Global Insight | March 2025

Communicating your ESG story to stakeholders

Introduction

In recent years, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors have emerged as critical in assessing the long-term sustainability and societal impact of business practices. ESG incorporates a wide range of considerations that reflect recognition with regard to the wellbeing of the environment, welfare of the society and integrity of governance structures. Organisations need to consider how to communicate their ESG story in a way that will showcase core values, culture, and vision. Stakeholders, including investors, customers, employees, and communities, are increasingly prioritising sustainability and ethical practices.

To meet these expectations, companies must not only implement robust ESG initiatives but also communicate them transparently. Authentic ESG communication builds trust, attracts talent, and differentiates your brand. Internally, it fosters pride and alignment among employees, reinforcing their connection to the company’s mission. Externally, it enhances your reputation and strengthens relationships with stakeholders. Ultimately, effective ESG communication reflects your company’s commitment to making a positive impact while driving long-term success.

It is imperative that organisations create and share their ESG story in a way that resonates with stakeholders. By understanding your stakeholders, developing a well-defined strategy, using clear and consistent messaging, maximising messaging through multiple channels, continuously engaging with stakeholders, highlighting achievements and impact, providing regular updates, and aligning with Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) and recognised standards, you can build trust and enhance your reputation.

Let’s explore how you can effectively communicate your ESG story and make a meaningful impact.

Understanding your stakeholders

Identify stakeholders such as employees, customers, investors, and communities. Tailor messages to their interests. Considerations of a message to employees for example could include efforts made by the organisation through diversity and inclusion programmes on the creation of an inclusive and supportive workplace. In our context as a firm, we drive Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), ensuring transformation across all levels of our organisation. Our workplace fosters equal opportunities, supporting SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

In recent years we promoted the importance of diversity through a campaign of “Herstory in the making.” Nexia SAB&T believes that every woman has a story to tell, although it is rarely heard in male-dominated workplaces. Our innovative leadership practices at Nexia SAB&T are giving women a voice, squaring the boardroom and balancing the gender equality scales. The purpose of the campaign was to highlight that Nexia SAB&T recognises that gender empowerment is an issue that has not been well addressed in South Africa and globally and made our audience aware of the significant steps we have taken, which is why, despite being in a traditionally male dominated industry we have more than 60% female representation in our firm.

Developing a well-defined strategy

Creating a well-defined ESG strategy is essential for organisations aiming to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. Elements to consider when creating the strategy are:

Identify key ESG priorities.
Set clear goals, for example aim to reduce carbon emissions by 30% within five years.
Integrate ESG into operations.
Communicate your ESG goals and progress with employees, customers, investors, and other stakeholders.
Track and report progress.

An example of an overall strategy could be “ABC aims to achieve net-zero emissions across all categories by 2030, with an interim goal for global Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2027.

Clear and consistent messaging

Align ESG communication with your company’s mission, provide clear and relatable messaging and avoid jargon. As a firm, we’ve considered ESG in line with our mission and values where we consider accountability by fostering sustainable living through innovative solutions. Our recent investment in solar energy not only aligns with this mission but also demonstrates our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint and promoting clean energy. This is aligned to the SDG 7 of Affordable and Clean Energy.

Maximising messaging through multiple channels

Use digital platforms, traditional media, infographics, interactive engagement and engaging visuals to enhance messaging. Use your company’s website and social media channels to share updates on ESG initiatives. For instance, “We as Nexia SAB&T regularly post updates on our LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram accounts about our ongoing sustainability projects, such as our solar energy installations, community water initiatives and impactful social initiatives.”

Continuous engagement with stakeholders

Encourage feedback via surveys, forums, and social media. Collaborate with NGOs and various industry groups. Instances to be considered are distribution employee engagement surveys to gather feedback. Your story can include, “We sent out a survey to our employees to get their input on our new diversity and inclusion policies.”

With regard to collaborating with NGOs, our recent story in this instance included partnering with a civil society initiative through the SAB&T Foundation by donating 100 000 bags of maize meal to individuals and families in need. This is part of aligning with the SDG 1 of No Poverty.

Highlight achievements and impact

Showcase success stories, use data-driven impact reports, and share case studies. In our instance, we engaged our employees by participating in a Spekboom Carbon Capture initiative which was aligned to SDG 6 – Climate Action. This initiative is a carbon capture project in South Africa based on planting Portulacaria Afra (Spekboom). Spekboom which has a unique ability to switch between two different ways of absorbing carbon dioxide (CO²) from the air. This unique ability is a powerful tool in the fight against climate change. We distributed Spekboom plants to all our employees nationwide as a solution towards climate change. It was part of our contribution of fighting climate change one Spekboom at a time. The Project demonstrated how small initiatives can create a big impact. Distributing over 500 Spekboom plants to employees fostered a sense of ownership in our sustainability mission, showing that people are eager to contribute to a greener world. We encouraged our employees to provide feedback of the impact of this initiative.

Ensure regular updates

Publish consistent reports and adapt strategies based on stakeholder feedback. Ensure that ESG reports are published on a consistent basis. Publish regular ESG reports to keep stakeholders informed. In our instance, we release annual ESG updates through our Transparency Report.

Align with SDGs, standards, and frameworks

Adhere to established ESG reporting frameworks and consider SDGs. It is important that your story demonstrates the consideration of Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) and other key applicable standards or frameworks.

Conclusion

ESG should not just be a compliance requirement—it should be a core part of the organisation’s identity. Through transparency, action, and continuous engagement, the ESG story should not just be told but should be lived. Telling your ESG story is a journey that should reflect continuous improvement and innovation. Remember that the saying “actions speak louder than words” could not hold more true for this subject matter.