The Complete Guide to Vegan Pensions

If you're vegan, you've probably spent time checking labels, researching brands, and making sure your daily choices align with your values. But have you checked your pension?

Most standard pensions invest in a broad mix of companies—including those involved in animal testing, factory farming, and meat production. Your retirement savings might be funding the very industries you're trying to avoid.

What Does a "Vegan Pension" Actually Mean?

A truly vegan pension excludes investments in companies involved in:

Animal exploitation:

• Factory farming and intensive agriculture
• Animal testing (cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, household products)
• Meat, poultry, and fish production
• Dairy and egg production
• Leather, fur, and wool
• Animal entertainment (zoos, marine parks, racing)

Related ethical concerns:

• Fossil fuels and coal mining
• Weapons and arms manufacturing
• Tobacco production
• Gambling operations
• Companies with serious human rights concerns

The Problem with "ESG" Funds

Many pension providers now offer "ESG" (Environmental, Social, Governance) or "sustainable" funds. But these often fall short for vegans.

A typical ESG fund might:

• Exclude the worst polluters but still hold oil companies "trying to improve"
• Claim to address animal welfare without actually screening out animal agriculture
• Use "best in class" approaches that include meat producers if they're slightly better than competitors

This is why true vegan screening matters. At Vegan Invest, we work with funds that explicitly exclude all animal exploitation—not just the most obvious offenders.

How to Check Your Current Pension

Step 1: Log into your pension provider

Find your pension provider (it might be through your employer or a personal pension you've set up). Log in and look for information about your fund choices.

Step 2: Find your fund factsheet

Every fund should have a factsheet showing its top holdings. Download this and review the companies listed.

Step 3: Research the holdings

Look up the top 10-20 companies in your fund. Do any of them:

• Produce meat, dairy, or eggs?
• Conduct animal testing?
• Manufacture leather goods?
• Operate in fossil fuels?

If the answer is yes to any of these, your pension isn't vegan.

Step 4: Check for screening policies

Some funds publish their screening criteria. Look for explicit exclusions around animal testing, animal agriculture, and related industries—not just vague ESG commitments.

Your Options

Option 1: Ask Your Employer

Start with your workplace pension. Ask your HR department:

• What ethical fund options are available?
• Can you switch to a more ethical fund within the scheme?
• Do any options specifically exclude animal-related industries?

Many employers are adding sustainable options in response to employee demand.

Option 2: Transfer to an Ethical Provider

If your current provider doesn't offer suitable options, you can often transfer your pension elsewhere. Things to check:

• Any exit fees or penalties
• Whether you'd lose any employer matching contributions
• The costs of the new provider vs. your current one

Option 3: Use a Vegan-Specialist Provider

This is where Vegan Invest comes in. We provide:

• Properly vegan-screened portfolios
• Personal financial advice (not just guidance)
• Professional management by chartered financial planners
• Transparent fees and reporting

The Tax Benefits of Pensions

Don't let ethical concerns put you off pensions entirely. The tax advantages are substantial:

Benefit	What it means
Tax relief on contributions	Get 20-45% of your contributions back from the government
Tax-free growth	Your investments grow without paying capital gains tax
25% tax-free lump sum	Take a quarter of your pension tax-free at retirement

A properly screened vegan pension gives you these benefits without compromising your values.

Getting Started

Reviewing your pension might feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be complicated. Here's a simple three-step approach:

1. Audit - Check what your current pension invests in
2. Research - Look at genuinely vegan-screened alternatives
3. Act - Make the switch or get professional advice

Need help? Talk to our team about building a pension that matches your values.