How to turn your Sustainability Report a real page turner? by Tuuli-Anna Tiuttu

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Embracing Sustainability Reporting for a Better Future

Today, companies worldwide recognize the need for sustainability. However, adopting sustainable practices goes beyond implementing low-carbon technologies and designing out waste in production processes. It requires dedication and commitment to consistent actions that accumulate to make a significant impact. In this article, we'll discuss why it's crucial for businesses to report on sustainability, the key elements of sustainability reporting, and the steps to create a credible, transparent, and comparable sustainability report.

Why Report on Sustainability?

The recently intensified focus on sustainability makes regular reporting on sustainable practices and impact essential for businesses. Implementing a change towards a more sustainable approach can seem like a marathon - it doesn't happen overnight. It requires consistent action, dedication, and motivation.

The Power of Purpose

“Start by figuring out your purpose first, make that very crystal clear so that everyone in your business has a clear understanding of why your company is doing what it is doing in terms of sustainability,” says Tulia Natu, Co-founder and CEO at SDT Monitor. Goals need to be broken down into measurable actions to clearly convey the company's sustainability role and efforts.

External Triggers: Often, a change towards sustainability can be triggered by requirements from external bodies, such as governmental policies or investor preferences.

Internal Triggers: Alternatively, a business might adopt more sustainable practices because they see tangible business opportunities or to maintain trust with crucial clients; they may adopt sustainability because it aligns with their values or because they want to stay ahead and be perceived as a future smart business.

Key Elements of Sustainability Reporting

A quality sustainability report should be credible, transparent, and comparable.

Credibility: It should be based on a known framework and should convincingly show commitment to sustainability.

Transparency: This includes presenting the actual performance, revealing both the positive and negative aspects.

Comparability: A report should offer insights into how a company's practices, efforts, and impacts compare to competitors.

Steps to Creating a Quality Sustainability Report

  • Clear Structure: Your report should have a clear structure, with a defined purpose, highlighting your company's values, challenges, and positive impacts.
  • Summary Snapshot: Providing a one-page summary of the past year gives stakeholders an overview of the highlights and changes from the previous year.
  • ESG Themes: Categorizing the report’s content into Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) topics resonates with stakeholders looking for ESG impacts.
  • Goals and Performance: Showcasing both short-term and long-term goals with relevant KPIs and actual performance data gives a transparent account of the company's progress toward its sustainability targets.
  • No Greenwashing: Reporting shouldn't be sugar-coated or exaggerated; failures, challenges, and negative outcomes should be included as well for a fair representation.
  • Effective Communication: Once your innovative and reader-friendly report is ready, it should be effectively shared on multiple platforms and communication channels.
  • On the Road to Sustainable Business Growth

    Sustainability reporting isn't just about ticking boxes and meeting regulations - it's about demonstrating your business's commitment to making the world more sustainable. Start somewhere, take small actions, and you'll find your business growing in ways that benefit both the planet and your bottom line. As this transformation is not a sprint, but a marathon, where consistency and commitment pay off.

    If you're embarking on your sustainability journey or improving your reporting practices, know that every effort matters. With robust, genuine, and quality reporting, you can make your business a part of the shift toward a more sustainable world.


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