Taking a stand creates a better world

Source: The Courier Mail, Monday May 4, 2009.
Written by: Alex Tilbury

You don't have to be a tree-hugger to appreciate the service Louise Edkins provides. For the past 15 years she has run the Brisbane-based Eco-Logical Investment Services, which provides independent fee-for-service advice to retail investors wanting to buy shares and ethical-focused managed funds. She says in the wake of spectacular corporate collapses more people wanted to invest in companies that looked after society and their staff. ‘‘Many people are looking to those businesses that are being run in a more holistic way,'' she says. She will tailor a share portfolio to your requests because different issues concern different people. ‘‘Corporate responsibility may be your focus and there's a lot of people who are environmentally focused. I tend to see very strongly focused ethical investors,'' she says. ‘‘People are very concerned about climate change and they feel there are risks to investing in companies with larger carbon footprints.

‘‘It is very hard to find independently owned dealer groups and I really felt there was a conflict of interest (with commission-based advice) and this way I let clients know exactly what they are paying for.'' In the managed funds arena, Edkins prefers Hunter Hall and Australian Ethical products.

There's definitely some confusion and a degree of greenwashing in the marketing of the ethical and sustainability sectors and some of their financial products which she can help cut through. Environmental investments can use a theme approach - like many other themes on the stockmarket such as resources, goldmining,
healthcare, pharmaceuticals, information technology, infrastructure and media.Environmental problems and full or partial solutions include:

• Vehicle pollution - better technology,public transport, rail, electric vehicles, bicycles.
• Global warming - renewable energy and low-carbon fuel.
• Forest destruction - plantation timber.
• Habitat damage - eco-tourism, environmental engineering, rehabilitation.
• Waste and landfill - recycling.
• Declining fish stocks - aquaculture, mariculture.
• Chemicals - organic agriculture.

Read the article directly from The Courier Mail.