Who we invest in
Nothing to hide
We are one of the few fund managers who disclose all of our investments, as we believe it is important that investors know what their money is funding.
Renewable and clean energy
Solar power
- France
EDF Energies Nouvelles is a leading French renewable energy generation company. The company is involved in the business of wind, hydro, solar and biomass power generation. Green electricity is produced by company operations across Europe and North America. The company is involved in a partnership that will construct one of Europe’s largest offshore wind farms.
- Germany
Q-Cells is the largest manufacturer of solar cells in the world. In addition to manufacturing mono- and poly-crystalline silicon solar cells, the company is also involved in the development of new technologies including thin-film photovoltaics. Solar energy offers one of the best solutions to the problem of global warming, with capacity in Germany increasing from 28.8 MWp in 2001 to 251.9 MWp in 2005.
- Germany
SolarWorld AG has grown from a trading company to a solar group with a fully integrated solar value chain process covering silicon as a raw material through to high quality solar power generating systems. The SolarWorld Group is one of the top three companies in the solar power industry worldwide.
- United States of America
SunPower Corporation designs, manufactures and markets high-performance solar electric technology worldwide. SunPower's high-efficiency solar cells and panels generate up to 50% more power per unit area than conventional solar technologies. SP Systems, a subsidiary, is a leading global provider of large-scale solar power systems. Together with SP Systems, SunPower produces innovative technology across the entire solar value chain to deliver high-performance, superior looking and lower cost solar power solutions.
Geothermal energy
- New Zealand
Contact Energy is one of the largest retailers of electricity in New Zealand, and generates about 28% of the country’s energy requirements. Contact’s energy is generated using hydro, geothermal and gas turbines. The Company’s Energy Efficiency website provides a forum for consumer education about efficient energy use as well as discussion about New Zealand’s obligations as a signatory to the Kyoto protocol.
- AustraliaGeodynamics are pioneers of the use of geothermal energy for electricity generation in Australia. The last few years has seen the company demonstrate the practicality of their process, which involves pumping water down deep wells, having the heat of the earth transform the water into steam, and using the steam to drive turbines back at the surface to generate electricity. Geothermal energy offers a real alternative to fossil fuels, because it can provide the 'base-load' power that other intermittent renewables such as wind and solar cannot.
- United States of America
Ormat power solutions have combined ecology with economy to produce environmentally sound energy systems since 1965. The company is a multi-disciplinary power technology organisation with over four decades of experience in the design, engineering, construction and operation of renewable power plants. Ormat is the third largest geothermal power producer in the United States. The company has built or supplied equipment for approximately 1200 MW of geothermal and recovered energy power generation power plants.
- Australia
Panax Geothermal is aiming to become a major player in the geothermal industry, in Australia and internationally. The company is pursuing both conventional volcanic related geothermal resources and enhanced geothermal systems, such as hot fractured rock. The Limestone Coast Geothermal Project in South Australia is Panax’s key asset with an estimated generating potential of approximately 1,500 MW. This is equivalent of two coal fired power stations. Internationally, Panax plans to develop geothermal projects in India, Kyrgyzstan and Slovakia. Geothermal energy offers zero-emission, base-load electricity independent of external fuel sources.
- Australia
Petratherm is aiming to produce commercially sustainable, emission-free, renewable energy by identifying and developing hot geothermal source rocks. Unlike burning fossil fuels, geothermal energy emits no greenhouse gases, pollution or hazardous wastes. The company has geothermal energy projects in Australia, Spain and China.
Coal seam gas
- Australia
Arrow Energy is an Australia based coal seam gas (CSG) producer focussed on the supply of gas to Australian and international markets. The company has also entered into agreements to develop CSG in India, Indonesia, China and Vietnam. The use of coal seam methane as an energy source is attractive as it produces considerably lower emissions when compared to other fossil fuels. Arrow Energy also has innovative environmental initiatives for re-using saline water extracted throughout the gas production. This includes research into the use of saline water for aquaculture, and the use of treated water from reverse osmosis plants for irrigation or town water.
- AustraliaBlue Energy is an energy company with the strategic focus to become a significant coal seam gas (CSG) entity. The company currently owns one of the largest coal seam gas exploration acreages in Australia. As at 30 June 2008 the company owned a total of 27,577 km2 coal seam gas exploration assets, all located in Queensland. Coal seam methane is a transitional low emission fuel. It has considerably lower greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fossil fuels such as oil and coal.
- Australia
Origin Energy has almost 4,000 employees, supplying natural gas, LPG and electricity to more than 3 million customers throughout Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. The company has a portfolio of gas fired power stations and cogeneration plants and is developing a set of renewable technology options including SLIVER technology and hot rocks via a 6.86% interest in Geodynamics. Origin Energy also holds a 30% interest in a joint venture with Geodynamics Ltd covering various geothermal permits in northern South Australia. A group of independent environment groups described Origin's 100% wind and 100% solar GreenPower product as one of the market leading green electricity products available in Australia.
Wind power
- France
EDF Energies Nouvelles is a leading French renewable energy generation company. The company is involved in the business of wind, hydro, solar and biomass power generation. Green electricity is produced by company operations across Europe and North America. The company is involved in a partnership that will construct one of Europe’s largest offshore wind farms.
- Spain
Gamesa is a Spanish company with operations in wind energy centred on the development, construction and sale of wind farms; and designing, engineering, manufacturing and sale of wind turbines. Gamesa Energy Australia is involved in wind farm projects at Paling Yards and Crookwell, both in NSW.
- Spain
Iberdrola Renovables is the world leader in wind farm operation, with nearly 9,300 MW installed capacity. The company also has interests in other forms of energy generation including gas, solar, wave, biomass and mini-hydro power. The nuclear power assets of parent company Iberdrola SA have not been included in Iberdrola Renovables’ portfolio.
