The Novo Nordisk production facility at Nordre Fasanvej in Copenhagen has existed since 1933. Production has been expanded several times and now covers an area of approximately 40,600 m². The factory is situated in a densely built-up area surrounded primarily by residential buildings. At the beginning insulin was produced here, but today production comprises enzymes for the leather and textile industries and for the animal feed and food industries. There are also a number of analysis laboratories and various workshops. Today Novo Nordisk in Copenhagen employs 425 people.

"Our special location here in the heart of Copenhagen means that we must be continually aware of our impact on the surrounding environment."
Poul Hjortkjær, Factory manager and a member of Novo Nordisk's International Environmental Network.

MANAGEMENT REPORT

The factory is situated in a densely built-up area. This places very special demands on our environmental performance. In March 1996 we obtained an environmental approval under the voluntary scheme and in June 1996 five framework approvals for production using various genetically modified microorganisms.

The approvals set out 170 terms of compliance for our production which contribute to limiting the environmental impact from the factory as air emissions, waste water discharges and noise.

In 1997 the environmental focus was on building up an environmental management system based on the ISO 14001 standard and on the discontinuation of 40 underground storage tanks.

The information in the green accounts covers the major environmental aspects of the factory. The green accounts have been prepared by Environmental Affairs in cooperation with relevant production staff at the factory in Copenhagen.

Developing an environmental management system In July 1997 the work of designing an environmental management system based on ISO 14001 was resumed after being suspended since the autumn of 1996. Novo Nordisk in Copenhagen is the first of our factories to develop an environmental management system based on the ISO 14001 standard. Final certification is planned for September 1998.

A central element of environmental management is continuous improvement which exceeds the requirements set out in the factory's environmental approval. In order to identify opportunities for ongoing environmental improvement the design of the environmental management system includes detailed charting of the factory's environmental and energy status.

Discontinuation af storage tanks
On the oldest part of the factory site, between Hillerødgade and Nordre Fasanvej, 40 underground tanks have been emptied, cleaned and filled with sand. The tanks were used to store solvents and other raw materials for the previous production in this area of the factory.

Odour complaints
In 1997 we received 14 complaints concerning odours. In seven cases these were odours from the fermentation plant. Before August 1, 1999 a new filter will substantially reduce odours.

Noise complaints
In 1997 we received two complaints concerning noise. In one case this concerned a grinding machine used outdoors while the second case was related to the noise from a pump on an outdoor tank. The pump was subsequently replaced with a comparatively noiseless model.

Breaches of regulatory limit values
In 1997 we registered six breaches of regulatory limit values. In five cases the limit for sulphate in waste water was exceeded. Sulphate originates primarily from the sulphuric acid used to neutralize waste water from part of the factory. In future we will seek to neutralize the waste water with carbonic acid so as to eliminate these breaches.

Furthermore, we registered one breach of the regulatory limit value for enzyme dust in the air from the fermentation factory. Before August 1, 1999 a filter will be installed so as to reduce the air emissions of enzymes. The table to the left shows the limit values which were breached as well as the highest measured and average discharges respectively.

Environmental projects

In 1997 DKK 1,723,000 was spent on environmental improvements at the factory in Copenhagen, distributed as follows:

• DKK 1,593,000 for discontinuation of 40 underground tanks
• DKK 130,000 for noise reduction and replace- ment of a pump

Health and safety
In order to achieve a more effective and flexible health and safety organization we have carried out an extensive reorganization in 1997. The objective is to integrate health and safety into everyday work at all levels. The establishment of local targets is now a requirement subject to supervision by senior management. See also the Health and Safety Report.

Water consumption: 672,000 m³
Water from the municipal supply mains is used for the fermentation and recovery processes and for cleaning of equipment.

Energy consumption: 459,000 GJ
Raw materials consumption: 30,200 tons More than half of our raw materials are agricultural produce containing starch and protein.

Liquid waste discharge
The liquid waste flows from the factory are:

• Biomass, comprising nutrient residues, micro- organisms and water
• Waste water, containing small quantities of organic material and nutrient salts

Biomass: 313,000 m³
The biomass is collected, treated with lime and transported to the factory in Kalundborg where it is subject to heat and lime treatment. This ensures inactivation of microorganisms and product residues. The biomass (NovoGro^®) is then used as agricultural fertilizer.

Waste water: 319,000 m³
The waste water from the fermentation and recovery factories, comprising 90-95% of the total waste water discharged from the entire factory area, is subject to pH adjustment in the factory's neutralization plant. It is then led via the public sewage system to the Lynetten treatment plant before being discharged to the Øresund.

All waste water from the factory is discharged to the public sewage system from three drains. The average concentration of substances in waste water from drains 1, 2 and 4 is presented in this chart. The average concentration of sulphate from drain 1 exceeds the limit value. The waste water will in future be adjusted for pH using carbonic acid instead of sulphuric acid.

GMOs are also discharged into the waste water. The discharge is below the limit value of 10,000 GMOs/ml waste water as specified in the gene technology approvals.

Discharges via waste water

• 115 tons suspended solids
• 443 tons COD
• 30 tons nitrogen
• 11 tons phosphorus

Emissions of enzyme dust
The air from the fermentation and recovery processes contains very small quantities of enzymes. The average emissions of enzymes in the air from the fermentation factory and the recovery factory are 61 µg/m³ and 14 µg/m³ respectively. These are far below the limit value of 350 µg/m³ set out in the factory's environmental permit.

GMOs in the air
Air emissions from the fermentation and recovery plants also contain GMOs. The discharge to the air is below the limit value of 100,000 GMOs/ml air as specified in the gene technology approvals.

Solid waste: 1720 tons
The quantities of waste generated at the factory are disposed of by recycling, incineration, landfill and controlled destruction.

Address
Novo Nordisk A/S, Hillerødgade 31, DK-2200 Copenhagen N

DIV No: 232096

Environmental supervisory authority
The City of Copenhagen and the Municipality of Frederiksberg

List items under Chapter 5 of the Danish Environmental Protection Act
J1 - Industrial production of protein, pectin and enzymes
J2 - Companies subject to the obligation to obtain a permit for production using genetically modified organisms pursuant to the Environment and Gene Technology Act

Environmental and gene technology approvals
The factory holds an overall environmental approval dated March 13, 1996 and five framework gene technology approvals all dated June 11, 1996

Activities
Fermentation and recovery of enzymes

Significant subsidiary activities
No significant subsidiary activities

Most significant consumption of resources and environmental impacts

• Water and energy consumption
• Air from the fermentation process

Number of employees
425 - production 56%, research (lab) 1%, administration & service workshops 43%

Energy consumption

Breaches of regulatory limit values

Copenhagen data

Raw materials consumption

Solid waste

Average concentration of substances in waste water

Bagsværd, Denmark