Sustainability Report Writing*

FAQ

1. 01What does a sustainability report writer do?

   A sustainability report writer turns an organization’s data, strategy and stories into a public account of its environmental, social and economic impacts. At Council Fire the writing sits inside a strategy team, so the same people settle the material topics, trace each figure to its source, draft the text and work with designers on the final report.

2. 02Should we hire a copywriter or a strategy firm?

   A copywriter fits when the data is checked, the material topics are approved and you need clear prose. If the materiality, the data or the GRI claim is still open, you need people who can settle those questions before anyone writes. That is the work Council Fire does, and the writing follows from it.

3. 03What is the difference between reporting in accordance with GRI and with reference to GRI?

   Reporting in accordance with the GRI Standards means meeting all nine requirements in GRI 1, including reporting on every material topic. Reporting with reference to GRI lets you use selected standards and carries three requirements: publish a GRI content index, provide a statement of use and notify GRI.

4. 04Do we still need a sustainability report if the CSRD doesn’t apply to us?

   Often, yes. After Omnibus I, the CSRD covers only EU companies with more than 1,000 employees and more than €450 million in net turnover, plus non-EU groups with more than €450 million in EU turnover. Customers, lenders, investors and B Lab still ask for reports, and one checked dataset can answer them.

5. 05How long does a sustainability report take?

   Plan on about six months for a full report. Greece’s Growthfund gave its consultant six months in a published 2024 RFP, and data collection and review set the pace more than writing does. A first report, a materiality refresh or a new emissions inventory adds time.

6. 06How much does a sustainability report cost?

   Published budgets vary widely. In a 2024 framework agreement, Greece’s Growthfund priced GRI-referenced reports at €5,000 to €9,000 per small company and €12,000 to €16,000 per large one, and €40,000 to €50,000 for its own report with a portfolio roll-up. Data readiness, materiality work, design and assurance move the price most.

7. 07Do you assure the reports you write?

   No. Assurance should come from an independent provider under a separate contract. ISSA 5000, the IAASB’s sustainability assurance standard, applies to periods beginning on or after December 15, 2026. We build the evidence trail, answer the assurer’s questions and track findings to resolution.

8. 08Can you write our B Corp impact report?

   Yes. B Lab’s new standards require Large and X Large B Corps to publish a board-approved social and environmental performance report from Year 3 of their cycle, including a summary of stakeholder engagement. We’re a B Corp ourselves, certified since 2010, and we publish our own impact report.