Sustainability communication plays a crucial role in our society, influencing a wide range of domains and actors. Central to its role, is the dissemination of accurate information about pertinent global issues whilst serving as a driver to motivate individuals towards responsible behaviour. The main objective of this study is to investigate the preferences and effectiveness of communication methods among eighteen adult students, belonging to Generation X and Y, undertaking a study unit about sustainability at the University of Malta. Upon completion of the study unit, through purposive sampling, a questionnaire was administered to obtain participants’ opinions about sustainability communication methods, with a particular focus on those utilised during the study unit, which includes, amongst others, comics, songs, and storytelling. Findings reveal that participants consider storytelling to be the most effective method which impacts significantly the participants’ knowledge, attitudes and lifestyle. Communication methods related to the arts and literature such as theatre, poetry and puppetry are not preferred. While findings strongly reveal that the direct effectiveness of the sustainability methods as a learning tool is crucial during their educational experience, their applicability to personal choices and lifestyle is less evident. The Mann–Whitney U Test also revealed no differences between the two generations regarding: the level of understanding of sustainability communication; the influence of communication methods on knowledge, attitudes and lifestyle; the impact of the communication methods used during the course; and the characteristics of effective communication methods. The major contribution of this research is ‘The Tripartite Model of Communication Effectiveness’, which serves as a mapping tool to visually contextualize and plot the effectiveness of communication methods vis-à-vis knowledge, attitudes and lifestyle. This study, being part of a wider PhD study, warrants further investigation given its small sample size. However, it provides new insights into sustainability communication, indicating methods preferred among Generation X and Y participants, which may be relevant for stakeholders such as policymakers, educators, and communication practitioners in designing effective strategies to foster behavioural change.