How to Design an ESG Report That People Actually Read
Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting has evolved from a compliance exercise into a core component of corporate storytelling. Yet for many organizations, the challenge remains the same: how do you design an ESG report that audiences — from investors to employees to community stakeholders—will actually read, not just file away?
The answer lies in balancing credibility, clarity, and design. Every stakeholder group is looking for substance, but they also appreciate a report that communicates efficiently and visually. Here’s how to make that happen.
1. Start With Strategy, Not Layout
Before opening InDesign or briefing your creative team, take a step back. What is the story your ESG data tells, and who are you telling it to?
- Are you demonstrating year-over-year improvement?
- Are there clear links between sustainability goals and corporate financial performance?
- How do your ESG priorities connect to business strategy and risk management?
A report that starts with intent—not just obligation—will resonate more deeply with all stakeholders who want to understand how ESG initiatives drive short-, medium- and long-term value.
2. Lead With Materiality
Stakeholders are inundated with sustainability disclosures. What they want is focus. Design your report around material issues—the ones most relevant to your sector, strategy, and audience groups.
Use a clear materiality matrix or concise summary table to show how you determined what matters most. This signals discipline and strategic alignment, two things that investors highly value.
3. Prioritize Readability
Dense text and jargon-heavy pages are an immediate turn-off. Break content into digestible sections using:
- Executive summaries and key highlights
- Pull quotes or callout boxes with data points
- Infographics that distill complex data
- Bullet points
- White space (lots of it) to avoid fatigue
- Images that align with the content
Remember: design should serve the message, not overwhelm it. A well-structured, visually balanced report invites readers in—and keeps them there.
4. Visualize the Data
Audiences—especially investors— are analytical by nature, but they also appreciate clarity. Use data visualization to your advantage:
- Charts that show trends, not just totals
- Icons and color coding to categorize E, S, and G topics
- Consistent design language for all metrics and frameworks (GRI, SASB, TCFD, etc.)
Smart visuals help stakeholders grasp your performance trajectory quickly and credibly.
5. Show Integration, Not Isolation
The most compelling ESG reports don’t treat sustainability as an add-on—they show how it’s integrated across operations. Design your layout to demonstrate that connection:
- ESG metrics linked to financial KPIs
- Cross-references between governance and risk management
- Stories that connect workforce wellbeing to business outcomes
- Case studies that connect the ESG priorities to tangible results
This integrated design approach signals maturity, authenticity, and transparency, which are qualities that resonate across all audineces.
6. Reflect the Brand
Your ESG report is also a brand document. Align the tone, imagery, and visual identity with your corporate brand. A cohesive look builds trust and reinforces credibility.
Avoid using overly stock or symbolic imagery (think: wind turbines and seedlings). Instead, use real photography and authentic visuals that convey your company’s true impact.
7. Make It Digital and Interactive
Investors increasingly prefer accessible, digital formats over static PDFs. Consider creating:
- An interactive microsite or HTML version
- Downloadable data annexes
- Searchable tables and graphs
- Video summaries or CEO messages embedded online
Digital-first design enhances usability and demonstrates innovation.
8. Keep Compliance but Don’t Let It Dominate
Frameworks like GRI, SASB, and TCFD are essential, but they shouldn’t overshadow storytelling. Use appendices or data indexes for compliance-heavy content, freeing the main report for narrative flow.
9. Invite Feedback
ESG reporting is an evolving process. Every company is on its own journey, refining metrics, systems, and engagement methods over time.
Once your report is published, consider collecting feedback from readers through surveys or stakeholder workshops. This helps you improve future editions and shows that you value transparency and dialogue.
Final Thoughts
An ESG report that stakeholders want to read is one that feels crafted, not compiled. It blends rigorous disclosure with thoughtful design and a clear strategic message. When done right, it doesn’t just inform audiences— it inspires confidence.
Get an ESG report that reflects where you are today and where you’re headed next. Contact us at hello@lgcli.com to start shaping your next report.