ESG Reporting – Building Reputations with Proof, Not Promises
Sustainability reporting and communication is integral for stakeholders to understand a company’s holistic performance.
On 5 March 2025, CLA Global TS and Milk & Honey PR co-hosted a fireside chat with sustainability and communications leaders to unpack what Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting really means for business credibility and resilience. To improve business reputation and resilience, this article aims to aid business leaders in understanding how an ESG programme could benefit
organisations and investors.
What is Sustainability Reporting and How Does It Affect Companies?
Sustainability reporting entails the disclosure of a company’s ESG performance and impacts. By combining relevant and accurate
performance metrices and impact assessment, the report can drive stakeholders’ confidence and improve the brand reputation of the
organisation. These reports are a means to regulatory compliance but also serve as a testament on the impact delivered to the environment and local communities.
Sustainability reporting is not just a checkbox on a compliance checklist, but a powerful communication tool that can enhance a brand’s reputation and unlock value for its stakeholders.
Why Sustainability Reporting Matters?
Sustainability reporting involves disclosing a company’s ESG performance through structured frameworks such as GRI, TCFD, or ISSB. Done well, it serves not only to meet regulatory obligations, but to foster transparency, inform investor decisions, and build public trust.
But reports packed with technical jargon or vague claims risk disengaging stakeholders. To truly elevate reputation, businesses must turn ESG data into clear, honest narratives that resonate.
“It’s not just about what you say, it’s about what you show.”
– Pamela Chen, Head of Internal Audit, Sustainability & Climate Change, CLA Global TS
From Corporate Communications to Credible Sustainability Storytelling
The focus of Corporate Communications is a brand’s image. Claims about a corporation’s efforts highlight and portrays a positive outlook on the image but may not have evidential backings. Corporate communications may also apply deceptive tactics such as green
washing or green hushing, to present a more favorable outlook to stakeholders. As a result, many would struggle to support their claims and beliefs due to the lack of material evidence, which may not provide stakeholders with the confidence that they need.
Sustainability Communications, however, supplements the lack of transparency with real data, providing a more accountable insight into the corporation’s values.
Unlike traditional corporate communications that focus on brand image and messaging, sustainability communications must be
grounded in transparency, real data, and a willingness to acknowledge progress and setbacks. Today’s stakeholders – from investors to employees – expect substance, not spin.
For Example – Singapore’s first zero-waste grocery store, UnPackt, is not just claiming to be green — they’re actively showing how
their choices reduce packaging waste and benefit the community. It’s this kind of clarity and authenticity that builds trust.
The transparent nature of Sustainability Communications allows for a more visible recount on a company’s efforts, debunking
assumptions of overstatements of events, and allows the company the visibility of the company’s consistency of their efforts. Additionally, Sustainability Communications can be advantageous depending on its relevancy to different audiences. It is important to understand what stakeholders are looking for in order to provide a more straightforward and transparent account on the company’s contributions and timeline of events.
Overcoming ESG Reporting Roadblocks
While sustainability reporting and communications may be able an essential tool to boost the visibility of a company’s actions, organisations may face roadblocks on their journey to launch their sustainability programmes and reporting. Many businesses, especially SMEs, hesitate to start their ESG reporting journey due to:
Turning ESG Reporting into a Reputation Advantage
How does ESG reporting enhance business reputation?
It shifts perception from promises to proof. A few leading Singapore HQ’d companies exemplify this, using verified data and plain language to show measurable ESG progress, not just intent. This transparency drives long-term loyalty from stakeholders who increasingly prioritise purpose alongside profit.
In Southeast Asia, where climate risks are real and regulatory scrutiny is rising, brands that lead with honest, locally relevant communication will stand out. And in a market like Singapore where nearly 50% of the workforce are women and intergenerational caregiving is rising, social metrics matter as much as carbon data.
A Final Word: Sustainability as a Story, Not Just a Standard
At CLA Global TS, our Sustainability and Climate Change team has been assisting clients in optimising their sustainability programs and developing their sustainability reports. For clients with an international footprint, our global network is ready to support your
sustainability requirements to ensure a seamless and connected experience.
Whether you are an SME or a listed company, your sustainability report is more than a compliance document. It’s your opportunity to show the world who you really are.
Our advice to business leaders: start small, stay real, and speak clearly. Use your ESG data to tell a story of progress, not perfection. And if you are unsure where to begin, partner with communicators who know how to translate numbers into narratives that matter.
” The key is to start, stay transparent, be consistent and show real progress over time.”
– Meilin Wong, CEO, Milk & Honey PR
As the world’s highest-scoring B Corp-certified PR agency, Milk & Honey helps clients in Singapore, Southeast Asia, the UK, Germany, and the US connect ESG efforts to brand equity through content, thought leadership, and storytelling whilst avoiding greenwashing or greenhushing.
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