Heal the world: 7 in 10 SG investors want to make the world a better place

Sustainable investing is becoming mainstream.

Nearly 7 of 10 Singapore investors, or 69%, acknowledge their part in making the world a better place. This is according to Standard Chartered's Sustainable Investing Review.

The survey found that overall, the allocation of sustainable investments in portfolios experienced a rise with 13% of investors putting more than 25% of total investments into sustainable solutions. 

Trends observed in Singapore, meanwhile saw increases in awareness, by 3 percentage points (ppt) to 71%, interest, by 2 ppt to 73%, and adoption of likeminded solutions, by 10 ppt to 36%, compared to last year.

A majority of Singapore responses, at 76%, also added that it is possible to combine their responsibility and make money at the same time.

However, 53% of respondents also pointed out their apprehensions holding them back. Whilst 61% of those who pointed out their apprehensions felt that social impact was hard to measure, 56% had concerns about the financial performance of these investments. Meanwhile, 45% believed that donations can go to a more immediate social cause.

Eugene Puar, Regional Head of Wealth Management, ASEAN and South Asia and Head of Wealth Management, Singapore, Standard Chartered Bank, said that with these results, he maintains his outlook on the move of sustainable investing towards the mainstream.

“Over the last year, we have witnessed a seven-fold asset growth in ESG funds offered on our platform. We foresee that sustainable investing will move from the periphery of global investment activity to the mainstream. Banks can play a big role in closing the gap between an investor’s intentions and their adoption of sustainable investing. Professional advice and education are crucial; by providing clients with that and access to the most relevant sustainable investment solutions, clients will be empowered to make informed choices which leave a positive impact and deliver financial returns,” Puar said.

The Sustainable Investing Review had a responded pool of more than 2,000 investors in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, India, UAE, and the UK.