10 Important Socially Responsible Investing Pros and Cons (2024)

What is socially responsible investment? Is it a viable investment option? A deeper look into the socially responsible investing pros and cons will help us understand the industry better and make some informed investment decisions

Individuals and companies make money in all manner of ways. While some ways may be considered bad by some people, others will see them as normal since what matters to them most are the returns.

However, investment tides have really changed over time. Many investors are not only looking for investments that bring them money. They want to invest in a company that will allow them to feel good in what they do, even as they make profits – remember profits must be considered!

That’s the reason the new trend, socially responsible investing strategies, has gained so much traction over the years. Companies have to deal with the need to make money for shareholders while still doing it in a sustainable way.

But does this new trend make any economic sense? Is it even attainable? Well, this piece explores deeper into the various socially responsible investing pros and cons to see if it’s the right type of investment for you.

But first things first!

What is Socially Responsible Investing?

Abbreviated as SRI, socially responsible investing comprises strategies that seek to grow investors’ wealth in a way that minds or is in line with protecting or making the society/environment better. This type of investing recognizes the need for a company to bring social change, even as they strive to make more profits.

SRI is sometimes also called social investment, ethical investing, or sustainable socially conscious investing. Generally, SRIs comprise a small percentage of a company’s total invested funds, and they are also mostly riddled with challenges.

Investors who seek to go the socially responsible way, push companies to engage in corporate ethical practices, which promote issues like environmental stewardship, human rights, gender diversity, consumer protection, etc.

For this reason, some socially responsible funds will avoid investing in corporations or companies that encourage the production and sale of alcohol, tobacco, weapons, p*rnography, fossil fuels, gambling, etc.

In broader terms, the contentious issues that socially responsible investors look at can be summarized under ESGs (environment, social justice, and corporate governance investing).

A socially responsible investment might include stocks that promote the use of green energy such as solar, wind, or green ammonia. It might also include practices that discourage the use of fossil fuels, which are responsible for greenhouse gas emissions.

With that in mind, it is now easier to look at socially responsible investing pros and cons and determine whether it is a worthy investment strategy.

Who is Socially Responsible Investing For?

SRIs should be for everyone! The planet is ours, and we should protect it at all costs. However, not everyone feels the same way about this ethical investing strategy.

For this reason, an SRI strategy is ideal for those investors who want their money invested in noble causes. These are investors who look beyond the financial part of the investment, into what effect the companies have on the society and environment.

Generally, in socially responsible investments, an investor has two options.

One, avoid companies or funds that produce or promote the usage of a product that they deem environmentally or socially unfit (like weapons, tobacco, fossil fuels).

Second, invest in funds or companies that invest in combating social and environmental injustices (for example, companies generating green energy or those that fight racism or gender inequality).

These two options have the effect of discouraging the production and use of products or services that can harm either society or the environment. In other words, the investor is making an impact investment.

Therefore, if you are conscious about where your money is being invested and want an investment that offers a sense of fulfillment, SRIs are the investments for you.

See Related: Best Green Companies Around the World

Top Socially Responsible Investing Pros and Cons

There is no investment strategy that is 100% perfect. Each one of them has its advantages and disadvantages. And it’s upon you as the investor to decide whether the good outdo the bad in the type of investment you wish to make.

After reading this socially responsible investing pros and cons guide, we hope that you’ll be able to make the best decision about your portfolio.

As such, here are the main pros and cons of a socially responsible investment strategy.

See related: Reasons to Start Social Impacting

Pros

1. Allows you to Invest in What you Believe In

Some people want to make a difference in this world but don’t know how to. Socially responsible investing is one way to make something count. Instead of just talking about climate change or how alcohol is ruining families and the young generation, you can now do something about it.

Also, for many investors, personal values are quite important. If an issue is bothering you, let’s say gender violence, racism, or deforestation, you can invest in companies or funds whose portfolios tackle such issues.

For instance, investing in companies that promote gender equality and sustainable living is a great fit.

