Asset managers have for years been touting their sustainable-investment expertise. But with surging investor interest in environmental, social and governance funds following the onset of the Covid pandemic, many have turbo-charged their marketing in a bid to capture a greater share of this booming market.

In 2020 alone, more than 500 new ESG funds were launched, according to Morningstar. At the same time, assets sitting in ESG products swelled to €1tn as the Covid pandemic fuelled investor interest in funds designed to do good by society and the environment.