- Australia
Infigen Energy owns and operates wind farms across Europe, Australia and the United States. In 2008 the US was the world’s largest wind power generator by installed capacity, closely followed by Europe’s most developed wind energy markets in Germany and Spain. Australian wind farms make up 1% of global installed capacity. Wind energy is expected to account for approximately 3% of the world’s electricity generation by 2015. The expansion of wind power is seen as an important tool in the fight against greenhouse gas emissions and the depletion of non-renewable resources.
- New Zealand
Established in 1925, Tauranga-based TrustPower generates 100% renewable electricity from 38 different power stations across New Zealand and Australia. The company has hydro operations in the Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, West Coast, Otago and Canterbury regions, and wind energy operations the Tararua and South Australian.
Trustpower powers around 220,000 New Zealand households using electricity produced from renewable sources.
- Denmark
Danish company Vestas began wind turbine manufacturing in 1979, and is now a global, market leading producer of high technological wind power solutions. With more than 25 years experience, the company has an extensive portfolio of turbines which are suited to specific conditions and requirements.
As of December 2008, Vestas has over 38,000 wind turbines in 62 countries.
- Australia
Viridis Clean Energy Group is an energy infrastructure fund that invests in a diversified global portfolio of clean energy assets. The fund aims to benefit from the clean and renewable energy sector with increasing action by consumers and governments to address climate change. Based on book value as at the end of December 2008 the fund has a portfolio with investments in wind (40%) and landfill gas (60%) assets spread across Europe and the United States.
Hydro power
- New Zealand
Contact Energy is one of the largest retailers of electricity in New Zealand, and generates about 28% of the country’s energy requirements. Contact’s energy is generated using hydro, geothermal and gas turbines. The Company’s Energy Efficiency website provides a forum for consumer education about efficient energy use as well as discussion about New Zealand’s obligations as a signatory to the Kyoto protocol.
- France
EDF Energies Nouvelles is a leading French renewable energy generation company. The company is involved in the business of wind, hydro, solar and biomass power generation. Green electricity is produced by company operations across Europe and North America. The company is involved in a partnership that will construct one of Europe’s largest offshore wind farms.
- Australia
Snowy Hydro Ltd operates two-gas fired power stations in Victoria and the Snowy Hydro scheme, a hydroelectricity and irrigation complex. Snowy Hydro Ltd is the leading provider of peak, renewable electricity and innovative risk management financial hedge products to the National Electricity Market.
Biomass energy
- France
EDF Energies Nouvelles is a leading French renewable energy generation company. The company is involved in the business of wind, hydro, solar and biomass power generation. Green electricity is produced by company operations across Europe and North America. The company is involved in a partnership that will construct one of Europe’s largest offshore wind farms.
- Australia
Energy Developments is a Queensland-based company engaged in the development and management of an international portfolio of projects with a particular focus on renewable energy and waste fuels. Power plants operated by Energy Developments are providing greenhouse gas emission reductions equivalent to approximately 10 million tonnes per year of carbon dioxide.
Water technologies
- Italy
Hera is a broad-based utility serving 135 municipalities in the Italian regions Bologna, Ferrara, Ravenna, Rimini, Modena, Forlì-Cesena and Imola-Faenza. The company distributes water, natural gas and electricity and provides a range of environmental services including waste collection, city cleaning and composting. The company is also involved in the maintenance of public parks, traffic lights and public lighting, as well as operating cemeteries and funeral services.
- United States of America
Close monitoring of resource use is an important aspect of any energy efficiency program. Itron provides a range of products and services in the area of water and energy metering. The company's clients are able to improve data analysis, optimizing the delivery and use of water and energy. Increased efficiency of resource use leads to positive outcomes for customers, utilities and the environment.
Infrastructure
Telecommunications
- AustraliaIntraPower offers evolved telecommunications services to business clients. The company's Visibility.X customer management software suite improves efficiency by allowing their partners the ability to become virtual providers of voice and data products carried on IntraPower's proprietary network. Business and government clients utilise IntraPower's services in a range of ways, including Voice Services, VoIP over a secure network, Internet Connections, Data Services, EFTPOS over IP and Video on Demand.
- Australia
Telstra Corporation Ltd is Australia’s primary provider of information and telecommunications goods and services, including mobile and fixed line telephone services and infrastructure, payphones, mobile and fixed line internet services, and telecommunications hardware sales to the public, business and government. Telstra provides equitable access to telecommunications Australia-wide under the Universal Service Obligation, mandated by the federal government.
Electricity supply
- AustraliaElectraNet owns and manages the South Australian transmission system in the National Electricity Market. The network compromises 5,700 kilometres of transmission line, and 76 substations and switchyards. South Australia's electricity is in majority generated from low emission natural gas and renewable energies. ElectraNet accepts electricity from generators transforming it to high voltage for efficient transportation to low voltage distribution networks.
- Australia
Energy Developments is a Queensland-based company engaged in the development and management of an international portfolio of projects with a particular focus on renewable energy and waste fuels. Power plants operated by Energy Developments are providing greenhouse gas emission reductions equivalent to approximately 10 million tonnes per year of carbon dioxide.
- Australia
ETSA Utilities manages electricity distribution networks across South Australia. Its main role is to deliver electricity from high voltage transmission network connection points to consumers throughout most of South Australia. Its serviced network comprises 399 substations and approximately 86,200 km of powerlines.
- Australia
Snowy Hydro Ltd operates two-gas fired power stations in Victoria and the Snowy Hydro scheme, a hydroelectricity and irrigation complex. Snowy Hydro Ltd is the leading provider of peak, renewable electricity and innovative risk management financial hedge products to the National Electricity Market.
Gas supply/network
- Australia
APA Group owns and manages gas transmission and distribution assets across all Australian states and territories. With its 12,000km of gas transmission infrastructure and 2,300km of gas distribution networks the company is the country’s largest natural gas transporter. APA Group delivers more than half of Australia’s annual gas needs. Natural gas is a low emission energy source which provides an affordable and quick transformation from conventional fossil fuels such as coal.
