If the recent surge in catastrophic weather events, biodiversity loss, and rising global inequality has left you wondering what you can do, one powerful step is to make sure your money is invested in solutions. Choosing a sustainable investment platform means your savings can help tackle climate change, protect the natural world, and support fairer opportunities worldwide.
Of course, investing is always a long-term commitment – your money is best left to grow steadily through the ups and downs of the market. As the saying goes, “it’s not about timing the market, but about time in the market” – and the earlier you start, the greater the impact you can have.
So if you’ve been thinking about getting started with sustainable investing but aren’t sure where to begin, here’s our guide to the top three easy-to-use sustainable investment platforms in the UK.
Simply EQ
What it is: Simply EQ is an online and phone-based investment offering from EQ Investors, a Good With Money ‘Good Egg’ company. It is positioned as a more accessible entry point into the EQ investing ecosystem.
You can choose from the ‘Positive Impact‘, ‘Future Leaders’ or ‘Climate Action’ portfolios. The Positive Impact portfolio actively screens for social and environmental impact and is designed to maximise your profit while also making a positive difference to the planet and its people. Future Leaders “invests in the sustainable leaders of tomorrow,” and Climate Action invests for a low carbon future.
What we like: Simply EQ makes sustainable investing more approachable for those who want expert-managed portfolios without the need for full financial advice. EQ has a long-standing reputation as a leader in ethical investment and the portfolios are actively designed to deliver measurable social and environmental outcomes alongside strong returns.
Costs and minimums: With up to £100,000 you can invest online from 0.99 per cent (+VAT). Minimum investment is £250 per month or a £1,000 lump sum.
Find out more about Simply EQ here.
Triodos Bank
What it is: Triodos Bank, a pioneer in sustainable finance, offers four impact investment funds for you to invest in through its Ethical Stocks and Shares ISA – the Triodos Global Equities Impact Fund, Triodos Pioneer Impact Fund, Triodos Sterling Bond Impact Fund and the Triodos Future Generations Fund.
What we like: Triodos has one of the strongest track records in sustainable finance globally. It’s committed to full transparency, publishing exactly which companies and projects it invests in. Triodos also takes an active role in engaging with the companies it invests in, pushing for higher social and environmental standards.
Costs and minimums: There is an Annual Service Charge, tiered at 0.40 per cent per year on balances up to £250,000, and 0.20 per cent on amounts above that. Minimum investment is £250 or £25 per month.
Find out more about Good With Money ‘Good Egg’ company Triodos here.
The Big Exchange
What it is: The Big Exchange, co-founded by The Big Issue, is an online investment platform which only lists funds that are proven to be making a positive difference to the planet and its people.
Its large range of funds cover different sustainable aims, from lowering carbon emissions, contributing to social housing or helping to protect wildlife. The platform also offers three ready-made investment bundles – ‘cautious’, ‘balanced’ or ‘adventurous’ – put together by independent experts based on how much risk the investments are likely to take over time.
What we like: The Big Exchange takes transparency seriously by publishing the full list of companies in each fund, not just the top 10. We also like its medal system – awarding funds gold, silver or bronze depending on the level of positive impact they make – which gives investors a clear, simple way to compare options.
Costs and minimums: There is a platform fee of 0.25 per cent per year, which is among the more competitive pricing in this space. You can invest from £25 a month or a lump sum of £100.
Platforms offering sustainable investments, though not exclusively, include Hargreaves Lansdown, Interactive Investor and AJ Bell. In the app space, Wealthify is the best of the bunch.
