Before we embark on crafting your sustainability story, it’s important we understand the role communication plays in sustainability. As independent and boutique hotel consultants that create sustainable hotels, we tell our clients to always communicate sustainability in a sustainable way. What does this mean exactly? Let’s look at the terms “sustainability communication” and “sustainable communication.”

Sustainability communication is the act of consciously integrating sustainability into a communication strategy by telling stakeholders about your sustainability goals and efforts. The objective of sustainability communication is to raise awareness and understanding about sustainability and what your hotel is doing on the front, and to encourage action to support your initiatives. Sustainability communication is the WHAT = your unique sustainability story, which we will craft together in three steps further below.

Sustainable communication, on the other hand, is about HOW you communicate vs. WHAT you communicate. This means you are communicating in a socially-responsible and ecological manner, with no negative impact to society, the economy and the Planet. The objective of sustainable communication is therefore to reduce the environmental and social footprint of communication activities and to make sure that all can profit from it.

In The Sustainable Hotel Handbook: Communication, we outline 10 Principles of Sustainable Communication to guide marketing and communication professionals in crafting their sustainability stories in the right way. They include the important elements: transparency, inclusiveness, cultural sensitivity, clarity, responsibility, authenticity, progress, relevance, inspirational, ethical. While in the handbook we guide you through these principles with practical examples and checklists, we have included an overview in the template below, which we encourage you to download.

By communicating sustainability in a sustainable way and having the right sustainability story in place for your hotel, you build awareness for your brand, create a positive image of your hotel in the heads of guests, engage and motivate your employees, and better comply with reporting rules and regulations. Of course, you also avoid greenwashing.

Now let’s begin by following our four-step approach:

A captivating central story is the cornerstone of your communication strategy. It should build off your Purpose and be informed by your priorities. A compelling and authentic sustainability story captures what’s unique about sustainability at your hotel and touches on your overall approach to tackling it. It takes a strong stand or point of view and reflects your hotel’s unique personality.

Our practical template for download below will guide you in writing your hotel sustainability story! And the best part about it? It’s free!

When it comes to communication, the most efficient approach is the integrated communication method. Integrated communication ensures that, regardless of the channel or audience, the message is consistent and cohesive. Otherwise, you risk creating confusion and misunderstanding, which can result in a loss of trust or perception of inauthenticity.

Your central message is thus the red thread that runs through all your sustainability communications, making it consistent and coherent to your audience groups: Guest, Employees, Partners, Local community, Media, etc.

When it comes to messaging, we follow the “Know, Feel, Do” model, which is a simple and effective way to ensure People read your message, and that you inspire the correct emotion and encourage a desired action.

• KNOW: What do you want them to know about your sustainability strategy? How does it impact them?
• FEEL: What do you want them to feel about it?
• DO: What actions do you want them to take as a result?

As a next step, take your central story and address the “Know, Feel, Do” for each key stakeholder group listed above. 

Once you have defined WHAT you are communicating = your sustainability story, you also have to make sure that you are telling your story in a sustainable way. The HOW is equally important. You can use the overview of the 10 Principles of Sustainable Communication in our free template as a checklist to make sure that your storytelling is transparent, inclusive, culturally sensitive, clear, responsible, authentic, progressive, relevant, inspirational and ethical.

When it comes to getting your sustainability story done and dusted, the last step is a pretty straightforward one: test, test and test! Check how your messaging resonates with your stakeholders, gather feedback and make any necessary revisions to ensure your communication makes the kind of impact you want. Once you’re happy with it, you can build out supporting messages that go into more detail e.g. concrete actions you’re taking, specific targets you want to reach, or what you have achieved so far.

Including specific goals, targets and data within this extended narrative will demonstrate your commitment to sustainability and make it easier for People to trust you.

This story will serve as the basis of all your communications around your sustainability initiatives, and will make sure that it is not only consistent across all your channels, but credible too. By demonstrating credibility, you ultimately avoid the trap of greenwashing and increase the impact your sustainability initiatives have.

