When should you call in the lawyers?

A few years ago, I used to joke that the legal team were the true creatives of sustainability reporting. Sarcasm intended.

But if you’ve ever been in the trenches of drafting one of these lengthy commitment-packed reports, you know there’s truth hiding under that eye-roll.

Because here’s the thing: sustainability is now a risk management exercise. You’re opening your company up to scrutiny from investors, regulators, NGOs, and journalists.

Which means sooner or later, the lawyers are coming. And the real question is: when do you bring them in?

I’ve seen more than one report fall apart in the final days because legal was looped in at the end, only to declare a claim “unsubstantiated,” “misleading,” or my personal favorite, “potentially actionable.”

Imagine months of work, dozens of stakeholder interviews, late-night edits—and then boom, whole sections redlined into oblivion. In some cases, entire reports have been shelved after getting the legal treatment (think DEI reports in spring 2025). That’s when sarcasm about their “creativity” stops being funny and starts being painfully true.

It turns out lawyers aren’t party crashers; they’re risk spotters. Their job is to imagine the uncomfortable “what ifs”: What if a regulator asks us to prove this? What if an influencer calls it greenwashing on social media? What if an investor sues? Not glamorous work, but essential.

So, when should you bring legal in? Earlier than you think.

At kick-off: Looping legal in on the initial framing keeps you from wandering into dangerous waters you’ll just have to paddle back from later. They can also help you spot issues before they arise (note from the front lines: low-carbon/carbon-neutral and climate change are already attracting legal scrutiny)

After draft one: The legal team can also help you flag language issues before the draft makes it to senior management. Also anytime you’re putting a number on a pledge (“50% emissions cut by 2030”) or describing progress as fact, legal should have eyes on it.

Before final approval: This is non-negotiable. Legal needs to review not only the content but also any associated images. Skipping legal here is like skipping the seatbelt because you’re only driving a mile. A really, really bad idea.

Is it frustrating? Absolutely. Legal edits can feel like someone took a Sharpie to your best artwork. But pulling them in early often means fewer last-minute massacres.

Oddly enough, lawyers can sometimes sharpen your message. Because being forced to back up every claim with proof can help your report sound less like marketing fluff and more like an honest account of progress. Messy, complicated, imperfect progress.

Think of legal not as the creativity killer, but as the safety net under your high-wire act.

Because the alternative—falling without one—is a mess no clever sustainability metaphor can clean up.

How to help your sustainability report writer nail your tone of voice

Want your sustainability report to capture your company’s identity so it gets read, trusted, and shared? It all starts with a good briefing and, most importantly, a writer who can adapt like a chameleon. The best sustainability writers blend into your brand’s environment, picking up its unique colors, patterns, and energy.

[Photo by Michael Held on Unsplash]

Here’s how to set your writer up for success:

Share What’s Already Working
Gather previous reports, polished web copy, or even the internal emails that perfectly capture your brand’s voice (this was especially helpful during the early days of 2025 when companies were sending emails to their employees about their stance on DEI). Resources like these help your writer understand what feels like you and what falls flat.

Style Guides and Reference Docs
Help your writer blend in seamlessly by sharing your internal style guide, editorial rules, or glossary. If you follow a favorite external guide (e.g. AP Style), let them know. Expand the palette with FAQ sheets, brand voice briefings, or your mission statement. Each document will help flesh out the picture of how you want to sound.

Spell Out the Do’s and Don’ts Early
Your writer isn’t a mind reader, so make feedback specific and direct. For example:
➡️If you want to avoid jargon, specify: “No acronyms unless absolutely necessary; replace corporate lingo with plain English.”
➡️Prefer optimism over urgency? Spell it out. “Use phrases like ‘delivering forward-looking solutions’ instead of ‘addressing critical challenges.’
➡️For a more formal tone, clarify: ‘Avoid humor; maintain a respectful, authoritative voice throughout.’

If You’re Still Finding Your Voice
Haven’t nailed down your exact tone yet? Start simple: choose three adjectives that describe how your company should sound. For example, maybe you want to be credible, approachable, and inspiring? Or perhaps it’s bold, innovative, and honest? These words will serve as a quick compass for both you and your writer, making it easier to develop a tone that fits your brand as you grow.

Clear expectations, great feedback, and real examples help your writer take your brand voice from generic to memorable. When you connect the dots for your writer, you empower your brand’s voice to stand out—loud, clear, and unmistakably you every time.

Meat or fish?

