Types of sustainable investing
More companies are moving towards sustainability, although each is transitioning at its own pace. Here are three types of sustainable business practises:
Transitioning
over the long-term towards sustainability. Developing plans to phase out fossil fuel usage, or introduce more renewable business practises.Aligned
to sustainability commitments, like The Paris Agreement. Creating policies that support climate action and each year getting nearer to net zero.Impact
made by only acting sustainably. Building a business model that isn’t dependent on damaging the environment to be profitable.
From increasing consumer interest in environmental issues there are more sustainable investment funds to choose from - including sustainably invested pensions.
Consumer demand led to PensionBee’s Fossil Fuel Free Plan: only investing in companies that are aligned with the Paris Agreement goals, it excludes the fossil fuel and tobacco sectors.
Measuring sustainability
While the market for sustainable investment products has grown substantially, each can differ in their investment selection criteria and ambitions.
All sustainable investments aim to make positive investor returns while benefiting people and the planet. There are three approaches to measure this:
Socially responsible investing (SRI)
- Social outcomes
Sustainable investing
- Social outcomes
- Environmental outcomes
Environmental, social & governance investing (ESG)
- Social outcomes
- Environmental outcomes
- Governance principles
Examples of sustainable investing
Companies can positively impact society and the environment in two key ways; the way they conduct their existing business, and the product or service they provide. Investors may choose to put money into companies that meet one or both of these requirements.
The way companies conduct their business
Companies of all sectors may choose to run their business in the following ways, for example:
Social practices
- Providing high employee welfare standards
- Providing high consumer protection standards
- Having adequate board/senior-executive race and gender diversity
- Working with ethical supply chain partners (eg. factories that provide fair working conditions)
Environmental practices
- Reducing or eliminating greenhouse gas emissions
- Disposing of waste in non-environmentally damaging ways
- Producing recyclable products
- Incorporating circular water systems in production processes
- Replacing petrol/diesel vehicle fleets with electric ones
The product or service they provide
Some companies may be considered sustainable investments due to the nature of the service or product they provide, for example:
Social sectors
- Low-cost computer suppliers to developing countries
- Educational institutions
- Accessible finance providers
- Healthcare services
Environmental sectors
- Wind and solar farm developers
- Sustainable packaging manufacturers
- Organic food producers
Sustainable investment pensions
As social and environmental causes have become a growing concern for people across the world in recent years, pension providers have started to offer plans that cater for their needs. So it’s now possible to save for your retirement while contributing towards positive social and environmental change.
PensionBee offers our customers sustainable pension plans that fits this requirement:
Impact Plan: Companies in the Impact Plan are working to support underserved communities and tackle challenges that are going unaddressed to help improve lives and create a better planet for us all to live in. The Impact Plan invests in companies helping to provide education and affordable housing or develop green energy and sustainable food and water to name but a few examples. And crucially those companies’ impact on people and the planet can be measured so you know they’re contributing to real change.
Fossil Fuel Free Plan: Excludes the fossil fuel and tobacco sectors while only investing your money in companies aligned with the Paris Agreement goals.
For more information, read: ESG investing and its impact on pensions.
Risk warning
As always with investments, your capital is at risk. The value of your investment can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you invest. This information should not be regarded as financial advice.
Last edited: 06-04-2024
