Has policies that consider (environmental and social) sustainability issues. Strategies vary but are likely to consider environmental issues like climate change, carbon emissions, biodiversity loss, resource management, environmental impacts; and social issues like equal opportunities, human rights, labour standards, diversity and adherence to internationally recognised codes. See individual entry information.

Has a significant focus on sustainability issues

Aim to encourage higher sustainability standards through responsible ownership / stewardship / engagement / voting activity

Use the UN Global Compact to inform or help direct where they can or cannot invest. Will typically not invest in companies with significant breaches (low standards) - strategies vary. (The UNGC covers a wide range of issues - search 'UNGC'). See https://unglobalcompact.org/

Has policies which relate to environmental issues. These will typically set out their stance on issues such as pollution, climate change, resource management, biodiversity loss, carbon emissions, plastics and/or additional environmental impacts. Strategies vary.

Options that limit or 'reduce' their exposure to carbon intensive industries (ie sectors which are major contributors to climate change). Strategies vary.

Has documented policies explaining the approach to environmental damage and pollution. Strategies vary.

Has a written biodiversity policy or theme typically aimed at supporting, encouraging and improving environmental protection and safeguarding the natural world (sometimes referred to as 'natural capital'). See eg https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/biodiversity

Has policies designed to address involvement in irresponsibly managed palm oil or other forms of deforestation (typically exclusion led). Strategies vary.

Avoids assets that are involved in illegal deforestation. This may relate to palm oil, cattle farming or other areas. Strategies vary.

Has a responsible palm oil policy - typically likely to divert investment away from poor practices.

Has policies (documented strategies that explain their position) on climate change related issues such as greenhouse gas/carbon emissions, net zero, transitioning to lower carbon. Strategies vary.

Avoid investment in major coal, oil and/or gas (extraction) companies. Strategies vary.

Avoid companies involved in fracking and tar sands - which are widely regarded as controversial methods of oil and gas extraction. Strategies vary.

Avoid companies that are involved in extracting oil from the Arctic regions.

Avoid investing in companies / assets with coal, oil and gas reserves. See individual entry information for further details.

Has a policy which describes the avoidance or limited investment in the nuclear industry. Strategies vary.

Excludes companies and other assets with direct involvement in fossil fuel exploration (eg coal, oil and gas companies)

Has policies which set out their approach to social issues (e.g. human rights, labour standards, equal opportunities, child labour and/or adherence to internationally recognised codes such as the UN Global Compact). Strategies with social policies typically avoid companies with low standards and/or work to encourage higher standards. See fund information for detail.

Has a labour standards policy - likely to mean they will invest in / favour companies that have higher employment related standards and avoid those with low standards. Strategies vary. See eg https://www.ilo.org/international-labour-standards

All mining companies excluded

Has policies that set out their position on ethical or 'personal values' based issues. Strategies vary.

Companies are excluded if they are involved in any aspect of the production chain for tobacco products, including cigarettes, vaping, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco and cigars.

Companies are excluded if they make more than 5% of their revenue from the manufacture, sale or distribution of tobacco products including cigarettes, vaping, e-cigarettes, chewing tobacco and cigars.

Avoids companies that manufacture weapons intended specifically for military use. Strategies vary - may or may not include non-strategic military products.

Has a written civilian firearms exclusion policy - meaning that they will not invest in companies that make (or perhaps also sell) handguns made for non-military users.

Avoids companies that produce alcohol. Strategies vary; some may allow a small proportion of revenue to come from this area.

Avoids companies with significant involvement in the gambling industry. Some may allow a small proportion of revenues to come from this area.

Avoids companies that derive significant income from pornography and related areas. Strategies vary.

Has policies that require specific animal welfare standards to be met. These may reference well-known welfare standards (3Rs - Replace, Reduce, Refine) or certification schemes. Strategies vary.

Has policies relating to human rights issues. Typically require companies to demonstrate higher standards, although some managers work to encourage improvements. Investee companies are often judged against internationally agreed norms or standards. Strategies vary.

Has policies to avoid companies that employ children.

Has policies that exclude companies or other assets which operate in, or are owned by regimes which are not democratic, or where people may be oppressed. May use eg. Freedom House research. Strategies vary.

Excludes financial services companies with widely criticised, aggressive lending practices where interest rates are typically very high, (eg ‘doorstep lending’)

Has policies that relate to corporate governance issues such as board structure, executive remuneration, bribery and/or corporate corruption. These funds will typically avoid companies with poor practices. Strategies vary.

Avoids investing in companies with poor governance practices.(e.g. board structure, management practices etc.) Views may however vary on what counts as 'poor' practices - and funds may not immediately divest as they may prefer to work to encourage higher standards.

Exclude companies that are subject to United Nations sanctions. See eg https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/content/un-sc-consolidated-list

Has policies explaining how managers will respond to assets / companies that do not comply with relevant anti-bribery and anti-corruption standards or laws. Strategies vary; options include stewardship/ engagement and divestment - or a combination.

Encourage the companies they invest in to have more diverse board structures (e.g. more women on boards)

Encourage the banks and insurance companies they invest in to publish climate change related financial information - as set out by the Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures (with the aim of helping investors measure and respond to climate risk).

Aim to encourage higher ESG standards through responsible ownership / stewardship / engagement /voting activity

Find fund / asset managers that factor in 'environmental, social and governance' issues as part of their investment decision making process. A focus on 'ESG' typically means a fund is carrying out additional research to help reduce ESG related risks. It does not necessarily mean a focus on sustainability. Strategies vary. See fund literature.

Invests in a combination of small, medium and larger (potentially multinational) companies / assets.

Aims to deliver positive environmental and or social impacts (real world benefits) through its engagement with investee assets

Has principle 'ethical approach' to avoid companies by using negative screening criteria. Strategies vary.

Has principle approach to apply positive or negative ethical, social and / or environmental screens. Strictly screened investments are likely to exclude more companies than other related options. Strategies vary.

Has some exclusions - typically for example excludes tobacco or companies that breach commonly adopted standards or norms such as the UN Global Compact.

Aims to avoid companies that do significant harm. This originates from the EU’s sustainable finance ‘DNSH’ (do no significant harm) work, which is not necessarily used by UK investors.

Focuses on the careful management of environmental, social and governance (ESG) related risks - typically by avoiding or being underweight in companies seen as posing major risks in these areas (i.e. not necessarily by using themes, exclusions etc).

Publish explanations of their ethical, social and/or environmental policies online (i.e. investment decision making strategies/ buy/sell &/or asset management strategies).

All assets - except cash - meet the sustainability criteria published in strategy documentation.

Designed to meet the needs of individual investors with an interest in sustainability issues.

Designed for clients who care about ethical and values-based issues, often alongside sustainability issues also.

Only applicable for DFM’s & portfolio providers. Finds those that offer an SRI / ESG portfolio option

Only applicable for DFM’s & portfolio providers. Find service providers who offer multiple SRI / ESG portfolio options

Only applicable for DFM’s & portfolio providers. Find service providers who offer bespoke ('personalised') SRI / ESG portfolio options