Ethical super funds are growing in popularity as Australians look to invest their retirement savings in line with their personal values. Whether you’re focused on climate impact, animal rights or avoiding industries like tobacco or weapons, there are super funds designed to reflect those priorities. This page helps you compare top-performing ethical super funds based on their investment returns. We also break down what makes a super fund “ethical” and explore the current landscape of sustainable superannuation options.
Please Note: Any advice on this page is general in nature and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether this is right for you. See full disclaimer.
Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
Aust Ethical MySuper - Balanced | Members: 121,190
Rank
Fund Investment Option
Return
Please Note: This table ranks all investment options on ReviewMySuper that are titled as ethical, sustainable, ESG, socially conscious etc.. In short they have been classified by the fund offering these options as “Ethical”.
Returns are as of June 30 2025.
Whilst the majority of Australia’s largest funds and their investment options are listed on ReviewMySuper, not every fund and investment option is. There may be other ethical investment options that could make this list.
There is no exact standard for what is an Ethical investment option. Rather than making the determination ourselves, we have just ranked by performance the “Ethical” investment options as determined by the offering fund. You should do further due diligence to ensure that the investments align with your values.
An ethical super fund is a fund that invests their members funds in alignment with environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles. These funds typically avoid industries like fossil fuels, tobacco, weapons and gambling. They also often prioritise sectors such as clean energy and healthcare. Although there’s no exact standard, Ethical super funds typically use a mix of negative screening (excluding harmful industries), positive screening (supporting beneficial ones) and ESG integration to guide investment decisions. By choosing an ethical fund, members aim to grow their super while contributing to a more sustainable and socially responsible future that aligns with their values.
Ethical investing is no longer a niche trend, it’s become a priority for many Australians particularly for their superannuation which outside of the family home is most Australians largest asset. With increasing public concern around climate change, social equity and animal welfare more people are choosing super funds that reflect their values.
Recent data shows that ethical and sustainable super funds have not only grown but have also delivered competitive long-term returns.
Regulatory bodies like APRA and ASIC have also begun placing more emphasis on transparency around ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) factors, pushing the industry toward higher standards.
With more and more funds now offering strong ethical options it’s more important than ever to compare these funds and ensure you’re in a top performing option.
Start by looking at ethical super options with strong historical performance because ethics aside, it’s still essential that your super grows over time so you can retire comfortably. From this shortlist, review how each fund defines “ethical,” including which industries they exclude or support and how transparent they are about their holdings.
Some funds focus solely on avoiding fossil fuels, while others emphasise broader ESG principles which you may or may not value. Visit the funds websites to check their ethical principles and investment selection criteria. This method can help you find a fund that aligns with both your values and a secure financial future.
