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The Strategic Importance of Localising Sustainability Reports
Sustainability reports have evolved from optional corporate documents to essential communications that showcase a company’s environmental, social and governance commitments. When these reports cross language barriers, their translation requires more than linguistic accuracy—it demands cultural relevance and industry expertise.
Effectively localised sustainability reports:
- Build trust with international stakeholders and investors
- Demonstrate global accountability and transparency
- Ensure regulatory compliance across different markets
- Strengthen brand reputation in diverse cultural contexts
As our client aptly noted, ‘We must be conscious of the impact these documents can have on a brand’s reputation and transparency.’ This awareness underlines why specialised knowledge is paramount when translating sustainability content.
Our Approach to Quality Assurance
For this 8,000-word sustainability report, we implemented our comprehensive quality assurance process:
- Specialist Selection: After an exhaustive selection process, we assembled a translation and proofreading team with specific expertise in sustainability content.
- Pre-project Assessment: We provided text samples to potential translators to confirm their familiarity with the terminology and concepts involved.
- Dual Expertise System: We assigned two specialists to the project—a translator and a reviewer—both with over ten years’ experience in the translation industry and excellent client feedback.
- Continuous Communication: Throughout the project, we maintained constant contact with both the client and our translation team to address queries and ensure clarity.
The Strategic Importance of Localising Sustainability Reports
Sustainability reports have evolved from optional corporate documents to essential communications that showcase a company’s environmental, social and governance commitments. When these reports cross language barriers, their translation requires more than just linguistic accuracy—they demand cultural relevance and industry expertise.
Effectively localised sustainability reports:
- Build trust with international stakeholders and investors
- Demonstrate global accountability and transparency
- Ensure regulatory compliance across different markets
- Strengthen brand reputation in diverse cultural contexts
As our client aptly noted, ‘We must be aware of the impact these documents can have on a brand’s reputation and transparency’. This awareness underlines why specialised knowledge is paramount when translating sustainability content.
Our Approach to Quality Assurance
For this 8,000-word sustainability report, we applied our comprehensive quality assurance process:
- Specialist Selection: After a rigorous selection process, we assembled a translation and proofreading team with specific expertise in sustainability content.
- Pre-project Assessment: We provided potential translators with text samples to confirm their familiarity with the terminology and concepts involved.
- Dual Expertise System: We assigned two specialists to the project—a translator and a reviewer—both with over ten years’ experience in the translation industry and excellent client feedback.
- Continuous Communication: Throughout the project, we maintained constant contact with both the client and our translation team to address queries and ensure clarity.
Understanding Purpose, Audience and Cohesion
The client’s requirements were clear yet nuanced: maintain a formal yet approachable and accessible tone while reflecting transparency, commitment and corporate responsibility. Above all, remain faithful to the original.
To meet these expectations, our process involved:
- Purpose Analysis: Understanding not only what the document says, but also what it aims to achieve—in this case, communicating corporate responsibility initiatives to stakeholders.
- Audience Adaptation: Consideration of the specific expectations and knowledge level of US-based readers engaging with sustainability content.
- Terminology Consistency: Developing and maintaining a glossary of sustainability terms to ensure a cohesive register throughout the document.
- Style Cohesion: Implementing a review process specifically focused on maintaining a consistent voice and tone in line with the client’s brand values.
This approach ensures that technical accuracy never comes at the expense of readability or impact—critical factors for sustainability communications.
The Specialist Advantage
At Kobalt, every sustainability translation project is supported by a team that adds value at every stage:
- ESG Specialist Translator: Fluent in technical jargon (e.g., scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions; water footprint; UN SDGs) and adept at communicating complex concepts in clear, precise US English.
- Native US English Reviewer: Fine-tunes style nuances, ensures terminological consistency and guarantees the text reads naturally for the intended audience.
- Project Manager: Oversees timelines and deliverables, coordinates client–team communication, and ensures compliance with international standards and formatting guidelines (GRI, SASB, TCFD).
Through this collaboration, we not only remain faithful to the original but also ensure cultural relevance, regulatory compliance and messaging that resonates with global stakeholders.