Have you ever flipped through a restaurant menu as thick as the phone book and been overwhelmed by choices? (Remember phone books? If so, you probably also remember that lovely screeching noise that dial-up connections used to make back in the day. But I digress…)

But let me set the scene: It’s 2003. After wrestling with Ryanair and airports nowhere near the advertised city, we finally reached a tiny coastal town in Italy hours late in the evening. We were exhausted and starving.

Luckily, there was a restaurant right next door to our hotel. We walked into an almost empty building ready to put our, let’s say, rudimentary Italian to the test.

But instead of being confronted with a menu, the waitress slunk over to our table and asked us one question: “Carne o pesce? (Meat or fish)

In that moment, I was grateful for simplicity and my childhood by the sea.

Fish it was. And when I say the meal was exquisite? I mean it.

Mystery courses arrived one after the next. Delicious and drizzled in the most decadent olive oil. We had no idea what we were eating, but who really cared? We rolled out of there, happy and very, very full.

[Photo by The-Lore on Unsplash]

Here’s the thing: Simple beats complicated any day. Too many choices just mean more stress, and nobody needs that when dinner (or reporting season) is calling.

So when I designed my sustainability report writing packages, I ditched the menu overload. Here’s what’s on offer:

🌿Package A: Essentials only. You provide your outline; I craft your report. It’s streamlined, efficient, and exactly what you need.

🌿Package B: The full spread. You get expert support from project management to publication, freeing up your sustainability lead to focus on core strategy.

Want something a little extra or an off-menu special? Reach out and we’ll cook up something special.

That’s it.

Carne o pesce.

Craving clarity on your next report or project? Let’s talk.

*Please note: if I’ve worked with you through an agency in the past few years, I will unfortunately not be able to offer these services to you, but I’d love a referral to colleagues at other companies.*

How to make the business case for sustainability reporting

Not so long ago, corporate sustainability was all about “saving the planet.” You probably remember the era: mission statements bursting with green ideals, earnest promises to rescue the polar bears, and high hopes for rainforests. Looking back, those ambitions were well-meaning, but sometimes disconnected from the real challenges businesses face every day.

The face of every sustainability initiative in the early 2000s.

Fast forward to today—things have changed. Sustainability has become a critical risk management and business strategy tool, and no one has all the answers. More and more leadership teams I work with are asking, not just whether sustainability is good for the world, but how it’s protecting their bottom line during uncertain times.

The truth is, credible sustainability data has gone from being a “nice-to-have” to an absolute necessity. It’s now one of the pillars of risk management, capital investment decisions, and competitive strategy. With new regulations, evolving investor and consumer expectations, and supply-chain demands, robust reporting is front-and-center—especially when markets are unpredictable. Hello, 2025!

The face of every sustainability reporting lead right around February/March 2025

Selling the value to executives: key moves for sustainability leads

If you’re in the position of building buy-in for sustainability reporting, you already know it takes empathy, patience, and a dose of realism to sell the risk before the solution. Here are some steps that have made a difference for me and my clients:

• Speak to value: It’s not easy for anyone to feel optimistic about penalties, reputational issues, or supply chain chaos. But focusing on the value of sustainability initiatives can help. UPS is a case in point, using AI-powered route optimization (ORION) to save 10 million gallons of fuel and cut emissions by 100,000 metric tons per year. That didn’t just help the planet; it helped their bottom line, too (UPS story).

• Use regulations as anchors: Regulations like CSRD and California’s SB 253 and SB 261 are moving targets. I find it’s more effective to use these frameworks for context but keep the conversation focused on how reporting strengthens the business, beyond compliance.

• Customize for decision-makers: Let’s face it — everyone in leadership has their own worries. CFOs focus on numbers, CEOs on strategic alignment, and boards on resilience. Tailoring materials, such as one-pagers that speak their language, shows respect for their perspective.

• Lead with business value, not just mission: Even the most mission-driven leads sometimes face internal skepticism. When you frame reporting around efficiency, risk management, and performance (and can show how sustainability drives results), people pay attention.

• Focus on the financial returns: McKinsey’s global analysis found that triple outperformers (companies that combine growth, profitability, and ESG leadership) delivered annual shareholder returns 2 percentage points above peers focused only on financials, and 7 points higher than the broader sample. And over half of these firms grew their revenues by 10% or more per year, with less volatility (McKinsey analysis);

The face of companies when the business case for sustainability is made well.

At the end of the day, keeping sustainability reporting front and center gives your company the tools to spot risks, find new opportunities and stay one step ahead whenever the business landscape shifts.

Back to school, back to sustainability reporting

[Image: The first day that both of my kids got on the school bus. They're 19 and 16 now. Sob]

On September 1st, I’ll officially open my books for the 2025/26 reporting season.

