Chicago, Ill., Oct 15, 2011 / 05:22 am
Amid fears of a European financial crisis and continuing anti-corporate protests in the U.S., the Knights of Columbus sponsored a Oct. 13 summit in Chicago to discuss ethical and sustainable business growth.
“We understand fully that to be sustainable an investment must be sustainable in both senses of the word: sustainable in terms of its business model, and in terms of ethical outlook,” said Supreme Knight Carl Anderson, head of the Catholic fraternal and charitable group which is also a top-rated life insurance company.
Just as the ethics of investors matter, Anderson explained, “so does the guiding philosophy and ethical standards of those people leading the company being invested in. How are the people who work for that company treated? Is that company a good neighbor in its community?”
“These and the questions like them – which could be considered extra-financial criteria – are critical to sustainable investing,” he said.