Sustainability Storytelling - by Mike Hower

About the Book

Understand how to craft strategies and messages that engage different stakeholders on sustainability, avoiding greenwashing and creating compelling and compliant communication.

Book Synopsis

Develop a sustainability communication strategy that applies clear principles, builds credibility and delivers messages that move both business and environmental goals forward.

Sustainable Storytelling is a practical guide for mid to senior-career communication, marketing and ESG professionals who want to develop compelling, compliant and impactful sustainability narratives. As organizations face rising regulatory pressure, shifting consumer expectations and increasing scrutiny around authenticity, this book provides actionable frameworks for creating communications that resonate, reduce risk and strengthen brand trust.

Written by sustainability communication expert Mike Hower, the book combines strategic guidance with practical tools to help professionals translate complex ESG topics into stories that support organizational priorities. Through detailed chapters and real-world examples from PepsiCo, Salesforce, SAP, Veolia and Apollo Global Management, readers learn how to implement messaging strategies that are both credible and commercially effective.

You'll learn how to:
- Apply sustainability communication principles to craft clear, honest and engaging narratives
- Implement frameworks that link business strategy with environmental and social impact
- Develop approaches to avoid greenwashing and manage regulatory, legal and reputational risks
- Optimize stakeholder engagement across investors, consumers, employees and partners
- Use real-world examples to guide decision making and strengthen your professional credibility

With its blend of practical instruction and strategic insight, Sustainable Storytelling enables professionals to apply proven communication methods that elevate their work, support organizational resilience and advance sustainability efforts with confidence.

Themes include: sustainability communication, ESG strategy, stakeholder engagement, greenwashing prevention, corporate responsibility, reputation management

About the Author

Mike Hower is a sustainability communications expert and founder of Hower Impact, a boutique consultancy specializing in transforming complex sustainability initiatives into resonant narratives. Based in Oakland, CA, he has collaborated with global brands including Mars, The North Face, Snapchat, HP and Berry Global. He has written for prominent sustainability publications such as GreenBiz, Sustainable Brands and Triple Pundit. He hosts The Sustainability Communicator podcast where he explores the nuanced art of sustainability storytelling.