There has been huge growth in the number of ‘sustainable’ and ‘responsible investment’ funds, which now look at a company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) track record as part of the investment process. However not every ‘green’ label should be taken at face value

In some cases these terms are simply being used as a marketing tool — a trend known as ‘greenwashing’. Investors might assume they are in a climate-friendly fund, but the reality could be quite different.

MPs are now calling on regulators to do more to address this issue and more widely there is a growing push for European regulators to police how the fund management industry reports ESG issues.

It is likely to be some time before there is regulation on this issue. Until then, investors will need to take a closer look at funds. This process isn’t always easy and is complicated by the raft of financial and technical jargon used. To select a fund that is aligned to your values it’s worth considering the following issues.

For guidance on making your investments more sustainable please get in touch.

The value of your investment and the income from it can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Investing in shares should be regarded as a long-term investment and should fit with your overall attitude to risk and financial circumstances.