Even though reporting has become a year-round rhythm for me, September still feels like a fresh start.

So, as my son dusts off his backpack after three months out of school, I’m also getting ready for a brand-new year of reporting.

Last year in review: In 2024/25, I wrote 10 reports (2 IFRS S2 reports, 1 TFND report and 7 sustainability/impact/purpose reports). They varied in length from 10 to 107 pages, with an average of close to 82 pages for full-length reports.

Looking ahead to this year: I’m taking on fewer projects to focus more deeply on each client. If sustainability reporting is on your agenda, now’s the time to start planning.

Who I work with:

- Consulting firms & agencies, who add value with design and project coordination
- Direct clients, a group I’m expanding services for this year to include consulting and advisory services

I look forward to working with returning clients — and welcoming new ones this season.

To discuss your 2025/26 reporting needs, you can book a discovery call directly here.

The Sustainability Leader’s Survival Guide

Let’s be honest: if you’re reading this in 2025 and still working in sustainability comms or reporting, you deserve a medal— or at least a week with your laptop taped shut and a hammock nearby.

The pace and volume of regulatory changes (Omnibus, anyone?), shifting conversations around DEI, and the ever-expanding expectations for sustainability reporting have sometimes felt like an endurance race with constantly moving finish lines.

This work is demanding. Late nights, last-minute pivots, and the scramble when regulations shift—again—can wear a person down. If you’re feeling stretched thin heading into another reporting cycle, you’re certainly not alone.

During a rare quiet moment, I started thinking about the strategies that have helped me—and my clients—navigate these challenges and decided to pull them together into The Sustainability Leader’s Survival Guide. My goal is simple: to offer something genuinely useful, whether you’re new to the field or a seasoned pro.

Inside, you’ll find:
✅ Practical advice for navigating the chaos
✅ A hands-on checklist for those moments when you need actionable steps
✅ No barriers or gatekeeping—the guide is freely available, no forms or email required

I hope this resource helps make your next reporting season a little easier, or at the very least, reminds you that you have a community behind you.

From PDF to page-turner: Creative ways to launch your sustainability report

Have you ever noticed how most sustainability report launches sound the same?

“We’re proud to announce…” “We’re excited to share…” “We’re happy to launch…” And then, silence. The PDF sits on a website, collecting virtual dust. Hardly anyone reads it, let alone talks about it.

But it doesn’t have to be this way. If you want your hard work to make an impact, your launch needs to be as creative and intentional as the report itself. Here’s how some of the best companies make their launches unmissable—and how you can, too.

Go Beyond the PDF: Multi-Channel Campaigns

Coordinate your launch across channels: press releases, social media teasers, landing pages, infographics, videos, and interactive content. Example: Apple’s 2023 launch replaced the usual press release with a short film starring Octavia Spencer as “Mother Nature,” grilling Tim Cook and team about climate targets. The film premiered at a major event and tied into product launches—result: buzz everywhere. (https://lnkd.in/g9zfUpTZ)

Make It Visual: Storytelling with Digital Assets

Bring your report to life with infographics, photos, and videos. Visuals break down complex data and make your story accessible. Example: Northland Power’s launch video made their sustainability story easy for everyone to understand (and share).

Bring Reports to Life: Live Events

Host an in-person or virtual launch event. Live presentations, Q&As, and stakeholder panels turn your report from a static document into a real conversation. Example: De Beers paired their 2023 report with a live event featuring presentations and open discussions.

Activate Your Best Advocates: Internal Launches

Don’t forget your employees—they’re your most important audience. Ideas: Host a company-wide launch event (think town hall, “Sustainability Day,” or lunch-and-learn).

Make it interactive

Let employees ask questions, give feedback, and see how their work contributed. Share highlights in internal newsletters, intranet posts, and dashboards.

Practical Tips for Any Budget

💡 Plan your launch like an event: Prep your press, social, and internal comms in advance. Get teams across the business involved to amplify your message.

💡 Make your LinkedIn posts work harder: Tease key findings with carousel posts or short clips, share behind-the-scenes stories, tag collaborators to expand reach, host a LinkedIn Live Q&A to invite questions and real conversation.

💡 Use real stories or testimonials to humanize your report—numbers are great, but stories stick. A video from your CSO or sustainability lead is also fairly easy to record and worth considering.

You don’t need Apple’s budget (or Octavia Spencer on speed dial) to make your report launch count. With a little planning, creativity, and genuine engagement, your sustainability story can stand out—and actually get read.

Ready to make your next report unmissable? Start planning today.

