Novozymes' overall approach to sustainability

The commitment to the United Nations Global Compact forms part of Novozymes’ values. Consequently, the Global Compact principles are guiding the efforts to integrate social and environmental responsibility into all business processes and decisions.

Organizational setup
Our organizational setup addressing sustainability directly involves top management and vice presidents from lines of business and sites around the world to achieve optimal coordination. In this way, we address economic, social and environmental aspects of our activities in order to contribute to long-term sustainable business growth. The organization is supported by a development unit called Sustainability Development. This unit comprises specialists in social and environmental responsibility.

On 1 September 2007, Novozymes launched a re-organization. This included reconstitution of Novozymes’ Executive Management and the establishment of a new business unit, Stakeholder Relations covering People & Organization, Public Affairs, Corporate Communication and Sustainability Development. The overall objective of Stakeholder Relations is to support the creation of value for Novozymes and key stakeholders.

Elements of integration and follow-up
Achievement of performance and development targets related to social and environmental responsibility is integrated into incentive programs. Furthermore, social and environmental responsibility is a fixed agenda item twice a year at board meetings. Financial, social and environmental results are reported quarterly, both internally and externally.

Novozymes' business units are regularly visited by a facilitator corps. These facilitators assess compliance with Novozymes' values by means of interviews with employees at all levels. Novozymes also has a special ombudsman, who provides an opportunity for all employees to have cases heard that they believe to be in conflict with Novozymes' values, policies and management standards.

Further information about Novozymes' work on social and environmental responsibility is available under Sustainability at www.novozymes.com. Information about 2007 in particular is available in The Novozymes Report 2007, which is an integrated annual report covering financial, environmental and social data. Further information is available at www.novozymes.com. For example, Novozymes' values and mission statement (The Novozymes Touch), as well as policies and positions on aspects of social and environmental responsibility. Particular reference is made to Novozymes' social responsibility policy, and environment and bioethics policy.