If you want to learn more about communicating sustainability in a sustainable way, check out The Sustainable Hotel Handbook: Communication, which we will be launching soon over on The Sustainable Hotel. In it, we guide you through not only building your sustainability story, but communicating it internally and externally, with insights into effective communications, practical tools such as exercises and checklists, as well as success stories and best practice examples. Check it out HERE.

At MAp, we start every (sustainability) project with Purpose. It is the golden thread running through and connecting all other elements. And the sustainable steps your hotel takes reflects what your overall Purpose is.

But let’s be clear about what your Purpose actually is: Purpose is the reason your hotel exists – its overall WHY. It is the derived meaning that comes when you know that you created something that you believe matters – to yourself, to others, to society. Be aware, Purpose does not entail earning a Profit. It must go above and beyond making money and be broad, humanistic and socially-engaged, linking your hotel to a greater good. Your Purpose will be your guiding compass to making this world a better place and growing your business, at the same time.

WHY Purpose matters

• Brings you clarity and clarity = power
• Creates a culture of innovation
• Attracts the right people (guests, employees, partners) for your hotel
• Builds resilience through turbulent times
• Delivers personal satisfaction to the hotelier

1. Discover your personal Purpose
2. Define your hotel’s Purpose
3. Embed your Purpose into your hotel business
4. Prioritise your sustainability activities based on your Purpose: People, Planet or Profit
5. Activate your Purpose – because Purpose is a verb, not a noun!

The social dimension of sustainability, People, deals with the impact your hotel has on the society for which and in which it operates. It’s about being a good host, a helpful neighbour, a quality employer and partner, a responsible and reliable brand – while serving the direct and indirect needs of your stakeholders.

And who are those stakeholders? While there are many stakeholder groups involved in making a hotel project a success, in this blog post, we focus the action steps on four key groups that your hotel has a major impact on: 

• Your guests
• Your employees
• Your partners
• Your local community

Unfortunately, the hospitality and tourism industry has not always had a good reputation when it comes to its social impact. On a bright note, though, as the industry touches every human on earth in one way or the other, there is so much opportunity to positively contribute to the lives of your guests, your employees and partners, and your local community – now and in the future.

WHY People matter

• Only teamwork makes the dream work
• Money always comes from People
• People will make or break your brand

1. Achieve a 50/50 balance between men and women in your management
2. Give equal employment opportunities to People already residing in the local community
3. Give equal management positions to People already residing in the local community
4. Offer employment opportunities without discrimination by gender, race, disability, religion and more
5. Offer management opportunities without discrimination by gender, race, disability, religion and more

You may also download our free guide on how to write inclusive job ads here. 

We know that many hoteliers are aware of how closely connected their hotels are to their surrounding environments. However, the relationship between hotels and Planet is not a healthy one; hotels create enormous negative impacts on the environment all along their lifecycles.

Therefore, the ultimate goal of environmental sustainability is to minimise your hotel’s environmental impact on the region and the Planet at large through the following key elements:

• Energy
• Waste
• Food
• Water

By tackling these elements holistically, hotels are able to limit their environmental impact and achieve carbon neutrality. And by implementing smart environmental measures they realise significant savings too – a win-win!

WHY Planet matters

• There is no Planet B
• If you put Planet over Profit, your Profit will grow healthy as well
• Act now to environmental regulations – or react later

1. Compost bio waste
2. Plant a biological garden
3. Cook to order and eliminate the buffet
4. Make smaller food portion sizes
5. Donate extra food

Learn more about the topic in our free waste guide. 

We won’t argue: Profit is important. Without it, your hotel will cease to exist. But what is also important is that the Profit earned is:

• Achieved in a sustainable way = not at the cost of People and Planet
• Distributed in a sustainable way = used to secure your hotel’s operationality in the future while also making this world a better place

Money is the lifeblood of your business, but it is not your reason for being – that’s what Purpose is for. But how can you pursue your Purpose if you are not profitable and financially strong?

