CSR: A focus on the environment and climate

At Danish Technological Institute, our CSR work is particularly focused on how we can reduce our environmental and climate footprint. CSR is an integrated part of our activities in relation to employees, customers, suppliers, business partners and society in general. Data, facts and scientific methods are a large part of our everyday work. This is also reflected in our work with CSR where we base the work on specific, scientific and measurable initiatives.

A scientific approach with the Science Based Targets Initiative

At Danish Technological Institute, we want to ensure that our efforts are making a concrete and measurable difference. We have therefore joined the Science Based Targets Initiative. The initiative is leading an ambitious climate effort where companies specify science-based targets to reduce their emissions. By joining this initiative, we have committed ourselves to achieving the Net Zero target in 2050. To achieve this, it is important that we already now specify sub-targets for 2030 and implement a number of initiatives aimed at limiting our greenhouse gas emissions.

We are eco-management certified according to the ISO 14001 standard

At Danish Technological Institute, we want to set a good example and complete initiatives that ensure ongoing environmental improvements. Therefore, we work systematically to monitor, evaluate and improve our efforts. We are also eco-management certified based on the internationally recognised ISO 14001 standard. The scope of our environmental certification is: internal operations, service and maintenance of infrastructure for all of our locations.

Initiatives in 2022

Electricity

We have completed a number of energy-saving initiatives in 2022 which reduced our electricity consumption by 12% in the last four months of the year. The goal is to reduce our electricity consumption by 25% before the end of 2024. We have also specified a target of transitioning 100% to green power in 2030.

Heating

We have reduced the temperature on our heating systems in all of our buildings so that, in line with the Danish Government’s guidelines for 2022, we can reduce energy consumption in the heating of our offices and laboratories. We have told our employees to lower the office thermostats to 19 °C. However, some of our laboratories require certain temperature levels and in these cases, it is not possible to lower them.

Waste management

We have an objective that 80% of our waste is to be recycled in 2030. In 2022, approximately half of our waste was recycled. Clear waste sorting information has been posted in office environments, laboratories and canteens.

Wild natural areas: From neatly maintained lawns to a wild paradise for insects

The Institute has converted a number of our outdoors areas in Taastrup and Aarhus into wild natural areas where there is a focus on ensuring good conditions and more biodiversity for insects and other animals.

The inspiration and recommendations for the wild natural areas have particularly come from the Institute’s own specialists who have provided professional recommendations for how to best create an environment that is welcoming to insect and animal life. Our gardener has also devised a plan for the project based on these recommendations and her expertise in the field.

To ensure that the Institute’s wild areas are attractive to insect and animal life, there will be environments established that provide food and hiding places for insects and birds, fences made of branches and sticks and compost piles for cuttings that can be composted on site and used to ensure even better growth conditions for the green areas. On top of that there will also be a small wetlands area established in Taastrup that will attract even more animal life to the area.

The Institute’s work on converting its outdoor areas to more wild nature will take place over the next three years.