You can’t advocate for a clean, emission-free environment while you still invest in companies that destroy forests or use too much fossil fuels.

See Related: 5 Best Impact Investing Online Courses

2. Gives Investors an Opportunity to Reward Ethical Companies

Your investment might seem like a drop in the ocean, but cumulatively, it can go a long way in changing the world. For instance, the more investors invest in an ethical company, the stronger it grows and the more initiatives it takes to handle contentious issues.

On the other hand, investing in socially responsible companies means that you are foregoing companies that you consider unethical. The more people who do this, the more capital-deprived such companies will be. In the long run, more companies will join the sustainable route creating a bigger impact on the planet.

A practical example of such a scenario is the termination of the Shell Oil and Lego companies’ partnership some years back. Lego ended their contract with Shell Oil, aiming to become more environmentally friendly in what they do.

Now, they have partnered with socially responsible companies such as World Wildlife Foundation to promote conservation and other social initiatives. Lego is also committed to achieving 100% renewable energy production capacity in its effort to reduce its carbon footprint.

If investors don’t invest in companies like Lego, their efforts towards promoting a cleaner future wouldn’t be possible.

See Related: A Guide to Biblically Responsible Investing

3. Gives you a Sense of Fulfillment

Socially responsible investing give investors a sense of doing something right. This gives them some peace of mind and an even greater zeal to invest more.

Generally, when you invest in SRIs, you are doing so because of your personal values and the need to see a better society/environment. Accomplishing this will certainly make you feel proud of yourself even when the changes in what you are fighting for are not too evident.

The advantage of SRIs is that you are not just investing your money to help make society better. You are doing so while your pockets also get rewarded with good profits.

In fact, it is a win-win situation. You make money and enjoy the most rewarding feeling, for doing something good for the world.

I know some people might say that this strategy is not profitable, but this couldn’t be any further from the truth. Sustainable companies and funds are making good money for their investors, and the future is anticipated to be even better.

Research shows that more people, around 66% globally, are willing to buy sustainable goods. This is a clear indication of how the future might be. Socially responsible investments might become the investors’ gold mine in the future.

See Related: Best Gun-Free Funds to Buy Today

4. Helps you in De-Risking your Portfolio

More companies have realized the need for SRI strategies. They have realized that SRI is not only meant to make a company look good in the eyes of the investors. Rather, it is a strategy that might become quite important for the business’s survival.

For this reason, the future might include more companies investing in socially responsible activities. And if this happens, making socially responsible investments now might help you avoid the risk of losing money in some years to come.

If the current trend is something to go by, future investments might be more inclined towards environmental, social, and governance investments (ESG investing). Sustainability will be more than just accompany being green and ethical.

See Related: Best Investments for Young Adults

5. Allows you to Invest According to your Values

What is more important than being able to invest based on your principles and values? If you believe that tobacco is harmful or that weapons production should be banned, why should you continue investing in companies that support such activities?

Socially responsible investing allows you to have a choice. That’s right!

You can now opt to invest in firms or companies that align with your core values. For instance, most investors are seeking investment opportunities that help them reduce their carbon footprint.

Investing in companies or funds that support green or recyclable energy is among the great alternatives that investors are taking. Therefore, if your values prevent you from investing in a certain company, you can seek investment management advice when creating your portfolio.

See Related: Best Community Investments to Leave a Positive Impact

6. Helps Bring Desirable Change on the Planet

We keep talking about climate change, global warming, and sustainability. But have we ever thought about how our small actions can change this? Our contribution might seem small and negligible, but when more investors join hands, the effects start to be seen.

For instance, if fewer guns are manufactured, fewer of them would be reaching our neighborhoods. This means that we would be making these neighborhoods safer for future generations to live in.

Also, have you thought of the devastating effects of war on any country? The aftermath of what these weapons do can be really devastating. If something can be done about this, we would be promoting a better, safer world.

Additionally, if alternative fuel sources to fossil fuels are found and harnessed, our world would become cleaner, free from carbon emissions whose effects are more than devastating.

