Responsibility Policy (CSR/ESG)
A free template that helps you describe how your business works in a structured way with social matters, the environment, and good corporate governance.
Note: This template is drafted under Danish law. It is provided as an English translation for your convenience.
A responsibility policy — often called a CSR policy or ESG policy — describes how your business approaches environmental, social and governance matters. It's increasingly requested by partners, customers and investors — and can also make a difference if your business is one day sold. Read our full walkthrough of what a responsibility policy should contain, and when it's legally required (currently in Danish).
What does the template contain?
- Purpose and scope
- Management ownership and responsibility
- Social matters and working conditions (Social)
- Environment and climate (Environment)
- Governance, business ethics and anti-corruption (Governance)
- The supply chain and partners
- Concrete goals and actions
- Transparency, follow-up and documentation
- Approval and review
The structure follows a logical order — from purpose and management responsibility, through the three classic ESG areas, to concrete goals and ongoing follow-up — so the policy is easy to read and easy to build on.
Is it legally required to have a responsibility policy?
For most small and medium-sized businesses, no. The statutory requirement for a statement on corporate social responsibility under Section 99a of the Danish Financial Statements Act generally only applies to large businesses in accounting class C and large publicly listed businesses. For everyone else, a responsibility policy is a voluntary but increasingly requested tool — partly because more partners and customers themselves ask for documentation of responsibility from their suppliers.
Download as PDF or Word:
The template is free and does not constitute legal advice. Book a no-obligation call if you'd like help adapting it to your specific situation. Want to see how well your business actually lives up to the policy? Try the responsibility check (currently in Danish) — a free 6-step self-assessment.
Book a no-obligation call →Read more about responsibility
Responsibility Policy: What Should It Contain, and Is It Legally Required?
Most smaller businesses aren't required to have a responsibility policy — but more and more partners and buyers ask for one anyway.
1The Responsibility Check: How to Assess Your Business's Responsibility Before a Sale
A responsibility check isn't a certification, but a systematic way to get an overview of how well your business actually stands on responsibility — something more and more buyers look for themselves.
2ESG Reporting: Who's Covered After the EU's Omnibus I Simplification?
The EU has just significantly changed who must report ESG mandatorily — but that doesn't mean the topic has become less relevant for smaller businesses.
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