That’s the paradox: organisations that only exist to earn a Profit don’t last long. But organisations that don’t prioritise Profit can’t survive long enough to fulfil their Purpose. In other words, in the context of sustainability: it’s hard to be green when you’re in the red!

WHY Profit matters

• Profit allows for progress in your business
• Profit enables you to uplift, empower and better serve your stakeholder groups
• Profit makes the world a better place (when you share it with the world)

1. Donate a share of your Profit
2. Create an employee donation scheme
3. Match employees’ donations
4. Create a guest donation scheme
5. Match guests’ donations

Dear Lisa Flora, once again a big CONGRATULATIONS on completing your Master's degree in Sustainable Regional and Destination Development! Can you give us a brief insight into how you methodically approached this major sustainability topic of "making rural areas more attractive for young people"?

Thank you very much and with pleasure! It was clear to me that the first thing I wanted to do was analyse statements from young people throughout Germany. That's why I carried out youth study analyses. The aim was to find out: what is particularly important to young people between the ages of 12 and 25 when planning their future? I then used the information gained from this to carry out a systematic literature analysis and focused on technological trends, rural areas and the wishes of young people. This is the short version, because a Master's thesis consists of many individual methodological steps that are probably not so exciting for our readers. But our MAp mantra also applies here: #StepByStep.

Now, of course, we are looking forward to the answer! What do young people in Germany want for their future? Or what do they expect?

Three aspects seem to be particularly important to young people in Germany when it comes to their future: Flexibility, social life and standard of living. All three aspects are related to both everyday private life and professional life. It can currently be observed that young people feel that they can mainly realise these ideas in a city or urban area. Unfortunately, young people are therefore considering rural communities less and less as a place to live.

An interim question Lisa Flora, why did you set your Master's thesis in Germany?

The topic affects many people, of course! But I find it particularly interesting in Germany because there have been active attempts since the 1990s to initiate a counter-movement to rural exodus. For example, attempts were made to create equal living conditions and opportunities for urban and rural areas with the so-called spatial planning programme. However, this has not been a great success. I found it exciting to find out how technology could be used to achieve these goals in the future.

However, the results can also be applied to comparable countries such as Austria.

Why was it important to you to research and better understand the dynamics of rural areas in an urbanised world? What significance does this topic have for society and, above all, for future developments?

In times when the focus is increasingly on urban centres, rural areas are increasingly being pushed into the background. We can see that this has led to a negative spiral in recent years: As population density decreases, the infrastructure network in rural areas tends to become "patchier". This in turn means that many rural communities are struggling with the decline in educational opportunities, catering facilities and the closure of doctors' offices and police stations. And this makes local people unhappy, which is why many see the solution as moving to the city.

For the future, I see it as crucial that this trend changes. Firstly, in terms of social cohesion, so that there is a balanced and fair society in which all citizens have access to the same resources, services and opportunities regardless of where they live. And secondly, to ensure a diverse economic structure and the preservation of cultural identities. But the list is long and varied!

To what extent do technological trends play a role in the development of rural communities?

In recent years, technological progress has had a major impact on our daily lives, whether in the countryside or in the city. We have integrated technology into our everyday lives to such an extent that it is hard to imagine life without the many opportunities it has created. Young people in particular are making completely new demands on their place of residence as a result.

However, as already mentioned, in many rural areas in Germany, the infrastructure - including the digital infrastructure - is not as good as in the city and it is therefore not possible to keep up with the urban offer.

In summary, this means that successful rural community development today consists of using technology not only as infrastructure, but also as a driver for social interaction, education and professional opportunities. By integrating technologies that reflect the individual wishes and dreams of future generations, rural communities can not only become more attractive, but also better tailored to the needs of the future.

Does the topic of sustainability also play a role in relation to your research results?

