Castlefield awarded two Best Buy labels from Ethical Consumer

By Nathan Cameron

Castlefield is proud to have received two Best Buy labels - the gold standard for ethical shopping - from leading UK ethical research organisation Ethical Consumer, for our ethical financial advice and our ethical investment funds. 

Ethical Consumer regularly publishes research of the ethical and environmental track record of companies behind everyday products and services in its  "Ethical Consumer magazine". 

Ethical Consumer's Best Buy Label is one of the UK’s most respected independent and ethical endorsements, indicating that a product or service meets the highest possible ethical and sustainability standards.

Using its extensive database, researchers rate both the product and the company behind the product against a range of animal welfare, environmental and human rights criteria. 

Castlefield scored 100/100 for its approaches to ethical investment advice, tax conduct and workers' rights, and 90/100 for climate reporting.

Based on these findings, firms who satisfy the Best Buy standards are recommended and then eligible to join the Ethical Consumer Best Buy Label scheme, which is run as an independent trademark.

Castlefield Head of Advice, Rupert Lovesy said: "Ethical Consumer is one of the most trusted sources of independent research in the UK for ethical brands, so we're delighted to have been recognised for two separate Best Buy labels." 

On Castlefield receiving a Best Buy label for its Ethical Investment Funds, Alex Crumbie researcher at Ethical Consumer said: “Castlefield was one of the standout asset managers in our guide to Ethical Investment funds. Unlike most asset managers, Castlefield is primarily focused on ethical and sustainable investing. 

Its 'Thoughtful Fund' range is guided by a robust ethical investment policy which includes screening out investments in fossil fuel and weapons companies.

It is also fully transparent about its investments, disclosing the portfolio holdings of each fund so that customers can see exactly where their money is being invested.

Castlefield not only scored well in our rating system due to its approach to ethical investing. It is also an employee-owned business, Living Wage certified, and scored top marks in our Tax Conduct category.”

On Castlefield's Ethical Financial Advice Best Buy label, Ruairidh Fraser researcher at Ethical Consumer said:
“Unlike most financial advisors, which may offer ethical advice as an option, Castlefield is entirely focused on ethical services. This is demonstrated by detailed policy and evidence of good practice across the board.

Castlefield scored 100/100 for its approaches to ethical investment advice, tax conduct and workers' rights, and 90/100 for climate reporting. It truly stands out in the world of finance – a genuinely purpose driven company in an environmental dominated by greenwash.”

It truly stands out in the world of finance – a genuinely purpose driven company in an environmental dominated by greenwash

Since launching the scheme over 15 years ago Ethical Consumer has signed up almost 50 of the UK's most ethical companies to the scheme.

For more information on the background to Ethical Consumer's Best Buy Label, please visit: https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/best-buy-label

 

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