At Novo Nordisk we have been pursuing a consistent approach to implementing the Triple Bottom Line for more than a decade. We have built this approach into our corporate governance structures and individual performance assessment.

The path to sustainable development represents a learning curve where we work alongside partners and peers towards a common goal. We will drive actions to pursue objectives that are commercially desirable, ecologically necessary and morally compelling.

We began to approach sustainable development by addressing environmental issues and developed a method for integrating environmental management into our business decisions.

When later we began to integrate new issues such as bioethics and social responsibility, we modelled our strategic approach and governance systems on this well tried method.

The method is illustrated in our learning curve, which helps us chart progress towards sustainable development.

We employ a systematic approach that helps implement Triple Bottom Line thinking in practice. In the section ‘Managing the environment within sustainable limits’ is an example of how this method is employed in practice.

Six processes are key to our strategy:

• Embed : involve employees at all levels
• Globalise: work on an international basis
• Train: educate employees
• Report: define targets, review and report annually

• Integrate: balance financial, environmental, social and health policies in the business decision processes
• Involve: conduct dialogue and partnerships with stakeholders relevant to the business.

Today we need to be concerned with globalisation, access to health, human rights, bioethics and animal welfare. Each issue poses dilemmas that we need to deal with to remain leaders in business. We need to be acutely aware that we are working with highly complex issues and problems, often with no clear-cut solutions. Corporate economic impact will be another key area, and is one in which we need to develop tools to measure and track performance in a way that takes us beyond the financial accounts of today.

As we tread these new paths, we are building the business case for sustainable development. This way, the Triple Bottom Line approach becomes integrated with the traditional definition of shareholder interest.

We believe that a broader business approach modelled on the Triple Bottom Line is the right thing to do. It also makes good business sense and enables us to be a player in setting the new global agenda for pharmaceutical companies.

Graph: The Novo Nordisk Triple Bottom Line learning curve