Ethical Investment in The UK
In 1985, Friends Provident launched the first ethically screened investment fund with criteria which excluded tobacco, arms, alcohol and oppressive regimes. Since 1985, over 90 investment funds have launched offering a wide range of investment criteria; both negatively screened and with positive investment criteria i.e. investing into companies involved in promoting sustainability.
Since 1985, most of the major investment organizations have launched ethical and socially responsible funds, although this has led to a great deal of discussion and debate over the use of the term "ethical" investment. This is because each of the fund management organizations tend to apply a slightly different approach to running their funds.
In recent years there has been growth in the market for high social impact investments, this is a new style of investing where the businesses receiving investment have social or environmental goals as a primary purpose.
As of June 2011, GBP 11.3 billion were invested in ethical and environmental investment funds in the UK.
Read more about this topic: Socially Responsible Investing
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