Invest ethically
Most of us put time and effort into finding the right way to invest our savings to get the best return for our investment. But less people think about how that money will be invested. By choosing to invest ethically you know that your money will not be used to fund arms, tobacco or other potentially damaging industries.
The problem
If you have a saving fund, a pension fund or an ISA, your money has probably been invested by a fund manager, who will be hoping to realise profits through the investment gaining in value.
However, unless the fund is committed to ethical investment, your money could be invested in a number of industries of which you might not approve. These could be anything from arms manufacturers to tobacco companies.
What you can do
By investing ethically, you choose to invest with a cleaner conscience.
You might, for instance, choose to invest in funds that screen out companies involved in deforestation, pornography or animal testing.
Other funds work by seeking out investment opportunities in companies making products that benefit the environment, such as recycling or green-power companies.
Some investors prefer to adopt a policy of 'engagement', investing in companies that are newly-committed to sustainability.
It is for you to decide how you wish to invest - but knowing where your money is going is a good starting point.
How to do it
If you are looking to invest, either seek out specialist ethical investment funds or ask a financial advisor to assist you in finding them. Look for a fund with policies that are broadly sympathetic to your own principles.
If you already hold investments, write to the manager of the fund asking what their ethical and environmental policies are. It may be possible to transfer existing investments into an ethical fund, without incurring penalties.
Pledging to invest ethically rewards companies that make a positive contribution to the community. It also puts pressure on those companies that harm people or the environment.
Take pledge