- New Zealand
Contact Energy is one of the largest retailers of electricity in New Zealand, and generates about 28% of the country’s energy requirements. Contact’s energy is generated using hydro, geothermal and gas turbines. The Company’s Energy Efficiency website provides a forum for consumer education about efficient energy use as well as discussion about New Zealand’s obligations as a signatory to the Kyoto protocol.
- Australia
The Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline stretches almost 1,600km across Western Australia. The pipeline of one of the State's key energy assets transporting natural gas from remote gas operations in the north to households, industrial users and power generators in metropolitan and regional centres on the south-west. Expanding the transport capacity of the already existing pipeline will meet the growing demand for natural gas and make the gas supply more reliable. Natural gas is a transitional low emission fuel. It has considerably lower greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fossil fuels such as oil and coal.
- Australia
Energy Developments is a Queensland-based company engaged in the development and management of an international portfolio of projects with a particular focus on renewable energy and waste fuels. Power plants operated by Energy Developments are providing greenhouse gas emission reductions equivalent to approximately 10 million tonnes per year of carbon dioxide.
- Australia
Envestra owns 20,088 km of natural gas distribution networks and 1,032 km of transmission pipelines, serving consumers in Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales and the Northern Territory. The creation of Envestra was directly linked to federal government policy to introduce greater competition into the natural gas industry by splitting the retail function from the ownership and operation of the distribution networks.
- Australia
The Hastings Diversified Utilities Fund (HDUF) owns and operates approximately 3,000 km of gas transmission pipeline in South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia and has a 50% interest in the UK water company South East Water. Australian Ethical recognises the environmental advantages that natural gas has over other fossil fuel sources. According to research by Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE), natural gas usage is expected to account for 24% of Australia’s energy consumption by 2020.
- Italy
Hera is a broad-based utility serving 135 municipalities in the Italian regions Bologna, Ferrara, Ravenna, Rimini, Modena, Forlì-Cesena and Imola-Faenza. The company distributes water, natural gas and electricity and provides a range of environmental services including waste collection, city cleaning and composting. The company is also involved in the maintenance of public parks, traffic lights and public lighting, as well as operating cemeteries and funeral services.
- China
The Hong Kong and China Gas Company was founded in 1862, and was the first public utility in Hong Kong. The company supplies natural gas to over 1.7 million customers in the territory. The company has been diversifying into a range of green businesses including gas filling stations and landfill gas. The human rights implications of the company’s joint ventures in mainland China continue to be monitored.
- Australia
With operations adjacent to the northern NSW town of Casino, Metgasco holds the largest independently certified natural gas reserves in New South Wales. The company identifies the greenhouse benefits of natural gas as one of their key competitive advantages in the longer term.
- Australia
Origin Energy has almost 4,000 employees, supplying natural gas, LPG and electricity to more than 3 million customers throughout Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific. The company has a portfolio of gas fired power stations and cogeneration plants and is developing a set of renewable technology options including SLIVER technology and hot rocks via a 6.86% interest in Geodynamics. Origin Energy also holds a 30% interest in a joint venture with Geodynamics Ltd covering various geothermal permits in northern South Australia. A group of independent environment groups described Origin's 100% wind and 100% solar GreenPower product as one of the market leading green electricity products available in Australia.
Recycling and waste management
- Japan
Asahi Holdings is a Japanese company involved in the recycling, manufacture and sale of precious metals. The company extracts precious metals from a range of waste streams including dental materials, photosensitized materials, electronic materials and jewellery industry waste. In addition the company has a specialised waste treatment business that handles a wide range of industrial wastes including acids, sludge, oils, plastics, inks, photographic waste, chemical reagents and other persistent organic pollutants.
- Italy
Hera is a broad-based utility serving 135 municipalities in the Italian regions Bologna, Ferrara, Ravenna, Rimini, Modena, Forlì-Cesena and Imola-Faenza. The company distributes water, natural gas and electricity and provides a range of environmental services including waste collection, city cleaning and composting. The company is also involved in the maintenance of public parks, traffic lights and public lighting, as well as operating cemeteries and funeral services.
- Australia
SIMS Metal Management is a leading metals recycling company, with operations throughout the world. Ancillary activities include secondary metals and plastic reprocessing, and interests in renewable energy. The company has also expanded into the recycling of electronics waste in Europe, the US, Australia and India, including the identification of products and components that can be reused, as well as the extraction of raw materials from the remaining waste. Metal and electronics recycling can result in significant pollution, however, Australian Ethical continues to monitor the activities of this company.
- Norway
Tomra is a Norwegian manufacturer of 'reverse vending machines' (RVMs) that collect beverage containers for recycling purposes, and dispense an appropriate refund. In addition to reducing costs and increasing efficiencies for retailers and the recycling industry, Tomra also helps to 'close the loop' in the life cycle of more than 25 billion beverage containers used each year worldwide.
TOMRA’s recycling technologies and services have helped save about 10 million metric tons of CO2 emissions every year. That’s 20% of the total emissions of its base country Norway.
- Australia
Tox Free was established in 2001and now operates 23 sites that specialise in the management of industrial and hazardous waste. The company offers a range of services including contaminated site remediation, recycling and resource recovery, industrial maintenance, tank degassing, liquid waste collection and treatment. The company has also diversified into municipal waste management through the acquisition of waste services in Western Australia. The company has recently expanded its operations to Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
- AustraliaTranspacific is Australia's largest liquid waste management company. The company is involved in a range of other waste-related industries, including the collection, recycling and reuse of used oil (both hydrocarbon based and organic oils); the collection and treatment of biodegradable aqueous wastes; and the collection and treatment of hazardous wastes. Transpacific also generates a significant percentage of its earnings from the sale and servicing of heavy-duty commercial vehicles.
Efficient transport
Bicycles
- Netherlands
Accell Group's bicycle brands have been sold in Europe for over 100 years. The company's sales are focused in the European market. Accell brands cater to a broad range of consumer needs, including children's bikes, racing and mountain bikes and bikes designed for use in European cities. The company also generates a small percentage of revenue from the manufacture of fitness and gymnasium equipment.