The Greener Word newsletter

Next week, I’m heading off on a honeymoon adventure to Iceland.

But before we disappear into the land of fire and ice, I want to share something that’s been on my mind for a while.

As a sustainability report writer and translator, I read a LOT of reports.

And to be real? Most of them are…fine. They check the boxes, but after a while, it all starts to blur together—pages of jargon, tables, and buzzwords that feel more like homework than inspiration.

But every now and then, I stumble on a report that makes me sit up and pay attention. Maybe it’s a clever use of graphics, a case study that reads like a real story, or just a spark of personality that makes sustainability feel relatable.

So, I thought: Why not shine a light on the reports that get it right? Why not dig in, share what makes them special, and help others make their reporting stand out, too?

That’s why, before I go off the grid, I’m launching The Greener Word—a LinkedIn newsletter for anyone who wants to make their sustainability reporting memorable.

I’ll be sharing the best examples I find, practical tips, and a few behind-the-scenes stories from my own adventures in reporting.

Curious to see what makes a report stand out? The first issue comes out later this week.

If you’re ready for real-world examples, fresh ideas, and a new way to think about sustainability storytelling, I’d love for you to subscribe.

The link is here: The Greener Word

On spinning seeds

As a child, I was captivated by the spinning descent of maple ‘helicopters’. I can still remember lying on my back in my grandad’s garden, watching clouds drift overhead as winged seeds twirled gracefully to the ground. What felt like hours of wonder probably lasted only minutes, but the memory has stayed with me—a small, perfect moment of curiosity and awe.

Years later, in biology class, I learned just how clever their design is: each seed (or samara) is created to travel far, ensuring that new maples don’t crowd beneath their parent but instead take root in fresh soil. Having ended up thousands of miles from my own childhood home, I still feel a certain kinship with these seeds.

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The story of the samara is biodiversity in action: a system where difference is not just present but essential. In nature, diversity means strength—forests with many species are better able to withstand storms, disease, and change. When a single species dominates, the ecosystem becomes fragile, vulnerable to disruption.

The maple’s helicopters are a living metaphor for how spreading out, mixing, and embracing variety leads to healthier, more adaptable communities. Just as a forest flourishes when it is home to many kinds of trees, so too do our societies and organizations when they welcome a range of perspectives and experiences.

Like seeds, people from different backgrounds bring new ideas and perspectives. Yet, just as some resist change in the natural world, DEI has faced backlash.

All spring, I’ve found myself writing and rewriting sustainability report sections on DEI as the acronym has become toxic. The language around diversity and equity is shifting—now replaced with talk of impact, belonging, and culture. In many cases, companies haven’t changed what they’re doing; they’re simply changing how they talk about it. The work continues, even if the words evolve.

Yesterday, on a walk, I paused beneath a maple tree heavy with samaras, each one poised to take flight. In that quiet moment, I was reminded how often nature offers us a blueprint for the way forward. The tree doesn’t cling to its seeds or demand they stay rooted beneath its branches. Instead, it trusts the wind, releasing each samara to find its own patch of earth—where it might grow into something strong, different, yet deeply connected to the whole.

Watching those seeds ready to ride the wind, I was reminded that embracing difference means creating the conditions for all of us to thrive.

As we navigate change—whether in our work, our communities, or our own lives—perhaps we can take a cue from the maple: let go a little, trust the process, and make space for new growth, wherever the wind may carry us.

2024/2025 reporting season in review

The first quarter of this year was honestly a bit of a whirlwind, both personally and professionally. As a freelance sustainability report writer working with listed companies, Q1 is always intense. Deadlines pile up as clients rush to release their reports within the same narrow window. The pace can be relentless at times.

But this year brought unique challenges that went far beyond the usual workload. In December, I lost my Mum. Grief has been my constant companion ever since—a heavy presence that doesn’t care about work schedules or to-do lists. Navigating loss while running a business is something I’m still learning how to do well.

At the same time, the sustainability reporting landscape has been shifting dramatically. January was spent helping companies reframe how they talk about diversity in light of changing expectations and backlash against DEI initiatives. In February, I worked with clients to navigate the latest changes to EU corporate responsibility proposals, which could potentially put some of them out of scope under new regulations. And March? That was all about fine-tuning language, managing risks, and working with legal teams to ensure every word in these reports was precise and compliant.

With the first round of sustainability reports now hitting the (virtual) presses, I finally have a moment to breathe—and reflect on everything this season has taught me.

As a solopreneur, I often feel the pressure to do all the things: to be everywhere, write everything, and make an impact in every corner. But this season has reminded me that sometimes, it’s enough to take things project by project, day by day.

