Sustainable Trading, the non-profit membership network created to drive environmental, social, and governance (ESG) best practices within the financial trading industry, is set to close its doors. The decision, which comes just over three years after its high-profile launch, was confirmed following a board recommendation and subsequent member vote at an Extraordinary General Meeting on July 17, 2025.
The organisation will now begin a formal wind-down process, overseen by a liquidator, to be concluded by the end of summer.
The closure marks a poignant end to an initiative that launched in February 2022 with significant industry backing from firms like Bank of America, Barclays, London Stock Exchange Group, and Schroders. Founded by industry veteran Duncan Higgins, its mission was to fill a crucial gap by moving beyond sustainable investing principles to address the ESG practices of the trading industry itself, from technology infrastructure and environmental footprint to diversity, inclusion, and employee wellbeing.
In a statement, Higgins cited a confluence of factors for the difficult decision. “This decision was not taken lightly,” he said. “It reflects a combination of external challenges and internal constraints that have made it increasingly difficult to deliver the programme at the scale and depth we believe it deserves.”
These challenges include what one report described as ‘unfavourable political headwinds,’ particularly in the US, which have led many financial institutions to deprioritise ESG initiatives. This challenging landscape contributed to a decline in membership from a peak in 2024. The organisation also faced internal pressures, including the departure of key team members and Higgins confirming he would not return to lead in the same capacity following a period of medical leave.
Despite the closure, a key part of the wind-down strategy is to make the intellectual property and frameworks developed over the past three years publicly available to the entire industry.
“While the organisation itself will close, we’re proud of the legacy it leaves behind, and the work will live on,” Higgins confirmed.
During its operation, Sustainable Trading delivered several key resources and frameworks aimed at turning ESG ambitions into practical action. The organisation also created a global community through working groups, workshops, and volunteering initiatives, earning recognition as a trusted voice in the responsible finance space.
The Sustainable Trading website will be maintained in a simplified format to serve as a public archive for these frameworks and insights, ensuring its contributions remain a valuable resource for firms continuing their journey toward more sustainable trading practices.
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