Ethical consumer investment increases by 18% says survey

Up to 85 per cent of consumers expected to put their savings into an individual savings account (Isa) before April will use an ethical investment scheme new research claims

According to a survey from the Co-operative, this figure has increased from the 67 per cent who said they would invest ethically in the same survey last year.

The latest results show that nearly 80 per cent of respondents believe that ‘green’ investments can perform as well, if not better than mainstream markets.

Zack Hocking, head of investments at Co-operative Insurance, said: “While ethical investment still represents a small amount of the overall market, evidence strongly suggests that growth is set to continue.”

Mr Hocking added that the Co-operative expects increasing numbers of consumers to invest ethically as the deadline approaches.

Meanwhile, according to moneyextra.com, a survey from Nationwide estimates that savers in the UK could be paying more than £230 million extra in tax by not taking advantage of their yearly Isa allowance.

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