by Avery Yale Kamila
Published in SOSUpdate
(April 2003) A small thing can make a big difference. That is the essence of Novozymes’s
product line. At the biotechnology company’s Franklinton, North Carolina facility, its 375
employees produce liquid and granulated enzymes that are crucial to manufacturing processes
at companies such as Procter & Gamble, Interstate Bakery and Cargill.
Enzymes are proteins that act as catalysts to speed up processes and help create products
that include detergent, corn sweetener and fuel alcohol.
For years Novozymes, which is headquartered in Denmark and operates in more than 20 countries,
has been a leader in environmental and social responsibility. In 1991, the company was one of the
first to sign the International Chamber of Commerce Business Charter for Sustainable Development.
In 2001, Novozymes North America, Inc. was selected for membership in the U.S. E.P.A.’s National
Environmental Performance Track, which recognizes businesses that exceed regulatory standards.
This year, the company released its first combined annual, social and environmental report. And
on February 27, the Franklin County plant was selected as the state’s first Environmental Steward
by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
"Novozymes was chosen as our first Environmental Steward because of its strong past performance
in setting and achieving environmental performance improvements, its attention to potential
environmental impacts when establishing business goals and its proactive communication of
environmental goals and impacts to its employees and the public," says DENR Secretary William G. Ross, Jr.
The Environmental Steward, which is the highest level of DENR’s new Environmental Stewardship
Initiative, recognizes companies that go beyond compliance in environmental protection, actively
communicate environmental performance measures with the local community, have implemented
aggressive pollution prevention programs and have a certified environmental management system
integrated into core business functions.
A ten-member advisory panel, which includes Save Our State President, Alan Briggs, recommended
to Secretary Ross that Novozymes be selected for this level of recognition. Twenty-five other
companies were selected as Environmental Partners.
"We continuously strive to minimize resource consumption and environmental impacts related to
our production by using best available technology, optimizing our processes, developing recycling
schemes for waste materials and by disposing of emissions and waste in an environmentally sound manner,"
says Lee Yarborough, President of Novozymes North America, Inc.
"We are committed to the Triple-Bottom Line concept of environmental, social and financial
responsibility and we solicit the active involvement of all employees in meeting this commitment."
According to Jack Blackmer, Environmental Affairs Manager for Novozymes North America, Inc.,
the company has been aggressive in its efforts to reduce environmental and safety risks. He explains
that "prevention often goes unnoticed. You can measure the cost of an accident. However, it is virtually
impossible to measure cost avoidance. But it is very, very real."
Environmental Stewards are given a logo that signifies the company’s high level of environmental
responsibility and encouraged to use it in marketing materials.
|
