Company Profiles

Novo Nordisk

Denmark

Novo Nordisk's management recognizes the "move to sustainable development . . . can be an opportunity to create competitive advantages, if successfully integrated into the corporate strategy." The company understands nature's limited resources, the increasing pressures on those resources, and the need to develop a society where we live "more off the earth's interest, and less off its capital." As a healthcare company, Novo Nordisk recognizes that its greatest impacts are associated with its energy, water, and raw materials use. The company is working to reduce its CO2 emissions, in line with the Kyoto Protocol, through energy-saving initiatives and renewable energy purchases. Results of environmentally-driven projects can be seen at the facility in Kalundborg, Denmark, where energy- and water-saving measures led to reduced water consumption of 45% and reduced energy consumption of more than 35%, compared with the original design. The extra cost was less than 1% of the total investment, with a payback time of just over a year. Novo Nordisk clearly recognizes the value of environmental investments for both the environment and the bottom line. While the company aims for CO2 emissions reductions, recent data indicates emissions have been rising and this represents an area for improvement.

Biotechnology Involvement

Novo Nordisk's core business is pharmaceutical drug development, manufacturing, and marketing. The company supports the Convention on Biological Diversity that states benefits should be shared "fairly and equitably." Genetically modified organisms used in production are contained and "inactivated" prior to disposal or recycling. The company has a comprehensive and transparent biotechnology policy that addresses concerns of knowledge and containment, uses biotechnology only for medical applications, and meets Portfolio 21's biotechnology investment criteria. Visit our Biotechnology Policy for more on this issue.

To the best of our knowledge the above information is accurate and was obtained from sources we believe to be reliable. Neither the information presented above nor any opinion expressed shall be construed as an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy the security. The views expressed are those of portfolio management as of 12/30/07 and may not reflect current opinions or subsequent events.