The first National Ethical Investment Week. With a range of public events from Edinburgh to Plymouth, organisers are aiming to get ethical investment more in the mainstream.
If you buy fairtrade coffee and organic oranges, then it makes sense to invest ethically. Choosing a green and ethical investment is another way of acting responsibly, but many people are still unaware of this option. This is the reason this event will be organised...
Despite initial scepticism that principles couldn't generate a profit, the sector has proven them wrong by giving healty returns. Now, though, the ethical sector is facing one of its stiffest tests, with commentators questioning its ability to withstand the fallout from the credit crunch.
This week will certainly help ethical investors to see what they can do more for the cause
Gilles Bergez
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2008/may/17/ethicalmoney.moneyinvestments
donderdag 18 december 2008
Crunch-hit consumers restricted by price of green products.
British consumers are likely to cut spending on expensive fair trade and organic items in response to the credit crunch amid widespread dissatisfaction over the variety of green products offered by retailers.
Almost half of 4,000 consumers questioned said they were unwilling or unable to pay more for environmentally sustainable food and consumer goods, a survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers found. A comparison of 75 food, clothing, household and personal care items at the top six grocers found shoppers on average paid 45% more for environmentally friendly and fair trade goods. The consumer would only pay 20% more in avarage.
This plus the lack of variety of the greener products, makes the people cut on these good first.
Gilles Bergez
Ten of the best ... ethical investment tips
You can make your money work for both you and the planet. But you shouldn't go green without some careful planning
1. Consider what you mean by ethical
What are YOU against, or what are u for
2. Do your research
3. Find an ethical IFA
If you don't feel comfortable choosing your investment funds, consider taking advice.
4. Consider your attitude to risk.
5. Use your tax breaks
6. Choose an ethical pension
Plenty of pension companies offer ethical funds,
7. Choose your manager carefully
8. Be prepared for smaller returns ...
9. ... But remember performance does matter
You are investing to make your future financially secure so you should strike a balance between principles and profit.
10. Be consistent
Gilles Bergez
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2008/may/21/ethicalmoney.investmentfundsWhat does the independent advisor say?
The L&P financial investments trustees help their clients from A to Z. They offer various investment services, such as developing and monitoring your investment. And of course they have there own opinion on ethical investment policy.
The L&P group makes clear that finding something ethical or unethical is very personal. Nevertheless they seem to have a strong opinion about how people invest. More precisely they think that putting your investment in a company that gives something back to our world is better than not investing in unethical companies.
As a solution L&P came up with the L&P Ethical Investment Initiative, were they offer a combination of three funds, with each a different cause.
Aurélie Demunter
Source : http://www.lpgroup.ie/Services.aspx?SID=2&SSID=32#AnEthicalInvestmentPolicy
Smile Bank’s Ethical Policy updated in 2008
UK’s Smile bank has a well worked out ethical policy for 2008. It’s manly based on what they won’t invest your money in. The bank addresses four main topics: human rights, international development, ecological impact and animal welfare.
There view on human rights is based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They make it clear that they won’t support oppressive regimes or invest in anything to do with arms. Ecological impact is for them particularly about fuel. And finally their ideas on international development and animal welfare are quite fitting in a standard policy, against child labour, fur, animal testing, …
Aurélie Demunter
Source: http://www.smile.co.uk/servlet/Satellite/1221111930547,CFSweb/Page/GoodWithMoney
Ethical loans resist crisis
Despite the economic crisis these days, Triodos bank is still standing strong. Even better, the bank has something to celebrate: they lend over more then 200 million pounds for the first time. Triodos bank distinguishes itself from other banks, because it is borrowing money only to people with ethical standards. The bank owes its success to the vision it has on clients; a simple, straight bond with their borrowers leads to a never seen interest in their method. Examples of their borrowers are the Better Food Company and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage. The future looks good for Triodos bank, because their balance is very healthy and they don’t need to lend from other banks. (Bristol)Gertie Bleyaert
dinsdag 16 december 2008
Ranking the banks
Netwerk Vlaanderen has come up with a ranking of Belgian banks. This ranking gives us a better insight at the risk of harmful investment with a bank. They ranked eight banks (AXA, ING, Dexia, Deuthche bank, Citibank, Fortis, Triodos bank and KBC) into six categories: very low, low, medium, high, very high and extremely high risk.
A bit disturbing is that none of those banks is classified as very low risk. Even more disturbing is that only one bank has a low risk of harmful investment and the rest is put into the three highest ranks.
The conclusion is that something has to change in the investment policy of our banks.
Source: http://www.netwerkvlaanderen.be/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=73&Itemid=254
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