Make sure that you aren't inadvertently funding animal testing with your KiwiSaver!
The main KiwiSaver plans invest in some of the biggest animal testing companies in the world, including Colgate-Palmolive, Johnson & Johnson, L'Oreal, Procter & Gamble, and Unilever.
According to the Mindful Money Annual Survey, 85% of Kiwis think it’s important not to invest in animal testing.1 Yet over $3 billion dollars of KiwiSaver funds are invested in companies that test their products on animals for non-pharmaceutical use.2
What you can do
- You can easily check what your KiwiSaver is invested in via the Mindful Money website.
- Make the ethical KiwiSaver switch! There are now two options available that have animal testing exclusions:
- Pathfinder: Full animal testing exclusion
- Booster: Partial animal testing exclusion
Pathfinder
Pathfinder is a KiwiSaver plan that avoids companies and/or industries causing environmental or social harm, including animal testing, factory farming, or other forms of animal exploitation.
Pathfinder does not invest in any company that engages in animal testing. They avoid investing in companies that test drugs or consumer products (for example cosmetics) on animals - even when testing is required by law.
View their Ethical Policy Statement here.
Booster
Booster does not invest in animal testing on non-medical products (i.e. cosmetics), specifically they don’t invest in companies deriving 5% or more revenue from the manufacture of non-medical products that are tested on animals.
View their Approach to Responsible Investing Policy here.
Making the switch
Our favourite KiwiSaver plan is Pathfinder (due to how strict their animal testing policy is) and it's really easy to switch your KiwiSaver plan to Pathfinder:
1. Go to the Pathfinder website to read more
2. Fill out the form. You will need your IRD number as well as a passport or driving license.
Pathfinder donates 20% of their fees to charities and NZAVS is an official registered charity partner of Pathfinder so you can choose us to support when you make the switch!
TAKE ACTION
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Find out what your KiwiSaver is invested in via Mindful Money
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Make the Ethical KiwiSaver switch to Pathfinder today!
Please get in touch with the team at NZAVS if you'd like help making the switch: nzavs@nzavs.org.nz.
Commonly asked questions:
Q. How does my current provider stack up regarding investments in companies involved with animal testing?
A. The Pathfinder website has a great tool, the 'Ethical Calculator', that can tell you the total number of investments in company shares and bonds that may not align with your values.
If your provider is not on this list, go to MindfulMoney, an independent entity with all providers.
Q. Will switching to Pathfinder impact my returns?
A. The team at Pathfinder aim to show that you don't have to choose between investing your money ethically and getting good returns - they would like you to have both! While past performance is not a guarantee of future returns, their three-year returns have been stellar and as an active manager they strive to continually make investment decisions that grow your wealth and community well-being. To learn more about Pathfinder’s top-ranking returns, click here.
Q. But Pathfinder supports 'Forest & Bird', and they are not aligned with my values.
A. When you sign up for Pathfinder, you will be able to select a charity that you wish to support. So it is totally up to you to support Forest & Bird or not. At the end of every year, Pathfinder takes 20% of its Management Fee and donates this to the charity you’ve selected.
Q. Is it exactly the same as KiwiSaver in terms of government contribution?
A. Yes. "To help you save, the Government will make an annual contribution into your account as long as you meet these conditions:
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be over 18 and under 65, and
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have been in any KiwiSaver scheme for at least 12 months, and
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live in New Zealand, and
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have paid at least $1,042.86 (just over $20 a week) into your KiwiSaver account between July 1st and June 30th the following year.
Note that your employer contributions don’t count; it is what you have paid that matters.
If you contribute less than $1,042.86 from your pay, you can make a voluntary contribution to top up your account to qualify for the Government contribution.
References
- https://mindfulmoney.nz/media/blog/file/56/responsible-investment-new-zealand-survey-2020-fin.pdf
- mindfulmoney.nz/pages/34/animalcruelty/ (data from March 2021)
Legal Disclaimer: Pathfinder Asset Management Limited is the issuer of the Pathfinder KiwiSaver Plan. A product Disclosure Statement for the offer is available at www.path.co.nz. 0% animal testing data from Mindful Money Check and Compare
