Solar-powered pharmaceuticals: Novo Nordisk on track to meet 100 per cent renewables target

Danish pharmaceutical firm Novo Nordisk has announced it will meet its renewable energy targets after investing in a 672-acre solar panel installation that covers an area the size of 500 football fields. 

The installation in North Carolina will prvide enough renewable power for Novo Nordisk's entire US operation from early 2020. It means the firm is on course to meet its goal of only sourcing renewable power for its production facilities by 2020 - an achievement that would make it the first pharmaceutical company to meet targets set under the RE100 initiative. 

The firm has also adopted a new target of achieving zero CO2 emissions from all operations and transport by 2030. The goal is part of its 'Circular for Zero' environmental strategy, aimed at converting Novo Nordisk into a company that has zero environmental impact through minimised consumption, recycling or reuse of all its waste, and work with suppliers to embed circularity in its supply chain.

"More than 29 million people use our medicines and from early next year, they can do so knowing that they're produced using only renewable electricity," said Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen, president and CEO.

"By committing to achieve zero emissions across our operations and transport by 2030 and by applying a circular mindset across our entire business, we are working towards a day when we will be able to say that Novo Nordisk is a company with zero environmental impact."