Maximising your ESG report impact
We have discussed what an ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) report is and the potential structure one might take as part of your corporate reporting as part of our annual report design service, Navig8 can help you bring to life, your ESG goals and strategy.
Below are some ideas for how to approach your ESG reporting and how you might maximise your impact.
The key to an ESG report is to able to report on the organisation's position now, the strategies for the future and the governance that will enable the delivery of that strategy.
Each ESG strategy is unique to each organisation. A manufacturer of automotive parts will be different to a personal injury organisation.
Having said that, there are common format and visual content opportunities that are common across all organisations. Setting aside meeting reporting standards, there is an opportunity to maximise your reporting on a year-on-year basis. Simply put. Where are we now? Where we aim to be, what we have done, what our strategies are and what the results are.
It does not take a genius in data analysis to see how this could manifest itself in an inspiring infographic, timeline or illustration of risks against opportunities.
Firstly, discuss with the design team the key messages in your ESG reporting for the year. Together, you should design a reporting framework that ‘speaks’ to your stakeholders.
Then ask your designer to devise a graphic representation of your current state, the strategy to evolve and the results to date.
There are many different visual devices that can be employed to communicate these goals. From a simple table of events and actions to a more wide infographic. Think out of the box. A Chairperson's view might be a quote in a timeline, for instance, ‘we are committed to reducing water consumption in our manufacturing process and have put in place the processes to reduce use by 20XX’.
Give the designer the data and let them maximise the ESG reporting results.
Avoid prosaic photographic illustrations and meaningless iconography. Invest in bespoke imagery, the value will play out for years and deliver astonishing value.
ESG offers an opportunity, not just in communicating to stakeholders and investors, but also a marketing and internal comms aspect.
An example might be a new recruit document, sometimes called ‘on boarding’ where an organisation has the opportunity to communicate to new recruits an organisation’s ethos and practises.
Design and messaging can easily be repurposed for social media, new recruit comms and ongoing marketing activities. Maximise the data and reporting.
It’s cheap, if not free and delivers a powerful message. Why wouldn’t you?
We can help you maximise your ESG reporting, to deliver due diligence and a wider benefit.