Location: Switzerland
Sector: Chemicals
Project: Annual sustainability report – proofreading (Korrektorat)
Language(s): US English
Quote:
“I would like to pass on a compliment from our finance department. They were thrilled – the proofreading was completed to an excellent standard and very helpful in achieving our ultimate goal.”
Client
Our client is a leading multinational specialty chemicals company providing a range of systems and products for bonding, sealing, reinforcing and protection in the construction and manufacturing industries. With a turnover of CHF 10 billion and subsidiaries in over 100 countries around the world, their annual sustainability report is key to:
- Showing stakeholders how the business is managing its impacts.
- Helping identify areas for improvement, setting goals and tracking progress on sustainability initiatives.
- Differentiating them from competitors and attracting environmentally conscious customers.
- Providing sustainability metrics for investors to evaluate long-term risk and opportunity.
Challenge / Solution
When the report came to us, it had already been translated from German into US English and our task was to work through the 120 pages with a fine-tooth comb. We needed to immerse ourselves in our client’s culture and familiarise ourselves with over 50 pages of detail from their Corporate Writing Rules and Style Guide.
The level of detail ranged from tone of voice and preferred capitalisation to how many digits to use after a decimal point and spacing after en dashes. The client’s instructions were also to mark up any changes directly on the .PDF report and ensure that our amends and any instructions were crystal clear so that they could be easily understood by a non-linguist.
We had just two working days to carry out our review of the spelling, grammar, punctuation, layout and compliance with the client’s comprehensive corporate style guides and glossaries. Sections of the report included biodiversity and nature, resource use and circular economy, human rights, business ethics and integrity and innovation and digitalisation.
Our most experienced proofreaders were onboarded onto the client’s account at the end of 2024 following a strict proofreading test of a similar nature to this project. We made sure to allow ourselves time to read through the reference material before making a start on the task and to discuss our approach throughout the project, to make sure that the report would be edited in a consistent manner. It was important that we didn’t make any unnecessary stylistic changes to the report but at the same time, we needed to make sure the report read naturally in US English and that the client’s preferences were strictly adhered to, for example their official wording regarding key sustainability concepts and job roles within the organisation.
Impact
In sustainability reporting, where nuance matters and statements may have regulatory implications, thorough proofreading isn’t just about fixing typos; it’s about ensuring accuracy, consistency and clarity throughout.
Our team’s unrivalled attention to detail and commitment to delivering a first-class service had a significant impact for our client, including in the following areas:
- Enhancing their credibility, as errors and inconsistencies can undermine trust in the entire report’s accuracy and the company’s professionalism.
- Risk mitigation, as any mistakes could lead to regulatory issues or legal challenges.
- Message clarity – clear, error-free writing ensures the message is understood precisely as intended by all stakeholders.
- Brand alignment – professional communication reinforces a company’s image as meticulous and reliable, which should extend to its sustainability practices.
- Investor confidence – investor decisions increasingly factor in ESG performance and sloppy reporting may signal broader governance issues.
- Comparability – precise language and consistent formatting allow for better year-over-year comparisons and benchmarking against industry peers.
- Accessibility – well-proofread content is more accessible to international audiences, ultimately expanding the report’s reach.
Our team also learned a thing or two about exemplary sustainability governance and we were delighted to receive the following feedback:
“I would like to pass on a compliment from our finance department. They were thrilled – the proofreading was completed to an excellent standard and very helpful in achieving our ultimate goal.”