Since the early 2000s, the practice of ESG investing has grown exponentially, with trillions of dollars invested in sustainable strategies. ESG investing focuses on environmental, social, and governance (AMEX:ESG) factors when making investment decisions. This article provides an overview of ESG investing strategies, their growth, and the companies implementing them.
The United States has seen remarkable growth in strategies that integrate ESG factors over the past decade. By the end of 2020, US assets under management that employed sustainable investing strategies had reached 8.4 trillion dollars. Moreover, ESG investment products surpassed all other segments of the investment industry in terms of growth. This is largely fueled by millennials, who are increasingly seeking to invest in companies that prioritize sustainability.
investment firms are implementing various ESG investing strategies. For example, Peter Cashion, managing investment officer at the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), has stated that ESG factors are integrated into its investment strategies, analyses, and decision-making processes. Similarly, many fund managers are using a strategy known as ESG investing, which focuses on “socially responsible companies” that prioritize sustainability.