The Power Vegan’s Humane Stock Portfolio.

Investing money on the stock market can be tricky but what can be even more difficult is creating a stock portfolio that not only makes money but doesn’t contribute to animal cruelty. One firm has a solution.

Aperio Group LLC. has launched the Humane Equity Index Portfolio which allows people to make financial investments exclusively in cruelty-free companies. The Humane Portfolio excludes companies who exploit animals for entertainment, research, fur, and factory farms. The positive response to the program has been overwhelming. The Aperio Group now manages $2.1 billion dollars from different investors concerned about animal cruelty. 

Make way for the high-powered vegan investor.

The idea is a continuation of what Bloomberg Businessweek calls “the rise of the power vegans” with Russell Simmons, Twitter founder Biz Stone, and Whole Foods CEO John Mackey leading the pack. High powered investors and business people who happen to be vegan and animal friendly want their investments to make them rich AND reflect their beliefs. Programs like Humane Portfolio seem like a win-win.

I may never invest in the stock market but it’s cool to know that people are taking animal welfare into consideration when they decide to invest. Hopefully humane portfolios will catch on, take money away from companies who exploit animals and get them to rethink their business practices.