Energy-related emissions
For several years we have worked on improving the efficiency of our energy consumption. This not only has an impact on the environment but also on the financial bottom line. In 1998 Novo Nordisk concluded an agreement with the Danish Energy Agency on the investment of DKK 20 million over the next three years in energy-saving equipment at our factories in Copenhagen and Kalundborg. 30% of this investment is covered by state subsidies and partial reimbursement of environmental taxes. The funds will be used to upgrade existing equipment or to buy new equipment so as to reduce energy consumption and thereby the emission of CO₂ per unit produced.

Hydroelectric power from Sydkraft
On the liberalization of the Danish electricity sector the Kalundborg factory in 1998 entered into an agreement with Sydkraft in Sweden on the purchase of environmentally certified electricity produced by hydroelectric power stations. 75,494 MWh (271,800 GJ) were supplied in 1998. This covered 18% of the Kalundborg factory's total energy consumption. Sydkraft holds a licence from the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation to sell hydroelectric power under the eco-label "Good Environmental Choice". One requirement is documentation that the volume of environmentally certified electricity sold has actually been produced. In addition to financial savings in 1998 Sydkraft's supplies via the Danish grid gave a reduction by 26% in the emissions of CO₂, SO₂ and NO_X deriving from the factory's energy consumption. In 1998 the company's total contribution to the greenhouse effect was therefore reduced by 10% from 1997.

Organic solvents
Organic solvents, of which approximately 99% are alcohol (ethanol) and acetone, are used mainly in connection with insulin recovery. More than 95% of these solvents are regenerated in recycling equipment and reused in processes, while carbon filters reduce discharges to the atmosphere. Total emissions of organic solvents are approximately 83 tons, equivalent to less than 1% of our total consumption of these substances.

Ozone-depleting substances
Certain chemical compounds degrade the Earth's protective ozone layer if discharged to the atmosphere. These include CFCs for cooling and halons for fire extinguishing. In accordance with current international law we have focused in recent years on discontinuing the use of these substances in favour of the more environmentally sound HCFCs. Our contribution to the depletion of the ozone layer has nonetheless risen by almost 5%, due to an increase in the emission of CFCs which have 20 times the impact on the ozone layer of the relatively less harmful HCFCs.

Furthermore, Danish legislation required halons to be phased out completely by the end of 1998. During the year we have therefore discontinued use of halon-based equipment at our Danish sites and dispatched 802 kg of halons for destruction. At the end of 1998, there were still 323 kg of halons at two of our Danish factories. These will be removed before the end of the second quarter of 1999. Today all halons in fire extinguishers have been replaced by argon or other substances which do not deplete the ozone layer.