UKSIF: People want different things from ethical investments

People are seeking ethical investments so they can influence business practices, the UK Social Investment Forum has said.

Chief executive Penny Shepherd said that consumers are choosing ethical investments not only to make good financial returns, but also to encourage businesses to act more responsibly or because they want to support the development of new solutions for a sustainable lifestyle.

“We are keen that funds are clear about what they do – we support the European transparency guidelines, which a number of the funds have signed up to,” commented Ms Shepherd.

She also advised consumers to approach a financial advisor if they are considering an ethical investment.

This comes just before the launch of the first National Ethical Investment Week (May 18th – 24th), aimed at encouraging people to consider green and ethical investment options.

Google faced questions over how ethical its business operations are at its annual general meeting last week.

Shareholders are concerned over the services the company offers in China, which comply with the Chinese government’s censorship laws, BBC News reported.

Tags: business operations, executive, business, sustainable lifestyle."We, Business ethics

UKSIF plans week to promote greener investments

The UK Social Investment Forum (UKSIF) is to run the first National Ethical Investment Week next year, it has emerged.

Members of financial professions will be encouraged to raise awareness of the variety of green and ethical investment options available during the week, which will take place between May 18th and 24th.

The initiative has received the backing of some of the industry leaders in ethical and green investment products, such as Friends Provident, Norwich Union and Henderson Global Investors.

George Latham, head of SRI at Henderson Global Investors, commented: “The evidence can no longer be ignored: consumer interest in sustainable and responsible investing is continuing to grow rapidly.”

“This initiative is a welcome and necessary contribution to the ethical debate, raising the profile of the industry and underlining that investing with a conscience can be a powerful and profitable catalyst for change,” Mr Latham added.

Meanwhile, fund propositions manager at Norwich Union, James Dalby, said that the week would help dispel the “many myths” that surround ethical investment, which he said are “generally untrue”.

Tags: Awareness, Business ethics, backing, profile, investment options, social investment forum, National, norwich union