To my fellow solopreneurs (and anyone navigating grief): be gentle with yourself. You don’t have to do it all right now. Rest is productive too—and healing takes time.

Numbers vs. stories

For a few moments today, I had the library cafe to myself.

I come here every few weeks when I’m in need of a change of scenery and good coffee.

It’s where I write my faltering first drafts and chase writer’s block away.

The beautiful light and big airy space always clears the cobwebs from my brain.

And so, with all the other chairs empty, I had written a whole section on talent attraction before I looked up from my screen.

Slowly but surely, people had started to trickle into the cafe: the tired mothers holding sticky-handed toddlers by the hand, the group of silver-haired runners fueling up before they headed outside, the students weighed down by backpacks filled with books.

There are people aged from a few months to well into retirement.

Everyone greeted by the barista with the same remark: “Hello, friend. How can I help you today?”

I watch her go the extra mile, delivering coffees to tables, chatting to kids about the teddies they are clutching, asking the newcomer about her book choices.

And I think about talent attraction some more. This is what it looks like when it is done well: the right person found for the right job. And a puzzle piece falls into place.

Even though the company whose report I am writing makes billions of dollars in revenue each year, it helps when a number (XX,000 employees hired) down can be told by a single story.

I am reminded again that numbers are fleeting in the brain but stories stick.

So I add a note to the file suggesting an employee profile story and take another sip of my coffee.

Finding your sustainability story’s seat at the table

I recently attended the most beautiful garden party to celebrate a friend’s birthday.

It was the epitome of a midsummer night’s dream: the sun was setting as we arrived, casting the garden in a warm golden glow. Twinkling fairy lights created a magical canopy above us as soft music drifted through the evening breeze.

To kick off the festivities, my friend introduced a fun twist: each place setting at the table featured a card with six adjectives to describe a guest. Our task? To guess which descriptors were meant for us before flipping the card to reveal whose seat it was.

This clever game reminded me of a discussion I had earlier that day with a client. You see, one of the first questions I ask my writing clients is, "What three words would you use to describe how you want your sustainability report to sound?"

Because, just as those adjectives at the party offered insight into how our friend viewed us, your sustainability report should clearly demonstrate your company’s identity and values in the way it is written.

Consider three companies in the same industry reporting on identical topics, yet each sounds completely different (*disclaimer: written off the top of my head in five minutes. These is not finished copy):

Company A: "Our comprehensive carbon reduction strategy, aligned with the Paris Agreement, has resulted in a 15% decrease in Scope 1 and 2 emissions over the past year through energy efficiency measures and renewable energy procurement."

Company B: "Our employees are the driving force behind our carbon reduction success. Through our 'Green Team' initiative, staff-led projects have contributed to a 15% drop in our carbon footprint, from bike-to-work schemes to office composting."

Company C: "Meet Sarah, a production line worker who suggested switching our factory lights to motion sensors. Her simple idea sparked a chain reaction, inspiring colleagues across the company. The result? A 15% cut in our carbon emissions and a workforce energized to find more innovative green solutions."

Same achievement, three distinct voices—each one resonating differently.

Just like at that birthday party, recognizing and embracing what makes your company unique can help you take the right seat at the table.

So here’s my challenge to you: If your sustainability report were a guest at that party, what adjectives would be on its place card?

And more importantly, would your readers guess them correctly?

Lost in the forest

I got lost in the forest last week.

It wasn’t my first time there by a long chalk. I’ve walked those woods dozens and dozens of times in recent years. It’s my go-to spot when I need to stretch my legs (and brain). And, thanks to years of orienteering in my teens, I’ve got a pretty keen sense of direction.

So, what happened?

Firstly, the trees had just shed their leaves, as they tend to do in the autumn, covering the path and carpeting the forest floor in brown foliage.

Secondly, the colored diamonds and arrows that usually point the way had been removed from the trees as the route is being redesigned.

Without a clear path and a blazed trail, I quickly lost my bearings.
I’ve been thinking a lot about the importance of signposts ever since I stumbled back to the road a couple of hours later.

As I wrap up my first sustainability report of the 2022/23 season and prepare to embark on writing the second, I’ve also been in the process of updating my credential as a GRI Certified Sustainability Professional to reflect the 2021 standards.

It dawned on me that standards, like those currently offered by the GRI and soon to come from the ISSB and EFRAG, also help chart a clear path. When companies report in accordance with the GRI and other standards, investors know that they will find specific information about their environmental, social and governance performance. Now, with the addition of more requirements relating to human rights and impact statements, readers have even more signs to spot, showing them the direction in which a company or organization is headed.