The topic of sustainability plays a crucial role in the context of rural areas and is of great importance for their long-term development. However, my research findings primarily emphasise the social aspect of sustainability. For young people, it seems to be particularly important for their personal future to live in a place that promotes social justice, strengthens the community and offers initiatives that improve quality of life. Always in the context of technological offerings and opportunities.

How can the findings of your master's thesis be put into practice? What are the top 5 concrete measures that can be taken to make rural areas more attractive to young people through technology?

What I like about my work is that I was able to identify concrete examples of implementation. Even simple measures can enhance rural areas for young people.

My top 5 recommendations for rural communities are:

1. Promotion of social infrastructure through technology:

Introducing digital platforms for information, announcements, voting and coordination of community activities and neighborhood assistance.

2. Improving mobility through technology-based solutions:

Introduction of coordinated mobility offers that can be controlled via an app. Combined ticket offers in particular increase attractiveness (combining car-sharing, buses, e-bikes, etc.). When planning digital routes, always offer barrier-free routes (suitable for wheelchairs, etc.) for comprehensive accessibility for all.

3. Creation of flexible working options and co-working spaces:

Provide creative workspaces (co-working spaces) to appeal to people with (increasingly common) flexible working models. Actively promoting rural areas as attractive places for "workation" also attracts young people.

4. Digital storytelling in places steeped in history:

Integrating technology to make stories and information accessible at historically significant places. The playful exchange of information generates interest among many young people. Use of QR codes to provide background information and emphasise the history of a place/street. (For example: Why is Jägergasse called what it is and what used to stand on such and such a street corner?)

5. Cross-generational technology accessibility:

Young people want to feel they can be happy where they live, even as they age. Therefore, creating inclusive technology solutions that are accessible to all age groups; providing technology courses, especially for older people, to improve their technological literacy. Introducing technology gradually and in consultation with the community for seamless integration.

Source: Lisa Flora Buchauer

Of course, our final MAp meets question should not be missing today: What makes a truly unique hotel experience for you personally?

For me personally, a truly unique hotel experience is above all a "certain gut feeling". If I have a positive feeling when I first enter the hotel, I know it's something special.

A unique hotel experience for me is therefore a place that creates an emotional connection. And for me, such an emotional connection is created, for example, by offering various local experiences or creatively displaying the hotel's history in corridors / on the website.

And I have to admit: I'm also happy about the classic little chocolate on the bed pillow - preferably locally produced ;-)

Picture trends as the cool kids at the hospitality party, setting the vibe for the entire gathering. When we talk about hospitality trends, we're basically discussing "what's hot and happening" in the world of hotels and travel. Hospitality trends are evolving patterns and changes within the hospitality industry, reflecting shifts in consumer behavior, technology, design, and service offerings. So, why should hoteliers pay attention to hospitality trends?

Trends serve as a compass guiding hoteliers through the ever-evolving hospitality landscape. Embracing these hotel trends means staying attuned to shifting guest preferences, technological advancements, and industry innovations. Hoteliers who strategically adapt to hotel trends can differentiate their properties, offering guests unique and appealing experiences that set them apart from competitors.

This not only enhances guest satisfaction but also drives higher occupancy rates and revenue. In essence, keeping a keen eye on hospitality trends is akin to possessing a valuable tool that can elevate a hotel's reputation, attract more guests, and contribute to its financial success. For the purposes of this trend report, we’ve focused on one trend that’s here to stay: sustainability. That’s why we’ve brought together the top trends for sustainable hotel businesses in 2024. Let’s dive in!

According to central findings from the latest Annual Global Report and Forecast published by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), a remarkable 82% of travelers reported that business travel is very or moderately worthwhile in achieving their business objectives. This underscores the emerging trend of "Purposeful Business Travel."

Business travelers now expect more than just meetings and conferences; they are seeking meaningful experiences and opportunities that go beyond mere business transactions. Combining meetings with purposeful leisure means that travelers stay longer, engage in more activities, and take steps to make “the most of their carbon emissions." Being attractive to this travel group thereby creates loyal customers, expands the target audience, and helps achieve new reach.

