More and more investors want not only to achieve financial returns but also to have a positive impact on the world. Sustainable investing – often referred to as “green investing” – is a strong trend. But what does that mean exactly, and how do you find investment products that meet both ethical and financial criteria? A webinar can offer valuable guidance here and show you ways to invest your money in line with your values.
What is Sustainable Investing? (ESG Criteria)
Sustainable investing considers not only traditional financial metrics but also so-called ESG criteria:
- E (Environment): How environmentally friendly does a company operate? This includes aspects such as CO2 emissions, use of renewable energies, water consumption, waste management, or biodiversity protection.
- S (Social): How does a company treat its employees, customers, and society? Fair working conditions, occupational safety, gender equality, diversity, social responsibility, and data handling play a role here.
- G (Governance): How is the corporate governance structured? This includes topics such as fair executive compensation, transparency, anti-corruption measures, and the composition of the supervisory board.
A webinar can explain how these criteria are evaluated and what role they play in investment selection.
Green Investment Products: A Growing Diversity
The range of sustainable investment products is constantly growing. A webinar can help you understand the differences:
- Sustainable Funds and ETFs: These are investment funds or exchange-traded index funds that specifically invest in companies meeting high ESG standards. There are different approaches: some categorically exclude certain industries (e.g., weapons, tobacco, coal – negative screens), while others specifically select companies that are particularly sustainable in their sector (positive screens).
- Green Bonds: These are bonds whose proceeds are used exclusively to finance projects with positive environmental impacts (e.g., renewable energy, sustainable buildings).
- Impact Investing: This involves specifically investing in companies or projects that aim to achieve measurable positive social or environmental impacts in addition to a financial return (e.g., clean water, education in developing countries).
- Sustainable Crowdinvesting Projects: Here, you can invest directly in projects in renewable energy, social housing, or organic farming.
What to Look For in Green Investments
Some buzzwords in sustainable investing are not always what they seem. A webinar can make you aware of “greenwashing,” where companies present themselves as more environmentally friendly than they actually are. Look for:
- Transparency: Are the ESG criteria of the investment products clearly disclosed?
- Certifications and Labels: Are there independent labels or certifications for the sustainability of the product or the provider?
- Regular Reporting: Does the provider regularly report on the sustainability impact of the investments?
Investing sustainably means making conscious decisions that benefit not only your own finances but also the environment and society. A specialized webinar is an excellent way to acquire the necessary knowledge and align your investments with your values.
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