And as I found out, more signs are better than, well, none.

I was back in the forest again today.

New diamonds have been tacked onto the tree trunks. The trail map has been updated. And the squirrels were happily stashing away nuts for the winter as a cold front moved through.

The power of three

Three reasons why I walk four miles early most mornings:

🌿 To get my brain and body moving
🌿 To avoid the worst of the heat, pollen, and snakes (sadly, no joke)
🌿 To catch up on my ever-growing list of podcast episodes.

Here are three episodes I’ve enjoyed listening to on my walks this week:
🌿 Podcast: EY Sustainability Matters
Episode: How strong storytelling can help prioritize the sustainability agenda https://lnkd.in/gTVRxUv8
🌿 Podcast: Hower Impact
Episode: Navigating sustainability storytelling in 2024 https://lnkd.in/gekYzitb
🌿 Podcast: Can Marketing Save the Planet?
Episode: The role of behavioural science in nudging towards behaviour change
https://lnkd.in/gurakkTD

And three books on my nightstand:
🌿 Story or Die by Lisa Cron
🌿 Houston, We Have a Narrative by Randy Olson
🌿 The Future of the Responsible Company by Vicent Stanley with Yves Chouinard

Three is a magic number. Our brains are hardwired to view ideas presented in threes as inherently more engaging, effective, and memorable. After all, three is the smallest number that allows us to recognize a pattern. And if there’s one thing our brains love, it’s patterns.

Neuroscience shows that the brain's reward system responds positively when we recognize and predict patterns. This reinforcement encourages us to pay attention and engage with information presented in threes, making it a highly effective strategy for marketers and communicators.

This concept, known as the rule of three, is also a valuable tool in the sustainability report writers’ toolkit. It’s already common in concepts like ESG (environmental, social, and governance), the triple bottom line (people, planet, and profit), and DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion).

Going one step further, writers can combine the rule of three with alliteration, doubling down on the memorability of the message. That’s why you find sustainability reports with information grouped into pillars like Climate, Colleagues, and Communities or Products, People, and Planet. And why the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) are so effective.

And lastly, on a personal note, there’s a saying I learned too late after moving to the Midwest: “Leaves of three, let them be.” In this part of the world, it pays to be careful around unknown plants with three leaves connected to a single stem. They’re usually poison ivy, oak, or sumac—three plants with poison-carrying leaves that will have you itching for days.

Memorable in the worst possible way.

From bedtime tales to balance sheets: keeping storytelling alive in the CSRD era

I come from a long line of storytellers.

My great-grandma, Clara, could spin a yarn or ten about life in her Derbyshire village before electricity.

My grandma, Dorothy, made up an entire series of fictional stories that had us eager for bedtime.

And, not to be outdone, my dad now has a repertoire of 'sleepy stories' loosely based on true events that he tells his grandchildren.

All that to say, I love storytelling. It's in my bones. And I believe in its power to inspire, engage, and drive change.

But in the world of sustainability reporting, we might be facing a plot twist.

Enter the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) – the new protagonist (or antagonist?) in our sustainability narrative.

While it promises standardization and transparency, it will also have a significant impact on sustainability reports and the way that they are used to engage with stakeholders like customers and employees.

Don't get me wrong, data is crucial. But as we dive headfirst into this sea of metrics and KPIs, I’m starting to worry that we might be at risk of drowning the very stories that make sustainability relatable in the first place.

Imagine a world where sustainability reports read like technical manuals. Where creativity is stifled by rigid frameworks. Where compliance trumps communication.

I'm worried that this is where we are heading.

So, this week, I’ve been thinking: How do we maintain the art of storytelling in this brave new world of standardized reporting? How do we ensure our reports don't just tick boxes but also touch hearts?

Because at the end of the day, numbers may speak to the mind, but stories speak to the soul.

And in the realm of sustainability, we need both.

[Picture: Dorothy and her granddaughters ca. 1983. I'm the one in the red. And, yes, we all have the same bowl haircut. Sigh.]

Inbox overload

The sustainability reporting season is in full swing, and suddenly, my inbox is bustling with action.

It's like someone flipped a switch, and everyone remembered they needed help with their ESG reports.

Old clients are circling back, new prospects are reaching out, and all kinds of companies want help putting together winning bids for RFPs.

Don't get me wrong – it's humbling to be in demand. But I've learned the hard way that saying yes to every opportunity can quickly lead to burnout. Plus, if every RFP I work on gets accepted, I'll be swamped come Q1 when the real crunch of sustainability reporting hits!

