Make your investments green
New research unveiled today shows we are a nation eager to help support social issues, often making environmental and ethical choices when buying goods and services. But when it comes to making decisions about where to put our money, confusion is rife.
New research, amongst 2,105 British adults for National Ethical Investment Week (16-22 October 2011), reveals that while a third of adults regularly or occasionally take green and ethical issues into account when buying goods and services, those with investments aim to be even greener.
In fact, 42 per cent of British adults with investments want them to make a positive contribution to the world as well as a good financial return.
However, almost one third of adults do not realise they can make a difference through their mortgage, savings or investments, and only 5 per cent of adults with investments have a clear understanding of what industries their existing finances support.
National Ethical Investment Week, aims to let people know about the range of options now available, and to dispel some of the myths around ethical investment.
"We can all make a real and positive contribution to society through our financial decisions, and there are plenty of easy ways to do this. This research shows how important National Ethical Investment Week is to help the large numbers of interested people to make money and make a difference as a natural part of their financial decision-making" explains Penny Shepherd MBE, Chief Executive of UKSIF which runs National Ethical Investment Week.
“It is an opportunity to cut through any confusion and help everyone realise that there can be good financial gains from green and ethical investments. Even by dipping their toe in the water they can support issues from climate change to healthcare provision. Whatever their interest, they can make decisions that mean that every day their investments and other financial products are helping to do some good.”
The study highlights that the areas British adults with investments are most keen to support through ethical investments are:
· Renewable energy/climate change (38 per cent)
· healthcare and access to medicine (37 per cent)
· managing water efficiently (32 per cent)
· sustainable forestry (31 per cent)
· sustainable agriculture (30 per cent)
Ethical investments can also be triggered by personal wishes, as was the case for Jan Oliff. When Jan’s mother passed away 25 years ago, Jan chose to invest the £3,000 inheritance for her sister’s unborn baby in an ethical account.
She explains: “I was determined to do something positive with my mother’s money, so I chose to invest through an ethical committee which means I am confident the companies treat their employees well, protect the environment and act well on a corporate level. I have been delighted with the returns – from that initial investment I have been able to send my niece a £3,000 cheque for each year of her four year university studies. There is still money left over and it’s wonderful to know she has benefitted while at the same time the money was doing good for others”.
You can follow National Ethical Investment Week on Twitter @NEIW11 and Facebook, where you will find the truth behind the myths around green and ethical investment, an animation and information on other useful resources. .
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