ARTICLES
Here you’ll find articles written by advisor Lars Sandstrøm from Corporate Relations.
These articles were previously published in other media outlets.
Read about ESG and sustainability, corporate branding, strategic communication, investor relations, digital communication – and the emerging trends in the communications industry.
Sustainability under Pressure – The Battle for the Narrative
The agenda of responsibility and sustainability has come under fire in recent years. In the most visible way, this is reflected in the Trump administration’s declaration against DEI and initiatives promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. The administration has encouraged leaders or employees in American companies to file an official complaint if they experience discrimination as a result of a DEI initiative (…)
Sustainable Marketing, Please
I increasingly hear the advertising and marketing industry discussing its role in the development of a more sustainable society. The industry undeniably plays a central role in shaping consumer patterns and preferences through images, videos, advertisements, and campaigns. It influences what we buy and how we perceive ourselves as consumers. In a time of accelerating climate crisis, resource scarcity, and growing inequality, it is therefore relevant to ask the question: Is it responsible to promote overconsumption? And how can the industry contribute to a more sustainable future?
Beware of the Commercialization of Sustainability
Business leaders play a significant role in the green and sustainable transformation of companies and society. However, this does not mean that decisions on behalf of the climate and nature should—or can—be made solely based on business and profit motives, or that it should be the opportunities for innovation, stronger market positions, and improved competitive conditions that determine companies’ strategic prioritization of ESG and sustainability initiatives.
Meaningful communications are challenged by compliance-driven annual reports
The largest Danish companies have submitted their first annual report fully complying with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). These reports are quite comprehensive, data-driven and technical when it comes to the integrated sustainability statement. But two questions must be asked: Do the current annual reports communicate in a meaningful way, and do they drive action.
Doing the materiality assessment right by engaging stakeholders
Everybody is doing a Double Materiality Assessment (DMA) – they are about to, or they have just finished or revised one. Some because they want to comply with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and some because they find it valuable to conduct an assessment that makes it possible to define strategic priorities in their corporate reporting as well as in deciding on ESG initiatives.
More compliance, more data, more integration…
Corporate reporting is in a transition phase these years. Companies are to a greater and greater extent taking a more integrated and balanced view on value creation. This is evident when you look at how sustainability has become a built-in element in the annual report.
Challenges and Opportunities in Corporate Responsibility Branding
With an increasing focus on purpose, sustainability, environment and climate in recent years, many companies have developed a range of new methods to communicate their efforts and processes in these areas. The goal has been to strengthen an organisational focus on sustainability, and to gain trust and reputation among stakeholders.
A Tribute to Investor Relations
DIRF DAGEN 2023 was a tribute to Investor Relations – as a function and role, and in celebrating the significance IR has today regarding management, communication and value creation in companies. Indeed, DIRF DAGEN proved that IR plays a significant role in gaining trust, in navigating in a changing global and geopolitical landscape, and in prioritising strategies to create long-term sustainable growth.
Corporate reporting meets new standards for stakeholder communication
The game of corporate reporting has changed over the last 10 years. Companies are no longer just communicating for compliance purposes to a narrow group of investors and financial stakeholders. Instead, reporting is serving several management and communication purposes, and the target audience is getting still larger. This is evident looking at the annual reports of the companies in the C25 index at Nasdaq Copenhagen.
