Greenbank, the ethical and sustainability arm of Rathbones Group, has partnered with the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF) to publish a new guide that aims to ‘demystify’ sustainability fund labels.

The guide looks to help investors understand the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) 2023 Sustainability Disclosure Requirement (SDR) framework, which changed rules on how investment funds can be described and marketed.

It urged investors to challenge their financial advisers to make sure their money is invested as they expect.

The organisations are also aiming to address investor concerns about greenwashing, and restore trust and improve transparency in the sustainable investment space.

The publication, A Consumer Guide to Sustainable Investment Funds, breaks down what the SDR rules mean in practice, from marketing and disclosure standards to the differences between the four SDR labels.

It also offers practical tips on interpreting sustainability objectives, assessing fund holdings, and reviewing engagement reporting.

“Sustainable investing shouldn’t feel intimidating,” said Rathbones Asset Management head of sustainability and Rathbone Greenbank Global Sustainability Fund lead fund manager, David Harrison.

“The new SDR labels are there to make sustainability clearer, but they’re not the whole story. We want investors to know it’s okay, in fact, essential, to ask questions about what a fund is really doing with their money.

“Working with UKSIF, we want to make sure every investor feels confident to challenge claims, explore the detail and choose investments that reflect their values.”

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