Step this way to get your daily fix of green news, eco product launches and videos delivered by email.
Making a good investment invariably makes us think of banking money for the future, for our kids and for ourselves. But increasingly punters are looking to put their dosh where their mouth is, and more and more of us want to invest on environmental as well as financial terms.
The independent not-for-profit UK Social Investment Forum (UKSIF) is going to build on this demand for green and ethical investments, which has grown nearly 600 per cent compared to last year, and today announced the first ever National Ethical Investment Week -- set to launch in May 2008.
From now until then, UKSIF and the financial services industry, including Henderson Global Investors, Norwich Union and Friends Provident will be encouraging everybody with a bit of spare cash to consider investing it in green and ethical ways.
Julia Dreblow, marketing manager at Friends Provident says: "Although ethical investment has enjoyed fantastic success over recent years, many people are still not aware of the range of green and ethical choices now available. National Ethical Investment Week will raise the profile of ethical investment as an option for all investors. Fairtrade Fortnight has shown how this sort of week can really make a difference."
Whether you're into big business or small co-ops, there are now numerous ways you can invest your money in people and planet friendly companies. You can pass the job over to one of the established financial service providers, such as the Co-operative Bank, or look out for smaller initiatives like the Fenland Green Power Co-operative's offer to the public to invest as little as £250 in the co-op's windfarm. Also, take a look at our roundup of the best ethical ISA investments available in the UK.
As many companies, such as M&S and Eurostar, have realised recently, investing in a greener future makes both financial and environmental sense. And anyway, what good is it to have lots of money if there's no planet to spend it on?
Photo: Fen Green Power Co-operative
Please note: Your email address must be entered but will not be displayed
Please note: All submitted content becomes the sole property of CNET Networks UK and may be used, edited or rejected at CNET Networks UK's sole discretion. You acknowledge that you, not CNET Networks UK, are responsible for the contents of your submission.
Step this way to get your daily fix of green news, eco product launches and videos delivered by email.
