How can you make your sustainability report accessible to everyone?

Sustainability reporting is a way of communicating your organization's environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance to your stakeholders. It can help you showcase your achievements, identify your risks and opportunities, and demonstrate your commitment to sustainable development. But how can you make your sustainability report accessible to everyone, not just experts and analysts? Here are some tips to help you craft a clear, engaging and inclusive sustainability report.

1 Know your audience

Before you start writing your sustainability report, you need to understand who will read it and what they expect from it. Your audience may include investors, customers, employees, regulators, media, NGOs, and communities. Each of these groups may have different interests, needs, and levels of familiarity with sustainability issues. Therefore, you need to tailor your report to suit their preferences and perspectives. For example, you may want to use different formats, languages, and channels to reach different segments of your audience. You may also want to highlight different aspects of your ESG performance, such as your impact, your goals, your challenges, and your solutions.

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Pallavi Mahajan

Oxford MBA | United Nations | Published Author | Chevening Scholar | Forté Fellow | TedX Speaker
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Last year Coldplay set an unprecedented benchmark by releasing an inclusive sustainability report. - Going beyond numbers and statistics, Coldplay’s sustainability goals tell a compelling story to inspire its value chain. - Coldplay displaying transparency and accountability, had the ESG metrics ratified by John E. Fernandez, Director of Environmental Solutions, MIT. - Partnering with KultureCity to provide sensory bags for those with sensory sensitivity, using their platform to voice for the LGBTQIA+, paying a surcharge to pay for Sustainable Aviation Fuel. -The sustainability report with its engaging infographics, social media visibility and branding for ESG advocates piques the interest of all ages, races, classes, and demography.

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Nilakshi Ranasinghe

Experienced doctor in Emergency Medicine, Intensive Care, Family Medicine & Anaesthesia.
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To ensure your sustainability report is accessible to everyone, use simple and straightforward language to ensure that the content is easy to understand readers of all backgrounds & education levels. Incorporate visual elements like charts, graphs to present data effectively. Include summary section at the beginning to provide an overview. Offer alternative formats such as audio recordings, braille or accessible PDFs for readers with disabilities. Provide plain language summaries alongside technical section. Translate the report into multiple languages to reach a diverse audience. Consider interactive online formats for easy navigation. Encourage feedback to improve accessibility for future editions.

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2 Follow the standards

To ensure that your sustainability report is credible, consistent, and comparable, you should follow the internationally recognized sustainability reporting standards, such as the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), or the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). These standards provide you with a framework and a guidance on how to disclose your ESG information in a transparent and relevant way. They also help you align your report with the expectations of your stakeholders and the best practices of your industry. By following the standards, you can make your sustainability report more accessible to everyone, as they can easily understand and evaluate your ESG performance.

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3 Use plain language

One of the biggest barriers to accessibility is jargon. If you use too many technical terms, acronyms, and abbreviations, you may confuse or alienate your audience. Therefore, you should use plain language to communicate your sustainability message. Plain language is a style of writing that is clear, concise, and easy to understand. It avoids unnecessary complexity, ambiguity, and formality. It uses simple words, short sentences, and active voice. It also explains any unfamiliar terms or concepts. By using plain language, you can make your sustainability report more accessible to everyone, as they can grasp your main points and follow your logic.

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4 Add visuals

Another way to make your sustainability report more accessible is to add visuals. Visuals are elements that enhance your text, such as graphs, charts, tables, diagrams, photos, icons, or infographics. They can help you illustrate your data, highlight your key messages, and engage your audience. They can also make your report more attractive, readable, and memorable. However, you should use visuals wisely and sparingly. You should only use visuals that are relevant, accurate, and simple. You should also label them clearly, provide captions or explanations, and ensure that they are consistent with your text.

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Vanessa E. Bass, CMP, MMP, HMCC

Smart Meetings Innovator Award Recipient | 3x LinkedIn Top Voice | Speaker & Thought Leader | Data-Driven Storyteller | Event Strategist | Delivering Transformative & Impactful Solutions
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Beyond the traditional PDF, try pushing the boundaries. For a truly out-of-the-box approach to making your sustainability report accessible, why not transform it into an interactive storytelling experience? Host live virtual tours of your initiatives, incorporating AR to allow users to see the impact of their actions in real-time. Develop a sustainability-themed game where players make choices that affect a virtual world, mirroring the real-world outcomes of those decisions. These innovative formats can dramatically increase engagement, making the report not just accessible but compelling, memorable, and actionable across diverse audiences.

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5 Test for accessibility

Finally, you should test your sustainability report for accessibility before you publish it. Accessibility testing is a process of checking whether your report is easy to access, use, and understand by everyone, including people with disabilities. You can use various tools and methods to test your report, such as readability tests, accessibility checkers, user feedback, or expert reviews. You can also use different devices and browsers to test your report, such as desktops, laptops, tablets, or smartphones. By testing your report for accessibility, you can identify and fix any issues or gaps that may prevent your audience from accessing your sustainability message.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Ezinne Agodi
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I often suggest the use of using plain language, offering multiple formats like PDF and HTML. If translation is needed, its encouraged to translate. Don't forget to add alternative texts as well to enhance readability for those with disabilities.

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How can you make your sustainability report accessible to everyone?

1

2

3

4

5

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1 Know your audience

2 Follow the standards

3 Use plain language

4 Add visuals

5 Test for accessibility

6 Here’s what else to consider

Communication

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How can you make your sustainability report accessible to everyone?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Know your audience

2 Follow the standards

3 Use plain language

4 Add visuals

5 Test for accessibility

6 Here’s what else to consider

Communication

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