CHECKLIST: DOES YOUR ESG IDENTITY HAVE A CLEAR FOCUS?

Here is a short checklist of six points aiming at helping the internal discussion and clarification of goals and options. After that, you are very welcome to contact us for an initial (and non-binding) dialogue about needs and opportunities to communicate ESG efforts so that they are understandable, relevant and interesting. So that they become more valuable.

1. What are the important stories about your company's sustainability activities? 

   What do you do to reduce your CO2 footprint?

   What do you do to secure good apprenticeships in your company? 

   How have you reduced water consumption in the past year?

   How can you continue to expand production without increasing energy consumption?

   Is the level of sickness absence going up or down?

   How are the company's values reflected in the composition of the management?

    

2. Does your company have an ESG identity that is sustainable?

   The above questions are just a small selection of the elements we can use to build and talk about your company's ESG efforts in a good and credible way. Remember that it is not only your company's ESG work that must be sustainable. So must the communication about it, and therefore it is about identifying the basic ESG narratives that are durable and viable over time. It is about the company's ESG identity.

3. Have you thought about ESG as a strategic priority and value creator? 

   The company's ESG identity does not only need to create value in relation to authorities, investors, banks and the board, but also in relation to the company's current and potential customers. ESG reporting does not have to be just an additional cost, but can also contribute to creating more value, dialogue and business benefits.

4. Is ESG integrated into the company's communication plan? 

   For many companies, ESG will become an integral part of the business strategy – also for this reason, it is a good idea to integrate ESG work into the communication and/or marketing strategy: Do you have a plan for how ESG reporting can contribute to the good story of your company?

    

5. Are you aware of avoiding both greenwashing and greenhushing?

    Unfortunately, you don't have to look far to find examples of green washing, which everyone would like to avoid and steer clear of. The fear of being accused of adorning themselves with borrowed green feathers can even make some go into the other ditch, where you don't communicate your ESG efforts at all. It is called green hushing and is also not appropriate.

6. Do you remember that it's about showing commitment – not about self-praise?

   Good stories are always positive, but this is not about self-praise. It's about showing and demonstrating that your company is active and committed when it comes to the ESG agenda. Honesty, transparency and precision are keywords in the company's communication about ESG.

    

At Kontekst, we have many years of experience in finding, refining, and communicating good stories about and for organizations and companies - Danish as well as large international brands. We help to describe, communicate, and present ESG efforts so that they become understandable, relevant and interesting for all the company's stakeholders.

You are always welcome to contact one of the Kontekst partners for an initial (and non-binding) dialogue about the possibilities of focusing your company's ESG communication: 

• Marie-Louise Arnfast: tel. 40 56 34 36, mla@kontekstkommunikation.dk

• Nana Balle: tel. 22 95 14 05, nab@kontekstkommunikation.dk

• Michael Kirkeby: tel. 26 72 20 24, mki@kontekstkommunikation.dk