How to use the Sustainable Development Goals to communicate your ESG strategy

Environmental, sustainability and governance (ESG) initiatives can be complex things for a business, especially when it comes to using them in your communications strategy. More and more, businesses are choosing to align their ESG communications with the United Nations (UN) Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs). Here, we delve into what this looks like in practice and give some of our top tips for running a successful campaign surrounding the SDGs.

What are the SDGs?

The SDGs are part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all UN member states in 2015 as a blueprint for a better future. Here is the SDGs list.

Why are the SDGs becoming part of ESG policy?

Aligning strategies with the SDGs is an effective way for companies to articulate what they’re doing in the ESG arena. Lots of people, regardless of the intended audience, know about the SDGs, which means aligning policies with them is an effective way to clearly communicate your ESG credentials. Let’s say a stakeholder is reading an annual report (where you’ll find plenty of content relating to the SDGs). Without having to book out 20 minutes to read 10,000 words, use of the SDG icons will let that stakeholder know immediately that this particular company is working to improve good health and well-being and gender equality. It’s a really efficient way of getting that message across.

Brainstorming using the SDGs

For those businesses building a content campaign around ESG, the SDGs provide a great starting block for content ideas, and may well encourage further-reaching and more varied content. 

The dos and don’ts of using the SDGs in your communications strategy

Do understand them. If you’re claiming something you’re doing aligns with one of the SDGs, make sure you truly understand the bones of that SDG. There’s nothing worse than associating your business with something as high-profile as the UN SDGs and not quite understanding them!

Don’t force it. No single business will align with every SDG, and tenuous links can be spotted a mile off. If you only align with one, but it’s key to your business, then be proud of that and own it. The phrase ‘quality not quantity’ couldn’t be more apt here.

If you’d like to learn more about using the SDGs in your communications, or anything else, pop us an email at hello@wardour.co.uk – we’d love to hear from you.