Demystifying impact investing /

There have also been many claims about what kind of financial return can be achieved while also solving social and environmental problems. Some analyses of the impact investing sector suggest that it accounts for $9bn of investment capital flowing through channels that are distinct from the mainstream capital markets from a range of investors including philanthropic foundations, high net worth individuals and traditional investors seeking to create impact alongside financial return. Others have questioned whether the approach is indeed new, whether projected financial returns will really meet the expectations of investors and whether impact investing truly refers to new sources of capital or is only a new term for traditional investments that happen to have positive social or environmental impact as a by-product.