- JapanShimano's primary products are bicycle components and recreational fishing equipment. The company's motto is 'Closer to Nature...Closer to People', which it attempts to achieve through promoting the social and environmental benefits of cycling and fishing. Cycling has been shown to reduce global warming, pollution and traffic congestion, while improving the health of riders. Shimano believes its products make a contribution by enabling people to fulfil their desire for a better lifestyle.
Public transport
- United Kingdom
Arriva plc is a leading European transport services organisation, operating a fleet of approximately 15,600 vehicles and employing nearly 43,000 people. The Group reduces the environmental impact of operations by using a range of initiatives for their bus fleet including the use of biodiesel, compressed natural gas and diesel-electric hybrid buses. The company delivers around one billion passenger journeys across 12 European countries annually.
- Australia
Cabcharge is a leader in ‘common payment’ electronic technology systems for public transport, with Cabcharge travel expenditure management systems utilised in member taxis in Australia, Europe, Asia and North America. The company is currently trialling hybrid taxis in its taxicab fleet. Recent acquisitions of private bus operations has added bus transport to the company line of business and consolidated private bus operations in NSW, Australia.
- United States of America
Genesee & Wyoming (GWI) provides rail-freight transportation and supporting services in the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, Bolivia and Australia, with over 6,800 miles of owned and leased track. Rail is one of the most environmentally friendly forms of freight transport when compared to road, sea and air freight.
- China
The Mass Transit Railway Corporation was established as a government body in 1975 to operate Hong Kong’s commuter railway system. The company was privatised in 2000 as MTR Corporation Ltd, and continues to be focussed on the provision of public transport. The company is also involved in the development of residential and commercial property projects associated with existing and new rail lines.
- United Kingdom
National Express is a leading international public transport company, carrying in excess of one billion passengers a year on their bus, train, light rail and express coach services. UK-based National Express traces its origins back to the establishment of the state-owned National Bus Company in 1968. The company was privatised in 1988 and listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1992.
- SingaporeSMRT generates more than 80% of its revenue from the provision of public transport services in Singapore through their operation of the Mass Rapid Transit system and bus lines. The company is also involved in the operation of a light rail system, taxi fleet and associated real estate and advertising activities.
- United KingdomStagecoach Group is a leading international public transportation group, with extensive operations in the UK, United States and Canada. The Group employs around 30,000 people, and operates bus, coach, rail, and tram services. The company operations integrate public transport systems that will form the core of future efforts to reduce pollution levels, alleviate road congestion and improve the quality of life in towns and cities. Stagecoach Group aim to be a market-leading public transport business with long-term growth prospects based on high-quality services and investment in innovation.
Organic produce
Health care
Pharmaceutical
- AustraliaCSL Ltd develops, manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products of biological origin. CSL was founded in 1916 as the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories, to meet the demand for locally produced biopharmaceuticals in a country isolated by war. CSL was the first to supply Australia's public with such life-saving products as insulin, penicillin and the polio vaccine. CSL Bioplasma has been the national fractionators for Australia since 1952 and has been a partner with the Australian Red Cross Blood Service (ARCBS) working closely with Federal and State Governments to meet the clinical demands of the Australian community.
- Australia
Pharmaxis is a specialist pharmaceutical company established to research, develop and bring to market human therapeutic products to treat chronic respiratory and autoimmune diseases. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) encompasses a number of serious conditions affecting the lungs (pulmonary system), including emphysema, chronic bronchitis and bronchiectasis. Worldwide, COPD ranks as the fifth leading the cause of death. It is projected to be the third leading cause of death worldwide by 2020.
- AustraliaSigma is one of the largest Australian pharmaceutical wholesaling, manufacturing and service companies. It is the owner and operator of the country's two largest pharmacy retail banners, Amcal and Guardian. The company's purchase of Herron gives them ownership of iconic Australian brands Herron Paracetamol and Goanna Oil, as well as a range of natural health products. In December 2007 Sigma acquired Orphan Australia. Orphan licences and distributes a range of specialised therapeutics aimed at treating serious or life threatening diseases.
Medical technologies
- Australia
Cochlear Ltd supplies approximately 70% of the world market in cochlear implants for profoundly hearing-impaired people. Almost half of the implant recipients are children. While some in the deaf community reject the cochlear technology, Australian Ethical believes the positive aspects make the technology worthwhile in providing choice to adults and to parents with children having profound hearing impairment.
Cochlear has more hearing implant recipients than any other manufacturer – over 60,000 recipients worldwide.
- New ZealandFisher and Paykel Healthcare designs, manufactures and markets a range of products to assist patients with breathing difficulties, including respiratory humidifiers for adults and new-born babies, as well as devices for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea. The company also manufactures thermal management systems and Neonatal Intensive Care Units for new-born and premature babies, and a range of electronic patient warmers and nerve stimulators used in the operating room, emergency room, intensive care, and burns units.
- Australia
Genera Biosystems is a medical diagnostic company which has developed a new type of test using their propriety ‘AmpaSands’ technology. They are currently focussing on developing genetic tests in the area of woman’s health, most notably for human papillomavirus (HPV), a causal factor in 99% of cervical cancers.
- AustraliaResMed is a leading respiratory medical device manufacturer, specializing in products for the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disordered breathing (SDB). Studies have revealed that SDB can increase the risk of hypertension, coronary heart failure, and stroke, as well as contributing to sleep deprivation.
Health service provider
- Australia
Primary Health Care Ltd works with a wide range of health care professionals who provide comprehensive care to patients. A broad range of medical and related services are offered in Primary's network of medial centres and pathology centres across Australia. Primary is also a leading provider of healthcare technology solutions to medical practitioners, medical practices and hospitals.
- AustraliaPulse Health operates in the private healthcare sector. Its services include the operation of regional hospitals, home-based aged care and nursing services and professional recruitment services in the healthcare sector. Demographic changes are expected to lead to a greater demand for aged care services, and future shortages in the nursing sector are also predicted to provide opportunities for the company.
