[ E X C L U S I V E | S U S T A I N A B L E T R A D I N G S H U T T E R S ]
Sustainable Trading shutters amidst unfavourable
‘ political headwinds’
Trading-focused ESG network Sustainable Trading is closing its doors, three and a half years after its launch, The TRADE can reveal.
Members voted for closure at its general meeting on 17 July following a recommendation from the board. Members have been notified, and a liquidator has been appointed to ensure financial and legal requirements are met ahead of its closure.
The not-for-profit network has experienced suffering membership levels thanks to an increasingly challenging landscape caused by unfavourable market conditions, namely in the US. Speaking to The TRADE exclusively, founder Duncan Higgins explained that the current
The not-for-profit network has experienced suffering membership levels thanks to an increasingly challenging landscape caused by unfavourable market conditions, namely in the US.
political environment had created several hurdles for firms looking to enforce greater sustainability within their organisations.
“ Political headwinds around the world have created significant challenges for financial organisations, particularly those operating in the sustainability space,” he said.
“ As a result, we’ ve had both declining member numbers and less ability for firms to commit time and resources to the organisation. It’ s left us in a position where we’ re in a much more challenged environment and less able to make a collective impact. With the decline in member numbers, the difficulty in operating the organisation continues to increase and the positive impact that we could have was decreasing.”
The same pressures have seen an exodus of banks and asset managers exit their Net Zero initiatives as firms’ priorities become increasingly focused elsewhere.
Similar trends have been seen in the UK, with pensions
58 // TheTRADE // Q3 2025