The establishment of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) has made sustainability reporting a mandatory practice for many EU-based companies. However, adhering to CSRD guidelines doesn’t have to go at the expense of good report design. With so many sustainability reports out there, good report design isn’t a luxury - it is a must to stand out and attract new shareholders. Let us guide you through the “do’s and don’ts” of sustainability report design.
Why sustainability report design is relevant
The CSRD states that sustainability reports must adhere to a predefined structure. In addition, the report will go through extensive auditing. Although that gives the impression that there is not much “wiggle-room”, we found that there are no distinct rules to sustainability report design. That means you can seize the opportunity to make your report double as a marketing tool to foster positive association with your company. Besides, presenting your report in visually appealing way will increase the chances of stakeholders becoming interested in reading it and potentially attracts new investors. Great design is really not to be under estimated!
Go see for yourself instead of us telling you. Check out these 6 inspiring CSR report design examples and learn what makes them good.
How to design a good sustainability report
Gathering the correct data and content is the first challenge. The second is in structuring such large quantities of data, strategies and ideas effectively, while also taking into account regulations and guidelines. If only you could ask ChatGPT to create a design based on your content, but unfortunately it’s not that good (yet).
Templates may provide some structure, though finding an existing example that perfectly fits your reports content is unlikely. That often leaves you with the option to design yourself or outsource it to an agency. In either case, here are some factors to consider to create a successful sustainability report that readers will remember.
1. Efficiently structure large pieces of content
Structuring lots of content efficiently and logically is a challenge. In 2022, the majority of reports had between 50-100 pages. It’s safe to assume that nobody will be reading your sustainability report from front to back in chronological order. Instead, most readers decide to scan and look for topics that are most interesting to them. It is important to structure your report in such a way that it allows for skimming.
There are several ways to help you efficiently structure your report. An obvious example is to incorporate a table of contents to show which sections to find where. In case of a digital sustainability report, we could also opt for a navigation. This might feel comparable to a table of contents, except a navigation is almost always in sight for the reader, making it easy to navigate to different sections quickly. Lastly, incorporating a search form allows the reader to dive in even deeper and search for specific keywords.
2. Use visual media to replace written content
There’s a lot to say about your company’s operations over a whole year. At the same time, no one likes reading extensive texts. In many cases, text can be replaced with visual media that communicates the same message. In general, visual media such as images, video, illustrations and infographics are easier to digest are more likely to capture attention. It makes your sustainability report more scannable which is what most readers do when reading. When you are writing your copy and you notice a section is getting too long, that is usually a sign that your topic is complex. See if you can separate some of that explanation in a visual.
3. Visualise your data
Your sustainability report is going to contain results in the form of data. Nowadays, there are many different tools for data visualisation aside from the standard graphs that you will find in Word. Visualising your data extends on what was previously mentioned, namely that readers will be scanning through your sustainability report. Incorporating neat graphs, charts and other visuals into your design allows them to understand your losses and achievements at a glance.
4. Incorporate animations to capture attention
Motion in design help capture the attention of your reader and makes your report interesting. Animations can be used in your sustainability report in different ways. One example is for transitions to other sections, so that it becomes clear the report is about to start a new topic. Animations can also help guide readers eye, making sure that attention is directed to the information that matters.
5. Transparency is key
Sustainability reports are about transparency at its core. It exposes your company’s operations and shows how you take responsibility for your impact on the environment. In practice, we often see that companies find it hard to be completely transparent, especially if it’s about goals that weren’t met. It may be tempting to leave such information out of your report. However, it is important to also include the aspects of your company that may be of some risk to your company’s reputation. Smart sustainability report design allows you to emphasise your achievements over your losses. Design is flexible and allows to highlight certain sections that you would want your readers eye drawn to. Try to find balance while retaining transparency. Your reader will appreciate it in the end.
6. Don’t just share the numbers
Your company has an identity which is likely about more than numbers and results. Generally, we enjoy reading stories which we can identify with. Therefore, it is important to humanise your sustainability report design and show the faces behind your company. An easy way of doing so is to incorporate multimedia that features employees or even clients. Nowadays, we see many sustainability report examples that include a foreword by the CEO. Creating your report digitally allows you to incorporate video and audio, so make sure to leverage that. Shareholders are more likely to sympathise with your company when you show your humane side.
Examples of sustainability reports
The aforementioned tips may not say much when not put into context. Luckily, there are many examples to go by. Have a look at our sustainability report designs made in Maglr (known for its interactivity) or try searching for your favourite organisation’s report.
Common pitfalls in sustainability reporting
Aside from know what to do in sustainability reports, it is also important to know what not to do. Therefore, we have highlighted some common pitfalls that we have seen in designs.
Hard to navigate
Some sustainability reports are simply too bulky to navigate well. Especially those still published in PDF format. In our opinion, PDF should have died out long ago. Creating a report online provides you with the flexibility of customisable navigation. Your report becomes difficult to scan when navigation is not present or not accessible throughout your publication by, for example, making it sticky.
Content that is too long (even if you think it isn’t)
Sustainability report design is flexible, especially when you publish digitally. It may be tempting to put all content that belongs together on one page. However, a page with just text is not scannable - even if it does look good to you. Try dividing and highlighting long pieces of text into smaller, scannable sections. An excellent method to use is pop-ups and tooltips.
Greenwashing
Making everything seem better than it is, appears to be tempting. An academic study analysed 75 CSR reports and found that a majority does not include negative disclosures. In the context of sustainability reports, this often happens in the form of ‘greenwashing’. Greenwashing is the process of conveying a false impression or misleading information about a company’s environmental impact. Because sustainability reports were often not mandatory, such claims could be made without much monitoring. Naturally, this is unfair to your shareholders and not recommended. The establishment of the CSRD requires stricter guidelines and an external auditing to make sure greenwashing is prevented.
Get ready for for 2025
We can’t make sustainability reporting more fun, though we can make it a more pleasurable reading experience for your investors. Whether you’re looking to design yourself or outsource it to our in-house team - we’ve got you. And even better: you can use Maglr for all sorts of digital publications from interactive magazines to digital brochures. Find out what Maglr can mean for your upcoming sustainability report. Request your free trial or online demonstration here.
