Acidification
The most important substances contributing to acidification are SO₂ and NO_X. These are released into the atmosphere when fossil fuels such as oil and coal are combusted. Air pollution with these substances leads to acid deposition (acid rain) that can pollute forests, lakes and rivers, as well as buildings.
 

Biodiversity
Biodiversity is a compilation of the term biological diversity. It encompasses the incalculable variety of the world's flora and fauna and their habitats and ecosystems. There is widespread concern about a reduction in the number of living species as a result of e.g. deforestation.
 

Bioethics
Bioethics is the ethics of biological research and the development and application of biotechnology, both within and beyond the human sphere.
 

Biotechnology
Biotechnology refers to the application of living organisms and their cellular, subcellular or molecular components to create products and processes. Historically, the first use of biotechnology took place centuries ago with the discovery of the fermentation of wine and beer. Modern biotechnology is often used synonymously with gene technology.
 

BOD₅
Biochemical Oxygen Demand after 5 days. An analytical biological method used to determine the content of biodegradable organic material in e.g. waste water.
 

CFCS
Chlorofluorocarbons. CFCs consist of a number of gases - best known under the trademark Freon. Although they present no risk to human health or the environment while in contained use, if they escape to the atmosphere by leakage or incorrect disposal they can damage the stratospheric ozone layer as well as increase the greenhouse effect. The ozone layer protects the Earth from harmful ultraviolet rays.
 

Cloning
Simply stated a clone is a duplicate or copy. In the field of molecular genetics, cloning refers to a process whereby individual genes are asexually replicated in microbial culture. When it comes to animals, the aim of cloning is to develop genetically identical individuals. This can be achieved by embryonic cloning, e.g. where a fertilized egg at a very early stage of the embryonic phase is divided into two or more parts, resulting in two or more completely identical individuals. Somatic cloning is a new technique whereby identical copies of individuals are created from cells from adult animals. The sheep Dolly was created using this technique.
 

COD
Chemical Oxygen Demand. An analytical chemical method used to determine the amount of oxygen-demanding substances in waste water.
 

CO₂
Carbon dioxide. CO₂ air emissions arising from the combustion of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas increase the natural greenhouse effect, which in the longer term is feared to cause adverse climatic changes.

Eco-productivity index (EPI)

The former EPI
The former EPI was calculated by dividing the annual relative change in financial turnover for Enzyme Business expressed as "volume/product mix development" by the annual relative change in consumption of respectively water, energy, raw materials and packaging materials.

The EPI was based solely on the turnover of Enzyme Business, where the major consumption of resources occurs and the indexed turnover (volume/product mix) was adjusted for exchange-rate and price fluctuations. Because our sites do not manufacture a product from start to finish, it was not possible to calculate site EPIs using this method.

The new site-based EPI_BP
The new site-based EPI like the previous one is an expression of our ability to utilize resources. It is calculated by relating the total yield of products recovered from the basic production process to the respective consumption of water and energy.

Environmental impact potentials
The purpose of calculating impact potentials is to compare the contributions made by different substances to a particular environmental impact - e.g. global warming. Global warming is calculated as carbon dioxide equivalents. 1 g CO₂ corresponds to 1 g CO₂-equivalent, while 1 g HCFC₂₂ and CFC₁₂ respectively correspond to 1,700 and 8,500 g CO₂-equivalents.

Enzymes
Enzymes are biological catalysts capable of speeding up biochemical reactions in the cells of living organisms or in industrial processes. They are very specific, which means fewer unwanted by-products. Because they can catalyze a specific reaction many thousands of times over, only very small quantities are needed. Enzymes can replace harsh chemicals and save energy and resources. Being by nature proteins means that they are fully biodegradable after use.
 

Eutrophication
An increased load of nutrients, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, in the aquatic environment supports the rapid growth of algae. Upon decaying the algae may cause oxygen depletion in shallow waters, causing adverse effects particularly on sedentary organisms.

Halon
Halogenated hydrocarbons. Halon is a brand name for agents used to extinguish fires. They have a large ozone-depleting potential and also contribute to global warming.
 

HCFC
Hydrogen chlorofluorocarbons. A group of cooling agents which are used as alternatives to the ozone-depleting CFCs. HCFCs contribute to the greenhouse effect and to a lesser degree to ozone depletion. 1 kg HCFC₂₂ = 0.04 kg CFC₁₁.
 

GJ
Giga Joule. Joule is a unit of energy. GJ = 1,000,000,000 J. 1 MWh = 3.6 GJ.
 

Global warming/greenhouse effect
The atmosphere of the Earth with its content of CO₂, methane and water vapour creates a natural global warming or greenhouse effect, which delays the emission of the Sun's heat from the Earth. Without this global warming effect, the average temperature on Earth would be around -18ºC.
 

GMO
Genetically Modified Organism. At Novo Nordisk, microorganisms such as bacteria (Bacillus, E. coli) and microfungi (yeast, Aspergillus) have been encoded with genes for producing enzymes or pharmaceutical proteins.
 

in vitro/in vivo
in vitro is Latin for "in glass". The term refers to a process taking place in an artificial environment such as a test tube. In the context of animal testing, it refers to the testing of compounds in cell cultures or isolated organs from animals or humans as opposed to testing in vivo, i.e. in live animals or humans.
 

Life-cycle assessment (LCA)
A management tool to appraise and quantify the environmental impact of a product during its entire lifetime from "cradle to grave". Life-cycle assessments comprise three main steps: 1) inventory analysis where resource consumption and emissions of a product are accounted for; 2) impact analysis; 3) interpretation of results and conclusions.
 

NGO
Non-governmental organization. A collective term for voluntary groups that work for a particular cause, e.g. environmental protection, human rights, consumer interests.
 

NO_X
Nitrogen oxides. A collective term for various compounds of nitrogen and oxygen. Emissions of NO_X arise from combustion of e.g. fossil fuels. NO_X contribute to acidification (acid rain) and can together with organic solvents and ultraviolet radiation create photochemical smog. Furthermore, NO_X contributes to the eutrophication of rivers and lakes.
 

Ozone depletion
The ozone layer in the stratosphere (10-50 km above the Earth) filters the Sun's hazardous ultraviolet radiation, thereby protecting all life on Earth. Certain chemicals such as freon and halons can damage the ozone layer.
 

SO₂
Sulphur dioxide. Combustion of fossil fuels containing sulphur leads to the emission of SO₂ which contributes to acidification (acid rain).
 

Suspended solids
Undissolved material that can be removed from e.g. waste water by sedimentation or filtration.
 

Sustainable development
Sustainable development was defined in "Our Common Future" - the Brundtland report of the World Commission on Environment and Development (1987) - as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". Sustainable development does not mean a return to a pre-industrial era, but calls for continued economic growth, with business and industry acknowledging and taking responsibility for their impact on society and the environment.
 

Ton
1,000 kg.
 

Transgenic
Transgenic is a term used to describe an organism where copies of genes or gene constructs, e.g. derived from other species, have been purposely integrated into its chromosomes/genome. The technology creates the opportunity of introducing novel characteristics into microorganisms, plants and animals in order to develop commercial products. In some instances gene sequences are deleted whereby disease models are created for specific experimental purposes.