3 things your hotel can do to leverage this hotel trend:

• Clearly present your own WHY. Studies demonstrate that this significantly enhances the perceived attractiveness of your hotel. You'll connect with purpose-driven business travelers when you authentically exhibit your own sense of purpose. If you encounter any difficulties in doing so, we've crafted a complete handbook on the topic of purpose to guide you in defining it and communicating it with the world.
• Create customised packages that include bundled business services like arranging (sustainable) transportation, with other offerings like wellness and healthy dining options. Offer discounts and incentives for extended stays to help them make the most out of their visits.
• Provide information on how business travelers can offset their carbon emissions and refer to organisations such as Cool Earth. Not only does this demonstrate your commitment to environmental responsibility, but it also directly appeals to purpose-driven business travelers.

The Marketing and Tourism Teacher Delmar José Ribeiro Sábio emphasises the hospitality trend of hyper-local experiences in 2024. This means that guests are actively seeking out unique and authentic experiences. It's no longer just about ”taking a vacation” - places are chosen more consciously, with a desire to immerse themselves in the authentic local culture, history and cuisine.

But hasn't it always been this way? Well, it’s become even more focused and small-structured now. There's actually a distinction between local and hyper-local: "Local" pertains to towns and cities, whereas "hyper-local" encompasses neighborhoods.

3 things your hotel can do to leverage this hotel trend:

• Actively promote community-driven initiatives, such as art exhibitions, farmers markets, or charity events, and encourage guests to get involved during their stay. For example, you can provide a customised neighborhood map, created by a local artist, where guests can see what's going on around them.
• Collaborate with local chefs and food producers to offer hyper-local dining experiences within your hotel. Host pop-up restaurants or chef's tables that exclusively feature locally-sourced ingredients, giving guests a taste of the authentic local cuisine.
• Appeal to the (hyper-)local population as well. For instance, consider inviting local artists to showcase their work in your lobby or opening your restaurant to non-guests, making your hotel the neighbourhood hangout. This not only resonates with the local community but also enhances your guests' experience, as they appreciate the authentic atmosphere of being among locals.

At MAp, we are strong advocates for businesses and brands that prioritise honesty, regardless of the circumstances. Companies that consistently maintain transparency tend to outperform their competitors. And this principle extends to the hotel industry. But let's not mince words and address the undeniable fact: Greenwashing in the hospitality industry is gaining ground.

Greenwashing refers to hotels falsely promoting themselves as eco-friendly or sustainable without implementing genuine environmentally-conscious practices. Greenwashing is a trend that needs to be countered. This is achieved by employing successful sustainability communication.

By communicating sustainability in a sustainable way and having the right sustainability story in place for your hotel, you build awareness for your brand, create a positive image of your hotel in the heads of guests, engage and motivate your employees, and better comply with reporting rules and regulations. And of course, you also avoid greenwashing.

3 things your hotel can do to leverage this hotel trend:

• Seek recognised sustainability certifications to validate your sustainability initiatives and assure guests of your commitment. You can learn more about Certifications on our Resources page HERE.
• Don’t be vague about the information you give. Your communication should be clear, honest and transparent, including concrete examples of what you are doing. In this context, it is important to keep the 10 Principles of Sustainable Communication in mind.
• Focus on the experiences you create, not on impressing your guests. The hotel industry relies heavily on the guest experience. That's why it's essential to pay attention to what guests truly encounter during their stay. What's the use of making big promises upfront if the real experience doesn't match? It can damage your reputation very fast. So trust in the saying: "Honesty is the best policy."

If you want to learn more about greenwashing, we have dedicated a whole separate blog post to the topic.

Of course, sustainability isn't just about having a purpose and being environmentally + socially responsible. It’s also about ensuring profitability; after all sustainable hotels achieve more financial success due to decreased costs and increased performance (as a result of higher occupancy rates, and more). Monitoring sustainability efforts is a key hotel trend that can help hotels strike a balance between sustainable consciousness and financial success.