- Australia
Ramsay Health Care was established in 1964 and has grown to become a global hospital group operating over 100 hospitals and day surgery facilities across Australia, the United Kingdom and Indonesia. Australia's largest private hospital operator, the company commits significant funds each year to health and medical teaching and research and to this end works closely with universities around the country in the training of nursing and medical staff.
- Australia
Since listing on the ASX in 1987, Sonic Healthcare has grown to become one of the world's largest medical diagnostics companies. The company provides pathology and radiology services to medical practitioners, hospitals, community medical services and their patients. Sonic employs over 20,000 people in its operations in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, the UK, USA and Germany, and approximately 10% of the company's equity is held by its staff.
Hygiene
- Australia
Ansell manufactures safety-focussed products in three main areas: professional healthcare, including gloves for surgeons; occupational healthcare, including industrial hand protection; and consumer healthcare, including condoms and household gloves. Ansell’s Value Proposition program involves the company providing direct consultancy services to industrial clients, including training in hand injury prevention, in addition to simply selling gloves. Whilst some might regard the manufacture of condoms as a concern, it is Australian Ethical’s view that given the importance of this product line in terms of family planning and individual health, condom manufacture is a positive under the our Ethical Charter.
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Medicine
- AustraliaBlackmores manufactures and markets health products including vitamins, herbal and mineral nutritional supplements. The company has been committed to non-animal testing of its finished products for twenty five years. The use of complementary medicines is growing in Australia, with the percentage of Australians who use complementary medicines at least once a year rising from 48.5% in 1993 to 67% in 2006. As well as maintaining a long-term employee share ownership program, Blackmores provides facilities for staff including a gymnasium and subsidised kitchen.
Wealth
Credit unions
- AustraliaCredit unions are mutual organisations, owned by their members. They have consistently outperformed other financial institutions in surveys of customer satisfaction. Australian Central Credit Union demonstrates commitment to its communities through support for not-for-profit clubs and organisations.
- Australia
Credit unions are mutual organisations, owned by their members. They have consistently outperformed other financial institutions in surveys of customer satisfaction. Community CPS Australia (Community CPS) was established in 2006, as a result of a merger between CPS Credit Union (SA) Ltd (CPS SA) and CPS Credit Union Co-operative (ACT) Ltd (CPS ACT). The credit union provides a range of services and benefits that help members to meet their financial needs and aspirations.
- Australia
Credit Union Australia (CUA) is Australia’s largest credit union with over 400,000 members and assets under management of approximately AUD 7.5bn. It was awarded the Credit Union of the Year award in 2009 at the annual Australian Banking and Finance Awards.
- Australia
Maleny is a locally based credit union circulating money within their part of Queensland for the benefit of the community. It has a policy of encouraging loans for socially and environmentally responsible purposes, and the co-operative donates up to 10% of its profits to the community.
- Australia
mecu Ltd has formed over almost 50 years and a succession of credit union mergers. Today mecu is a national credit union that employs over 200 staff and has assets of over $1.8 billion. mecu offers an environmentally friendly goGreen® Car Loan, which through the planting and maintaining of offsets the cars emissions for the life of the loan. Furthermore, mecu offers a goGreen® Home Loan which provides lower interest rates and biodiversity offsets for homes purchased with a 6+ star NatHERS rating. mecu is also the first credit union in the world to become a signatory to the United Nations Environment Programme’s Statement by Financial Institutions on the Environment and Sustainable Development.
mecu encourages individuals to reduce their carbon footprint by offering lower interest rates on loans for energy efficient homes and cars.
- Australia
MyState Financial Credit Union (MFCU) was established on 1 July 2007 when the islandstate and connect financial credit unions merged to become Tasmania’s largest financial institution. The company currently has over 120,000 members and funds in excess of AUD 1.8bn.
- Australia
Police and Nurses Credit Union is Western Australia's largest home-grown and locally-run financial institution, with an operational history spanning more than 30 years. For the past two years the credit society has won the "Best Credit Union" award from the Australian Banking & Finance Magazine and in a recent independent survey of members scored a 91% satisfaction rating.
- Australia
Savings and Loans Credit Union is Australia’s second-largest credit union, with more than 190,000 members, 620 staff and branches across all of Australia. The credit union has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2010.
- Australia
SGE Credit Union was formed in 1959 to provide state government employees (SGE) of NSW and Victoria, as well as the communities of Wagga Wagga, Bathurst, Newcastle, Lismore, Wollongong, Liverpool and Parramatta with personal financial services. SGE currently has over 43,000 members and assets of over AUD 500m.
Building societies
- Australia
Established in 1981, Heritage Building Society has grown to become Australia’s largest building society. Heritage Building Society is a mutual organisation; it is owned by the members it serves. The company supports the communities it operates in through a local sponsorship program and its ‘community branch’ model.
- Australia
IMB is one of Australia’s largest building societies with assets of more than $4.5 billion and over 180,000 members. A recent member satisfaction survey has shown that IMB members have an overall satisfaction level of 95% and the building society received the Illawarra Business Chambers award for the best Professional and Commercial Service Business in 2007.
Retail banking
- AustraliaBank of Queensland generates a high proportion of its earnings from retail banking services, including from home loans. It also supports a range of community initiatives and has formed community partnerships in five major youth areas: education, health, welfare, the arts and the environment.
- Australia
Bank of Western Australia generates a high proportion of its earnings from retail banking services. The bank has recently expanded its branch and ATM network in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
- AustraliaBendigo and Adelaide Bank generates a high proportion of its earnings from retail banking services, including from home loans. It also supports a range of community banking initiatives.
- Australia
The Suncorp Group is Australia’s sixth largest bank and the largest insurance group in Australia. The company focuses on retail consumers and small to medium business, with 177 Suncorp retail outlets, including branches and agencies and 60 business banking outlets, predominantly in Queensland. The group is headquartered in Brisbane. The company has a number of community involvement programs.
