Sustainable Investing: Six ways to invest without screwing the planet

It is very likely that your 401(k) or other investment portfolio is currently contributing to the climate crisis, even if your portfolio includes “Environmental, Social, Governance” funds.

The first step to greenify your holdings is to investigate where you currently stand. Fossil Free Funds is a free tool you can use to see if your accounts are invested in fossil fuels. If you have fossil fuels in your investment account, you can seek help from an entity such as Carbon Collective, which helps individual investors as well as employers divest their 401(k) plans from fossil energy.

What are the best green energy stocks?

If you’re someone who likes to select individual stocks rather than funds, you can divest from fossil fuels and invest directly in companies that are striving to make a difference. Check out the Climate Solution Stocks list to see 160-plus companies focused on developing solutions to climate change.

Companies that caught our attention include Acuity Brands Inc. (AYI), a lighting and building management firm that has made its operations 100% carbon neutral, and Apogee Enterprises Inc. (APOG), which sells aluminum frames, architectural glass, and value-added glass and acrylic products that help buildings stay better insulated and reduce greenhouse emissions.

Sustainable passion investments

Fine wine

Fine wine has returned 10 to 11% per year to investors over the last three decades, which means it has outperformed global stock markets during the same period. If you’re interested in investing in wine, consider platforms such as Vinovest and Vint, which make it easy to find well-performing wines to add to your portfolio. It’s advisable to research specific companies before investing in them — including to understand whether they make green practices part of their business model.

Fine wine has returned 10 to 11% per year to investors over the last three decades, which means it has outperformed global stock markets during the same period.

Fine Art

Art as an investment class has risen in popularity over the last several years, as technological advances have made it possible for investors to own a fraction of a piece of art. If this is something that interests you, check out platforms like Masterworks and Yieldstreet. It’s important to note that art does not necessarily qualify as a “green” investment. However, investing in art is more likely to be better for the planet than buying funds that hold stocks in fossil fuel companies.

Community Wealth-Building

The Boston Ujima Project is an example of neighborhood crowdfunding, specifically for residents of the Boston area. The organization buys local properties, and then people from the neighborhood can purchase shares. Community members are able to invest in large-scale, income-producing real estate and related assets.

Community members are able to invest in large-scale, income-producing real estate and related assets.

Those outside Boston might consider investing in Community Development Financial Institutions, or CDFIs, which are entities whose mission is community development. As we’ve previously reported, CNote is a platform that connects individuals with opportunities to invest in CDFIs, and their Flagship Fund offers a 3% return.

It’s also worth checking with your local credit union about investment opportunities. Credit unions are often committed to their local community and its sustainability.

Equity Crowdfunding

Equity crowdfunding is a community-based approach to raising capital for startups. One example of a campaign to consider is Graze Mower, an electric mower company disrupting the commercial lawn care industry. Gas-powered mowers consume about 1.2 billion gallons of gasoline annually, and commercial mowers consume more than 100 million gallons of diesel annually.

There’s a range of platforms that can help you find green investment opportunities like Graze Mower. Wefunder and SeedInvest are two examples. Not every company on these platforms will be green, of course, so — similar to picking green stocks — you’ll need to do a little research to make sure you’re investing in something that matches your values.

It’s also important to acknowledge that new companies are risky investments, as more than two-thirds of them fail to deliver a return to investors. Those that survive yield returns ranging from modest to astronomical.