how to streamline your sustainability report (without watering It down)
As sustainability budgets tighten, regulatory requirements increase, and stakeholder expectations rise, many teams are asking the same question: How do we make our report shorter—without losing substance?
published 11.4.25
At qb., we’ve helped dozens of organizations rethink and right-size their sustainability communications. Our reporting team came together to share their top dos and don’ts for keeping your report clear, credible, and compelling.
1. Start With Your Story and Your Stakeholders
“Understand your audience—and identify what you want them to learn, feel, and do,” says Drew Taylor Cohen. Before you cut, step back and ask who your report is really for this year and what you want them to take away.
Jorge Bello adds: “Understand your audience and the moment—both at the company and the broader societal level. Consider how political and cultural attitudes are shaping expectations and sensitivities. Identify who you’re writing for this year and how your report can meet both business and stakeholder needs within that context.”
A shorter report doesn’t mean a smaller story. As Jorge notes, “Don’t assume a shorter report leaves no room for a cohesive story. Even updates should reinforce who you are, what you’re doing, and what you stand for.”
And as Drew reminds us, “Don’t hesitate to tailor your content for specific stakeholder groups, even if they differ from the audience of your full report.”
2. Prioritize, Prioritize, Prioritize
“Don’t treat your report like a branding exercise,” says Jorge. “Impact reports are disclosure- and performance-driven—they should highlight how your company is growing responsibly. Be selective and intentional about the stories you feature, and focus on initiatives that clearly show how sustainability and business goals work as one.”
He adds, “Take time to identify your narrative priorities from the start. Whether you’re writing a full-length report, a shorter update, or an impact website, be clear on the story you’re trying to tell—and what channel it’ll be most useful in.”
3. See Your Communications as a Suite
“Move evergreen content—like your sustainability framework, goals, and governance—to your website,” recommends Lis Best. That creates more room in your report to focus on what’s new, what’s changed, and what’s driving impact.
Her one caveat: “Don’t forget to link to it—or to include a basic overview of your program, goals, and strategy in the report itself, because people don’t always actually click through.”
“Create (and promote!) standalone assets for high-interest topics—like climate change or flagship initiatives,” advises Lela Shimaka. Not everything has to live inside the report itself; sometimes the best stories deserve their own stage.
Her warning: “Don’t bury your content in a complicated website structure. Attention is hard to capture these days—make it easy for people to find your best stories.”
4. Get Visual (and Keep It Clear)
On that note, “Use engaging visualizations to present complex information and tell your impact story briefly, simply, and clearly,” says Sarah Kempke. Charts, infographics, and data callouts can make your progress more meaningful.
But, she cautions, “Don’t forget to include the details necessary to interpret the information—like labels, units, and keys.”
5. Make Disclosure Easy and Accessible
Transparency doesn’t have to mean clutter. Sarah also recommends, “Use separate disclosure tables to organize information that’s relevant for your stakeholders.” This keeps your report narrative-driven while maintaining accountability.
“Don’t forget to highlight and link to those disclosures,” she adds, “and plan for an annual cadence to show progress, process, and maturity.”
The Bottom Line
Shorter doesn’t mean shallower. Done right, a streamlined sustainability report can be your clearest, most accessible, and most human communication of the year.
Want to talk about how to right-size your 2025/2026 report? Let’s chat →
by Noemí Jiménez
Communications Lead + Cofounder
