Novo Nordisk reaches 100% renewable electricity, sets 2030 net-zero target

The company operates 16 major production facilities worldwide

The multinational was one of the first 53 companies to sign up to The Climate Group’s RE100 scheme, pledging to meet 80% of the electricity demands of its global estate with renewables by 2020 and to meet 100% as soon as possible.

This week, Novo Nordisk announced it had met that target after investing in a combination of onsite generation and corporate power purchase agreements (PPAs) with generation arrays based locally to its facilities; and by shifting to 100% renewable electricity tariffs for facilities where these options were not viable.

Novo Nordisk’s executive vice president for product supply, Henrik Wulff, said: “By investing in local renewable energy projects, we reduce our own environmental impact while at the same time help to drive technology development that will make renewable energy more efficient and more affordable.”

Building on this success, the company has set a 2030 net-zero goal, covering emissions from its operations and transport. It operates 16 production plants, ten research and development centres and more than 150 offices worldwide on the operations front and, on the transport side, has joined The Climate Group’s EV100 initiative.

EV100 aims to make electric transport “the new normal” within a decade. As of February, it had 67 corporate supporters who had collectively deployed 80,000+ low-emission vehicles and 10,000+ charging points.

Novo Nordisk had already committed to becoming a “fully circular” business by 2030 as part of its Circular for Zero sustainability strategy. The strategy covers operations, supply chains and products. It is currently developing science-based emissions targets to underpin the delivery of the strategy.

“More than 30 million people use our medicines and now they can do so knowing that they’re produced using renewable electricity,” Novo Nordisk’s president and chief executive Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen said. 

“By committing to achieve zero emissions across our operations and transport by 2030 and by applying a circular mindset across our entire business, we are working towards a day when we will be able to say that Novo Nordisk is a company with zero environmental impact.”

Novo Nordisk at edie’s Sustainable Investment Digital Conference

edie is launching its first bespoke sustainability conference focused on green finance, with experts from ING, BlackRock, BNP Paribas and more set to discuss investment and the green recovery at the Sustainable Investment Digital Conference on 7-8 September 2020.

The two-day digital event will feature a myriad of expert panel discussions, breakouts and deep dives into key green finance themes – plus opportunities to network virtually with delegates. Novo Nordisk’s chief sustainability advisor Susanne Stormer will be speaking at the 2.30pm panel discussion ‘Moving Beyond ESG’ on Day One. 

For further information, sponsorship inquiries and registration, click here. 

Sarah George