As world leaders meet in Dubai for critical climate talks at COP28 at the end of this month, it could be easy to feel like only politicians and big business have the power to make any significant impact on climate change.
You’re likely to then feel deflated if they don’t decide on – and act upon – enough planet-saving actions, quickly enough. After all, we’re in a hurry here!
The truth is, where you put YOUR money counts.
Yes, government and big institutions are needed to give scale. But they won’t take action to solve the world’s problems out of the goodness of their hearts. It will be bottom up pressure from millions of people saying ‘Where is my pension invested?’ and ‘What about my savings?’ that changes the world.
What can you do?
Actively choosing financial providers that are making a proven positive impact on the planet instead of investing in destructive industries like fossil fuels is the single most important action you can take against climate change.
But with so many companies now claiming to be “green,” “sustainable,” or “ethical,” who can you trust with your money?
To help cut through growing consumer confusion in sustainable finance, we created the Good Egg mark – it’s the ONLY accreditation in the UK designed to make it easier to find providers that use finance to benefit people and planet, as well as offering a good deal for their customers.
Meet our Good Egg firms, and find out what makes them so Good:
Triodos Bank
Triodos Bank, which offers banking and investment services, is a true pioneer in sustainable, responsible and ethical banking. The B Corp bank only lends customers’ money to businesses and organisations bringing about positive social, environmental and cultural change. See the positive impact it achieved last year here.
What’s the impact?
Triodos Bank says: “Our banking and financial services are for individuals and organisations who want to change the world for the better. As one of the world’s most sustainable banks, we have over 740,000 customers who are already playing their part in our positive movement.”
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PensionBee
PensionBee is an online platform that helps customers take control of their retirement by combining their existing pension pots into one new plan. Its Fossil Fuel Free Plan is one of the UK’s first mainstream private pension plans to completely exclude companies with proven or probable reserves in oil, gas or coal. Its Impact Plan invests in companies tackling some of the world’s greatest social and environmental problems such as achieving better healthcare, housing, education and cleaner energy.
What’s the impact?
PensionBee says: “At PensionBee, we see our role as critical in building the future we want to see, so that our customers can look forward to a happy retirement. We champion sustainable investing as the future of engagement in pensions, and wholeheartedly believe that everyone should have the option to use their investment for good – transforming the planet, society and their retirement for the better.”
Thrive Renewables
Thrive Renewables invests directly in clean energy projects. It issues bonds and/or shares to raise money to construct new renewable energy projects.
Thrive Renewables has B Corp status and earned the ‘Best for the World – Environment’ accolade, putting it in the top five per cent of B Corps globally in this category. Find out about Thrive’s new share offer here.
What’s the impact?
Thrive Renewables says: “We believe in a clean, smart energy system that is powered by the investment of many. Our mission is to power the transition to a sustainable energy future by helping people meaningfully connect with clean energy projects.”
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Pennine Wealth Solutions
Pennine is one of only a handful of wealth managers in the UK offering positive impact portfolios. Its Positive Pennine Portfolios are designed to help meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
What’s the impact?
Pennine Wealth Solutions says: “We have always been committed to researching sustainable and responsible investments and looking for an investment solution. In August 2016, after many years of hard work, we launched the ground-breaking Positive Pennine range of portfolios. These are impact investments with the combination of sustainability and performance as their core.”
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Path Financial
Path Financial offers a range of financial advice and wealth management services as well as positive impact investment options.
What’s the impact?
Path Financial says: “We show people the path to financial security and freedom with sensible down-to-earth planning. All the while, our client funds are invested in a way which is positive and sustainable for people and planet as well as providing superior investment returns.”
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BlueSphere Wealth
BlueSphere Wealth is a certified financial adviser. It helps to support its clients to invest their money into companies that are creating a positive impact.
What’s the impact?
BlueSphere Wealth says: We are passionate about helping people and planet. We do this by matching our clients’ values to their investments. Whilst building a strong financial foundation for our clients, we can build a better future for our planet at the same time.”
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EQ Investors
EQ Investors (EQ) is a B Corp/ethical financial planner and wealth manager. It offers financial advice, planning and investments such as ISAs and SIPPs, pensions, and impact investments. EQ specialises in sustainable investing and have been following this approach for over a decade. It offers three ways to invest sustainably:
- Positive Impact: launched in 2012. Designed around the UN Sustainable Development Goals to address the biggest challenges faced by humanity.
- Future Leaders: launched in 2020. Combines a focus on the most responsible companies in each sector (ESG leaders), key exclusions and an overweight to sustainable themes with low-cost passive funds.
- Climate Action: launched in 2022. Aligns your financial goals with the global effort to reduce climate change risks and reach net zero.
What’s the impact?
EQ Investors says: “We only ever invest in sustainable ways so that you can be confident that your money is having a positive impact on the world as well as generating a good return.”
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Ecology Building Society
Ecology Building Society is dedicated to building a greener society by providing mortgages for properties and projects that respect the environment and support sustainable communities, funded through its range of simple, transparent savings accounts.
What’s the impact?
Ecology Building Society says: “Our impact isn’t about the profit we make – it’s about the difference we make to the environment and to communities across the UK. Since 1981 we’ve lent to over 4,500 projects, supporting individuals, charities, environmental businesses and community-led housing organisations to realise their sustainable living ambitions.”
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Sugi
Sugi is a platform to help non-professional investors understand, and manage, the climate impact of their investments.
Sugi’s app is publicly available and free-to-use; Sugi also works with investment managers to provide climate analytics to their clients.
What’s the impact?
Find out more about how we assess the positive impact of our Good Egg companies here.
Contact us if you think your company could be our next Good Egg!
Your organisation could be eligible for a Good Egg mark if you can provide evidence that it makes a positive impact.
Here is more information on what we look for and how the application works.
For your complete guide to the best ethical and sustainable investment funds available to UK investors, see the latest Good Investment Review, produced in partnership with Square Mile Research and The Big Exchange.