So, how do I navigate this busy season without disappointing potential clients? Here are three quick tricks I've picked up along the way:

✅ Pace yourself: It's tempting to dive right in, but I've learned to hold off on committing myself to a project until I have a signed Statement of Work in my inbox. This helps me manage my workload and avoid overextending myself.

✅Be upfront about what you can deliver: Clear communication is key. I make sure to set realistic expectations from the get-go, which helps build trust and prevents misunderstandings down the line or when scope creep occurs.

✅Stay flexible: In this field, things can change in the blink of an eye. I've found that being adaptable and ready to pivot when necessary is crucial for success.

At the end of the day, it's not about how many projects you take on but the quality of work you deliver and the relationships you build.

Telling the stories behind the data

There’s a translation industry joke that goes something like this:

Q: “How many translators does it take to change a lightbulb?”
A: “It depends on the context.”

It sums up nicely something that has been on my mind lately: numbers. More specifically, how numbers alone can’t tell an effective story without being put in context.

That’s why there’s a post-it note stuck to the bottom of my computer monitor that reads: “Why does it matter?” That square of fluorescent pink is my daily reminder to think critically not only about what a company does but also why it’s important.

Taking a fictitious example from the sustainability reporting space, let’s say a company discloses a 2% reduction in its annual water consumption.

That’s good but, on its own, it’s just a statistic.

But what if you were to learn that the company achieved this reduction in a region with severe water stress and made considerable investments in infrastructure to do so?

What if the 2% reduction meant that the company decreased its use by 1 billion gallons?

What if you were to find out that the company’s efforts inspired local employees to start conserving water at home?

And what if an employee’s child, let’s call her Ana, took things one step further and convinced her school to install two rainwater drums that now water the school’s brand-new garden?

Suddenly, the numbers aren't just about the water; they're about how the company's choices measure up and impact real people. It’s about the ripple effects that a single company’s actions can have.

As Brent Dykes, the author of Effective Data Storytelling: How to Drive Change, writes, “People hear statistics, but they feel stories.” Dykes adds, “Your data may hold tremendous amounts of potential value, but not an ounce of value can be created unless insights are uncovered and translated into actions or business outcomes.”

Applying the above to my business: I wrote or translated 11 full-length sustainability/ESG reports in 2023. I also wrote 9 blog posts and 3 white papers, along with serving my regular, longstanding translation clients every week.

Behind the numbers: I was really happy with my business in 2023. I wrote more than ever before and added new services that I plan to pursue in 2024.

But what the numbers don’t tell is that 2023 was actually a really difficult year. A close family member received a devastating diagnosis, and I crossed the Atlantic six times last year to spend as much time as possible with them.

One thing I learned the hard way the past year is this: time is a gift.

That’s why I’m applying the lessons from that curled-up, slightly tatty post-it note to my own life. I’m thinking more about not just what I do but why it matters. And I’m focusing on meaningful connections and projects that bring me joy.

Time, it turns out, is more than a ticking clock. It's the most valuable currency we have, and how we invest it is how we spend our lives.

So let's choose well.

Going the distance

Next month, I’m lacing up my shoes for the Yorkshire 10 Mile—a significant step up from my usual 5k runs. This challenge isn’t just about running farther; it’s also about raising funds for Macmillan Cancer Support, which has been invaluable in supporting my family over the past year.

To prepare for this longer distance, I’ve had to adapt my training—incorporating more speed work, endurance runs, and cross-training.
Interestingly, I’ve noticed that diversification is just as crucial as a sustainability report writer.

For me, it starts with the fundamentals: honing my writing skills.

That’s why I dedicate every Wednesday evening to attending a writing workshop here in Kansas City.

I’ll admit, some days—especially deep in sustainability reporting season—writing more is the last thing I want to do.

But I’ve found those are the days when it’s most important to show up.

On Wednesday nights, you’ll find me alongside fellow wordsmiths, exploring memoir, fiction, and poetry.

It’s a refreshing break from the structured world of sustainability reporting, challenging me to think creatively and approach storytelling from new angles.

These sessions have not only improved my writing but also taught me valuable lessons in perseverance and community.

As I prepare for next month’s race and for the peak of sustainability reporting season, I’m leaning into training—both in running and writing.

But I’m also making sure to incorporate rest and recovery.

This balance—taking on different challenges, staying consistent, and knowing when to step back—helps me not only reach my goals but stay grounded through it all.

Whether I’m hitting the pavement or putting pen to paper, it’s the same lesson: progress comes with patience.

So here’s to pushing limits—whether on a run or with a pen in hand. And if you see someone jogging along a trail in Missouri, deep in thought (or maybe catching their breath), feel free to wave—it could be me, preparing for my next mile or my next report.

