Welcome to the EIRIS responsible investment blog. Get our perspectives on the latest trends and developments in responsible investment and corporate social responsibility.
By Mark Robertson on 19 January 2012 | 2:00 pm
It’s almost 30 years since EIRIS was established as the UK’s first independent research service for ethical investors in 1983. A year later, Friends Provident launched the Stewardship Fund – the UK’s first ethical unit trust – with EIRIS research.
Since then a huge amount has changed. The number of UK green and ethical funds has grown to over a hundred, Read more >
By Kazutaka Kuroda on 22 December 2011 | 12:00 pm
Increased levels of accountability and transparency are needed if Japanese companies are to attract long-term shareholders.
The scandal to hit Olympus has heightened investor’s concerns over standards of corporate governance in Japan. Read more >
By Mark Robertson on 7 December 2011 | 4:25 pm
Last week marked the thirteenth World AIDS Day which aims to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS around the world. It’s 30 years since the virus was first identified and globally an estimated 33.3 million people now have HIV. More than 25 million people between 1981 and 2007 have died from the virus, making it one of the most destructive pandemics in history.
HIV/AIDS is a condition which affects people of all ages, particularly young adults aged between 14 and 45 who represent one of the most economically productive portions of the population. Read more >
By Virginia Jennings on 2 December 2011 | 2:34 pm
In the past, poor corporate performance on farm animal welfare grounds led some ethically-motivated investors to screen out companies, but responsible investors are increasingly becoming aware of the link between farm animal welfare and financial value, as apparent from a recent UKSIF investor analyst seminar on farm animal welfare.
Animal welfare organisations have long campaigned over the treatment of animals used in food production - the conditions in which they are kept, mutilations, how they are transported, Read more >
By Rachel Withey on 7 November 2011 | 12:41 pm
EIRIS welcomes the launch of the Charity Commission’s new investment guidance for Charities – CC14.
In responding to the consultation on the new CC14 guidance earlier this year, EIRIS highlighted the potential reputational risks which can arise for those charities which do not invest in line with their mission. Read more >
By Victoria Heath on 31 October 2011 | 10:25 am
Early this year, Lord Davies published his independent review into women on boards which recommended that UK listed companies in the FTSE 100 should be aiming for a minimum of 25% female board member representation by 2015.
Welcomed by many, the report made numerous recommendations to address gender inequality. Now that we are nearing the end of the year, I wonder how we are actually progressing? Read more >
By Virginia Jennings on 1 September 2011 | 3:30 pm
It all started with a conversation at an event. Peter Webster (EIRIS’ Executive Director) and Paul Clements-Hunt (Head of UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative) were at a UNEP FI conference in South Africa and got talking about the challenges facing the banking sector in the wake of the financial crisis.
A seed of an idea started to grow: helping the integration of environmental, social and governance (ESG) Read more >
By Victoria Heath on 26 August 2011 | 3:12 pm
Many values-led organisations choose to screen out investments in what some might consider to be controversial activities such as alcohol, tobacco, gambling and pornography. If pornography is an area of concern, which factors should you take into account when managing your investment portfolio?
Pornography is often included on the list of issues excluded by investors, along with alcohol, tobacco, Read more >
