BEIJING, April 26, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Novo Nordisk released the "Promise Must Be Fulfilled: Novo Nordisk China Sustainable Development White Paper 2020-2023" (hereinafter referred to as the "White Paper") in Beijing, and held the "30 Years of Prosperity, Green Starts a New Journey" public welfare tree planting activity. This is the second time that Novo Nordisk has published a white paper on sustainable development. The white paper refers to a number of international standards in the field of sustainable development, including six core chapters, and comprehensively reviews the positive progress made by the company in sustainable development in recent years. Rooted in China for 30 years, Novo Nordisk adheres to the "triple bottom line" principle, conducts business in a financial, social and environmentally responsible manner, and works with partners to build a healthier and more sustainable future.
On the day of the release of the white paper, about 100 employees of Novo Nordisk China planted saplings in Beijing's Xishan National Forest Park, creating a vibrant "Novo Nordisk Public Welfare Forest" as a gift for the company's 30th anniversary, which is not only a positive contribution to the environment, but also aims to fulfill its long-term commitment to sustainable development and contribute to the construction of a beautiful China.
Novo Nordisk China held a public welfare tree planting activity to commemorate the company's 30th anniversary
Fulfill the green promise and achieve " Zero environmental impact " AmbitionIn terms of fulfilling its environmental responsibilities, Novo Nordisk embraces circular thinking and applies it to the entire value chain, striving to create "circular products", "circular enterprises" and "circular supply", and contribute to the ambition of "zero environmental impact". To this end, in 2019, Novo Nordisk first proposed the "Circular for Zero" global environmental strategy, and formulated a medium- and long-term roadmap, committing to achieve zero carbon dioxide emissions from the company's operations and transportation by 2030 and zero carbon emissions across the entire value chain by 2045.
Under the guidance of this environmental strategy, Novo Nordisk Greater China has established a cross-departmental green team to focus on waste management and recycling, carbon emission reduction and sustainable operation, and promote the implementation of the "Three-Year Plan for Recycling and Zero Pollution". Positive progress has been made in the in-depth cooperation of all links of the whole industry chain and the implementation of the concept of green and low-carbon development. In 2020, Novo Nordisk China fully used renewable energy for its operations, and in early 2024, Novo Nordisk signed the industry's first multi-party agreement with Envision Energy to use renewable electricity in China. This is another important step forward after the Tianjin plant became one of the first companies in China to convert all fossil fuels to renewable energy in 2016.
As a pioneer in innovative green practices, Novo Nordisk's Tianjin production plant has taken the lead in incorporating environmental health and safety (EHS) management into its basic principles, continuously optimizing energy and resources, conducting waste management, and tracking environmental performance data to practice green production in various aspects. From 2020 to 2022, the Tianjin production plant saved more than 100,000 tons of production water under the premise of increasing filling output. In 2022, the production plant achieved zero waste to landfill, and the following year, the waste recycling rate increased from 28% to more than 60%.
In addition, the Novo Nordisk Shanghai office, which opened at the end of 2023, has been awarded LEED Gold certification, which shows that the office has taken effective measures to save energy, water, reduce environmental impact, improve indoor environmental quality, etc., and demonstrate its commitment to sustainable development in the design, construction and operation of the building, which is another important milestone for Novo Nordisk to achieve "zero environmental impact".
Novo Nordisk's Shanghai office was awarded LEED Gold certification
Work together with partners to build together " Healthy China "The white paper discloses in detail Novo Nordisk China's long-term plans and phased progress in the field of corporate social responsibility. In the face of the rising prevalence of serious chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity, Novo Nordisk adheres to the concept of "patient-centered", continues to introduce innovative drugs, expand the accessibility of drugs and services, and work with all partners to carry out multi-level and multi-dimensional corporate social responsibility practices.
At the grassroots level, Novo Nordisk has supported the "Blue" series of projects to promote "early screening, early diagnosis and early treatment" of diseases through capacity and infrastructure development. In the field of diabetes, the "Diabetes and Complications Screening Project" has carried out more than 31,000 activities and screened about 3.29 million people since its launch, and the "Blue County" project has covered nearly 2,600 hospitals in more than 1,500 counties and districts across the country, helping to build endocrinology departments in county hospitals. In addition, the "Chief Doctor" program has trained more than 3,000 community doctors in 45 cities to improve the ability of general practitioners to diagnose and treat diabetes and promote the realization of graded diabetes diagnosis and treatment.
At the same time, Novo Nordisk is committed to popularizing disease knowledge and improving patients' self-management ability. Over the past 7 years, the company has supported the Diabetes Change Foundation, and has carried out diversified activities around brand projects such as "Cycling Team", "Community Leader Empowerment Program" and "Lollipop Sports Camp" to spread the concept of "Sports Change Diabetes". At present, the activities have covered more than 30 cities across the country, empowered more than 50 communities, and carried out more than 260 online and offline activities, directly covering more than 23,000 patients.
In order to address the public health problem of obesity, the company supports projects such as "Healthy City, Healthy Weight" and "Healthy Weight, Healthy Future", continuously advocates the concept of health, and improves scientific understanding and prevention and control of obesity. In the field of rare diseases, we have supported hemophilia patient care projects such as the "Yisheng Guardian - Hemophilia A Patient Assistance Project" for many years to help improve the quality of life.
Deeply cultivate China and create long-term sustainable valueOver the past 30 years, Novo Nordisk has continued to upgrade the entire industry chain, relying on the strategic layout of "two centers, three engines" to better serve Chinese patients and continue to promote the coordinated development of regional economy. In March this year, Novo Nordisk announced that it would invest about 4 billion yuan in Tianjin for the expansion of sterile preparations, further increasing its production capacity in China and meeting the demand of Chinese patients for innovative drugs.
In addition, as an employer committed to sustainable development, Novo Nordisk China continues to build a comprehensive talent development platform based on its diversified business and strong corporate culture, and has provided a total of 11,256 jobs by the end of 2023. At the same time, the company actively explores in the construction of employer brand, and improves the rights and interests of employees, helps employees grow, and cares for their health through diversified measures in terms of talent training, welfare care, and working environment.
Zhou Xiaping, senior vice president and president of Novo Nordisk Greater China, said"For 30 years, Novo Nordisk has been an advocate and leader in sustainable development. The release of this white paper demonstrates Novo Nordisk's commitment to long-term development rooted in China, as well as its responsibility and responsibility as an industry leader. As a mission-driven company, we are committed to our 'Triple Bottom Line' principles and drive the synergy of financial, social and environmental responsibility. We are guided by 'recycling and zero pollution', and help achieve the 'double carbon' goal with actions." Looking to the future, we will continue to accelerate innovation, expand cooperation, benefit more patients, promote sustainable development, and contribute to building a healthy China." "
Read in one picture: Novo Nordisk China Sustainable Development White Paper 2020-2023