Does your super invest in what matters?
New research from Mindful Investing shows billions of Australians’ retirement savings is invested in industries they actively want to avoid. With Australian Ethical, you’re investing in what matters to you.
*Nationally representative research by Lonergan Research, January 2026, conducted for Australian Ethical.
** “Inside Australia’s Super Funds: An Ethical Review of Investment Portfolios” (May 2026) The Mindful Investing analysis reveals $89bn across 15 super funds is invested in activities Australians say they’d avoid, which scales up to $450bn across the sector.
How does your super compare?
Eight in ten Australians surveyed* want their super to avoid investing in companies linked to issues of concern; animal cruelty, environmental damage, human rights violations, social harm, and weapons.
The team from Mindful Investing have analysed publicly available portfolio data for 31 investment options across 15 funds, covering both MySuper and Sustainable options. Their assessment shows Australia’s largest super funds still expose members’ money to these issues of concern.
MySuper investment options
Total exposure to issues of concern as % of total portfolio FUM
Ethical investment options
Total exposure to issues of concern as % of total portfolio FUM
In some cases, Australian Ethical may invest in companies delivering significant overall benefit while actively engaging to address specific concerns, but we do this according to the rigorous standards set by our Ethical Charter. And when standards aren’t met, we divest. See how we assess and review investments.
Investing in what matters since 1986
Our MySuper Balanced option has the lowest total exposure across all issues of concern of any fund analysed by Mindful Investing. This is because at Australian Ethical, every investment starts with ethics first. For 40 years our Ethical Charter has been guiding every decision, setting the standards for what we invest in and what we don’t.
Does your super invest in what matters?
See how each category is defined and how much of Australia’s super is invested in each.
Data taken from the Mindful Investing report.
| Options with Greatest exposure | |
|---|---|
| Colonial First State MySuper - Lifestage 2005-2009 | 8.45% |
| AMP Future Directions – Balanced | 7.51% |
| MLC Super - Socially Responsible Growth | 7.25% |
| Options with Greatest exposure | |
|---|---|
| Mercer Super - Sustainable High Growth | 4.62% |
| Vanguard MySuper - Lifecycle (High Growth) | 3.73% |
| MLC Super - Socially Responsible Growth | 3.41% |
| Options with Greatest exposure | |
|---|---|
| Colonial First State MySuper -Lifestage 2005-2009 | 3.77% |
| MLC Super - Socially Responsible Growth | 3.67% |
| MLC MySuper - Growth (under age 55) | 3.35% |
| Options with Greatest exposure | |
|---|---|
| AustralianSuper MySuper – Balanced | 1.66% |
| UniSuper - MySuper Balanced | 1.38% |
| Vanguard MySuper - Lifecycle (High Growth) | 1.35% |
| Options with Greatest exposure | |
|---|---|
| Mercer Super - Sustainable High Growth | 3.50% |
| UniSuper - Sustainable High Growth | 2.55% |
| Vanguard MySuper - Lifecycle (High Growth) | 2.03% |
| Options with Greatest exposure | |
|---|---|
| Aware Super MySuper - Lifecycle (under age 55) | 1.26% |
| Colonial First State MySuper - Lifestage 2005-2009 | 1.25% |
| AMP Future Directions – Balanced/ AustralianSuper - Socially Aware | 1.08% |
Ready to invest with purpose?
If this matters to you, you’re not alone. Join the super fund with the lowest total exposure across all six areas of concern – and invest for the world you want to see. Switching your super takes less than five minutes.
Join Australian Ethical
About Mindful Investing
Mindful Investing is powered by Mindful Money, an independent not‑for‑profit providing portfolio transparency for more than 1,000 funds.
This Australian pilot is the first of its kind — giving Australians unprecedented visibility into where their super is really invested.
Try the tool or download the report to see how your fund stacks up.
Data has been obtained from Mindful Investing's report 'Inside Australia’s Super Funds: An Ethical Review of Investment Portfolios', May 2026 which analyses the June 2025 portfolio holdings disclosure for the MySuper and sustainable investment options of 15 Australian super funds. Australian Ethical Investment contributed funding that helped cover the cost of the analysis and the development of the digital tool. This funding did not confer any ability to influence the research methodology, analysis, rankings or findings. Mindful Investing independently conducted the research and retains full editorial control over the report and tool. Australian Ethical has not independently verified their findings and make no representation or warranty as to the Report’s accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any particular purpose. You should review Mindful Investing’s description of how they compiled their analysis and exercise your own judgement. www.mindfulinvesting.com.au. Learn more about how we invest.
Consumer preference data obtained from Lonergan Research’s ‘Survey of the Australian Public’, January 2026, surveyed 1,005 Australian 18-65 years old who have superannuation. The survey was conducted online amongst members of a permission-based panel. After interviewing, data was weighted to the latest population estimates sourced from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
The information provided is general in nature and is not financial advice as it does not consider your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting, consider the appropriateness to your circumstances and read the Financial Services Guide (FSG), relevant product disclosure statement (PDS) and target market determination (TMD) available on our website. Or seek financial advice from an authorised financial adviser before making an investment decision.
Past performance in not an indicator of future returns.
Interests in the Australian Ethical Retail Superannuation Fund (ABN 49 633 667 743) (the ‘Fund’) are issued by Australian Ethical Superannuation Pty Ltd (ABN 43 079 259 733, RSE L0001441, ASFL 526 055) (the ‘Trustee’).