Translation of sustainability reports
The sustainability report is a central part of a company's annual report. Translating the sustainability report is an important task that requires specific competencies – particularly in EU law. These competencies can rarely be found within the walls of an industrial company. For time efficiency and correct results, the project should be left to a language service provider.
Språkbolaget has years of experience with annual reports and sustainability reports behind us, and you can trust that we have the necessary expertise to translate your reports in the best possible way!
What does sustainability reporting mean?
Sustainability reporting is regulated by the EU directive CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive). The directive is being gradually incorporated into Swedish law. A growing number of companies are becoming legally obliged to report on sustainability, and even more are doing so to highlight their environmental awareness and maintain positive communication with their customers. Sustainability reports are not only written and translated because the law requires it – they are also an effective tool for communication and marketing.
Translating sustainability reports into the various languages of a company's all markets is a major and important task – a task that requires high competence and many years of experience from both the language service provider and the individual translators and reviewers.
Sustainability reports are lengthy documents, the content of which is partly regulated by law. They reflect a company's operations and environmental work in its own words, but according to strict templates. It is not uncommon for the legally regulated sustainability report to form part of a longer and more freely worded sustainability account (which is not regulated by law to the same strict degree). To handle such documents, we choose translators with many years of experience, high production capacity, knowledge of the company in question's operations, and documented experience of EU legal acts – sustainability reports are not a task for beginners.
We have the knowledge and network of translators and reviewers required to handle sustainability reports.
What is required of a language company that manages the translation of sustainability reports?
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Many years of experience in project management. -
In-depth knowledge of the current company's operations, products and messaging.
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Ability to keep a large project together involving many stakeholders – specifically translators, reviewers and the client's subject matter experts.
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Ability to adhere to agreed delivery schedules despite many parties being involved – in projects of this type, deadlines can rarely be moved.
We understand project management and have translated numerous sustainability reports and corporate responsibility reports for medium-sized enterprises as well as stock market giants, into both Swedish and English as well as other languages.
What is required of a sustainability report translator?
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Many years of experience as a translator.
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In-depth knowledge of the current company's operations, products and messaging.
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Knowledge of economics, environmental issues, sustainability, corporate social responsibility and AI.
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Knowledge of European Union law and legal conditions in the target country.
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Knowledge of CSRD – the EU directive for sustainability reporting.
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Knowledge of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) – the standard applied for sustainability reporting within the EU.
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Knowledge of the EU Taxonomy Regulation and its environmental objectives – the legislation that applies throughout the EU for assessing various environmental and sustainability aspects.
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Understanding of concepts such as ”double materiality”, ”carbon dioxide equivalent”, ”life cycle analysis”, ”resilience” and others.
With us, you can rest assured that we always choose the most experienced translators for this type of assignment, as we know that sustainability reports require a high degree of routine and experience. The translators work together using shared and continuously updated databases, terminology lists and communication platforms.
AI in the translation of sustainability reports?
AI is a natural part of virtually all commercial activity, and translation is no exception. AI performs important functions for many language service providers when it comes to project management, scheduling, budgeting and administration. Translators can use AI to sort out relevant reference documents from the vast amount of material generated by the EU and other sources, and to compile overview information on new regulations and phenomena. Furthermore, translators use AI to quality-assure translations, ensuring not only that spelling and grammar are perfect, but also that all national and company-internal style guides in the target language are met. With AI, translators can ensure consistency between different documents in a project and guarantee thoroughly accurate terminology that complies with the client's instructions.
When it comes to annual reports and sustainability reports, it is less appropriate to let AI play a decisive role in the translation itself. While AI can certainly work on the periphery of the translator's screen and generate ideas during the translation process, it is the translator who must make the decisions on how every single sentence in a document should be translated – supported by applicable laws, EU documents, the client's validated reference material and their own years of experience. Sustainability reports are documents of legal and financial significance that reflect a company's soul – they are far too important to leave to the randomness and lack of consistency that characterise purely AI-driven translation.
We have followed the development of AI within the language industry from the beginning and know where the technology is useful – and where it is not. We know which assignments require experienced translators rather than smart AI.
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The EU's directives and regulations concerning sustainability reporting are under continuous development. A translator can rarely afford to simply copy text from last year's sustainability report – both the content of directives and regulations and their official translations may have changed. One of the most important tasks for a translator of sustainability reports is to keep track of what constitutes current EU law, and how current law has been translated into other languages by the EU's Directorate-General for Translation. It is detective work that places great demands on the translator's knowledge of Union law and the legislative process within the EU.
An example of an area where intensive development is underway concerns the principles for reporting the indirect environmental impact of a company's products, in the stages preceding and following its own operations (”upstream” and ”downstream” respectively).
In many cases, sustainability reports are to be translated into non-EU languages. Here, there are rarely any official EU documents for the translator to rely on; instead, it is a matter of searching for validated reference material and reliable sources of information, as well as following the convention for the document type in the target language region.
