Alternative Asset Analysis Announces New Guide To Ethical Investments

Online, October 26, 2011 (Newswire.com) - As part of National Ethical Investment Week, which took place earlier in October, Alternative Asset Analysis has announced the release of a new ethical investment guide.

The Action Guide for Charities has been published by the Charity Finance Directors' Group (CFDG) and UK Sustainable Investment (UKSIF). Its release, which is being publicized to charities in the UK who may want to invest in ethical schemes, has been cited by AAA, an alternative investment advocacy group, as another positive move for the alternative investment market.

Ethical investments are growing in popularity and recent research has concluded that people now understand the concept behind ethical investments more than they once did. AAA's analyst, Anthony Johnson, explained, "Investors are now beginning to grasp the fact that ethical investment is about making proactive investments into socially and environmentally responsible projects, rather than simply voiding unethical projects."

UKSIF is keen to promote ethical investments by pointing out that investing in social projects, sustainable forestry - through firms like Greenwood Management - or environmental projects, can now bring returns that exceed those obtainable through traditional investments. UKSIF's Penny Shepherd, said, "The days are long gone when investing ethically implied sacrificing financial returns and our first Action Guide for Charities will help charities to consider ways forward."

Caron Bradshaw, the chief executive of the CFDG, added that the guide should help charities ensure they are accountable and transparent, but that they also deliver the best returns for the charity's stakeholders. She stated, "At a time when charities have stretched resources, the public expect more from them in terms of accountability and transparency. These approaches make practical sense and are useful tools to support a charity's work."

It's not just charities who want to invest ethically these days - many investors are diversifying their portfolios to reduce the risk in their investment strategies.