ESG
Hedeselskabet has always emphasised its social responsibility, and with our 2025 strategy, our values and responsibilities serve as a foundation for both the association and Dalgas. Our approach to social responsibility is based on an ambition to use our core competencies to build a sustainable future – with nature as a partner.
Our social responsibility
As a participant of the United Nations Global Compact, Hedeselskabet's work on social responsibility follows the ten principles of responsible business conduct and thus also aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
At the same time, we engage in responsible business practices in terms of environmental (E), social (S), and governance (G) issues, where we document and report within the ESG framework.
ESG initiatives at Dalgas
We strategically focus on reducing climate change, increasing biodiversity, and recycling the Earth’s scarce resources. We offer responsible solutions and work to reduce our own climate footprint, which is reported in our climate accounts. We participate in the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Land Sector and Removal Guidance pilot test and have established our climate accounts according to these guidelines, following the recommendations of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to reduce our own emissions.
In 2023, we launched Nature-Based Solutions to address climate and biodiversity challenges. At the same time, we are working on biodiversity at Kongenshus Hede and have partnerships for water forests aimed at groundwater protection. Our projects include afforestation and ecological restoration, contributing to CO2 sequestration, biodiversity, and clean drinking water.
Hedeselskabet has also completed FSC Ecosystem Services certification for biodiversity initiatives and is working to increase understanding of nature and biodiversity through education and collaboration.
Hedeselskabet acts socially and societally responsibly both internally and externally.
Externally, we work to create job opportunities for individuals with mental, social, or physical challenges and collaborate with national job centers. In 2023, we employed 24 people in flexible jobs or similar arrangements.
Internally, we aim to be a responsible and inclusive workplace with a focus on employee well-being, work environment, and skills development. Additionally, our trainee concept and mentoring program have ensured the recruitment and retention of qualified personnel.
Hedeselskabet offers remote work options and flexible hours to create a balance between work and leisure. At the same time, we focus on the work environment with first aid courses and safety initiatives. We are strongly committed to creating a safe workplace for our many colleagues who work with machinery in nature.
Hedeselskabet’s Governance for 2023 focuses on ensuring effective, transparent, and responsible operations in accordance with the principles of good corporate governance. The governance activities include structures, processes, and management principles that strengthen the relationship between management, the board, employees, suppliers, and other stakeholders.
We have expanded guidelines for subcontractors, updated documentation for EcoVadis sustainability assessments, and taken steps to comply with the EU’s CSRD reporting.
The management principles were discussed at Hedeselskabet’s Leadership Forum, and additional employee representatives were elected to the Cooperation Committee for better representation. At the same time, we have worked to increase visibility in the public sphere through participation in debates and expanding the recipient group for the magazine Vækst.
ENVIRONMENT
| Environmental Data1 | Unit | Targets2 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
| Scope 13 | tons CO2e | 2,289 | 3,922 | 4,929 | 4,817 |
| Scope 1 - Changed carbon pool in forest - own forests5 | tons CO2e | -7,587 | -23,416 | -18,033 | |
| Scope 24 | tons CO2e | 90 | 86 | 171 | 183 |
| Scope 3 | tons CO2e | 82,404 | 113,981 | 118,020 | 106,692 |
| Scope 3 - Changed carbon pool in forest - fixed management5 | tons CO2e | -439,939 | -256,639 | -228,162 | |
| Out of scope | tons CO2e | 337,149 | 527,758 | 515,114 | |
| Substitution effects and avoided emissions | tons CO2e | -675,223 | -821,632 | -789,594 |
SOCIAL
| Social data | Unit | Targets2 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
| Number of employees (headcounts) | persons | 716 | 804 | 832 | |
| Gender diversity (ratio: women:men) | % | 22:78 | 22:78 | 23:77 | |
| Sick leave | hours | 58,565 | 66,991 | 74,168 | |
| Accident leave | hours | 4,228 | 8,199 | 6,316 | |
| Students, apprentices, interns | persons | 52 | 73 | 85 | |
| Employed at $56, flexible job, wage subsidy, or mentoring terms | persons | 23 | 30 | 24 | |
| Average age | years | 47 | 46 | 45 | |
| Average seniority | years | 9 | 9 | 9 |
GOVERNANCE
| Management data | Unit | Targets2 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
| The board's gender diversity (ratio: women:men) | % | 33:67 | 33:67 | 33:67 | 33:67 |
| Gender diversity at other management levels – executive board and individuals with personnel responsibility reporting to the executive board (ratio: women:men) | % | 33:67 | 33:67 | 31:69 | 31:69 |
| Attendance at board meetings | % | 100 | 96 | 100 | |
| Salary difference between CEO and employees (median salary) | times | 14.35 | 18.46 | 19.80 |
