Ethical Screens

Alcohol
Animal Testing - Cosmetic
Animal Testing - Medical
Armaments
Fossil Fuels
Fur Trade
Gambling
Genetic Engineering
Human Rights
Intensive Farming

Meat Products
Mining/Quarrying
Timber
Nuclear
Ozone-Depleting Substances
Political Donations
Pornography
Shariah
Tobacco
Water Pollution

Alcohol

Funds may choose to screen against companies that have an involvement in the production, sale and/or distribution of alcoholic beverages. Alcohol is related to health risks and societal issues, and the promotion of consumption may therefore be deemed unethical.

Animal Testing – Cosmetic

Funds may choose to screen against companies involved in animal testing for the development of cosmetic products or derive any turnover from the sale of such products. Cosmetics testing may be seen as providing little benefit for humans and some investors may see this as unnecessary harm to animals.

Animal Testing – Medical

Funds that apply this criteria screen against companies involved in animal testing for the development of pharmaceutical products or derive any turnover from the sale of such products. This option is appropriate for investors who want their funds to avoid any harm to animals.

Armaments

Funds that apply this criteria screen against companies that manufacture or sell weapons/weapons systems or components for personal and/or military application. This is suitable for investors who want to make sure their money is not used to promote or facilitate warfare.

Fossil Fuels

Funds that apply this criteria screen against companies that derive any turnover from the fossil fuel industries. This may be appropriate for investors interested in promoting sustainable energy resources, as fossil fuels are a limited resource.

Fur Trade

Funds that apply this criteria screen against companies that are involved in the fur trade or derive any turnover from the sale of fur products. Most animal rights institutions are opposed to the fur trade as it can be inhumane to animals for aesthetic to humans.

Gambling

Funds that apply this criteria screen against companies that are involved in the gambling industry, including casinos, lotteries and bingo.

Genetic Engineering

Funds that apply this criteria screen against companies that are involved in the engineering/modification or patenting of genes. This would screen out companies involved in producing GM crops, or those that deal with stem cell research, which may be seen as unnatural and could potentially be harmful.

Human Rights

Funds may choose to screen against companies that have a poor human rights record and/or operate under oppressive government regimes. Human rights violations could lead to boycotts or legal problems for companies involved, and include rights such as civil, social, economic, political, or labour.

Intensive Farming

Funds that apply this criteria screen against companies that derive any turnover from intensive meat and fish farming and/or the manufacture of chemical pesticides.Intensive Farming can be damaging to ecosystems, harmful to animals and associated with higher C02 emissions.

Meat Products

Funds that apply this criteria screen against companies that own abattoirs or poultry slaughterhouses and/or derive any turnover from meat or slaughterhouse by-product sales.

Mining/Quarrying

Funds may choose to screen against companies that obtain and distribute minerals, fuels or rocks from mines or quarries.This could be appropriate for investors interested in promoting sustainable energy resources, as these companies are exploiting limited resources.

Timber

Funds that apply this criteria screen against companies that contribute to deforestation. Deforestation threatens ecosystems as well as putting pressure on the environment as it’s responsible for nearly one fifth of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Nuclear

Funds that apply this criteria screen against companies that derive turnover from nuclear power stations, uranium mining and/or manufacturing products for nuclear power plants. There are still many issues with nuclear technology relating to safety, sustainability, and impacts on the environment.

Ozone Depleting Substances

Funds that apply this criteria screen against companies who contribute to the emission of substances that adversely affect the ozone layer. Ozone depletion could contribute to climate change, and could negatively affect human health through increased UV radiation.

Political Donations

Funds that apply this criteria screen against companies who receive political donations.

Pornography

Funds that apply this criteria screen again companies that derive turnover from the production or distribution of pornographic material and/or adult establishments. Pornography can be a contributor to violence and is linked to sexual discrimination and degradation.

Shariah

Funds that apply this criteria are Shariah-compliant and cannot invest in the companies that are involved in gambling, tobacco, the production or sale of pork products, alcohol, armaments, cinema and all pornographic material. Shariah-compliant funds also do not invest in banks.

Tobacco

Funds that apply this criteria screen against companies that are involved in the sale and distribution of tobacco products. Smoking has proven health impacts both for the smoker and those around them. It can also cause strain on the health system.

Water Pollution

Funds that apply this criteria screen against companies that are involved in reducing the quality of water-based environments.