Our Charter established the foundation for how we invest and how we’ve always invested. It guides us in seeking out investments to support, and those to avoid.
We seek out investments which provide for and support...
(a) the development of workers' participation in the ownership and control of their work organisations and places
(b) the production of high quality and properly presented products and services
(c) the development of locally-based ventures
(d) the development of appropriate technological systems
(e) the amelioration of wasteful or polluting practices
(f) the development of sustainable land use and food production
(g) the preservation of endangered eco-systems
(h) activities which contribute to human happiness, dignity and education
(i) the dignity and wellbeing of non-human animals
(j) the efficient use of human waste
(k) the alleviation of poverty in all its forms
(l) the development and preservation of appropriate human buildings and landscape
We avoid any investment which is considered to unnecessarily...
(i) pollute land, air or water
(ii) destroy or waste non-recurring resources
(iii) extract, create, produce, manufacture, or market materials, products, goods or services which have a harmful effect on humans, non-human animals or the environment
(iv) market, promote or advertise, products or services in a misleading or deceitful manner
(v) create markets by the promotion or advertising of unwanted products or services
(vi) acquire land or commodities primarily for the purpose of speculative gain
(vii) create, encourage or perpetuate militarism or engage in the manufacture of armaments
(viii) entice people into financial over-commitment
(ix) exploit people through the payment of low wages or the provision of poor working conditions
(x) discriminate by way of race, religion or sex in employment, marketing, or advertising practices
(xi) contribute to the inhibition of human rights generally
Alignment to Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were set by the United Nations General Assembly as a blueprint on how to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all by 2030.
Our founders’ foresight when writing the Australian Ethical Charter means we have been aligned with the spirit of the SDGs for more than 30 years, before they were even conceived. The superscripted letters and roman numerals at the end of each SDG below show which of the Ethical Charter principle it is aligned with.