- AustraliaOn 1 December 2008, Westpac merged with St George Bank Ltd, which was an investee company in the portfolios of the australianethical managed funds. St George belonged to a group of banks from the 'second tier': Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (Adelaide Bank Ltd, Bendigo Bank Ltd), Bank of Queensland Ltd, St George Bank Ltd. These banks were chosen for the high proportion of their loans portfolio in home loans, and for community banking initiatives.
Stock exchanges
- AustraliaThe Australian Securities Exchange Ltd (ASX) was formed in 1987 through the amalgamation of six independent stock exchanges that formerly operated in the state capital cities. ASX operates Australia's primary national stock exchange for equities, derivatives and fixed interest securities. It also provides comprehensive market data and information to a range of users, including investor education classes. The Federal Court of Australia approved a merger of ASX and SFE Corporation in 2006.
Insurance
- AustraliaInsurance Australia Group Ltd (IAG) is Australasia's leading general insurance group. It owns some of the region's most respected insurance brands including NRMA Insurance, SGIO, SGIC, CGU and Swann Insurance in Australia, and State Insurance, Circle and NZI in New Zealand. IAG has publicly recognised the link between its insurance business and environmental issues such as climate change. The company has a number of initiatives in place to address their own energy efficiency, water usage, waste management, greenhouse gas emissions and product design. In 2002 the company published a ground-breaking research paper linking climate change to insurance risk.
- Australia
Tracing its history back to small beginnings in 1886, the QBE Insurance Group is now one of Australia's largest general insurance and reinsurance groups. Activities include underwriting general and reinsurance risks, investment management and management of the economic entity's share of the NSW and Victorian workers' compensation scheme.
- AustraliaTerritory Insurance Office (TIO) commenced operations in the Northern Territory in 1979. The TIO is the Northern Territory's own insurance and banking provider with $1 billion in assets and a branch network across the Territory. The organisation is committed to supporting and investing in the Territory and as a leading government owned business is strongly focused on delivering local products and services.
Fund managers
- United KingdomImpax Group Plc is an investment management and financial advisory Company quoted on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange. The Group provides financial services within the environmental markets sector, particularly alternative energy, waste management and water treatment. Impax has two subsidiaries, Impax Asset Management Ltd and Impax Capital Ltd. Impax Asset Management Ltd provides fund management and advisory services to investors and has expertise in managing portfolios of listed stocks & private equity in the environmental markets sector. Impax Capital Ltd provides comprehensive corporate finance services for the renewable energy and environmental sectors.
Venture capitalists
- AustraliaCVC Renewable Energy Equity Fund (CVC REEF) is a venture capital fund established to increase Australian private investment in renewable energy and enabling technologies through the provision of equity finance. Approximately $18 million of the available funding is provided under the Australian Greenhouse Office's REEF licence and $9 million is from private sources. The Fund invests in high growth Australian companies with both domestic and global market potential in renewable energy.
- AustraliaCVC Sustainable Investments Ltd is an investment company that invests in smaller (typically non-stock exchange-listed) Australian companies that are generating innovative solutions to environmental problems or whose operations cause little or no environmental damage. This includes technologies, processes and products that reduce the use of non-renewable resources, increase energy efficiency or reduce pollution, reduce waste or increase recycling opportunities, and provide solutions to environmental problems.
Debt investments
- Mortgage-backed securitiesThe securitisation of mortgages increases the availability of funds for home lending. For prudential purposes we invest in securities from a range of originators.
- State Government Debt
Australian Ethical recognises the important role that governments play in the delivery of essential services to the community. The majority of spending for all State governments is in the areas of health and education. Australian Ethical seeks to avoid State government debt where a high proportion of revenue is associated with activities that wouldn't be supported by the Australian Ethical Charter, such as native forestry or coal-fired power generation.
Knowledge
Schools
- AustraliaCanberra Montessori School offers a broad vision of education as an aid to life. It is designed to help children with their task of inner construction as they grow from childhood to maturity. Montessori classrooms provide a prepared environment where children are free to respond to their natural tendency to work. The children's innate passion for learning is encouraged by giving them opportunities to engage in spontaneous, purposeful activities with the guidance of a trained adult.
- AustraliaKinma School was founded in 1972 by a group of parents dissatisfied with the educational options open to their children. Kinma seeks to provide an alternative to the 'one size fits all' approach of the government and private school systems. As well as traditional academic subjects, importance is placed on gaining life skills including self-respect, respecting others, learning skills and critical evaluation skills. Kinma provides a curriculum designed to encourage each child to discover full academic, physical and social potential.
- Little Yarra Steiner SchoolAustraliaLittle Yarra Steiner School is one of the New South Wales and Victorian schools of Steiner Education. These schools meet the intellectual, artistic and physical needs of children through reason, imagination and environmental awareness. australianethical loans along with government capital grants have helped finance school expansion, classroom fit-outs, libraries and administrative centres.
- Lorien Novalis Steiner SchoolAustraliaLorien Novalis Steiner School is one of the New South Wales and Victorian schools of Steiner Education. These schools meet the intellectual, artistic and physical needs of children through reason, imagination and environmental awareness. australianethical loans along with government capital grants have helped finance school expansion, classroom fit-outs, libraries and administrative centres.
- Mumbulla Steiner SchoolAustraliaMumbulla Steiner School is one of the New South Wales and Victorian schools of Steiner Education. These schools meet the intellectual, artistic and physical needs of children through reason, imagination and environmental awareness. australianethical loans along with government capital grants have helped finance school expansion, classroom fit-outs, libraries and administrative centres.
Education
- JapanBenesse Corporation has been involved in the education sector in Japan since 1955. Originally a publisher of school books the company has broadened its focus to provide products and services in the fields of education, language, living and lifestyles and nursing care. In addition to providing educational services to students from pre-school through to university, Benesse offers information services relating to pregnancy and childcare, operates Berlitz language training programs in Japan and operates nursing homes.
