Ethical funds hit £9.5bn high

The not-for-profit ethical research organisation said the £9.5bn invested represented approximately three quarters of a million investors, up from around 200,000 investors in 1999 when around £2.4bn was invested ethically in the UK.

Mark Robertson, Eiris spokesperson, said investors were becoming more aware of the power they had.

He said: "It's clear that increasing numbers of consumers are turning to those financial institutions which offer financial products that make money whilst making a positive difference to the world."

'The world is changing fast and many of the issues targeted by green and ethical investment funds such as the need to tackle ageing populations, reduce levels of obesity, address the global power shortage, tackle water scarcity and climate change are creating attractive business opportunities, which in turn are creating great investment opportunities which consumers can take advantage of."

Eiris said growing consumer interest in issues like climate change, human rights, fairtrade and poverty had also driven the launch of the UK's first ever consumer website dedicated to ethical finance, YourEthicalMoney.org.

The website provides independent free advice to help anyone wanting to learn about how and where their money is invested and search for green and ethical financial products.