Tobacco has lost its flavour

EXPERTS, RESEARCH SHOWS DECLINE IN STOCK PRICES PERFORMANCE SINCE 2016

- Corne van Walbeek and Tim Evans

Environmental, social and governance investing, also known as impact or socially responsible investing, has become a popular concept.

It's based on awareness of the impact that firms have on the environment and human well-being.

Socially responsible investing recognises that these factors influence financial performance and investor returns.

Companies in the tobacco industry have some of the most serious impacts on well-being. Tobacco is a unique product in that it causes the premature death of about half of its users.

Organisations such as Tobacco Free Portfolios urge institutions not to invest in or provide financial services to tobacco companies.

Their goal is a tobacco-free world.

They argue that without financial and investor support, tobacco companies, operations will become less sustainable.

As researchers with a strong background in economics, we assessed whether a financial case exists for investing in or divesting from tobacco stocks.