The research highlights that, while some people hold financial returns as their only objective for investing, there is clearly a growing group who are looking to see their sustainable beliefs reflected in the way their money is managed.

The fund management industry now faces the issue of giving investors the level of information they need to find funds that invest in line with their priorities, in an accessible and easy-to-understand manner – current labels and descriptions are not yet sufficient and with an increasing number of investors threatening to vote with their feet, addressing this critical communications challenge must be a key focus for the industry.

The headline findings from our research are summarised below – examining:

• The most important factors for investors when assessing the sustainability
• How individuals act on these beliefs
• The extent to which current ESG labels are consistent with investor expectations
• Differences in perspectives on sustainable investing between men and women

ENGINE-MHP-Mischief-What-Does-Sustainability-Really-Mean-in-the-Investment-Industry

To explore the push towards a cleaner, fairer and more sustainable world economy – and the implications of some of the findings contained in our research – MHP Mischief Financial Services Director Cat Ommanney spoke to FT Moral Money Editor Simon Mundy.

They discuss:

• The FT’s editorial stance on sustainability
• What the investment world looks like in 2030
• Whether the focus on ESG is just a bubble
• The relative importance of E, S and G factors.
• The biggest communications challenge facing asset managers regarding sustainability
• The main hurdles in reaching our climate change goals
• The clarity of current ESG labelling
• How the investment industry can best effect change.