What criteria do SRI funds use? How can I tell whether an investment is really socially responsible?
Most of us can agree that we want to live in a safe, unpolluted, healthy world but we may have different views on what business activities are acceptable and the importance of particular issues. What good socially responsible investments have in common is that they clearly state the ethical, social and environmental criteria which define the investment strategy and provide information on the investments which they make. You can then decide whether the fund or service is right for you or for your clients, pension fund, charity, etc. The proliferation of SRI funds and steadily improving information flows on corporate environmental and social performance have resulted in an extensive list of issues which are encapsulated by SRI funds in some shape or form. Perhaps the most comprehensive account of the issues can be found under the Global Reporting Initiative www.globalreporting.org This organisation is seeking to create global standards for environmental and social reporting. If your orga
