Presented by: ESG ETFs TDAM It wasnât long ago that ESG (environmental, social and governance) funds were used by only a few socially conscious investors as an add-on to an already built portfolio. Over the last few years, though, demand for these products has soared â as of December 31, 2020 assets under management in Canadian ESG funds climbed by 37% year-over-year, according to Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS). [1] As more people choose to invest with their values â that could be buying companies that treat employees fairly or businesses that are actively trying to reduce their carbon footprint Ââ more are looking to build entire portfolios out of ESG offerings, says Damian Fernandes, global portfolio manager at TD Asset Management Inc. (TDAM) in Toronto.