1. Cf. Hedeselskabet’s climate accounts.
2. Targets for 2030 based on the 2020 baseline. Reduction targets for Scope 1 and 2: 42%, and for Scope 3: 25%.
3. The development is attributed to reduced consumption of fossil fuels for company vehicles.
4. The development is partly attributed to the installation of solar panel systems.
5. The development in the forest carbon pool is particularly influenced by calculated growth and completed harvesting. In 2025, harvesting was lower in permanently managed forests.
Dive into our annual reports
Would you like to know more about who we are as an organisation? And what we actually do to make a difference?
Fill your cup with coffee and dive into our annual reports – you’ll learn a lot more about who Dalgas is.
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UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Hedeselskabet uses the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals as a development tool that encourages us to take action and set targets for our impact. The following goals are particularly relevant to our objectives and aims:
Responsible consumption and production, where we ensure responsible resource use by recycling waste and by-products, utilising side streams for energy, and working with natural solutions to combat climate change.
Climate action, where we sequester CO2 in our own and managed forests and address tasks related to climate protection and adaptation.
Sustainable Development Goal 14 focuses on protecting and ensuring the sustainable use of the oceans, which are vital for the climate, biodiversity, food supply and livelihoods, yet are increasingly under threat. With a focus on target 14.2, Hedeselskabet works, among other things, with marine nature restoration through partnerships and solutions such as mussels and stone reefs to strengthen healthy and resilient marine and coastal ecosystems.
Life on land, where we strive to conserve and restore terrestrial ecosystems through our PEFC-certified forests.
Partnerships for the goals, where our solutions to societal challenges are only found in close alliances with customers, employees, members, the public sector, private companies, and researchers.
How we work with nature-based solutions
End-to-end solutions for your ESG strategy
Our nature-based solutions restore ecosystems and promote sustainability through innovative actions. We develop tailored projects that benefit the environment and contribute to your company’s ESG strategy.
With a complete service – from advice to implementation and monitoring – we ensure that the projects are based on the latest knowledge and best practices. We help realise ambitious ecosystem restoration projects, ensure compliance, and create visible results that strengthen your ESG profile and brand.
How we work with biodiversity
A digital and data-driven approach
At Dalgas, we create habitats where different species can thrive and contribute to a healthy and robust ecosystem. A diverse ecosystem that promotes both nature’s and people’s well-being.
We combine data, scientific knowledge, and practical experience to ensure that your biodiversity project has a positive and lasting impact on nature. Therefore, documentation and monitoring are central elements in our work. And you can use the data in your ESG reporting.
Hedeselskabet – partnering with nature
Dalgas is part of Hedeselskabet – founded in 1866 and still growing. Hedeselskabet is an association of people working for a sustainable future. And who have the necessary knowledge and experience to lead the way.
Hedeselskabet supports
Working for a sustainable future requires resources. Hedeselskabet participates in the development of nature and the environment, and we take responsibility. Therefore, we allocate funds to relevant development projects and member-driven projects, as well as award scholarships. For the benefit of all of us – now and in the future.
We create value for your industry
Dalgas solves all types of green tasks in a range of different industries and sectors across services. We have the experience, machinery, and references that ensure you the best possible solution.