3 things your hotel can do to leverage this hotel trend:

• Monitor aspects such as resource consumption, energy efficiency, waste reduction, and water conservation. By doing so, hotels can identify areas where they can cut costs, reduce waste, and minimise their environmental footprint.
• Set realistic targets for improvement by making data-driven decisions. Whether it's through advanced building management systems, real-time data analytics, or guest feedback, hotels can fine-tune their operations to maximise both environmental and financial benefits.
• Explore creative methods of guest interaction through monitoring, such as integrating gamification elements into the water usage display in the shower. Motivate guests to be part of the sustainability journey, ultimately leading to positive financial outcomes for your business.

That’s a wrap on this year’s top hotel trends for sustainable hotel businesses in 2024. Thanks for tuning in and your interest in making a difference – for the hospitality industry and the world!

Dear Luise, congratulations on your excellent work and the successful completion of your studies. What sparked your interest in devoting your bachelor thesis to the topic of sustainability communication in the independent hotel industry?

Luise: Thank you very much! I really enjoy browsing hotel websites and researching information about potential travel accommodations. This passion started when I was working as a flight attendant, when I regularly stayed in hotels and developed a growing interest in the industry. During the mentoring programme, Magdalena then told me that hoteliers often don't know exactly how to communicate about sustainability. This realisation not only piqued my curiosity, but also strengthened my desire to learn more about the specific difficulties and opportunities that the independent hotel industry in particular faces in this area.

What was the aim of your study and what approach and/or methods did you use to reach your destination?

Luise: The aim of my bachelor thesis was to develop concrete recommendations for action that can help hoteliers to successfully communicate their sustainability initiatives. To achieve this goal, I took various steps. First, I analysed hotel websites on sustainable booking platforms to gain an initial insight into current communication. In the next step, I conducted qualitative interviews with hotel employees to gain deeper insights into the background of sustainability communication, including difficulties or already successfully-implemented sustainability measures in communication. I then conducted a short survey to verify the findings and transfer them to a larger number of hotels. As a further methodological step, I also conducted two interviews with experts in order to obtain additional input for the development of practical recommendations for action. These methodological steps gave me a comprehensive insight into the current hurdles and difficulties in the field of sustainability communication. Based on these findings, I was then able to derive practical recommendations for action.

What difficulties do independent hotels have in communicating their sustainability efforts? Where have you identified hurdles and challenges?

Luise: According to my research, the main challenge for hoteliers is a significant lack of resources, particularly in terms of time and staff. These limited resources pose a significant barrier when it comes to engaging intensively with the communication of sustainability initiatives. Another significant difficulty lies in the clear presentation of the numerous sustainability initiatives. Many hotels have already implemented a variety of measures, but clearly communicating these initiatives is a challenge. The question arises as to how hotels can present the diversity of their sustainable efforts in a way that is understandable and appealing to their guests. In addition, hoteliers are faced with the decision of which specific measures they should communicate at all. With so many sustainability initiatives, the choice can be complex as hotels need to ensure that their chosen focus matches the expectations of their target groups.

How can independent hotels ensure authentic and credible communication of their sustainability efforts? OR what options are there for communicating sustainability measures emotionally and incorporating the hotel personality?

Luise: To ensure authentic and credible communication, I recommend that hoteliers present concrete facts and figures to back up their sustainability initiatives. This could include, for example, the exact origin of the food or the proportion of organic food. Such specific information provides a solid foundation for communication and allows guests to understand the real impact of sustainability efforts.

Furthermore, it is advisable to present the development in a transparent manner. By showing progress visually, not only is the hotel's commitment made clear, but guests are also able to follow the positive development of the sustainability initiatives. Such visual transparency not only creates trust, but also allows guests to actively participate in the sustainability progress. If the hotel has recorded CO2 emissions data, this information should definitely be shared.

This is not only for the sake of authenticity of sustainability efforts, but also as an opportunity for guests to make conscious decisions. Disclosing CO2 emissions data gives guests insight into the environmental impact of their stay and allows them to make an informed choice.

