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What is a Sustainability Report (Benefits & Challenges)

Learn what is sustainability reporting, its benefits and challenges, and what a sustainability report includes. Get examples, tips, and report templates.

Jackie Plaza

5 minute read

What Is a sustainability report
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Short answer

What is a sustainability report?

A sustainability report is a comprehensive document that outlines a company's performance in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) areas. It's a vital tool for investors and stakeholders to assess a company's commitment to sustainable development.

Sustainability report templates
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Tip: If you're running a small business, don't think sustainability reports are only for the big players. Tools like GRI's SME version can help you write your own report and tools like Storydoc can help you easily design a professional report like the big boys.

Why do organizations create sustainability reports?

Why do companies invest time and resources in these reports? Well, for starters they have a huge impact on how your brand is perceived. But they also affect your ability to raise money.

Many investors and stakeholders nowadays use sustainability reports to assess whether a company's sustainability efforts align with their personal values and investment goals.

“The nature, quality, and extent of investor interest in the topic of sustainability has grown dramatically… a shift from ‘we never get asked about our sustainability initiatives’ to ‘it (sustainability) comes up in every investor engagement’.”

Unilever case study

Since investors are increasingly linking sustainability to long-term success, It’s become clear that companies need to reevaluate their eco-friendly practices for better investor engagement.

1) Objectives and purpose

The primary aim is transparency. Companies want to show they're accountable for their impact on society and the environment. For example, Coca-Cola publishes a sustainability report to disclose its water usage and recycling initiatives.


2) Transparency and accountability

Transparency is key in today's "cancel culture." Stakeholders, including customers and investors, want to know if a company is walking the talk.


3) Decision-making insights

Sustainability reports are rich in data that can inform decisions. For instance, if a company reveals high carbon emissions, it may decide to invest in renewable energy solutions.

What are the benefits and challenges of sustainability reporting?

Let's weigh the pros and cons.

The benefits of impact reporting are surprisingly concrete. Major companies have seen increased brand loyalty and customer engagement as a direct result of their sustainability reporting.

But the challenges and obstacles are also nothing to sneer at. Data collection, analysis, report writing, and sustainability report design can be resource-intensive.

The truth is, that smaller companies often find it challenging to allocate resources for comprehensive reporting.

Tip: If you're a small business, start small. You can use simplified frameworks and gradually move to more comprehensive reporting as you grow.

What does a sustainability report include?

Let's dissect the anatomy of these reports.

  1. The Executive Summary - This is your quick overview. It should encapsulate the essence of the report in a nutshell.

  2. Scope and Methodology - This section outlines the boundaries of the report and the methods used for data collection. For example, Apple's report specifies that it includes all of its suppliers and not just the ones directly managed by them.

  3. Environmental Impact Metrics - Here, companies disclose their environmental footprint. Unilever, for instance, has reduced its CO2 emissions by 50% per ton of production since 2008.

  4. Social Impact Metrics - This part talks about the company's social initiatives. Starbucks, for example, focuses on ethical sourcing and has invested in farmer support centers.

  5. Governance Structure - This section is about the company's governance policies. It often includes information on board diversity, executive compensation, and ethical guidelines.

  6. Financial Performance Overview - This is where the company ties its sustainability efforts to its financial performance. For example, car statistics show that Tesla's electric cars contribute to revenue while reducing carbon emissions.

  7. Future Goals and Action Plans - Companies outline their sustainability roadmap. Google, for instance, aims to be 100% renewable by 2025.


Here's an example of what a great sustainability report looks like:

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Common reporting frameworks

How are sustainability reports standardized? Well, I’m glad you asked, cause I just had to share this with someone ;)


1) Global reporting initiative (GRI)

GRI is the most widely used framework globally. It provides a set of universal metrics that apply to companies of all sizes and industries.


2) Sustainability accounting standards board (SASB)

SASB offers industry-specific metrics. If you're comparing 2 tech companies, SASB metrics can offer a more apples-to-apples comparison.


3) Task force on climate-related financial disclosures (TCFD)

TCFD focuses on climate-related risks and opportunities. Companies like Shell use TCFD to report on their climate initiatives.


4) Integrated reporting framework

This combines financial and non-financial metrics for a more holistic view. Philips, for example, uses integrated reporting to show how its sustainability efforts impact its overall performance.

What advanced concepts should you know?

If you're a sustainability professional, consider implementing advanced practices like circular economy principles and regenerative practices in your organization.

These can be the difference between a report that creates ripples and a complete dud.

  • Materiality assessment - This is a process of identifying what ESG issues are most relevant to stakeholders. Companies like Adidas have used materiality assessments to focus their reporting on key areas like supply chain management and product innovation.

  • Stakeholder engagement strategies - Companies often use surveys, interviews, and focus groups to engage stakeholders in the reporting process. For example, Microsoft conducts annual stakeholder meetings to gather input.

  • Data verification methods - Look for reports that have been verified by third-party auditors. This adds an extra layer of credibility.

  • Circular economy principles - Companies like IKEA are adopting circular economy principles, which focus on reusing and recycling materials.

  • Regenerative practices - Beyond sustainability, companies like Patagonia are investing in regenerative practices to restore natural ecosystems.

Noteworthy sustainability report case studies

Let's look at some real-world case studies of sustainability reporting.


Unilever’s sustainable living plan

Unilever's Sustainable Living Plan report is a gold standard in sustainability reporting. It covers everything from reducing environmental footprint to enhancing livelihoods.

Unilever claims that this plan increased their investors' engagement significantly and eventually got 99% investor support.

See full report

Tesla's sustainability report

Tesla focuses on its mission to accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy. Its report is a fascinating read for anyone interested in clean technology, but also in the different tools that support it, such as eMobility migration software.

Use these case studies as benchmarks. They set the standard for what good sustainability reporting looks like.

See full report

Sustainability report templates

These sustainability report templates offer a quick, cost-effective way to create engaging content. Designed to be twice as engaging as traditional formats, these templates save you both time and money.

They're 5 times faster to produce than agency-made reports and come with interactive features that make your content stand out.

You can easily streamline the report-creation process with a built-in AI assistant, and built-in analytics offer valuable insights into user interaction.

Don’t waste time and money - grab one!

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Jackie Plaza

Hi, I’m Jackie, Creative Marketing Specialist at Storydoc, I write on everything business presentations. I love to research and bring to light critical information that helps marketing, sales, and design teams get better results with their collateral.

Table of contents
What is a sustainability report? Why create sustainability reports? Benefits and challenges of sustainability reporting What does a sustainability report include? Common reporting frameworks Advanced concepts in sustainability reporting Is sustainability reporting legally required? Future trends in sustainability reporting Sustainability report case studies Sustainability report templates
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