Capital at risk
Sustainable Growth
We believe that investors don’t need to choose between making a profit and making a difference for society. In fact, the two can be mutually reinforcing. We call this a virtuous circle. Our team seeks rare firms that can grow earnings at a double-digit rate for over a decade, enhancing their ability to contribute positively to people, planet and prosperity.

A broad view of sustainability
We observe sustainability through a wide-angle lens. We believe companies can create value for society through what they do or how they do it. This gives us a broader opportunity set and enables us to build a more diversified and resilient portfolio. A portfolio that is sustainable in both senses of the word, seeking enduring growth that delivers enduring good.
Sustainable Growth: our philosophy
Investment manager Katherine Davidson discusses the Baillie Gifford Sustainable Growth Strategy and reflects on its philosophy and the exciting opportunities ahead.
Seeking out rare firms
Sustainable Growth has a single financial objective: to add material value for our clients over the long term. We believe the best way to achieve this is by investing in a diverse portfolio of sustainable companies and holding them for the long term (by which we mean a decade, ideally longer).
Doing so lets the power of compounding work its magic and allows time for the all-important intangibles to be reflected adequately in share prices. Ultimately, we aim to deliver a portfolio our clients can be proud of, both for its sustainability credentials and its financial returns.
Investing to make a difference
We seek to invest in companies that make a difference in:
- what they do – products or services that have a clear positive impact
- how they do it – business practices that help to shape industry standards and inspire wider change
Our framework lays out how companies are contributing to one of three broad themes: people, planet or prosperity.
For full transparency we present our portfolio according to these classifications in all communications with our clients.
We want to invest in businesses that are resilient and in control of their own destiny financially – those that make their own weather.
Meet the managers
Documents
Owner's manual
Read about the beliefs, principles and purpose driving our investment managers.
Net zero alignment commitment
We are committed to investing in a way that is aligned with a scenario which limits global temperature increases to 1.5C.
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You can invest in this strategy through the following fund(s).
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Strategy portfolio holdings
A list of the top 10 holdings that the representative portfolio invests in.
All figures up to: 28 February 2025
# | Holding | % of portfolio |
---|---|---|
1 | Microsoft | 4.6% |
2 | Alphabet | 4.2% |
3 | TSMC | 4.0% |
4 | MercadoLibre | 4.0% |
5 | Mastercard | 3.2% |
6 | DSV | 3.0% |
7 | Recruit Holdings | 2.8% |
8 | Texas Instruments | 2.8% |
9 | Shopify | 2.7% |
10 | Spotify | 2.6% |
Please note
The information contained on this page is intended as a guide only and should not be relied upon when making investment decisions. All holdings information is unaudited. Source Baillie Gifford & Co. Please note that totals may not add due to rounding.
Sustainable Growth holdings
For every prospective holding, we try to understand which of the planet’s biggest problems the company addresses – people, planet or prosperity. Explore why we invest in some of our largest holdings and how these companies are making a difference.
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You can invest in this strategy through the following fund(s).
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Making a difference
Our clients want a portfolio they can be proud of, both for its investment returns and for the benefit it delivers for society. We believe companies can make a difference in two ways, through what they do and how they do it. We invest in firms with a products or services that have a clear benefit to society, and where leadership in business practices helps shape industry standards and inspire wider change.

Sustainability report
Sustainability means different things to different people. We commit to full transparency so that our clients can assess how their values align with ours. In our Sustainability Report we show how portfolio holdings are helping tackle the biggest challenges facing society today; challenges of people, planet and prosperity. We also include case studies of the year’s most notable engagement activity, analysis of company alignment with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the results of our annual climate audit.
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You can invest in this strategy through the following fund(s).
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Insights
Key articles, videos and podcasts relating to the strategy:
Filters
Sustainable Growth Q4 update
The Sustainable Growth Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
Sustainable Growth Q1 investor letter
The Sustainable Growth Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.Atlas Copco: Stock Story
Ben Drury explores how a culture of innovation and decentralisation drives success in industrial technology.L'Oréal: Stock Story
Katie Muir discusses how innovation and a positive culture have fuelled the success of the world’s leading beauty enterprise.Climate scenarios: so what?
Six themes we think will influence companies’ futures as the world adapts to climate change.Sustainable Growth Q4 update
The Sustainable Growth Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.Sustainable Growth Q4 investor letter
The Sustainable Growth Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.Sustainable Growth Sustainability Report 2024
Reviewing the difference companies make to the challenges of people, planet and prosperity.Sustainable Growth Strategy
Investment manager, Katherine Davidson, discusses the Baillie Gifford Sustainable Growth Strategy.Saving when sending abroad: a Wise move
With international payments a profitable afterthought for the banks, it’s been left to a newcomer to build the best way of moving money around the world.Wise: Money Without Borders
Co-founder and CEO of digital payments platform Wise explains how a customer-centric approach is helping revolutionise global money movement.Sustainable Growth Q3 update
The Sustainable Growth Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.Future Stocks: Our best ideas in Japan
Thomas Patchett uncovers three companies driving new opportunities in Japan.Future Stocks: Our best ideas in the US
Ben James explains why DoorDash, The Trade Desk and CoStar stand out as growth stocks.Academic collaborations that count
The experts helping us gain an investment edge when thinking about farming, human rights and AI.Sustainable Growth Q2 update
The Sustainable Growth Team reflects on recent performance, portfolio changes and market developments.
Invest in this strategy
You can invest in this strategy through the following fund(s).
Explore further
Curious to learn more about our products and what we can offer you? Please get in touch.
How to invest in this strategy
You can invest in this strategy through the following fund(s).
Explore further
Curious to learn more about our products and what we can offer you? Please get in touch.
Important information
Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited provides investment management and advisory services to non-UK clients and is authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority. Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited is not licensed under the Regulation of Investment Advising, Investment Marketing and Portfolio Management Law, 5755-1995 (the “Advice Law”) and does not carry insurance pursuant to the Advice Law.
Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited markets and distributes Baillie Gifford’s range of collective investment schemes to Qualified Clients and Qualified Investors in Israel, as listed in the First Addendum to the Regulation of Investment Advising, Investment Marketing and Portfolio Management Law, 5755-1995 (the “Advice Law”) and in the First Addendum to the Israel Securities Law, 5728-1968 (the “Securities Law”). Detailed disclosure of the collective investment schemes can be found within this website and in the relevant scheme prospectus.
Baillie Gifford Overseas Limited does not provide investment advice. If you are in any doubt about whether an investment is suitable, you should seek independent advice.
No action has been or will be taken in Israel that would permit a public offering or distribution of the Funds mentioned in this website to the public in Israel. This website and the Funds mentioned herein have not been approved by the Israeli Securities Authority (the “ISA”). In addition, the Funds mentioned in this website are not regulated under the provisions of Israel’s Joint Investment Trusts law, 5754-1994 (the “Joint Investment Trusts Law”). This website and the Funds mentioned herein will only be distributed to Israeli residents in reliance on an exemption from any advice or marketing restrictions [in a manner that will not constitute “an offer to the public” under sections 15 and 15a of]/[in reliance on an exemption from the prospectus requirements under] the Israel Securities Law, 5728-1968 (the “Securities Law”) or the Joint Investment Trusts Law, and any guidelines, pronouncements or rulings issued from time to time by the ISA as applicable.