Ambitious sustainability goals
An everyday life with more sustainable solutions
DTU Science Park needs to be more sustainable
DTU Science Park is actively working towards increased sustainability. We have initiated initiatives within the environment, social conditions, and our corporate behavior for the benefit of the over 300 companies that have their homes with us. We have chosen three targeted focus areas:
DGNB gold certification
In March 2024, DTU Science Park became Denmark’s first business area with a DGNB Plan certification in gold.
DGNB is a certification scheme for construction, buildings, and urban areas. The system is based on a holistic approach to sustainability (UN definition) with three main pillars: social, economic, and environmental sustainability.
We care for the area
In Hørsholm, we have a 100-hectare park area that we aim to preserve by continuously implementing changes that enhance biodiversity.
This includes practices such as insect-friendly gardening, supporting the growth of green areas to benefit the environment and local wildlife, and installing over 600 bird and owl nesting boxes.
Innovations focusing on CO2 reduction
In our growth program GreenUP Accelerator, we help startups working with CO2-reducing products and solutions.
Here, they receive assistance in scaling, product development, securing investors, and entering international markets with their CO2-reducing solutions.
Articles
We are dedicated to implementing sustainable initiatives that benefit people and the environment. Get inspired and insights about how we work with taking responsibility.
This is how we work with sustainability
Collaboration and engaging with customers are crucial to achieving our ambitious goals. In this process, we aim to inspire the companies in DTU Science Park to embark on their work with sustainability. Read about our sustainability initiatives and what value it can provide to the companies.
Biodiversity
Through a strategic choice of diverse planting and trees, we attract a varied range of insect, bird, and plant life, which we protect. We have an increased focus on preserving our green areas, and we collaborate with Vild med Vilje (a Danish organisation that transforms lawns into diverse flower meadows by changing mowing practices). We also collaborate with The Danish Society for Nature Conservation to increase biodiversity in our green areas.
Green electricity
Through 0-Mission, we subscribe to the solar park in Vandel near Vejle. In this way, we buy electricity made from solar energy for the shared grid corresponding to the electricity consumption in the research park in Hørsholm. We and the companies can subtract the green power from the CO2 accounts, add the information in the ESG report, and compensate for the company's footprint. In addition, we work with electricity-saving initiatives, e.g., sensor-controlled LED street lighting in the park in Hørsholm.
Documentation for the ESG report
As a company in DTU Science Park, it is easy and cost-free to access essential data for your ESG reporting and CO2 accounting. We provide data on electricity, heat, and water consumption. We also have waste data, recycling rates, and extensive data on the urban area in Hørsholm.
Water cycle
We have made significant investments in climate-proofing our buildings and infrastructure to prevent damage to fixtures. In Hørsholm, natural and artificial ponds and coating where water can get through reduce stress on the sewer system and ensure natural infiltration.
Mobility
We are working to develop a mobility infrastructure that gives employees the opportunity to use transport where the CO2 footprint is reduced. For example, we have installed 40 electric charging stations for electric vehicles. More employees are using Nabogo for carpooling, and we have also established a test mobility hub, HUB+, centrally located in Hørsholm, where you can book electric cars and bikes from Green Mobility, Kinto Share, and Dott. At our location in Lyngby, you can also book shared electric cars and bicycles. Moreover electric buses with high-frequency service run from Nørreport to both our locations during rush hour.
Recycling of Building Materials
DTU Science Park has a dynamic building infrastructure, which regularly generates surplus furniture, epuipment, and materials for reuse. We are working towards ensuring that valuable materials do not leave the premises or become waste. This allows companies in DTU Science Park to furnish spaces with recycled furniture or circulate used furnishings.
Garbage Sorting
It is a statutory requirement for companies to sort household-like waste. Throughout the DTU Science Park, you will find sorting solutions where you can sort into 7 types of waste in addition to what is required by law. In Hørsholm, you can also get waste data for your ESG reporting.
New construction is DGNB-certified
Our new buildings in Hørsholm will be certified within DGNB (gold). The business district in Hørsholm obtained a DGNB plan certification in early 2024, while the campus area in Lyngby must be recertified in 2025. The certifications are proof that construction and urban area development are focused on sustainability.
