Investors want ethical options
The study, run in support of National Ethical Investment Week, found that 54% of people were interested in making money and doing good at the same time.
According to Penny Shepherd from UKSIF, the figures suggest the ethical investment sector should be bullish about the future.
"After a decade that almost ended in global financial meltdown, attitudes are changing from greed is good to green is good - less Gekko more Eco," she explained. "The 2010s are well set to become the decade of financial responsibility, as more people consider how they can make a difference with their money."
More good news comes from Cooperative Finance.
A study which compared money deposited in high street banks and invested in funds with ethical finance indicated the sector had experienced its largest rise in a decade. Within the past 12 months, money in ethical finance had grown by 38%. Since 1999 the ethical sector had experienced almost a four fold increase.
UKSIF believes these figures show ethical investing could follow fair trade consumerism in breaking out into the mainstream. However, challenges remain.
The Cooperative’s figures show that ethical finance still accounts for only 1.8% of deposits and investments. According to YouGov only 8% of savers and investors choose ethical options although a further 34% said they had plans to do so in the future.
Almost one in four people said they were not aware that they had any options regarding ethical investing.
As these figures demonstrate the climate is favourable for ethical investment. However, the sector has so far failed to adequately communicate its message to the wider public. Its success in doing so will determine whether the increases of the last 12 months will be the start of an ongoing change or nothing more than a short-lived trend.