What are your top 3 recommendations for hoteliers to communicate sustainability measures clearly, concisely and yet authentically to their guests?

Luise: A particularly challenging task for hotels is to clearly present their sustainability efforts. In this context, I recommend that hoteliers integrate a special subpage for sustainability topics on their websites. On this subpage, the various measures can be organised, for example according to social, economic and ecological dimensions of sustainability or chronologically. This clear structure makes it easier for guests to find relevant information and obtain comprehensive information.

I also suggest that hotels emphasise their unique personality in their communication. Independent hotels often carry a special personality and individuality that makes them unique. These distinctive characteristics are not only reflected in the hotel itself, but also in its sustainability story.

In this context, hotels could tell their own story to emphasise their uniqueness. This could include, for example, why sustainability communication is personally important for independent hotels. Another important aspect is that hotels communicate tangible and concrete information for guests. Hotels can do this effectively by talking about concrete measures that bring immediate benefits to guests or affect them directly. Examples of this could be sustainable transportation options, health-promoting aspects or measures in the areas of energy and water. By focusing on tangible aspects, communication not only becomes more transparent, but also more relevant and appealing to guests.

As always, our final MAp meets question: What makes a truly unique hotel experience for you personally?

Luise: I particularly appreciate it when a hotel is not just a place to stay, but also tells the stories of the region and the hotel itself. For example, I love it when local food is present in the hotel's offerings or when the rooms are decorated with works of art from the region. Such details give the stay a special touch and allow me to be not only a guest, but also part of the local culture and atmosphere.

Sustainable communication is how you communicate: specific, respectful, and mindful of impact. Sustainability communication is what you communicate: your goals, actions, and progress. Hotels need both. This guide explains the difference, the core principles, and the wording that helps you avoid greenwashing.

Greenwashing continues to stain the hospitality industry, with hotels making claims that are bigger than reality, and consumers are understandably distrusting as a result. Let’s look at these findings by The Sustainable Agency (2023) that show the perils of greenwashing and the risks of getting your sustainability communication wrong:

• 42% of online sustainability claims were found to be “exaggerated, false or deceptive” in a high-profile study by the European Union.
• 88% of consumers don’t immediately trust a brand that claims to be sustainable, showing the importance of walking and talking sustainability.
• 30% of millennials will unfollow accounts that believe to be posting inauthentic content.
• 90% of millennials – one of the demographics most invested in sustainable living – say authenticity is a top influence when deciding to buy.
• 40% of people wouldn’t recommend a product to their friends and family if they felt a brand was falling short on its environmental claims.
• 17% of people would actively discourage their friends and family from buying a product if they felt environmental claims were overstated.
• 55% of people are looking for companies to explain the sustainability credentials of their product compared to alternatives – simply labelling your product ‘sustainable’ is no longer enough.
• Companies who mislead online (including greenwashing) could face a fine equal to 10% of annual turnover under proposed legislation in the UK. More laws are likely to follow on questionable environmental claims made online.

To practice Sustainable Communication, it’s important to ensure your communication reflect the following:

1. TRANSPARENCY:
Promoting honesty, openness, and trust in your sustainability initiatives.

2. INCLUSIVENESS:
Promoting equality by supporting People of all backgrounds and avoiding discriminatory practices.

3. CULTURAL SENSITIVITY:
Prioritising understanding and respect of local cultures and traditions.

4. CLARITY:
Fostering engagement and building understanding among audience members.

5. RESPONSIBILITY:
Taking responsibility for your actions and avoiding harmful communication practices.

6. AUTHENTICITY:
Making your sustainability journey heartfelt and personal.

7. PROGRESS:
Continually improving your communication practices.

8. RELEVANCE:
Explaining how new sustainable products and services impact your stakeholders.

9. INSPIRATIONAL:
Keeping communications positive and inspiring.

10. ETHICAL:
Ensuring that you never Profit from difficult situations People might be in.