Many Australians don’t realise their superannuation savings – worth A$4.5 trillion and growing – may be invested in fossil fuel companies, gambling, or even weapons manufacturers.

If you’ve switched how your super is invested to avoid any of those industries, you’re not alone.

The latest official superannuation statistics show most of Australia’s major super funds now offer investments designed to reduce exposure to everything from coal and oil to other industries like tobacco, weapons, gambling and alcohol.

But if you care about particular issues – from climate change to weapons of war – it’s worth reading the fine print to be sure where your money is going.

It’s easy to put off thinking about superannuation when retirement is years away. In this five-part series, we ask top experts to explain how to sort your super in a few simple steps, avoid greenwashing, and set goals for retirement.

What even counts as ‘sustainable’?

There’s no single definition of what makes a super option “sustainable” or “responsible”. So it’s not easy for consumers to compare different funds.

That’s why the federal government is currently consulting on clearer labelling rules for financial products marketed as “sustainable” (and a long list of similar terms) – including for superannuation.

For now, each fund sets its own criteria.

A few funds, such as Australian Ethical and Future Super, only offer sustainable options, with........

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