Green investing with low monthly input

Kerrypolka

I've been looking to start a stocks and shares ISA. Most of my leftover money each month I'm putting into paying off my student loans, but I would like to put maybe £15-20 a month into an investment portfolio, preferably one aimed at green technologies and other environmental businesses.

Does anyone know how possible this is? My current bank, the Co-operative Bank, has several green/progressive portfolios but they all have a £50/month minimum.

Jegersmart

You can try this:
Ecclesiastical Amity International

"
The fund aims to achieve long term capital appreciation and a reasonable level of income by investing principally in International companies. The Amity International Fund seeks to invest in a portfolio of companies which make a positive contribution to society and the environment through sustainable and socially responsible practices. The Fund seeks to avoid investment in certain areas such as companies which have a material involvement in alcohol, tobacco and weapon production, gambling and publication of violent or explicit materials."

http://www.trustnet.com/Factsheets/Factsheet.aspx?fundCode=AIGIA&univ=U

The minimum monthly seems to be £25.

This is an international equities fund, they also have some European, Bond and UK focussed funds if you prefer a different exposure.

HTH

J

edinburgher

Have you spoken to the Co-operative to check if the £50/mth is actually accurate? I ask as I had an S&S ISA with Fidelity and although the fund factsheets all said £50/mth minimum, they were happy to take £20/mth.

Kerrypolka

Thank you for finding that! I am a bit uncomfortable as it seems to be affiliated with the Church of England and I would prefer a secular organisation if possible.

I haven't actually spoken with the Co-op yet -- that's really good to know! I should make an appointment with them before writing them off completely.

atush

You could try one of the large investment trust groups- one of them may have a 'green' trust. I know invesco perpetual takes sums as low at 20 a month.

Jegersmart

Kerrypolka wrote: »

Thank you for finding that! I am a bit uncomfortable as it seems to be affiliated with the Church of England and I would prefer a secular organisation if possible.

I haven't actually spoken with the Co-op yet -- that's really good to know! I should make an appointment with them before writing them off completely.

I am not sure what your choices are going to be to be honest. Most large companies are "corrupt" in one way or the other - at least according to most definitions of the word.

Maybe look at this list:

http://www.trustnet.com/Investments/Perf.aspx?ctr=QS&univ=U&Pf_AssetClass=I:ETHL&Pf_sortedColumn=Performance[Cur].P60m,NameFull&Pf_sortedDirection=DESC

Although as you can see, a lot of the "green" or ethical funds have not performed well.

As with most things, I think you are going to have to make some compromises - is earning a good return important or is it more important to lose (out) but hopefully support these types of businesess or segments regardless of the cost to you....

I think there is some confusion here in your aims, what the world is like and what it all means:D

imho, dyor.

dunstonh

but I would like to put maybe £15-20 a month into an investment portfolio

That is going to severely limit your options. £50 is the most common minimum although some do go as low as £20-25.

preferably one aimed at green technologies and other environmental businesses.

everyone's view of what is green or environmentally friendly will differ (its effectively an ethical choice). So, you need to decide what level of ethics you are looking for and make sure the fund matches that. That is actually quite easy for an adviser to do as the research software does it. However, i dont know if such a thing is available on the DIY side (and its not cost effective for you to use an IFA).

Kerrypolka

Jegersmart wrote: »

I am not sure what your choices are going to be to be honest. Most large companies are "corrupt" in one way or the other - at least according to most definitions of the word.

Maybe look at this list:

http://www.trustnet.com/Investments/Perf.aspx?ctr=QS&univ=U&Pf_AssetClass=I:ETHL&Pf_sortedColumn=Performance[Cur].P60m,NameFull&Pf_sortedDirection=DESC

Although as you can see, a lot of the "green" or ethical funds have not performed well.

As with most things, I think you are going to have to make some compromises - is earning a good return important or is it more important to lose (out) but hopefully support these types of businesess or segments regardless of the cost to you....

I think there is some confusion here in your aims, what the world is like and what it all means:D

I'm not confused; I think it's you who are a bit confused between "green" and "ethical". I am in favour of ethical investment generally, of course, because I'm a human being, but specifically I think green technology will pay off in the long term, and I'd like to start bankrolling it now. However, I'm currently focusing on paying off student loans and don't have massive amounts of disposable income. I don't care about losing a bit in the short term as I'll be better off in 25 years (along with, hopefully, the rest of the planet)

Ark_Welder

The link in Jergersmart's post is to the Ethical/Sustainable focus list. There are funds in there that have a green, rather than ethical, mandate.

Whether you are able to find one for your monthly contribution level though, I cannot say.

The same list, sorted alphabetically: http://www.trustnet.com/Investments/Perf.aspx?ctr=QS&univ=O&Pf_AssetClass=I:ETHL

agrinnall

Kerrypolka wrote: »

I'm not confused, I know exactly what I want. I'm an economic analyst so I have a fairly good idea of how things are standing generally - I think it's you who are a bit confused between "green" and "ethical". I am in favour of ethical investment generally, of course, because I'm a human being, but specifically I think green technology will pay off in the long term, and I'd like to start bankrolling it now. However, I'm currently focusing on paying off student loans and don't have massive amounts of disposable income. I don't care about losing a bit in the short term as I'll be laughing in 25 years (along with, hopefully, the rest of the planet).

Well, good luck to you, I'm afraid you sound a bit smug and humourless but do feel free to come back in 25 years to have the last laugh and tell us how your £6,000 investment (£20 pm x 300 months) has turned into a vast fortune and saved the planet at the same time.

IronWolf

Just because an industry will grow doesn't mean it's a good investment, look at airlines over the last 50 years.

Also, why would u overpay on student loans?