The Best Ethical Pension Fund
See our Ethical Pensions Ratings Table to compare brands
What is unethical about pensions?
According to a recent survey by the Make My Money Matter campaign, two-thirds of savers do not know where their money is being invested. But did you know that the best pension fund for saving money may not be good for Environment, Animals, and People.
Our independent research: How pensions fund global conflict
Some pension funds are in fact financing armaments, used in wars and conflicts. Several leading pension providers have been criticised for their involvement in financing nuclear weapons companies. By choosing an unethical pension, your wages may be funding weapons of mass destruction. You can see which pensions funds to avoid by looking for Human Rights information in our Ethical Pensions Ratings Table. One of the worst offenders is Legal & General, which was criticised for contributing billions to nuclear weapons companies. This is one company we recommend you steer clear of if you’re concerned about your pension funding the tools used in wars and violence.
Other companies rated poorly on our ethical comparison table for pensions include Nutmeg, Vanguard and Bestinvest.
Our findings also reveal that many pensions providers are still investing in other harmful businesses such as invasive surveillance technology. This is covered under Other Irresponsible Lending, which looks at controversial investments, such as financing weapons and tobacco companies.
Our independent research: Pension funds and the environment
Our research found that many of so-called best pension providers invest in fossil fuels. The money that you put into your pension could be funding tar sands pipelines, offshore oil or gas pipelines, and coal plants. According to The Guardian, each year the average UK pension finances 23 tonnes of CO2 emissions through its investment in fossil fuel related businesses. That’s the equivalent of running 9 family cars every year!
When searching for the best pension fund, you will come across many companies involved in unethical practices. Our research into the pensions industry examined investments into controversial industries, including companies participating in deforestation. We found that pensions are often invested in the mining, agribusiness, which includes meat and soybean production, and energy sectors. These industries have been found to have direct involvement in the deforestation of the Amazon rainforest.
This issue is reflected in the Environmental Destruction category of our research, which examines whether a pensions provider has received criticism for investing in harmful environmental projects. We recommend you avoid companies who have received a bottom rating under this criterion.
One example of a pension company involved in Environmental Destruction is Vanguard, which appears at the bottom of our table. Vanguard has been criticised for financing deforestation projects in the Amazon rainforest and contributing to the destruction of the earth’s natural habitats. If Vanguard is your pensions provider, your money may be involved in this.
Solutions: How can I find an ethical pension?
The good news is that there are now pension funds and providers that choose to invest in ethical industries. These funds are conscious of their impact on the planet and its inhabitants. These companies offer the best pension fund options for ethically minded consumers. Find these companies in the top third of our Ethical Pensions table. They’re the ones in green!
Now more than ever, employees are wanting to know that their pensions are not being invested in companies that harm the Environment, Animals, or People. By checking out our research, you can choose the best pension fund for meeting your ethical standards.
Due to the rise in demand for ethical pensions, some companies now offer pension funds that exclude controversial investments, such as fossil fuel-free and ESG-focused pensions. If you want reassurance that your money is contributing to the world in a positive way, these are some of the best pension fund options for you.
We have identified the pension companies that are paving the way for sustainable finance. These pension companies offer the best pension fund choices for putting ethics and sustainability at the heart of your decision-making. Our Ethical Pensions Ratings Table allows you to choose the best pension fund for your values and principles. (Plus, using our ethical comparison ratings tables saves you the time and effort of doing the research yourself! Handy!) Look for the companies in particular who have attained our Ethical Accreditation, for the highest ethical standard.
See our Ethical Pensions Ratings Table to compare brands
Our team of researchers has extensively examined and researched the thousands of brands that are included on our Ethical Ratings Tables. Simply click on any brand’s name below to read an in-depth article about its history, business ethics and activities.
NEST, PensionBee, Wesleyan, Aviva, Royal London, eVestor, Interactive Investor, Penfold, Hargreaves Lansdown, Fidelity, Scottish Widows, Zurich, Legal & General, Prudential, Standard Life, Sun Life, Aegon, Vanguard, LV=(Liverpool Victoria) and Nutmeg.