We keep ourselves up to date with linguistic and content developments in the field of sustainability and coach our translators and reviewers to use technology and reference materials effectively.
See what our customers have to say
”For us, it was important to find a partner who had experience from our industry to ensure that the terminology is correct. Språkbolaget has held our hand throughout the entire process and delivered quality in a short space of time. Now we look forward to being able to reach out to new target audiences. ”
Maria Öst, Communications Officer, Swedish Women's Voluntary Defence Service
”We're very pleased with the collaboration and above all with the dialogue with our project manager. It was easy to get in touch and easy to ask questions. We were given good feedback during the course of the work, which made the process smooth even though it was relatively extensive and time-consuming.”
Andreas Stridh, Product and Quality Manager, Pharma Systems
”We were extremely satisfied with using Språkbolaget for the translation of our book. They always replied quickly and were responsive to our needs. They kept their commitments, and combined with a personal approach, this made us feel secure and valued throughout the entire process.”
Niklas Eriksson and Pär Skoglund Finquist, authors of ”Ledarens växellåda”.
”We are extremely pleased with Språkbolaget. Among other things, they translate our annual report and a wealth of business documents, which they always do quickly and accurately – even when time is tight. The fact that they are also very pleasant and easy to work with means you feel you are in safe hands.”
”Umo.se, the online youth clinic, Vårdguiden 1177 and several organisations and universities have asked to publish and distribute our material, and they would never have done that if it hadn't been well translated. We can also see that we are getting hits abroad, and that is a good endorsement”
”Språkbolaget are professional, accommodating and always listen to the customer's needs. They have helped us translate various research papers. In every single meeting, they have always been responsive to our wishes, accessible and delivered on time.”
”Språkbolaget was a great help when we at Karolinska wanted to translate a lot of information into various languages to be given to new families after childbirth. We have had good contact with Språkbolaget from the very beginning and have only good experiences.”
”For us at Invinn, the quality of our deliveries is of the utmost importance. In Språkbolaget we have found a partner that delivers quality on time, combined with a professional and pleasant approach. They are transparent with schedules and quick to respond to input and comments. Both we and our customers feel secure with Språkbolaget as a supplier.”
”Plannja has used Språkbolaget for translations of product brochures and installation instructions for subsidiaries in Poland, Denmark, Norway and Finland. Plannja's customers value quality, reliable delivery and clear communication. For us at Plannja, it is therefore important that this permeates our entire business at all levels, including with suppliers. Språkbolaget is a supplier that meets our expectations extremely well. They provide us with a prompt response and we can always feel confident that we will receive information and delivery on time.”
”Many companies, but especially the largest ones of course, recruit worldwide. We have reached 300,000 reference checks per year. This means that the texts in the app have to be translated into many languages, and for that we have enlisted the help of Språkbolaget”
”It is a great responsibility we place on Språkbolaget, and we actually have little opportunity to check all translations. But we have full confidence that the texts will be just as clear as required”
Request a quotation
Our quotations are free of charge and non-binding
Fill in your details, tell us what you need translated, and we'll get back to you to arrange a personal consultation.
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Tailored prices -
Personal project manager
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Qualified professional translators
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We work exclusively with businesses
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Short delivery times
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Strict confidentiality
Request for quotation
Or email us at: info@sprakbolaget.se
Request a quotation
Our quotations are free of charge and non-binding
Fill in your details, tell us what you need translated, and we'll get back to you to arrange a personal consultation.
-
Tailored prices
-
Personal project manager
-
Qualified professional translators
-
We work exclusively with businesses
-
Short delivery times
-
Strict confidentiality
Request for quotation
Or email us at: info@sprakbolaget.se
Frequently asked questions
Get started
Who is your target audience?
Språkbolaget caters to businesses, authorities and organisations that want a reliable language partner, a smooth working process and personal dialogue. We are a full-service translation agency, which means we can help you with all your translation needs, whether it is an annual report, a sales brochure or film translation.
How is my personal data handled?
For us it has always been important that your personal data is handled in a secure and proper manner!
We have updated our privacy policy to clarify how we protect your personal data in accordance with the EU's new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).If you want to read our privacy policy, you can find it here.
What can I expect from you?
Quality assurance, strong project management, an international network and professionalism are the foundation of what we deliver to our clients. This is what every client – large or small – can expect from Språkbolaget. But what we deliver is actually much more: peace of mind, a personal relationship and a passion to ensure that you, as our client, are satisfied with our work and will want to use us again. The personal dimension in our collaboration builds trust between us and you as the client. The best projects are always carried out by people who trust one another.
How do I go about hiring you?
Send your text to us and we will provide a quote. You can contact any of our project managers directly by email or phone or submit a quote request.
Would you like to discuss a collaboration now or later on? contact one of our project managers directly.
Language and services
What languages do you translate into?
