Micro-investing app Acorns launches ethical portfolio
Acorns, the micro-investing app launched last year in Australia, has created its first portfolio dedicated to investing in socially responsible assets. Its Emerald Portfolio is fully diversified across asset classes and geographies, and was created following feedback from young customers demanding a set of investments that conformed to environmental, social and corporate governance standards. “Millennials are more attuned to the social impact of their actions than other demographics and are driving the interest in sustainable investment," said Acorns Australia CEO and MD George Lucas.
Source: Acorns

Micro-investing app, Acorns, has highlighted its commitment to sustainability with the launch of a new, socially responsible investment portfolio, available from today.

Following regular feedback from users, Acorns Australia customers will now have access to the Emerald Portfolio, an investment option designed to meet environmental, social and corporate governance standards.



Acorns Australia CEO and Managing Director, George Lucas said the launch of the Emerald Portfolio gives customers an investment portfolio aligned to their values.



“Since launching Acorns in Australia more than a year ago, one of the greatest frustrations we increasingly hear from our customers is the challenge of knowing where their money is being invested,” Lucas said.



“Acorns is a product designed with the consumer in mind; whether it’s helping them invest in markets, improve financial literacy or find money to invest. The Emerald Portfolio furthers this goal by providing users with an engaging option that empowers them to invest according to their values”



The Emerald Portfolio is fully diversified across asset classes and geographical regions, including Australian equities, international equities, bonds and cash. It has a risk-return profile similar to Acorns’ current “Moderately Aggressive” portfolio and aims to achieve similar returns.



More than one in 100 Australians have signed up to Acorns in the year since its launch, with uptake primarily from millennials looking to get a start in the investment market and increase their financial literacy.



“Millennials are more attuned to the social impact of their actions than other demographics and are driving the interest in sustainable investment. However, they also don’t want to give up their ability to get returns,” Lucas said.



“The Emerald Portfolio allows them to participate in the financial markets with an option to align their investments more closely to their values.”



The portfolio launch follows another milestone in Acorns’ commitment to ethical investment, with last month’s unveiling of the Carbon Footprint estimator. This tool calculates a user’s carbon usage based on their spending activities and has the stamp of approval from Emerald Club, Australia’s largest socially-responsible investment platform.



The Carbon Footprint estimator and the Emerald Portfolio are only available to Acorns Australia customers.