Save the future.
Save for yours.
Save the future.
Save for yours.
As seen on
We make innovations to get fossil fuels out of retirement savings.
Sphere 500 Fossil-Free Index
We track the biggest 500 US companies, minus fossil fuel companies and a few others. Our funds vote our shares for climate action. They are designed to check the boxes fiduciaries look for in a 401(k) offering.
Learn more
AtmoSphere: track your 401(k)’s climate impact
AtmoSphere Starter gives deep insights into every US company, using public records, to empower employees to make change. AtmoSphere Enterprise calculates the emissions from 401(k)s, in context of total emissions, and lets you simulate the impact of making changes.
Go to AtmoSphereFossil fuels have had bad returns.
Believe it or not, fossil fuels have had the worst returns of any sector of the economy over the past 10 years.
Data from Jan 31, 2014 to Jan 31, 2024 for the ETFs with the following tickers: IYC, IYW, IYH, IYK, IDU, IYM, IYF, IYJ, and IYE.
Despite that,
of Americans with 401(k)s are invested in fossil fuels.
That means
is invested in fossil fuels just through our retirement funds.
Source: According to ICI, $11 trillion were invested in retirement funds as of 9/30/22. According to As You Sow, fossil fuels made up 9.34% the S&P 500 as of 6/23/23.
How is this possible?
84%
of Americans are worried about climate change.
81%
didn’t know they’re investing in fossil fuels through their 401(k).
70%
are not happy their 401(k) is invested in fossil fuels when they find out.
Source: Pew Research, Sphere survey
401(k) investments in fossil fuels
Amounts invested in fossil fuels via company 401(k)s
Together we are changing this.
It can be hard to get a climate-friendly investment option onto a 401(k) plan. The AtmoSphere platform helps sustainability teams understand how to reduce 401(k) emissions without having to change providers, and our funds are climate-friendly options that can be added to existing retirement plans.
We created the Sphere 500 to offer a simple and transparent approach to sustainability that can check all the boxes that benefits teams look for in a 401(k) or 403(b) retirement savings plan.
Don't invest in oil & gas companies.
The first step in addressing climate change is to send a message to oil & gas companies loud and clear: no more business as usual. It’s time for the status quo to change.
Do reduce emissions.
Fossil-free funds have lower emissions because fossil fuel companies are the biggest contributor to global emissions.5
Do vote your shares for the planet.
Did you know that mutual funds vote on company shareholder proposals on your behalf? Most funds automatically vote however the board recommends. Ours vote for the planet.
“As a company focused on helping stop climate change, Voltus needed this solution. I was excited when so many on my team signed up and even happier when they told me how easy the process was.”
Matthew Plante
President at Voltus
“A climate-friendly 401(k) option shows me my company actually cares about my views and the planet.”
Lauren Fraser
Cofounder of RightHandGreen
Formerly at Facebook and Rewiring America
“Companies around the world are making bold climate commitments. Adding Sphere is a no-brainer part of any climate plan.”
Maren Costa
Principal Design Lead at Microsoft
Cofounder of Amazon Employees for Climate Justice
We can check all the boxes.
Good returns
Removing fossil fuels has historically improved returns. Here’s an interesting case study: If you had invested $10k ten years ago in the S&P 500 without fossil fuels, today you would have more than just investing in the S&P 500.
$34.9k
S&P 500 without fossil fuels
$32.8k
S&P 500
S&P 500 without fossil fuels*
S&P 500
* Source: S&P 500 Ex-Energy Index. All Energy sector companies are fossil fuel companies, per S&P Global.
Affordable
Climate-friendly funds are typically 8x more expensive than an average index fund. The average fee of the top 100 environmental funds .61%. We don't charge that premium. This pricing makes it appropriate for 401(k) plans.
Simple to start
Our funds are designed to be added to existing 401(k) plans, so you don't have to switch providers to offer a climate-friendly choice.
Available on platforms including
Fidelity
Vanguard
The top 500 minus fossil fuels
The Sphere 500 index has the top 500 US companies by market capitalization, minus 93 companies. The independent non-profit As You Sow creates the list of fossil fuel and other companies that are excluded.
Learn more about the fund500 largest US companies
Removed 52 fossil fuel companies
Removed 41 deforestation, tobacco, civilian firearm, military weapon, and private prison companies
407 / 500
Holdings
More climate impact than anything else.
Install solar
Go vegan
Never fly again
Only buy recyclable
Compost your waste
Take cold showers
Buy organic
Buy local
Upcycle waste
Unplug devices
Saves 16 tons
Saves 22 tons
22 tons source: Internal calculations ascribing pro-rata emissions of each holding on a dollar weighted basis utilizing Green House Gas emissions (Scope 1, 2 & 3 emissions - place based) data collected from Bloomberg Terminal under data license.