Living lab
Is your company testing a product or solution? We provide the urban area and building infrastructure in Hørsholm for testing and demonstration. This means that as a company in the DTU Science Park you can easily present your product to customers and possibly investors. In addition, we promote your solution through signage and publicity. Testing can include everything from automated sampling toilets to solar heating solutions and lighting projects.
It is essential for us to learn that DTU Science Park is undergoing a DGNB certification and taking on this significant responsibility. I believe that there are future initiatives we can benefit greatly from collaborating on, such as waste management, traffic safety, circular economy, and mobility. My assumption is that the area will become even more attractive to future talented employees, which we are highly dependent on.
When we have companies for their initial property tour, we always highlight our sustainability efforts. However, it often happens that when they move in, they realize that what they thought was a sales pitch is actually what's happening in reality.
DGNB certification is considered a seal of quality
DGNB is an abbreviation of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Nachhaltiges Bauen, which developed the certification system. It measures more than 400 different sustainability parameters. The DGNB system is managed and further developed in Denmark by the Council for Sustainable Construction (Rådet for Bæredygtigt Byggeri).
Thus, the certification is impartial and signifies a focus on sustainability down to the details, based on the three primary parameters: social, economic, and environmental sustainability.
Our location in Hørsholm was DGNB plan certified in 2024, and the campus area in Lyngby must be recertified in 2025.
A natural wildlife and plant life with “Vild med Vilje”
Both the companies, their customers, and the employees of DTU Science Park enjoy using our large green spaces, which we make every effort to preserve. That is why weare partners in Vild med Vilje, a Danish organisation that creates diverse flower meadows by altering moving practices on lawns and the Danish Society for Nature Conservation.
We make ongoing improvements that cater to biodiversity. We provide insect-friendly planting and have set up more than 600 bird and owl boxes.
Our green spaces are designed for human use while taking nature into account. This is why we also establish pathways ideal for leisurely strolls and meaningful conversations, offering a reprieve from the workday or a space to discover inspiration.
Become part of a business area that works purposefully with sustainable solutions
When you move into the DTU Science Park, you find yourself in a place that works towards more sustainable solutions.
- With an address at DTU Science Park, you can use the DGNB Gold Certification logo in your marketing and ESG reporting.
- When we fell trees, we are committed to re-establishing new plantings elsewhere.
- We collaborate with the Danish Society for Nature Conservation and have, among other things, created 3,000 square meters of butterfly meadows.
- You can use our green areas, perfect for outdoor meetings, a cup of coffee, or walk-and-talks.
- Electric cars can easily be charged at charging stations in both Lyngby and Hørsholm.
- Electric buses make it both easy to use public transportation to and from DTU Science Park.
- Don’t waste time thinking about your company’s waste. You get access to a good joint solution that offers you the sorting of household-like waste in accordance with the legislation. 7 additional types of waste can be sorted.
Focus on a good balance between new construction and nature
As the leading deep tech environment in the country, we sometimes need to build anew and renovate. This is always done with nature as our collaborator, where we incorporate architecture into our green spaces.
The construction processes are planned to have as little impact on the surroundings as possible, and we reguarly donate tree species to the Rudersdal Municipality.
The University of Copenhagen has been granted access to one of our green areas for research and educational projects. You will find Denmark’s largest collection of paradise apple trees, a magnolia garden, and the urban tree arboretum.
The Malus collection is a unique collection featuring more than 80 different varieties of crabapple trees.
The green areas around our buildings are ideal for walk and talks.
We support innovation with a focus on sustainability
At DTU Science Park, we take on a social responsibility and allocate resources each year to create the best possible environment for innovative startups working on sustainable initiatives to bring their solutions to market more easily, quickly, and cost-effectively.
In the GreenUP Accelerator, they receive assistance in scaling, product development, securing investors, and entering international markets with their green initiatives.
Mobility Hub at DTU Science Park in Hørsholm
In Hørsholm, employees and companies can use electric shared vehicles to get to and from work or meetings through the mobility hub, HUB+, which is located in several locations in Rudersdal Municipality.
The hub features electric bikes from TIER and electric cars from GreenMobility and KINTO.
HUB+ is a European project being tested in Denmark for one year by the Capital Region of Denmark and Rudersdal Municipality.
Become part of a business area that focuses on sustainability
Is your company interested in joining a business area that focuses on the environment, social conditions, and corporate behavior?
Hear about the possibilities of joining DTU Science Park and schedule a tour of the exact spaces that meet your needs.