Communicating Sustainability

Want to stand out?

It’s time to create a compelling sustainability story

If you’re investing in sustainability and addressing modern slavery, but you’re not talking about it, how will anyone know?

These days, sustainability credentials are becoming more valued by your clients. Especially the large corporations like banks, telcos and governments. They’re expecting and specifying certified and third-party verified products in their tenders.

That’s great news for you.

Because if you stand proudly as a sustainable and ethical company, your work on sustainability will pay off, but ONLY if your clients know. 

Before we delve into how this can impact your business, here are 3 things we want you to know:

  1. We have created a service offering to activate and communicate your sustainability credentials.

  2. We know about Green Star and about market expectations so we can help you deliver your marketing copy to speak to your ideal customer.

  3. We appreciate that product manufacturers make great products, but may not always know the best way to communicate sustainability information.


Turn your sustainability credentials into a marketable advantage

You may have any of the following practices in place, but if you’re not communicating the benefits clearly, your clients won’t appreciate the value of your products.

  • Being a participant to the UN Global Compact

  • Type 1 Ecolabelling Certification (GECA, AFRDI GreenTick, Global GreenTag)

  • Life Cycle Assessments (LCA)

  • Environmental Product Declarations (EPD)

  • Health Product Declarations (HPD)

  • ISO14001 EMS certification

  • Ethical/Sustainable Procurement

  • Social Responsibility

  • Modern Slavery and Human Rights reporting

We know that having any type of certification (ISO14001 or Ecolabelling) is a huge investment for most organisations. 

But sometimes companies are reluctant to invest a few extra dollars to communicate this properly.

And often they don’t even highlight these credentials at all, either on their website or in their marketing material.

Having spent many years in this industry, sadly our experience has been that product manufacturers are not good at promoting sustainability.

We know how much effort you put into getting those certifications, so now it’s time to put them to work - making sales for you.

You need to get your sustainability credentials doing some of the heavy lifting. 

Done well, it’s GREAT for business. (Architects, designers, and your big corporate fit out and construction clients LOVE authentic sustainability and ethical procurement).

But done poorly, it doesn’t speak to what your clients need to hear.

Up first: how NOT to communicate your sustainability credentials


Unfortunately, we see a lot of company websites trying to persuade people by using outdated terminology like “environmentally friendly” (a phrase that makes me shudder, because it’s so vague as to be almost meaningless). 

In a nutshell, I can make your company look good and do it without eco-babble and greenwashing. 

You’re here because you want to make a difference, and to communicate the measurable actions you’re taking towards sustainability.

Let’s do this.


Broadcast your sustainability story the right way


We understand that this is difficult for most businesses as they don’t have the budget for marketing companies to help them with their sustainability story. 

And it’s difficult to understand how to educate your clients, and also to make sure your product claims are compliant with ISO14021 Environmental Labels and Declarations. It is often confusing and is often not set in the right context so that designers, specifiers or end users can understand it.

If your company doesn’t have its sustainability logos featured on the product pages or anywhere on the website, your business may be missing out on engaging with your clients, and possibly specification.  

It may not be immediately evident to the user where to find it or what you have in terms of sustainability credentials and or certifications.

HOW WE CAN COLLABORATE

Let’s start with the end in mind: easy to read sustainability information that your clients will love. 

No greenwashing. No jargon. A compelling sustainability story.

We will determine:

  • Who are your stakeholders

  • What do they care about

  • What are your key messages

  • What do you stand for

  • How do you want to communicate your message

We’ll bring this knowledge together to create a compelling sustainability story that your clients will LOVE.

Services include:

  • developing a sustainability communications plan

  • developing a company sustainability report

  • communicating your sustainability story in the context of market expectations

  • educating your sales team on Green Star Rating tools and how best to promote your sustainability story

  • writing copy for your website or brochures and by ensuring compliance with ISO14021 Environmental Labels and Declarations.

Deliverables

Choose which deliverables you need, including sustainability marketing strategy for:

  • Website copy

  • Email campaigns

  • Social Media

  • Sustainability Report writing 

  • UN Global Compact Report writing 

  • Sustainability Statement 

  • Sustainability Client Presentations (this is who we are, this is what we do, and this is what we care about/stand for and this is how we can help you be more sustainable). 

Get in touch to start your sustainability communication strategy

how we deliver

Step 1 - Consultation

  • We consult with your key staff to find out about your company and its sustainability credentials.

  • We find out about your clients and what they are asking for.

  • We review existing marketing material and your website.

Step 2 - Development

  • We develop a communications plan to promote your sustainability story.

  • We write whatever copy is required, including your company website, brochures and sustainability reports.

Step 3 - Training

  • We meet with your in-house marketing team and deliver the material and copy.

  • We communicate with your sales team the advantages of the work you are doing and how your certifications meet with current Green Star requirements.

  • And discuss industry expectations around sustainability.

 

WHY choose us?

We’ve been working with product manufacturers for 14 years. Our Principal, Libby, has attended many conferences and workshops about how to engage customers when it comes to sustainability.

We know the tricks and the methods for telling YOUR story.

We’ve seen this done well and we’ve seen it done poorly. It’s simple, but you have to have the know-how, understand the market and know the industry.