In 1998 the environment ranked even higher on the agenda with the establishment of a local environmental group in Gentofte. The group is to ensure that we stay at the forefront of environmental development and that we live up to our objectives. An innovation in 1999 is that each individual department sets its own environmental targets. This puts more focus on actually reaching the targets.

The philosophy behind the Novo Nordisk Way of Management is that in all areas we are determined to live up to legislation, regulations and Group policies. One of the most important overall targets for Novo Nordisk in Gentofte in 1998 was therefore to ensure that we adhere to our environmental approvals. In autumn 1997, we initiated detailed review of all 14 environmental approvals, and we can state today that they are complied with in every aspect. As we draw closer to the year 2000, we will continue to give high priority to assessing the environmental impacts of our processes and products.

Address

Focus on training
Gentofte's focus has been on staff training and education in 1998. The objective is to develop employees to take co-responsibility for production improvements and environmental protection. Training is a two-day course which also includes a separate environment module. This course is mandatory for all salaried employees in production and during 1999 will be extended to include all production staff.

Reduce consumption of water and energy
Novo Nordisk in Gentofte is an area with a relatively small environmental impact, limited to waste water discharges and air emissions from ventilation containing small quantities of ethanol. Water and energy account for most of our resource consumption, which is dependent on production volumes. In accordance with overall company objectives, we will focus on this area in coming years. For Gentofte our target is to reduce water consumption by 4% per year relative to production volume. A number of initial concrete measures will focus on the factory sections with the highest water consumption.

Waste water and waste streams
Human growth hormone is produced by fermentation of genetically modified E. coli bacteria in closed systems. All waste water from the fermentation process is pasteurized before being discharged into the sewage system.

Purification of glucagon and human growth hormone involves use of urea, which until recently was used in a biological treatment plant belonging to a major industrial concern. The company can no longer take the urea, however. We have therefore applied to the County of Western Zealand for a permit to treat the urea at our own biological treatment plant at the factory in Kalundborg. The permit has been granted.

Environmental projects
In 1997 we began total renovation of the sewage network in the area after pipe fractures were discovered. Over a five-year period the entire sewage system for production in Gentofte will be reviewed. In 1998, DKK 240,000 was allocated to environmental improvements. DKK 190,000 was spent on improving the sewage network at Hagedornsvej, and DKK 50,000 was spent on energy-saving equipment.

Compliance with environmental legislation
In 1998 there were no accidental releases or breaches of the regulatory limit values set out in our environmental and gene technology approvals. Gentofte thus fully meets the company's overall objective to comply with environmental legislation.

There has been one complaint concerning snow clearing and salt spreading. We have made sure that the noise will be reduced in the future.

Health and safety
In the health and safety area in 1998 we have worked actively to prevent monotonous repetitive work, with special focus on routine work functions in the manual packaging plant and in the laboratory. For the packaging plant, a plan has been drawn up to automate workplaces in 1999. An equivalent plan for the laboratory will be ready before the close of the year.

As was the case for our environmental approvals in 1998, in 1999 we will undertake a full review of authority approvals concerning health and safety, in order to ensure that in this area too all equipment and working processes fulfil the requirements.

Consumption of resources

Water consumption: 118,000 m³
All water of drinking quality is from the municipal supply mains. The increased consumption of water at Hagedornsvej from 1997 is related to the commissioning of a new packaging and filling line for pharmaceutical products. Consumption of water in Gentofte is approximately 2.5% of Novo Nordisk's total water consumption.

Energy consumption: 182,000 GJ
Energy is supplied from the public supply mains, the company's own natural-gas boiler facility, and district heating from the municipal district heating network. Energy consumption constitutes approximately 4.5% of total energy consumption by Novo Nordisk.

Consumption of raw materials: 417 tons
In Gentofte 417 tons of raw materials and auxiliaries were used in 1998. This covers consumption of both production and laboratories. Alcohol (ethanol) constitutes 99% of total consumption of organic solvents at Gentofte.

Discharges to the environment

Waste water: 96,300 m³
Liquid waste flows comprise water and organic material from production and cleaning. The waste water is led to the Lynetten treatment plant via the public sewage network.

Solid waste: 661 tons
Waste is disposed of by recycling, incineration, landfill or controlled destruction. Recyclable waste is collected and reused. This applies to paper, cardboard, glass, iron and metal as well as kieselguhr. Waste for controlled destruction is primarily chemical waste from laboratories which is sent to Kommunekemi. Waste streams with an alcohol content from production are recycled in a biogas plant.

Emissions to air
The most important source of air pollution from production in Gentofte is activities related to own production of energy.