More people than ever are looking to invest their money with a conscience. This means making a positive impact on the wider world as well as aiming for a personal profit.
One way to do this is by investing directly in companies that are working hard to provide solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems.
Below are three investments making a positive impact on people and planet that are open to invest in now.
Bear in mind that these are high risk investments and you are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. Therefore, don’t invest unless you are prepared to lose all the money you invest.
1. Renewable energy
Thrive Renewables has launched a new share offer as part of its five-year plan to double its renewable energy generation capacity.
Thrive renewables open day in Avonmouth. September 2022.
A certified B Corporation, and Good With Money ‘Good Egg’ company, Thrive aims to power the transition to a sustainable energy future by helping people connect with clean energy projects.
Equity raised through the crowdfunding offer with Triodos Crowdfunding will be used to build new onshore wind, solar, geothermal and battery storage projects.
Minimum investment in the crowdfunding offer is £243 (100 shares) and shares can be held in a self-invested personal pension (SIPP). The company is targeting five to eight per cent return per year through a combination of dividends and increasing share value.
Over the last 29 years, Thrive Renewables has raised £58 million from its community of over 6,000 shareholders and 1,000 bondholders, using the money to develop or fund a renewable energy portfolio of 34 sites in total.
Risk warning: Investing in the shares of a company involves risk – including potential for loss of capital – as the value of shares may go down as well as up. The payment of dividends and the target return on equity are not guaranteed.
2. Marine conservation
Marine conservation engineering company Fishtek Marine has launched its second crowdfunding campaign to fund its development of new technology to reduce the impact of fishing on the marine environment.
Pete Kibel, Founder and Managing Director
Based in Totnes, Devon, UK, Fishtek Marine was set up by brothers Pete and Ben Kibel in 2016 to create products that offer viable alternatives to destructive fishing practices. Its aim is to reducing bycatch (the death or capture of non-target species), which is widely considered to be the single greatest threat posed to marine mammals.
Fishtek Marine is looking to raise £1 million through Triodos Crowdfunding, with the issue of new shares in the company, to support further growth and product development. Triodos is Good With Money ‘Good Egg’ company.
The minimum investment in the crowdfunding offer is £100, and Fishtek has advised investors that they may be able to take advantage of Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) tax relief, although this depends on individual circumstances and is subject to change.
A return on investment is likely to be achieved through a sale of the company’s shares in the future. Fishtek Marine is not planning to pay dividends for at least three years and any dividends payable after this are dependent on Fishtek Marine’s financial performance.
Risk warning: Investing in the shares of an unlisted company involves a high degree of risk, including potential for loss of capital and future dilution, and lack of liquidity, and should only be considered as part of a diversified investment portfolio.
3. Clean transport and new jobs
Bisedge is a Nigerian company that is delivering significant carbon emission reductions by supplying electric forklift trucks and clean energy industrial logistics solutions to large, blue chip companies. It has launched a new bond offer to fund six new forklift trucks.
A worker at Bisedge
Each new forklift creates approximately four new jobs. Bisedge provides secured employment, with social security benefits – this is incredibly important for workers in Nigeria, where 80 per cent of the working population is employed in the ‘informal sector’. They target employing 30 per cent women in these roles.
Bisedge’s industrial customers have 24/7 logistics operations, so replacing diesel with electric forklifts delivers substantial carbon emission reductions.
Minimum investment is £50 and the expected interest rate is seven per cent per year, paid six monthly – remember that returns and repayment of capital are not guaranteed. This investment is eligible for the tax-free Innovative Finance ISA.
Risk warning: As with all investments, your capital is at risk. This is a bond issued by a single company and therefore it is recommended that you are careful with the amount you invest. You must read the offer document where a statement of risks is presented, particularly in section 5 – ‘Risk Analysis Overview’.