- AustraliaJura Books is managed under the umbrella of Anarchist Resources Incorporated, a non-profit collective. Jura Books is a major source in Australia for a wide range of affordable books of community and educational interest including the areas of trade unionism, women's rights, environment, permaculture, indigenous peoples' issues, poetry, arts and non-violent revolution.
Media and communications
- AustraliaThe first mail deliveries in Australia were conducted by Sydney postmaster Isaac Nichols, an ex-convict, in 1809. The current Australia Post was established as a crown corporation in 1901 - it was known at that time as the Postmaster-General's Department. Australia Post's core business is the provision of mail and parcel delivery services to all Australians. As a government-owned entity, Australia Post's community service obligations are set out in legislation that requires key service elements. These include a uniform price for postage of standard letters, reasonable access for all Australians wherever they reside and performance standards that meet the social, industrial and commercial needs of the community.
- AustraliaFairfax Media Ltd is a leading Australian publishing group, with its mastheads including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and the Australian Financial Review, along with a range of business and consumer magazines. In May 2007 Fairfax completed a merger with Rural Press Ltd, creating the largest integrated metropolitan, rural and regional, print and online digital media company in Australasia. It has publications and websites in every State and the ACT in Australia, as well as throughout New Zealand. The company also holds six radio licenses. The company's published 'Corporate Values' identify a commitment to truth, accuracy, integrity, fairness and balance in journalism. Fairfax's headquarters at Tullamarine have been designed to be 'zero impact', with advanced waste water treatment facilities and natural lighting.
- AustraliaSEEK Ltd is owned and operated in Australia, it also has offices across New Zealand and the UK. SEEK Ltd offers software that makes it quicker and easier for job seekers to find jobs that match their search criteria. For recruiters and employers, SEEK provides access to the largest audience of job candidates at a fraction of the cost of print advertising with greater functionality.
Property
- 64 Allara Street, Canberra CityAustralia
The 64 Allara Street building, completed in November 2008, is an attractive small scale 'A' grade property in a boutique city location in the Australian Capital Territory. The building has been designed to meet a 4.5 NABERS rating when fully occupied and 5 GreenStar – Office Design rating.
- Australia
The Australian Education Trust was established to invest in childcare centre properties and other real estate of an educational nature. The Trust has investments in over 400 different centre sites across Australia and New Zealand. Australia has a need for investment in early childhood education infrastructure.
- Australia
Childcare Property Trust was established to purchase a number of childcare centres which are managed as part of the ABC Learning Centres group. ABC is one of the largest private operators of childcare centres in Australia, with over 600 centres under management nationwide. The Trust owns centres in a range of regional and metropolitan communities in Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia.
- Australia
Commonwealth Property Office Fund (the Fund) has 27 properties in its portfolio. The Fund has developed systems and processes which encourage sustainability in the context of the environment and communities in which it operates. In doing so the Fund has achieved reductions in water and energy usage and waste to landfill. It is also involved in a Carbon Bio-sequestration Initiative, which will offset carbon dioxide emissions for the Fund’s property in Adelaide.
- Crossroads Medieval Village Co-operative LtdAustraliaThe Crossroads eco-village, of about 60 participants, is being established near Yass, just north of Canberra. Co-operative members wish to revive the arts and crafts of medieval times through the development of traditional skills and demonstrations of 'living history' for interested visitors and school groups. Their strong sense of community extends to ecological yet affordable housing set in a permaculture style 'edible landscape'. A particular design feature of the village is the use of composting toilets and greywater recycling through reedbeds.
- Hume, ACT - local commercial office spaceAustraliaThis Canberra commercial building is tenanted to the Department of Finance and Administration under a long term lease. The building includes a newly constructed warehouse with office at the front. The building office areas include north facing windows with good solar orientation for natural lighting and passive solar benefits.
- Australia
The ING Real Estate Healthcare Fund is an ASX listed property trust that invests in properties used to provide healthcare and associated services. The Fund currently owns seven properties in Australia. The Fund invests in assets in a range of locations across all types of healthcare related real estate: hospitals, medical office buildings, medical centres, laboratories and health administration facilities.
- AustraliaInvesta Diversified Office Fund offers an opportunity to invest in commercial real estate that incorporates sustainability principles. It is an unlisted property trust with interests in a portfolio of 12 institutional grade CBD office properties in five of Australia's major centres. Investa enhances shareholder value by integrating sustainability practices, which are measurable, accountable and enduring.
- Australia
The Macquarie Office Trust invests in 42 office properties across Australia, USA, Japan and Western Europe. The Trust is committed to adopting the principles of environmental sustainability in the day to day management of the portfolio. This involves a number of initiatives including the purchase of green power, use of energy efficient plant and equipment, and participation in water saving schemes.
- Mornington Park Development LtdAustraliaThe Mornington Park Project is an innovative approach to waste management which minimises the amount of waste transferred to landfill. As a nationwide model, it has potential to redesign society's attitude toward waste management and disposal. The resource recovery unit sorts out and recovers large amounts of recyclable waste for reuse and sale where possible. It also undertakes an active role in the education of future waste managers by housing an on-site education facility.
Technology
- United States of America
Adobe is one of the world’s leading providers of software for creating, managing and delivering digital content. The company’s Portable Document Format has become the de facto standard for sharing documents and other content through the internet and across computer networks, regardless of platform or device. By developing a format that allows easy sharing of electronic documents, Adobe’s activities reduce paper wastage. The company maintains an active community involvement program, with over USD $42 million in cash grants and product donations going to a range of community organisations in 2008.
- Australia
Amcom Telecommunications Ltd is an Australian provider of internet, information and communication technology services to business and residential clients in Adelaide, Darwin and Perth. The provision of internet and communication technologies facilitates communication and access to information which benefits individuals and businesses.
- United States of America
Citrix Systems is a US company based in Fort Lauderdale. The company provides application delivery infrastructure software that facilitates access to applications securely, cost-effectively and with high performance. Citrix is the global leader and most trusted name in on-demand access. Through its software Citrix enables Information Technology teams to maximize existing assets, help introduce new services faster, improve customer service, control risk and reduce costs.