Ultimately, SRIs can be the beginning of the ideal world.

See related: 6 Reasons Why Gender Equality is Important

Cons

1. You Might Forego Greater Investment Opportunities

When your focus is solely on socially responsible investing, you could be leaving behind other investment opportunities, offering better returns. For instance, a company might not be too much into socially responsible investing, but the products and services they offer can help you to make good money.

If you don’t take advantage of such an opportunity just because the company’s social responsibility falls below par, you might be missing on a lucrative deal.

In other words, there are many companies out there whose social responsibility efforts aren’t anything to brag about, but they offer quite lucrative returns for investors. So, even as you make your investment choices, consider all angles.

See Related: Ethical Dividend Stocks to Invest in Today

2. Limited Investment Opportunities

Since you want to build your portfolio on socially responsible stocks or funds only, you might not have many options to go with. This is because most companies fall on the other side. And, not to say that they do anything wrong, but their efforts on the topic might not be as extensive.

For this reason, it may become harder to build a portfolio that offers lucrative returns opportunities, as you will be foregoing most companies’ stocks or funds.

See Related: Best Banks for Low-Income Earners

3. Not all Companies or Funds are what they Are

Now, this one is quite common. Many companies will claim to be socially responsible, but in the real sense, they are not. Their social responsibility activities are just marketing stunts for the public eyes and avoiding criticism.

In this light, you might be thinking that you are engaging in socially responsible investing, but in the actual sense, you are not any different from the rest of the investors.

4. Ethics Might Overshadow the Performance

Even as we make socially responsible investments, the performance of a company or fund is also crucial. Everyone needs good returns for their invested money.

Sometimes, companies might focus too much on social responsibility at the expense of performance. In this case, the investors tend to lose.

See Related:

Examples of Social Responsible Investing

1. Socially Responsible Investing Mutual Funds and ETFs

Socially responsible investing mutual funds and ETFs come in several categories. While some will avoid investing in companies connected to controversial products and services like weapons, gambling, tobacco, fossil fuels, or alcohol, others will expand their reach to cover ESG issues.

Currently, there are numerous mutual funds and ETFs that use the ESG principles. If you want to find out all the available socially responsible funds, the US SIF’s website gives you access to over 200 of them. It offers data about these firms’ financial performance and SRI strategies.

See Related: How to Comfort Someone With Money Problems

2. Alternative Investments

Just as the name goes, they are alternatives to traditional investments. These include various options such as hedge funds, property funds, etc. And, they are also immersing themselves in the SRIs industry.

A report by the US SIF shows that the rate at which alternative investment funds are joining the SRI game is growing steadily.

All you need is to find the best investment options, and you are good to go.

3. Impact Funds

Impact funds are simply an extension of ESG funds. The funds take care of all ESG issues and don’t stop there. They also care about performance in the same measure.

This means that even as a company focus on social responsibility and ethical changes, it also ensures that investors are rewarded. Impact Funds are ideal for investors who want a piece of each side – make an impact on society and on your wealth creation.

See Related: Important Pros and Cons of Globalization

4. Community Investments

For those investors looking to effect positive changes on society with their investments, community investments are an excellent choice. These ones allow investors to lend money directly to various community support organizations.

An excellent way to do this is by investing in CDFIs (community development financial institutions). These include banks, loan funds, and credit unions that offer loans and financial support to low-income or marginalized communities. To find the best CDFI banks, visit the National Community Investment Fund’s website.

5. Faith-Based Funds

These are investment opportunities that are mainly based on certain faiths. They can be supporting Islamic faith, Christianity, Catholic values, etc.

Such funds only choose companies that support the specific faith or values. If a company doesn’t adhere to these values or faith requirements, it can’t be featured in the fund.

6. Microfinance

Lastly, if you want to invest your money where it can have a great impact, Microfinance can also be an excellent choice. Microfinance offers micro and small loans to small and startup businesses, thus improving the livelihoods of low-income communities.

Related Resources

• What are Social Returns on Investment?
• 10 Reasons to Start Social Impact Investing