Ethical Stock Investment To Launch On New York Stock Exchange

Ethical stock investment for ‘animal advocates and environmentalists‘ is to launch on the New York Stock Exchange on September 10.

Created by Beyond Investing, US Vegan Climate Exchange Traded ETF (VEGN ETF) is targeted towards vegans who have had ‘little choice but to profit from animal cruelty and environmental devastation through their investment options’. 

A ‘climate-conscious approach’

“This Index takes the Solactive US Large Cap index (a proxy for the S&P 500 Index) and excludes any stocks whose activities are incompatible with a vegan and climate-conscious approach to investing, replacing damaging stocks with midcap alternatives that meet its ethical criteria,” Beyond Investing told Plant Based News.

This means the fund avoids investing in companies whose business models rely on animal exploitation such as animal testing and non-vegan products. It also removes fossil fuel and environmental threats such as plastic and agrochemicals.

Ethical investing 

“Our aim is to help vegans and animal activists take the pain out of their portfolios,” Claire Smith, CEO of Beyond Investing said in a statement sent to PBN.

“So many compassionate people go to great efforts to avoid buying products that contain animal ingredients or have been subject to cruel testing, but when it comes to their investment options, they’re actively, albeit often unwittingly, supporting companies and industries that exploit and torture animals.

“Our ETF offers them the opportunity to invest in line with their values. And because we love humans as much as other animals, we have defense and human rights screens as well.”

*This article was updated on August 16 to correct the ETF from ‘VGN’ to ‘VEGN’