Novo Nordisk launches new 100% renewable power target for suppliers

• Novo Nordisk will work with all 60,000 of its direct suppliers globally to ensure they are supplying the company based on 100% renewable power by 2030.
• The commitment is part of Novo Nordisk’s ambition to have zero environmental impact.

Bagsværd, Denmark, 21 September 2020 - Novo Nordisk today announced an ambitious target to ensure all its direct suppliers supply the company based on 100% renewable power by 2030. Novo Nordisk will work with all existing and new suppliers to meet the target. The plan will be presented in connection with Climate Week NYC hosted this week in association with the United Nations and the City of New York.

This commitment is the next step in Novo Nordisk’s ‘Circular for Zero’ environmental strategy, which launched in April 2019 and set an ultimate ambition for the company to have zero environmental impact.

The majority of Novo Nordisk’s total carbon emissions originate in its supply chain, making this commitment with suppliers on renewable power integral to achieving Novo Nordisk’s environmental strategy. In achieving this target, Novo Nordisk would therefore be eliminating at least 300,000 tons of greenhouse gases from its supply chain. Novo Nordisk has already committed to achieve zero CO₂ emissions from the company’s own global operations and transport by 2030 and, in 2020, achieved the target of using 100% renewable power across its global production.

 “Our ambition of achieving zero environmental impact is a cornerstone of our aspiration to be a truly sustainable business,” said CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen. “Achieving it requires that we look beyond our own organisation and collaborate across multiple sectors with suppliers to accelerate the transition to renewable power. We hope that others across the corporate sector will also benefit from these actions. I would like to pay tribute to the commitment of our suppliers, on whom this new ambition depends.”

To reach the target, Novo Nordisk will work alongside suppliers, sharing with them what it has learned on embedding renewable power through its operations. Suppliers’ ability to meet the 100% renewable power target will be continually evaluated.

SCHOTT, a producer of specialty glass and supplier of pharma packaging to Novo Nordisk, has committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030. Sourcing renewable power will be one pillar of their company strategy. SCHOTT CEO Dr Frank Heinricht said: “Our transition to carbon neutrality is fuelled by close exchange and collaboration with valued customers. As one example, Novo Nordisk has shared valuable insights from their own experiences of sourcing renewable power. As part of our Zero Carbon strategy, we are taking action to reduce the environmental impact of our operations.”

Novo Nordisk hopes that by supporting its suppliers to use renewable power, it will also be contributing to a reduction in emissions more broadly, as other companies may benefit from their suppliers’ shift to greater sustainability.

About Novo Nordisk’s ‘Circular for Zero’ environmental strategy

The environmental strategy challenges Novo Nordisk to find new ways to design products that can be recycled or re-used, reshape the business to minimise consumption and waste, and work with suppliers who share the company’s goal.

Novo Nordisk is already taking the first steps towards zero environmental impact. But the company is always searching for new ways to do more and believes the answers will come as the business adopts a circular mindset that keeps the products and materials in use. Read more here.

About Novo Nordisk

Novo Nordisk is a leading global healthcare company, founded in 1923 and headquartered in Denmark. Our purpose is to drive change to defeat diabetes and other serious chronic diseases such as obesity and rare blood and endocrine disorders. We do so by pioneering scientific breakthroughs, expanding access to our medicines and working to prevent and ultimately cure disease. Novo Nordisk employs about 43,500 people in 80 countries and markets its products in around 170 countries. For more information, visit novonordisk.com, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube.

Further information

Media:
Charlotte Zarp-Andersson	+45 30 79 76 03	czpa@novonordisk.com
Ken Inchausti (US)	+1 609 240 9429	kiau@novonordisk.com
Investors:
Daniel Muusmann Bohsen	+45 3075 2175	dabo@novonordisk.com
Valdemar Borum Svarrer	+45 3079 0301	jvls@novonordisk.com
Ann Søndermølle Rendbæk	+45 3075 2253	arnd@novonordisk.com
Mark Joseph Root	+45 3079 4211	mjhr@novonordisk.com
Kristoffer Due Berg (US)	+1 609 235 2989	krdb@novonordisk.com

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