What Kind Of Products And Companies Might An Ethical Investment Avoid?

Possible criteria are:

Armaments: do you really want your money to help develop guns and other killing devices?

Unhealthy products: is it okay by you to make money off the back of people addicted to smoking, who may well die because of their habit? Or maybe the goods the company makes are not healthy in another way (gambling products or junk food).

Environmental damage: How does the company's ways of operating impact the environment? Do they try to minimise carbon emissions, do they make an effort to keep down pollution? Do they try to encourage employees to cycle or walk to work?

Health and safety at work: Are the working conditions reasonably safe and non-hazardous for employees?

Other work conditions: Are the workers paid a decent wage? Given advancement opportunities? Are employees allowed breaks reasonably often, not expected to work very hours, given any other benefits?

Animal rights or testing: this might preclude investment in a company that deals in any kind of animal product (such as dairy products).

Other industries and business activities that could be screened out are nuclear power, pornography, genetic modification or anything that helps keep oppresive governments in power.

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