How to Check If Your Pension Invests in Animal Agriculture

You check food labels for hidden animal products. You research cosmetics for cruelty-free certification. But have you checked what your pension invests in?

Most standard pensions hold shares in companies that operate factory farms, test on animals, or produce meat products. Here's how to find out if yours is one of them.

Why This Matters

A typical diversified pension fund invests across hundreds of companies. Within a standard "global equity" fund, you'll likely find:

• Food companies like Tyson Foods, JBS (world's largest meat processor), and Nestlé
• Pharmaceutical companies with extensive animal testing operations
• Consumer goods companies like Procter & Gamble and Unilever
• Fast food chains like McDonald's and KFC parent company Yum! Brands

Your pension might hold just a small percentage in each, but collectively, vegans could be funding significant animal harm through their retirement savings.

Step-by-Step: Checking Your Pension

Step 1: Find Your Pension Provider

Most UK employees have a workplace pension. Check:

• Your payslip for deductions
• Your email for pension provider communications
• Your employer's HR portal or handbook

Common providers include NEST, Scottish Widows, Aviva, Legal & General, and Royal London.

Step 2: Log Into Your Account

Every pension provider has an online portal. If you've never logged in:

• Visit the provider's website
• Use "forgot password" or "register" options
• You'll need your National Insurance number and personal details

Step 3: Find Your Fund Details

Once logged in, look for:

• "My investments" or "My fund choices"
• "Where your money is invested"
• "Fund details" or "Fund factsheet"

Download the factsheet for each fund you're invested in.

Step 4: Review the Holdings

Fund factsheets show "top holdings"—the largest companies in the fund. Look for:

Red flags (likely involved in animal industries):

• JBS, Tyson Foods, WH Group (meat production)
• McDonald's, Yum! Brands, Restaurant Brands (fast food)
• Nestlé, Unilever, Mondelez (major food companies)
• Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer, Roche (pharmaceutical)
• LVMH, Kering (luxury goods/leather)

Note: Just seeing a recognisable name isn't necessarily bad—you need to research each company's animal-related activities.

Step 5: Research Specific Companies

For each company you're concerned about, check:

Their business model

• What percentage of revenue comes from animal products?
• Do they operate farms or slaughterhouses?
• Do they test on animals?

Their policies

• Animal welfare statements (often found in CSR reports)
• Testing policies
• Supply chain standards

Independent ratings

• BBFAW (Business Benchmark on Farm Animal Welfare)
• Cruelty-Free International certification lists
• Ethical Consumer magazine ratings

Step 6: Assess the Scale

Context matters. Consider:

• What percentage of your fund is in problematic companies?
• Is it a small, incidental holding or a significant position?
• Would switching funds significantly reduce exposure?

What You Might Find

Scenario A: Heavily exposed Your fund holds multiple meat producers, fast food companies, and animal testing pharmaceuticals. This is common in standard "global" or "all-company" funds.

Scenario B: Moderate exposure Your fund excludes some industries but still holds food companies with animal agriculture involvement.

Scenario C: Limited exposure Your fund already has ethical screening but hasn't specifically targeted animal-related industries.

Your Options

If you have workplace pension choices: Ask your employer or pension provider:

• What ethical fund options are available?
• Do any specifically exclude animal agriculture?
• Can you switch without penalties?

If your options are limited: Consider:

• Transferring to a more ethical provider
• Supplementing with a personal pension with better options
• Talking to a financial adviser about alternatives

If you want proper vegan screening: This is what we specialise in at Vegan Invest. Our portfolios explicitly exclude all animal agriculture, testing, and exploitation.

Taking Action

Checking your pension is the first step. Here's what to do with what you find:

1. Document what you discover
2. Compare to ethical alternatives
3. Calculate any switching costs
4. Decide whether to change provider or choose different funds
5. Act on your decision
6. Review annually to make sure nothing's changed

Need help making sense of what you find? Book a free consultation with our team.