Despite growth during the recession, green funds yet to become mainstream.
Amid fears of a double-dip recession and looming spending cuts, there is one section of the financial market that continues to steam ahead seemingly immune to the credit crunch.

According to figures released by the Co-op Bank marking the 10th anniversary of their annual Ethical Consumer Report, the amount invested in ethical savings and investments has almost quadrupled in the past 10 years and now stands at just under £20 billion (Dh118 billion).

But why does ethical finance matter and has that £20 billion made any real impact? Mark Robertson, from ethical finance website Yourethicalmoney.org, says: "If you don't choose to go with a bank that's got clear ethical lending policies then you've got no way of knowing what that bank is doing with your money. It could be invested in companies that you may be uncomfortable with. If you put your money into an ethical financial institution, then your capital can be used to support positive initiatives, such as Fairtrade."

Huw Davies at ethical bank Triodos agrees. "Choosing ethical finance is one of the most powerful things that you can do as a consumer."

This spring the Co-operative's asset management division was part of a wider coalition of other institutional investors that tabled a shareholder resolution at BP's annual meeting in London, with the aim of putting pressure on BP to release information about its tar sands development in Canada.