In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, sustainability is no longer a choice - it's a responsibility. At Novo Nordisk, we've embraced this responsibility through our global environmental strategy, Circular for Zero, launched in 2019. Our ambition is bold yet essential: to achieve zero environmental impact by embedding circular thinking across our entire value chain.
Circular for Zero means taking accountability from the sourcing of raw materials to the end-of-life of our products. A key pillar of this strategy is our Water Savings Program, which targets a 2% annual reduction in water usage across production sites, especially those in water-stressed regions. Equally important is our commitment to designing devices for circularity - we prioritize non-virgin fossil plastics, minimize environmental impact throughout the product lifecycle, and ensure recyclability.
Our innovative return systems invite users to send back used injection pens, which are then recycled into everyday items like chairs and lamps at our specialist facility in Denmark.
In Bangladesh, we are translating this global vision into impactful local action. At our annual meeting, we set up a Circular for Zero booth where employees exchanged used plastic bottles for eco-friendly paper pens embedded with seeds - turning waste into growth. During our Cycle Meeting, we eliminated approximately 2,000 single-use plastic bottles in just two days by distributing reusable water bottles, saving nearly 1,000 liters of plastic waste. Furthermore, we've replaced bottled water in our offices with dispensers and installed sensor-based faucets to reduce water wastage.
These initiatives reflect our belief that sustainability is not a standalone effort - it's a collective journey. By integrating circular solutions into our operations and engaging our stakeholders, Novo Nordisk is not only reducing its environmental footprint but also inspiring a culture of responsibility and innovation.
As businesses in Bangladesh and beyond look to the future, embracing circularity offers a powerful path to resilience, efficiency, and long-term value creation.
