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Ethics Committee
Sustainable investment
One way of achieving this is to invest in companies via shares or investment funds. But which shares or funds are suitable for this and which bank or asset manager can offer reliable solutions for sustainable investment? Which sectors or companies represent a worthwhile investment? And what role do ethics and sustainability play here?
Anyone who deals with financial investments, investments such as shares or bonds, is familiar with the three factors of financial investment: return, risk and liquidity.
In the case of return or expected return, for example, it is important to assess how promising and stable business models are, how the market is positioned and whether certain trends will continue in the future. This allows an assessment to be made of how high the return on the investment could be in the future.
The approach is similar when it comes to risk and security. Here it is important to assess which factors could affect the expected return on the investment.
And last but not least, you should have a clear idea of how long you can do without the liquidity you have invested and when you would like to draw on the capital you have invested again.
So much for the classic factors. But isn’t there something else missing? When we invest in shares or funds, this also achieves a certain effect. What do we support or want to support with our money? With our investment, we provide certain companies, people or industries with financial power. Does our investment do any good or is it perhaps harmful? We are in the midst of a paradigm shift! Issues such as climate change, poverty, environmental pollution and resource scarcity are threatening our future!
Therefore, questions about WHO we make our capital available to or WHAT our money is used for are becoming increasingly important and essential! It is therefore essential – now more than ever – to assess and consider the sustainability and ethics of an investment in addition to returns, security and liquidity.
In view of the global problems we face as humanity, it is now crucial to take responsibility, especially when investing. For example, do you feel uncomfortable with the fact that your investment is accelerating the deforestation of the rainforest? Then it may make sense to avoid certain food or pharmaceutical companies. Are you not indifferent to the fact that children are being exploited or that certain state regimes have no respect for human dignity? Then you should definitely avoid certain regions, countries or companies when investing. So we should take a close look at the influence we exert and consider whether it is in line with our values, shouldn’t we?
Privately, we would never give money to someone whose actions we find abhorrent. No, we weigh things up and want to support first-class projects. We want to put our money in good hands – this should not only apply privately, but above all when investing in funds, shares and bonds.
Sustainability has long since become mainstream. Now that legislators are getting serious about sustainable investment, almost all providers are suddenly putting on a “green” face. However, if you really care about the issue and want to make a difference with your investment, it is worth taking a closer look behind the scenes. So don’t be misled and check carefully whether the intended investment meets your expectations and expectations!
What characterizes an ethical investment? Billions of euros are invested every year by people in industries that they actually want nothing to do with. Billions of euros are given to companies that exploit people, force children to work and overexploit our ecosystem.
Investing ethically means participating in good causes. Giving your capital to entities that act in accordance with your own values. Entities that do business without causing disproportionate damage to people or nature. Entities that act socially, ecologically and humanely in the interests of a healthy world.
An ethical investment is characterized by sustainability. Sustainable in two senses. Firstly, that we can increase our assets sustainably. And secondly, that we – ethically and sustainably – promote fair and ecological action with our investment. No activities that exploit our environment or carelessly drive climate change, but instead conserve resources and nature.
There are countless companies in which investors can invest. The same applies to funds and ETFs. The question is how to find an investment that combines security, availability and an attractive expected return with our moral values. An investment that is of high ethical quality and delivers what it promises.
Unfortunately, there are still no binding criteria that can be used to classify companies in terms of ethics or sustainability. The same applies to investment funds. At Arete Ethik Invest, we present transparently how ethics and sustainability have been practiced and implemented at our company for over a quarter of a century and how you can invest and increase your capital in line with your values.
It is often not easy to decide whether an investment or a fund is ethical or whether an investment can be considered sustainable. Both ethics and sustainability are broad terms that are defined in different ways. To ensure clarity about our view of things, we follow the Eurosif Transparency Directive and the EU Disclosure Regulation. We also practice transparency pragmatically: if you would like to attend a meeting of the Ethics Committee, you are very welcome to do so.
Our ethical process is characterized by many years of experience, independence, transparency and objectivity. Every investor can make up their own mind about this. The term or acronym ESG currently dominates the investment world. ESG is by no means the same as or comparable with strictly ethical or sustainable investments. Nevertheless, we would like to briefly introduce the key characteristics of the acronym:
With every euro, we make a contribution to the world we live in. With the money you invest, you support and strengthen companies. Are you wondering who and what you would like to support from an ethical or sustainable point of view? Then you are already one step ahead because you have decided to take responsibility. You have recognized that the future is not an inevitable timetable, but will be shaped by the way we think and act today.
We have it in our own hands. We can help shape our world and our future. We don’t have to choose between good returns and sustainability, because good performance and ethics are not a contradiction in terms. Quite the opposite.
It’s easier than you think. The only question is: What do you want?
We evaluate investment concepts and match your investment goals with ethically managed companies. You decide what kind of world you want to live in. Which companies you want to invest in and which economic sectors you want to support and promote.
We would be delighted if we could take you with us and show you what opportunities there are for sustainable investments. Opportunities with which you can not only increase your assets, but also have a positive social and ecological impact.