Built on
connection.
Leadership at the intersection of sustainability, communication and creativity
For close to 20 years, our team of sustainability, design and communications professionals have been researching sustainability reports, websites, social campaigns and more, working to identify trends and what defines leadership in corporate practice and communications. What follows is only a sample. To see more, connect with us for a Sustainability Insights presentation tailored to your organization’s priorities.
At Works Design, we’ve spent years helping respected organizations tell stories that matter, sharpen their strategies, build their brands and deepen their relationships with the people who matter most.
Our annual Sustainability Insights research has become a trusted source for us and for the champions doing this work by helping them understand how they can take the lead and hold it.
This year, our research theme is “Built on connection.” We looked at what it takes to build a strong foundation of purpose, leadership and strategy. Again and again, we saw that sustainability – which connects what’s impactful, credible and real – is the key to a foundation that, with a brand and a plan, becomes a winning communications strategy.
This year’s insights are grounded in the practices of 100 leading companies across sectors and geographies and brought to life by a research team spanning creative, digital, strategic communications and sustainability expertise from across our agency.
Wesley Gee
Chief Sustainability Officer and Principal, Works Design
We believe sustainability is everyone’s business. The breadth of the three categories we use to organize our presentation reflects that belief, and our commitment to researching the relationship between brand, communications and sustainability.
We have also included current research from respected organizations to further clarify what’s happening in leading companies and what’s essential for others to meaningfully connect sustainability strategy and communications.
The foundation
Corporate strategy
The 360 on sustainability
Connecting what’s material, critical and credible
The brand and the plan
Communications strategy and brand-aligned execution
The
foundation
Making connections – from purpose to messaging to leadership to action – is the foundation of effective sustainability communications. Show the connections between what companies believe, what they do, and how that connects to their performance, their potential and their impact on stakeholders’ lives.
We started our research by looking at foundational aspects of leading brands, including what they and their leaders represent, as well as their desired long-term impact.
- Purpose
- Theming
- Leadership messaging
*Source: Globescan and Oxford University, 2026
The 360 on
sustainability
Sustainability is circular. So are sustainability communications – a connecting line, running through materiality, messaging and metrics, to provide evidence, perspective, insights and answers on a company’s achievements and ambitions.
A 360-degree vision eliminates blind spots and allows companies to evaluate critical issues from every angle. To gain this perspective, we examined topics related to oversight and seeing the big picture, including:
- Stakeholder engagement
- Business model and value chain
- Materiality and risk
- Governance
- Strategy
- Targets and performance
- International standards and assurance
72% of executives understand their sustainability strategy, but only
*Source: KPMG, 2026
The brand
and the plan
A brand is an emotional connection built on a rational foundation. The rigour and credibility of sustainability reporting and communications reinforce the depth and impact of a brand. Strategically aligned, brand and sustainability work together to bring an organization’s purpose to life.
A brand is a promise. Branding is the strategy, storytelling and inclusive vehicles that an organization uses to connect its brand – its promise – to the world.
- Brand best practices
- Storytelling: Critical issues and tactics
- Digital best practices
Companies that holistically integrate their corporate brand strategy across all marketing, customer experience, and communication channels outperform competitors by up to 2x in total revenue growth
Source: McKinsey & Company, 2024
Our approach
Works Design establishes metrics related to content, design and audience to gain insights into organizational brands and sustainability, while also evaluating trends and best practices in sustainability reporting and communications that can help companies connect with stakeholders.
companies reviewed
sectors
metrics covered
hours of research
Sectors covered
- Consumer discretionary
- Consumer staples
- Financial services
- Health care
- Hospitality & entertainment
- Industrials
- Insurance
- IT & communication services
- Materials
- Pension funds
- Real estate
- Resources
- Transportation
- Utilities
Regions and companies
Reflecting our customer base and the world’s best sustainability communications, our research is based largely in North America, where reporting is mostly voluntary, and Europe, where reporting is largely mandated. To ensure our research is well rounded, we also look at leading companies based in Central and South America, Asia and Australia.
- Zurich Insurance Group
- Vestas
- United Utilities Group plc
- Tony’s Chocolonely
- Tesco plc
- Stora Enso
- Spotify
- Smurfit Westrock
- Siemens Healthineers
- Siemens AG
- Rio Tinto
- Pandora
- Novonesis
- Novo Nordisk
- Norges Bank Investment Management
- Nokia
- Nestle
- Neste
- NatWest Group plc
- Mondi Group
- Maersk
- Lloyds Banking Group
- Legal & General
- Henkel
- Heathrow
- H&M Group
- Grundfos
- Fresenius Medical Care
- Equinor
- EDP
- Derwent London plc
- Decathlon
- CRH
- Clariant
- Carlsberg Group
- BT Group
- AXA
- Anglo American plc
- WSP
- Vancity
- Vale Base Metals
- TELUS
- Teck Resources Ltd.
- TD Bank
- Sun Life
- Stantec
- Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan
- METRO
- Mattamy
- Maple Leaf Foods
- Manulife
- Loblaw
- Kruger Products
- IGM Financial
- Hudbay
- GWL Realty Advisors
- Export Development
Canada - Enbridge
- Coast Capital
- Co-operators
- Brookfield Renewable Partners LP
- Atkins Réalis
- Agnico Eagle
of America
- Waste Management
- Snap
- SLB
- Patagonia
- Newmont
- Mondelez
- Microsoft
- Mars
- Hilton
- Gap
- Ford
- Ecolab
- Disney
- Delta Air Lines
- Crocs
- Corteva
- Coca-Cola HBC
- Cisco
- CBRE
- Caterpillar
- Cargill
- Autodesk Inc.
- Amazon
- AbbVie
and Central
and South America
- Woolworths Group
- Woodside Energy
- Telstra
- Takeda
- QBE
- Origin Energy
- Orbia Advance Corporation
- Meridian Energy
- Brambles
- BHP
- Australian Super
- AIA Group Limited
Indicates work produced by Works Design.
Research team
Works Design has a strong team making the connections that drive our insights. It draws on a mix of disciplines and expertise, including sustainability consulting, brand development, design, writing and digital communications. The process of putting our Sustainability Insights presentation together is collaborative, thoughtful, rigorous and disciplined, and is accompanied by a good share of laughter and sharp observations. The end result is always illuminating – and insightful – for our team and our clients.
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Wesley Gee
Chief Sustainability Officer and Principal
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Eric Johnson
Director of Strategic Communications
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Maureen Piggins
Associate Creative Director
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Yasmin Arnaout
Digital Communications Manager
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Mahvish Baqai
Sustainability Manager
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Johanna Dietrich
Director of Project Management
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Dayoung Lee
Designer
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Remston Martis
Senior Sustainability Consultant
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Thaisa Tylinski Sant’Ana
Sustainability Consultant
-
Wesley Gee
Chief Sustainability Officer and Principal
-
Eric Johnson
Director of Strategic Communications
-
Maureen Piggins
Associate Creative Director
-
Yasmin Arnaout
Digital Communications Manager
-
Mahvish Baqai
Sustainability Manager
-
Johanna Dietrich
Director of Project Management
-
Dayoung Lee
Designer
-
Remston Martis
Senior Sustainability Consultant
-
Thaisa Tylinski Sant’Ana
Sustainability Consultant
Works Design is an independent creative communications agency, home to a range of strategic and creative capabilities, including sustainability consulting and communications, brand development, corporate reporting, and digital and social media strategy and campaigns. In keeping with our commitment to sharing best practices and delivering measurable results, our annual Sustainability Insights presentations connect current and potential clients with rigorous, credible research and best-in-class samples of brands, reporting and digital campaigns.