At the enzyme factory in Copenhagen, environmental awareness has been put into practice. As we are situated in a densely built-up area it is of vital importance that we make ongoing environmental improvements to ensure that both the authorities and residents in the area feel secure about the factory. Therefore in 1998 we were the first Novo Nordisk factory to design an environmental management system based on the ISO 14001 standard. We gained final environmental certification in September with a closing report from the Danish Standards Association without deviations. The extensive work of building up the system during the first six months of the year included a number of concrete environmental improvements which extend beyond the requirements in the environmental approval for the factory.

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Framework for environmental protection
A fundamental objective is to reduce the impact of our activities on the environment by developing environment-friendly processes, optimizing resource utilization and minimizing emissions and waste volumes. We continuously investigate how much we can do to reduce the environmental impact of our production processes, while also meeting the targets set for productivity and financial performance.

The introduction of environmental management entails that once a year the environmental management system is reviewed by the management as an overall evaluation. In the first status report from December 1998 we could conclude that the system had been introduced successfully and was suited to its purpose. At the same time new targets and action plans for our environmental performance were drawn up. This is an ongoing, systematic process to ensure that we study every environmental aspect and can follow up on individual targets effectively.

Close interaction with employees
The project for environmental management and review of the factory received the full support of production employees. During 1997 and 1998 we received many suggestions for improvements from our engineers and operators. Most of these proposals have been systematized and today we have a permanent system for collection of good ideas, which are all given serious consideration.

Investment in energy savings
In 1998 Novo Nordisk concluded an agreement with the Danish Energy Agency on investment in energy-saving equipment over the next three years. For the factory in Copenhagen this meant that in 1998 we carried out an energy audit. It forms the basis for the introduction of an energy management system which, before the close of the first quarter, will be incorporated in the existing environmental management and quality system. During the next three years further investments in the range of DKK 7-8 million will take place in a number of energy-saving projects. In accordance with the Group's overall target of reducing energy consumption, the 1999 target for the factory involves a reduction of energy consumption per enzyme unit produced against 1998.

Further reduction of odours
Over the years, odours from the factory have been the cause of the majority of complaints from neighbours. It will now be sought to solve this problem by investing in a new plant for purification of the air from fermentation tanks. The new plant will also significantly reduce discharges of enzyme dust to the air. According to the plan, the plant will be commissioned in September 1999. However, it will increase the factory's total energy consumption.

Environmental projects
During 1998 DKK 2,348,000 was devoted to environmental improvements at the factory in Copenhagen, distributed on the following projects:

• DKK 1,240,500 for testing of a pilot plant for air purification and project design
• DKK 460,000 for neutralization of waste water with carbonic acid
• DKK 430,000 for environmental measures for ammonium-based refrigeration plants
• DKK 217,500 for changes to biomass collection
  Up to 1,000 tons of biomass from production is transported each day to the factory in Kalundborg, where the biomass is used as fertilizer (NovoGro^®) in agriculture. In 1999 we will set out a strategy to reduce the quantity of biomass. This will cut transport costs and reduce the environmental impact of transportation.

Accidental releases
In 1998 there were two accidental releases. 865 m3 of liquid filtrate was accidentally released to the municipal waste water treatment plant via the public sewage system instead of being collected for use as organic fertilizer. The liquid was treated at the waste water treatment plant and had therefore no impact on the environment.

The other incident occurred when approximately 300 litres of oil leaked from an elevator's hydraulic system to the ground beneath the building. The extent of the pollution was limited as determined by the examination of soil samples.

Breaches of regulatory limit values and complaints from neighbours

In 1998 we registered 15 breaches of regulatory limit values. In six cases the limit for enzyme dust in the air, primarily originating from the fermentation tanks, was exceeded. When the air purification plant is established in September 1999, it will significantly reduce the discharge of enzyme dust from fermentation tanks.

The regulatory limit value for chloride was exceeded once and for sludge inhibition four times (inhibition of sludge activity), while the limit value for sulphate in waste water was exceeded four times. In future we will use carbonic acid to neutralize the waste water instead of sulphuric acid, thereby avoiding breaches of the regulatory limit value for sulphate.

We have received a total of 13 complaints from neighbours in 1998. Eight of these concerned odours, mainly from the fermentation plant. Four concerned noise from equipment and transport activities.

Health and safety
It was not possible to reduce the number of occupational injuries in 1998. The target for 1999 is to reduce the number from 11 in 1998 to a maximum of seven occupational injuries with sick leave. The noise in the fermentation factory must be reduced and in 1999 we will initiate a noise reduction project. Furthermore, an action plan has been implemented at the factory in order to reduce the quantity of enzyme dust in the air.

Consumption of resources

Water consumption: 529,000 m³
Water from the municipal supply mains is used for the fermentation and recovery processes and for cleaning of equipment.

Energy consumption: 400,000 GJ

Raw materials consumption: 24,800 tons
Approximately half of our raw materials are agricultural produce containing starch and protein.

Discharges to the environment

Liquid waste
The liquid waste streams from the factory are:

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

Biomass: 246,000 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 is then used as agricultural fertilizer.

Waste water: 282,000 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 neutralized with carbonic acid. It is then led via the public sewage system to the Lynetten treatment plant, before being discharged to the Øresund.

Solid waste: 1,570 tons
The waste produced at the factory is disposed of by recycling, incineration, landfill and controlled destruction.

Emissions to air

Emissions of enzyme dust
The air from the fermentation and recovery processes contains very small quantities of enzymes. The average emissions of enzymes to the air from the fermentation factory and the recovery factory are respectively 653 microgram/m³ and 30 microgram/m³ (1 microgram = 1/1000 milligram). 6 of a total of 12 measurements taken from the fermentation factory in 1998 exceeded the limit value of 350 microgram/m³ set out in the factory's environmental permit. In September 1999 a new air purification plant will be commissioned. It will significantly reduce emissions of enzymes from the fermentation plant.