Socially responsible investment assets grew 61 percent globally over the past two years from $13.3 trillion in 2012 to $21.4 trillion in 2014. This is according to a report from the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance (GSIA), which is composed of several sustainable investment membership organizations worldwide.

As a result, the assets employing SRI strategies have risen from 21.5 percent to 30.2 percent of the professionally managed assets across the regions the alliance covers including Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, Asia and Japan.

Together, Europe, the United States and Canada account for 99 percent of SRI assets identified in the study.

In the United States, SRI assets have grown 76 percent over the past two years, constituting a $6.57 trillion sector, according to US SIF, the United States nonprofit SRI research organization that is a member of GSIA.

Although sustainable investing is not practiced on the same scale in Asia, according to GSIA there is growing interest in investment products that address environmental, social and governance factors. Public policy and regulatory changes are under way that could increase the level of corporate disclosure on various SRI factors and support shareholder engagement.

"The global findings show that sustainable investment strategies are being applied across asset classes to promote corporate social responsibility, build long-term value for companies and their stakeholders, and foster businesses that will yield community and environmental benefits," said Lisa Woll, CEO of US SIF.