What is Socially Responsible Investing (SRI)?
Socially Responsible Investing (SRI), or social investment, also known as sustainable, socially conscious, “green” or ethical investing, is any investment strategy which seeks to consider both financial return and social/environmental good to bring about social change regarded as positive by proponents.
Recently, it has also become known as “sustainable investing” or “responsible investing”. There is also a subset of SRI known as “impact investing”, devoted to the conscious creation of social impact through investment.
In general, socially responsible investors encourage corporate practices that they believe promote environmental stewardship, consumer protection, human rights, and racial or gender diversity. Some SRIs avoid businesses perceived to have negative social effects such as alcohol, tobacco, fast food, gambling, pornography, weapons, contraception/abortifacients/abortion, fossil fuel production or the military.[1] The areas of concern recognised by the SRI practitioners are sometimes summarised under the heading of ESG issues: environment, social justice, and corporate governance.
Socially responsible investing is one of several related concepts and approaches that influence and, in some cases, govern how asset managers invest portfolios.[2] The term “socially responsible investing” sometimes narrowly refers to practices that seek to avoid harm by screening companies included in an investment portfolio.[3]