This report, published by the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA), is the sixth in its consumer research series. It gauges general Australian awareness, practices, and attitudes towards ethical and responsible investing, based on an online survey of 2,003 Australians aged 18+ conducted in January 2024 by Lonergan Research.

• 88% of Australians expect their super or other investments to be invested responsibly and ethically (up from 83% in 2022), and 65% would invest more if their investments made a positive impact in the world.
• Concerns about greenwashing have increased to 78% (from 72% in 2022), while 79% of Australians would be more likely to invest in products labelled as responsible or ethical by an independent third party.
• Human rights and animal welfare are top priorities: 89% say it is important for their super fund or bank to commit to protecting human rights, and 74% want to avoid animal-related issues when investing.
• Key barriers to switching to ethical funds or banks include a lack of independent information (80% for super, 84% for banks), a perceived lack of credible options, and cost concerns — with notable gender differences in how these barriers are experienced.

The report highlights a growing gap between consumer demand for responsible products and the range of options currently available in the market, presenting a significant opportunity for the financial services industry.