The 2023/24 reporting season in review

In my little corner of the world, I’m finally finding time to get out into the garden. As the peak of sustainability reporting season is drawing to a close, I’m enjoying getting dirt under my fingernails and reflecting on the past nine months.

A number of the ESG and sustainability reports I worked on this year will be published soon, blooming just like the peonies and irises that stand sentinel along my garden fence as I write this post.

Over the past 18 months, I’ve been very fortunate to write reports for two Fortune 10 companies. I’ve also translated and written ESG/sustainability reports for companies in the healthcare, renewable raw materials, logistics, furniture, and beauty retail spaces.

What have I learned from these projects?

·      Language sensitivity: Legal teams are scrutinizing reports more closely than ever and are hyper-focused on wording. This year, the terms attracting the most attention include ‘impact’ and ‘ensure.’ In the U.S., companies are extremely sensitive to the use of the terms ‘DEI’ and ‘ESG’, with their inclusion or exclusion often based on C-suite attitudes towards these issues.

·      Standards and frameworks: More and more companies are reporting in accordance with GRI, referencing ISO standards, having their targets validated by SBTi, and starting to consider how to deal with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures.

·      Biodiversity/nature-based services: This was this year’s hot topic, with more reports either mentioning biodiversity conservation and nature-based services for the first time or giving greater coverage to this subject.

·      Preparation for upcoming legislation: Almost all of the companies whose reports I worked on in 2023/24 have international operations and are getting ready for the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). Many of them are in the process of drawing up double materiality assessments for the first time.

·      Longer reports, more executive summaries: As companies include more information in their disclosures, there is a growing awareness that these reports are far too long for the average reader. Almost all of this year’s reports will be published with an executive summary, condensing the most important information into easily digestible highlights.

Of course, these insights are based on a small sample size. It will be interesting to see how things change in the next year.

Once I’ve finished clearing out the garden, I’ll start the weeding process

for my business, too, carefully trimming away any overgrown parts to create healthier growth in the 2024/25 season.

For me, that means a website refresh, a greater focus on sustainability report writing services, and a renewed dedication to enjoying my garden every once in a while.

Calling in the professionals

The unmistakable smell of smoke filled the room, signalling my defeat. The dryer had won.

Let me go back to the beginning: when I arrived in America 15 years ago, I inadvertently moved into a neighborhood where drying your clothes outdoors on a line was not allowed.

 (I'll let that sink in for a minute for those of you in the rest of the world. We have what my mother called perfect drying weather: it's been over 30 degrees Celsius/86 degrees Fahrenheit here for weeks now, and my house has a lovely breeze flowing through the back garden. But no outdoor drying. It's bananas.)

Reluctantly, I bought a tumble dryer. It's had a good life. But a few years ago, it started to fail. First, a starling somehow managed to fly in through the outdoor vent, met an untimely end and caused the heating element to overheat in the process.

Since I have started learning more about the circular economy, I have become more aware of the need to repair and refurbish appliances rather than simply buying new ones, where possible. I searched YouTube videos until I found one showing how to replace the element. One replacement part installation and one back-garden bird burial later, the dryer was back up and running. I am no electrician, but I think I did an okay job.

Last year, the dryer belt broke. I went back to YouTube again, watched two videos and learned how to dismantle the entire machine and put it back together again. It took a lot more time and a lot more frustration this time around. But it was fixed. The dryer was a bit noisier than before, but it worked – and I consoled myself that I had saved money on calling in an electrician.

A high-pitched squeaking noise started coming from the laundry room last weekend. A few Google searches later, I had identified the problem. I thought. Three hours and four cuts on my arms later, I had removed enough lint to knit a jumper and installed new drum rollers.

I put the final screw back in, turned on the power, and it was no longer squeaking.

Instead, the room filled with smoke.

I unplugged the dryer and admitted defeat. I don't mess with fire. It was time to call in a professional.

The whole situation reminded me of a conversation I had with a potential client a few weeks ago.

The company had been using DeepL to translate their internal memos into English for a while now, but the communications team had a sneaking suspicion that their message wasn't coming across properly.

Now it was time to translate their sustainability report and, as a business trying to attract investors interested in sustainability issues, and the stakes were high. It was time for them to stop dabbling in machine translation solutions and call in a professional environmental translator who could add value.

Taking shortcuts is understandable. Quick fixes are, well, quick, and save money – at least, at first. But it turns out that, in life and in business, some things are more important.

Like your image.

And your reputation.

And stopping your literal and metaphorical house from catching fire.