Ethical Investment Funds

Introducing ethical investment

A growing number of investors are concerned about ethical issues and want their concerns considered when they make investment choices. Perhaps you want the opportunity to support those companies which are regarded as making a positive contribution to the environment and avoid, where possible, those regarded as having a harmful or negative effect.

Our ethical investment funds

The funds' investments are guided by our Ethical Policy. The funds exclude investments that fail negative criteria and favour those that meet positive criteria. Ethical investments are selected by our fund manager on performance grounds, but are all subject to the strict criteria of our Ethical Policy. To learn about the funds available, their performance, our criteria, and other information, please read our Ethical Funds Guide (pdf).

The Ethical Committee

The Ethical Committee is in place to oversee the ethical investment funds. The Committee is responsible for ensuring that the funds remain within the spirit of the Ethical Policy and provide reassurance to investors that the funds are being managed according to the Ethical Policy. The Committee is comprised of four senior managers from within Standard Life and three ethical funds investors. Further information is available at Ethical Committee: Investor Opportunities.

How you can invest ethically

The Life Ethical Fund is available for most investment and savings products, including our highly successful Capital Investment Bond.

The Life Ethical Fund

The Life Ethical Fund invests mainly in UK equities to provide good long term growth potential. The Life Ethical Fund can also invest in European equities and is likely to do so when appropriate.

The Pension Ethical Fund

The Pension Ethical Fund currently invests in UK equities, European equities and in the corporate debt of companies that pass the screening criteria. The Pension Ethical Fund is also allowed to invest in other overseas markets and is likely to do so when suitable screening processes are available.

The Pension Ethical Fund is available for most pension products, including our highly successful personal pensions.

Fund information

You can view the latest Life Ethical Fund Fact Sheet (pdf) for more information, including information on performance, the top ten stock holdings and a profile of the investment manager.

You can also view the latest Pension Ethical Fund Fact Sheet (pdf) for more information.

The figures shown there refer to the past. Past performance is not a reliable guide to future performance.

If you would like to know the daily price of the fund then access our prices data.

Communication with our Investors

Each year, investors receive a copy of our Ethical Funds Newsletter and can choose to receive the twice yearly Report and Accounts which contains a report by the Ethical Committee.

You can also view our annual ethical newsletter archive to read past issues.

Further information

If you would like further information regarding ethical investments, please contact our Investment Market Line on 0845 60 60 062 (call charges may vary), or visit our dedicated Ethical Funds website.