possible via solutions that are currently available ‘off the shelf’ from our fund managers, Cushon is paying to offset any residual emissions out of the company’s own money. We have worked with Vertree to select a range of Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) projects, with 75% of projects being triple, double or single gold rated under the Climate, Community and Biodiversity (CCB) Standard.”

Supporting the launch, Richard Curtis, Co-Founder of Make My Money Matter, said: “The launch of a pension that is net zero now – not later – shows what is possible from the pensions industry when tackling the climate emergency is taken seriously. This new pension, with robust sustainability credentials, will be the first of its kind and so we are delighted to partner with Cushon as they continue to integrate environmental criteria across the board.

“This is the kind of leadership that the pension industry – and world – needs in the years ahead as we look to transition to a green economy post Covid-19. With COP26 taking place in Glasgow next year, all eyes are set to be on the UK and its environmental credentials, so it is great to have firms like Cushon taking concrete steps to address the climate crisis, which should hopefully incentivise more providers across the industry to follow suit.”

Related Topics:Ben Pollard Cushon latest-news Richard Curtis

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Fintech PR

Fourth Tashkent International Investment Forum launched as Uzbekistan continues FDI drive

Published

59 minutes ago

April 3, 2025

CISION (PR Newswire)

fourth-tashkent-international-investment-forum-launched-as-uzbekistan-continues-fdi-drive

With Uzbekistan’s economy nearly doubling with 6% GDP growth in 2023 and over $90 billion in foreign investments have been attracted, TIIF 2024 is set to drive further deals and investment.

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, April 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan (MIIT) have announced the fourth annual Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF), Uzbekistan’s most significant international economic event, will be taking place at the Central Asian Expo (CAEx) Uzbekistan from 10-12 June 2025.

Laziz Kudratov, Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan, highlighted the country’s strengthening position as a dynamically developing investment hub in Central Asia. “The government is taking decisive steps to improve Uzbekistan’s investment and business climate, removing all barriers,” he stated.

Over 3,000 participants from more than 75 different countries are expected to travel to Tashkent for TIIF 2025. Many of the participants are major investors, financial institutions, policymakers, economists, corporate leaders, experts in sustainability, innovation, and digital transformation.

During the announcement, Minister Kudratov spoke about the promising progress Uzbekistan is making noting that the economy has nearly doubled in recent years, with 6% GDP growth in 2023. Trade turnover continues to grow steadily, and over $90 billion in foreign investments have been attracted.

Minister Kudratov said: “TIIF-2025 is not just a forum—it’s a real tool for attracting investments, forging strategic partnerships, and discussing global economic trends. We invite all interested parties to join this landmark event.”

What to expect from TIIF 2025

This year’s program will focus on strategic sectors, investment opportunities, legislative reforms and business climate improvements. Selected participants will also be invited to a plenary session with Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Uzbekistan.

TIIF 2025 will be focused on a number of key topics which will give participants the opportunity to listen to industry leaders on the below:

SMEs as the engine of economic growth
Industrial progress: automotive, electrical engineering, machinery
Water resource management challenges and innovations
Investor protection and legal system modernisation
Fintech and e-commerce development
Green energy and sustainable development
Privatisation and investment reforms
Urban development and infrastructure modernisation
Textile and chemical industry value chains
Digitalisation and AI as new business frontiers

Through comprehensive reforms, and a favourable business environment, Uzbekistan is seeing real progress. The “Uzbekistan-2030″ Strategy is accelerating to support the economic development of the country. By 2030, Uzbekistan’s GDP is projected to reach $200 billion.

The previous TIIF in 2024 brought together 2,500+ participants and a record $26.6 billion in agreements were signed, demonstrating Uzbekistan’s high investment appeal. TIIF is an internationally recognised space that platforms the high-growth potential of Uzbekistan and other Central Asian markets.

