Australia's first Responsible Investment platform, The Emerald Wrap, which launches in March 2012 is partnering with Bendigo and Adelaide Bank as the wrap's default cash account provider. 

The Emerald Investment, Super and Pension Wrap will offer a wide range of responsible and ethical investment alternatives, all provided within a consolidated administration service.

Justin Medcalf, co-founder of distributor, The Emerald Club, said that he and other financial advisers focused on the responsible and ethical investment industry have formed the Ethical Advisers Co-op to further promote the industry. 

One of the Co-op's most important initiatives was to create greater buying power and increase the appeal of being an ethical adviser.

"Until now, most advisers offering responsible and ethical investments have had little choice but to use platforms designed by larger institutions, with little to no influence on investment menu and other platform features," said Medcalf.

The new platform will provide access to managed funds and SMA model portfolios that have been certified by industry association, the Responsible Investment Association of Australasia.

Every account opened will use the Adelaide Bank Cash Management Account (CMA), unless an alternative is selected.

"Australian investors and financial advisers are increasingly seeking to make investment decisions that take account of wider societal implications, rather than just investment returns," said Diego Del Rosso, Senior Manager - Strategic Partners and Alliances at Bendigo Wealth."

In addition to offering close to 25 RI funds and over 200 traditional managed funds, the platform will also offer managed models of equities using Powerwrap's SMA functionality.