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Half of UK interested in ethical investments, research indicates
Mon, 15 Jan 2007
Almost half of UK citizens would consider switching to ethical investments , according to the findings of a new study.

Research from asset management group F&C Investments has found that 47 per cent of the UK would be interested in investing in ethical companies, such as those that do not rely upon child labour or have undue political influence over domestic governments.

Moreover, 37.5 per cent of respondents have admitted that they would be prepared to countenance slightly lower returns on their investments if they knew that they were not financing companies of questionable ethical standing.

Jason Hollands, director and head of communications at F&C Investments, has drawn parallels between the ethical food industry and the investments sector.

"There is no doubt that the public have become more concerned about environmental and ethical issues in terms of the goods they buy and the food they eat," he said.

"This research shows that they are also concerned about where their money is invested when they hand it over to an asset manager ."

In December 2006, Sainsbury's, the country's third largest supermarket chain, announced it was switching to more ethical sourcing arrangements by exclusively providing Fairtrade bananas to customers.

The ethical principle behind Fairtrade products is to ensure the profit margins of native producers are not squeezed by uncompetitive action from major retail corporations.

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