We translate to and from most languages. Here are some languages we frequently translate into:
Arabic, Bulgarian, Danish, Dari, English, Estonian, Farsi, Finnish, French, Greek, Indonesian, Italian, Icelandic, Japanese, Chinese (simplified and traditional), Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Dutch, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Somali, Sorani, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Tigrinya, Czech, Turkish, German, Ukrainian and Vietnamese. If you cannot find your language in the list above then ask us.
Which industries do you master?
Språkbolaget translates and copyedits advertising and marketing texts across all industries, customer and internal magazines, financial reports, legal texts, technical texts, medical texts, IT-related texts, HR texts, management texts and public information. We also provide Easy Swedish, Easy English and audiovisual translation services. We work exclusively with businesses.
Is there anything you don't do?
We work exclusively with businesses. Private individuals are referred to SFÖ's website. We do not work with interpretation.
Can I have my translation in the layout?
Yes, if you send us a text in InDesign and other formats, you will get the translation back in the same layout. We also offer additional DTP if you want print-ready files back. Please specify this when ordering or request for quotation.
Can you do express jobs?
Yes, absolutely. We will do everything we can to ensure you get the material back when you need it. Contact us here. Let us know when you need your translation and we will get back to you promptly.
Price and delivery time
How much does a translation cost?
The price of your translation is based on a combination of different criteria, such as the text's difficulty and subject matter, text volume, target and source languages, as well as the deadline.
Translation prices are very much about supply and demand. Certain languages have fewer available translators within specific subject categories, and therefore the prices are higher than for languages and subjects where there are more translators to choose from. Some languages are more labour-intensive than others, and the text may need to be adapted more to the culture of the different countries. Upload your file to get a quote. If the file is large we recommend WeTransfer.
Can you offer contract prices and volume discounts?
Yes, of course. If you have regular translation needs with larger volumes, we are happy to offer you a contract price. Contact one of our project managers here.
Do you charge extra for express delivery?
We charge an additional 10–100 % for express delivery. Express delivery costs more because the translator has to put other assignments on hold and may have to work overtime to complete this one. In most cases, the work is completed quickly even without express delivery, so the surcharge may not be necessary. Upload your file with the proposed delivery date to get a quote. If the file is large, we recommend WeTransfer.
How quickly can I get my translation?
Delivery times depend primarily on the availability of a suitable translator and the volume of text. A good rule of thumb is to assume that a translator has the capacity to translate approximately 2,000 words per day. On top of this come project management, language checking and file handling. When you receive a quote from us, we’ll also provide a delivery time. Please state in your quote request if you have a specific deadline to meet, and we’ll take this into account. If you’re in a particular hurry, we offer an express service where you can have your text translated extra quickly. Request a quote here.
Translation process and quality
What does your working process look like?
Our standard work process involves a native-speaking translator with specialist expertise in the relevant field who translates and reviews their own text. After that, another translator steps in to review the text yet again. As a regular customer with us, you have the opportunity to get the same translator every time and one and the same project manager. We can set up specially tailored work processes and workflows for different types of customer projects. Contact us if you would like to discuss your project with one of our project managers. We have spent many years honing our work process. Read about some of our client case studies here.
Who translates my text?
A qualified native translator specialising in the relevant subject area translates the text, and a second qualified translator reviews it, in accordance with our standard workflow.
What qualifications do Språkbolaget's translators have?
To be approved as a translator with us, you must be a trained translator, translate into your mother tongue, keep in close touch with the development of the language, have documented experience and good references. In addition, you must pass our tests with an approved result. We monitor our translators closely and have developed a quality system that helps us choose the right translator for the right text.
How do you guarantee quality?
Språkbolaget offers a quality guarantee for all translations. We only use translators who meet our quality standards, and we have a documented workflow that involves an additional review of all texts. However, should you not be satisfied with our work, we will revise the translation free of charge in line with any relevant comments until it meets your requirements.
How do you guarantee confidentiality?
All our employees, translators and partners have signed non-disclosure agreements. Should you require a further confidentiality agreement, we are more than happy to sign it.
Do you offer certified translations?
Yes, many of our translators are authorised by the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency. Contact one of our project managers here to check availability.
What file formats can you accept?
We work in a wide variety of programs and formats: Word, PowerPoint, Excel, PDF, InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator and many more. Ask us here!
Other
How do I pay?
For new clients, we carry out a credit check before we start a translation project. Our standard terms are 30 days’ payment terms, and we prefer to send the invoice by email. If you would prefer to receive the invoice by post, that is of course also fine. Large projects are invoiced in instalments.
Where can I find your terms and conditions?
You can find our terms and conditions here.
How do I join Språkbolaget's team of translators?
To join our international team of translators, you must have a degree in translation or the equivalent for the languages you translate from, and translate into your native language. You must also have at least two years' experience of professional translation, and you must work as a freelance translator through your own business. You must also have good and documented knowledge of the subjects you translate. Send your CV to info(@)sprakbolaget.se.
We receive a very large number of applications, so we will not have time to reply to all of them. However, we save all serious applications and will be in touch if the need arises.