To register for the 2025 Forum, visit www.tiif.online.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2656465/TIIF.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/fourth-tashkent-international-investment-forum-launched-as-uzbekistan-continues-fdi-drive-302418615.html

Fintech PR

Calastone Launches Tokenised Distribution Solution to Unlock the Future of Fund Distribution

Published

59 minutes ago

April 3, 2025

CISION (PR Newswire)

LONDON, April 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Calastone, the largest global funds network, today announces the launch of Calastone Tokenised Distribution – a pioneering solution that allows asset managers to tokenise any fund operating on Calastone’s network and distribute it seamlessly across blockchain-based channels.

This innovative service delivers a simple, frictionless route into tokenisation, without requiring asset managers to change how their funds are structured, administered, or serviced. Yet with one step, they can unlock access to a growing universe of investors who operate exclusively within blockchain ecosystems.

“Calastone Tokenised Distribution offers asset managers a powerful new route to market,” said Adam Belding, Chief Technology Officer at Calastone. “We make it possible to distribute existing funds via blockchain networks, instantly and at scale. without any operational upheaval or technical reinvention.”

The solution bridges the gap between traditional investment funds and blockchain-native networks such as Ethereum, Polygon, and Canton, where investment activity is increasingly executed and settled using digital assets. These networks are attracting a fast-growing class of investors that traditional distribution channels do not reach, including:

Corporate treasurers managing substantial on-chain cash balances for yield and efficiency
Stablecoin issuers and institutional crypto firms seeking regulated investment options without the need to convert into fiat currencies
Crypto-experienced retail and wealth investors who want access to traditional assets via the same wallets and digital infrastructure they use for digital assets

By embedding tokenised fund shares into these blockchain networks, asset managers gain direct access to new pools of capital, without disrupting existing processes or partnerships.

The solution leverages Calastone’s existing global network – spanning over 4,500 firms across 56 markets – to enable any share class on the network to be tokenised and distributed via public, hybrid, or private blockchains. Orders initiated on-chain are automatically translated and processed through Calastone’s infrastructure, ensuring full compatibility with traditional fund operations.

This enables asset managers to:

Expand into blockchain-native investor channels with no operational disruption
Reduce distribution costs via automation and smart contracts
Maintain existing service provider relationships
Position themselves for long-term advantage in an evolving investment landscape

The launch follows a recent Calastone study showing that tokenisation could unlock over $135¹ billion in annual cost savings for the asset management industry, while accelerating fund launches and lowering seed capital requirements.

“The investment world is changing fast,” said Julien Hammerson, CEO of Calastone. “New pools of capital are forming on blockchain networks, and they are not being accessed through traditional channels. Our Tokenised Distribution solution gives asset managers instant reach into these markets, without the requirement or need for transformation. We are making it easy to evolve with the market.”

At its core, Calastone Tokenised Distribution converts eligible fund shares into smart contract-powered tokens embedded directly onto blockchain networks. These tokens reflect the fund’s full detail, operate with built-in security protocols, and automatically mint and burn in line with real-time subscriptions and redemptions.

About Calastone

Calastone is the largest global funds network, connecting the world’s leading financial organisations.

Our mission is to reduce complexity, risk and costs, enabling the industry to deliver greater value to investors. Over 4,500 clients in 56 countries and territories benefit from Calastone’s services, processing over £250 billion of investment value each month.

Calastone is headquartered in London and has offices in Luxembourg, Hong Kong, Taipei, Singapore, New York and Sydney.

¹ https://www2.calastone.com/tokenisationcostresearch

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2656896/Calastone_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/calastone-launches-tokenised-distribution-solution-to-unlock-the-future-of-fund-distribution-302418984.html

Fintech PR

12367 Service Hotline Public Welfare Promotional Video Officially Released

Published

59 minutes ago

April 3, 2025

CISION (PR Newswire)

BEIJING, April 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — On April 2, 2025, China Immigration Service Hotline 12367 officially launched the public welfare promotional video “Connect the World Closer, Expand Dreams Wider”. 12367 Service Hotline platform offers 24/7 multilingual services, providing a seamless “ask-and-solve” one-stop service for both Chinese and foreign nationals. It serves as a vital channel for solving the most pressing immigration-related difficulties and problems that are of great concern to individuals and businesses.

Video – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2657277/video.mp4

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/12367-service-hotline-public-welfare-promotional-video-officially-released-302419537.html