- Australia
eServGlobal is a technology company providing billing and messaging software to the telecommunications industry. The company products are used in developing nations. Mobile phone use in developing nations has enhanced access to information and improved economic growth and prosperity.
- AustraliaHansen Technologies provides billing systems and IT outsourcing services worldwide, with offices in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and America. The company's billing software is used in the telecommunications, electricity, gas and water industries. Hansen also provides facilities management and outsourcing services as well as superannuation administration software.
- AustraliaEstablished in 1993, iiNet is Australia's third largest Internet Service Provider and is based in Perth. iiNet became accredited to the quality endorsement ISO 9001 in 2002. The company provides broadband and dialup internet services, voice over IP services and fixed line telephone services.
- Australia
Melbourne IT offers domain name registration, email services, internet content hosting, web site design, website marketing and security. The company’s origins are associated with the University of Melbourne, which was closely involved with the CSIRAC digital computer project in the 1950s, and was the first Australian organisation to be connected to the internet. The University received the rights to the .au domain name almost by default, and in the mid-1990s Melbourne IT was formed. The company has been registering domain names since 1996 and manages approximately 6 million domain names.
- Australia
Savcor's Advanced Rehabilitation Technology helps to preserve steel and concrete structures through electrochemical protection technology and sophisticated repair and maintenance techniques. The company's FACE division provides functional and decorative solutions primarily for mobile phones including EMI shielding and flexible antennas.
- Australia
Technology One is one of the largest publicly listed information technology companies in Australia. The growth of information technology has been linked with increases in the efficiency of resource use in our economy. Technology One has designed a number of specialist software packages to assist sectors regarded positively under the Australian Ethical Charter, such as the government and higher education sectors.
- United States of America
A rapid increase in the use of information technology means that the IT sector is now estimated to account for as many greenhouse emissions as aviation. VMware’s virtualisation technology helps organizations consolidate servers and increase utilization rates, greatly reducing power and cooling costs.
Sustainable products and practices
- United States of America
The Baldor Electric Company is based in Fort Smith, Arkansas in the US. Baldor designs, manufacturers and markets energy saving industrial electric motors, drives and generators. The 8,000 Baldor employees produce products in 28 locations in the United States, Canada, Britain and China. The company aim is to be the best marketers, designers and manufacturers of industrial electric motors, drives and generators. The company does business in over 70 countries and Baldor products are available from 50 sales offices/warehouses in North America and 26 offices serving international markets. Broad adoption of energy efficient motors could lead to significant reduction of industrial greenhouse gas emissions.
- Australia
Brambles is a leading global provider of support services, operating in approximately 45 countries across six continents and employing over 12,000 people. The two company businesses are CHEP, which issues, collects, repairs and reissues pallets and containers to transport products safely and efficiently and Recall, which manages the secure storage, retrieval and destruction of physical and digital information. It has been estimated that CHEP pallet pools would over a ten year period reduce wood use by saving more than 242 million trees.
- Australia
Dexion Ltd manufactures and distributes industrial storage equipment, integrated systems and office storage and filing solutions. The company is a provider of high quality commercial workspaces, integrated systems and industrial storage solutions. Dexion has internationally recognised business management systems certified to ISO 9001:2000 for quality management and ISO 14001:2004 for environmental management.
- United States of America
Herman Miller is a US based manufacturer and distributor of furnishings, interior products, and related services for the office and healthcare sectors. The company has won numerous awards for its approach to reducing waste, using recycled material in its finished products, and for outstanding innovation in design. Herman Miller has made a Board-level commitment to become sustainable in all aspects of its operations.
In 2009, Herman Miller was listed in FORTUNE magazine's "100 best companies to work for" and "Most Admired" company in its industry.
- United States of America
Under the leadership of its charismatic founder and Chairman Ray Anderson, the last decade has seen Interface transform itself from a simple carpet manufacturer into one of the world’s leading exponents of sustainable business practice. The company has revolutionised its manufacturing processes generating a range of positive environmental outcomes including reductions in waste and energy use, increased use of renewable energy and recycled content, and reduced overall greenhouse gas emissions. In 2004 the company became a corporate member of the National Minority Supplier Development Council, with a policy to actively seek out diverse suppliers, including small, minority-owned, women-owned, disabled-owned, and veteran-owned businesses, and encourage them to become a part of the Interface supply chain.
- Australia
Jackgreen is an electricity retailer focussed on selling electricity generated from renewable sources such as hydro, wind and solar. The company’s customers receive up to 100% renewable electricity accredited by the government’s ‘Green Power’ programme. Its subsidiary, Easy Being Green, promotes the installation of solar hot water systems and other energy efficiency projects for households.
- United States of America
LKQ is the largest provider of recycled automobile parts in the US. The company buys salvage vehicles and dismantles them for recycled parts which it then sells primarily to collision and mechanical repair shops. By sourcing recycled parts the company’s activities result in the use of considerably less energy and resources and reduces the amount of pollution associated with manufacturing original parts.
Social provisions
Risk and business management
- Australia
Greencap Ltd is a listed Australian company and the parent entity to a number of successful businesses in the risk management area. Company subsidiaries offer services that assist companies manage operational risk in a range of areas including environment, health and safety, property risk management, fire safety and communication services. The strategic objective of the company in the short to medium term is to build a national risk management group.
- Australia
Standards Australia’s principal activities focus on assurance services including the development and maintenance of over 120,000 Australian Standards, International Standards, foreign standards, and business publications, in a range of areas including environmental management systems, product quality and occupational health and safety. SAI is responsible for certification of companies and products based on the respected ISO14001 series of environmental standards.
Shareholder services
- Australia
Combining technology systems and professional services, Computershare manages stock and shareholder accounts for over 17,000 companies around the world. Computershare is the largest global supplier of employee share ownership plan (ESOP) management services. Employee share ownership has been shown to promote the alignment of workers’ interests with those of their employers, allowing them to participate in the growth of the company as a whole.